𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 | 𝘈𝘭𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘮

06

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

As soon as the meeting with all the sages concluded, Alhaitham wordlessly stood up from his chair and left. He could always write the meeting's summary later.

During his walk to your house, he let his mind wander. Alhaitham found it interesting that in the span of five years, you had changed drastically. The scholar he knew became a selfless knight, protecting the nation she grew to call home. For the most part, everyone and everything in Sumeru stayed the same, unchanged in their ways.

'She really is like the wind,' he thought. 'Unpredictable and adaptable.'

In all honesty, Alhaitham thought you'd follow in your parents' footsteps after graduation, even after their passing. He always viewed you as the type of person to stubbornly pursue something once you set your mind to it. That's why he offered you a position on the Academy's faculty all those years ago, to help you achieve your goals.

He was shocked when you didn't take the offer, but that was incomparable to the shock he felt when you told him you were leaving.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Alhaitham was in his office, reading through a poorly-written application. With a sigh, he threw it into a pile with other applications he planned to reject. A gentle knock broke his concentration.

"Come in," he says. The door opened, revealing your figure.

"Hello Alhaitham," you greet.

"What can I help you with?" he asked, eyeing the backpack on your shoulders.

"I wanted to say goodbye."

"Are you going on some sort of expedition?" he questioned. A glint of hope showed itself in Alhaitham's eyes, believing you reconsidered his offer to join the faculty. You shook your head.

"No, nothing of that nature. I'm leaving Sumeru," you replied calmly. Alhaitham's eyes widened in surprise.

'Leaving?' was all he could say. His viridian eyes found yours, searching for any sign of jest on your features. Your usually-sparkling (E/C) eyes seemed dimmer as you spoke with seriousness.

That's when he knew you weren't joking this time.

"I don't think I'll be coming back for a while." Silence and uneasiness settled between you two. You didn't expect the always-composed Alhaitham to react like this. You hoped, at the very least, he'd say something.

"I'll be taking my leave now," you sigh, breaking him out of his shock. "Goodbye Alhaitham. If our paths are to ever cross again, may it be in good spirits." Before he had the chance to respond or ask where you were going, you closed his office door, leaving the man alone with his thoughts.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Before he knew it, Alhaitham was standing in front of your door. He brought his fist up to it, knocking to let you know of his arrival. After a short wait, it opened. He saw you, in your usual white and teal shirt, navy pants, and black boots. A smile graced your features, illuminating your face.

"Come in!" you beam. Wordlessly, he entered your house, the door closing behind him.

"We're sorting your parents' things today, right?" he asked. You nod your head.

"Yeah. It's the stuff in their office. It's this way," you say. He follows you through a hallway and into a large room. Two of the four walls were lined with bookcases. A desk rested near a window, the morning sun spilling through it. A smaller bookcase was under the window. Rather than books filling its shelves, it was more of your parents' journals and manuscripts.