Tighnari marched swiftly down the hallway in pursuit of a distinctive jackal hood he'd spotted from a difference.

He wove his way deftly through the crowd of milling scholars, his ears twitching as they attuned to Cyno's footsteps.

"Cyno, wait up!" Tighnari called out, gripping the sheaf of papers tightly in his arms. Tighnari's sharp eyes noted as Cyno froze for a split second, then he sped up.

Tighnari puffed out his cheeks and swished his tail, as he typically did when he became frustrated.

Tighnari attempted to communicate with Cyno via his Akasha Terminal once more, but Cyno had blocked all communication that didn't come from those above him. Tighnari didn't have the adequate authority to contact him.

Cyno was as light on his feet as Tighnari, managing to maintain the distance between the two.

I haven't been able to get a hold of him for the past two weeks.

Every time I try this keeps happening.

Tighnari's heart seized unexpectedly in his chest and he slowed down slightly, his ears drooping with discouragement. He glanced down at the bundle of notes in his arms and bit his lip angrily.

Since that day when Tighnari had tended to Cyno's wounds after training, the aspiring matra had been remarkably aloof.

Well, more aloof than usual, in any case.

The few times Tighnari had accidentally run into Cyno, Cyno's features had stiffened, his gaze hardened and he would rushed out a gruff greeting, apology and farewell all in one breath. Before Tighnari could form a reply, Cyno would already be gone, marching down the Akademiya's halls at breakneck speed, leaving Tighnari in his wake wondering what he should do.

Cyno's cold features were immediately replaced by the site of him in Tighnari's house, laughing easily, cheeks flushed, eyes bright with some intense emotion Tighnari couldn't place. Tighnari had needed to continuously contend with averting his gaze from Cyno's well muscled chest, lest he become completely distracted. There had also been an adorable element of shyness and awkwardness to him that made Tighnari's heart swell.

Tighnari felt his own cheeks heat up. He shook his head violently, internally throttling his own heart by the throat for its ridiculous delusions.

There's no way someone like him would -

He must have thought of someone else when he took the elixir, and perhaps that's why he acted that way. My research led me to believe that the hallucinatory effects elicited by that particular mixture are rare and minor, however, perhaps Cyno is a special case.

He's probably just embarrassed he acted that way in front of someone he didn't actually like. Or worse, he feels awkard or even hates me because I must have reciprocates in some way? Did he notice how affected I was by him?

Tears stung the corners of his eyes slightly as his heart twisted painfully in his chest, his mind whirring as he recalled all his previous interactions with Cyno. He stopped himself short of analysing Cyno's syntax with an irritable shake of his head.

Tighnari released a long, irritable sigh and moved to lean against the closest wall, chewing on his lip and scanning his notes angrily with uncomprehending eyes.

"Is something wrong, Tighnari?" A familiar voice asked.

Tighnari's head snapped up to find Layla closely studying him with her intense gold eyes.

Tighnari studied her expression for a moment, attempting to decipher the reason behind her question. She yawned, covering her mouth with one hand and rubbing her eyes.

"Oh, I'm quite alright. It's just a minor frustration," Tighnari replied, there's no way she noticed anything -

Layla's eyes suddenly sharpened from sleepy stupor to shocking intensity.

"Is it about Cyno?" She asked, tilting her head on one side and studying Tighnari.

Tighnari averted his gaze and didn't reply, internally debating with herself.

Should I tell her?

No, no, no, no, absolutely not -

Tighnari opened his mouth to provide some excuse, any excuse for his concern.

"It's strange for one so frustrated by others not completing their fair share of work to be so absent," Tighnari blurted, fiddling with the tip of ones of his ears as he suddenly found a stray thread on the sleeves of his Akademiya Robes infinitely fascinating.

"You're more worried about him not contacting us then whether he's done any work or not, right?" Layla asked, rather pointedly.

Tighnari continued chewing on his lip and didn't respond. Layla sighed and joined him in leaning against the wall.

"I wouldn't take it personally, he hasn't been in contact with me either. You don't need to worry that he's not working, I've seen him late at night in the library. Whenever I go to talk to him, though, he books it," Layla replied.

Tighnari blinked, baffled. He glanced up at Layla to find her unfathomable gold eyes fixated on him. He averted his gaze back to the notes in his arms, lest her eyes decipher something he didn't want her seeing.

Tighnari stared blankly at the notes in his arms, at the hastily scribbled questions he's written on elemental reactions, to consult Cyno over.

"I just had a few questions for him, is all," Tighnari replied, running a finger down the numbered questions he'd written, "Honestly, why won't he simply work with us?" Tighnari asked, his ears drooping slightly.

He saw Layla place a slender finger on her chin in contemplation, as she carefully considered her words.

