A Letter to the Grand Deity of Wisdom, Her Majesty All-Knowing

To the Grand Deity of Wisdom, Her Majesty All-Knowing,

I write this letter with a heavy heart, yet with a mind as clear as the waters of Ardravi. I write to You with a prayer, in hopes that You may provide safe refuge for Your much humbled servant.

“...Alhaitham, what are you–”

“The skies only made sense to me because of you. The skies are only sacred to me because of you. And it has been made clear from the beginning of my academic journey how you have always been my inspiration, Senior.” Alhaitham raises a hand to him, reaching out in hopes that his senior will finally allow him to touch him. “Kaveh, if it were not for you, I would have never looked up.”
In a nation and era that deeply favors faith over science, Alhaitham commits a sin that is too grave for his own good — all for the one he calls his rival.

Notes:

an oomf once told me ab a real star named kaveh so i made a fic ab it of course . this fic is heavily inspired by galileo galilei’s Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina, galileo galilei himself, and the Chi anime (Orb: Movement of the Earth lmao i just like calling it chi)

fyi this is a very lore heavy fic, with the romance aspects deeply intertwined with the story . it’s also very wordy bc i think i imitated the classic writings too much hahahasmsksk let’s all blame f. kafka for this (???????)

side note: i am 10000% aware of the current akademiya’s sins of research . but do keep in mind this was during an era before current mondstadt and during rukkhadevata’s rule !! basically this is all bs i made up lmao let’s not look in too deep the canon genshin lore LOL . also i am no professional in the areas of journalism, articles, or document writing so anything that is in here is, again, purely BS and shit i imitated from examples online LMAO i apologize, may galileo galilei watch over u

pls enjoy !! HAPPY KAVEH DAY <3

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(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

To the Grand Deity of Wisdom, Her Majesty All-Knowing,

I write this letter with a heavy heart, yet with a mind as clear as the waters of Ardravi. I write to You with a prayer, in hopes that You may provide safe refuge for Your much humbled servant.

In the stillness of the beautiful night, two souls are met with a conflict that has inevitably changed their lives for the worse. Inside a shared lounge situated by the Mondstadt Cathedral are two well-respected Driyosh (traveling scholars) from Sumeru, both having received revered praises from the Higher Priests themselves. They have been recognized by the Mondstadt people as geniuses that Sumeru has every right to boast.

But tonight, the scholars’ lounge was not as peaceful as it usually is. The sounds of crashings echo from inside the scholars’ lounge and cause a racket of chaotic noises, potentially waking the whole town if they haven't already. These scholars at this moment stood across from each other, one with both arms raised in surrender while the other lifted a scroll threateningly.

“You imbecile!” the one who holds the scroll roars, his anger coursing through his voice. He throws the scroll towards his colleague again, who avoids it with ease. “The Church will demand for our life’s end! Such a blasphemous sin to our name; such a disgraceful title to our dignified occupations! What were you thinking?!”

The one who speaks in fury is a Ksharewar Driyosh named Kaveh, whose research path is to scale structures that reach towards the heavens and search for their significance in history. The other scholar who looks at Kaveh with desperation is a Haravatat Driyosh named Alhaitham, who walks among texts of old and new to find significance in their existence and their purpose in humanity.

The problem they are facing is this: Kaveh has made a magnificent discovery while in his research. He has discovered the truth of Mondstadt’s holiest star.

As Your Esteemed Majesty may know from my previous request to become a Driyosh, I have journeyed far across Tevyat in continuous search of the truth of our skies. With me is a fellow Driyosh, Kaveh of Ksharewar, who searches for a different truth, yet our interests with the skies align all the same. Your Grace has even referred to Your humble servants as ‘partnered rivals’, and it has been our perception for each other ever since we left home. As of now, we have temporarily settled on the holy nation next to Liyue called Mondstadt. A nation in which, according to the history of His Holiness Barbatos, Your Majesty is very much familiar with.

Let me begin with a revelation. As Your Grace may surely be aware, a huge star lies above Mondstadt, where its existence has become intertwined with the faith of this nation. It shines the brightest among the many stars littered across the skies and is situated directly above the Church of the Great Archon Barbatos. This star has been a sacred symbol of this nation known far and wide with references that date back to the first eras and religious texts of old.

The people of Mondstadt have believed accordingly with the old history books and what their Church has taught them. The Mondstadt Star is a miracle for it shines the most with a gleam that competes with the light of the moon. It is believed that this star that shines the brightest is proof that their Great Archon Barbatos is truly the holiest, and with this light he emits his blessings and watches over them endlessly.

But that is where the problem begins, Dear Goddess. For my fellow scholar’s discovery destroys all the centuries old beliefs regarding the Mondstadt Star and tremendously taints the holy image of the Great Archon Barbatos that the clergy have upheld until now. It is, to put it simply, a blasphemous discovery at best.

That is because we have learned that the Mondstadt Star is not a star; it has the qualities of a moon rather than that of a star! To put it simply, we have discovered that it is a fragment— a piece broken off from the moon we all know. Though it is true that there is a star close to it — and by which we dare to wonder how such a phenomenon is possible — its brightness is wholly provided by the light from this strange moon fragment.

What everyone sees and believes to be a miracle of the Mondstadt star is, in truth, a small piece of the moon.

“Kaveh, this is a discovery that could change the world. We have discovered a broken piece of the moon!” Alhaitham whispers harshly, spreading his arms to gesture around them. “Why must you restrain yourself now, of all times?”

Kaveh seethes in response. “It’s like I’m talking to a goddamn wall! Do you not hear me when I say how outrageously forbidden this topic is to this nation?! We may die over this!”

The fragment was undiscovered for so long because it can only be seen by the tools Kaveh of Ksharewar uses; from where we stand, it truly seems like the brightest among the many stars across the night sky. But upon closer look, the truth is simply this: the ‘holy star’ can only shine the brightest because of the moon fragment that is directly behind it.

