Archive of Our Own ^beta

White tents surrounded the crumbling pillars of an old desert temple. A bright red light slowly seeped through the few gaps within the mausoleum, indicating sunset hours. From time to time, the wind picked up, and the shifting of sand could be heard. There was also the sound of the guards walking around him. It was one of the few stimuli he could feel at the moment. 

Al-Haitham lay buried in sand disguised as one of many mounds of sand within the mausoleum. The mission was a long and grueling one as having spent the longest in the desert on personal record. The coarse sand normally didn't bother him as much as it did now, but it was either buried in the sand with hard breathing or caught by the Tribe leader and never breathed again. As appealing as the latter may be, he can't risk the desert bandits handing over the artefact to Azar which is currently being guarded. At least not without knowing its purpose and why the Grand Sage has shown an intense desire for such an item. 

The sand has long since made his skin hardened, being in the disguise of a desert dweller for a month did his body no good. And here he is at the threshold of his goal, unable to reach thus due to the guards and the Tribe’s Leader - Matriarch Babel herself being awake made this unnecessarily hard.

‘Chaos Bell’ — last he heard that name was from a pale Khaenri'ahn immigrant client who was also on the lookout for it. But alas, he had failed his client in not finding it, yet here he is now on Azar's intel staring at the bulbous device lying still on a broken pillar surrounded by guards. If he stared at the device long enough, he could see tiny glints of power sparking now and then. He remembers what Dottore told him about this artefact…

-

"This is not just any chaos bell, this is a prototype chaos bell that connects the first Ruin Golem’s torso to its limbs. While most information on the deranged cyclopes indicates the Chaos Core in a Ruin Guard’s eye to be its weak point, the Ruin Golem’s weak point was the Chaos Bell covered by its body. How anyone created such a creature is not as baffling as the one who defeated it. Now we know the Ruin Golem lay in Avidya forest and parts of the desert, but the artefact has been located at last." Dottore dictates, his eyes focusing on the newspaper at hand. His back turned to Al-Haitham, who sported the same look as him, sitting in the cafe near the Panvel Hotel.

"I am assuming Azar is is on the lookout for this object?"

"Yes, Azar needs this for his so-called project, but he is not as invested in this for him to step out of his comfort to go and collect it himself. Rather, he has recruited members of the Tanit tribe to go and retrieve it for him. Your job is to simply get it before them."

"May I inquire why Azar is interested in a Khaenri'ahn artefact?"

"You know just as well as I do, I cannot tell you any more than this. This information doesn't coincide with any of our goals at the moment."

"You forget Dottore that I am a detective. My goal is to know everything Azaris is doing and bring a stop to it."

"And mine is to not stop it." A heavy silence falls between them as Haitham is stunned by the confession. "You see Mr. Haitham, Azar has made plenty use of my intellect for his project, and now even I am invested to see it to its fruition." Dottore turned back to touch a strand of hair on Al-Haitham's nape and Haitham had to visibly strain himself against shuddering. " Don't worry, our deal remains, we remain bonded by our goal of bringing ruination to Azar. But I am a Fatui at heart, my lady's goals come first before any of this. So I will be plenty handy for you to deal with, but if you do as I say we both will silently achieve our goal."

-

And here it is, the Chaos Bell in all its glory under the rubbles of a glorious civilization, brought down by an unknown entity to rival the immense power the device carried. A massive ball with two protruding sharp blades on either side. There were gaps within the device which gave a small glimpse into its inside.

After getting the intel, Al Haitham instantly made contact with members of the Tanit Tribe in various disguises—sometimes as an old desert dweller, sometimes as a travelling merchant who required the protection of the tribe guards, and sometimes as a member of the tribe itself. One thing about the desert people he liked was that they were big on gossip, and no information could lay low for long. One slip and the next three tribes were already made aware of it. That's how Haitham found himself in disguise as one of the tribe members exploring a buried desert mausoleum. As far as he knew, Azar passed on the information of the location to Babel. And so, he blended with tribe. 

They explored the mausoleum and looted it. They would come across many traps, often baffled by The Tribe member’s stupidity, he would help them overcome the treacherous location. After a rigorous few days under the mausoleum, they finally found the Chaos Bell and helped drag it back to a safe point that Haitham himself chose. He would have stolen it and left the very night if Matriarch Babel herself had not shown up for a surprise inspection. That's how he found himself buried in a sand pit hidden from the night guards within the ruins.

"It is past midnight. We can change shifts," one guard calls out to another. 

"Ok, you stay here, I will get the next people to guard." The second guard replies.

And so he leaves. Matriarch Babel starts showing signs of weariness. She whispers something to the guard and leaves for her domicile to rest up.

This was the chance Haitham was laying in wait for, the moment the room had a single guard on; he emerged from the sand pit and swiftly took down one guard without a sound escaping. It’s not long before two new guards enter for the next shift, and one of the guards is about to voice out his concern when a meticulous hit to the walls crumples the stone structure above the guard head, knocking out one of them, blocking his exit and leaving him to deal with one. The guard unphased brandished his sword in front of Haitham. He too takes out his trusty walking cane and brandishes a sword from the hilt of the cane holder. 

"Fancy sword. But it is nothing in front of my machete," The guard mocks.

"Well, let’s have an honourable duel then."

"No desert dweller is honourable in your eyes," the guard spits before their weapons clash. The sword Haitham had was fairly thin but with a strong tensile the sword went clanging against the other. At times like this Haitham wishes he had bought his gun out, but it would make far more sound than this. Eventually, Al-Haitham knocks the guard out by hitting him from behind with the hilt. 

"I must apologize, but I couldn't go along with the honorary rules of a duel." Haitham bowed and headed towards the massive artefact sitting in the middle of the room.

The artefact lay listless with ancient Khaenri'ahn runic etched on every end. The protruding blades on its sides looked heavily damaged, but fixable. The ball in the centre was meticulously preserved with no sign of rusting, but when Haitham went to pick it up it felt hollow and weightless. It’s missing something within it, but Azar still needs it. 

6th February 1892,

The last I heard from Haitham was a month or so ago. He had sent me a letter saying he had to go on an urgent expedition to the desert that may take some time to return. Now, would it kill him to send me details entailing his journey, like, "where he is going?" "What is he doing?" For the love of our Archon, we are engaged. He should be able to entrust me with at least that much. But then again, the letter does go through inspection, so I am not surprised that he has decided to omit much information.

I can't help but feel disheartened that a trivial matter of Prussian-headed league would lead to such dire consequences that my fiancé would be forced to live the life of an exiled. 

The gaps within the tunnels could only light up so much. Having to rely heavily on his sense of hearing, he navigated through the endless corridors. Hands and body straining he dragged the massive artefact, stumbling now and then on an uneven tile underneath the ruins. Haitham knows this location like the back of his hand; it is the first mausoleum he ever visited with his grandmother as part of his experience on excavation. He often visits here to reminisce about the good old times, and fairly enough he even knew of the underground tunnel system that leads him to an exit. Eyes dry from the constant assault of sand granules he carried on through the tunnel. 

Finally, at the end of the tunnel, he could see a bright light. "Sir Haitham you've arrived. I was about to pack up and leave believe it or not. You told us to wait for the night; it is almost morn’ now!" Atiyeh, one of the mercenary guards he hired from Aaru village, speaks at the end of his wits.

"I apologise, but there were some complications and last-minute surprises that delayed the success rate of my plan. But the point-" He drags the artefact towards him. "is we are- here- with-" And one final drag "the bounty." Haitham gasps whilst dragging the massive Chaos Bell.

"That massive junk of metal is the bounty treasure?"

"In all its glory," Haitham said proudly, finally catching his breath. "Now, we have no time to dilly dally about, Mr. Atiyeh. I'll tell you all about it on the road. Now, load this in the carriage and let's be on our merry way to our destination.

The mercenary visibly sighs as he brings out massive ropes from the carriage to tie it to the Chaos Bell. Haitham takes a breather inside the open desert carriage. The desert sumpter beast himself looks exhausted from the wait and seems invigorated to leave the place as soon as possible. 

The trek to their location is unbearable in the heat. If this was a night trek it would have been much cooler, but they had no time to waste. The chieftain of the tribe will have realised the massive heist that has occurred by now and will send her men to scourge him. They finally reach their location Khaj-Nisut; another abandoned mausoleum buried under the unrelenting desert. But it is the far-hidden part of the mausoleum that people rarely ever visit, and it is closer to Sumeru. Haitham planned to stay here the night and recoup his energy.

"Are you sure that this artefact is safe?" Atiyeh asks, looking wearily at the artefact. Haitham positions the artefact in the sand. His hand is visibly red and sweating profusely but He turns and speaks to him in the calmest candor possible. 

"Safer than most tamed animals. It is practically useless at its current state, but if put in the wrong hands, could be used to create disruption in the country."

"Alright. So, you want me on guard duty for you?"

"I am good, I hardly believe anyone would come this far in search of this. Tomorrow morning I will submit this to the Akademiya’s Mahamatra to confiscate it."

"Oh, yeah. Best I leave soon then since I am not on good terms with the Mahamatras." Atiyeh speaks hurriedly at the mention of the mahamatras.

"Farewell Mr. Atiyeh"

"Farewell to you too, Sir Haitham." And with that, Atiyeh left, but not before predicting a dust storm from mid-aft, so all the more reason he sought shelter soon. 

Seeing Atiyeh leave let Haitham visibly relax, he didn't know who he held up the posture for. Having laid his necessities down he sat down for what felt like the first time in many years. He takes out a parchment and writes a letter to Cyno. Al-Haitham signs the letter and folds it, staring at the wall in front of him for a few seconds before he speaks up.

"I don't know why you feel the need to hide, Dottore. I would have appreciated your help in unloading the junk."

A sly smiling Dottore comes out from behind the walls.

The papers slammed against the table heavily "Damn that wretched detective, damn those desert fools and damn you especially!" Azar screams in his office as he receives the news of the loss of Chaos Bell. Dottore sat in his office not least bit guilty with his legs propped up on his table. The paper that fell on the table was a letter addressed to Cyno from Al-Haitham regarding the retrieval of the artefact.

"They had one job, one darned job." He looked through other papers he had. "And did those damn dessert mutts have no decency to tell me they failed at their one job."

"What can I say? They still think they can retrieve the artefact." Dottore says casually.

"I do hope you had the decency to dispose of the person from whom you retrieved this letter."

"At the moment their family is going through funerary rites." Azar sighs visibly "Now what do we do about this problem."

"I told you to go there yourself to retrieve it or face the wrath of the detective. That said, he has a good head on him," Dottore stands up and rounds the table Azar is sitting at eyeing the documents spread about on his table "You would benefit more from recruiting him than by making an enemy out of him."

"Tch- that detective with his gaudy personality if I were to recruit him he would dismantle my work, you know this just as well as I do-"

"Not completely, Mr. Haitham has the same drive as you- to know the unknown. His curiosity would have prevented him from stopping the operations" Dottore says, not even looking at Azar as he sharpens one of the knives from his belt. Azar considers his words for some time before turning back to Dottore.

"And why would Al Haitham work for me?"

"Why do you work as a sage?" Dottore retorts back . A glint passes Azar's eye as he reaches a delightful conclusion.

"If I were to successfully recruit Haitham I would officially have him under my control. I could invigilate him and his steps. Although we will have to take all necessary precautions, I can't trust him completely... Dottore hire some of your men to keep an eye on him at all times." 

Dottore sighs heavily and walks away. "As you say grand sage" as he does one of his casual bows and leaves Azar's office.

Back at 221B Dr. Kaveh sat listless looking out the window as water slowly cascaded down the glass pane. It was a heavy downpour but that didn't stop people from traversing outside. Many people were taking shades under the nearby shop whilst trying to hail rides. Some continued working even though drenched but None of those amused him anymore. Haitham has not yet sent him any letter of his whereabouts. He worries for him and that frustrates him cause all he can do is sit and worry and even that is starting to look boring. 

"Ms. Nilou! Any letter from our precious detective?" Kaveh asks for her out loud.

"This is the Umptieth time you've asked of me yet the answer remains the same- No, I haven't got it and if I got it I would bring it straight to you doctor." Nilou huffs from the kitchen downstairs. She slowly makes her way up with some evening delights. 

"You know how Mr. Haitham is, he will take his sweet time completing his job, and won't return without finishing it. In the meantime try some of these biscuits Dehya sent them over, did you know she is dabbling in the bakery."

Kaveh hums disinterested whilst looking longingly at the window. The rain has started beating down on the window pane making the outside world blurred in water waves. 

"Gosh and here I am trying to uplift your mood and you have the gall to ignore your landlady" Nilou huffs again.

"I apologize it's just I am frustrated that I sit here pointlessly unable to do anything like a newlywed wife that has been left on a wedding night- and don't get me started, we were to wed this year but if he continues to disappear like this I don't think I’ll get married within this millennia."

"Oh, Dr. Kaveh! Speak good at these times and hope for good." Nilou reprimands him. "I understand how you feel but you must also trust Mr. Haitham, he never does anything without seeing the foreseeable future consequences and if he can prevent it he will jump for it." 

"I know, but it doesn't ease my heart any better that he may be in mortal danger at this very moment and if I only knew where he was at least it would ease my heart a tiny bit," Kaveh mumbles near the end as he takes one of the biscuits to nibble on.

"Let's not discuss Haitham right now, let's focus on you. Tell me how is the apothecary going on any interesting home visits, doctor?" 

"No, it's the same ol' dealing with Eleazar patients and new ones. The symptoms don't seem to recede. The last time I saw them healthy was during our queen's birthday. Since then it has simply gone on to deteriorate even more. I almost feel ashamed feeling depressed over Haitham when these people with severe disease seem to thrive on their final few days"

They eat their evening delight in relative silence with a few occasional quips from Ms. Nilou, which was received by Kaveh all the same. By now the rain has become a drizzle and the sunset is starting to peek through the heavy clouds."Well as a casual distraction, how about we go to Zubayr's theatre and see a play? I heard they are putting on a play about this new love story released from Mondstadt."

Kaveh looked at Nilou with uncharacteristic emotions and Nilou couldn't seem to comprehend why Kaveh was showing such apprehension over the idea until it hit her "Oh I must apologize slip of mind I was just thinking you must have been bored here so why not take a small walk out and visit the theatre as such but we could avoid it if you do not like it–"

"Calm down Ms Nilou it doesn't sound as bad to go on a walk, let me just get my coat" In those few moments Kaveh gave a small smile that lit up Nilou's excitement as well and she headed towards the windows to close them when she noticed "I must say an awful lot of fatuis in Sumeru nowadays, has any of the Snezhnayan delegates come to visit Sumeru?"

Hearing this Kaveh ran towards the window and looked out and some fatui members were standing casually some smoking cigars, some on casual talk with others but Kaveh could easily notice the not-so-subtle way they kept a constant eye on the house windows. "I wonder what delegate must have come for so many fatuis to surround our humble street?" Kaveh asks

"Well I went to the bazaar this morning and there were fatuis there as well" Obviously only Kaveh could catch on the fact the fatui were not merely there but following Nilou.

"I suddenly feel like giving visit to our colleague, Dr. Tighnari. What say you Ms. Nilou?" Kaveh looks at her, who gets all excited to get ready to meet her friend. Kaveh gives one short glance towards one of the fatui who is no longer shy of maintaining eye contact with him as he shuts the blinds of the windows.

"Good eve Mr. Al - Haitham" Azar entered Haitham's dwelling as he was packing his items. Catching him off-guard "Oh my! I seem to have arrived at an inconvenient hour." Azar comments observing the state of Haitham's camp. Haitham immediately slips his hand in his pocket and takes a few steps back. Azar takes a few gingerly steps towards the chaos bell and runs his finger through the dust accumulated on the artefact’s blades.

"You sir ..." Azar speaks slowly and then points at his own head “Lack frontal lobe development– no gent carries a loaded gun in the pockets of their own garment." hearing his comment Al-Haitham simply smirks and takes out his gun, disarms and places it in front of him in the sand.

Seeing Haitham ease off, Azar places his walking cane near the chaos core and paces around the mausoleum. I must say in my time in Akademiya I never once took time to visit such places. I never found an appeal for it... I still don't."

"Maybe if you were to leave beyond the confines of the facts you surround yourself with you might find this place more valuable than the chaos bell," Haitham speaks up.

Azar seems amused by his comment "You evidently don't know me."

"On the contrary, it is fairly evident that I do" Al Haitham speaks eyes following Azar's movements.

"You know what I've come to ask of you and it has already crossed your mind."

"Then you must already know my answer as it has crossed yours." Haitham quickly retorts back.

A pregnant silence is observed followed by the howling of winds above them. Azar finally steps towards the chaos core and slips his hands towards his own pocket which startles Haitham to bend towards his own gun in the ground but Azar stops in his movement only for a second before feigning disappointment and taking out a small book from his pocket.

"Do you keep account of how many times you have frustrated me, boy?"

"Enough to make the grand sage inconvenience to come to the desert." Al-Haitham counters.

"You inconvenienced me greatly with the Snezhnayan shipment." Azar quickly speaks as Haitham is slowly getting on his nerves.

"Ahh, so it was you behind the Prussian league I assume. An ingenious idea I must praise."

Azar smirks only slightly before opening his book and pacing the grounds as he reads aloud "You crossed my path first in June of 1891 with the Amphitrite treaty. In the middle of November, I was mysteriously inconvenienced by you with my shipments of Sarpa-salpa and at the end of December, I was absolutely hampered in my plans. And now at last with my business with the Tanit tribe you have put me in such a position that I am at risk of losing my liberty" As Azar speaks with rising volume, he takes great steps towards Haitham. 

