Forget Where We Were (reupload!)

Chapter 4

TWO YEARS LATER

Alhaitham was well acquainted with his limits. He knew enough of himself to know his desires, his emotions, and his fears. He had a way to deal with himself, especially for the last two years of feeling the uncontrollable yearning to wait.

What was he waiting for, still?

He consulted with Madam Faruzan a while back, who told him that it was impossible for the Master Architect to simply get lost in those ruins when all the puzzles have already been solved. It was only a matter of acceptance for Alhaitham, she had said.

Zamir completely disappeared, much to Dehya's personal aggravation, as he was the only solid lead they have to unlock the actual events that occurred down the sinkhole. The Eremites who knew him were quick to assume he had already perished. No Eremite could stay missing for too long, they said, and it made sense to Alhaitham.

He ultimately submitted his resignation papers after Nahida's visit a couple of years ago. He initially thought that being the Acting Grand Sage allowed him to utilize resources he could not as a lowly Scribe to aid in his search. He had wanted to change the epilogue of certain things in his life, but Alhaitham quickly realized that he did not need to be an Acting Grand Sage to accomplish things.

Alhaitham did not need the resources all of Teyvat could offer him when the one he would have given it all up for could not be found.

Yet that does not mean the Grand Scribe of the Akademiya has given up. He has not, even though it was more than two years since. He would wait. He would remain steadfast in pursuing leads when Alhaitham stumbled upon them. He would come home to a house frozen in time - a museum of what Alhaitham wanted to protect at all costs.

Cyno and Tighnari asked him about the house a few months back, around the second anniversary of that day in the ruins. The couple wondered if Alhaitham needed help cleaning things up, but the Scribe insisted that the house have been cleaned and washed, all dust wiped away.

Alhaitham just intentionally arranged the things the way they were left behind. So when the person who left was to come back, it would be as if not a day passed by at all.

The couple just looked at each other and gave Alhaitham a sad smile. Most of his closest acquaintances have given him similar expressions over the past two years. Alhaitham accepted all of them. It was only normal that one could not muster enough - or any - words in this kind of situation.

Today, Alhaitham decided to spend his day off at home, reading a book, as he waited for a visitor he was expecting. They were supposed to arrive any minute... and so three knocks sounded against his door. Alhaitham closed his book and placed it down on the table before getting up to open the door.

Dehya gave him a short salute before stepping inside the house, "Hey, champ, you called?"

If Dehya saw the golden key hanging by the door, as well as its Kshahrewar mascot keychain companion, the brunette decided to not say anything. She smiled at Alhaitham as she took in the house arrangement. Red cape on a divan, some papers of scrapped house designs on the table, and half-open scrolls on Liyuen architecture sitting beside some old vases by the windows.

"It's been quite a while," noted Dehya as she sat on a divan across from Alhaitham. "It's nice knowing that things haven't really changed around here. I was a bit worried when you weren't sending me any letters the past year."

"It's only been eight months since we last talked," replied Alhaitham. "Don't be too dramatic. I asked to meet today only for a quick favor."

Alhaitham handed Dehya a box containing his old pair of earpieces, "I already have a second pair made, an almost clone of that one. Still, I would like to have it repaired. It's the original pair and having a spare in good  working condition lying around would not hurt me."