Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was about 3 months ago when Alhaitham first saw the green-haired young girl in the park. She was dressed in Akademiya robes, sitting on a bench and eating fried radish balls off a skewer with shaky hands, gaze fixed firmly on the floor. Since then, she’s shown up at the same place, at 12.30pm on the dot, each and every day.

She would occasionally shift in her seat as if uncomfortable, and sometimes she glanced around her surroundings, almost fearfully. The first time Alhaitham happened to chance by that particular spot in the park and saw the girl, she had looked up, startled, though she quickly averted her eyes meekly.

Maybe Alhaitham was just being a bother. Maybe he was just sticking his nose into business that wasn’t his, but when he saw her there all alone… she was definitely being bullied by her professors at the Akademiya! What other reason would she have to eat lunch in a secluded section of this park instead of the Akademiya’s own cafeteria?

Alhaitham thought that perhaps she would feel comforted if she had someone nearby, so he has gone to the park every day too, and sits with her in silent companionship.

It’s been 3 months since then. Today, she’s still eating those fried radish balls by herself, in this corner of a quiet park.

That night, Alhaitham eats dinner with Kaveh as they normally do. Kaveh had brought back Shawarma Wraps and a Sabz Meat Stew from Lambad’s Tavern, and while Alhaitham would complain if he were reading while eating, dinner is their time for chatting, so he doesn’t mind too much.

Alhaitham eats a spoon of the stew. It’s still warm. He says, out of the blue, “I ate lunch at the park again.”

Kaveh replies, slightly muffled because his cheeks are stuffed with food like a chipmunk, “Again?”

“Yes. The girl was still there.”

“How does the Akademiya allow this unfairness to go on?! The professors there are all too strict, I swear. Useless sages…” Kaveh fumes.

Alhaitham says, “I normally wouldn’t interfere, but if I can’t solve the problem at the roots, this is the least I can do for a suffering young girl.” He pauses. “Well, if she’s still there every day, then she’s probably fine with my presence. As long as there’s somewhere she can belong, and not feel alone, even if it is some random park, then I presume I must continue going there.”

“Honestly, I’m still kinda shocked that you actually have a heart for once.”

“What? I’m not a robot. I’ve always had a heart.”

“Yeah, sure,” Kaveh replies sarcastically.

Collei’s been anticipating this day for weeks now. Amber is visiting! Collei waits in Puspa Cafe, buzzing in her seat with excitement, occasionally taking sips of her Cheyu Adeptea for something to busy her hands with.

A flash of red zips into the room and Collei perks up, standing to wave enthusiastically to her friend. Amber bounds up to Collei and wraps her in a strong hug, Collei stumbling a bit from the force of it.

Amber lets go and says, “Collei! It’s been so long! How are you doing?”

“I’ve been good!” Collei replies cheerily. They sit down and Amber gratefully receives the coffee that Collei had ordered beforehand.

“How are your studies at the Akademiya going?” Amber asks.

Collei answers, “It’s really fun! I’ve learnt a lot and the content is interesting, especially when Master Tighnari comes to give a guest lecture. Though writing essays is a pain.”

“Man, I feel you. Is the food over there good, at least?”

Stars seem to appear in Collei’s eyes. “Yeah! The food is great, especially that one stall’s fried radish balls, they’re delicious and cheap too! But Master Tighnari says I shouldn’t eat too much fried food, because it’s not good for my arteries or something… I mean, I get it, he wants me to stay well, and Pita Pockets are healthier, but just a little bit of a treat sometimes has to be fine, right?”

Amber says, “That sounds so good! Has Mister Tighnari told you off for it yet? He looks like he could be scary if he wanted to be.”

“Yeah, he can be pretty scary at times, but he hasn’t caught me yet… because I hide in the nearby park to eat them, so that Mister Cyno won’t see me and tell on me.”

Amber laughs, and in her amusement, lightly slaps the table. (Collei thinks secretly, is it really that funny?) “Haha, that’s such a dramatic measure for a little thing like eating fried radish balls! Is there no simpler solution?”

Collei sighs, “No, Mister Cyno could walk into the cafeteria at any time, and then I’d be in big trouble!”

“Hmm, isn’t it sad that you don’t spend that time with your friends though? Your friends in Amurta?” Amber asks concerningly.

