In Your Eyes: Empyrean Admonition

Prologue

"Good afternoon, Lesser Lord Kusanali." 

"Good afternoon, Alhaitham!"

Nahida looks out of place as she sits calmly on the Grand Sage's seat. Her feet are dangling almost a foot off the ground as her eyes wander around the office. Alhaitham is not too surprised to see the Dendro Archon here; he has been expecting her arrival. 

It has been three days since Alhaitham was a part of the team that "rescued" their Archon and the entire Sumeru is still in an uproar. The news traveled fast about what happened, and he needed to escape to the desert just to avoid everyone who wanted to either ask him what happened or butter up to him. Everyone that knows him has pestered him about details regarding their daring mission, which annoys him very much. 

Nahida breaks the silence by asking, "How have you been?" 

Alhaitham replies quietly, "Everyone who knows me won't stop pestering me for details. I have no intention of divulging what exactly happened, especially the man-made god part. That information should only be delivered by you." 

"I apologize for putting you in such a… pickle. That idiom really sounds better when said during a busy time." 

"I am indeed busier than ever," he says, stopping to check the files on his chart to look at her. "Is there anything I can do for you?" 

Nahida points at a stack of paper in front of her, which Alhaitham takes. He quickly reads through the letters before letting out a sigh. 

"The Grand Sage has really resigned," Alhaitham nods, "as he should. I doubt that any scholar would want to work with him right now, and this is the best decision he can make." 

"So as you can see, the Grand Sage position is currently vacant," Nahida says, taking out another piece of paper. "I want you to consider this." 

Before Alhaitham could even read what was in the paper, he already guessed that their Archon would want him to be the new Grand Sage. He still read through Nahida's proposal out of respect. 

"I decline." 

"I insist." 

"I prefer to live a simple life, free from politics and too many obligations. Being a scribe is the only position that I will be in; I do not have any ambitions to aim higher than where I currently belong." 

Nahida's brows furrow. Though she knows that Alhaitham prefers to be left alone, she thinks that the prospect of having the highest authority in Sumeru will sway him. Humans are really interesting. 

"I haven't chosen anyone else yet to be the new Grand Sage, and you are someone I have personally worked with… If you think the rescue mission and the aftermath we did were us working together. Can you reconsider?" 

"I apologize, Lesser Lord Kusanali, but my decision is final. I am already content with where I am." 

Nahida claps her hands together and says, "There's a significant increase in your pay! And you can take a vacation leave. Also, you get to help me choose the Sages who will replace those who resigned. I will throw in a nap time on your schedule if you like."

Alhaitham looks directly at Nahida, disappointment etched across his face, "No means no. I am quite happy with--" 

"I apologize for entering the office of the Grand Sage without prior notice," a blonde man says as he enters from the elevator. 

Alhaitham's eyes widened in wonder, "Kaveh? What are you doing here?" 

Kaveh takes a deep breath before speaking, "I didn't expect you to be here before the end of your shift. But I have something important to report to the Grand Sage."