A Thousand Years in Perfect Symmetry

all you can hear

The journey back to the Akademiya from Port Ormos was grueling.

The hot sun beat down onto dirt paths and reflected off the river water, making the air around it terribly humid. The waterway rushed along, carrying boats and the occasional school of fish, and it was hard to ignore that it was by far the most effective means of travel. Though unfortunately, Alhaitham owned no boat himself and he'd spent far too much Mora on this trip already to consider a ferry.

When Alhaitham finally arrived in Sumeru City, the sun was beginning to dip below the skyline. It left hazy streaks of oranges and pinks in its descent, painting the entire city in a light, dreamy haze. Only a few clouds drifted along, promising good weather for the foreseeable future.

It would be good for the Sabzeruz Festival, he supposed. The Traveller had left him earlier in such a hurry, insisting that they not miss the performances tomorrow, so it lingered on his mind despite its obvious unimportance.

The Akademiya's Sages would never permit such a thing. They were far too above the likes of the arts to consider them useful in any capacity. Alhaitham was sure the celebration would be shut down before it even formally began.

However, as he passed over the stone streets, the scent of various spices drifted from the vendors. All manner of bread, fruits, and sweets caught his eye as he continued along, casting an icy glare at anyone who dared to meet his eyes.

Sumeru City wasn't at all new to these things, of course, but scarcely did vendors put this much effort into setting up for the next day, which meant the Sabzeruz Festival was surely the cause.

As Alhaitham continued past the tavern, the preparations were even further along. Flowery decorations, banners, and ribbons extended across Treasures Street, giving it a more regal appearance than usual. Everything was carefully placed down to the last detail and vendors continued about, ensuring that it was perfect.

Alhaitham couldn't even begin to imagine what the Grand Bazaar or Zubayr Theater must've looked like right now.

He didn't understand the point in the slightest. The endeavor of setting up a celebration that would only ever end up frowned upon by the Akademiya didn't make sense to him. What a pity. To put so much effort into something pointless.

Alhaitham attempted to shove the thoughts from his mind, reminding himself to return home before the sun disappeared from sight. It'd continued to fall from the sky, leaving about half of that great fireball in the sky still shining above the earth.

He finished his way through Treasures Street, grateful to escape the atmosphere of the celebration. Past the vendors, the street lights were lit low and few people remained outside. The leaves in the trees around swayed slowly in the breeze, occasionally slapping against the houses they grew near and letting out an audible crack.

Unlike the majority of the homes around, the Bimarstan was still well-lit and busy. Alhaitham could see the doctors rushing about as patients were tucked into beds, crowded by concerned relatives.

A pity, but Alhaitham rushed past all the same. He refused to linger around the city any longer than he had to when the Divine Knowledge Capsule still lingered on his person. Even if no one could possibly guess he was in possession of it, walking around in the dark could cause needless troubles, especially considering his earlier encounter with the Eremites.

Word spread needlessly fast in Sumeru, with the Akasha seamlessly passing on information day after day, and Alhaitham knew that the Divine Knowledge Capsule's loss from the Eremites was bound to cause a stir, regardless of whether they knew it was him who had it and not the Akademiya.