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Kaveh....Kaveh.....KAVEH. 

RIGHT! 

He was one of the most popular architects from Kshahrewar darshan. How could I forget such a personality...but what puts me at the spot is, 

"How on earth are you two even related gasp could he possibly be your lover?! I don't know I've heard rumors across Akademiya.." I asked. Alhaitham flinched and instantly face palmed. 

"...Was I right..?" 

~long awkward silence~

"In no possible or logical way is he my lover. I'm not obsessed with love novels but I'm certain, you wouldn't have the feeling of throwing your lover off a cliff or feeding him to spinocrocodiles. He somehow ended up as my room mate and I'm waiting for the day to find my peace again." 

I turned my head away from his look and glanced at the other man who approached us closer. I turned back and looked back at Alhaitham, with a sly smirk of course. 

"Don't even begin with your love novel plots." Alhaitham said in a threatening tone. I smirked. "You are in denial, Alhaitham." he sighed in annoyance.

Kaveh reached us on his sumpter beast, almost refusing to get down and greet us. He held a wide grin. The man who was before me was absolutely dashing and charming just like how he was described. His blonde streaks and red eyes which matched his elegant outfit paired with intricately designed accessories. 

Alhaitham grumbled slightly and stared at Kaveh. "You know Alhaitham, try leaving the door key somewhere in my reach next time. I had to sleep outside."

"Deserves you well."  Alhaitham blurted out. 

Archons the hostility in the air was starting to get too intense.

They were looking into each others eyes and I could only recall love novel scenarios except I'm third wheeling them right now... Kaveh burst into laughing all of a sudden.

"Oh hahaha! Please I cannot stop laughing at the sight I'm seeing right now... The most neatest Alhaitham, covered in mud from head to bottom like a child! " Kaveh kept laughing like a maniac at Alhaitham as he wiped his fake tears off.

"Seems like you've inhaled too much of nitrous oxides have you? At the rate, you might just die out of your hysterical laughter." Alhaitham sarcastically replied back at the blonde man who sat on the Sumpter Beast.

I stood between the two men, unable to comprehend the situation I was in.

"...Hahaha! oh...Oh my archons, I haven't had such a good laugh in a long time....especially at the nonchalant Alhaitham. " Kaveh remarked as he set his gaze on me.

I slightly flinched at his sudden gaze. Kaveh left a slight smirk.

"Oh~ I didn't know you were also capable of getting a girlfriend, Alhaitham. Wait till Madam Faruzan hears this! Ha! I can already see her bursting out of laughter."

Critical hit! I flinched with my eyes widened while Alhaitham's face went red. It was the first time anyone had ever seen Alhaitham so flustered let alone me.

No way I'm letting this random blonde, whom I've met for the first time in my life tease me like that!  I thought.

"You know Kaveh, I feel like rubbing your handsome face against the mud, as you should be knowing, mud does give people some real good beauty enhancing features!" I said sarcastically with an evil chuckle.

"Agreed Y/n, let me help you with that. Perhaps you'll be able to get a partner after your face gets much, much better, Kaveh." Alhaitham said along.

A dark aura was around us two which made Kaveh feel a shiver. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Fine, fine....goodness who thought your girlfriend would be as fierce as you in talking threats?" Kaveh told.

"You are wronged Genius of Kshahrewar, it's Y/n from Vahumana Darshan to you." I said out loud as I was tired of getting these random shocks whenever he called me Alhaitham's girlfriend.

Kaveh's eyes widened and he was seen to gulp nervously. He stared at Alhaitham in disbelief. Alhaitham had a little smirk. He got off his sumpter beast, dirtying his neatly maintained boots with mud. 

"ALHAITHAM YOU RASCAL. You were practically arguing with such a PRETTY and FINE LADY here! HOW COULD EVEN ONE FEEL TO ARGUE WITH SUCH A DIGNIFIED PERSON? AND HOW ARE YOU BOTH EVEN PAIRED UP TOGETHER FOR A MISSION?"  

Alhaitham scoffed and looked away, refusing to answer. I stood there chuckling and also processing the behavior change Kaveh went through. 

"Well then Kaveh, leave the matter be it. I suppose we both did learn to come over our egos. We were paired up to uncover a truth behind the newly discovered ruins in Sumeru." I answered in Alhaitham's stead but..Kaveh still kept giving those annoyed expressions at Alhaitham. The other man was no different.

Surely their relationship would be enemies to lovers plots. How romantic.

"Well then, The weather seems to be getting worse once more. If we don't reach soon, we'll be drenched in rain, Y/n." Alhaitham said. 

Oh archons. Walking through the mud was already bad enough of an experience and now a rain. Heavens no, why does my day keep getting worse each moment.

"Well then let's get going, I suppose...a pleasure meeting you sir Kaveh." I said with a smile. He smiled and asked, 

"Are you to head towards the town ahead? It is quite popular for its drinks and its architecture. I was going to visit there for motivation, perhaps I can offer m'lady a ride on my sumpter beast." Kaveh asked as he caressed his sumpter beast. "Ah this is my dear sumpter beast, Lydia." 

I chuckled at how caring Kaveh was towards his sumpter beast meanwhile he behaved like an angry cat at Alhaitham. 

I turned over and looked at Alhaitham to see his reaction. I wondered would it be okay. He closed his eyes and sighed. I didn't know if he was irritated by the idea or not but it wasn't right for me to ditch the one I'm supposed to working with in middle of no where and go along with his friend.

