Avidya Forest
Kaveh hummed to himself as he walked through Gandharvavile toward Nozomi's place. The trees and the morning air seemed to sing, and the sky was clear blue, and the usual ongoings of the forest whether animals or Forest Watchers filled the trees with the hum of work.
He paused while examining his reflection in a pond and brushed his hair back, making sure his braid on the left was at an exact angle. Kaveh quickly lifted his armpits and smelled the cologne he had brought months before at the Bazaar Markets.
"Okay… all good. Contracts, welcome package" He checked and whispered to his suitcase "Mehrak, it's going to be a good day! I can feel it!"
He walked on through a clearing, imagining Nozomi would have been awake by now, cooking him breakfast.
Him breakfast for once.
Kaveh stopped, scowling "At least someone appreciates me more than Alhaitham! He left me one more plate this morning when I finished! Just wait till I tell him that I have a new tenant." He pushed open the gate "It'll wipe that smug smile off his-"
He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of what was supposed to be Nozomi's house laid in pieces. The blue roof and walls were now shattered across the dirt. Thick pieces of tiles stuck into the mud.
"Wha- HUH!?" Kaveh ran over to the rubble, his mind racing.
What the hell happened!? This wasn't like this yesterday! Where's Nozomi?
Kaveh started to move the rubble apart, now down on his knees, he started to call out for Nozomi.
Panic started to set in as minutes passed by, his hands started to bleed from moving piles of tiles mixed with the stained glass.
"Nozomi! Where are you?! Are you here?! Please call out…" he bit his lip. "Please."
*
Nozomi floated in a dark space, her chest feeling heavy with red eyes glaring down at her. She screamed out in pain as claws seemed to pierce through her skull. Then she felt herself fall.
Her body landed on the ground, shaking any breath out of her. She pulled herself up and unsheathed her blade.
"Rifthounds!? What the hell are they doing all the way out from Inazuma?"
Before she could attack, its claws wrapped around her body and squeezed her ribs. She struggled to break its hold and screamed out in agony. Nozomi was brought closer to its glaring eyes. The smell of ash from its body seemed to pour into her soul.
Nozomi took in a short breath, braced herself, and focused on drawing whatever chi she had left. Years of training with the Kamisato clan had prepared her, even without a vision. A glow started to form from her chest down through to her hands as she gripped the fur and channeled her energy into the Rifthound.
It reared its head back while it roared, dropping Nozomi to the ground. She coughed and felt weak. She breathed in through the pain of her ribs. The Rifthound circled, growling through its teeth.
Nozomi wouldn't let herself die without a fight.
She took a stance and raised her sword above her head, ready to land a final strike.
A green light flew past her head, hitting the Rifthound directly in its skull. Its claws flailed and its body was now engulfed in green flames as they faded into the dark. Nozomi looked on as the green light now surrounded her body.
A small shape, with a green hat and odd eyes, smiled as it used its small hands to fling Nozomi forwards. She felt herself move forwards to the bright light, and Nozomi held her hands in front of her face.
Nozomi… nozomi…
"Nozomi! Where are you?" A voice echoed.
"Huh… Kaveh?"
Nozomi woke up and sneezed, feeling weighed down and dusty. She groaned to herself standing up, hearing clanks of broken tiles falling near her feet.
"Kaveh why are you yelling? It's too early… I haven't started breakfast." She yawned "I'll be down in the kitchen in a minute."
"Nozomi? Oh my god, you're safe!" Kaveh ran up, tears staining his face "I thought you had died."
"Huh… what do you mean? I'm fine. Anyway, I guess I'll make breakfast." She rubbed her face and noticed the dirt on her hands "You really gotta clean the beds before showing the place."
"Um… Nozomi… the house is gone."
Nozomi blinked and giggled "What do you mean the house is… oh…"
She looked at the clearing, now noticing the roof above her head was gone. Kaveh looked around and leaned to one side, throwing his face in his hand.
"Oh no no what the hell am I going to do? I was hoping… praying things would work out this time. Dori's going to laugh at me when I see her… that sly little merchant."
Nozomi watched as Kaveh paced back and forth, swinging his suitcase. It was minutes after Kaveh finished kicking the remains until he addressed her. Nozomi couldn't help but giggle as his face went from a scowl to pain.
"Why the heck are you giggling? Does this look like a laughing matter to you?"
Nozomi hugged her waist and looked at him "I'm sorry, but even with what's happened, I can't take you seriously right now. Your expressions are priceless."
