In Your Eyes: Empyrean Admonition

You Have Lunch at the Akademiya

Akademiya, Sumeru City, Sumeru

Alhaitham and Kaveh walk in front of you, talking about random things you don't understand. Earlier, all three of you decided to eat together. Now they are bickering over something that happened in the past. You don't usually interrupt them when they are having a heated conversation, which actually happens quite a lot, and let them talk things through until they agree to disagree.

"I told you, if you approve of that house, the river along the other side will destroy it in time," Kaveh says while waving his hand. "If you can just let me alter something in the plan..."

Alhaitham stops walking and looks back at him, "Why don't you contact the architect and builders yourself and convince them to change whatever you want?"

"Huh. Fine, the architect involved is my junior anyway."

When all three of you reach the Akademiya doors, you finally notice that the other researchers have been wanting to talk with any of them. The powerful Acting Grand Sage and the famous Light of Ksharewar, you start to feel insignificant while walking beside your companions. You slowly walk behind them when you realize you are wearing the Matra trainee garb, to others you might just be a Matra assigned for the security of these two.

Alhaitham leads the way to the cafeteria and when he opens the door, the smell of meat, spices, and coffee wafts through you and you suddenly feel really hungry. Even though he technically leads the entire Akademiya, Alhaitham still falls in line for the food. He reaches around and hands you a tray before pushing you in the line in front of him. His hand stays on your shoulder and you can feel his thumb making small circles trying to relax you.

"You've been quiet," he whispers. You can feel his warmth as he moves a bit close.

Too close in fact, then you can hear other researchers whispering with each other. Who is that Matra? Why is the Acting Grand Sage being too close to that Matra? Wait– are those rabbit ears? Master Tighnari also has cute ears, are they from the same lineage?

"I'm just tired," you say while trying to move a bit farther.

Alhaitham's eyes widen before he drops his hands, he takes a quick look around while sighing. Kaveh is currently surrounded by other Ksharewar researchers and you can hear snippets of their conversations regarding his work. Your hearing also picks up conversation regarding Alhaitham, but he doesn't seem to care.

Once your tray is laden with samosas, buttered chicken, and a heaping portion of rice, you look around and search for a spot. You look back at your companions, Kaveh is being herded off by the Kshahrewar researchers and he mouths 'Sorry!' before he walks away while Alhaitham is stopped by an important looking man. They seem to be talking about something important but the Acting Grand Sage stops the other man before he can talk again.

"It's my lunch break right now and I want to eat. We can talk about your issue tomorrow at the meeting, probably in front of the other Sage candidates." Alhaitham walks closer to you before adding, "Every candidate is going to be screened by the Matra, so unless you doubt the Mahamatra's ability to discern the candidates I suggest you talk to Cyno about it."

Before the Sage candidate can speak, Alhaitham turns around and ushers you to a corner table. You can feel how stressed he is right now, he even goes on overtime recently which is quite rare.

When you are sure that nobody can eavesdrop, you quickly ask him, "Are you alright? You seem to be rushing something."

The corner of his lips curl into a shy smile before he says in a low voice, "Someone is plotting to overthrow me. I'm preparing something important to make sure that person will not become a Sage."