Just like how the sun gives light to the moon, and how the moon gives light to the earth. This mere moon fragment is able to mimic the qualities of our sky's greatest powers.

“But this is an important truth! That broken piece— that moon— is the main reason their holy star shines so bright,” Alhaitham tells him, still insistent. Kaveh’s eyes flashed at him, his fury barely calmed. “The ancient runes from below Cider Lake had stated as much and its existence merely proves our theories right. Why, rather than debating over its relevance, we must ponder over why such a fragment exists and how its star follows it consistently. Is that not the true miracle?”

Kaveh shakes his head at his fellow scholar, still unrelenting. “To prove those runes is blasphemy. They have confiscated it for a reason! I have told you time and time again and we even got told off by the Church— they just let us off with a heavy warning, and now you have done this?! Alhaitham, you are risking your life over this nonsense—“

“It is not nonsense,” Alhaitham cuts him off sternly. “It is your discovery, and one that is so grand. You should not make light of your revelation for it goes against what our goddess has blessed us with.”

“That is a blessing and prayer meant for back home— but we are not in Sumeru right now, Alhaitham! Have you forgotten where we are?!” Kaveh exclaims in frustration, furiously shaking the scroll in his hand at the other. “They will certainly execute you for this!”

My Goddess, let me write to You this: this land of Mondstadt stands directly under the most intriguing discovery of the sky. Their holy star is most visible where the church is situated, right in the middle of valleys that surround a body of water. Had Kaveh of Ksharewar not scaled the tallest towers of this nation’s ruins for his own research, he would not have discovered this truth. His theories were supported further once he climbed the highest peaks of this holy nation where the most beautiful Cecilia flowers grow in abundance, and the miracle that was not visible through the naked eye was observed by our Ksharewar driyosh.

Moreover, this discovery supports not only the runes that I had discovered from under the waters of Mondstadt’s lake, but also parallels with the writings discovered in the temples of the late King Deshret and the trees of the late Nabu Malikata. It is truly remarkable, indeed, how both nations share such theories of the skies, and not once had it been proven until now.

A piece of the moon… and the tiniest of orbs that follows it consistently, day and night, like a loyal devotee. We may not even be sure that it is the same star, yet one is always present by the broken moon every night. Its existence is a beautiful echo of the sky, for as the moon fragment receives light from the sun, our greatest star, it gives back to another star that is barely a smidge of a size.

What may this mean, for both Barbatos and Your Majesty? Why do our skies share the qualities -– the miracles — that the mere human mind such as ours cannot comprehend? The mysteries of our skies are much more intertwined than we know, and this fact is truly remarkable with how vast this world is. Our skies are like beautiful souls connected as one.

In discovering the moon fragment, Kaveh had excitedly told Alhaitham that same night despite having argued beforehand. He led him to the highest cliff that overlooks the whole Mondstadt, where the skies seem the closest. Using the tools he uses for his experiments and research, Kaveh helped Alhaitham see with his own eyes the mysterious phenomenon of the broken moon and the tiny orb high above the statue of Barbatos. Alhaitham remembers how the wind had breezed against their skin, with a gust strong enough to seemingly move the clouds for them at that exact moment.

“It functions like the moon reflecting the light from the sun…” Alhaitham trailed off in a mumble, looking away from the lenses to gaze at the actual moon right above them. “How is that even possible?”

Kaveh could barely contain his excitement. “And the star follows it closely! How is it possible for an orb of the sky to follow a broken moon so consistently?!”

Such discovery would exhilarate any person that seeks to acquire as much knowledge as possible in this world. And Alhaitham had seen it in his former partner for the first time in so many years: that joy, that eagerness, that absolute delight that one would most expect to see in a child. For the next few weeks, they would bond over their discovery as if they were younger students again, learning something new and mesmerizing.

But the days of excitement did not last very long. The more they learned, the more they realized how jarring the Star’s existence is. The more they realized how corrupted the Church’s beliefs are regarding the “holy star,” and the more they realized how the people of Mondstadt are following the sacred preachings blindly. It was as if they were not allowed to speak of their skies as freely as the people in other nations did, as indicated by how dismissive and hostile they become when Alhaitham or Kaveh question the history of the holy star.

“It’s a blessing of Barbatos. What else could it be?” One citizen said, then changed the subject not a second later.

“Why do you ask? Are you questioning our Archon?” A knight demanded with a frown so irritated.

“The holy star is the reason for our lives and the only thing we need,” said another citizen whilst distracting them to other things. “What else is there for you foreigners to know?”

“You shouldn’t talk too loudly about powerful things,” said a knight on patrol while looking at them in concern. “Lest you want to be under surveillance.”

This realization is also what caused a rift between the two Sumerian scholars once again, as they have different perspectives on how much care people’s beliefs should be handled. When Alhaitham had suggested writing a report on the fragment to preserve the discovery for the future, the color left Kaveh’s face and he had immediately refused.

“For what purpose should we ruin the beliefs of a whole nation? To send them into confusion and distress?” Kaveh had asked him gently, looking at him in understanding. He sympathizes with Alhaitham and he understands his grievances, yet he holds himself back. That is what frustrated Alhaitham the most.

“Would you rather they believe a false image of their god – a false image that keeps them from the truth?” Alhaitham had returned to him incredulously. “Would you rather they know not the power that their sky truly is? A great power of their Archon that is enough to embody a fragment of the moon? This is madness, Kaveh.”

Kaveh had merely smiled. “I would rather keep their minds at peace.”

And just like that, his colleague was once again further beyond his reach. It was this dismay that caused Alhaitham to perform his final act of selfishness, where everything then went downhill.

But I regrettably must confess that the revelation of Mondstadt’s skies is not the ultimate purpose of this letter. It would have been my utmost pleasure to share more of this discovery with You and have a fruitful discussion with You and Kaveh, but I would rather have it be explained by the discoverer himself. And, most importantly, I yearn for him to be in the safety of Your Majesty. This letter is more for my confessions and my own selfish request, and I sincerely apologize for the bold arrogance that I will present to You now, Your Grace.

