Chapter Text
“And you’re sure it’s down there? That’s awfully deep.” Kaveh was staring down an elevator shaft, surrounded by the machinery of a long-forgotten civilization. Pipes snaked their way through the rocky walls and sand of the cave below the desert, ancient devices still pulsing with glowing energy. The Traveller had drawn them a crude map to show where they had found the Gate.
“According to this scribble - yes.” Alhaitham pointed at the piece of paper in his hands, sketchy and crooked lines depicting a way through tunnels and crevices. A few words were added, rough and almost unintelligible. Kaveh remembered the apologetic and sheepish look on the Traveller's face as they apologized for the bad penmanship.
“You don’t have to be so mean. They tried their best!” Kaveh swallowed. “Even with a glider that’s looking a bit… dangerous.” He stepped away from the small hole in the ground, leading deep into the bowels of the factory. Nausea rose from his stomach and the world spun for just a moment.
“It was your idea. You wanted to investigate this ancient Khaenri’ahn gate. I’m simply here to make sure you don’t do anything foolish.” The Scribe had stashed the map away, crossing his arms and staring at the blonde with an incredulous look. “So, are we going down there or not?”
With a few deep breaths, Kaveh shook his head and clapped his hands against his cheeks. He wouldn’t let Kaeya down. “Here goes nothing!”
The fall was a lot less intimidating than Kaveh thought. The shaft quickly expanded into a massive metal tube, leading all the way down into some sort of control room. Panels still flickering with energy littered the walls, a console on both sides, destroyed and sparking. Kaveh was reminded of the Traveller's words, explaining how Khaenri’ah had used energy called Azosite to power all these factories and machinery. Even Ruin Guards were powered by that same source! If the circumstances were different, the architect would have loved to jump right into the heart of it, maybe even improving further on Mehrak. But now was not the time. He followed Alhaitham through a narrow passage, littered with grey crystalline spikes protruding from the ground and walls everywhere. Getting near them made Kaveh’s blood freeze in his veins.
“We’re here.”
Slightly out of breath, he clambered up the sandy slope to be greeted by a massive gate at the far end of the spacious cave, adorned with gold and red accents. An intersecting four-cornered star proudly sat atop the double door. It was illuminated by a hole in the ceiling, letting in some of the searing desert sun, the golden finish around the doorframe reflecting the light.
Kaveh couldn’t help but gawk at the sight. “Incredible. What a marvel of architectural design! How was it even built? The size and material alone must have been almost impossible to procure. And the foundation…” Alhaitham watched as his Senior raised a hand to his chin, mumbling to himself. As the architect wouldn’t stop his rambling Alhaitham cleared his throat. “Kaveh, focus.”
Blond hair fell around the other’s cheeks as Kaveh snapped his head up: “Oh! Of course, let’s get closer. Maybe we can find a way to open it up, like a mechanism.”
The pair started climbing the massive roots hanging from the walls and into the cavern, trying to find a way across, as the great stone bridge that would usually connect over the yawning chasm and to the gate had crumbled. Out of breath and jealous of Alhaitham’s teleportation magic, Kaveh finally found a path and landed in front of the two stone doors, clutching to his knees.
“While I was wheezing my lungs out did you at least find something to open this gate?” The Scribe shook his head and kept rounding the gigantic structure. Kaveh raised his gaze to spot two statues of some sort of knights, in a pose that indicated them standing guard. They had been coated with a golden finish. Right in front of the twin doors sat a Mourning Flower. He had noticed more and more of that specimen growing along the path to the gate. It had been quite a few months since the commission in Mondstadt and Kaveh still frequently exchanged letters with the Cavalry Captain. One day Kaveh was surprised to read that Kaeya wanted him to investigate that peculiar door further. It wasn’t an order but a simple request. And as promised the architect would follow up on his word.
Absentmindedly, Kaveh placed a hand on the door and instantly froze, sharply inhaling the dusty air. A deluge of screams and cries exploded inside his head, begging for mercy, for dear life. Mothers pleading for their children, soldiers barking commands. The world around him fell into darkness as the screams consumed his mind, unable to move. There was a familiar voice underneath the absolute terror consuming his every thought but Kaveh was simply frozen in place.