Haitham takes a few steps back. Seeing the hesitance Azar calms down significantly. "I assure you I've come here on my own accord with no assistance from any mercenary as they have come to disappoint me and no fatui as they are involved elsewhere. I've come to talk to you man-to-man."

Al-Haitham smiles to himself as he finally sees where the pointless banter was leading up to "What do you suggest?"

"It has been an intellectual treat for me to see you handle the matters but I insist you stop and consider a change of path. We are now simply a few steps away from achieving greatness and your intellectual prowess is of great need in Akademiya."

"And what if I refuse?"

"It would be of great grief to me to take an extreme measure" Hearing this Haitham has a hearty laugh "Oh you smile sir but this is dangerous grounds you tread upon."

"Danger is one of my trades-"

"This is not just danger but inevitable destruction. You stand in the way of not an individual but a mighty organisation, steps away from achieving control over not just a country but the entire world and your intellect cannot even fathom the power we currently hold." Azar pauses before toning his voice down. "I stand to lose nothing by dying to your bullet, the project would continue even without my presence and the moment my men come to know of my unfateful but not unpredictable demise you stand to lose your entire family. The family you have very recently developed."

Effectively shutting up Al-Haitham, Azar stops his pacing and faces Haitham Square "From where I stand I see you have two choices; either join me and my cause or, be trodden upon the very ground you stand."

Al-Haitham thinks for a while, and finally eases his shoulder and stands clear from the fallen gun. "You have paid me several compliments, let me pay you one in return if I say I were assured the former eventuality I would choose it out of public interest but as we both stand we both gain from not this one device in front but of many you have lynched and created."

Azar smiles greatly. He steps forward and presents his hand "Let's hope we both learn something of value that may help humanity in the next step to the future."

The hands shook. The deal is made.

8th March 1892,

I had a brief visit to Tighnari's and did some regular checks on Collei. Her Eleazar has come along a great deal ahead but she seems to be content with her current life. I could see the dark circles under Tighnari's eyes had barely let go. Dedicating his time to take care of his only daughter. I had intended to go there to let off some steam regarding the recent development with Haitham's mission but I had to hold my tongue on multiple occasions. I cannot tell him Dottore has come back to Sumeru and that he escaped from our hands yet again. It was Cyno’s suggestion we remained silent. And as far as Haitham's mission is concerned I know Dottore is involved.

Regardless, whatever Haitham does I only pray for his safety and damn be that conning man Dottore. I hope he never crosses my path. 

7th April 1892,

It has officially been 3 months since I have gotten any letter from Haitham. I heard no news from him. But I did get news from the most unexpected places that led me to Mahmatra Cyno to have me interrogated. I told him honestly what had happened so far but Cyno didn't have the same decency to tell me why I was being interrogated. I was worried for a moment that something awful must have happened to Haitham for him to drag me to the station. But I heard a wandering gossip that eased my stress for a while but not long. Haitham has become an accessory to grand larceny.

I acted as though I didn't hear but I am planning to go to the desert myself. Honestly that man.

A dust storm was kicking up far in the back side of the desert and in no time it would make its way towards them but they couldn't focus on that for long; they were officially surrounded by the Mahamatra faction all wielding various apprehending weapons. The three people in the centre had to be careful and keep eye contact with whoever they could before they could make any moves.

"I can take down three people but any more than that is a death sentence" A girl in gilded tribe armour speaks first.

"I estimate five from my side but again it's an estimate" A man in a bandit outfit wielding 2 machetes gets ready to head first.

"Haste not as this is devil's ploy. We should be looking for ways to escape, take only so much that you can escape" Al-Haitham speaks up in a tribal outfit of his own but his hair is a dead giveaway whilst holding a revolver.

"Al-Haitham another step and we will have to shoot you on site" The mahamatras in front of Haitham part ways for the inspector to make his way. A Furious Cyno walks down holding a flintlock.

"Inspector Cyno- always a delight."

"I used to share the same sentiment."

"would you believe me if I said this was for the greater good of Sumeru?"

"How could a device that manifests the very disease your god-daughter is suffering from be of greater good to the entirety of the public!" Cyno all but screams whilst clenching the flintlock.

"Well maybe throw your weapon down and we can chat over a cup of tea" Al-Haitham unhelpfully suggests while his team looks at him in bafflement.

"Stop joking Haitham you are now about to commit a second serious offence and you won't even be considered an accessory". The dust storm has grown very close and the wind around has started to pick up. Haitham was stalling for this. 

"I stand by my words, Cyno. This is for the greater good." Haitham shouts over the wind before he shoots at the sand that ensues the chaos. The dust storm now overhead makes it hard to make out where the people around them are. Haitham and his team can see well over as an escape point but Haitham often forgets that Cyno hails from the land of Thousand Suns he is well endowed with every grain of sand and calmly makes his way over to Haitham.

Haitham is not one bit shocked and decides to avoid Cyno but Cyno sees nothing beyond the red anger and silently grabs the girl and holds the flintlock over her head. Seeing this Haitham had to stop. "Stop before I send her to her judgment day," Cyno commands easily over the chaos. The shout of men stops, only the roar of the wind remains.

"Let's not be hasty Cyno, we cannot have you having the blood of an innocent on you. This was my plan and she simply assisted me in carrying it."

"That will be for the judge presiding over to decide not you, either silently give up or-" silently from the storm Dottore emerges and pierces Cyno’s nape making him lose consciousness. The few close by Mahamtras are too little too late to approach Dottore as he disappears taking their convicts with him.

"You know I can't always be saving you like a damsel in distress Mr Haitham." Dottore stands beside him giving Haitham a hand to stand up. They are well below ground level based on the fact that they had all plunged down from the battlefield. But looking at the walls surrounding them it seems as though they have fallen into yet another desert temple.

"You didn't have to save us, I had the situation well under control." Haitham huffs as he stands up on his own and dusts himself off the immense sand collected. His other 2 team members Jeht and Azariq remain unconscious on the broken tile floor of an unknown mausoleum "Are they going to be ok?"

"The effects will wear off in about 10 minutes- but effects of concussion may delay their entry back to the conscious world." Dottore looks at his watch and gives a rough estimation "And Cyno?" 

"Maybe a bit over 20 I can't say for sure he did get a higher dose"

"You shouldn't have done that to these 2."

"Couldn't risk them seeing me could I? Now where is my parcel?" Dottore asks eagerly, Haitham simply huffs and hands over a small fabric bag folded over holding stiff boards. Dottore opens the bag and gives a count of all the scarlet sand slates. These were accounts of King Desheret himself but they were cursed accounts, the perfect ingredient to make a cursed divine knowledge capsule. Even Al Haitham could see the dead giveaway. Anyone who consumed this could risk developing Eleazar or worse a death sentence.

"Three? I was told there would be Four?" Dottore asks. Haitham doesn't even look at Dottore as he helps his team members to get accustomed to lying down at ease.

"I don't know, must have lost it at the fight up there?"  Haitham now finally looks at Dottore "Would you like to go back and check for yourself?" Both of them stare at each other for a while before Dottore smirks. 

"Here is your next mission, surprise, it's more slates to be delivered."

Al Haitham looks over the note and exhales briefly "You know just as well as I do I abhor the concept of redundancy, am I the lackey that merely delivers his pointless slates to him? When do I get to see this work of his that has taken the old man half his life."

"Tut-tut Mr. Haitham, in time all will be made known. If it is any consoltation this will be your last delivery mission, given that you do it properly and then you can indulge in the heavenly ripeness of knowledge that Azar speaks of."

Haitham simply looks at the note and then at his teammate before he can look back at Dottore he disappears. 

The two team members finally come to consciousness heads resting on their respective backpacks. Their eyes finally come to focus on a single light illuminating the room in the corner where a man sits hunched over a stone table. Jeht groans in pain emanating from the back of her head.

"You both have finally woken up I see," Haitham speaks up as his eyes never leave the map he is examining on the table. 

"How long was I out?" 

"About an hour or so. I was told 10 minutes but that would be on me to have blindly believed our client."

"Let me guess our client already got his parcel and was also our saviour."

"Unfortunately so," Haitham says, finally looking at Jeht, then his eyes wander towards Azariq who seems to be patting his pocket.

"Looking for this Mr. Azariq" Haitham says as he takes out one of the missing slates. Azariq looks ashamed and smiles "I won't ask you why you took this for the same reason you won't ask me why now I own this."

"But I can," Jeht says.

"Why ask questions you know answers to Jeht," Azariq says as he finally stands up and dusts himself. "Eyes on the map I am assuming we have yet another mission."

"The last one and it is right within these mausoleums."

"So let's get to it shall we?" Azariq says pumped up. Haitham smiles delighted by the enthusiasm as Jeht readies herself.

"Let me guess Haitham was right there but he escaped yet again?" Tighnari speaks up as Cyno finally comes to consciousness.

"Not even a Good Morn I see." Cyno groans

"Are you seeing lights somewhere? it is the middle of the night!" Tighnari speaks concerned as he observes Cyno's eyes "I was told you were concussed but I see no hit marks on your head."

"Guess my hat saved me."

"Yet you fell unconscious..."

"..." the silence brought forth more questions in Tighnari's mind.

"What are you hiding from me Cyno, I get that Al-Haitham has committed multiple crimes but he wouldn't stoop low to harm his companions, this is not done by Al Haitham," Tighnari speaks with conviction.

"Yea he has accomplices they did assist mu–"

"No more lies, any more and I will personally concuss you!"

"He is working with a tough enemy and I can't wrap my head around why he is doing so." as Cyno speaks he winces in pain leading Tighnari to notice a dart point near his neck.

"Needles.... tranquillizer...." a shudder passes through Tighnari in recognition. Cyno tries reaching over to Tighnari but he takes a step back "Speak now or never speak to me again."

"......Dottore... He is here."

"And Al-Haitham is working with him?"

"-for him... As far as I know... It could be non-consensual work."

"How long?"

"Don't know, could be half a year now based on estimates" Tighnari sags in his seat "..... The Eleazar has gotten worse, you know right?"

"Collei, she is a strong one and I promised I won't let even a strand of hair on her be touched by that defiled man."

"What's the bloody use of you protecting her when you can't even protect yourself."

"But I am fine and they won't kill me, if they do Azar would be immediately blamed and the entire organization would come down."

"For the love of archon, the grand sage is involved too?!"

"Yes."

"And would it have killed you to tell me, I would have helped you and protected you-"

"You focus on Collei, she needs you more than I do. Right now the matter has escalated to such importance that the integrity of the nation is on the line. It's not just Collei who is in danger but the entirety of the Sumerian population is at risk. But the lack of power at hand is making it difficult for me to dismantle it at the core."

"And Al-Haitham, you know Kaveh has been even more miserable with al-Haitham gone and when he hears this his heart will break."

"Kaveh is stronger than most of us Tighnari, he will fight al-Haitham tooth and nail to stop him and you know it. If he came to know that Haitham is in the desert committing grand larceny as we speak, he will travel to the desert on his own and Haitham made me swear not to utter a word of what he is doing."

"Haitham is committing a crime and you don't seem persistent enough to find him."

"... I can't help but feel what he is doing can stop what is inevitable, but every encounter I have with him is stopped by Dottore."

"You mean you have met Dottore on multiple occasions," Tighnari says and Cyno seems to stutter in his words as he realises. 

"I can't seem to stop my mouth when I am in front of you."

"I can't believe I am dealing with the densest men on Tevyat right now" Tighnari huffs and stands up, "clean up your own wounds, I need to go see Collei." With that Tighnari leaves the tent where Cyno is resting, from the sound he hears outside he assumes he is in caravan ribat, how Tighnari came upon him is beyond him but he needs to apologize to Tighnari soon, first a report has to be sent to the station.

"Another step and I will have you hit in an unpleasant location" Kaveh huffs out with the sharp end of his umbrella pointing at the two fatuus grunting in pain kneeling before him. Kaveh was on a long journey towards the desert, he had observed there to be 2 fatui observing him at all times and now that he was on his way to the desert the 2 fatui hadn't stopped following him. He couldn't even give them the credit of being good spies; they stood out like sore thumbs in every crowd. And anytime he tried to lose track of them they seemed to easily find him again.

Finally tired of them he confronts them on the precipice of Aaru village. Few jabs with an umbrella and a proper concussion to one fatuus head with his briefcase now they lay down in front of him grunting in pain.

"You have any idea who you are dealing with, Dr. Kaveh." 

"Yes, I am right in assuming from the sigil you don, you work for one of the harbingers and my last encounter dictates it is Mr Dottore."

"Then it is in the right mind you stop interfering in our business."

"ME?! INTERFERE! IN YOUR BUSINESS? You have been the one following me and Ms. Nilou like hawks waiting for their prey in its moment of weakness."

"There is no beating around the bush with you, we are on strict orders of observing you." one of the fatuis that was donning a flintlock a moment ago tries to stand up. 

"Observing me... That is in direct neglect of the right to privacy law."

"Do we look like we care for your laws?" 

"You know I could call one of the mahamatra in a matter of moments and have you apprehended."

"And we would be out of those cuffs faster than you can blink."

"I see you follow no one but your master... Then I will have to call upon your own master to deal with you" Kaveh bluffs he was thinking of Mr. Tartaglia but he couldn't think of anyways to contact him nor did he think the 11th harbinger would come to his aid for something so menial.

"You know we are working on his order right."

"I mean the harbinger who stands above your own master."

"Surely you don't mean the jester" one of the fatui scoffs, Kaveh didn't even know that jester was one above Dottore he doesn't dabble in harbinger hierarchies "Obviously I mean the jester" Every time Kaveh opens his mouth he seems to keep digging a deeper hole for himself "My fiancé is the greatest detective in all of Tevyat you don't think he has not dabbled with every harbinger lord of yours."

"Listen how about you go about your day as usual and we will do our business as usual and if we find you interfering where you don't belong then we will have to interfere ourselves. In the meantime, think of our presence as guards meant to protect you cause our lord has not ordered you to hurt you in any way." One of the more overweight fatui spoke up. How does he plan to protect Kaveh when he can hardly protect himself from a simple jab from an umbrella?

Just then an old man walks in front of them; he doesn't seem to notice the commotion happening. He is wearing the akademiyan uniform but Kaveh quickly notes the dead vacant eyes as he walks towards one of the statues of Archon and promptly kneels and vomits blood. Kaveh immediately on alert runs towards the man and helps the man from hurling more blood, he pats on the back as the old man continues to hack watery coughs. Kaveh feels his chest and immediately notices multiple broken rib cage bones. He has suffered from internal damage as if someone had hit him over and over again with a wooden stick. His eyes dart towards the old man's wrist and note the clot-up blood marks as if having been tied up in rope for long hours. He tries to pick the man up to help him over to the village but his legs give out. 

"You fatuus!" Kaveh calls out to the conflicted fatuis "You would guard me, right? And right now I need guarding, help me take this man to the village infirmary." The men look at each other for a moment before resignedly coming to Kaveh's aid.

"We are simply meant to observe you, sir, our captain didn't give us to do this task."

"But you just said you would guard me too, if you don't perform your guard duties I will have to inform your master of your lacklustre work."

The fat fatui sadly huffs out "We always get roped into the wrong things."

"This is hardly wrong! we have to help an old man have some empathy, folks." Kaveh says as he digs in his bag looking for medicinal needs as they enter the village

It has been he doesn't know how long but they keep walking in circles around the mausoleum never able to reach the destination. "Are we there yet" Jeht speaks up, exhaustion imminent in her voice. "I swear if I see the same pillars again I will pull out my hair."

"King Desheret, the ruler of this fallen kingdom made such mausoleums to make his enemies lose their track in times of invasion. And the Temple of Silence often kept its knowledge close to their heart, if we should find any luck in finding those last knowledge slates we must try to go towards the centre of the mausoleum if only I can find those contraptions that open the gates."

"We could easily hack away at one of the walls, I mean do we have the necessary tools?" Azariq asks. The walls of these mausoleums are made of the same sandstone as most abandoned desert temples are but this is an underground location the wall stones are far sturdier than the ones used on the ground level to avoid sudden collapses. Even with the best of tools, it would be impossible to hack away at such walls.

"If we do so we run the risk of activating any traps, we must do this the way the council of the temple of silence would reach the location, by proper access."

"If we do your way we will be stuck here forever Mr. Detective" Jeht mumbles. She silently observes the detective reading the map and observing the walls around him "You know matriarch Babel has not just given the task of assisting you in your expedition but observing you and taking you down when you do eventually betray us." Jeht speaks trying to rile up Haitham "And as you can see we seem to be failing miserably in doing the former at the moment as we never seem to know who this mysterious client of yours is that seems to take 'our' loot."

"That is only for me to know and for you to follow, interfere any further and you run the risk of mixing with the wrong guys that can ruin your life." 

"We are the Tanit tribe Mr Al-Haitham we dabble in danger from the day we were born to these sands, we know you were the one who stole the chaos bell and now work for the very client you stole it from, Matriarch Babel has not forgiven you for hurting our tribe men that night," Jeht speaks as she puts her sword against Haitham's throat.

"And I thought she would thank me for putting down those eventual traitors. You know they were going to steal the chaos bell and sell it to another tribe for an even higher price than our client offered," al-Haitham says calmly. Azariq laughs awkwardly as he tries to bring the tensions down "Come now Jeht we don't want to do this now, matriarch said to prioritize the loot first before our next goal." 

Haitham simply smiles before heading towards a contraption he finds at the end of a hallway. But he accidentally steps on a tile trap and gives way to the floor making all three of them plunge to the ground below them, thankfully it is filled with water.

"Archons, so much water!" Jeht exclaims as she gasps for air. They have somehow fallen even deeper below the mausoleum tunnels and are surrounded by a watery cave system. The water is dimly lit by the light being shone down from the broken grounds above them.