After Kaveh revealed his discovery to me, I had sought out the peers who also actively searched for ancient runes and even showed them how to see it. I had also given credits of the discovery to an unexisting researcher’s old journals in order to keep Kaveh safe. Not only had I gone behind my rival’s back after being trusted with secrecy, but I deprived him of the recognition he deserved. Anyone would be infuriated— even someone as understanding and collected as Kaveh.

From this alone, I had put us both in immense danger and betrayed my colleague’s trust. All for my selfish gain.

The same person that had held such a gentle smile on his face now looks at Alhaitham with pure rage and disbelief, though Alhaitham is fully aware it’s all his own fault. He had acted out of self-indulgent reasons behind the Ksharewar driyosh’s back, after all.

“Kaveh—“

“Do not call me in that way,” Kaveh snaps, taking a step back as Alhaitham tries getting closer to him. Alhaitham can see it in the way his colleague’s features contort in distress how he was reminded of their former years in the Akademiya as students, back when he used to call his senior in such a tone.

“Senior, please listen to me.”

Kaveh shakes his head. “I cannot listen to anymore of your foolish— your selfish— you absolute idiot— how are we going to fix this—!”

Alhaitham continues to walk to him despite Kaveh’s weak attempt to escape him. He throws the last scroll towards Alhaitham, who avoids it again with ease. “Fix what, exactly? You have seen the letters confirming the report has been submitted. They will surely demand my presence in court as soon as the first rays of sun appear.”

Kaveh glares hard at his colleague, and with a clench of his fists, he exclaims, “Why are you being like this?! Don’t— don’t try to treat this without urgency like you always do, Alhaitham! Not when you could die!”

Alhaitham suddenly halts in his steps, looking at his colleague blankly. He sounds genuinely confused as he asks, “You keep talking about my life being in danger, but why should my life matter over this?”

Kaveh opens his mouth to speak on the absurdity of his question, but stops himself when it dawns on him. It suddenly hits him like a meteorite as he stares at Alhaitham— why his colleague is so adamant and so insistent on this discovery, and why he is so ready to risk everything just to reveal the truth.

Because why, truly, should it matter? As devoted scholars such as they are, why should any of their lives matter in comparison to the skies above?

Alhaitham’s question is absurd. It should be, at least for the common people. For the ordinary citizens who live life in a routine, who live in security, who spend the days comfortably with the only life they know. However, neither of them are ordinary citizens nor the common people. Instead, they are two of the most devout scholars from the nation of wisdom, who live and breathe solely to learn, to know, and to understand everything the world could offer them.

Kaveh’s mind reels back to when he first shared his discovery to Alhaitham and how he didn’t care, at that very moment, the annoyance he had for the other because he knew Alhaitham would understand. His colleague would understand more than anyone how great such a discovery that no one had found yet— as if they had reached the top of the world. To have a feeling akin to a god, as their own goddess had voiced to them when she gave them her blessings before they left Sumeru.

And Kaveh still remembers it clearly, how Rukkhadevata gazed at them intently. “Will you die for knowledge?” she had asked them, curious and scrutinizing, as if she was testing their faiths for their nation of wisdom. And that is the one question with an answer he and Alhaitham would both agree on, without fail:

Yes, yes, YES. YES!!

Of course they would die for knowledge, especially one that is factual and opens the door to a hundred more questions! One that is the beautiful truth! For what is more beautiful than knowing that the truth is not just a fictitious idea?! That their idealistic theories are possible in a world that seems so pragmatic?! And in their case as scholars of the skies: to know that the truth of the blue above them is more extravagant than a human mind can comprehend?!

To know is to be aware, and to be aware is to love. Kaveh cherishes the skies as much as he knows Alhaitham does. That, too, is a fact— the only truth that is unquestionably shared between them. Hence, they have been prepared to die for the sky they so adore since the beginning of their academic journey, knowing their small existences could never compare to the greatness of the heavens above.

…However, it seems one of them has realized how insignificant that passion for knowledge has become when it involves the life of someone they cherish.

“Is… Is that what this is all about?” Kaveh mutters to himself. He gazes up at his colleague, who levels him with a stare. “You truly believe this discovery is worth dying for?”

Alhaitham nods solemnly. “If not us, then who? The stars as we know it. The skies as we know it. They are all worth fighting for, and everyone deserves to be aware of their wonders.”

The idea of its significance is truly remarkable, and to share it with everyone is more so, especially if it is the means to save an entire nation and probably more. But—

“That still does not mean you have to belittle the faith of these people,” Kaveh helplessly returns, fidgeting with his rings.

“It is not belittlement. I have never belittled their faith. It is simply an altercation of their already-existing beliefs,” Alhaitham retorts, absentmindedly watching his colleague’s hands. “Our deities are truly powerful, but it does not mean they rule alone. They need the support of every being in the nation they protect just as every devotee needs their archon’s endless guidance and blessings. That is what the holy star truly conveys and not the implied isolation of their archon.”

To add to my offense towards Kaveh and the scholars of Ksharewar, I have also failed to keep a respectable reputation for our nation and Your Majesty.

Sumeru is blessed with how Your Majesty has granted us freedom to seek knowledge. Our nation boasts of abundant research that dares question the unthinkable, that challenges the function of the impossible to a common society, and that even risks the embezzlement of deities such as Your Grace.

While Your Majesty and our nation may be lenient to these topics of faith, I have failed to keep in mind how atrociously offensive it is to people not of our nation.

“See, that is exactly what I am referring to,” Kaveh sighs out in annoyance, feeling a headache coming as he massages his temples. “You say you don’t belittle them, but you are ridiculing what they believe in. Isolation? Preposterous! How dare you insult their faith!”

Alhaitham eyes him hard. “It’s a factual observation.”

But Kaveh is stronger in being stubborn, if not overpowering. “It’s a subjective and, worse yet, a condescending opinion. This is a matter of faith and you are dangerously playing with fire that has barely ignited.”

