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Dear Alhaitham,
Isn’t it odd that it’s common practice to address anyone with ‘dear,’ as long as it’s in a formal letter? Certainly I wish that the more common way to start letters was with solely the recipient’s name, but even that feels too personal sometimes. The letter is already addressed to the person it is meant for on the envelope, is it really necessary to also start the letter by writing their name?? Perhaps you have more insight into this baffling social pattern. Do let me know.
Regardless, I have arrived in Mondstadt, and am writing to you from the library within the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius. It seems that this is one of the few spots in the city that hasn’t been ravaged by monsters. It’s interesting, especially because the building itself that houses the library definitely got hit quite hard during the invasion. From the outside, it’s a disaster. But from what I’ve observed on the inside, the library is as structurally sound as it was when it was first built. And according to the librarian, Lisa, not a single one of the many books that reside here so much as shifted during the attack. Interesting, as well as peculiar. I suspect there are many secrets to this place that I simply will not be able to uncover with the limited time I have here.
I haven’t seen anyone step foot inside this part of the building since I entered, though I do have the creeping sense that someone is watching me. Maybe it’s just paranoia. I think it would be better for me not to entertain the kinds of thoughts that tell me the shelves have ears and the books have eyes. It’s probably good that I don’t know all the ins and outs of this mysterious library…
I could’ve just decided to stay in the room the Knights provided for me, and write to you from there, and I’m sure you will point that out to me in your timely response. “Kaveh, why do you go out looking for trouble?” you’ll write. “A library that is structurally untouched by time and turmoil? You couldn’t have chosen a more obviously cursed location to write to me from.” And my response to that will be: I don’t go out looking for trouble, it finds me wherever I go, so why should I spend the time and effort trying to avoid it when the end result is the same? Food for thought.
I want to be sure to remind you that I am only writing to you in such detail because I want to read these letters myself once I return home to Sumeru. Think of it as a travel log that I just happen to be writing to you instead of to myself. Don’t let your ego get to your head, you’re not as important as you think you are and don’t you DARE throw away any of the letters I send. I expect a nice neat pile of them waiting for me as soon as I step foot back into the house.
Sincerely,
Kaveh