“-veh. Kaveh!” He was roughly yanked away from the gate, the screams quieted in an instant and the world returned to the architect in a burst of colors as he let out a choked gasp. Gently bumping into something warm, Kaveh tried to calm his breathing, tears streaming down his cheeks. Someone spoke from behind: “Are you with me again?”
It took a few more moments of labored breaths before Kaveh truly returned to reality. Alhaitham stood behind him, gripping his shoulders tightly to support the architect who was still trembling.
“Y-Yeah, I… sorry, there was… the screams… I couldn’t move and-”
“Slow breaths, take your time.”
Kaveh quickly nodded, focusing on every in- and exhale until his heart stopped trying to jump out of his chest. Wiping the tears away with his sleeve he turned to face Alhaitham, who released his grip and remained calm and collected.
“Sorry about that. I just touched the gate and suddenly there were all these people screaming in agony, I couldn’t move and everything went dark. If not for you I think I would have gone insane.”
Alhaitham simply nodded. “Then we shouldn’t mess with the structure further. Let’s report this to your friend and head back.”
Kaveh hummed in response, still shaken from the experience. With a final glimpse at the intersected four-cornered star adorning the doors, the architect followed Alhaitham up the roots.
“Next time maybe don’t touch everything you find like a child at the bazaar.”
Kaveh could see the smirk playing around his roommate's lips and he retorted with fake anger: “Are you implying something? At least I found something useful, unlike the Great Acting Grand Sage over here!”
The way back was spent with harmless banter and bickering but the screams of a forgotten nation would not leave Kaveh’s mind.
As soon as the pair returned to their shared home, Kaveh raced to the study to pen a letter to Kaeya. He made sure to describe the gate in much detail but left the rather terrifying experience out. No need to frighten the Cavalry Captain with superstition. Maybe he had just suffered from a heatstroke and hallucinated… whatever that was. Satisfied with his work, Kaveh brought the letter to the nearest courier and asked for a swift delivery. Now all he could do was wait.
The following days and weeks plagued the architect with nightmares, waking up sweating and screaming. Alhaitham had started to worry to the point of trying to drag Kaveh to Lord Kusanali. Kaveh had made it very clear he would not be handled like a child with night terrors. Alhaitham wasn’t convinced but at least stopped bringing it up.
And finally, one early morning, the courier knocked at the door. Kaveh stumbled out of his bed, tripping over his blanket and the carpet in the living room twice before scrambling to turn the knob and staring at the man in front of him eagerly. With blond hair sticking out widely, eye bags the size of a Mora coin, and sleepwear wrinkled and creased the architect looked like he had just been mugged.
“Uh… a letter for Mister Kaveh, to be delivered to the Acting Grand Sage’s home.”
Kaveh quickly nodded and grabbed the letter from the stunned courier’s hands. “That’s me, thanks!” He promptly shut the door after a quick bow and sat down on the divan, hearing Alhaitham rummage in the kitchen. ‘To the Light of Kshahrewar, Kaveh’ was written on the front in elegant letters, a sight the architect had become accustomed to over the months. Excited, Kaveh opened the envelope, only to find a small piece of paper inside with the words:
‘Open the door. K.’
He turned the paper multiple times in confusion, making sure he didn’t miss anything. But there was nothing more written anywhere. “Open the door? Does he mean the gate? Or was there a door somewhere in my message?”
Alhaitham returned with a cup of coffee and some flatbread in hand. “Maybe he means what he wrote. Just open the door.” He sat down with a hum, slowly chewing and watching Kaveh stare at him. It took another few heartbeats before the blonde realized what he meant. Mumbling under his breath, Kaveh stalked towards the front door and opened it with a frown, expecting Alhaitham to pull a prank on him.
“Kaveh! How’s my favorite architect?”
He stared into a periwinkle starry eye, framed by a sharp face with tan skin and navy-blue hair. The playful smile spread from ear to ear in a perfect arc. Kaveh blinked twice, shook his head, and blinked again. The guest tilted his head, the smile slightly faltering: “Cat got your tongue?”
