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04 | it's just me and you, even in a crowded room



knowledge is power, as the saying goes.


sumeru university is an example. built under the foundation of acquiring and going beyond to pursue knowledge. knowledge is limitless. the whole world is filled with many unsolved discoveries, waiting for those who seek wisdom to uncover the magic of the complex vortex of how the universe aligned and works. 

that is what azar wishes to incorporate on this bustling institute.


knowledge is the true organ of sight, not the eyes.

without knowledge, how can the world be defined and be known as it is today? knowledge lets the world run, not money. money is a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes. it is only used as an item in exchanging things.

knowledge however cannot be bought. schools does not count as contradiction to this statement. you may pay a school, but it is within a person if they chose to learn.

can money buy what the unknown hides? can money unearth how small atoms just never seem to touch? can money buy a brain and a soul filled with wonder? 


knowledge is the key to become a god.

sumeru as a nation is the leading country when it comes to advancements – though truthfully it only comes second to fontaine. yet, it takes great pleasure in the remarkable accomplishments of its illustrious graduates and alumni. they are currently working overseas and succeeding in their specialized sectors. they pride themselves to be dubbed as "the palace of knowledge and the country of wisdom".

the akademiya first came into being when sumeru was officially recognized as one of the major countries in teyvat. the school was formed by the same individual who founded sumeru, therefore it only made sense that the school would be directed by them.

albeit, times have changed. seasons have gone by. and now this institute will soon fall to a heir. a child will soon inherit the right to rule. a child.

azar finds the thought lamentable.


how can the young understand today's changing times? how can someone that young rule?

in azar's eyes, that child does not meet the standards of their forebearers and those who have once lead the school to its glory now. 

but he, someone who has been loyal to the main family for so long, cannot alter what is written by the stars, by fate, and even through inks, papers, and words.

if he cannot move the rock, then he can alter the chemicals for the substance to be qualified.



"next time mr. vice president, ensure your fellow peers' appearance. i rarely ask for an audience as i know and take consideration of how the student council body is busy with multiple affairs in their studies and duties."

"you are appointed as second-in-command of this council, surely you must live up to how heavy that title is. or else, what use is a title for an incompetent leader?"

azar stares at the students present in the room. the room isn't as full as it typically is since there are more empty seats than there are occupied ones. only a selective and handful were present – regrettably even less than 5 people.

"it is as you said that most of us have hectic schedules that asking for everyone's attendance for this abrupt meeting is deemed improbable." alhaitham smoothly answers, settling comfortably on his chair.

"i do apologize for the lack of people as some of us are still adjusting to the sudden changes of schedule."

azar grunts inaudibly while gazing at alhaitham with an incomprehensible expression and his eyebrows sewn together.


alhaitham is a gifted scholar. him and along some notable fellow scholars like him are the pride and joy of the akademiya. someone like him has garnered a portion of the student body that looks up and respects him as a fellow learner in the field of pursuing knowledge.

yet alhaitham does not seek the thin borders of knowledge. this student only acts as he pleases; he only does things that are within his interest and concern.

alhaitham is a gifted scholar, yet so hard to keep in line.


". . . it seems like waiting is futile. how unfortunate for them to not attend, but let us move on."


no matter what, a small inconvenience won't ruin his plan. all that matters is the main execution. he has planned this for so long and now he must carefully inlay his plans precisely and with no errors and mistakes.


"i have made countless discussions with my team and the board of directors. in preparation of the upcoming inter school competitions that will be held in the akademiya, we shall make haste preparations for everyone in order to give only the best performance of our school."

azar carefully distributed the papers to the students.

each student in the room flicked through the stapled documents. carefully reading the contents of each paper.

the silence has never been this loud minus the sounds of paper.


"this is . . . the schedule?" candace asked with uncertainty and a lace of worry.


candace, the secretary of the council. a competent and a stickler to rules. a student that wouldn't be too much of a problem.


"yes it is. i would like the student council to oversee the following activities with uttermost care and take accountability for the accomplishment of these objectives."


