Chapter Text
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞
“Hey Sethos! Can you drop these scrolls off with Al Haitham?”
“On it sir!”
“Sethos was it, could you deliver these Henna Berries to Jahangir in Port Oramos?”
“Sure, just leave it to me!”
For the past week Sethos had been charging through Sumeru like a bull with a red flag waved in its face answering anyone who called his name. From Sumeru city to the Ardravi valley, this guy was sending messages, delivering herbs, doing almost anything you could think of. He was practically unstoppable. On this specific excursion he had finally made it to his last request of the day, deliver a letter to the Mahamata for Bayba Harbour who was currently at the Akademiya. Now that would be interesting. He couldn’t help but laugh to himself at the prospect of talking to such a respectable person… Him getting to converse with one of the smartest people in Sumeru? Well that certainly doesn’t happen everyday now does it. Actually he had spoken with Al Haitham just yesterday, that certainly was a… conversation.
Half running half walking Sethos made his way through the giant glass doors of the Akademiya. The sight left him in awe, from the floors to the ceiling the place was covered in white tiled quarters. The arches on the walls all lead to the sunlit roof which illuminated the Akademiya alongside the lamps already laid out. On the floor of the building lay a flower-like design that closely resembled that of a Kalpalata lotus.
The quiet chatter of the students and scholars alike snapped the brown haired boy out of his trance. As he walked past he heard a pair of students muttering between each other. The word ‘wanderer’ escaped the mouth of one. “Wanderer? Are they talking about me? I guess I do stick out like a sore thumb next to everyone in their uniforms.” He mumbled to himself. “I best make this quick, it seems I’m not welcome here.” Sethos sped up once more, turning the corner as he pulled out a scrap piece of paper he found himself in a long corridor of offices each with no specific indicators of who’s room is who’s other than a small nameplate beside each door frame.
“A-A…A.” Scurrying down the hall Sethos scanned left and right for a name beginning with A before he found himself before the door he was looking for. “Adel.” He couldn’t help but bounce a bit from the anticipation “I wonder what type of person Mahamata Adel is. Is he the strict type or perhaps the kind to treat you after a hard day of work.” He smiled to himself. Reaching out a hand he knocked rhythmically on the door. Within seconds of him knocking the door swung open and a stout old man stood before him with a sharp scowl. “So he’s the strict type” Sethos chuckled to himself. “What is it? I don’t come to my office much so make it quick, I’m in quite a rush.” The man grumbled. Peering behind him Sethos saw a beautiful landscape drawing of the Bayda harbour and also a hand painted fishing rod hidden quite poorly behind his back. “Fishing?” Sethos smiled curiously. Adel’s eyes widened comically but he feigned ignorance, “Fishing? Why of course not. It’s the job of the Navbed to inspect a ports comings and goings and I in turn inspect them. That is what I intend to do, not fishing. This fishing rod is Simply for display.” He grumbled. “Display? While watching imports and exports? Hehe he’s more funny than I expected.” Sethos chuckled internally. Pulling out a letter from his pocket Sethos held it up with a smile. The letter had been wax sealed with the Akademiya’s signature lotus pattern. “One of the other Mahamata wanted me to deliver this to you.”
Snatching the letter from Sethos’ hand his scowl grew a scowl and the name Nevida spat from his mouth. Adel shot a glare at Sethos that practically roared “How dare you bring this to me!” Before returning back to his room and slamming the door in his face. A gasp of pain escaped the brown haired boy's mouth and a sharp sting ran through his leg. The door has been shut on his foot causing him to flinch backwards and fall into the wall behind him. Wait wall? That was too far away for him to reach. Just what or who had he bumped into? Sethos and another figure clattered to the ground with a loud bang, calling a few wandering gazes over to them from the main hall.
The person he had bumped into groaned in annoyance at the sudden collision. Looking up, his deep blue (almost purple) eyes made contact with Sethos’ verdant gaze. For a good minute the two just stared at each other before Sethos hopped into a bow, sputtering a mixture of words that could barely be classed as an apology. “Seriously slow down. I don’t get a single thing you're saying.” Came a raspy voice. The boy got up and dusted himself off, picking up his large hat, he placed it snuggly on his head. Before Sethos could rearticulate his thoughts he couldn’t help but spare a glance at his bulldozing victim’s face. He really was a beauty. Although he had a frown on his face, one that was rightfully there, his unique features pushed that out of Sethos’ mind. His pale skin was as smooth as porcelain, it could even pass for porcelain if you got rid of that grumpy expression on his face. “…” The silence between them ensued thanks to the lack of an answer from Sethos. The mysterious boy dressed in blue rolled his eyes and turned to leave but out of nowhere Sethos reached out for his sleeve stopping him once more. “U-Uh wait!” He called out. For a while the other didn’t turn around but when he finally did a scowl replaced his prior frown. “A lot of people sure are scowling at me!” Sethos commented to himself.
“Again I’m sorry for bumping into you, are you hurt at all?” He asked sheepishly. “A small fall wouldn’t injure me…” he paused slightly, looking down at the boy still sprawled on the floor. “On the other hand you should get your foot checked out. You let out quite the shout before you knocked me over.” Scrambling off the floor Sethos let go of his sleeve, scratching his own head with a smile. “Haha I’ll do that. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?” Once again there was silence, although this time it wasn’t initiated by Sethos. “… Wanderer” He sighed as he turned to leave this time without a hand to stop him. “Wanderer? Ooooh~ so that’s who those guys earlier were talking about,” he mumbled “Is he a student? Or maybe a scholar; then again he isn’t wearing the uniform so that isn’t likely. But to have his name known all around the Akademiya, now that’s interesting.” He smirked. “His hat was pretty cool too.” He chuckled quietly.