"...and what about Alhaitham? " I asked in a low tone desperately praying to not cause another conflict here.

"That won't be necessary. You can leave with him. I would like to have some time around here." The latter quickly replied way before Kaveh could. 

"And what if you get lost? It's in middle of a forest, Alhaitham." 

"I'm more self conscious of the surrounding I am in, unlike the certain someone who got chased by Rishboland tigers. I suppose I'll be fine considering I've undergone through that situation as well." He bluntly told.

I gave him a scornful look. Kaveh got on his sumpter beast with ease and brought his hand forward to help me get on. 

"Aha.....I won't fall and break my bones right?" I asked out of concern as I quickly sat down right as I got up. 

"Don't worry you won't, if you want hold onto my cape." Kaveh suggested. "Well then see you later, Scribe boy." he sarcastically said to Alhaitham. I chuckled nervously and waved my hands at Alhaitham.

He nodded. "Well then, I'll see you there later." 

Soon Lydia, or so what Kaveh called his sumpter beast, began running through the mud quickly, unlike the last time when he approached us at a slow pace. Due to my fear getting over me, I kept clenching my fists, holding Kaveh's cape firmly and shutting my eyes.

"Well looks like the madam of the Vahumana Darshan is quite scared." Kaveh joked. 

"I..-I ! Let alone a sumpter beast I have not even rode on any horses! How do you expect me to get used to this quickly!" I asked shouting loudly.

"Well..Try opening those eyes of yours and look around! Admire the beauty around you to overcome fear. It isn't everyday you get to see such scenarios at Sumeru City." Kaveh said chuckling. He was quite enjoying this.  

I heeded his words of advice and slowly opened one of my eyes to witness the vast forests filled with wildlife and how the grey clouds were slowly hiding the sun, partially. The cold breeze kept blowing my hair backward. 

I left a 'woah' at the scenery. Pearls of water slowly began drizzling down from the sky as it gently hit the ground. 

I stretched my fingers and brought my hand up, trying to look at the sky. Yep, I cannot help but admit that Kaveh was right. 

"So is the madam enjoying?" 

"Goodness, stop calling me with that weird title considering You are a senior at Kshahrewar Darshan! and yes, I'm enjoying this!" 

"Oh how could I not? You are like one of those big shots at Akademiya who are widely respected. I've read a thing or two about your theories regarding civilizations that had arisen earlier but collapsed due to an unknown curse. Skipping the boring historical part of it, I was more curious of the architecture."

"I momentarily forgot that you were an esteemed architect and not a fascinated historian, but yes architecture is something that I couldn't decipher from the available scriptures. If the current task assigned to me and Alhaitham would bear any results, I'll make sure to send you a personal report to your office at Akademiya." 

He had left a small laugh. I was confused for a moment.

"What's the matter...did I say something wrong that sounded funny?"

"Ah no no, that's not it. I noticed how much of a change you have while talking. Just earlier you gave me the worst threat ever and now all of a sudden we're having a serious 'work' talk...I'd say this is something fresh to me as I only get Alhaitham's logical lectures." He said it with enthusiasm except at the last part where he slightly sounded annoyed.

"I do envy the fact that you and Alhaitham have...quite a great relationship." 

"Excuse me? Him and I? heavens no, If I had a chance I would actually throw him off a cliff or feed him to spinocrocodiles but then I really depend on him at the moment..." 

I chuckled and said, " You know, he said the very same thing. Ironic isn't it?" 

"Ahem, then I should really be exercising caution...all I know is that when he gives a word, he'll do it without any remorse of emotions." Kaveh shuddered at the thought. 

"Ahaha, please I'm sure he would go 'I don't have time for such ill-logical and wasteful things.' then give a very unamused expression."

Kaveh burst out in laughter. "Oh great, so even you have got used to it now!" 

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After a while, we reached the town that was being spoken of. It was indeed lively just like how Kaveh and Alhaitham had described it to be. Lots of people were around, walking by and having their days go by like it should. 

Kaveh had to go return the Sumpter beast as he had borrowed it before coming through the marshlands and the lender's assistants were around the town. 

I turned around towards the entrance of the town and tried looking for Alhaitham, who had yet not arrived. It did worry me a little that he was going to arrive late but then knowing him, he had no problems in walking fast or reaching a place on time.

Suddenly I heard a little boy shout and ask with a tone laced with worry. I turned towards the direction of the voice and noticed the boy having tears in his eyes, while a man stood before him.

"Doctor! please! My mother...she is not well!! I-...I promise to pay the money for the treatment but please! save her! save my dear mother..!!" The boy pleaded to the man before him. The man gave him a cold shudder. 

 "Hmph, go. I don't think I can treat her without the money. You see the medicines for Eleazar are quite expensive and has to be brought from all the way from Avidya to here." 

Eleazar. 

That word, gave me a heartache. A stinging pain. A revived feeling of grief and loneliness...It felt like a curse bound around me. 

The very same disease that took away both my, mother's and father's lives away...

No...that child doesn't deserve this cruel fate...

"Hey you! I will pay for the treatment, hurry up and go save that child's mother." I told with a raised voice.  

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END

A/n : HELLO YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR THE 20K READS <3 sorry for being away but I'm still having exams and my winter break starts the coming Friday...