“But to deny what you saw is to deny science. Our Goddess will not allow such a ridiculous path of our research.”

“And we are not in Sumeru!” Kaveh exclaims through gritted teeth. “How many times do I have to drill that into that head of yours?! We. Are. Not. In. Sumeru! Our Lord is not the deity of this land!”

Alhaitham scowls. “Then that is where the problem begins.”

“Alhaitham!”

I have been ignorant. I have truly been ignorant. For who am I to question the faith of others? Who am I to question the rule of an Archon? Barbatos is an Archon so loved and revered by His people that anyone can see this in the laughter that His people share and the warmth that they give to each other. Who am I to judge how much more devoted one is to their gods as compared to other nations, especially myself? The choices of an Archon’s believers should never be a reflection of Their divine holiness.

My Goddess, I have committed a sin worse than blasphemy: I have insulted and questioned an Archon’s rule over their nation. An Archon that You are closely acquainted with, most of all.

May Barbatos forgive me. May Your Grace forgive me. For I have become too egoistic— like Icarus who flew too close to the sun.

Alhaitham lays a hand on his cheek, stunned at the slap his colleague had given him. Kaveh stands right in front of him now, yet he is fuming and appalled. Where his hand was fidgeting are now raised as an aftermath of his exhausted patience.

“Our Goddess did not give us her blessings to step on the beliefs of others!” Kaveh snaps in utmost scorn, clenching his raised hand into a fist. Alhaitham would not be a bit surprised if he received a beating as well, since even he feels he deserves it. “Who on earth do you think you are?!”

You may have told us that to gain knowledge is a feeling akin to a god. But I have failed to give myself a boundary that I must not cross. Had it not been for my colleague, I definitely would have gone down a terrible path— a path that even mocks and disrespects You, our beloved Goddess.

For this, I shall endure my deserving punishment alone.

“I… I apologize,” Alhaitham lets out in a stammer, letting his hand fall back to his side as the sting on his cheek reminds him of humility. He hears his own beating heart is in his ears, how it thumps loudly as it dawns on him what tragic path he was about to fall into just now.

“Alhaitham, you—” Kaveh begins, but he inevitably stops as his voice cracks. He struggles to look up at Alhaitham, but he pushes himself anyway. Alhaitham watches the other fuming, how Kaveh’s frustrations are clear in how he holds himself.

Finally, Kaveh manages to ask, “What are you trying to prove?”

In all his years in the Akademiya, Alhaitham has always sought for the knowledge that would fulfill him and his curiosity. That is how he had ended up acquainted with Kaveh in the beginning years of their Akademiya days, for they are both truly passionate with learning. But this passion for knowledge is ultimately what made them clash.

Kaveh had always held himself back when it was almost the peak of achievement, either for fear of others’ eyes or simply out of consideration for other people. On the other hand, Alhaitham kept pushing on and on without a care for himself or the people involved. There was no harmony for either of them, and rather than working together to balance what the other lacked, they decided to be in constant conflict instead.

Yet, despite their constant bickering and throwing of insults, they still supported each other in their own strange little ways. Unfortunately, it was never communicated clearly between them.

The Light of Ksharewar is like the sun itself: with the flames in his heart, he gives light to everyone around him — even to those who do not deserve it. His light is abundant and he shares them without distinction, as he believes in the good in everyone. I am one of many who have had the privilege of receiving such light, as exhibited by the continuous accomplishments we have achieved in our travels despite my own problematic temperament.

Kaveh and I may have had our differences, but he has never compromised in his morals and his dignity. Even after years of traveling together, never once had he doubted the good intentions of the people around him. Dare I say, it is, in truth, a blessing of Your Majesty when You had insisted us to be partners for this assignment.

And in my eyes, it is only because of him that I have stayed alive until now.

“Kaveh,” Alhaitham finally lets out, letting his gaze fall. “I have always respected you. Never once had that changed.”

Kaveh was instantly stunned into silence. Out of all the answers that he had expected for Alhaitham to give him, be it about his pride or his beliefs, he had never anticipated this kind of answer.

“Res… Respect me?” Kaveh repeats, dumbfounded. He feels his fingers twitch against his side, as if he was fighting the urge to hold Alhaitham’s face so he could meet his eyes.

As far as I have observed all these years, this Light of Ksharewar has remained grounded whilst achieving feats that no other scholar has reached just yet. He has remained respectful to those around him, kept civil relations despite any prejudice he has received, and maintained love for this foreign nation despite the hardships he had to endure. It would surely be a complete loss for Sumeru if we lose such a brilliant person over this lowly scholar who forgets his place in the moment of victory.

I implore You this, Your Majesty: Please do not deprive Sumeru of this wonderful scholar. Please bring him back to safety, where the children of Sumeru may learn from him in abundance.

“For as long as I have known you, I have never met someone as eccentric and so wonderful.” Alhaitham stares at the scrolls littered across the floor and around his feet, feeling remorseful for them. “And I believed, so as long as I remain beside you, that my life’s purpose is fulfilled.”

He can clearly hear the shake in the scholar’s voice as he stammers out, “W-what… Alhaitham, what are you–”

“The skies only made sense to me because of you.” Alhaitham finally looks up, sees the shock in his colleague’s face, and his heart flutters. “The skies are only sacred to me because of you. If you hadn’t shown me how marvelous the skies are, then I would have never cared much for the heavens as I do now. I am trying to prove myself to you.”

Kaveh gapes at him. “You’re— you’re telling me—“

“It has been made clear from the beginning of my academic journey how you have always been my inspiration, Kaveh.” Alhaitham raises a hand to him, reaching out in hopes that his senior will finally allow him to touch him. “If it were not for you, I would have never looked up.”

I do wonder this, Your Majesty:

did Your Grace know my true feelings all this time?

Suddenly, it was as if they were back in their years of being students in the Akademiya, where young minds and hearts create a bond strong enough to disregard the scornful comment from the people around them.

