Breaking His Concentration (Alhaitham x Kaveh)

Chapter 4: A Dance

Kaveh's POV

I groaned and walked upstairs to the attic. Of course he would just leave like that. Whatever. It didn't matter. I had things of my own to work on that were just as important as the Acting Grand Sage's plans for the day. There was just a few things to finish. I spread out my blueprints and brought out my wooden pencil. I shut my eye, and started drawing ideas down. I had work to do. But in the silence my mind started to wander. Alhaitham was behaving strangely, not in the way he normally seemed to behave. It really was quite strange for him. But trying to explain the things Alhaitham did was pointless. He always did whatever he wanted to do. I was so lost in thought I hadn't even realized that I had finished the blueprints. I was working on blueprints to a new section of the library that was soon to be built. As the Akademiya's official architect, it was my job to contract plans for big jobs like this. Now I just had to give this to the Acting Grand Sage, which just my luck, happened to be Alhaitham.

My footsteps were sharp as I ascended the large spiral that let to the blue crystal doors of the Akademiya. I shook my head. I had always disagreed with the fact that the Akademiya stood above everyone else in Sumeru. Almost as if saying they were better than anyone else. I pressed on the blue crystal doors to open myself to a new world. People in scholar uniforms were buzzing about, exchanging information and reading books off the shelves. I watched as a young woman approached me, wearing the uniform of a second year.

"Hello master Kaveh. What sort of business are you here for today?"

"I need to see the Acting Grand Sage. Where is he?"

"Sir, the Acting Grand Sage is currently in a meeting with the General Mahamatra currently. I'm not sure when he will be done with the meeting sir."

I waved my hand at her. It was just Cyno. I would make this quick, all I needed to do was drop the blueprints off with him.

"No matter. I'll simply drop these plans off. They won't even notice me. Thank you."

I dipped my head to the woman who started to raise her voice in opposition, but before she could say anything I took off down the path to the official meeting room. It was straight down from the entry way, two grand doors triple my size guarding the large room. Once I pushed the doors open I was greeted with sunlight streaming down from the heavens. This room was the library, every shelf covered with books with young students milling about, trying to absorb as much information as they could. And then I walked towards the center of the room, a large green shaft going up, wrapped around a center glowing platform. The elevator. I walked into the tree-like shaft and placed my feet inside the glowing center, and felt my body rush up as it transported me up to the second floor.

And sure enough, when I was at the top floor, Cyno and Alhaitham were sitting on a small oak table with papers on the table, seemingly in deep disussion. Neither of them noticed my presence, so it must have been important. I cleared my throat and walked forward, throwing my blueprints on the table.

"Blueprints for the new addition to the library. Just like you requested."

Alhaitham raised his head to look at me, his eyes burning with pure hatred.

"Ahhhh, Kaveh. How nice to see you again."

Cyno looked up at me, smiling as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"How very unpleasant to see you here, interrupting my meeting."

Alhaitham snapped, grabbing the prints off the desk and taking a quick glance over them.

"I just thought you needed them right away. A thank you would be appreciated."

"Well you aren't getting one."