“It’s kinda sad, but worth it. And it’s not lonely, because I don’t exactly eat alone…” Collei trails off on that cliffhanger.

“What?”

“Ah, never mind.” After all, she can’t really tell Amber about some strange man who always shows up at the park, at the same time as she does too.

The next day, Collei goes to the park for lunch again, and the weird man is still there. She doesn’t know why she expected any differently.

She first saw him there about 3 months ago, the same time that she started eating in this hidden area of the park. That man, he has to be a laid-off office worker!

Points of evidence:

1. He’s always there - Every day at the same time.
2. He never has anything to do - He doesn’t bring papers or reports to write or anything.
3. He has lots of free time - Always wasting his time away at this random park. Collei also arrives when the man is already there, but leaves before the man, which means he could’ve been there for hours.
4. He doesn’t look like he’s taking a break from work - He either eats or reads a book, and then the rest of the time he just sits still on the bench. Doesn’t seem very relaxing to Collei.

Even today, all he’s doing is staring up at the sky! He probably hasn’t come to terms with losing his job yet. Maybe he was a genius scholar, an elite who’s never tasted failure. Collei can’t help but feel bad for him, seeing him stare motionlessly into space. He almost looks like he’s a ghost, who lost his soul after receiving a letter of termination, and is about to fade into the shadows.

And now she’s biting on fried radish balls next to him. Collei has to admit, she sometimes glances at him out of curiosity, even if it feels a bit like an invasion of privacy. As she watches him, she sees him looking up at the sky again. She grimaces, and in her head she tries to persuade him, No, no, you have to face reality!

She should try helping him with his resume and job interviews. Maybe this is how difficult mid-career job-hunting is…

Ah! Collei thinks, pleasantly shocked. These fried radish balls are especially good today! They’re extra fragrant, extra crispy, and crazy delicious. Oh no, she’s gonna smile. But! The jobless man… she can’t act happy when he’s still sitting on the bench right over! He’s wallowing in misery, it would be insensitive. She has to control herself! Don’t smile!

Her hands shake as she tries to prevent a smile from slipping onto her face.

Next to her, Alhaitham worries about her shaking hands. I knew it, the Akademiya must be pressuring her—

Eh?! She— She’s crying? Can she not take it anymore? Alhaitham’s face bears a look of horror.

In Collei’s head, she grimaces in pain and thinks, Ow! I bit my cheek… It hurts… Tears have beaded up at the corners of her eyes.

Then, a voice comes from above her, asking with genuine concern, “Are you alright…?”

Collei glances up, and the strange grey-haired man is towering above her. Woah, he spoke! The mentally fragile, former elite, jobless man finally spoke. But he looks so pale, and there’s a deep crease between his eyebrows. Like he desperately wants to say something, but his heart is too fearful to say it. This is a lot of pressure on her, having to convince him to accept his circumstances and work towards a better future…

However! For her bench buddy of 3 months, she’ll try her best. Filled with conviction, she stands up, takes a deep breath, and gets ready to give the best motivational speech that Teyvat has seen. “Thank you, for asking.” Alhaitham is shocked that she spoke. “I really am fine!” I just bit my cheek, is all. “My heart just… hurts a little.” Is it heartburn from eating too much fried food?

Alhaitham thinks, Her heart hurts? That— that can’t be fine at all!

Collei tells herself that it’s her time to shine now. She has to casually encourage the man to find a job! She says, “Life… is really difficult, isn’t it? Have you ever wished that you could disappear? Have you felt that no one in this world needed you?” That must be how you’re feeling now, right?

Alhaitham's eyes go wide and his mouth opens in shock. “Wait, why would you… say that?” Is the situation worse than I thought it was?

Mentally patting herself on the back for that successful effort, Collei continues, “Living in this world is so hard.” This is what you're thinking, right? “I want to escape this life…” I'm guessing correctly, aren't I?

Alhaitham is horrified. What is she saying?

It's time for Collei to finish this! “Yes, that's right. Now is the time to ascend!” And leave a legacy!

Alhaitham catastrophises. This girl wants to die! He pictures her standing on the ledge of a school roof, and he can imagine wings on her back like an angel. “Stop, don’t say another word. Do not ascend.” He steadies his voice as he leans down a little to match the girl’s eye level.

