Forget Where We Were (reupload!)

Chapter 17

Alhaitham kept on sinking as if a sinkhole started to pull him from the waist down but the difference was there was no real sinkhole and there was just nothing but the void. This went on for a few seconds until he felt himself being dropped instead of pulled down.

The next thing he knew the realm brought him to the path overlooking the Palace of Alcazarzaray.

The magnum opus of the Light of Kshahrewar stared right back at Alhaitham, mocking him as if the building was all too happy to boast how it chipped away at Kaveh's self-confidence.

It was a majestic sight from the angle where Alhaitham was viewing the architectural wonder as if it did not cost its creator everything he had.

"What are you doing here?"

Alhaitham turned around to the sound of the voice and found the renowned genius behind the masterpiece of a palace. He looked like he has not slept well for a few days like he was troubled enough that rest evaded him.

"I thought you despise the existence of art," continued Kaveh.

Alhaitham shook his head, "I never claimed such a thing. While it was true that I have never expressed appreciation for it, however, I do understand the indisputable impact of the arts on human beings and society in the most general sense. I may not have a personal attachment to it, but that does not mean I wish it goes away forever."

"Why are you like this? You're horrible. You have no heart, Alhaitham."

Alhaitham looked at the Kaveh speaking to him. The conversation started a bit off already, but now the scribe was absolutely sure that this was never a part of Kaveh's memories. This whole conversation never happened. They never met up by the palace like this. This Kaveh did not argue as Kaveh usually does.

Something was terribly wrong here.

The younger man crossed his arms over his chest, "You're wrong. Kaveh never argued about my heart or the lack thereof because he knew enough of me to know the truth. You don't. The question here is who are you?"

This entity that wore Kaveh's likeness started to laugh, "How dare you? You have no idea what you're trying to accomplish here. Don't you know that you are in so much danger right now? If your consciousness gets trapped in this cursed realm, your body in the waking world will start to die."

"I have no worries about the danger. If Kaveh were to gain all his memories back, I will do whatever it takes. You cannot make that threat against me," Alhaitham retorted. "Whatever you're playing at, it was not going to work."

"It's already working," smirked Kaveh. "If I don't go home with you, I am not going to gain this fragment of my memories back. Poor me. Though, I have no idea why you're doing this for me in the first place. I thought you hate me with a passion."

Alhaitham gritted his teeth as he noticed the red flames in Kaveh's eyes. This was, indeed, the manifestation of the memory fragment. The only problem was The Withering has corrupted this segment of the cursed realm, and thus also corrupted this Kaveh as an effect.

The scribe's deduction was this: The Withering happened due to how much time had passed with King Deshret's power locked inside that chamber as it was exposed to the remnants of forbidden knowledge for far too long.

Either way, Alhaitham needed to do what he has to do. No matter what would happen.

"What do I have to do to make you leave Kaveh alone?" Alhaitham summoned his sword. "I do not hesitate."

"I assumed you don't. After all, you have hurt me many times to count, Alhaitham."

"You're not even Kaveh. You're nothing but traces of forbidden knowledge that encroaches on his memories like a parasite. The world has gotten rid of you and you have no choice but to desperately seek something to latch onto. The corruption is getting weak and you have to stop denying that," the scribe snarled.