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Kazuha never thought he’d run into an old friend at the Akademiya of all places. In all his travels, no library came close to matching the comprehensiveness of the House of Daena. Prestige radiated everywhere one looked: four-story tall ceiling, arched windows, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases. The circular library surrounded an elevator on a raised dais that led to the sages’ offices. From the tables to floor lamps’ placements, everything was symmetrical—a representation of perfection.
Needless to say, Kazuha found himself completely lost when pursuing the shelves. He wanted to read Sumerian poetry, but somehow he’d drifted over into a section about Inazuma. He pulled out something at random—a social commentary on Inazuman society, and a rather scathing one at that—and sighed. “Inazuma…” he whispered. Something stirred within his heart like a wind rustling fallen leaves, harkening memories of the tree ablaze in red-orange leaves. When was the last time he had stayed and enjoyed himself in Inazuma? Not since the Irodori festival three years ago. And yet, even now he could still picture the peaceful cherry blossoms, wind chimes, and bamboo water fountains he’d enjoyed with his late friend.
But the thought of returning conjured memories of seeing his friend dead at the Tenshukaku floor, of the Vision Decree, and of hiding away in dark, backwater places as a fugitive. Even if he had been formally pardoned for his actions since then, the dead could not be brought back to life. Inazuma had nothing left to offer him. The past was in the past.
Kazuha glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was nearby he could ask about finding poetry. But every student was buried in their books or knee-deep in a discussion on theory. No one spared him a glance except for a couple who scoffed at the foreigner sullying their hallowed halls.
Just then a woman across the room standing before a bookcase wearing a blue pointy hat caught his eye. Grumbling, she rapidly flipped through a book, then shoved it back before pulling out another. She was completely oblivious to the glares other students were giving her for acting so possessively towards the books. Kazuha stilled. No matter where he wandered, he’d recognize that hat and mannerisms anywhere. Heading over, he called in his melodic soft voice, “Mona.”
Scowling, she turned from the book she was reading. Her look of irritation morphed into wide eyes and a smile. “Why, if it isn’t Kazuha! What twist of fate is this? We haven’t seen each other since our romp in the Golden Apple Archipelago. How have you been faring?”
“Well.” Kazuha nodded with a twinkle in his eye, showing a wisdom belaying his age. “So long as the wind blows, I shall be its companion and find my spirits unburdened.”
Mona smirked. “Ah, how nice it must be to travel without a care in the world about the expenses it must take. But come, come! Let’s get a table and catch up.”
She led them to a nook in the back left. Between the elevator and bookcases lining the wall were tables and chairs. The large ferns flanking the bookcases gave a splash of color against the white and gray granite flooring and walls. One student stood on a rolling ladder before the bookcase, but quickly left once he saw them take the table.
Judging by the number of books, star charts, and astrolabe on the table, Mona must have been working for hours. She shoved aside scribbled notes and, after taking another sip, a coffee cup to make room. Kazuha sat at the head of the table while Mona sat at his right, diagonal from him. Crossing a leg over her knee, she asked, “What brings you to this fine establishment, Kazuha? I must admit, I never pictured you in a place like this.”
“I had the fortune of running into Lumine in Liyue recently. She happened to mention Sumeru, and, realizing it had been a long time since I last came here, I crossed the border into Sumeru. I was hoping to get a sense for the local poetry, but have not turned up a single couplet, let alone a verse. How have you been? How are Fischl and Xinyan?”
Mona waved a hand. “I haven’t seen Xinyan since our island escapades, but, knowing her, she’s out there still rockin’ and rollin’ as she calls it. After everything we experienced, Fischl seems… more self-confident. More comfortable in her skin, so to speak. And I’ve been the same as ever.” Despite her casual air, Mona’s hair looked unbrushed beneath her hat. Her makeup could only hide the bags beneath her eyes so well.
Kazuha frowned, his delicate lips almost pouting. “But you’re here in Sumeru instead of Mondstadt. There must be quite a reason to travel so far.”
“W-well…” Exhaling, Mona trailed her gaze over the mass of notes and books. “I was merely on a quest all astrologers find themselves chasing at some point. A fruitless one,” she murmured under her breath.
So caught up in their conversation, they hadn’t noticed a man approaching their table. Alhaitham pulled out the chair across from Mona, sat down, and cracked open a book. They stared at him. Kazuha and Mona glanced at each other, confirming a total stranger came up to their table and intruded their personal space without so much as a hello.
Alhaitham flipped a page. He looked up. “You can continue your conversation.”
As if shot, Mona held a hand to her chest. “Excuse me? We were here first. We would like a private corner to converse with each other without disturbing anyone. It’s been almost three years since we last saw each other, so we’ve much to share.”