"He's a very ... singularly stubborn, peculiar individual," Layla mused, "I've found that he is both unwittingly harsh, utterly unreadable and blunt to the point of being oblivious to others feelings. But he also seems to be quite sensitive and overthinks the smallest things. What a troubled young man," she sighed wearily, cupping her cheek in her hand.

"I didn't realise you paid so much attention to him," Tighnari asked, feeling a faint flash of wariness, he glanced up at her sharply.

Layla sensed his abrupt change in mood and flashed him a rare, toothy smile. A light, silvery laugh escaping her lips.

"Now, now, don't be so concerned. I didn't pay him any attention that I wouldn't otherwise pay anyone else. This is what usually happens when I meet someone. As I said earlier, call it my writer's instinct, but I tend to automatically profile an individual's most interesting characteristics. You, for example — "

"There'll be no need for that," he rushed out, glaring at her.

Layla laughed again.

"Shut it, you."

Layla continued giggling, covering her mouth daintily with one hand.

Archons, these types from the Rtawahist Darshan are much too perceptive.

Tighnari released a long sigh and a small, reluctant smile touched his lips.

"In any case, forget about Cyno for now," Layla said, "Whatever is troubling him, I'm sure we'll find out one way or another. The stars should guide our paths to cross once more. A few days ago, I met a remarkable astrologist. We could consult her if you like."

Layla's eyes clouded over briefly, as she stared at something Tighnari couldn't see. A small, dreamy smile touched her lips.

Tighnari sighed.

"That's quite alright. Besides, we don't have time for such things, anyway," Tighnari replied.

"You mean to say you don't believe in fate? The stars never lie," Layla replied with quiet intensity.

"I wouldn't know much about that. Not to say it doesn't exist at all, I'm just simply more interested in practical matters and less interested in such abstract concepts," Tighnari said, "There's a reason we're not in the same Darshan, after all."

Layla shrugged indifferently.

"It is as you say," she replied.

Layla yawned and stretched, blinking sleepily in the light of the sun slowly setting in the window facing them.

"Isn't there anything else we could do?" Tighnari asked, frowning irritably.

"You could talk to Lisa, she's Cyno's trusted Spantamad senior," Layla remarked mildly, studying the the long gold page turners affixed to her dark blue gloves, "She is the one who referred Cyno to us in the first place, after all."

"Why not just say that in the first place?" Tighnari bit back, unable to hide the irritation in his voice.

Layla shrugged again.

"Call it a whim of mine. The Blessing of the Stars allows me to write a remarkable amount, despite my poor health. So, since the stars have opted to use me as a vehicle, I tend to prefer leaving things up to the universe's whims. Though I am aware its different for others. I was also curious how you would react. In the end, it's up to you what you do," Layla explained, a small smile touched her lips.

"Anyway, I must be on my way. I have a special appointment with that astrologist friend of mine I mentioned," Layla replied, a small, mischievous smile touching her lips.

She turned away from Tighnari, leaving him staring blankly into space, contemplating her words carefully.

Tighnari walked slowly over to the window facing him and leaned his arms against it, surveying the scenery in quiet contemplation. He noted a familiar figure squaring off against another near the Corp of 30's Headquarters. Tighnari studied his fluid movements, as he gripped his polearm tightly. His jackal hood flowed around him in a sudden breeze. Tighnari felt heat touch his cheeks.

Look away.

Tighnari watched as Taj and Cyno flowed against each other, with all the grace and violence of two large waves crashing together.

Look away.

Cyno sprung away again, prowling methodically.

Look away.

Tighnari wished he could reach into his chest and throttle his own heart of the ridiculous stupor he had entered.

I'm such an idiot.

As if sensing Tighnari's gaze, Cyno glanced up at him and their eyes met for a moment. Heat flooded Tighnari's cheeks immediately and he clutched his papers so violently against his chest that they crumbled. He was utterly unable to tear his gaze away.

Cyno was the first to look away, returning to his training with a slight shake of his head.

Tighnari released a slow, trembling breath as his heart roared in his ears.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

Tighnari couldn't hear anything over the violent pounding of his heart in his chest. His head whirled with the sudden onrush of heady passion.

This is ridiculous, I can't deal with this anymore.

Tighnari turned away from the window and hurried away, absentmindedly smoothening the sheets of paper in his arms, scarcely away of what he was doing.

Talking to Lisa is probably the only way to fix this problem.

I just need to get through this project, then I'll never have to think about him again.

A/N

Hey everyone! Sorry for how long it took me to upload this chapter, I moved over to Japan last week so it's been insanely hectic for me the past few weeks!

Apologies this chapter is so short too, I'll try get the next one up on time!

I hope you all enjoy.