". . . will this really be possible?" constance murmured, her eyes glued to the papers. constance, a student representative under the spantamad department.


"with your cooperation, yes it will." azar said with conviction.


"isn't this asking too much for everyone?" alhaitham calmly asked, crossing his arms after placing the papers down. 


how troublesome.


"everyone is overwhelmed by the frequent changes, so adding or rearranging the purported stable timetable won't help; instead, it will make things worse for everyone, which will make it more difficult to achieve these objectives."


ever the voice of reason, how irritating. but no matter, i will have my way.


"i do not lie when i say care for the students' wellbeing. after the event, everyone will be given a semester break. a fruit of their hard labor work."

"the oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived."

"i wish to not make the akademiya a fool for everyone to see. if students cannot handle the change of plans, how can they be ready to face the wrath of time and their courses to pursue?"


alhaitham sighed in resignation, closing his eyes with a small frown.

how disrespectful, but it's alright. nothing can stop him now.

his heart thumped loudly in his body and instinctively his hand reached to his pocket.



"do carry my announcement and wishe—"

"how many opposed to the idea?"



the sun hung on the sky and shined brightly outside but it cannot reach its rays inside the council room. as if clouded by a dark mist, students shifted uncomfortably at the tense and rigid atmosphere that enveloped everyone.

alhaitham says nothing anymore and looked at azar. bored? questioning? mocking? azar couldn't tell what expression alhaitham was showing in his eyes.

the mind is a complex thing. azar wishes to have such an omnipotent power to know and see intangible thoughts.

alhaitham is a feeble scholar. what can he do to be a hindrance to his plans? what does he know?

overthinking is a terrible habit.


alhaitham can pose a threat but the chances are low.



". . . notwithstanding two vetoes, the majority agrees this schedule forward." azar said.

"i understand the council's concern but as i said, i also concern the challenges ahead. it is us against the problem as always, and i hope you can convey my earnest and sincere intentions to the students."

"and i would like to also, again, forward my announcement to those who are not present."



speaking of present. . .



"may i ask where's your auditor, mr. vice president?" azar turned his head to alhaitham.

without missing a second, alhaitham answered immediately.

"what business do you have with her?"



has alhaitham always been so blunt?



"i would like to meet with her privately, but it is unfortunate that she is not here. if you ever have the chance to meet her, kindly extend my invitation."



the auditor, despite having a position that is not much important, is essential for his plan to work. if he can get an audience with her, he can get to convince her. the more ground he can cover, the better.

after all, the auditor has the public's favor. he can use that to his advantage.



"i will convey your words to her." alhaitham answers. he still has that look that azar finds it unsettling and irritating.



sensing that the meeting is to be adjourned anytime soon, the students slowly started to stand up.

"before we end the meeting. . ."

azar's voice caught everyone's attention.

azar placed his palm on his pocket, where a device lies.

"i have one more thing to share."


。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚



kaveh groans for the fifteenth time this day.


"why did i choose this course again?" kaveh asked to himself as he glares at his on-going plate.

pencil in hand, he scratches his head to the point he might as well just rip out his scalp from how frustrated he is.


the café across the university was less populated in this hour. most of the students are probably attending their lectures or are simply staying somewhere else.

a good place to work on his pending (and long overdue) plates without any distractions. or so.


"you might as well kill an innocent paper with that kind of look kaveh." tighnari called out, munching on his donut as he watch kaveh lose his mind.

"including the pen if you want to." cyno added.


"i give up!" kaveh exclaimed loudly as he lays on his chair exhausted of whatever pressure he is placing on himself.

fortunately because of how less populated the café is, no people will be bothered of kaveh's antics that may cause disruptions to others.


"damn, being a kshahrewar must be hard." cyno lamented and placed a comforting hand on kaveh's shoulder.

kaveh isn't so sure if cyno was teasing him or it was out of genuine empathy.


the group met up at puspa café to relax and unwind and chatter. in spite of the group's outward appearance as an odd and unusual friendship group, it contains the strongest relationships created by this institution.

it may be formed out of weird circumstance or mutual dislike to the school, who knows?