"Hold my hand Jeht! I'll bring you ashore" Azariq grasps Jeht's hand and drags her towards land on the corner where Haitham is already catching his breath.

"Told you it would have been better to hack away at the wall," Azariq says. Haitham simply ignores as he places his wet map now on the few stones he is standing trying to store it in his mind before the map loses all its ink to the water damage.

"Any clue where we are?"

"A floor below from where we started but closer to the heart if we tread this water carefully." they walk a while before again submerging in water forced to swim around looking for any corners to turn. Azariq finds a stairwell from his side leading back up.

The three people slowly swim towards a large stairwell, the wet clothes making it harder for each step. The cracks on the roof wall show a glimpse of the sky outside it is well beyond night right now. As they cross the end of the long hallway, now much aware of each tile they step on.

Finally, they enter a room glistening in crystals and a dim light emanated from the corners of the room but it was outshined by the massive device in front of them. A massive polyhedron is being held on by a crane and rope. A Contraption of sorts that has meticulously placed multiple slates. If the slates were removed the contraption would activate a trap or the mausoleum would crumble upon them. But that was a gamble they had to take regardless. This creation was a creation of King Deshret’s civilization. To their credit, they were brought down by a civilisation far more advanced than them and it's the curse of greed for knowledge that now affects the entirety of Sumeru.

"I can’t believe our ancestors made such beautiful architecture work and here we are now living with rags as our shed," Azariq comments awestruck by the architecture around them. The walls of the room were adorned with murals of the king and his associates. It even had some depictions about the civilization that thrived under him. If it was any other day Al Haitham would bring Kaveh here and decipher with him these murals. 

"If your tribe would leave the traditional homes and fight to surround yourself once again with the beauty of boundless knowledge spread your populace would make bounds of development as such, a shame that you are now a victim of discrepancies within the tribe and tradition you all follow."

Jeht on defence immediately speaks up "Who are you to speak of our tribe and tradition when it was your people who deprived us of our knowledge that we unwillingly gave to you, it was our mistake we ever gave knowledge to you lot, you ended up using it against us and here we are deprived of it now simply surviving on the basis of evolutionary principles."

Al-Haitham doesn't seem phased by her outlash "You are aware of evolutionary principles then you must know what is the 5th principle?"

"Adaptation- one must change oneself to adapt to an ever-changing environment."

"A shame they never taught you fully, the principle states 'one must change oneself to adapt to an ever-changing environment or else migrate to a suitable one'. "Al Haitham looks back at Jeht "Now I don't mean for you to migrate but now that the first half of the 5th principle is not fulfilled you work vehemently towards the 1st principle survival of the fittest, and survival doesn't mean just adapt but to fight to adapt."

Jeht contemplates his words for a while. Just then Azariq decides to jab in with a joke "I didn't understand any of those words in those order."

"A shame." they finally reach towards the contraption. 

"Azariq, get tools out we need to dismantle this" Azariq gets to work pulling out heavy metal tools that went around the bolts dismantling them. With each bolt loose the device slowly lowered itself and made a creaking sound as it lowered towards the ground where they could just reach the slates. One bolt came off too soon leading the ancient artefact to fall making a reverberating sound around the entire mausoleum.

Suddenly movement was heard. The sound of the starting of a machine gears clunking with each other. They turn behind to see not one but two ruin guards heading towards them. These cyclops are a rare sight. Sometimes found near Khaenriahn encampment sites. These cyclops are loyal to no one but the people of a fallen nation. 

"How on archon's name are these creatures still working? I thought the Akademiya had long ago dismantled them."

"They dismantled the knowledge, not the machinery. And they never seem to have been turned on in the first place. You know what this means."

"We aren't the first intruders."

"Good eve' Ms. Candace."

"Oh my look what the cat dragged in" Candace exits from her dwelling as Kaveh takes a breather outside the infirmary shed. The sun was shining too bright today for his liking but he was in the desert after all it was to be expected. But Aaru village was one of the closest desert villages to Sumeru. Ms. Candace in all her rights was the tribe leader. But she has for the past decade helped convert the tribe to a village and stated herself a chieftain role rather than that of a Matriarch.

She holds an optimistic hope to unite the desert dwellers with the Sumerian People. But the hope seems bleaker by the day, that is not to say Ms. Candace hasn't made any companions from Sumeru who she hoped would one day help her achieve her goal. Al Haitham and Kaveh had aided Ms Candace on some puzzling cases from her village and The Mahamatra Inspector Cyno had often traversed from their village before going on a gruelling mission in the desert he would stock up from their village. Ms Candace would make a great foreign Minister, a shame that she is well dedicated towards her village to spare much thought on delegating work.

"I would have presented myself better if it weren't for the two numb nuts fatuis intruding upon my journey, also I should apologize for intruding myself without informing you, this whole trip was impromptu in nature."

"Oh you worry yourself too much Dr. Kaveh, it has been far too long since I had a visit from you lot, last I heard from you was a vague letter informing of your engagement with Mr. Al-Haitham. I do hope you liked the congratulatory gift we sent over."

"You Know we devoured it the moment you sent it."

"As expected, now I hear you got another one of the exiled scholars."

"Exiled scholars?"

"You are not up to information as I assumed."

"Clearly no, I only very recently came to know my betrothed is involved in committing grand larceny." Candace doesn't seem one bit shocked by the information "You already know I assume."

"The mahamatra have issued a warrant for him and made aware if he were to come anywhere near we are to hand him over."

Kaveh sighs as his head hits the wall behind him." I haven't spoken to him in 3 months, I was interrogated yesterday when I came to know from a passing gossip what he is up to, even Cyno prevents me from knowing about al-Haitham."

"Oh darling I assure you he didn't say cause he didn't want to hurt you."

"I've suffered a world of hurt, Candace. Having been coddled in the city I've lost touch with the outside world where people are suffering and now this- I am sorry you were saying exiled scholars. What even is this? More than exiled, he is in miserable pain."

"That is how they always come to us, the Akademiya is treating our place as land waste where they send away scholars who go against the grand sage or commit a crime. They come to us in a state of daze with loss of memory and some arrive in an even worse state, beaten up, black-eyed, fat-lipped."

"My current patient currently suffers from severe internal damage to the rib cage and risks a chance of organ failure."

"This is not even the worst."

"You can't be serious!?"

"I unfortunately am, the few scholars that do survive just live in a daze following every order given to them. The elders of the village have taken them under to help in daily chores and this way even keeps an eye on their health."

"What has the world come to candace?" Kaveh speaks, eyes tearing up. Candace hugs him as he silently cries on her shoulder. "I worry about my love."

"You know he is damn stronger than the lot at Akademiya, if he commands the entire Akademiya would be up in arms and dismantle the system."

"Yet here he is on the run somewhere in the desert"

"The desert is a land of thousand suns, my dear, when the night comes there is a surety that the sun will rise tomorrow no matter what, your husband is one of them, he will return just like the sun will rise tomorrow."

Kaveh looks at Candace with a tear-streaked face and a sense of calm enveloping him. Just then one of the fatuus comes out of the infirmary "Sir the scholar has woken up." 

"Oh thank the archons," Candace says before heading inside. There sat a scholar in tattered akademiyan clothes now in the clarity of the light one could see the deep gashes and bruises left by ropes. Kaveh immediately checks on the patient. He checks for consciousness or clarity in his eyes. The patient remains in a daze but the pulse seems to be properly paced. He touches his chest and he seems to wince. "Ok still damage to ribs but at least he is out of immediate danger, just rest for a month and his body should do the recovering, no strenuous work for you sir. Now can you look at me?"

The old man slowly turns towards the voice but the eyes remain unfocused and cloudy. "Can you tell me your name?" the old man simply tilts his head sideways.

"We often give them names... We don't know the name of a single exiled scholar we have had."

"For the love of- ok sir I want you to raise your hand." the old man does as told and raises both arms "Now down, ok procedural memory intact but immediate memory loss and severe trauma to brain. I don't even know what he is on for him to be in this state."

"I had Dehya investigate for me once- says there is a drug called the Sarpa-salpa-"

"Oh archon, this is all still connected, it makes so much sense now." Kaveh exclaims.

"I see, you know what this is then?"

"But Sarpa-salpa was not as bad as it is right now Al-Haitham and Cyno saw to it to confiscate it completely."

"When has anything ever been confiscated, Doctor?" Candace looks at him with sad eyes. Years of cruelty suffered while living in the desert have given her a lot of wisdom. "You know just as well as I do that when anything is taken from the hands of the public there will be people who will look for ways to nab it regardless of its prominence- like childish urges, the more you deny the more the drive for it."

"But at a higher concentration, they will simply succumb to the Eleazar disease." Candace just silently nods at Kaveh. The fatui standing beside them also seem perturbed by the turn of events.

Exhaustion overcame them as they dragged their feet across the coarse sand dragging a cart full of corrupt divine capsules. Al-Haitham and Jeht had been swift in defeating the ruin guards while Azariq continued taking the slates and here they are with over 20 scarlet slates. Further, they feared they would have a likely encounter with Khaenriahn locals or worse the old army, but luckily they found an exit as soon as they got all the slates. Unlike other expeditions where they retrieved just over 8 or so slates this expedition was a gold mine of knowledge. An untouched mausoleum surely will be an attraction point for akademiyan scholars.

The desert at night is far cooler and merciful on them but it doesn't negate the exhaustion in their limbs from the heavy load. "we should camp near the oasis" Azariq comments pointing at nothing but more sand.

"You seem to have developed symptoms of hallucination."

"Ah- so there is no oasis."

"Unfortunately no good sir."

"I feel so out of place whenever you refer to us in such respectful terms." Jeht comments

"A pity that humans don't often see the benefits of manners with every human."

"Don't need your pity, just need this to be over with." with a grunt Jeht drags a few meters then throws the rope on the sand and sits down "Call your client here, I can't be bothered to drag it any further."

"We are out in the open and we run a risk of bandits Jeht," Azariq says

"So get the client now itself- that mysterious man often comes from dust storms, asks him to come now."

"Dust storms hardly happen at night" al-Haitham corrects her. 

"I didn't ask for you to correct my knowledge, just get the man and get it over with." Haitham puts up his hand in defence walks a few meters ahead and touches one of the Akasha transmitters that Dottore gave him. Only to use when the time to deliver comes.

"He should be here in an hour or so, I do not know how he travels. But my rough estimate says an hour or so."

"You two will be on guard duty. I am going to sleep for a few minutes." Jeht says and promptly lays down and goes to sleep.

 Kaveh barely got a wink of sleep. From the time he rescued the exiled scholar, he has multiple close calls to death and has wandered from the infirmary five times. For an old man, he puts up a tough fight that even Candace falters on her feet. Kaveh now sits near one of the village stalls feeding on ajilenakh nuts. 

"Tell you what, he is the toughest one we had so far, but it only lasts a day or two after which they forever become docile." Candace sits beside him with a tray carrying two cups of tea.

"Ms. Candace be honest with me have those exiled scholars-"

"No Dr. Kaveh, none of our people would ever harm those poor souls. Just some menial labour and sometimes just company for old souls around here." 

"I meant if the scholars ever harmed people of your village."

"Oh- it was just one and it was merely a scratch, even though they didn't know what they were dealing with but a good thing they had now adopted that young scholar in their own family. The head of the family has gone to Sumeru to get to the centre of it all, he was the one who informed me of their status."

"I see" Kaveh says as he recedes on himself resting his back against the wall as he stares adamantly at his cup. He wishes to ask more but he feels unsure if it would be intruding.

"You see over there" Candace points at a house with an open window. An Old woman is seen drying her clothes "That's Mrs. Anaya, she lost her husband a decade ago to some haste desert bandits. He was protecting a young akademiyan on her way to an expedition. Not much is known about the akademiyan. We simply got news of the loss of her husband. A decade later an exiled young scholar wandered into our village. You should have seen the state he arrived in after 2 days of caring for him. We didn't see any point in having him around and hoped to send him to Caravan Ribat. But Mrs Anaya came in and took him under her care. She never had a kid of her own and now considers that scholar to be her son." Candace takes a long sip of her tea

"Not much can be said about this scholar. When we asked why she took him she said it was because she felt guilty of her husband not being able to protect that young scholar girl back then. At Least by taking care of this young scholar she can atone." Kaveh looks at her waiting for the final verdict. Just then a scholar no more younger than 20 comes out of the very house door holding more clothes to dry. "You see, Dr. Kaveh, we no longer consider ourselves people of Sumeru, we are people of Aaru Village, The kindest soul you will find in all of the 7 nations of Tevyat. And we proudly would bore the symbol of the most knowledgeable of you all if our king had not fallen prey to heavenly principles."

Kaveh simply smiles at her before taking a sip from his cup. I'll be honest Ms. Candace I haven't informed a soul in the city I have come to desert. Not even Ms. Nilou. She is under the assumption I have gone to stay a while with Tighnari. I came here to find Al-Haitham, but seeing them I am unable to leave now. My heart screams for me to wander into the desert to find him but a rational part wants me to stay here and tend to the wounded. I bet akademiyan is going to send even more your way."

Candace looks at Kaveh and shifts a strand of hair from his head. "You listen to me and you listen to me well, the desert is not a place to wander it is a place where often many don't return from if they don't have the necessary help or know the desert themselves. And before you ask me you know damn well you are more than welcome to stay here forever. Tend to the wounded and wait and pray for your husband to come. Don't you dare lose that hope, the Aaru village is more than welcoming of kind souls like you."

For the first time in a long time, Kaveh feels his heart at ease. He smiles at Candace before finishing his tea and looking at the full moon " I wonder if al-Haitham is observing the same beauty as I am"

"The new moon dictates a new cycle, a new beginning and life should be like that when fed up with one chapter, open a new chapter, start over a new one. It gives a sense of hope that no matter how many mistakes there is enough time to start over." Azariq mentions as he looks at Al-Haitham to see any form of irritation but the man seems stoic as ever gazing at the moon.  

"A far too optimistic view on life, this comes with its own form of issues like how the past never leaves, at least clear your sins before starting anew."

"You think too rationally Mr Haitham, sometimes you've got to think selfishly, sometimes it is about the survival of the fittest."

"Desert dwellers..... You never cease to amaze me." Al Haitham laughs as he finally looks at Azariq "Amuse me for a while, why did you feel the need to steal one of the slates."

"Jeht is right in front of us."

"She is in the deepest part of her non-REM sleep, a faulty bodily system that makes us lose awareness of our environment, she won't wake up even if the dust devil is upon her... So tell me Azariq why such hate towards matriarch Babel." hearing that Azariq’s shoulders tensed, and he stared at al-Haitham "Oh please don't act so surprised, you were not one bit subtle, even the matriarch knows you have and are actively betraying her."

Azariq looks at his hands as he clenches and unclenches them "I see, so I can no longer return there.... That's fine I wasn't planning to. I was hoping to sell one of the slates for a handsome amount and take Jeht away to another tribe, a village even.......... If I could, I would change my identity and settle in Sumeru."

"We have sufficient time and it's not like our client will come the moment I say so. He likes to take his sweet time. So indulge me" Al-Haitham tries one of his calm demeanours that would ease another person to speak up. But it's at times like this he wishes Kaveh was here. He has the greatest power of persuasion, even a criminal would come clean to him if he were to interrogate.

Azariq thinks for a while before finally speaking up "How old do you think Matriarch Babel is?"

"I'd say well around 50-60? Her room contains all forms of oil that would explain her clear skin but bones and energy cannot be replenished by oils and I have noticed her getting exhausted often."

"And I hoped to surprise you with her age. Well as it stands she is well into her 60s according to our tribe regulations she should have retired by 40 and let a new flame take over. And we keep a meticulous test to see who is well endowed to take the role of matriarch of the tribe. I was 10 when a test happened. My elder sister had been one of the contestants. One of the tests was in a far-off location, a test of strength some said, whilst others said a test of knowledge. Regardless they got attacked by a neighbouring tribe. All the contestants were killed on the spot. And that's how we lost 10 young flames that night. Matriarch Babel in grief put a stop to the test leading her to be the matriarch for the next 20 years...... Heh, you should have been there when she gave her so-called grief-stricken speech 'I would rather I be sacrificed to enemy blade than another young flame of the tribe'. They say the matriarch used that reason to wage a war against the tribe, we lost more soldiers there too. Our tribe obviously fell defeat cause they told 10 men from a tribe had been killed they don't tell it's OUR own men that killed our tribe on matriarch's order."

The last sentence is told with such anger that the sand under Azariq's hand clenches and pours out." I was 20 when I wandered and got lost, I was rescued by a neighbouring tribe who I now work for. The Afiyah tribe. They had nothing to do with our tribe, I would even say they are on good terms with Tanit with occasional trade. But that wicked matriarch..... She conspires against them too who showed only offers of peace. I do not know what the wench plans to do but we are but a small insurgency against her. If we can at least delay her wrath we will part sands and put our life to it to stop her. "

Jeht shifts from her place of sleep before she goes back to her blissful slumber "Jeht.... She is the youngest of us all. She wasn't even brought up in our tribe. Her father had left the tribe at a young age and married an akademiyan scholar, her mother lost her life fighting rogue eremites. The casualty even had people from Aaru village with her mother.  Jeht then came to us when her father also passed away. I don't know how her father passed away. I know this will break her heart but the matriarch must have had a hand in ending her mother's life." Al Haitham looks at him in shock "I have no proper evidence but the matriarch is a meticulous person. She keeps records of everything somewhere closed off. If I get access to them I would prove to Jeht to leave her. But now I cannot tell her any of this. She considers the matriarch to be second to her mother, I can't take that away from her... At least not now."

"You know you can no longer go back to your tribe right?"

