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The city streets were shrouded in a veil of melancholy, the echoes of footsteps fading into the silence like whispers in the night. Kaveh walked alone, his heart heavy with the burden of unspoken words and shattered dreams. He had lost count of the days since he last spoke to Alhaitham. How could someone be guilty as sin but still deny his faults? He remembers it, as clear as day, when air crackled with tension as they both stood face to face, their eyes locked in a battle of beliefs. The once serene atmosphere between them now felt charged with fire , every word uttered dripping with the venom of unspoken annoyance and hatred. That was the day when Kaveh finally stood his ground and left. He didn't know where to go but he knew anywhere would be better than this bastard's house.
And well, he did not regret his decision, he's been freely wandering around the city these past weeks, at peace now that the Scribe was no longer sitting on his shoulder like some devil whispering incoherent sounds that drove him crazy.
But despite this new found peace, Kaveh couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at his insides. Something was wrong, terribly wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was as if he felt... empty? Like he wasn't completely himself.
Either way, it didn't matter. He had to finish some commissions before the deadline creeps up on him. Or at least, that's what he planned to. Probably due to the sorrows or melancholic thoughts, his feet drove him to the Tavern, maybe to grab a drink or two. But no matter what, his sober thoughts clung to him like a sucker fish.
Making peace with the fact that alcohol wasn't enough to drown his sorrows, he carries himself inside the library where he was bathed in a warm, golden light, the familiar and well kept shelves overflowing with the usual books, having spent most of his days here, he knew every shape, arrangements and even secret spaces in this place.
As he continues to walk around, he remembers the first time Alhaitham and him met in this very spot, both drawn to the same dusty tome on ancient civilizations. Their shared passion for history sparked a friendship that would only deepen over the years.
They would spend afternoons debating the intricacies of philosophy, poring over maps of forgotten empires, and unraveling the mysteries of long-forgotten languages. Each discovery felt like a triumph shared between them, and the library became their sanctuary, a place where they could escape the outside world and dive into the depths of human understanding.
But it wasn't just the books that made their time together special. It was the laughter shared over poorly translated texts, the quiet moments of reflection as they gazed out the window at the changing seasons, and the unspoken bond that grew stronger with each passing day.
As Kaveh traced his fingers along the familiar titles, he couldn't help but smile at the memories they held. Though Alhaitham was no longer by his side, their time in the library would forever be etched in his heart, a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the timeless pursuit of knowledge.
No longer...?
What does that mean...
He shrugged of a doomed expression that drew his face at the sudden thought, confused as to why he suddenly thought about that when Alhaitham is not really too far gone.
After taking another stroll around the place, his eyes landed on Cyno, Tighnari, Collei and even Faruzan who seems to be discussing something that made their expressions dim.
With a worried expression, Kaveh stepped in, only to find out about Alhaitham's sudden change of behavior. Well honestly, outsiders or surface colleges wouldn't notice, he made sure of that. But he couldn't really fool his close friends, especially when he stopped interacting with them completely.
Did Kaveh's departure really affect him that much? Geez, what a bastard.
After a few more words, Kaveh also found out about how Alhaitham blamed all of it on Kaveh. How dare he? He sure has some thick face to say it after all of that.
All of his pity and sympathy for Alhaitham suddenly turned into anger. Has he not learned how to apologize yet? Or is he just a forever stale person? If he just read about the word, 'sorry' then none of this would've happened.
With a angry huff, Kaveh stormed out of the library, thinking that if Alhaitham wanted to resolve their issue then he had to go to Kaveh himself and apologize with tears or they're never speaking ever again.
As he walks to his new residence, the anger died down a bit as he realizes that this place was no home. It was cold, empty and admittedly, quite small and suffocating.
All he could do was sit around, so some planning and stuff. But no matter how much he tried to make it comfortable, it just didn't feel right. It was as if the longer he stayed here, the more crumpled and at loss he felt.
In the following days, Kaveh decided to stay at his place, too sorrowful to continue wandering around aimlessly. And honestly, he's glad that he did stay around because when he looked up from his sketch, a familiar face stepped right in front of him.