"i'd rather sleep right now than do my tasks at all." kaveh uttered, taking a sip of his own drink. he would of preferred wine but then he would have to be drunk while he finishes his plates.

and that's the last thing kaveh wants, and his dormmate or roommate or that headache wants.

but honestly, kaveh doesn't even care if it makes alhaitham's life more problematic. but just to have a bed to sleep for the night, he'll avoid any alcoholic drinks for awhile.


and on the topic of alhaitham, the group waits for alhaitham who has yet to conclude his meeting with a higher-up and aether who also is currently attending his lectures.

that or is slowing the interrogation everyone has on his lovelife.



"i didn't see that coming where aether has a girlfriend, much less in inazuma." tighnari commented.

after all, sumeru university has this tense peer pressure and its highly competitive atmosphere that people here are much more dating their books rather than another person.

and those that do have someone are viewed very weirdly and will be the center of gossip and attraction.


"i heard it is someone famous there. well known." cyno added, crossing his arms. as for how he got that information, cyno shall close his mouth.

"well, it would really be fricked up if she's studying at Inazuma college." kaveh lamented and prayed his apologies to aether in his mind.


it is not forbidden for students to date. not at all, infact it is much more of a threat.

for a scholar to pursuit knowledge, they must not let anything and anyone get in his mind and way. distractions are the causes of failures and errors.

the akademiya pushes students to only become excellent and be the best. less to no errors and only to phenomenal accomplishments.

those who has a bone to pick at the akademiya finds it bullshit.



the doorbell rang, letting anyone know that someone came inside. kaveh looked at the door, expecting a gray haired man or a blond one similar to his own would pop out, but instead a blue haired woman and someone else came into view.



"the stars do not lie, name."

"you know, i love to learn astrology and cognitive functions but that's too much layla."



"oh if it isn't. . ." cyno drawled out his sentence, his eyes slowly widen.

the auditor of the student council, the girl the group is teasing alhaitham with. name.

and she's with layla, a student under the rtawahist department.



the doorbell rang again, this time it was someone kaveh knew so well.


"look who it is. if it isn't ms. auditor." the male coolly comment.

"ah, an unfortunate meeting mr, vice president." the girl replied, who turned behind her back and smiled icily.


if kaveh had a knife in hand, he can cut the atmosphere right now. the staring between alhaitham and name was very cold. colder than snezhnaya's winters.


"here i am covering your absence and here you are leisurely ordering a drink. i say this is quite unfair, don't you think so?"

"to you it must be, to me – eh not so much. and for the record, i just finished my class. i hope you have the heart to understand.

"how unlikely, i do not need any empathy to "understand" your excuses."

"how unfortunate. it must hurt to be kind and nice."



"uhm so, will you order?" the cashier infront asks, seemingly lost and well impatient to place an order.

both bickering students looked at the cashier, who knows regrets to ask.



". . . yes, i apologize. three espressos please." name said and paid.

"i didn't know you're stressed? you seem to have some good night's sleep every night that ordering something bitter." that's too much.

"then i must thank my make-up for covering my eye bags. just because i do not look so grumpy and weary like you does not equate i am not competent and am not doing my responsibilities." it's not for me, don't worry.

"and you tell me i'm someone who's 'too prideful' and i have an ego."

"it's what you call trying to look decent. hah, i am getting stressed because of you!"



"here." alhaitham threw something at the girl that everyone couldn't see what it was. but the sound is similar to the sound of keys.

"what's this?" the girl asked, perfectly catching the object.

"you left it."


kaveh, cyno, and tighnari widened their eyes. alhaitham?! being kind?! to the auditor?!


"what awaits you there are your papers to be signed and looked at. i need those at exactly 11 pm sharp, and don't say i am abusing my power. those papers are due this midnight. failure to do so, i will have you do a community service for three days."


nevermind. not abusing your power, our ass.


"you-" the girl let out a huff. "fine, whatever. i'm going."



layla who was silent the entire time, had a smile on her face. she joined name on the way outside offering to carry some of the coffee.


"the stars never lie, name."



。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚


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