"I know but if I go back to the second tribe I can get enough men to fight her off, I mean she definitely cannot take down 10 men in her damn old age" Azariq jokes near the end. 

"This is far more risky Azariq."

"Better than working for a power-hungry monster," Azariq says with a finality. Al Haitham thinks for a while before finally taking out one of the slates he took from Azariq and sliding it back to him "You never saw me do this."

Azariq gives him a wide smile grabs it and hides in his satchel. And gets ready to leave. " I owe you". Al Haitham simply places a finger on his lips.

After approximately an hour and 15 minutes of waiting Dottore arrived. Not as grandiose an experience as yesterday though. "Meticulous as ever Mr. Haitham, Azar sends you his regards."

"Keep it, now do I get any useful updates? When do I return?"

"Tut-tut Mr. Al-Haitham we can't have you working in close quarters with Azar, the entirety of Sumeru knows you are a wanted criminal, and you do have a mission but it is not the usual-"

"You told me this was the last one."

"I didn't say it was the last mission, I said it was the last delivery mission. Now the new mission you have is different and Azar has high hopes for you."

Al Haitham looks at him to see any falter of emotion that would give away anything but Dottore continues to stare at him like an innocent person caught off-guard before he drops the act and speaks in the calmest demeanour. 

"Exterminate Matriarch Babel and all the members of the tribe who were part of the mission."

"You have to be joking right? I don't do kill missions. I was told I would be led in on intel and now Azar wants me to kill. What? Does he not want to spoil his robe with bloodshed?"

"Hmmm, something along those lines. But at least now I can promise you this will be your last mission-mission. No more after that." Dottore steps towards Al-Haitham and dusts his attire for him "And I personally, will escort you back." With that, he steps back and snaps his finger which brings forth a few fatui men who drag the cart away, where they head from there is not Al-Haitham's business. Dottore once again disappears and defeated he heads back towards a dune where he left Jeht to rest only to find her awake dragging a pocket knife on the sand as she draws something.

Al Haitham sighs and sits beside her "For a detective, you are quite dumb."

"So I've been told."

"You know I heard everything Azariq said right." Al-Haitham simply nods "And I even saw your client and heard him too."

"I was hoping on that." Al-Haitham subtly smiles as she abruptly stops her musings. 

"You know where we are headed then?" Jeht finally stands up 

"After you m'lady" Haitham does a chivalrous bow as Jeht steps forward.

Tighnari had honestly not cried in a long time and it felt like a relief when he finally cried and let his tears flow freely in Apam woods where the rain never ceases. The cascade of raindrops and tears had cleaned away all the grime he accumulated in the short time near caravan Ribbat. After a few minutes, he got his bearings and was well on his way towards Avidya forest. The long walk did him a load of good as he got to think over the newly accumulated information. Dottore is here... He has been here for more than half a year and he barely knew. Cyno has had multiple encounters with him and this one got him closest to death.

His guts suddenly dropped when he thought about Collei... For the love of Archon, he had let his only daughter wander Sumeru city alone multiple times... What if she had encountered Dottore? Nausea spreads through his body at the mere thought of the vile man near his daughter. His steps hurried as he strode towards his home. He is one village away from home when he steps on a poster.

"Wanted- dead or alive.

Al-Haitham

if found, hand over to the nearest Mahamatra station."

The thoughts of his friend and the recent news make Tighnari panic. Images of his friends pass through and he is forced to take a seat. He can't overthink this. He should focus on one person first. Get to Collei and secure her. Then meet Kaveh and tell him the truth. God knows that man will be more hurt from having things hidden than from the actual truth. A passerby offers to help him.

"Dr. Tighnari are you ok?" In the haze of panic, he doesn't even notice who has helped him stand up. "We can't have you fainting here, There are people who need you."

"Huh"

"Cmon now doctor I can't be bothered to find another doctor for you" No matter how much he tries Tighnari’s vision never focuses he simply hears a vague voice and a man with a husky tone grab him by his shoulders and hauls him towards something huge- he couldn't make out any of it, he couldn't even comprehend the sudden weakness spreading through his body.

"Rest up here"

"Who are you-"

"All in good time doctor, all in good time" and the man disappears from his vision as he loses complete consciousness.

A good hour passes before he finally wakes up ".... Huh, where am I?" his vision is now fully recovered. He stands up straight assessing his situation. He was not mugged. A paper by his side that was kept as a sign for passersby, here lies a drunkard. "What? I didn't have anything though!" Before he could even comprehend what was going on the first thing that hit was the sound of people screaming and he swiveled his head in the direction as dread settled in. There was a massive fire emanating from his destination.

Avidya village, His home, His office, His school, His Daughter. 

Before he could even think his feet were moving towards it. Running through the pavements through dozens of streets, houses and trees behind him before finally in front of the precipice of his village he stood. He screamed for Collei, but the fire was loud, the branches above crinkling from the fire. One of the branches was about to fall on top of him when a nearby villager pulled Tighnari away.

"Are you out of your mind? Move away and help me put it out" As the man huffs he picks up a bucket and passes it to Tighnari who mechanically picks it up and tries to douse the fire out, at least tries to. He continues pushing forward with every bucket he gets from the next villagers. He is more appalled that the mahamatra faction has not yet sent any help. The wildfire definitely can be seen from Sumeru as well. With each step forward his screams for Collei increase. 

The fear of fire in this part of the village is not the fire but the plants, especially ones planted by him and his students as part of special studies. If they come in contact with fire they could spread a hallucinatory effect that could put the entire village populous in danger. Not to mention the sporous plantations are the most flammable. Tighnari's mind raked through every horrible outcome in that moment but nothing as worse as the thought of his daughter in the fire.

After what felt like forever Tighnari made it past the worst fire to the centre of the village. The more central parts of the village remained unharmed but the fire continued raging near the borders. And thankfully none reached his home but the most blessed sight approached him. It was his daughter Collei holding buckets and running past him throwing water behind him. 

"Collei!"

"Dad, You finally made it. I was wondering when you would come to our rescue!" Collei says smiling. That means everything was under control. Tighnari continued passing buckets from both sides of the village and dousing as he kept close eyes on Collei continuing to be oblivious of his surroundings he got saved by villagers 2 times now.

"Be careful. This may be a wildfire. We have to find  the forestry patch that is badly affected and may be in this direction." Pointing near a small park, Collei takes command of the villagers around her.

The fire raged for what felt like hours. But after some time they were immediately blessed with showers that reduced the fire greatly. Collei not even looking at any villagers heads towards the blazing park and one swift throw of a bucket douses the fire. 

"That does it." Collei sighs as she dusts her hand off the bucket and the fire.

"Collei, you troublesome child don't run into fire like that," Tighnari speaks as he runs behind her.

"Oh it's fine it was just a basic wildfire. And the centre is officially down, "Collei proudly smiles. Seeing her smile Tighnari finally sags from the day's tension. He slowly reaches and hugs his child "Dad?" 

"Archons I was so scared"

"Why scared, we've been through worse fire. "

"But I wasn't there to"

"Oh c'mon I am almost an adult now I can handle such situations. Where were you anyways, gosh took you so long to come the fire was half gone by that time." Collei says as he breaks from the hug. Just then Tighnari's eyes flicker towards some barrels in the corner. This was a public park that merely had benches. Why would there be barrels here and the spread of the fire? It surrounded only his village. It never even stepped towards the other village. Just spread inwards to his village. Once again tension made through his body. He looks at Collei and his village. 

He was a threat to both Collei and the villagers here. He needs to leave this place immediately before bringing more harm to the people here. 

"How about a visit to Ms. Nilou in Sumeru city?"

"Sounds delightful Dad."

Cyno's walk back to Akademiya was as uneventful as ever. His mind clouded by the thoughts of the man he hurt by breaking his trust. He should have at least told him but somewhere he felt right when al-Haitham told him to maintain silence over the matter. Al-Haitham hardly ever did anything without thoroughly thinking through. Well Into the night the moon shone brightly lighting up the city streets. Most were asleep at this hour apart from the few pubs harbouring the nightly drunkards.

He reminisces on the past a beautiful time when he and his colleagues sat without a single trouble in the world, His lover with a glass of wine and he with a cigar indulging his bickering friends in the game of cards. The blanket of safety that crowned Sumeru was now slowly fading. He had his men send a report to Akademiya before he could make his way there. He expected to do paperwork through the night so he could be kept away from the whims of his self-deprecating thoughts. As he makes it to the top of the Akademiya floor his eyes focus on heavy smoke emerging from the far east side of Sumeru. The station was right above the akademiya and to his surprise there were no guards at the station. He assumed they must have been sent as reinforcement towards wherever it was happening. He couldn't be bothered to see properly wildfires were common at this point.

 He was halfway through the steps of his office when he was surrounded by guards, aiming weapons at him.

"Is this some kind of joke, am I missing something?" Cyno speaks as calmly as ever. One of the guards speaks up.

"General Mahamatra Cyno you are arrested under the charges of hiding illegal contrabands banned by the decree of the grand sage. Silently follow us and you will be interrogated for foul work. If you are found innocent we will let you go." Cyno looks at the man speaking, not breaking eye contact with him one single second. His eyes wander to his face, his hair, his uniform.

"Rule 2 of declaring rights to a culprit," Cyno asks calmly.

"What?"

"Rule 2 of declaration of rights to the convicted?"

"Uhm"

"I am the general mahamatra inspector Cyno. But I don't raise myself so high in my stature that I wouldn't recognise my men? Who are you? state your purpose before I knock you all out and pray I don't bring judgment upon your unconscious minds!" Cyno loudly declares as he gives one look to all the so-called mahamatras surrounding him. They were not his councilman. He knew every one of his men and he knew they would never betray or turn on him as such and thus the faux play of mahamatra by some phoney actors."

"Rule 1: State the charges of the convict, rule 2: the evidence, rule 3: safety rights and rule 4: eviction from the post if a member of the Akademiya council is either suspended or expelled depending on the degree of sin committed." A voice from the top of the stairs speaks up. Cyno recognised that voice immediately. After all who wouldn't? It was the grand sage the bane of his existence. " Would you like me to declare your rights again Mr. Cyno, a shame the mahamatras under you couldn't do it. I had hoped you had trained them better.

"These are not my men and they never will grace the duty of mahamatra as far as I am concerned."

"Neither will you Mr. Cyno. You are charged for hiding illegal contrabands banned by the decree of the grand sage and henceforth seen by lord Rukkhadevata. Evidence of cursed divine knowledge capsules was found hidden in your office and found during an impromptu check-in. " Azarbrings out cursed divine knowledge capsules, they shine under the akademiya light. He never had them to begin with. They were just made "Accept the arrest silently and we will interrogate you, if found innocent you will be let go although I hardly believe you will be let go. And you are immediately expelled from your position of general Mahamatra." Azarspeaks with all the conviction.

"I see how it is. An interesting development I must say." Cyno is perturbed by the rapid development. But he gains his confidence the moment he sees one of the men pointing a shivering weapon in his face. Without giving much thought Cyno snatches one of the guards' revolvers and shoots the opposite guard in his leg while the others holding melee weapons charge towards him he shifts back fast enough while shooting at the ground making enough path for him to escape the eventual stampede.

"Guards seize him immediately!" Azar commands as more men emerge from the door he is heading towards. The Akademiyan guards. So this is where they were. Lying in wait for their prey. Hardly a prey when you corner a lion in his den. Cyno shoots one of the guards in the shoulders and another one near the shin. The revolver energy throws them back as Cyno heads forward. He tries shooting one of the guards bulldozing towards him only to realise the revolver has long since become empty; he throws the gun and takes up arms to tackle him. He swivels around his neck and kicks the back of his knee making him fall immediately. More guards approach him but Cyno simply kicks them with his feet as he exits the gates of Akademiya and makes a quick drop down towards the city. 

A siren rings out from the mahamatra station alerting people of a convict on the run. If only they knew it was their general who had been turned into a convict. Cyno runs through the street. A group of drunkards arm in arm sway towards him and he has to forcibly push them away and just run as far as his feet can take. Shouts from the drunkards can be heard from behind. He had to simply run as far as possible and evade the guards on his tail.

He ran for a while before finding a hiding spot in the next village under the shrubberies. The night seemed unending as he lay in wait. Finally when the noise of feet shuffling was gone Cyno took a breath he was holding forever. He lay in the grass, his uniform in tatters. His hat is long gone. His flintlock somehow made it with him. The badge that declared he was a mahamatra stuck to him shone in the early hours of dawn. 

"Damn you Al-Haitham." He roughly pulls his badge out and throws it in the grass. "And damn this sacred position."

The trek to the Afiyah Tribe was not a far one but the sudden dust storm made it hard to navigate. Regardless they made their way towards what seems like a settlement from afar. Al-Haitham and Jeht made a quick way towards the tribe to join Azariq. Only now an obstacle stood in front of them, The Afiyah tribe stood guards who seemed rather pissed by their presence. Well, that was putting it lightly given they were now actively fighting the guards. The Afiyah tribe was well known for Polearm fighters so dodging their weapons was getting quite hard. 

Amidst the fight, Jeht gets scratched on the shoulder. But that simply enrages the girl to fight the guards tooth and nail. Al-Haitham dodges a close counter with a polearm to his head. The sword quickly becomes useless; he immediately takes the arms of one of the fallen polearms and fights back. The clanging of metal can be heard throughout the entire tribe. One tribesman throws a polearm towards Jeht and Al-Haitham notices and shoves her, taking the polearm to his shoulder. Bleeding heavily Haitham continues to fight and dodges attacks. Eventually, it comes to a point where they somehow get pushed towards the tribe and notice something. A tent holding a woman with 2 whimpering children. 

The people of the tribe are nowhere to be seen. Where normally they would often come out to see when a battle ensues. This is different. People were all within the confines of their tents. This is not an uninterested tribe, this is their mourning period. The tribe chieftain is dead and 2 foreigners in the dress and attire of another tribe also possible convicts are here not to give their condolences obviously from the looks the guards send their way. The fight goes on for a few minutes before Jeht is about to kill someone with her sword when Al Haitham shouts.

"STOP IN THE NAME OF YOUR TRIBE AND YOUR TRIBE KING!". Jeht immediately stops and so do all the guards. Who wouldn't after hearing such a booming voice. "You just lost Your tribe chieftain and you obviously think it's us."

"We don't think, we know it's you and we already executed a member of yours who tried to infiltrate" One of the young tribeswomen comes out of her tent pointing at the chieftain's throne where Azariq's head was spiked on a polearm. The scene was atrocious. Even Al-Haitham is left rendered speechless. Jeht immediately pukes to the side. "Your tribe has been good to us so far but this. This ends it all, we no longer wish to remain cordial"

"How did your chieftain die"

"Wouldn't you know already, slaughterer!"

"If you tell me I can help you find the true killer cause I assure you, you have sent an innocent man to judgment for sins committed by others". Al Haitham speaks with as much courage as possible. The guards who were knocked out a while ago come to consciousness holding their weapons towards Jeht and Al-Haitham cornering them both.

"When did your chieftain die and how?"

"Yesterday morn, decapitated along with her bearings gone. The first person upon her dead body was a child no younger than 10 new suns."

"I can prove to you it wasn't Azariq as he was with us yesterday stuck in a mausoleum just south of this tribe. In fact, he came here only last night to deliver one of King Deshret's scarlet slates."

"We don't care for his innocence anymore. We now just need to know who is the killer and the last person in the chieftains chamber was that man, so I hardly believe there could be anyway he wasn't the killer." An enraged guard speaks up.

"You mean this scroll." the young tribeswoman from before spoke up. 

"Yes, exactly we three found it and hoped you would assist him to abandon his tribe and settle here."

"And why does he want to leave the Tanit tribe and join us?"

"He had become one of the traitors and could no longer return to his tribe but he had confided with your tribe chief enough to trust her. So the person who killed her came to know of Azariq's betrayal and came to execute not only the chief but even Azariq but turns out you fulfilled the second half of the prophecy."

"And how should we believe it was not you who killed the chieftains."

"Because we are one of the traitors." Al Haitham exhaustedly sighs.

The tribe obviously didn't believe such a simple word of a stranger and now they have them locked up. 

"We are going to be sending the head of your comrade to the chieftain of the Tanit tribe, we are going to declare war on them." a tribesperson speaks in a husky voice. Something in Al-Haitham doesn't settle right with the man's voice and tone.

"You don't want to do that. You just lost your commander, you cannot lead the fight without a commander."

"We have a perfectly capable commander, a young one at that. She has been training under the chief for a long time, about time she took up the torch" and just like that they leave Jeht and Al-Haitham caged in the darkness. 

"What do we do now?" Jeht asks, sitting defeated and exhausted in the cellar.

"Break out, we can't waste a single minute. If the head of Azariq reaches Babel she is going to bring men double in count and she won't hesitate massacring the innocent. If what Azariq told me last night was true then she has been waiting for a reason for war with them for years. "

"But what's it to you, Mr.Haitham? It doesn't matter if this tribe wins or that. Both are going to perish in your hands. If this tribe wins, congratulations your mission is done you will be gone and the tribe will be left to the whims of rogue desert bandits with no chieftain to protect them. And if Babel wins then you execute her and there are 2 tribes with one shot. Regardless it will be on you and me that two major tribes of desert have perished" Jeht speaks having lost all hope.

"And that's why we need to break out. Prevent the war from happening. Save both tribes and nullify the threat. Sitting in a dark cellar, wallowing about gone decisions isn't gonna help."

"- I seriously can't with your persistence" Jeht, exhausted from arguing with him, stands up. "If we break out from here. And if the war is prevented somehow... Know that I am not participating in any... I am going to take Azariq's body and give it a proper burial..."

Haitham stops looking around the cellar for ways out and looks at Jeht "And if a war breaks out?"