And finally, the realization set in: “Kaeya!”
The Cavalry Captain chuckled: “The one and only. I’ve brought a grumpy guest if that’s okay.” He pointed over his shoulder with a thumb, revealing a mane of red hair.
“You mean your babysitter, so I don’t have to deal with reports of you drying up the alcohol reserves of Sumeru.” Diluc shuffled past the two and into the living room, greeting Alhaitham with a grunt which was promptly returned. “Oh, what a drama queen. I would never!” Kaeya gave a wink and shoved Kaveh inside, closing the door behind them. The architect finally recovered from the surprise as everyone was seated around the coffee table. “You’re here! It’s so nice to see you again! How have you been?”
The group exchanged pleasantries and stories they hadn’t been able to pen in letters. Alhaitham and Diluc seemed to communicate solely in stares and hums, much to the amusement of Kaveh and Kaeya. Things settled down by noon and Kaeya crossed his legs, gingerly placing his hands atop his knees with a smile. “I think it’s time to talk business. We are not just here for a rather pleasant surprise visit. I’ve read your letter, Kaveh, and I want you to take me to that gate.”
The architect swallowed, trying not to remember the screams. “I see. Well, I won’t keep you, I bet you have a good reason. I’m surprised Diluc came with you, considering… you know.” He scratched the back of his neck in a nervous gesture, avoiding the Cavalry Captain’s gaze.
Kaeya quickly glanced over to Diluc, who simply nodded. “I haven’t told you. I was afraid it would somehow break that fragile peace we’d achieved. My… brother and I had some time to think and talk, thanks to an obnoxious architect nagging me with lectures before he left.”
Kaveh gave a playful pout before replying with bolstered confidence: “Must have been quite the handsome fella! And smart to boot.”
A snort: “Careful there, sunshine.” Kaeya continued: “To keep it short: He wants to see more of my past so we can grow our trust.” His eye wandered over Kaveh, examining him like a fine wine, and the blonde flinched slightly.
“Is there something about the gate you haven’t told me in the letter?”
Oh, how Kaveh hated how perceptive the Captain was. He wrung his hands and laughed nervously: “Well, kinda? I think it was just a hallucination from a heatstroke, really. I guess I heard some voices and screaming when I touched it but as I said-”
Alhaitham interjected with a deadpan look on his face: “You were literally inconsolable, crying, hyperventilating, and disconnected. I had to rip you from that door to get you back to reality.”
One of those rare frowns appeared briefly on Kaeya's lips before it snapped back into a light smile. “That does sound very concerning. Do you still hear those voices?”
Kaveh glared at the Scribe before returning his gaze to eye Kaeya. The Captain seemed genuinely worried. He crumbled. “Fine, yes, I do. I’m plagued by nightmares. They never left me since that day and it’s starting to get to me.” As if to emphasize his point, Kaveh rubbed his eye with a yawn.
Alhaitham took another sip of his coffee. “I tried telling him that but he was being as stubborn as a sumpterbeast.” Kaeya only gave a crooked smile and turned to Kaveh, brows furrowed in concern.
“Those eyebags do look nasty.”
The architect was thrown for a loop at the thought of the memory and the tips of his ears burned with embarrassment and fondness. “Oh, shut up. When are we leaving? I need to get my clients sorted.”
Kaveh rose, stretching his back and ready to leave for his own room to get packing.
“I’ll hand in my leave for the next two weeks.”
He spun around to glare at Alhaitham, mouth hanging open in disbelief: “Excuse me? Who invited you to the party? Kaeya asked me . I know you can’t survive without me for longer than a week but come on!”
Agitated, the architect flung his arms into the air before Kaeya interjected: “Aw, don’t be like that, sunshine! I can’t say I’m a fan of the Grand Sage but the more capable and trustworthy men, the merrier! Khaenri’ah might not be a walk in the park.”
“ Acting Grand Sage.” the man in question responded. Kaveh rolled his eyes. “Fine. You win.”