Alhaitham, to the surprise of many, was one of the students who had struggled in his first year in his darshan. This is mostly for his indecisiveness. While Haravatat offers a plethora of choices on what to study in a topic he is fond of, it is precisely because of this great amount that made it difficult for the young Alhaitham to choose one focus.

And then came an upperclassman from Ksharewar, who had apparently observed him whilst they shared the same space in the House of Daena. It was after Alhaitham got reprimanded by one of his professors that Kaveh suddenly approached him out of nowhere. With him he brought his notes, a telescope, and a cheeky grin.

“Do you want to collaborate with me, then?”

His senior introduced him to the study of the skies and asked him to look for ancient runes that talk of the heavens above. Alhaitham was doubtful, for what could be so interesting with the skies? What could be so significant with the endless surface above them and the languages that praise it? Is that not the focus of the Rtawashit scholars in the first place?

But when he began his studies, he found himself unable to stop. There are many things about the skies that the people from ancient times had written about. The significance of the sun in tales from centuries past, the blessing of the moon from the prayers of old, and the stories of the stars written in thousand-old scrolls. The morning skies were praised by the historians, and the evening skies were admired by the poets of old.

The sky is a beautiful mystery that no human can ever truly comprehend, even after millions and millions of years.

“The towers of King Deshret and his Seven Pillars are all pointing upwards, where the heavens meet the earth,” his senior had marvelled when they were on an excursion in the desert. With their bums on sand dunes and their hair frizzy from heat, the young scholars had gazed in wonder at the many temples that scattered across the sands.

Kaveh then turned to Alhaitham, his scarlet eyes as beautiful as the rays of the desert sunset. “Isn’t it fascinating that they all point to the sky? As if they’re demanding for us to look up?”

“It’s as if humans keep testing how far they can reach above,” Alhaitham quietly remarked, to the delight of his senior.

“Precisely! You understand our predecessors very well, Haitham,” Kaveh sighed out, falling on his back despite the sand. “My dream is to climb all the tallest structures of this world until I reach their peaks. I'll try to find out why they’re always trying to reach the skies and if we all share the same desires. Then I’ll see all the mysteries in the skies that we can’t see from ground level. And then maybe, one day, I will build a grand tower of my own.”

Kaveh pointed up to the clear desert skies, where the stars are most visible compared to the city of Sumeru. Alhaitham’s gaze follows Kaveh’s hands and they marvel at the bright orbs lighting up the beautiful night sky.

“One that would also scream at you to look up at the skies.”

The sky was truly a blessing, especially for the likes of him. And for someone who had doubted this focus of study at first, is it not ironic that he is choosing to risk his life for it now?

If Your Majesty is truly aware of my feelings, then You may not be surprised to know that I have decided to remain in Mondstadt to fight for the truth. You may understand why I am doing all this in his stead.

Kaveh’s discovery is blasphemous for reasons that are understandable: for the revelation of the fragment claiming that the star cannot shine on its own defies the teachings of the Church that Barbatos stands holy by Himself. It denies the idea that His force and His power is derived from His own strength alone without any assistance from external factors.

These blasphemous ideas give enough grounds for the authorities to order for our immediate executions. And it is because of this that I have ultimately decided to send our Kaveh back to Sumeru, for he will undoubtedly be the first to meet Death for discovering the truth of their holy skies. His great mind will inevitably be unravelled, no matter how much I try hiding him behind an unexisting scholar.

My Loving Goddess, I believe otherwise from these harmful teachings of the Church. Because the fact that this star does not disappear nor gets overshadowed by something as grandiose as the moon – no matter how small or broken a piece – is truly remarkable. Rather than this truth destroying the holy image of Barbatos, I believe it to be an incredible miracle that should not be hidden from His people. For this entire phenomenon means that his people contribute greatly to His divine power.

I find this a beautiful analogy of how devoted the Great Archon Barbatos is with his people, and how loving the people are to Him. Just as the tiny star needs the moon for its light, they need Him; and with that, just as the broken moon needs the star to shield its broken nature, He needs his people as much. How fitting for Mondstadt— a city named after the moon!

Such a symbol of faith should sway the Church and this nation’s people, yet it is hidden from them and they seize all those who believe in it. A city named after the moon should not be offended by how their holy star depends on a broken piece of it. It is truly strange how there are not many believers of the moon when it has been so significant since the dawn of time; how they forbid the sharing and publicizing of ancient runes even speaks for itself.

So this is what I theorize, Your Majesty: the aristocrats of this nation are hiding something wicked. The superior authorities seem to be taking advantage of the innocent beliefs of their people in order to rule unfairly over their nation. Perhaps, and most likely, this is why they are offended.

For where is the wrong in a god finding strength in the very people who love them with their entire being?

“The rulers of this nation are concealing the truth for their own selfish reasons. And for you to bury your tremendous discovery for such tyranny is beyond my dignified purpose,” Alhaitham firmly says, clenching his fists. “I respect you and your work too much, Kaveh. I cannot leave behind a nation that holds such a blinded faith in the terrible way the Church depicts their beloved archon.”

“So you are sacrificing your life for this.” Kaveh finally reaches up not to hold onto his outstretched hands, but to gently hold his face. This would have thrilled Alhaitham had it been in a different circumstance. “You are giving your life away for this?”

“Wouldn’t you have?” Alhaitham leans in closer, looking into his partner’s eyes. “I know how much it pains you that it’s being buried back to the ground.”

Clearly, Kaveh had yearned for his discovery to be exposed into existence ever since he had seen it with his own eyes. Despite his best efforts to be subtle, Alhaitham knows how much the Holy Star had become Kaveh’s main inspiration during the entirety of their stay in Mondstadt. With all the longing gazes towards the star above church, the tremble of his hands every time he picks his tools, and all the notes he had barely buried deep into their luggage— it is all so obvious, at least for Alhaitham.

“I am willing to risk my life for the truth, for our skies, and for you,” Alhaitham replies quietly, feeling the thumbs caressing his cheeks. Kaveh lifts his face and their eyes meet. Alhaitham can clearly see it then: the misery, the resolve, and the conflict in the other’s eyes.