"Babel's death is written in my hands then."

"I see." Haitham thinks about his next words but decides silence is the best answer. He focuses back on the cellar. He digs around the corners. Any broken piece, anything that he can lockpick with. Jeht then immediately feels for her ear.

"How about my earring"

"Show me?" Jeht quickly removes one of her earrings. It has a few sharp ends which may not protrude properly but it will do. Haitham quickly makes works of bending the piece of jewellery to make it useable.

"You know this was my mother's earring." Al Haitham stops and looks at her with slightly guilty eyes.

"Just get on with it, I can't be bothered anymore." Al Haitham continues tinkering with his bare hands and finally has made something akin to a sharp edge that can at least press against one of the gears and move it. Haitham then pushes his hands through the bar and looks for the keyhole when something snaps and he winces in immediate pain.

"Oh no your shoulder wound, you made it worse." Jeht panics as she pulls Haitham out from the bars and unwraps the bandage the tribe's people had done so gracefully before putting them in jail. The blood continues spilling a bright red against the contrast of old blood. Haitham tries holding his wound in hopes of stopping the blood flow but Jeht quickly slaps it away. 

"You risk the chance of infection, leave be I’ll tend to it." she immediately tears a part of her own fabrics and tightly wraps around his shoulder. Then uses one of her hair accessories to tighten the wrap. "You snapped more than your shoulder there."

"Well, we have to get out somehow."

"Do we have to?... It is going to be a death sentence regardless of whether I stop this or not"

"No, don't give up hope now. We are very close- how about this I'll explain to you how to do it and you do it"

"I can try."

"Do for a while about 15 minutes later my wound should have healed better then I'll go for it again"

"No need... I'll do it" Jeht then proceeds to search for the lock herself with her earing then she pushes it in as far as she can.

"Now trying jiggling in" she awkwardly does so "Feel any gears"

"What should I be feeling?"

"Any wedge that feels not part of the lock and moving at the same time"

"Ok... I don't think this lock has those, I can move the earring but it is getting stuck at the same junctures."

"No, you need to push hard to feel it"

"I am trying my best here."

"Just a tiny bit."

Jeht winces in irritation.

"More power"

Jeht puts her palm to push but no movement. 

"Just a bit more" A frustrated Jeht just punches the lock which snaps open the cellar.

"Or that yeah, excessive force."

Jeht pants from the workout. Her arms are visibly red, but she stands up and gives Al-Haitham a hand to stand. "Let us go stop a war"

The cellar they were locked in was far darker than the mausoleum and they know for a fact it is morning next day now. The chirps of the desert birds' mating calls and the eagles luring their prey out were very evident. They pass through some stairs and check through each cellar. Not a single convict held here. The Afiyah tribe was well known for holding convicts and giving out judgments of punishment. You would think at least corrupt affairs within the tribe would have brought at least a few to be locked here but not a single cell had anyone. Finally, they see and exit as light peaks out through a wooden door.

"Finally I can smell the fresh air from here. Instead of the suffocation beneath the stones." Jeht runs past Haitham who walks considerably slowly holding his arm whilst also looking at the murals done in the wall. They seem to be telling a story. These could be the foundation of the tribe and where it all went wrong. The hieroglyphic language was recognisable for Haitham and he could make out a few words from the design.

Jeht pried open the door silently and looked for any guards nearby and unfortunately, there were guards beside the prison. She can't tackle them without a weapon. Then an idea pops up. Al Haitham's old bandage. She signs over for Haitham to come closer takes the old bandage from his pocket and signs for him to be silent. She then goes out and puts a bandage over one of the guards and pulls him swiftly making the guard hit his head against the wall. She then kicks on his shin and the guard is about to scream in pain when she puts the bandage over his mouth and hits him on the head making him lose consciousness.

She picks up the fallen polearm and then confidently heads towards another guard and takes him down just as swiftly with a bandage and a borrowed polearm. She then opened the door wide for Haitham to come out. He assesses the situation and then immediately heads towards the other building the cellar unfortunately is just below the chieftain's dormitory meaning they are in the center of the tribe dwelling and if people were out they would see them immediately. Fortunately, the mourning period was still in effect. He runs and hides near the side of the building narrowly avoiding the sight of the border guards.

Jeht follows suit and they would make their way towards the exit of the tribe if it wasn't for some keen-eyed guard who notices them the guards then immediately surround them but they make their run just as quickly as they dodge many soldiers. Haitham forgets his wound as he runs past many guards only for a big guard to collide with him. He tries to get consciousness but fails miserably as the guard picks him up with ease and drops him in the tribe stage where Jeht also closely follows. 

The tribe woman who was speaking with them earlier comes to the stage. Anger seething from her stance as she rapidly approaches Jeht "A single command. It was just a simple command. Stay put in your cellar."

"But you don't understand there is a war coming your way and I don't think you are ready for the army Babel is going to bring. " Jeht speaks up.

"May she bring 100 men, a 1000 men even. But we will not waiver. We are the Afiyah tribe and we are honoured by the title of judgment seekers from King Desheret. And we listen to no cowards or traitors to other villages."

"You may think that but Babel has done many a foul play. She has stooped low enough to betray her own men. If she comes she is not going to bring her tribe as an army but fatuis too!" Jeht has closely worked with Babel to know that Babel won't hesitate to bring her allies to war.

"Wait fatui....damn it!" Al-Haitham speaks up "The man who took the head of Azariq to Babel! Who was he?"

"What?"

"The guy who put us in the cellar! He told me he would be taking Azariq's head to Babel to declare war."

"We didn't sanction anything as such." the tribeswoman speaks up.

"No wonder! He was a fatui. He referred to Azariq as a comrade. There was something off with his accent. He was the one who killed your chieftain, hiding among your tribe. I should have known sooner. But it would be pointless regardless if you hadn't put us in the damn cellar!" Haitham screams.

"We do intend to wage war against them!"

"But not now I am assuming" the tribes woman doesn't speak "Who was that guy? Where is Azariq's head?"

"We assumed the tribe people were not too comfortable from the sight so someone from the tribe must have taken him down." She looks down at the crowd gathered and sees everyone look in confusion and nod as if no one has done it.

"Listen to me now and listen very carefully. I don't know how you were planning to propose war with Babel but now a foreign man, a fatui no less, has gone back to Babel and is proposing war in the worst way possible. This may have even been a plan of Babel from the beginning and she may have needed Azariq's head to make allies of her tribe and right now there may be a herd of very angry tribe's army heading towards you with no sense of calm in their head. Babel is looking to catch your tribe off-guard in hopes she even massacres the innocent."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Hide. Just take your tribe and hide and this may sound like cowardice, but your men cannot stand against them, not right now at least. Your mourning period is not over and your chieftain has left no proper guide for a war on hand. So just hide."

The tribe erupts into murmurs.

"Ok we will do as you say the innocents will hide but my guards and my men will not hide, we will face them. We will fight them, we are not cowards and we won't hide from her"

Jeht stands up from where she was held "This will be a losing war. The fatui against a tribe of few guards. "

"We will lose with dignity and knowing that we were innocent in front of our king." the tribe woman declares as the guards spread across the tribe stomp their polearms on the ground in approval.

They immediately get to work evacuating the tribe population of 100 or more and send them all into the cellar below. People are crowding the cellar. Every cellar was now filled to the brim and many more just left in the hallway of the cellar. 

The guards take up better arms from the armoury as they go out and stand in formation for inevitable enemy attack and true to the stranger's words far off in the distance an army of men can be seen heading towards them. Among the men, there were fatuis too and a carriage held above 10 men can be seen clearly carrying matriarch Babel.

"Men stand your ground. Remember do not fear the foreign enemy, they don't know our tradition nor our way of handling weapons. Charge when I say". The tribe women as they later learned her name Hajir commanded her fleet. Al-Haitham and Jeht were tied up and kept in front of them. But they were loosely tied and their weapons lay behind them. When the fleet charged they were to stand guard and avoid enemies from the back. If they tried to come near the cellar they were to defend them only so they could win their trust. 

The army grew closer, each enemy now vividly visible. Finally the army stops just mere 10 feet from each other. They slowly lower the carriage and when settled matriarch Babel exits from the carriage.

"Ah, my lovely Jeht. What have they done to you? " Then her eyes look towards Hajir "First you kill my son and now you imprison my daughter and my foreign guest."

"Our chieftain was also assassinated. Your son was at the crime scene and the method of assassination was very similar to your execution methods."

"And so you wage war ON US, you a child no older than 20 new suns."

"And oh your old wise brain thinks it is better than us!" they spite back.

"And so here I am accepting the war invite" Babel says her eyes silently wandering behind the army looking for any of the tribe members but failing to notice any.

"The war is between the Tanit tribe and Afiyah tribe. Fatui is not invited."

"The Fatuis are our longest serving allies and hence part of our family and all my family are Tanit tribe that is what makes our tribe a tribe. And you know everything is fair in war."

"So it seems."

A pregnant silence follows before both the tribe's women scream ‘CHARGE’ at their armies. The men collide in the middle. The war has begun. Haitham and Jeht silently escape from there and head near the cellars where surely enough babel has taught her men foul play as men charge from behind the tribe. Jeht and Haitham fight to their limits. Only 10 or so men had been sent. Her war plan was simple. Circle and choke them. But Haitham knew better. He had set some guards to work with bows and arrows and shoot them down. The sound of machetes and swords against polearms reverberates with the sound of men and women grunting, some in pain and some in anger.

Jeht feels useless being near the shelter when she could be out there assisting them in the war and she stands by her words Babel's blood is written in her hands. Haitham on the other hand is thinking of all possible ways to make more than a hundred villagers escape the cellar and hide elsewhere in case they lose the war. Jeht thinks of this as her chance and runs towards the war ground. She fights off wandering fatuus and her own tribe's men and knocks many out. But she is too late just as she reaches the front line an arrow lodges into Hajir’s throat right in front of her. This was done by a wandering fatui. Babel can be seen laughing.

Jeht sees red and before she knows it she picks up a bow and arrow and in the chaos of the war takes aim and shoots.

The arrow just misses Babel's brain as it lodges in her right eye. An agonizing scream echoes through the war grounds as both armies come to a standstill. 

"RETREAT! RETREAT I NEED ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE" Babel screams in pain and then runs towards her carriage and men ready to assist her. Jeht can't believe such a weak woman was in control of her tribe. The opposition army retreats. But not before Babel's last scream can be heard. 

"THIS IS NOT OVER YOU HEAR ME, I'LL BE BACK, I'LL BE BACK AND KNOW THAT I WON'T SPARE EVEN A BIRD FROM YOUR TRIBE!"

The army around her just curses at Babel and her army as they disappear through the desert fog. Jeht walks towards the fallen young chieftain and picks her up. Haitham opens the cellar for the tribe to be let out. The army silently follows Jeht and the tribe follows behind Al-Haitham. An odd silence rings out through the desert. Jeht walks up to the chieftain's platform and all the people remain below seeing her. She silently places the limp body of the new chieftain on the floor and sags down below her. Cries of women of the tribe can be heard. Along with silent tears from men.

It goes on for a while. Haitham stood at a crossroads unable to decide what to do next but just then Jeht rises "SILENCE"

The tribe goes silent immediately. 

"You lost not one chieftain but 2 of them. But you wanna know what I lost?"

"....."

"I lost my father to a lunatic, I lost my mother to the evil schemes of a greedy tribe woman, I lost my brother in arms Azariq to that very same witch and I have lost a sense of hope that we desert dwellers could ever achieve a sense of stability in our entire lives."

A wind passes through the tribe, people shift awkwardly and stare at her as she stands tall in her tattered clothes bleeding arm and one earring that shone in the evening sunset."

"No more. No more do I wish to lose anything. The only thing I want to lose now is the head of that witch. The murder of Babel is written in my hands and no one else. So you can either come with me and continue waging war with her men for all I care. But her blood is mine."

Jeht steps forward on the platform "When the new moon has risen and the sun is the brightest it has ever shone, they don't get to bring the war to us, we bring the war to them. And now I don't care if the guards come with me or not. Or if they care for my command. But regardless of whether you follow me or not, I will be giving a war to her that she will take to her grave."

The tribe stood in awe at such a young girl's voice, able to send shivers through everyone. Haitham simply looked at her with a newfound determination. The few remaining guards took their staff and stomped the ground with it in resounding agreement. To her shock, even the general tribe members also took arms and stomped the grounds. Stomps of weapons on the ground continued for a while until it synchronised. 

Jeht simply looked at them passively as the weight of the loss sank further.

Matriarch Babel's key feature was she could sway men towards her with her words and commands. If she stood on the ground next to the grand sage in a witty joust of words she would win. But the problem was. That is all she was good for. How she got the position of chieftain was a miracle but now she needed to hold it on. Hence, created the philosophy of the tribe being a family. Every member of the tribe was a family and claimed calling each other family reduced treacherous activity and traitors among the tribe. At least most of the tribe's men believed her. 

Another thing she was good for was meticulous recordings of every transaction ever and she maintained a record of every action. These helped her often to defeat her enemies. Her enemies were people who often realised she was a scuff from the beginning, a good-for-nothing chieftain who sees nothing beyond greed. She was the epitome of hypocrisy as she preached to spread goodness among others while she was serving the evil. The war was a long game suggested on the recommendation of her client. An ingenious idea that would have come to fruition had she not been hit in the eye with an arrow. And she knows it was her very own Jeht who did so. As expected from a half-family. 

Her aim is simply to annihilate every tribe from the desert and declare herself closest to the kin of King Desheret, a queen even. A long run but the delight that would come in the future was enough to keep her going. Right now the morale of her army was at an all-time low. They were so close to victory but she had to retreat because the pain was unbearable. Here she lay in her bed. The skin around the arrow had to be thoroughly numbed with medicines before it was taken out and bandaged. This pain is nothing compared to what she hopes to inflict on Jeht. 

Babel was sitting in her study writing and arranging records. When she heard a knock above her. The study was a hidden compartment below the chieftain's platform only accessible to her. She exits the room and makes her way up to find a fatui agent standing near the entrance. He is the commander of the current fatui fleet. 

"What is it, I was busy, this had better be something important?"

"It's about our master. He has asked us to return to the city. We have important things to deal with."

"But the war! It's not over yet?"

"I would recommend you speak with our master. Not to mention he is not happy regarding the death toll of his men."

"....Gggrahhhh damn that fool, damn every single one of you bloody fatui fools"

"Take out your anger on someone else for your lacklustre leadership. We were stationed with you for months doing boy errands. And we delivered them swiftly but you were the one to retreat and here we are!"

"I'll have you know when I win this war without you and your puny men. It will be I, raising war against you fatui!"

"Good luck with that" and with those final words the fatui agent turned around and left. Babel's frustration boils over as she picks up a chair and throws it.

"Curse you Capitano!"

The men of the tribe slept not one wink as they sharpened their weapons and tightened their bows. Some fight hand to hand while some with weapons. This war would be a piece of cake if they all had a good flintlock or a revolver in hand. But it's not as cheap as they come. Al-Haitham was the only one of the lot waxing his flintlock. The Tribe practised Day and Night. The Tribe had experienced a few rogue attacks from the Tanit tribe. They were faring well against them. But in the tribe meeting spot, they had other plans. 

 " I advise you to restrain yourself from engaging with them. If you find anyone trying to attack the tribe just Report the main Guards or Jeht. Evade them as much as possible. Right now even Babel is weak with the Fatui having returned to their faction, she is trying to even the war grounds by bringing our army to her level."

"Little does she know we are going all or nothing, either way, this is inevitable," Jeht commands.

"I hope the revised station position helps you get an easier sight of any enemy approaching. Remember to keep your vision wide. From the stations, we decided if an enemy approaches, at least two people will know of it beforehand."

"I think this should suffice for today. Get to your positions" Jeht adjourns the meeting. The guards slowly leave the room. Al-Haitham was about to leave as well when Jeht stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Stay, I have to speak with you."

Al-Haitham nods and stands aside as all the people within the tent leave. Only then does Jeht turns back to Al-Haitham. 

"I have a favour to ask........I don't want this war to happen" Jeht speaks unable to look Al Haitham in the eyes.

"What!?"

"One of the key things about the Zubayr theatre is the open stage performance with the stairs protruding towards the audience. One of the reasons we built it in such a way is because when the Opera goes on there comes a peak point we call crescendo where the stage invites even the audience to dance with them. That's the beauty of our theatre that makes it ten times better than the one from Liyue or Natlan."

"But all this time I have been here I have not been fortunate enough to see a single play."

Nilou sighs "That would be the work of the great grand sage" She stands up to refill the teacups of her guests "The Akademiya has never appreciated or given any form of art attention, even the Kshahrewar course seems to have lost significant funding for future research and projects."

One woman and a man sat in her house looking at each other guiltily. Looking at their attire one can deduce them to be from Snezhnaya. "It could be that there might be a massive project that may require funding so some other courses needed to recede their funding"

"It's only the Kshahrewar course; the other courses don't have a penny reduced from them," Nilou says as she sits back in her seat. Just then someone knocks on the door "Oh there is no rest for me today but the more the guests the merrier" Nilou says as she heads towards the door to open. She finds Tighnari and Collei with overnight bags"

"Oh my Dr. Tighnari and collie darling, what a pleasant surprise!"

"Hello Ms. Nilou" Collei says giddy from meeting her aunt "Good eve Ms. Nilou, hopefully, we are not intruding on you during busy hours. It was a matter of urgency that I met Dr Kaveh and keep Collei under your care for a while"

Nilou takes hold of Collei's coat to hang and her bag "Oh stop it Dr. Tighnari you speak like she is a burden to take care of, although if you are looking for Dr. Kaveh he is- wait isn't Dr. Kaveh with you?"

