Work Text:
The Hive looked pretty impressive, Alhaitham had to admit. A huge underground cave hidden from the outside world, perfect for conducting illegal experiments. Inside of tiny houses scattered around the area lived hundreds, if not thousands of Akademiya scholars who decided to abandon their past selves and become a part of the collective consciousness. They were led by Siraj, the Overmind, the creator of this whole project. Siraj’s goal was simple and clear – he desired a position of the Grand Sage. In order to achieve this, he needed to eliminate a single obstacle which stood on his way, namely the current Acting Grand Sage. He used one of his obedient “workers”, a young man called Ilyas, to lure Alhaitham into the Hive completely alone. There he stood, surrounded by bloodthirsty scholars and terrifying monsters. In spite of the unnerving situation, the Scribe was calm and collected as always, the usual smirk never leaving his face. Siraj wanted to wipe it out so badly.
- Give up, Haitham. You have no chance of winning. All you need is to resign from your title at the Akademiya, then I’ll let you go. You don’t want it anyway, do you?
- You are right Siraj, I’ve already planned to resign. The position of the Acting Grand Sage is definitely not for me, but I’ll never leave the Akademiya for someone so corrupted and incompetent like you. Besides, I think that your experiment is utmost cruel and inhumane. It needs to end now, and I’ll take care of it! – the Scribe remained firm in his beliefs.
Siraj only burst out laughing.
- Dear Acting Grand Sage, I have an army of a thousand men and women at my disposal and everyone just dreams of getting rid of you. I can also summon a probably infinite number of monsters. Don't be so naive, you won't be able to defeat them all, even with your Vision.
- Then I'll die trying - Haitham gritted his teeth - But first, let's wait for the little gift I prepared for you.
- A gift? I've just taken care of it. You'll never destroy my Hive, no matter how hard you try - Siraj pointed his finger at the Scribe - Get him!
At his command, both scholars and monsters began attacking. Alhaitham summoned a Dendro blade to his aid. He fought them all swiftly, smooth slashes cutting through the flesh of his enemies. However, after a few rounds, he started feeling really tired. His muscles hurt like hell, he was barely able to hold both swords, so he dropped the Dendro one. It did help, but only for a moment. The monsters kept coming and coming. Heavy breaths filled the air, Haitham felt cold drops of sweat running down his hair, face and back. His hands trembled.
"Curses. There's too many of them" - he muttered under his breath.
- Last chance, Scribe. Do what I told you and I'll be merciful and let you walk away - Siraj announced with a sinister grin.
The enemies stopped attacking, giving the man a much needed break. Haitham looked at the screens displaying the system responsible for the whole Hive. With the information he implanted into Ilyas they should've gone red a long time ago. But they stayed green with no signs of malfunction. The Scribe's master plan didn't seem to work, making him even more scared.
"Why?! I've thought everything through so carefully!" - the Acting Grand Sage thought desperately, letting fear slowly overcome his body.
- So, Haitham? What's your decision?
- I...will...never give up! - Alhaitham shouted and got ready to fight again. Suddenly, a sword of his opponent pierced his side, leaving a deep wound. The Scribe's eyes widened in shock. The scholar pulled the blade out, making Haitham scream as a sharp pain spread through him. A white light flashed before his eyes. He fell on the ground in an instant. When he regained consciousness there was Siraj standing in front of him with pure contempt written all over his face.
- You should've accepted my proposal, but you refused. So you got what you deserve - the evil man kicked the Scribe on his wounded side, eliciting an animalistic shriek from him. A scholar next to him raised his sword, planning to give the final blow, but it never came.
- Leave him alone. He needs to suffer a bit more - Siraj stopped his "worker", spat on the ground and left - the Akademiya is waiting for its new Grand Sage.
Alhaitham, a deeply rational, down-to-earth man, knew that death is an inherent part of a natural cycle of life and it'll claim him eventually. He even imagined his own passing - in a warm bed, surrounded by those who matter to him the most - especially Kaveh. But there he was - laying in a cold cave, completely alone, bloodied and broken. He didn't want to go like this. Never like this. His survival instincts told him to act immediately. Haitham raised his shaking hand and applied pressure to the wound, whining pitifully. However, he was far to weak to stop the bleeding; crimson blood was leaking between his fingers, forming a dark puddle on the ground. It was also spilling from his lips, making it harder to breathe. With every minute passing, the Scribe's condition was significantly worsening. Alhaitham became delirious from blood loss and constant pain.
"Someone find me...I wanna go home...Kaveh, please..." - he thought, crying and shivering uncontrollably. He tried using his Vision as a last resort, but the stone just flickered and went out, dying before its owner.
"I'm so sorry...I failed everyone...Lesser Lord Kusanali, the Akademiya and Sumeru" - all the emotions Alhaitham supressed for years found now their way out.
- No, you didn't - all of a sudden, the dying man heard a familiar voice. Childish, but full of wisdom and sorrow. He turned his head weakly in its direction. He couldn't believe what he saw. By his side sat nobody else, but the Dendro Archon herself. Her eyes were so sad, glistening with unshed tears.
- Lesser... - the Scribe tried to say, but even this simple activity occured too difficult for him.