For a presumed scholar, the man was built like a soldier with his broad shoulders and muscular frame. His dead fish eyes and stoic expression gave him an unassuming air, as if he were a bored student suffering through a lecture. Alhaitham dipped his head a fraction. His cold voice and minimal movements reminded Kazuha of the mechanical meka in Fontaine. “And you chose an optimal spot. There’s less foot traffic in the back, that floor lamp has the brightest output, and, most importantly, ventilation is 5% better here than elsewhere. This is my usual location.”
Kazuha blinked. He never would have detected any difference between this nook and any of the others.
Nose flaring, Mona pointed a finger at him. “Who do you think you are, acting like you own the place?”
“The former Acting Grand Sage. Although, even though I resigned, Lesser Lord Kusanali still calls upon me to fulfill various tasks. Some days I honestly wonder if she is even looking for a permanent Grand Sage.”
Face red, Mona made a squeaking noise like a dog toy.
Kazuha half rose from his chair. “Our apologies. We hadn’t realized this was your preferred seating. We can leave if that would make you more comfortable.”
Alhaitham held up a hand. “I don’t actually own the place, nor had I claimed to,” he said, cutting a glance at Mona. “This is a public space. As I said, you can continue talking.”
“Ah, most kind of you…” Though Kazuha smiled, he still felt uneasy with a stranger being so close. But if he was determined to stay, they might as well converse. Unlike everyone else in the room, Alhaitham didn’t seem to mind speaking with a pair of outlanders. “Did you call yourself a scribe? Are you a writer of some kind? I came to the Akademiya to study their poetry. I’m Kazuha, a traveling swordsman and poet.”
“Alhaitham. Poetry and writing stories for entertainment are considered too close to the arts to be widely practiced. If you’ve ever traveled through Sumeru before, you’d understand that the arts and knowledge mix like oil and water here. As a scribe, I took notes on what was discussed at meetings.”
Mona snorted. “Then how in the stars were you qualified as an Acting Grand Sage?”
For the first time Alhaitham lowered his book and looked her dead in the eyes. “I don’t put up with Sumpter Beast dung.”
“O-oh. Uh, good quality to have, I guess?”
“Mm.” Returning to his book, Alhaitham flipped a page. “Especially when so much of it was being thrown around it was like a circus. Another good quality is having manners, like introducing yourself.”
It took every ounce of etiquette Kazuha had to keep his eyes from widening. Much to his surprise, Mona wasn’t offended. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. A light shone in her eyes, as if she found Alhaitham to be a worthy rival. “I am the illustrious Mona Megistus, discerner of the stars and astrologist extraordinaire. Your destiny? I can read its every twist in the stars above us.”
Alhaitham grunted. “Only weak-willed people seek fortunes. You must be profitable.”
Leaning forward, Kazuha raised his hands, palms out. “Now, now…”
“Don’t take me for some rich scammer. I’ll have you know I’m flat broke!”
Silence. Kazuha and Alhaitham exchanged glances before staring at Mona. Her face brightened like a tomato. After a moment, Kazuha leaned over and whispered, “Do you need mora for a hotel?”
“N-no.”
Kazuha made a mental note to slip some mora inside her books.
Arms crossed, Mona jut her chin in the air. “And astrology is not for the weak-willed. It provides discernment for the confused. Guidance for the wandering. Clarity for the lost. Although, many regret learning what they once fervently desired.” Head bowed, Mona’s hat covered her eyes. “Because fate—that which is written in the stars soaring over Teyvat—cannot be changed. Only accepted.”
Brows furrowed, Kazuha studied her. Was that really the case? He scanned the environment, looking for any students. He had heard there was a whole Darshan dedicated to astrology, and he didn’t know how they’d react if they overheard. A couple professors had just exited the elevator and a small crowd of students approached them, asking questions. The closest person was a staff member dusting the bookcases in the next nook over. The noise from the bustle would overshadow their conversation in the corner.
“If you don’t mind, may I speak freely, Mona?” When she nodded, he continued, “I am aware there’s a large bulk of research and arts dedicated to astrology, studies that I am ignorant of. However, I would like to believe that ultimately fate can be changed. Perhaps the results of small day-to-day decisions doesn’t change your destiny enough to change what can be seen in the stars or hydromancy. But if someone were to suddenly pivot and take a new direction in life like…”
Like if Kazuha had went into hiding with his friend instead of separately, his friend might still be alive.
The thought hit like a sucker punch. Closing his eyes, Kazuha blocked the thought from taking any further root in his mind. Rather than revealing his past, Kazuha blurted the next example he thought of. “Ah, yes. Take myself for example. If I were to settle down and become a blacksmith in Inazuma tomorrow, then my fate as a wanderer would have drastically changed.” He froze. The words had slipped out of him as easily as a balloon from a child’s hand. Had the idea of returning to Inazuma been stirring in his unconscious mind all this time?
“A belief shared by many,” Alhaitham commented.