"what do you mean Ms. Nilou I have just arrived?"

"No-no Dr. Kaveh left a few days ago to stay with you for a while. He was awfully missing his husband so told me he would stay with you for a while and come back in higher moods."

"I was in the desert a few days ago and just yesterday my village got attacked by a fire set by some people who I have suspicion to believe are the very same people who many moons ago harmed my daughter" By now Collei had moved to the kitchen to see for Ms Nilou's Butter biscuits she couldn't hear the two panicking adults.

"That can't be! If he is here and Al-Haitham is out and Kaveh has gone somewhere without telling me where, then they all are in dire danger!" Nilou panics. 

"Calm down Ms. Nilou I believe al-Haitham can handle himself and Kaveh can swiftly take down men, were they to surround him as well. I am right now just concerned for Collei can I trust you to take care of her while I go search for those buffoons."

"Obviously you can, dear. I will put my own life on the line if it means Collei can be safe" Those words brought a small smile to Tighnari's face. "I'll be making my way then. A shame I couldn't stay but I have two thick men to catch up to and a foolish husband of mine to give a stern talking to"

"Oh, Cyno too. I am worried for you Dr. Tighnari."

"worry not Ms. Nilou I'll simply find and give them a stern talking to."

"Ok, can you wait a while? I have something to give you." with that Ms. Nilou ran upstairs.

"Collei dear," Tighnari called "Yes Dad."

"Be darling and do not give Ms. Nilou much trouble ok, I'll be gone for a while but I'll come back with both your father and your 2 uncles ok? I have to go and meet them. In the meantime you know how to behave don't you?"

"C'mon Dad I am not 10 anymore I won't trouble Ms. Nilou."

"That's my girl" Just then Nilou came down holding a green-coloured rose "Here is a yellow-bloom flower. I don't know who gave this to me but I often carried it with me on my long travels. I hope this can keep you safe"

Tighnari's eyes softened "Thank you" 

"May Lord Rukkhadevata protect you and the eyes of the queen never waiver from you."

Tighnari nodded before hurrying out of the home. Nilou kept looking at Tighnari before he disappeared around a corner. She closed the door and headed to the main hall where she heard Collei chattering up a storm before she realised she had a guest she hurried back in "Oh my I am so sorry her father just dropped her off and he was in an awful lot of hurry. Collei, these are my guests. They had been wandering Sumeru cluelessly so I had offered them tea and biscuits."

"No, it's fine Ms. Nilou, the tea and biscuits with a young mind speaking aloud truly is a perfect way to spend an evening" one of the Snezhnayan spoke.

"Oh, you will love these restless souls then, Collei darling, how about you unpack your things in the room and I'll prepare a hot chocolate as well?"

"That sounds splendid Ms. Nilou, I’ll be back soon, "Collie says to the guest. Just as she disappears around the corner 

"I get it that you came to Sumeru for a research purpose Mr. Viktor and Ms. Brukhanov but I just got some concerning news and I have reasons to believe that your presence in Sumeru is not what you speak of" Nilou says as her eyes become stern looking at the two guests who immediately feel tense "I assure you ma'am we only come for business purposes," Brukhanov speaks up.

"I don't tolerate lies. And right now I have a very vulnerable child with me for whom I won't hesitate to harm others to protect her." Nilou says as she presents her gold pocket revolver a gift from Al Haitham on her birthday, in hopes she can protect herself from enemies he would end up making due to his profession. The fatuus immediately raise their arms. 

"We confess- do not shoot. We merely are under a harbinger's order to overlook the actions of all acquaintances of Al-Haitham, we were told not to harm any of them unless given a command to" Viktor speaks in a hurry.

"And we had to change our disguise to commoners to evade Dr. Kaveh's gaze." Brukhanov intervened

"So you know where Dr. Kaveh is?"

"No it would be the other 2 fatui who are ordered to follow him and as far as I know we have not been given any command as such to hurt anyone."

"But if you were given you wouldn't hesitate would you?" the 2 fatui's looked down contemplating their answer. In their silence, Nilou got her answer. "I would ask you to respectfully leave my premises before I am forced to make a hasty decision. "

"But Ms. Nilou we don't mean no harm-"

"But you do mean eventually!" their arms finally fall down as does Nilou's revolver. They silently walk to the entrance Nilou's eyes remain stern as they are near the door. Brukhanov turns back and looks at Nilou "It was a pleasure staying with you Ms. Nilou but I assure you we don't harm innocent souls unless they have sinned gravely" and they exit, just then Collei comes running down holding a book of flora and fauna. 

"Oh, where are the guests?"

"They had to leave in a hurry, a shame as I was about to suggest we try a handmade pita pocket from you."

"Oh we can still have it Ms Nilou c'mon let's make some and keep some aside for my dad and uncle when they return we can reheat and give them"

"Why now that sounds delightful come let’s make some" Nilou happily makes her way to the kitchen with collie following behind her"

The kerosene lamp flickered for a while but it didn't dissuade Al Haitham from tinkering at a device. He had taken the lamp and walked to another table where the slate he had given to Azariq lay. The light was dim but enough to see each rune he then again went back to the device and scribed the exact rune in the device. Finally, he hovered the device above the kerosene oil and after a few minutes, the device glowed a dark red. The runes etched at the bottom glowed for a while.

He finally knew how the cursed divine knowledge came about. "What is that?" Jeht asked as she entered his tent

"A device that our client was making to terrorise people of Sumeru using the slates we have been supplying him."

"And you plan to use that on the matriarch to scare her?"

"No, don't be silly, I would never stoop down to that level, using this would be cheating."

"But this could prevent a war from happening"

"Not necessarily, but I know this has been used to propagate a massive war upon Sumeru. If I don't stop it now both Sumeru and the desert of Sumeru will become martyrs in the oncoming days."

"Great way of motivating me for a war."

"The current war will be over in days Jeht, but this if not stopped now will go on for a long time, who knows months, years, a decade or more."

"If an even bigger war is upon us then you know well enough the people of the desert won't back down before giving them the hell they want." Haitham smiled at Jeht's words. 

"Let's focus on this war for now."

"Let's hope for that," Jeht says looking out the tent for any sign from outside.

"Jeht I recommend a good sleep before we wage war on them?" Jeht is alarmed and turns back

"You can't be serious? Are the preparations done!?"

"A few things remain but war waits for no one, and the new moon is upon us. We are well overdue for fulfilling our promise" Jeht looks outside concerned and thinks for a while.

"I think my men are ready."

"They are more than ready Jeht, they have lost their mother and daughter, even if they are not ready their rage will be carried across seas to put Babel's tyranny to end."

"But you know I don't necessarily want to kill people from my tribe who are unaware they are getting played by Babel." Jeht looks at Al-Haitham who has now picked up a book to read. 

"You know well Jeht I don't break my promise."

"I hope so Haitham" With that Jeht leaves the tent to leave Al-Haitham to his own devices. He is currently not reading anything but rather looking at a key that was delivered to him from one of his informants. 

It was well past moonlit hours nearing dawn when slight shuffling was heard outside of Al Haitham’s tent. He, himself, was sleepless with his mind raking all different alternatives for if his plan failed. But the sound outside got him back to reality.

"There you are, Mr. Haitham." Dottore stood near his tent. Least bit surprised that he evaded the guards Jeht stationed. "We are well overdue, it's not like you Detective"

"Well… nothing I am doing for you right now is like me."

"That's a shame since I was hoping for good things for you"

"Drop the facade Dottore. Your missions have been endless and inhumane at best."

"And I hoped you would deliver your best to me so we can both succeed"

"I have yet to see the latter" Al Haitham says frustratedly.

"I told you I would personally escort you if you were to succeed"

"I am not a child to be escorted." Al Haitham sounds rough and seething at that point. Dottore simply backs with hands raised.

"Woah, the ever-stoic detective showing emotion. The desert has pushed you quite far"

"I'll be honest, it's not the desert, it's the people who have done so, bloodshed in every step I take. For petty reasons, someone loses their father, their son, their brother, their women and their children. Greed for power doesn't end in Sumeru but reigns supreme among people who have long since undermined themselves to the whims of a senile man who unfortunately has been given authority to take reign over knowledge. There is no divine intervention that can stop what we are going to do tomorrow but this whole thing so far has been a divine bloody joke." 

Dottore seems stunted silent from the onslaught of words he has never heard the latter speak as much.

"I’ll tell you what, you needed Babel and her tribe dead right? Well congratulations your great plan is working splendidly as two tribes and going out on a war tomorrow and I assure you this downhill path is going to exterminate not one but two tribes, Matriarchs included. And don't bother escorting me. I hardly believe Azar wants to greet me in my bloody state."

"This has significantly upset you," Dottore speaks slowly.

"Astute observation Dottore. Congratulations, you may as well take my job at this point.." Al Haitham takes a breather before significantly calming down. "I am sorry but I'll be back when this is over. Sorry for the delay… as an offering." Al Haitham picks up the slate he was using to make the capsules "A peace offering from me…. The missing slate. I know those slates were being used to make the capsules. Color me surprised."

Dottore hesitantly picks it up. He readies to exit the tent but before doing so he turns to Haitham who has long since laid down to school his eminent headache "Survive this war Mr. Haitham. The oncoming war needs you." And he exits leaving Haitham staring at his roof.

The first few days Cyno stayed in Port Ormos doing odd jobs in disguise and earning enough to stay the night and dinner but he was once again surrounded by the faux mahamatras. He was able to easily defeat them but it didn't make it any better that he could no longer rest easy there either. And he needs his work on disguise. A tattered cloak doesn't make for a good disguise. Often people recognise him and think he is in disguise to get a snoop on some criminals. But the message was soon received there as well that Cyno was a criminal fugitive.

He decided his best bet was to stay in Caravan Ribbat one night and then shift to Aaru village the next night, the faux mahamatra and Azarmen wouldn't dare step there as they treat it like a wasteland. On his way, he stumbled upon a poster. It was his face plastered on a wanted sheet for a handsome amount. "A shame I crossed just a 1000 mora, moreover Al-Haitham's wanted poster. Regardless, can't stay in Caravan Ribbat either, I assume."

Cyno was about to evade Caravan Ribbat when he stumbled upon a wandering scholar group, probably about to go on an expedition to the desert. And Cyno's capture was just the fuel they needed for their expedition. Who wouldn't want the amount Azar is offering for his demise? Hell, they don't even give out such an amount for important expeditions either.

"You and I can agree the Akademiya has become too liberal in spending on innocent criminals rather than on useful expeditions."

"You may be right but your capture means we get 17,000 mora, bit uneven split but our expedition can be cancelled and we can work from our home on it."

"Wait, so why are you going on an expedition?"

"To find some loot to be honest." one of the scholars says, trying to get hold of Cyno with his flimsy sword.

"A shame to Akademiya for having such pathetic souls," Cyno says before promptly defeating them. One of the scholars was about to hit him with a close call before a man emerged having diverted his trajectory of sword action. And then knocking the man with the hilt of the sword the man himself was holding 

"General Mahamatra Cyno!"

"Farid! I didn't expect to find you, last I heard most of my men were captured."

"That is true but I was on an expedition you had sent, I was about to enter Akademiya when I heard passing by the rumour of your entire fiasco with the faux mahamatra."

"You are right I am on the run."

Farid puts his hand on his heart to show his loyalty "Wherever you go sir I'll be there with you."

Cyno gives a small smile " Guess you are bound-y to follow where I go" he says pointing at his bounty. 

"Please don't make me regret following you." Farid says mildly irritated that his general could joke even in such situation.

"Ok alright, buzzkill," Cyno says defeated, it's not the same without Tighnari. They both trek the landslide-prone area avoiding Caravan Ribbat and making their way to the desert. They are walking armed with their respective guns, you never know who might pop up. On the precipice of Aaru village, a heartening sight awaits. Cyno's morale can easily be boosted with small things. First meeting with one of his commissioners who saved him and now Kaveh.

Kaveh was tending to an old man out on a bench. It seems like old desert dwellers could no longer handle the hard desert environment. "Mr. Arafa I recommend you to stay at home and relax for a while, no more strenuous work."

"But son there are orders to deliver to Sumeru or else I will starve."

"You can have the other members deliver it in your stead sir and I'll make sure they don't ask a penny for that work"

"Are we commissioning unpaid labourers now?" Cyno says getting Kaveh's attention 

"Cyno! What are you doing here?" Kaveh says leaving his patient to greet Cyno. 

"Well, what do you know? I am no longer a general mahamatra."

"What do you mean?"

"I am a cyno-rmal guy now" Exhausted sighs are heard from both men. 

"Seriously you wanna joke now, after you put a bounty on Haitham and questioned me you now joke about losing your job."

"what can I say they got faux Maha-mortal now."

"That didn't land as nice."

"They were not nice either. Also, that means my other jokes have landed successfully; they are, after all pun-ishingly good."

"Stop! Get to the point, Cyno."

"Right I was attacked by Azar, he replaced my men with some posers and most of the mahamatra inspectors are in jail. This here is Farid one of my inspectors he was lucky enough to escape Azar's men I met him near Caravan Ribbat, also I don't know if you got the news but there is a bounty on my head as well"

"As well? Who else is under bounty."

"Al-Haitham" Kaveh then presses his hand to his head with an imminent headache.

"That man..... You know I came to the desert in search of him when I came to know he has committed grand larceny- by the way, good job hiding that from me, but when I came to Aaru village you won't believe what we are dealing with here"

"Why? Is everything ok?"

"The people are fine but you will find the local population has increased a bit due to some unwilling expatriates."

"Unwilling expatriates? Are they conscious I think I know where this is going I heard a passing rumour on my expedition here a few nights ago as well"

"Yes, the exiled scholars. The Akademiya is treating Aaru village as a wasteland to send these unconscious empty husks of a scholar to the desert. Their perfunctory functions are fine right now but when a new batch arrives they are erratic and dangerous to be around, luckily the village seems to like them and take care of them regardless and the scholars can do menial work but they do not speak coherently and do whatever is said to them without question. We can say these scholars are lucky to be sent here where everyone has endless kindness towards them but if they are sent any further into the desert I highly doubt they would survive."

"As far as I know these scholars are not common scholars, they are all men who worked under Azar, especially that guy over there," Cyno says pointing in the direction of the very man Kaveh first came across. "He has been doing Azar's dirty work and escaping arrest from us but it seems he got on Azar's bad side"

"Any clue what led them to this?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, with my position of power gone I now wander the deserts like a vagabond"

"Don't say that and stay in this village we could use your help and no one here plans to hand you over. Their loyalty strictly lies with whatever Ms. Candace says.

"On that note how is Candace?"

"Well good, busy with village stuff, she has sent informants out to keep a look out for Al-Haitham but so far no information. How about Tighnari I hope you at least informed him?"

"Ah about that-" Cyno looks guiltily. "We fought, a big one I think he left in tears while I was writhing in pain in Caravan Ribbat."

"I am assuming he came to know Dottore is back?"

"Worse I had a close encounter with Dottore and he came to know about that as well"

"Cyno!"

"It's fine I just became unconscious."

"It doesn't make it any better."

"I haven't heard from him since then, I am assuming he already knows by now about my exile."

"Does he at least know where to find you?"

"I had no time or resources to send him any message. I tried working in Port Ormos for a while to get funds to send a letter at most but I got detected very easily and the faux men of Azarfound me."

"I feel if Tighnari knew he would protect Collei and you better. In fact, if he was privy to half as much information I, he would be on alert, we could have come up with some form of communication and helped each other, the silent treatment has simply made it worse."

"It was Al Haitham's suggestion to keep it under wraps."

"Obviously it was his idea."

"What about you, any close encounters."

"Azarhas sent fatui's to spy on me and keep a tab on me at all times but I got dumb duo over there, now I make them do errands around the village," Kaveh says pointing at the 2 fatuis being forced to carry sacks of bean towards the top of the village silo.

"I could have Farid keep tabs on them. Make sure they don't do anything that could harm the village but also become inside informants and let us know who they report to"

"I don't mind, I can infiltrate easily," Farid says, stopping in his tracks.

"Good man, go ahead" With that Farid heads towards them silently snagging the drying clothes of the locals. He is swift in his motion for anyone to notice and easily disguises himself to look like one of the dwellers.

"Now about Al-Haitham."

"He has committed grand larceny of illegal scarlet scrolls from the Desheret mausoleums, we have reasons to believe those scrolls are a key element in making cursed divine knowledge capsules."

"I see and how is he"

"He has two people assisting him although I think they work on commission so he may have long since changed partners. They did well in protecting him from me."

"As long as they don't backstab him. But I think his over-raked mind would have come to that possibility and made backup plans"

"He sure did."

There was silence between them both having caught up on most things.

"I hope you stay here long we could use the help."

"Sure I don't mind, I do hope I get someone whom I can trust with a letter to send to Tighnari"

"Yea sure there is one person he has been sending letters to Ms Nilou from time to time I don't think he would mind an extra mile trek to give your letter in Avidya"

"Sounds splendid I’ll decide what to write to Tighnari"

"Don't write pun or he will tear that letter in the first half"

"Don't worry I'll keep it strictly to the facts... Or it might tear up the whole story!" Cyno says expecting a response but Kaveh just stares at him "I'll keep the puns at the end"

"How about no puns"

"But how will he cy-know that it is Cyno"

"You are insufferable"

The sun overhead was bearing down on them. But they marched silently. Towards a tribe where the highest tent on top was none other than matriarch Babel's. The tribe was too busy to not notice the marching army towards them until they got too close.

"Close the gates!"

"But matriarch."

"No buts barricade the tribe and take up arms." The guards ran to send the command but by that time it was too late the guards had put up a fight but failed as Jeht unhanded them swiftly and entered the tribe.