"Alhaitham..." he whispers
“Kaveh,” he began, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come.”
The wind rustled the leaves above, a gentle, mournful sound that seemed to acknowledge his words.
"It's alright," Kaveh smiles as a sudden heavy feeling spreads through his entire body.
“I’ve been trying to stay busy, to keep moving forward,” he continued. “But it’s hard. Everything reminds me of you. The house... our house, the library, the tavern you designed...”
"What-...?"
The memories flooded back with painful clarity – the accident, the darkness, the overwhelming sense of loss. He had been clinging to the remnants of his former life, denying the truth that lay before him all along.
He was dead.
For so long, he had clung to the belief that he was still alive, that this was just a dream or a temporary state of confusion. But as he looked around the house he envisioned, it suddenly turned into a dim graveyard, the realization finally crashed over him like a tidal wave.
"No, no, what do you mean, Alhaitham? I'm right here. Right Infront of you. Just look up, I'm right here," Kaveh's spirit trembled with emotion, a silent echo of Alhaitham's words. Though he longed to reach out, to offer some sign of his presence, he knew that it was impossible for him to do so. From now on, he could only watch from the shadows, a silent guardian to the friend he had left behind.
Even with his desperate cries, Alhaitham couldn't hear him. They were separated by the veil of life and death and there wasn't anything they could do about it.
Alhaitham closed his eyes, the weight of his grief pressing down on him. “I wish I could have done more. I wish I could have saved you. I'm sorry that our last meeting was an argument. If I was given the chance to change everything, I would've fallen to my knees and begged you to stay. It was all my fault...I'm so...I'm so sorry. ”
"I was truly mad at you but... It was never your fault, Alhaitham. It was my impulsiveness. I only thought of your words as insults and never advices to save me... To save me from this... It's just... Truly a shame that it took me death to realize this," Kaveh whispers as if the man Infront of him could hear him.
After keeping his head on the ground all this time, Alhaitham finally looks up. As their gaze met, Kaveh smiled at him. But the only thing Alhaitham saw was a cold marble headstone.
As if their worlds were one once again, they continue to spoke. It was as if a normal conversation. But the problem was that Alhaitham couldn't hear Kaveh's voice. And he never will again. Although this talk seems to be for naught, it helped the spirit feel at peace. To lift his burden and maybe even... Finally go to the light...
"My biggest regret now is how I never got to tell you that... I love you... I love you more than life itself," Alhaitham whispers as he gently presses his lips against the blonde's. And for a slight second, Kaveh felt human warmth. Something that he's been deprived of for weeks and will be deprived off for all eternity. (For Alhaitham's perspective, he kissed nothing but cold marble)
Kaveh's heart skipped a beat as Alhaitham's words hung in the air, the weight of their meaning sinking in like an anchor dropping into the depths of his soul. He stared at his dear friend, his mind struggling to comprehend the enormity of what Alhaitham had just confessed.
"You... you love me?" Kaveh whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. The blonde has also deeply admired the other for the longest time and for confirmation, he just wanted to hear it again but the silence was a constant reminder of the truth, something that Kaveh nearly forgot once again.
Yet despite this fact, Kaveh didn't feel any remorse. He felt... Salvation?
As he kept his eyes on Alhaitham who started to walk away, Kaveh saw a light, covering the entire exit of the cemetery. It was a pulling force that made him want to enter.
Alhaitham looked back at him as if he wanted to walk him towards this light. And with a soft chuckle, Kaveh stood up and grabbed Alhaitham's hand as they shared their last walk together. With each step forward, Kaveh embraced the unknown, his heart open to whatever lay ahead. And as he walked into the mist-shrouded twilight, he knew that he was finally ready to embrace his new existence, whatever it may bring.
As Alhaitham left the cemetery, the sun broke through the gray and heavy clouds , casting a warm, golden light over the landscape. Alhaitham looked up, feeling a small, bittersweet smile tug at his lips. In that moment, he felt Kaveh’s presence, a comforting, silent echo that would always be with him, guiding him through the days ahead.