- Shh..., don't strain yourself, there's no need to use your voice. Just think. I'm not here physically, but in your head. Besides, you don't have to be that formal. Call me Nahida - the Archon smiled mournfully at him.
- How is this possible? - it was definitely beyond Alhaitham's comprehension. Probably he was hallucinating.
- Everyone in Sumeru is worried because of your disappearance. Cyno formed an expedition to look for you, but with no success. So he asked me for help. I decided to connect to your brain and find you this way. But I'm afraid it's too late. You're dying, Haitham.
- Yes, I know - the Scribe answered calmly. The mere presence of Lesser Lord Kusanali soothed him. He finally felt at peace, ready for the inevitable.
Nahida summoned a Temple of Wisdom around them. Despite the distance between them, the young man felt a familiar Dendro energy, freeing him from the pain. He sighed with great relief. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to repair his mutilated body.
- I'm sorry, I cannot do more for you - Nahida started crying, teardrops falling down her little face on Haitham's body, mixing with his blood.
"Lesser Lord is crying for me" - Alhaitham's heart shattered into million pieces.
It took a while for the Archon to regain her composure.
- Do you have any last wishes? - she asked.
- Tell Kaveh that I loved him. Make sure he's not alone after my passing. Keep him safe. And to Cyno, Tighnari, Nilou and Traveller - that they were the best friends I've ever had.
- Kaveh loves you too. I saw it in his dreams. Don't worry, I'll take a good care of him - Nahida promised.
- Thank you for everything - the Scribe wanted to say something else, but the world around him became darker and blurrier. Alhaitham noticed that he couldn't move his limbs anymore. It was so hard to keep his eyes open.
- It's okay, Haitham. You can rest now. There's no need to fight any longer - Kusanali's voice eased the man into his death, and her small hand was gently stroking his cheek.
Alhaitham obeyed and everything went black.
***
Light.
It was the first thing Alhaitham felt after he woke up, followed by soft grass and warm breeze caressing his body. Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked at the clear blue sky. This sight startled him. He tried to gather his thoughts and remind himself what was he doing before he fell asleep, but his mind was blank.
“Wasn’t I supposed to be somewhere else?”
Confused Scribe sat up, marvelling at his surroundings. Vast meadows, green trees here and there, colorful flowers, birds singing cheerfully and cute fennec foxes looking at him with curiosity. There was no usual hustle and bustle of the streets, just pure nature, untouched by human hands. The atmosphere was so peaceful and quiet. Haitham thought he wouldn't need his earpieces in this blissful area, so he reached for his head to take them off, but there was nothing. It surprised him even more, as he doesn't go anywhere without them. There's no way he just forgot them. So maybe he was robbed? He decided to check if he had his pouch with books and keys to the apartment. As he looked at his waist, he gasped in shock. His usual clothes - skintight shirt, black pants and cape with teal elements disappeared, replaced by a pristine white robe.
"What the hell is going on in here?"
The man sat on the ground, breathing deeply to calm himself down. He surely was in Sumeru, but the area looked different for an unknown reason. And why is he dressed like this? Suddenly, memories hit him like a tidal wave. The Hive. Fighting Siraj's scholars and monsters. Fatal wound in his side. And finally, Lesser Lord Kusanali's soothing presence.
"Is it the afterlife?". Alhaitham never believed in life after death. He had always though that after one's passing there is nothing, but darkness and nothingness. And yet he was clearly dead, locked in this bizzare place, which was supposed to be a paradise. So why wasn't he happy? Something just felt off. There was nobody around, except for him. Sure, the copy of Sumeru was amazingly beautiful, but cold and empty at the same time. The Scribe felt very lonely all of a sudden. Where should he go now? What to do, when there is an eternity before him, and no ideas for the future?
- Haitham! - a voice calling his name snapped him out of his gloomy thoughts.
He turned around and saw a familiar figure going in his direction. It was an elderly woman, but youthful at he same time, emanating health and energy. He recognized her instantly, even though many years had passed before they last saw each other.
- Grandma! - the Scribe called, ran up to her beloved grandmother and hugged her tightly. He was so strong, so he lifted her up in the air by an accident.
- Put me down, dear - the woman laughed - Last time it was me who carried you in my arms, and now apparently the roles have reversed. Long time no see, my little falcon. But I'd rather wait even longer, it's still far too early.
- I'm sorry, I have made many mistakes. If I had planned everything better, this would not have happened - he started feeling guilty again.
- Don't blame yourself, little one. You were so brave. A true hero of Sumeru - grandma kept her grandson close to her heart, comforting him - What a handsome man you've become. No wonder this guy's crazy about you. What was his name? Kaveh?
- Grandma, stop this! - Haitham jumped back, and a red blush bloomed on his face.
- Alright, I won't tease you anymore - the old woman changed the subject - How about a little walk? I would like to introduce you to the previous sages and scholars of the Akademiya. They'd love to meet you and hear how Sumeru has changed through the years. And be sure to teach them the card game you are all playing now. How is it called? "Genius Innovation?"
- Invocation, Grandma - Alhaitham laughed and smiled at the woman with love filling his heart - Sure, I will.
Maybe being dead isn't so bad after all. He will miss Kaveh a lot though. The Scribe promised himself that he will watch over his beloved one and wait for him, even for eternity.