Collei’s a bit irritated, to be honest. What a dramatic guy. “Come on, it won’t be that bad. Don’t make such a fuss over this!”

“Of course I’ll make a fuss about this.”

What an unreasonable adult, Collei thinks. Can’t he just reluctantly go along with it, at least? Is he that traumatised from being fired?

The man begs, desperately, “What about fun? There are many fun things to do in life!”

“Isn’t that just being lazier and running away from your problems?”

“You must first understand the good in life to live a fulfilling, peaceful one.” He places a hand on his chest in surety. “I can be there for you if you want.”

Huh? This man wants me to work? Collei’s getting more confused by the second.

“I’ll make a place for you to belong. So, please don’t say these things.”

A scene runs through Collei’s mind. A cosy workplace environment where colleagues can comfortably ask each other for feedback, coworkers chatting over lunch break in the company building’s cafeteria (though there may no longer be fried radish balls). The grey-haired tall man passing her a report, saying, “Good work on this project. Let’s go out for a company dinner and the tavern tomorrow to celebrate.” Collei replying, “Oh, there’s really no need!” and the man saying, “I told you I’d make a place for you to belong. Just come along, I’ll pay.”

Collei is very, very confused, She says, hiding her mouth with her hands, “Give me a minute. I can’t do this…”

Yes! Alhaitham thinks. Her resolve is wavering. He says, “Exactly. It may be tough now, but you’ll be an adult soon.” And not have to face the struggles of academic life. “We can overcome this together.”

Creasing her eyebrows, Collei mutters, “I will be an adult soon…?” So this man will wait for me until I become an adult and get a job? She looks up to ask, “Why go so far for me?”

Alhaitham clears his throat. “Truthfully, I have been secretly keeping an eye on you for months now.” Since you looked so depressed it worried me.

No way! Collei gasps. Did I look like a woman with that much earning potential to him?

Pleasantly surprised, she asks, “So, what work do you think I’d be the best at?” She scratches her cheek, sheepish.

This is a win in Alhaitham’s book. The girl is finally facing her future! He says, “…Detail oriented work, possibly?”

Collei smiles, sweet and pure. “I will do my best!”

Alhaitham sighs in relief.

After Collei finishes eating her fried radish balls and leaves the park, she returns to the Akademiya’s cafeteria to sit with her classmates. One of them pipes up, “Oh, you’re finally back!”

“Yeah, you took longer than normal today, did something happen?”

Collei contemplates for a moment. Then she says, “Well, I guess something did happen. I got… hired?”

“Huh?”

When Alhaitham returns to the Akademiya, Cyno catches him on his way to the office, saying, “We need to investigate a case in the forest. You have no meetings today, so come with me.”

“Why should—”

“Kaveh will be there to pass Tighnari something.”

“Let’s go then.”

As they walk back to the Akademiya’s main doors to leave, Cyno says, “You look troubled. What’s on your mind?”

Alhaitham didn’t expect Cyno to ask, but he replies anyway, “The main problem has been solved, but I can’t be too sure. This girl in Akademiya robes was eating at the park for three months, with a dark expression the whole time.”

“Sounds ghostly. Maybe she was eating ice scream.”

“No, she wasn’t. And she wasn’t a ghost. She was just being pressured by academic stress.”

“You do become zombie-like after studying in the Akademiya. Was she eating grains, then?”

Alhaitham doesn’t reply.

They walk into the lobby, past the fountain, and hear a distant, young feminine voice. It sounds oddly familiar to Alhaitham, somehow, though he ignores it at first. The girl says, “He was at the park for three months, and I watched over him!”

The voice gets louder as a group of Akademiya students walk closer to Alhaitham and Cyno. One of them continues, “How can you trust a random man you met at the park?”

“Well, after three months, he’s not really a stranger anymore, right?”

“No, he’s still a stranger! And he’s also just some jobless guy, you realise?”

The girl huffs. “Geez, I’ll support him, so it’ll be fine. Stop calling him jobless!”

The group of students come face-to-face with Alhaitham and Cyno. The girl looks up, and Alhaitham glances down to see the owner of that oddly familiar voice.

He takes a step back in pure, unfiltered disbelief. His face contorts into a horrified look like none before. The girl wears a matching expression.

“You had a job?! At the Akademiya? With Mister Cyno?”

“You had friends?!”