Kaveh leaned forward slumping his shoulders. "I'm glad you're the only one who sees it that way. Well… I suppose we should find somewhere to eat and figure out what we're going to do. Alhaithams never going to let this go."
"I guess that's a good thing? Speaking of, I need to check if The Crux is in the docks. I'll probably start working with them rather than go to the Akademiya anyway. So," She smiled at him "Let's go, I'm sure things will work out. I'm sorry about your house."
He put his hand on her shoulder, guiding her away. He took one last look at his work before shaking his head.
*
A blaring horn sounded on the docks as Nozomi and Kaveh looked onward to see The Crux sailing away from Port Ormos. A cold wind picked up the dust from the ground and filled an awkward silence.
"Come to think of it… she didn't mention when they were due to go." Nozomi slapped her forehead "Damn it! What am I going to do now?"
"I am so sorry this happened." Kaveh put his hands together "I do have an idea but you might not like it…"
"What do you mean I wouldn't like it? It's not like you're selling me off on the black market right?" She laughed nervously.
"Hmph, and what sort of Scholar would I be if I did that? No," Kaveh looked away towards the Port "What I mean is, you could hole up with me and my roommate for a bit. At least until I've found you another house."
"Uh… I wouldn't mind but, didn't you say Alhaitham was a selfish, egotistical-"
"Annoying Scribe, yes I did" He breathed in "But I'm sure when he hears your circumstances, he'd listen to reason and let you stay. I hope."
Nozomi tried to imagine the situation in her head, an old man in his 50s scolding Kaveh for having a freeloader. She looked at Kaveh sympathetically, he seemed way too kind to put up with a roommate that old and cynical. A shiver ran down her spine.
"I'll go with you, only because you're very kind." She rolled up her sleeves "I'll show him if he gives me any trouble."
Kaveh leaned toward her and chuckled. "Please, he's not that rude. Just rude to me. Come on, I'll get us there."
*
"What… I swear I had my keys this morning when I left, where the hell?" Kaveh cursed while he patted his pockets "Don't tell me I'll have to sleep somewhere else tonight too?"
Nozomi had waited almost an hour in front of his house. Though the wait wasn't boring when Kaveh flailed around like a lost chicken. Nozomi looked under the door mat and the potplants then held out a green key that hung off a lion's ornament.
"Are these the keys?"
"What… jeez you're calm about today. Thank you." Kaveh grinned "I won't need to sleep on the streets after all."
Kaveh fumbled with the lock and pushed the door open. Upon walking inside, Nozomi admired the lounge right in front of them. A table with many different plates and cutlery was already set, ready to use. A gold teapot sat in the middle. The lounges were bigger than what she had ever seen, all green satin. Bookshelves lined the walls with many books. Thick bindings were laid with dust. Some books lay in a pile on the floor.
"Please don't mind the mess, make yourself at home. I'll go find Alhaitham if he hasn't come back from work. He should be here, would be weird of him not to be lounging around somewhere."
She watched as Kaveh walked down to hallways on either end of the house. A door was open to reveal what looked like a study, while down the other side, two doors leading to different rooms were shut.
Nozomi heard footsteps outside the front door, metal clanging from keys as the door opened. She braced herself for a nasty roommate, only her face dropped when she saw him.
A quick realization dawned as the man who had brushed past her in the corridor during her application looked at her. Nozomi looked closer as Alhaitham was now tall, with grey hair with lighter tints hanging at the side of his face. Sharp turquoise eyes with orange-ringed tips seemed to look at her through a birds-eye view. Two large gold and green pieces that looked to be a headset hugged either side of his face, though she couldn't hear any music.
He placed his keys to the side near a woodcarving.
"Yeah, I don't think I can take him." She whispered lowly "Didn't think Kavehs roommate would be this young… or buff."
Nozomi stood up and began introducing herself.
"Hi there, you must be Alhaitham?"
An awkward silence hung in the air while both stared at each other.
"Uh…" Nozomi stammered.
"Ah, there you are!" Kaveh walked over "I wanted to talk to you."
Alhaitham walked past Nozomi and took a seat on the lounge. He put one leg on the other and waited until either sat down on the other couches.
"Aren't you going to even acknowledge we have a visitor? Honestly, I think you're trying too hard to be a fly on the wall." Kaveh rolled his eyes.
"Hmph, maybe if you introduced us first, I'd have more reason to listen to you. You're the one making things awkward." Alhaitham retorted.
"Okay fine. Ahem, Nozomi," He waved over to him "This is my roommate, Alhaitham. Please don't mind him he tends to ignore a lot of people."
Nozomi nodded though Alhaitham remained expressionless. She felt her hands grow colder and gripped her knee.