Eyes closed, Mona sighed and nodded like she had heard the argument many times before. “A part of me wishes that is the case, but the visions I see truly are the future. And if that is the case, then even if you know what will come to pass the future cannot be changed. Fate cannot be changed. Your destiny is predetermined from birth.” Mona gazed at the spread of notes and books before her. “Any astronomer who thinks otherwise is only fooling themselves.”
Kazuha mentally scolded himself. He had been so wrapped up in his own troubles, he’d failed to see how much his friend was suffering. Leaning forward, Kazuha reached a hand out towards her across the table. “Yes, why did you come to the Akademiya?”
In the quiet, Kazuha could hear students’ turning pages and scribbling notes. The floral table lamp showed the pallor of her face. A clock ticked down the seconds.
Mona took a breath. “Some time ago, I ran into the Traveler in Fontaine. She said she heard a voice, possibly from Nicole, a very powerful prophetess, saying that fate could be changed, albeit not easily. Lumine only has to play her part. The prophecy of Fontaine’s waters rising ultimately came to pass, thankfully not in the way everyone feared. But it got me wondering: is Lumine’s fate to defy fate? And if so, how? It’s a conundrum. A contradiction. But I fear that if she doesn’t, she may not locate her brother.” Mona ran a hand along a world map of Teyvat. “The Traveler has been so closely linked to major events across Teyvat. If she fails in her mission, I can’t help but fear the consequences would be drastic.”
A heavy weight sank in his stomach. “Troubling indeed…” Kazuha said. “I don’t suppose you found any answers in your research about defying fate?”
Mona shook her head.
“What does it matter?” At Alhaitham’s interjection, they flinched and looked up at him.
“How can it not matter?” cried Mona. “This could have epic, global—”
Alhaitham held up a hand in a “stop” gesture. “I don’t know about the Traveler’s future. But she has overcome every trial she’s faced through her great capabilities and by allying herself with those who match her strong spirit. You trust her, don’t you?”
Mona opened her mouth to object, but then relented with a nod.
“Good. Now as for free will versus fate… If one’s choices can shape your future, then your destiny can be changed. Assuming Mona’s stance that fate can’t be altered, then neither the past nor the future can be changed. We only have the present.” Leaning an arm on the table, Alhaitham tapped a finger on the table’s surface. “So don’t put off tasks for tomorrow when you can do today. Ask yourself if what you're doing right now is productive or healthy.”
“Productive…” Mona cast her gaze over her notes. Exhaling, she fell against the back of her chair, shoulders drooping in a weary slant.
Kazuha glanced at his hands. Despite the bandages, he could still feel the calluses formed from using his sword on his journeys. “Healthy…”
Arms crossed, Alhaitham leaned back against his chair. “If you make a habit of doing productive, healthy tasks then it’s far more likely your future may be a good one. Or at least, you’d be a better person equipped to face whatever twist of fate presents itself.”
Kazuha turned the words over in his mind. Surely a strong person wouldn’t let grief make them run away from their past?
Mona closed a book with such finality it jerked Kazuha out of his thoughts. She closed and stacked the others before gathering up her papers. “Well, it was a strange twist of fate to have met you today, Alhaitham, but I appreciate your counsel, nonetheless. And here is mine: don’t go making a habit of encroaching on other people’s personal space.”
Alhaitham made a noise between a grunt and chuckle. “Wasn’t planning on it.”
Seeing Mona pack up caused Kazuha to realize the time. “It’s getting late. Shall we have supper at a local tavern together? I’ll pay the bill. And, Alhaitham, you can join us.”
Mona’s stomach rumbled. Eyes wide, she gasped. “You’ll really…? Oh, that would be—Ahem. I mean, yes, that sounds like a lovely idea; thank you.”
Alhaitham raised a brow. “You’d invite me, a stranger?”
Kazuha stood and, hand on a hip, smiled down at him. “Of course. Because I’m in the habit of repaying those who’ve helped me.”
Sighing, Alhaitham snapped his book shut. “Then I suppose I can’t refuse. Although if we’re approached by a blond, drunk person who's upset about where his dirty laundry is, ignore him.”
Everyone rose and helped Mona clean up her papers and books. Kazuha spied an Inazuma constellation map among the mess. It was his friend’s constellation, the constellation that represented long journeys.
Kazuha had always enjoyed traveling and always will. But could he call it traveling when he spent so much time avoiding and running away from Inazuma?
Perhaps one day, once he’d seen every corner of Teyvat, he’d return to and settle down in Inazuma. Maybe he’d publish his poetry, open a dojo, or become a blacksmith. In the meantime, he could still visit. Their friendship pulling them together needed to be stronger than the grief ripping them apart. For even if his friend had passed, his memory lived on in the cherry trees and fireworks of Inazuma. And it had been too long since Kazuha had last seen his friend.
Smiling, Kazuha pulled it and smoothed over the wrinkles. He murmured, “Please grant me safe travels and chances to meet old friends and new until the day fate reunites together in the stars beyond.”