“Then let me join you,” Kaveh whispers, gripping at his jaws. Alhaitham’s heart rises, feeling ecstasy in hearing harmony from the other. Finally, Kaveh is speaking what he truly feels. “This is my discovery. Let me fight with you.”

In an ideal world, Alhaitham would have agreed in a heartbeat. To fight alongside his colleague who is just as passionate about his research would make them unstoppable even in the face of the most persistent powers. And it would be undoubtedly less nerve-wracking for him had he had someone he trusted by his side.

But he would rather die than risk Kaveh’s life over anything, even when it is for his love of knowledge.

So I finally request, Your Majesty, and I beg of You when I write this: please bring our Kaveh safely back home.

“I cannot let you do that,” Alhaitham quietly tells him with a shake of his head as he pulls away. He can’t bear seeing the despair on Kaveh’s face any longer.

“Alhaitham—?! But it is I who discovered this—“

“And I acknowledge that more than anyone. Don’t you understand?” Alhaitham gestures out the window, where the very star illuminates the floors with scattered scrolls. “As this is your discovery, you must bring this discovery back to Her Majesty. You are the only one who can explain the phenomenon to Our Goddess and it is important that you do.”

Alhaitham let Kaveh’s fingers linger on his face before he fully steps away to let go. As soon as he did, he immediately yearned to feel them again. “And I trust that Her Majesty will surely see to it as soon as possible, especially when it concerns Barbatos. You will surely receive an honorable credit and certifications that will grant you more freedom in the Akademiya.”

But Kaveh follows him as he walks away, his eyes brimming with tears. It’s ironic how the tables seemed to have turned in such a short amount of time. Alhaitham can hear his sob and it breaks his heart even further.

“Neither my credits nor my reputation matter to me if you are dead, Haitham!” Kaveh lets out desperately, grabbing at his arms. He leans down, trying to catch Alhaitham’s gaze. “What is the point of an honorary credit or any recognition if my partner is not with me to relish in it? Alhaitham, tell me— what is the point of a miracle knowing it killed you?!”

While I remain in Mondstadt to face my trial, I pray Kaveh shares with you the miracle of our skies. I shall stand my ground regarding this wonderful discovery and to prove its true miracle to the people of Mondstadt – for that is what this nation and what Kaveh deserves. They may not see the moon fragment no matter how they try without inquiring about our methods, but I will hold to what is the truth as long as I can breathe.

“Saving this nation from a corrupted image of their Archon would mean preventing the whole world from falling for the same sin. My decisions are not for naught,” Alhaitham adamantly says, glancing at his senior. He sees the shade of the desert sunset in Kaveh’s eyes, and, in that moment, his mind reels back to that particular excursion where their younger selves were talking of their dreams and wonders.

“Then all the more reason that I should stay. You don’t have to carry such a heavy burden on your shoulder all by yourself,” Kaveh insists, shaking him by the arms. “Why won’t you let me stay? Let me stay with you, Haitham. We can fight through this and save this nation together. We can send a letter to Her Majesty and help will surely come for us.”

“Kaveh…”

But Kaveh keeps going on, still unyielding. “Our Goddess will help us and so will Barbatos. Our peers here will help us too— they will fight with us, I’m sure of it!”

Alhaitham didn’t have the heart to tell him that most of his peers have already been taken in by the authorities. Though, knowing Kaveh, he may already be aware of it. “Someone must explain it to Her Majesty in person. Kaveh, we know how important and more effective that is for Our Goddess.”

“Then let me stay instead of you! Why must you risk your life in my place, when it is my discovery—“

Alhaitham lightly lets out a humorless chuckle at that. “You know I won’t let you, Senior.”

“Alhaitham!” Kaveh rages at that, giving him a shove that is nowhere futile. Alhaitham only looks at him with a forlorn smile as Kaveh helplessly persuades him to come home with him.

Finally, the Haravatat driyosh cuts him off by asking him, “Do you remember what Our Majesty asked us before we left?”

Kaveh expectedly stops, his eyes shaking at the mention of their vows to their Archon. “…Why are you bringing that up now? Don’t— don’t bring that up right now—“

“Will you die for knowledge?” Alhaitham asks him, reminding his partner of their life’s purpose. Kaveh’s eyes were already brimming with tears, knowing where their hearts truly lie even when their brains already have the same answer. “Senior, what was your answer?”

“Al-Alhaitham, please stop–”

“We both said yes, Kaveh. We were expected to be prepared for any hardship that comes our way in the name of wisdom, and this time is one of them. If we stay together and we fail to share what we know, we will only die with regret. I do not want that for either of us.”

“But I do not want you to die, Alhaitham. Is that so strange?” Kaveh finally lets out as he grips his sleeves. He leans his head on Alhaitham’s chest, trembling as he cries. “I do not want you to die. Your blood will ultimately be on my hands.”

Alhaitham hums quietly. “And you think I want yours on mine?”

“No! But it’s better if I stay because—“

“I need you to understand how my principles will not allow someone as yourself to stay here instead of relaying important wisdom to our Archon.”

“None of that matters— Alhaitham, listen to me! None of that matters to me!” Kaveh cries out and looks up at his partner with desperation clear in his eyes. His partner finally stops, letting Kaveh explode onto him. “I know— I know we have claimed that we would die for knowledge, but I need you by my side to ground me. So please. Please. I know this is my selfish reasoning, but please rethink this. If home is not the answer, then we may run away from here and continue our research in a place that is more forgiving.”

That is indeed a beautiful life with Kaveh that is most ideal and they both know that. But as beautiful as it is, that is not where Alhaitham’s heart truly lies. And Kaveh knew that, even as he said it. There is clear doubt in his eyes as he was saying it, knowing well how both of them are dedicated scholars of the skies.

“I cannot betray myself and Her Majesty in that way,” Alhaitham softly mumbles, reaching up to cup Kaveh’s face and smooth the space under his eyes. He smiles pitifully at the other as he adds, “And neither can you.”

