The Paradisaea and the Vultur

11

Gurabad was mentioned in The Water Lily and the Vulture, but it was never visited by the main characters. It was known as Collei's hometown and the birthplace of the rebellion that was squashed years before the book began. The characters would allude to it, particularly the regents, but it wasn't anything worth considering in the long term since it was truly unimportant. It only served to show that there were once people completely unsatisfied with the regents and God-King Kusanali to the point that they decided it would be better to form their own nation. While Kaveh didn't necessarily blame them, he did hate the rebellion for what it did to Collei and the other children who failed to survive the experiments.

Kaveh is unsurprisingly fascinated by Gurabad. He has never been this far from the capital, and he's never seen buildings quite like these. They follow the older trends of architecture, the ones that have faded by the time Kaveh came into his own as the Paradisaea Sage. They are also right on the cusp of dilapidation and disrepair. Any resources that could have been used to keep the buildings clean and sturdy were repurposed for the rebellion. Once the rebellion was squashed, Gurabad didn't get many supplies nor did they have the money to purchase from wandering traders. The people of Gurabad had to settle for what they were left with after the war against Sumeru's matra.

Kaveh feels as bad for the buildings as he does for the people. He sits on a cliff overlooking Gurabad at the edges of the poorest district. He has a sketchbook settled in his lap. He is thankful for his foresight to bring a whole new sketchbook rather than using his usual one because he is filling nearly every page with new designs. While he understands that Azar was probably setting up a trap by bringing them all here, Kaveh is going to focus on his job instead of worrying about what he cannot presently understand. Even if Kaveh wasn't keen on doing work, the architect in his heart yearns to mold the clay that has been presented in front of him. For as broken as Gurabad is, Kaveh can only see potential. He can only see opportunity, and his hands have already shown him sketches of what could be made true. Kaveh will have to go down for further inspections to make sure that his plans carry a note of realism, but at the moment, he is content to fantasize about what he could potentially do if the people of Gurabad and the regents of Sumeru City give him permission.

Mehrak is settled on the rock Kaveh is leaning against. She has gone silent as she recharges. Kaveh leaves her to it. He only brought her because he needed someone to carry his sketchbook and charcoal sticks. He would have brought them in his own arms, but Mehrak likes working with him. She seems to enjoy the purpose she has been given in life, even when her capabilities far surpass what Kaveh is currently using them for.

Kaveh looks up sharply when he hears rock shifting behind him. Kaveh feels a smile tug on his lips despite himself. He should have been ignoring his friends, but he couldn't refuse Nilou when she came to his door to beg him to come with them to see Gurabad from the edge of the city. She promised that Azar had permitted them, and Kaveh had no reason to doubt her. Even if she was lying about Azar, Kaveh doesn't actually care all that much about what the regent does or doesn't give them permission for. Kaveh has already lost so much to the regent that Kaveh is more than willing to piss him off by going to an unapproved location. Spending time with his friends is only a bonus that fills Kaveh's body with excitement and anticipation, even if he knows that his friends are going to ask him questions about his recent behavior rather than telling him stories about their personal lives. Kaveh will listen to their questions. He might even answer them if he gets confirmation that a certain event has finally taken place.

Kaveh looks over his shoulder. His smile falters when he sees Al-Haitham walking towards him. Kaveh hurriedly looks back at his sketchbook to hide his expression. His frown is deep, but it does very little to hide the warmth that floods his cheeks. Kaveh tries to coax his blood anywhere else to hide the red color, but the embarrassment has become as constant a companion around Kaveh as Al-Haitham has been. It never used to be like this. Al-Haitham and Kaveh have done, relatively speaking, more romantic activities, but it never meant anything to Kaveh. Or, rather, Kaveh never thought it meant something to Al-Haitham. Kaveh was barely conscious of his own feelings, so he was completely oblivious to the fact that Al-Haitham was holding him for more reasons than just because it lessened the impact of his migraines or because he didn't trust a drunk Kaveh.