"Babel!" Jeht screamed and got the common folk to come out and see the commotion. The guards on the opposite side alerted, ran to the sound of commotion "You coward! Come out!"

In the meantime Al-Haitham has sneaked away from the army and entered what seems like a deep drop into a pit but really a shallow drop. Al Haitham jumps in with 2 men following him. They light up some of the lamps and walk towards a tunnel. 

"If my deductions are right this should lead us towards the main gate from where we will enter Babel's tent below which there is the tribe treasury I suppose."

"What about Babel? Mr Haitham."

"Jeht will handle her. She will have to come out to those taunts."

Jeht screams once again "Show your cowardly face babel, the truth is out, we know what you did and what your close associates have done!"

A murmur arises from the tribe including the army "Jeht dear what are you talking about?" an elderly old man comes out from his tent. "Why are you waging a war against Babel, shouldn't you be on our side, you lost Azariq."

"You are right uncle, I lost Azariq but no one here will tell you that it was Babel who murdered him"

"NO, I DIDN'T!" Babel comes out of her tent "Why would I kill my own son"

"Drop the facade, Babel, I know you call us family, 'cause if we are family, you are one hell of a backstabbing mother who wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice your own for your greed!"

"You are just a young'un! A prodigy of a runaway and weak-minded Sumerian scholar."

"Don't you dare speak of my parents from that filthy mouth of yours?"

"And it was my mistake to have accepted you back in my tribe."

"And I will make you sure you regret having me in. Lies cannot remain hidden for long babel, the winds will wash away the sand revealing the truths that have been etched on the Desheret land. Your sins cannot be hidden. And Anubis is waiting for your judgment day."

"Your words do not affect me Jeht. What proof do you have?"

Just then the doors below the tribe stage open revealing 3 men holding paper after paper. Haitham signs for them to go ahead and they throw the papers down towards the tribe where the men and women see in awe as the papers cascade down to the people. Many people get hold of it. Some read while many continue collecting the paper. Babel is left stunned as she proceeds to run down towards them but the stairs are blocked by the opposite tribe guards. 

"DO NOT READ! THOSE ARE HOLY SCRIPTURES, NOT MEANT FOR A FEEBLE DESERT DWELLER, EVEN I DARE NOT READ THEM!" Babel panics and screams towards her people

"But I am no desert dweller. I come from Sumeru, I can read some if you would like." Al Haitham speaks as he smiles uncannily thinking about the promise to Jeht

-

"I don't want this war to happen."

"What!?"

"I know I've declared war on them by hitting Babel in the eye but we've had constant attacks from them which have gone just as she has wished. And when we do eventually go to war we will not only lose men here but also lose men on the other side who were my family before this whole thing occurred. They are not even privy to Babel's sins."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Well, you are after all the great detective of Sumeru Al-Haitham."

"I am merely a feeble detective made soldier for this war."

"And I command you to rescind from this post and do what you do best." Al-Haitham is stunned and then smiles.

"As you say, m'lady"

-

"On the 10th of This month, 10,000 mora was awarded to Khalil and Vasily for assassinating Matriarch Lubin, On the 14th of this month 10,000 more to Vasily for getting me a good motive to start a war, although I have cut some amount for having one of my most skilled men dead. Cutting pennies on unsanctioned work which you see as honourable." Matriarch Babel tries lunging towards him but two guards cross arms and prevent her from moving forward. "And for holy scriptures, they are a bit too on edge of accounting."

"I'll end you Al-Haitham, you vile man I'll end you and everything you love, you have made an enemy for life."

"Well for that my life would have to be cut short because-"

"You killed my son!" a woman of the tribes erupts holding a paper, probably a sanction stating her deed. Babel pales immediately. "I-"

"You killed the scholars years ago who had just stayed for the night?" an old man says holding another one of her deeds.

"You killed Ufairah- Jeht's mother." Another tribes woman speaks up and this time sees Jeht who is keeping a stern face. No emotion passes through her. She had her doubts the night Azariq proposed it to al Haitham. But this nailed it. The scripts the other tribes were holding were passed to the other tribe keeping their arms behind them to be approachable. The fight has drained from everyone in the tribe. Both tribes have found their mutual enemy. 

An old greedy matriarch.

"You ended the lives of 1000 by these accounts," A young man says, seeing as he took hold of every paper he could. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were behind the death of my sister during the last test for the next matriarch.

"Sir you would stand correct as that would be considered her first ever sin. Perfectly orchestrated. Original Sin." Al Haitham speaks looking at her from below the stage but truly he has won the stage there.

Just then babel snatched the arms of the guard surrounding her and threw the polearm towards Al-Haitham. It was as though time had stopped when the piercing weapon was heading towards him. Before he could even react the young man who was speaking pushed Al-Haitham and took the weapon to his abdomen. The tribe erupts in shock and runs towards the young man to help him. Jeht also rushes towards them bringing out her aid to help him. Now Babel has done it. Her truth was out in the ugliest of manners.

The young man, although in pain, pulls out the weapon and hands it to Jeht. "Do-do it Jeht. End our su-suffe-ring." The man says as his energy is rapidly draining from him. Al-Haitham is still shaken from the close encounter. Jeht walks past Al-Haitham and towards Babel. The guards clear around her as Babel falls to the ground pleading for her life. It was miserable the sight and the words the woman spoke. Jeht could hear no more. The range blinded her. 

"Some woman you are" and with a swift motion from a machete life drained out from Babel's body. Every guard by then had left the stage only Jeht remained staring at her body. Even with Babel dead something inside her never quelled. The tribe by now had become silent. The young man had passed away peacefully looking at the sight. In total 2 casualties. Al-Haitham feels like he broke a promise by having the young man dead. Slowly the Afiyah tribe retreated leaving for the tribe to mourn although they would hardly mourn the matriarch.

It was night. Many tribespeople were awake. No one felt like sleeping all had helped the Tanit tribe collect the documents and mourn properly for the deceased. The death of their matriarch paled against the ritual the Tanit tribe conducted for the deceased. Some men from the Afiyah tribe decided to stay the night to help them in the morning whilst many left for their tribe. Al-Haitham and Jeht remained to give the young man a burial. They were no psychopaths and gave Babel a burial although far from the tribe so she may not rise in her next life with the tribe she has hurt beyond compare. 

Al-Haitham remained near one of the tents staring distantly at the sight of the polearm not leaving his mind. He has been in many compromising situations, many times on the edge of life and death but this moment had shaken him to the core. Just then Jeht comes and sits beside Al-Haitham holding a few papers.

"This states how many scholars she killed on command because there were other lazy scholars who didn't want to work as hard as them and just wanted to steal the deceased's work. My mother was unfortunately one of them. At least I don't feel as bad about her death now." 

"Hm"

"I get that your evidence has led to Babel's death but I want you to know she was going to die regardless of whether the truth had come out or not."

"Is that what is troubling you, Jeht? Has killing Babel left a bad taste in you?"

"What makes you think that?"

"You. Your shoulders have remained tense since her passing. You have lost your mirth and you remain at the edge even whilst sitting beside me" Al Haitham says looking at her "I can make a safe assumption Babel was your first kill."

"And hopefully my last bloodshed is not me."

"And it won't be like you said, her death was written in stone whether I helped or not, her death was inevitable whether you killed her or not."

"Then let me make these fairgrounds and ask what have you in such a tense "

"I promised no bloodshed, yet a young man died saving me, a stranger."

"You brought him justice, Mr. Haitham. If he had not rushed then I was next in line."

"You are so young Jeht, you could be my daughter, how could I expect of you something like that" at that Jeht blushes I don't need no fathering. It is what anyone would have done. The bonding we had created in preparation for war and for all the time you saved me. It was the least I could do."

"I wouldn't have accepted it regardless."

"Huff- it is frustrating arguing with you I wonder who is unfortunate enough to tolerate you" Just then Haitham feels himself become uncomfortable looking away from Jeht. 

"Oh by the way these 4 papers are recorded on you by Babel. The last page is a bit confusing but it's also one she has not yet fulfilled. " Haitham takes the papers and looks through each before dread sets in looking at a name he hoped people had not known about him. ‘On the 26th of this month, Dr Kaveh is to be assassinated by Hasin. He will be given 17,000 mora for it.’

"Don't panic! Hasin and all other convicts of his have been apprehended. He was to leave soon to do so, a bit delayed yet but we interrogated him, he has not yet done this only the prior tasks given to him like setting traps in the Afiyah tribe, raids, assisting your client in sumeru and some occasional arson whilst we were training for the war."

At that Haitham's shoulder relaxes. He looks at the sky finally letting body untense. Jeht looks at him in amusement "May I make a deduction of my own" Haitham perks up at that "Be my guest."

"Your body has been tense since that young man died not because he died but rather because you had a close encounter with death but this isn't your first encounter. You've had many close calls but that has not demoralised you as much as this but now you have someone. A family, a lover or a spouse for whom you are living and you dread the day your lover comes to know of your untimely demise."

"I -"

"I am not done Mr. Al Haitham, you have been on a run like a vagabond working with an enemy of the state in hopes of bringing his downfall but you are loyal to no one but to one and only. You are not doing this for Sumeru... You are doing this for Dr. Kaveh your... Lover?"

"Fiancé" a small smile adorns Haitham as he thinks about Kaveh. 

"Oh archons I never thought I'd see the day the great feeble detective of Sumeru Mr. Al Haitham be rosy-cheeked."

"C'mon, dramatic is uncanny from you. It was only last year I proposed to him."

"And you haven't married him yet!"

"Azar has been working tirelessly since then making me question our safety."

"The great enemy I am assuming?"

"The archnemesis. The one who was propagating Babel's antics as well."

"Well Babel's chapter is done, we can move on to Azar now."

"No, you can't come with me, Jeht."

"Why not?!"

"You have tribes to take care of"

"They can take care of themselves they are not kids"

"They are vulnerable regardless."

"I do not know how to handle that responsibility."

"Yes you do, just don't do whatever Babel did and you should be good"

"I can't choose between a tribe"

"Then join them."

"We hold a difference of opinions that will wage new wars."

"No, it won't, make a common enemy for yourselves and fight towards them. The reason Akademiya was able to keep control of your people was because you chose to remain scattered and lawless."

"Then Sumeru would be our enemy."

"No, it is Azar, the grand sage of Akademiya"

"So your enemy is not just some crazed scholar but the grand bloody sage of Akademiya."

"Unfortunately so." 

Jeht becomes silent for a while "I want you to know when a war does break out I will be on whatever side you fight."

"Make that 'we' Jeht, unite your tribes under one name. They may not join overnight but make them do, your safety is in numbers."

"And what about you?"

"I am already on a death sentence Jeht, I am just looking to turn the judgment's tides in the other direction."

"Sounds impossible."

"Looks like it too."

"But I know you can make it possible."

"Thanks for the unconditioned trust Jeht." She pats Haitham's back "So what's next"

"I did complete my mission in assassinating Babel-"

"I'll deal with the rest of the convicts- what didn't think I forgot that did you"

"Thank you Jeht."

"Another thank you and I am gutting you it’s genuinely disconcerting coming from you"

"But I am, in fact, grateful."

"Yeah keep it, now just tell me what are you doing next? and what about the knowledge capsule and the slate you have."

Just then Al Haitham remembers the conversation with Dottore. "I am going to deliver it to Azar in his place, I have no patience for him and his commands anymore."

"Promise me you will return to us with your husband instead of a messenger giving us news of your demise"

"I am afraid of promising anything, Jeht. I already spilt blood when you told me not to. I have come this far making no promises to my fiancé either and I desperately wish to return to him"

"And you will just have to promise in your heart, this promise has to be both ways, to the person and to yourself and then it becomes true. Although you promised me no one will be harmed yet I knew someone would be harmed so that was on me, but now I will promise both you and I that you will return back to us safely with Sumeru in safer hands than before."

"I'll see-"

"Promise!"

"I promise!"

"There you go, sir."

"You know I proposed we marry the moment we got engaged but he was adamant about going through the marriage process and formalities. Right now I would be calling him my husband."

"He has a better head than you I can already Infer, after all its traditions that solidify the marriage."

"Not you too." Al Haitham bemoans and Jeht laughs

Al Haitham smiles and his heart now feels a lot less heavy props to Jeht for on spot deduction for his reasoning of unsettled feelings. He is in fact afraid of losing Kaveh or breaking his heart by, losing his life. But he is also doing this for Kaveh's sake. His safety. A place where they can both be married and live happily. Al Haitham has restless sleep but he will be making his long journey back to Sumeru tomorrow at dawn. He can no longer risk wasting time. 

Tighnari has been wandering around Caravan Ribbat for a long time now. He came to know about Cyno who was also exiled and has been on the run but he knows better than to worry about him. First, he needs to find Kaveh and then look for Cyno. He can take care of himself and if the situation turns bad he knows he can trust to find him in Aaru village but he doesn't want to go to the desert just yet.

As he sits near one of the dwellings of Caravan Ribbat he goes through the akademiya newspaper looking for any clues about what is happening in the akademiya and any sightings of Dottore. He is also currently waiting on Kaveh. As He was wandering the city making his way to wherever that would lead him to anyone who could give him a proper answer a stranger bumped into him quite roughly, to anyone around it would look like someone had merely bumped but would never notice the way a paper was pushed on to his hand. Tighnari was too stunned by the abrupt movement to realise what happened until he got his bearings back and noticed a crumpled-up sheet that simply said

‘Kaveh - meet me at the Caravan Ribbat Inn’. Is Kaveh on the run too, why is he hiding in disguise or was it even Kaveh? These questions raked his mind the whole time. Now not even focusing on the newspaper.

"Your tea has long since gone cold". A man the same height as Tighnari but in a heavy desert cloak sat beside him. He has his hair in a loose pony but a few strands of hair in the front are grey but not the same grey as an old person. His eyes are vibrant green. He couldn't take his eyes off of him.

"And who are you?"

"I hoped after helping you a few days ago you would remember at least the voice."

"What? I am sorry but I think you have mistaken me for someone else cause I am waiting for my friend here. And I don't remember anyone helping me."

"Really you don't remember the breakdown in Apam woods. Shame. But regardless I assure you I don't have you mistaken, Dr. Tighnari. In fact, you are waiting for Kaveh but really it was me who gave you the message."

"Why put my colleagues' names?"

"The same reason you would rather speak to someone you know rather than a stranger…. It's convenient. If I had written just a cryptic message you would send a messenger to sit here rather than you, yourself. I wouldn't dare underestimate your wit but time is of the essence and we require your complete attention."

"Let me guess you are against what the Akademiya is doing and need help."

"Not really. The Akademiya’s doom is coming pretty soon, to be honest. I have no worries as the problem brewing within the Akademiya will sort itself out with or without our intervention."

"Our?"

"Yes we are an organization far bigger than your Akademiya and we have existed before even Sumeru existed and the problem in Akademiya was well predicted."

"Now hold on, can we begin with who you are and what and where you come from? You did a bloody good job getting my attention but you must take me for a fool if you think I am going to do anything for you regardless of your support or insubordination to the acts Akademiya is committing."

"We were told you were going to be tough to follow up on. I am glad our intel support works just as well." A waiter walks by and places his tea and the man opposite to him thanks him "Well, I unfortunately cannot disclose to you who I am or where I come from but you can call me Mr. Rishbo for now, you can know only this much about me for now in good time all will be known. Nothing stays hidden for long after all."

"I guess I have to work with what I have." Tighnari says completely disinterested "What do you want from me then?"

"You are the closest member we can get to Akademiya. I know the queen of Sumeru will put upon a fast judgment on the grand sage. But we want you to hand over Azar to us."

"You know that is the job of a Mahamatra I am the furthest thing from akademiya, a Retired akademiyan only teaching in villages."

"But you are married to one. Mr. Cyno I believe. We are an organization governed by our laws and Azarhas broken quite a few on his own, He is in quite a debt if I say so myself. It is appropriate we follow up on the judgment rather than the mahamatra or the queen."

"I can't assure you that, I can't even assure you if we will be successful in apprehending Azargiven the power he is currently holding has separated me from my husband who is now living like an exile around somewhere Archon knows where."

He smiles and presses a hand to Tighnari’s "We know he will be brought down one day, we just need to make sure he is brought to us. At Least that is my job so far to inform that Azar be sent to us."

"Was that all? You could have said that in the city. Why drag us out to caravan Ribbat and say it out loud regardless?"

"There were far fewer people to put to sleep compared to in the city" His smile remained unfaltering and Tighnari instantly tenses and looks around him and notices the people around him and realises not a single one is a member he recognises from the caravan Ribbat. All were new faces and all not so subtly looking at them.

"I'll be honest doctor. Even I can't seem to trust anyone nor be bothered to find who is a spy and who is not, my best option was to lure you out here and put the people of this village in a deep stupor. Now don't worry, they are simply sleeping from last night’s feast. They will awaken in a few hours and just assume they all slept in late. And we will long since have wrapped up our meeting."

Tighnari was honestly terrified of his place. Why put so many to sleep for a mere talk? The person opposite to him stands up puts his cloak hood back on and proceeds to exit "We also have business with Mr. Cyno but don't worry it will be after all the problems in Sumeru are sorted first. Remember we want Azara live." Just like that he leaves he slowly observes as people from the street disappear too. 

But true to his words, a few minutes later people of the Ribbat were slowly waking up. He immediately got to work checking them out to see if anyone got a high dose or if any pain caused any harm done to them in sleep. He even investigates what happened last night and learns some travelling person was celebrating their birthday and had bought drinks for everyone.

The trek back to Sumeru was hectic with the shoulder wound and the exhaustion from yesterday still persisting but he made it finally in Fane of Ashvattha, a shortcut from where he was located, the trek to Sumeru was uneventful with his desert dweller disguise. He stepped into Akademiya and the smell of fresh printed books wafting put his muscles at ease. In a few quick strides, he made his way to the Akademiya entrance.