Kaveh can’t refute him. For they both know that if he were in Alhaitham’s place, he would have done the same. At the end of the day, the only reason he was very much against Alhaitham’s plan was only because his colleague is the one risking his life instead of him. Had it been Kaveh staying, he would not be so fearful of any consequences.

At the same time, leaving this nation would not only mean to leave the innocent people in blind and corrupted faith, but also to abandon their resolutions as devoted scholars. To throw away years and years of their research is beyond them. And lastly, for someone as compassionate as Kaveh, to abandon the people would go against everything he ever lived and fought for.

“Kaveh, if you stay here with me, you will be the first to die,” Alhaitham finally admits to him, just so he can give his partner clarity. “And your death will be in my hands. I won’t live with that. I cannot — not even my promise to Her Majesty will help me live on.”

It seems it wasn’t only Kaveh who had realized how insignificant their promise to their Goddess had become in the face of death. Kaveh lets out a shaky sigh that weighs heavily between them as he leans onto his partner. After all this time, even with genius minds such as theirs, they were only painfully human. Was it not always present in history how humans are heavily influenced by their own emotions?

“But there is a chance for my survival if I remain here, and more so for you if you are in Sumeru. I am holding onto that hope, no matter how small, for it is not empty.” Alhaitham’s hands reach down to Kaveh’s hands, where he partly intertwines them together. Then he lifts them until they are close to his face, softly kissing each crook of his knuckles.

Kaveh’s grip on Alhaitham unconsciously tightened at this, seemingly drawn to his action. “How are you so sure?”

Because I am merely an extension of your works is what Alhaitham wants to tell him, but he knows Kaveh would not accept it. Because only I know, besides you, how to read the skies properly. Because we know things that they do not, and they are frightened of it. And because I would rather be the one taken in instead of you, who will surely be the biggest target for these aristocrats – and I dare not imagine what they will do to you.

“Because they will surely have many questions, and I would be the only one who can answer all of them.” Is what he tells Kaveh instead with his gaze as firm as hardened sand. “Because they still fear the heavens despite twisting their own Archon for their own advantage. And from this, I know, so long as you remain by Her Majesty’s side, they would not dare lay a finger on a driyosh that She has entrusted in their lands.”

It was clear that Alhaitham had already prepared for his own demise since the beginning. As long as Kaveh is back in Sumeru, Alhaitham truly believes it will turn out well for both of them if they play their cards right. If he does end up being executed in the process… then at least he can rest peacefully knowing that his partner is safe and sound, alive and untouched. But Kaveh does not need to know that.

“So it is crucial that you escape. I will save our skies here, Kaveh. For you and I.” Alhaitham lets his forehead rest on Kaveh’s, to the slight surprise of the other. “And you must do the same at home. You must. Please tell me that you will.”

Alhaitham knows the responsibility that Kaveh will bear once he gets back home and shares his discovery. He knows the dedication he will have to validate his theories and his vision, and he knows most of all how Kaveh will work his bones to bring his discovery to light. Their academic peers may shun him for his debates, and other scholars may even belittle him for such ridiculous theories, but he knows that if anyone could force a discovery into existence, it would be Kaveh.

So it is truly important, for the sake of their gods, their nation, and their people, that Kaveh brings back home the one thing that may save the world’s sky from destruction.

“Kaveh?” Alhaitham calls out to him, almost pleadingly when he doesn’t get an answer. “Please.”

Between the two of them, Kaveh has always been the most persistent. Some may call him stubborn, but it is a talent that he had made his own. Alhaitham only feels remorse to send Kaveh back where he is prone to be ridiculed, but he knows Kaveh would be in safer company in Sumeru than staying here with him.

Through a smile that promises hope, Kaveh finally lets out, “I will help you save our skies, Haitham.”

“Help me? No, no, you are mistaken.” Alhaitham shakes his head and lifts Kaveh’s knuckles to his lips again. “This is all I can do to help you.”

My Goddess, I wholeheartedly trust that you and Kaveh will keep our skies safe.

Neither of them say anything else after a moment. Alhaitham leans in close enough to feel their breaths clash with each other and feels heat where he holds Kaveh. Kaveh closes his eyes, letting Alhaitham feel his short, gasping breaths against his mouth as he continues to mourn. With a heavy heart, Alhaitham decides to close the gap between them and consume the sorrow of the other.

Kaveh’s lips tasted salty from the heavy tears that started falling again as Alhaitham continued to kiss him. This was not an intention to alleviate his pain nor to distract him from reality, but more of Alhaitham hoping that his true feelings would be communicated more effectively. In no time, neither of them knew whose tears they were sharing anymore as Alhaitham started weeping as well.

As Alhaitham pulls away, Kaveh chases after his mouth. He holds his partner’s face, staring at him close as his thumbs caress Kaveh’s cheeks. “Do you regret your discovery?”

Kaveh’s beautiful sunset eyes shone with how wet they were, and it hurt Alhaitham that he’s the cause of his tears. “No, of course not,” the Ksharewar driyosh tells him quietly, shaking his head. “I only regret that we discovered it a century too late.”

“I agree, but we must not think of it that way,” Alhaitham soothes him with a small smile, continuously wiping his cheeks. “Be glad that we discovered it now before it’s too late for our skies.”

Your Majesty, when does a scholar cease to live for knowledge?

Is it when they breathe their last? Or is it when they are alive, yet they abandon their purpose for wisdom?

“Two hours after midnight, a carriage awaits you for your departure by the lake. You must leave before the first rays of the rising sun appear. You cannot look back, for this would be your only chance of escape,” Alhaitham whispers against Kaveh’s lips, caressing the space under his eyes. “I pray your wisdom reaches Her Majesty as soon as possible. She will surely see to it that our skies shall be investigated once more.”

