The Paradisaea and the Vultur

8

Al-Haitham does not mind his job. He has the necessary skills to be a scribe, and while there are times when the workload seems excessive, Al-Haitham is adept at scheduling plenty of free time for him to read books or work on experiments that have caught his attention. There is a part of him that finds enjoyment in doing what his grandmother before him did considering how important she was to him, but if this job was not fit for him, Al-Haitham would have found a different career. Although he likes structure, Al-Haitham could change his entire life if his current conditions were unideal and showed no signs of improving in the long term. Comfort was one of the cornerstones for a life well-lived, after all. Even a scholar like Al-Haitham knew the importance of such tenets.

Despite his complacency in his work as a scribe, he will always return home with a muddled mind and aching limbs. The walk from the Sanctuary of Surasthana to the manor the regents gave him helps smooth out the hazards of sitting at a desk for the majority of the day, and the fresh air does wonders for his mind. Additionally, the idea of home has grown appealing to Al-Haitham in recent years. There are books on his shelves meant to be read. There is good food set on his table meant to be eaten. Most of all, there is a blonde architect who can be reasoned with or riled up depending on Al-Haitham's inclination toward a pleasant conversion or a debate.

As Al-Haitham crosses the threshold into the manor, he remembers that the last appealing quality of his home is no longer available to him. The foyer is dim with candlelight and the twilight sky seeping in through the windows. A servant comes to take his coat, but they do not bear any expression on their face. Even if they did, nothing is quite like the emotions that fall across Kaveh's face when he comes to greet the scribe after a long day. Even on the days when Kaveh was far more tired than Al-Haitham, Kaveh would be waiting in one of the chairs in the sitting room with the door wide open so he would know when Al-Haitham got home. The only days Kaveh wouldn't be there were when the architect was off on a trip to build something in a different city, but he would always tell Al-Haitham about those trips before he left.

Al-Haitham wouldn't be surprised if Kaveh wasn't here even if Al-Haitham had not gotten word about him being gone, however. Al-Haitham sighs. The servant looks up at him, eyes flashing with confusion. Al-Haitham minutely shakes his head, silently informing the servant that they are not at fault for Al-Haitham's foul mood. With the assurance hanging in the air, Al-Haitham starts walking towards one of the hallways branching off from the foyer. When he's halfway there, the servant coughs. Al-Haitham looks over his shoulder. The servant ducks their head respectfully, "Master Kaveh is in his office."

Al-Haitham did not ask, but he did not let the information so courageously given go to waste. Al-Haitham turns on his heel. He steps into the hallway opposite the one he usually uses to get to his room and office. This hallway is completely dark, but Al-Haitham follows the distant light cutting across the shadows at the end of the hall. Kaveh's office door is ajar, a sliver of light peeking out along with the muffled sound of his humming. Al-Haitham pulls the door open, but he leans against the threshold instead of making his presence known.

Kaveh's office is a rather large room. There are statues in every corner and paintings on every wall. These paintings have been covered by a white cloth draping across them. In the center of the office, three desks have been combined to make an open square with an entrance aimed toward the door. Each of the desks is piled high with blueprints and design books, each pile precariously remaining upright. The farthest desk from the door is where Kaveh mostly works with a mechanical piece that rises when Kaveh wants to stand while drawing rather than sit. There is a huge sheet of paper on the mechanically lifted board, a lamp attached to the top to provide enough light to illuminate the glossiness of the charcoal. The rest of the room is lit by the starlight falling through a large window dominating an entire wall in front of Kaveh's main desk.