He was stopped by two mahamatras "I am sorry we can't let you in unless you tell us who you are and your purpose of visit."

"Since when did mahamatra become guard dogs for Azar."

"Since whenever don't avoid questioning."

"Al-Haitham, temporary scribe to Azar, come from my mission to report back to Azar."

"Al-Haitham... Yes... Al Haitham, totally forgot that Azar has been waiting for you." The unsure nature of the mahamatra put off Haitham but he ignored and went past him regardless. It took another long trek to the top of House of Daena where Azar's office is located. Azar was seated at his desk, eyes not leaving a book he was fully intent on reading, not even dignifying Al Haitham with a look over.

"You took your time?"

"Well assassination is hardly easy"

"I could have one of the useless eremites do it in less than two days."

"Then you should have done so. Last I heard your men couldn't even handle the chaos bell. I can hardly imagine them assassinating a matriarch" Al Haitham speaks as calmly as possible while Azar sighs and finally looks up at Al Haitham.

"I'll say a desert outfit suits you but we have a reputation to uphold Mr Al Haitham its in your best interest you change your outfit before you dignify your presence in this holy knowledge land"

"My outfit is irrelevant to Akademiya and whatever mundane talk you wish to proceed with I request you hold it. I have come from afar not resting one moment. It's in my best interest that you finally pay me for my effort."

"Heh- curious as ever I like it. You must be wondering why I had you do such mundane tasks."

"They are hardly mundane if I look desperate enough to look for an answer."

Azar stands up and walks towards al Haitham "Follow me good sir as I show you the future of Sumeru- nay the new Sumeru that we are working towards." Azar walks out and a secret door on the side of the house of Daena opens leading through many corridors. Azarleads in front with Al Haitham following him observing all the structures beside him based on how deep these tunnels go underneath the bazaar as well. Two mahamatra guards are tailing close behind him. Azartakes a sharp turn and through one entirely newly built section of Akademiya is presented in front of him.

This must have been under work for more than a decade and such meticulous work that even Al Haitham was not made aware of. The corridors are newly built and look significantly reinforced. After a long silent walk, Al Haitham comes face to face with a massive door that opens immediately the moment Azar enters.

"WELCOME OUR NEW ARCHON!"

The sight is no less than breathless. An amalgamation much larger than the ruin golems that rot away in Sumeru and the desert. It is an amalgamation of deformed parts of ruin golems all in various stages of attachment to the massive torso of a mechanical horror in front of him. He could distinctly see one of the chaos bells that he had taken from Azar a long time ago now being attached to one of the shoulders. 

this creature would have 10 times more destructive powers than the abyss had with their golems. The world truly was nearing the end with this creature being created. Dottore can be seen in one of the corners of the room overseeing its construction. 

"Shouki no kami – Archon with infinite power, an inspiration I borrowed from the Inazuman archon and her creation. I even have one of her close delegates work for me on this."

"So that's your plan, you control this amalgamation and you become the Archon."

"Oh, I could never do our new archon the shame of taking its place, no. This is going to be a sentient creature of its own with endless knowledge of 100 archons within him. I have you to thank for supplying me with the sacred sand scrolls.....though you may be right in saying I would sort of be in control cause After All this being will follow the principles I set for him."

"How do you like it Mr Al-Haitham?" Dottore asks to see Al-Haitham finally arrive. "Great work on Matriarch Babel although I ought to say her own men would have killed her in a few months regardless of our intervention."

"Good work so far Dottore, you have been carrying out your task as meticulously as Al-Haitham has, I must commend you both." Azarspeaks as he pats Al Haitham's back

"Why Mr. Detective? Silence doesn't suit you." Dottore says as he grins and looks at Al Haitham who has been silently observing the work.

"The silence speaks bounds Dottore, it means our work is not in vain if the great detective of Sumeru is rendered speechless."

Al Haitham remains silent for a few moments before he finally speaks up "My silence could be interpreted for two things, one is as you say and the other is up to your imagination. Regardless I must say the work of such a scale to stay hidden from me for so long shocks me. "

"A great deal of effort was put in by Mr. Al Haitham and every effort will be paid off when this thing rises to land."

"When is this meant to rise?"

"In a few months. It will be a day of its own to be celebrated for centuries to come."

"What about the queen?"

"The moment he rises she will be exiled. Her power will be stripped from her after all she is just a mere child."

"But she is a descendent of an archon. What if there is divine intervention?"

Azar and Dottore Laughs "Oh please Mr. Al Haitham. There has been no divine intervention since the abyss war. Those heavenly principles have not looked down on us since the stabilization of Tevyat. Almost makes me wonder if they even exist."

"I seek no harm in speculating about the tasks of this creature?"

"He is going to be the archon that we lost. This nation will prosper again as the nation of boundless knowledge without an archon overlooking us"

"Even desert people?"

"We as of now have no plans for them just like our previous archons had no plans for them. We simply will focus on Sumeru and Sumeru only if the desert wishes to become independent we will even allow it but at a price of all cut from resources."

"They will have the nation of Natlan and Fontaine help them."

"Not under our treaty banners they won't. The moment our god is born even a great nation of justice would succumb to our power."

"That is a very optimistic view that will call for discrepancy in plans. It's best if we keep the desert under our control."

"We would have had dessert in our control had you not involved yourself in our Amphritite Treaty with the Fontainians"

"There is your first discrepancy: you have a failed contract with them to think you could bring them under your reign is delusional."

"The desert serves no purpose as of now."

"Independence could cause you some trouble."

"We do wish to cut borders with them when it eventually happens."

Al Haitham sighs listening to the arrogant sage while Dottore listens to the banter amusedly. "If you are done living delusional I have now places to go. " Al Haitham says innocently.

"Not so fast Mr Haitham, I believe you have something you owe me"

"I am confused weren't all the scrolls not delivered to you" Al Haitham looks to Dottore. 

"Please Mr. Al-Haitham, don't make this any more difficult than it is" Just as he says this all the guards in the room and the ones following are pointing their arms towards him.

"I see ... So this was a trap all along" Al Haitham finally understands everything "You wanted me rid the moment I made my presence known in your life."

"There were many thorns in my route to this greatness I assure you but I had them rid immediately. You have the honour of at least knowing my plans before we get rid of you." Azar steps close. 

"I'll have you know the general mahamatra wouldn't be pleased to know of your plans."

"I am now the general mahamatra Mr. Al-Haitham and Mr. Cyno is on the run just like you were for months. And who is saying you will remember any of this" as Azar speaks Dottore comes forward holding one of the divine knowledge capsules.

"You know what will happen Mr. Al Haitham?"

"I lose all immediate memory and long-term memory. The only thing I'll remember would be my motor functions but apart from this nothing else."

"Good man he has done his research a shame you'll forget that as well" As he says that he goes to press his forehead with the capsule but just then al Haitham runs back and immediately pulls one of the flintlocks from the guards and points it at Azar who raises his hand in alert and the guards are forced to lower their weapon.

"Remember what I said Al Haitham you are a hasty man you lack perfunctory functions of the frontal lobe you do not realise yet where you stand boy."

"On the contrary I do. From the distance and direction, we have walked we are underground on the borders of Sumeru city treading upon the next village and I will hold out to remember all of this"

But before Al Haitham can step back and escape Dottore somehow appears behind him and presses the capsule to his head and immediately Al Haitham loses consciousness.

a few moments pass and he feels his eyes open hard to concentrate he hears a garbled voice from behind Dottore "I am sorry Mr. Al Haitham it had to be this way" another voice prolly Azar barely reaches him "-A great loss of knowledge if only we could extract." 

Then he completely loses consciousness. When he finally feels some semblance of consciousness he sees dirt ahead of him but he is being moved, he feels the awkward tension in his limbs from being dragged. He keeps going in and out of consciousness until he reaches the desert. He hears a familiar voice. A voice he hadn't heard in a long time. 

Tighnari. "Archons, you are heavy!"

16th June 1892,

It has been a few days since Cyno's arrival. His arrival has done us much good, the fatuus tire themselves every day guarding the exiled scholar but they seem to work on capitanos commands it would seem. I don't even know who he is but he has some well-trained soldiers in his hand. Farid makes sure they don't deviate too much but also eavesdrops on the conversational letters between them and Capitano and I feel bad about invading their privacy after so much help.

still no news on Al Haitham. I received a stern letter from Ms Nilou. It seems she came to know I was in the desert and not in Avidya city with Tighnari. No news on Tighnari either though. I hope both of those men are safe. My descriptions become shorter by the day cause each day I hear commotion rallying at the entrance of the village so I can't seem to catch a break.

"Tighnari" Cyno screams as he rushes towards him carrying a heavy desert dweller on his shoulder all by himself.

"A little help."

"Is Azar now attacking desert dwellers as well?" Cyno says as he immediately positions himself to carry the other shoulder of the man

"Its Al-Haitham"

"WHAT?!" Cyno's hold falters a moment putting complete weight on Tighnari again for a moment

"Hold him for Archon's sake I am about ready to pass out carrying him."

"How did you get hold of him, god don't tell me he has been affected the same way Azar affected many of the scholars here."

"I am afraid he is affected. Found some guards near the caravan carrying him over here, fought some off and left them there."

"Let me call Kaveh!" Cyno says as he calls out for Kaveh but no response he and Tighnari drag him to the village infirmary and lay him in bed. Al Haitham's eyes open only for a moment but eyes remain unfocused. 

"He has gained consciousness multiple times during the route here but just as immediately failed."

"Kaveh will be furious," Cyno says nervously.

"But more than furious he will be worried. We want a stable doctor, not a worried one. Get the other doctor from the village to assist me in the meantime. " As Tighnari says Cyno rushes out and Tighnari gets his medical kit out.

He inspects his eyes which do not focus on anything he shifts his limbs but they don't move back to their immediate position they were in before. As though he is paralysed he remains unconscious with occasional groans whenever he gains consciousness for mere moments. The other doctor comes and observes him as well although he has some superficial wounds here and there and one deep gash on his shoulders that he got weeks ago he is not as badly affected as most scholars here were.

Tighnari observes him for a while and notices the time period for consciousness is increasing with each time he returns to the world of living. A day's rest and he should be ok. Cyno returns looking at Al Haitham nervously.

"Where is Kaveh?"

"He went with a few village people to help in a delivery to the next tribe. He will arrive in a few moments but I am not going to be the one to tell him the state his husband arrived in."

"Someone has to Cyno"

"And it won't be me"

"Maybe get the villagers to tell him, I mean they already saw me so they will have told him that immediately which will drag him here regardless"

Al Haitham again writhes in pain but then again goes back to his slumber.

"You are not dying Al Haitham and if you are I’ll raise you back from hell, just stay with me, Kaveh will be here any moment" Tighnari speaks urgently.

Kaveh finally arrives and immediately one of the fatuus informs about Tighnari's arrival with yet another exiled scholar. Hearing this Kaveh rushes to the infirmary. There he finds Tighnari taking note of the vitals of a man in bed with Cyno pacing around worriedly but his pace stops immediately when he sees Kaveh.

"Kaveh-"

"Tighnari! Cyno! Oh, archon I am so glad you are ok Tighnari I had worried myself half to death thinking about you."

"Kaveh stay there a while?"

"Why? Who is it?" Kaveh's voice becomes strained when Kaveh is stopped from moving forward to look at the patient.

"I need you to first calm down and know that he is ok and recovering well.

But Kaveh's steps do not stop; he moves animatedly and finds the one thing he didn't want to see in such a state.

"-Al haith-"

"He is fine, he is recovering and just needs rest."

"Is he like those-"

"That was my first diagnosis but non-conclusive," Tighnari says on edge.

Kaveh steps near the bed and sits beside him rubbing his hands over al Haitham's arm and feeling his calm breathing body. His body, now covered in new scars he can't help but a few tears escape. "Who could have done this?"

"We can't say for sure. But when he becomes conscious we can try asking him then" Cyno says coming near Tighnari. "Tighnari has been checking his vitals since he got him here and he says he is recovering steadily."

Just then Al Haitham's eyes opened. Finally, he takes a big gasp of breath like he was holding the entire time. His eyes come to complete focus and the first thing he sees is Kaveh. His lover, his fiancé is to be husband Kaveh with tear-streaked cheeks.

Al Haitham remains staring at Kaveh for a while before he notices Cyno and Tighnari in the room as well. He finally looks back at Kaveh and that's when Tighnari and Cyno realise it's their cue to leave them alone. As they leave, Kaveh climbs atop his bed and hugs him closely, hearing his heartbeat.

"Relax yourself, don't you dare move a muscle," Kaveh says as Al Haitham tries to move.

Al Haitham just as easily relaxes and they both slumber off.

Tighnari finally lets the desert's night air hit his cheeks and relax. The room was suffocating and seeing his friends in distraught hurt him. But here he is, at least his lover looks ok. He sees Cyno approach him but is hesitant at the same time.

"Tigh I wanted-"

"Don't apologize Cyno, I think I overreacted to that information but a few days ago when my entire village was under an attempt to be burned down I had a moment to think it through."

"Archons, is Collei ok?! Why didn't you immediately contact me?"

"I could have but I had to take Collei to a safe place first then only I could contact you. Don't worry she is with Ms. Nilou. In fact it was Collei who put out most of the fire."

"Our daughter. She has grown well." Cyno says relieved and proud.

"Yes, she has," Tighnari smiles at the thought "And I had time to think about in the long route back and forth to the desert."

"And that would be," Cyno asks worriedly.

"That life is too short for me to stay mad at you. It's too unpredictable and I can't bear the thought of losing you. And when I saw that fire I knew everyone I knew was in danger as well. I stood a real chance of losing all of you... Especially you and I couldn't bear to think that in my last moment with you I stood angry..." Tears start pouring from his eyes. "I couldn't bear to think I decided to spite you for a small thing when in reality all I wanted was to see you safe." Tighnari slowly moves towards Cyno "And wanted to see you again one more time and say sorry and that I love you." 

just as Tighnari says that Cyno rushes forward and kisses Tighnari. His hands holding his back and his nape as they held on to each other. It was just after midnight they were not that far from the infirmary. On other occasions, Tighnari would have condemned Cyno for public indecency but right now with such a fragile situation he only thanks archons over and over again for letting him unite with his lover.

"I love you Tighnari, I always will and I promise to return to you always."

"Me too. I love you so much it almost hurts when you are away."

And they embrace again as both now tear up.

He hears the heartbeat consistent throughout the night. It is early hours of the morning when Kaveh finally moves and stares at Al Haitham.

"You can speak can't you?"

"Hello Love"

-

as Dottore takes the capsule from his pocket. Al Haitham created a sufficient distraction for Dottore to silently swap the divine knowledge meant to clear his mind with the one al Haitham got to the Akademiya.

-

"I hate you."

"No, you don't but I must say we are being heard. It's best if we head out somewhere where no one can hear us and speak there." Al Haitham says as he tries to sit up but Kaveh pushes him back down

"No"

"I am fine."

"You don't get to say that Mr." Kaveh finally loses some tension from his own body.

"How long do you plan to hold me hostage?"

"Until you recover fully."

"I am afraid we don't have enough time for that," Al Haitham says as he finally stands up. He opens one of the infirmary windows, looks out and turns back to Kaveh again.

"Come, this time you will be with me through and through," Al Haitham says as he holds out his hand.

Kaveh slowly moves towards him.

A slap echoes across the cave system of the desert. Al Haitham is holding his cheeks trying to regain back his consciousness he just had a moment ago.

"I beg your pardon-"

"I stand by what I said. I hate you."

"You don't"

"Yes, I do, how dare you leave me without telling me anything only for me to find out later you joined a criminal organization and do their bidding. Are you in debt? Are they holding something of yours dear, more dear than I that you felt the need to join them? And those scars. Where and who did this and how could you let it happen? We were to be wed by now but here I am scolding you like an insolent child that can't seem to listen to one thing I say."

Al Haitham is stunned by the speed at which his lover speaks but his heart wrecks when he sees him breakdown. "Do you have any idea how scared I was? I was ready to go to every corner of the desert to search for you. Hell, I have been in Aaru village for over a month spending every dime I earn sending men out to look for you."

Al Haitham steps closer as he does he cups Kaveh's face and wipes the incessant tears "I hate you, Hai-" Just as he goes in another rant Haitham kisses him and god does it feel good. It feels like he is finally home. Wherever Kaveh is, that's his home. His body relaxes as Kaveh holds on to his tattered garb for his dear life. Al Haitham doesn't let go of his lips until they both finally feel the need to breathe and then the lips meet again. Kaveh's tears stop but it doesn't hurt any less to see your lover in scars and rough-skinned. His hand moves to his shoulder and feels a deep wound there as if pierced he finally breaks to look at the wound.

"Archon's sake Hai this wound..., what happened?"

"Too much, too many things, too little time to explain. We are on borrowed time right now Kaveh. Sumeru is in danger!"

"I know, we all know something big is brewing but months is too little a time to prepare"

"But it is all we have dear."

Just then Tighnari and Cyno walk towards them "Got your message!" Cyno says. Seeing al Haitham standing tall and holding Kaveh shocks him as he didn't expect him to make a recovery, unlike the other exiled scholars.

"How are you feeling Al Haitham" Tighnari asks looking at him over 

"I am fine but we don't have time, a new archon is being brewed right under our nose and if we don't stop now it will rise and wreak havoc for centuries to come."

"We are at your service al Haitham you say it and we will help you any way we can" Tighnari desperately offers.

"The time has come hasn't it" Cyno speaks sounding defeated.

"Unfortunately it has."

._FIN_.