Clearly, Kaveh did not expect to separate from him so soon. Panic suddenly settles in his features. “Haitham—“

“If you truly cannot let me go, then heed my words.” Alhaitham presses his lips on the side of Kaveh’s face as the tears start streaming down Kaveh’s face once again. “If your discovery is truly a miracle as we believe it is, then this shall not be our last goodbye.”

I sincerely believe that I am a seeker of the truth first and foremost, and my faith only truly aligns with what is factual to me. That is why I have loved You all this time, My Goddess, for You are the proof that the truth of faith and the truth of science can coexist. If my wisdom may be questioned, then my only answer will be Your Holy Divinity.

But I must confess that my love for Kaveh, Light of Ksharewar, is much more than my own being can bear. Forgive me, our holy Mother, for I have favored him over my own wisdom and have ultimately chosen his life over my own.

“Then you mustn’t die, Haitham. You hear me?” Kaveh demands, staring intently up at him. He fists Alhaitham’s clothes and pulls him closer than they have ever been before. “You will do anything to stay alive. Promise me this, or I will jump out of that carriage when we get to the borders of Liyue.”

Alhaitham is reminded again of his reliable senior, of that strong and tall back he had watched from behind defend him from angry professors and mocking scholars. Nothing had changed from those years ago and even in these different circumstances, as much as nothing had changed from what Alhaitham felt for Kaveh since the first time they met.

Alhaitham smiles lightly, feeling his heart rise again for his senior. “I promise.”

“Then I shall find my way back to you. I will do everything I can at home until I reach you again,” Kaveh declares firmly, his sunset eyes showing the blazing flames that Alhaitham always sees when he is at work. “So you must stay alive for me until then, Alhaitham. No matter what it takes. Promise me!”

Alhaitham lowers his gaze, nodding pallidly yet with the side of his mouth lifted. “I promise.”

My Goddess, My Goddess, until the end of my life, I know You will not forsake me and my faith for You. But I know in my heart I can never accept the unfair fantasies of these other nations, and that I only deserve all punishment for my unwavering beliefs. I request not the salvation of my sins and their consequences, but rather something much more.

“I will see you again,” Kaveh tells him, repeatedly, still pulling him close until all Alhaitham can feel is him. “I will be by your side and you will be on mine, just like it always was. Promise me again!”

Alhaitham wraps his arms around him, letting himself be engulfed by the storm of his partner. “I promise, Senior.”

My Beloved Goddess, I lay down all my dignity for this one desperate plea. I humbly request for You to grant a safe passage home for Kaveh, the Light of Ksharewar. He has nothing to do with this grave sin I have committed. He has continued to respect the faith of both nations until the very end of this journey. He, unlike this fallen servant of Yours, has remained true to his beliefs— ones in which serves the purpose to the unity between the holy land of Mondstadt and our beloved home, Sumeru.

His only sin was to uncover the truth, but it is a truth that will determine the graces of our skies rather than destroy any bridges that have been built by the gods’ divine blessings.

“I adore you as I love the skies,” Kaveh mouths against his lips, his eyes fluttering close. “Please don’t take the skies away from me. Promise me this, Haitham.”

Alhaitham hums, tilting his head and taking him in. “My love for you is more than the skies, Kaveh,” he whispers, sharing a blasphemous secret that only they would truly know. “I promise.”

Our Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Avatar of Irminsul and Her Majesty All-Knowing — I beg of You to guide and protect Kaveh for the rest of his life. For I no longer am certain I would be there to protect him myself.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

“House arrest, even for the likes of you,” a knight from the Lawrence clan scorns as he and another knight look down on the beaten up figure they threw in one of the prison cells. “You should be glad the church showed you mercy.”

“His intelligence is too valuable to our scholars, so it saved him until the end,” the other knight from the Gunnhildr clan softly says, having the mind to send a look of pity at the figure. “I pray he uses his brain for good from here on.”

A scoff from the other knight who had only gazed hatefully at the prisoner the whole time. “I’ll believe it when I see it. Let’s go back.”

Once the knights left, Alhaitham took his time staring up at the ceiling as his heartbeat pounds likely in his ears. With every beat seemed like a ticking of a second as time passed by. His bruised back still stings heavily of the slashes from the whippers, and only the cold prison floors were merciful enough to relieve the pain even just a little. But even this misery was not enough to stop him from trying to seek the skies as he struggles to move closer towards the window.

Soft light streams through the small opening, where silhouettes of his prison bars make shadows on the floor as if to remind him where he is. But as he slowly peers through the windows, he sees it without fail— the holy star right above the statue of Barbatos, as bright as he remembers it, with the truth only he believes in for now.

The Mehrak Star, as he had named it in his journals and how he had referred to it to his peers and his protestors. In the universal language, it is titled as so. But in one of the languages of his motherland, heavily influenced by its culture and his love for linguistics—

“Kaveh,” he softly calls to the skies, gripping at the ring that hangs in a chain around his neck. Despite their spiteful treatment towards him, the guards were merciful enough to leave the chain on him. In hindsight, an accessory that is clearly of foreign making and inevitably marking him as a Sumerian Prisoner may be a schadenfreude for those who sent him to imprisonment.

But this is a ring that he and Kaveh had received from their dear mutual friend. One that was crafted with so much love and thought, with the certainty that their lives will always be guided by their faiths. As he grips on the ring, he could almost feel Kaveh doing the same, so he gently kisses the edge and mumbles a prayer to it.

No matter how much they shall scorn him, he will keep his head high with pride for his nation and the glory of his works. He shall endlessly prove the truth of their precious skies, no matter how they may strike him or threaten his life, with the full trust that his Goddess will be guiding his wisdom even from afar. He shall save this nation’s people from a lie that breaks their own spirits and their Archon’s divinity, swearing to bring justice to Mondstadt’s holy god.

And he shall bring Kaveh’s discovery into existence in this land, knowing Kaveh will do the same back in their nation, and save the skies they have dedicated their lives to.

For the work of a scholar is his entire life after all.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

“The following details documents and records of history between Sumeru and Mondstadt:

Records of the Church’s Holy Judgement