Come on Nozomi… you can talk. Just think of this as talking with Lady Guuji. Things were awkward at first with her… right?
As he said, my name is-"
"Nozomi Ogawa, am I right?" His eyes peered at her "We've met the other day while you were leaving."
"Huh, yes. How did you know my last name?"
Alhaitham looked her up and down.
"You applied for a Bachelor of Arts Scholarship, with a letter of recommendation from Yae Publishing. I read through your application, it was shoddy with errors."
Nozomi felt her insides turn to mush.
"But, because you had filled it out correctly and you had a letter of recommendation directly from Yae Publishing," He closed his eyes "You were accepted. Congratulations."
Nozomi instantly hearing that her application was approved, looked over at Kaveh now relieved. It seemed all her hard work had paid off.
"So that means I can stay here?! Thank you!" She blurted.
Alhaitham now unfolded and shot a quick glance and narrowed his at Kaveh. "Excuse me? What did you mean to stay?"
She slammed her forehead while Kaveh curled his fists "I was going to ask you if Nozomi could stay here… until she finds her feet. You see-"
"No."
Kaveh and Nozomi's faces went blank while staring at Alhaitham.
"What the hell do you mean no?! She urgently needs a place to stay, the house I was going to rent out is in shambles!" Kaveh pointed to the door "You mean to tell me with the little mora she has to sleep out in the streets? I-"
"Tell me something Nozomi, do you remember falling asleep and dreaming of Rifthounds at all?"
Nozomi looked at him taken aback, she started to feel queasy from remembering it. She now gripped her ribs. "Y-yes… but again how did you know all this?"
Alhaitham now stood up with his face in his hand, sighing he started to pull a few books off the shelves and placed them in front of her. Nozomi tilted her head and he motioned for her to read them.
"You idiot…" he turned to Kaveh "You built your house in a Withering Zone, didn't you?"
"What! No way! I made sure this time that the house was built way outside any withering zones! There's no way she could have been near… oh no."
Kaveh's face dropped and turned to sit next to Nozomi. Nozomi read a few pages in a book. Her face whitened as she gripped the sides and looked up and repeated its contents to both men.
"The Whithering Zones started to expand to the point where even dreams were affected by those who lived in certain regions in Avidya Forest. It's been recorded that the Leylines were tampered with five years ago and that a reasearcher never woke up ever again. The chances of waking up from a dream about the Withering are lower than 10%...I can't believe it."
Alhaitham frowned "Hmm, how did you wake up?"
Nozomi spent the next few minutes explaining to both about the dream.
"Then this green thing… it looked like a childrens toy to be honest. Um… it had a green leaf hat, black slits for eyes, and a wire-like smile. Almost like a drawing from a childrens book."
"The Aranara…" Kaveh breathed "You actually got to see one."
"How do you feel now?" Alhaitham took the books and placed them back "Usually those who wake up lose a few memories."
"I feel fine." Nozomi recalled most of her memories of the last six months "I mean I woke up in the rubble but, otherwise fine."
Alhaitham blinked and stared for a few minutes, causing Nozomi to look down at the ground. She felt herself blush.
"Dude quit staring, you're making me nervous."
Alhaitham took a seat then poured a drink from the teapot. Kaveh looked at her apologetically and handed her a cup. Nozomi gladly took a gulp and looked at Alhaitham.
"I'll…see myself out. I don't want to trouble you or Kaveh, I'll figure something out." She stood up. "Thank you for having me for a visit."
Kaveh looked at both of them, his arms now flailing around.
"Haitham please, let her stay with us… I owe it to her. Especially after what she's been through." Kaveh held his arms in prayer. "I'll even make dinner tonight."
"I already live with a freeloader, what makes you think I want one more?"
Kaveh's face went into a scowl and both started to bicker.
"Because I know she'll pull through! Besides you don't do anything around the house but lounge around and take naps all day! It's so annoying! You haven't even put those books on the ground there away…besides Nozomi appreciated my beauty and work!"
"Oh? And I suppose you're going to mother her to death until the house is exactly the way you want? Hmph, you just want another excuse for someone to clean with you. No thanks, it's already irritating having someone nag you about groceries every week."
"Mother?! How dare you!" Kaveh's face visibly shook. "Maybe I wouldn't have to nag if you actually cleaned up for once! I still remember you leaving one plate after I had already cleaned the dishes!"
Alhaitham looked over at Nozomi then shook his head.
"If you hate nagging me so much, then you might as well move out. I recall you paying me to rent as well as helping with chores to live-"
"You! Don't change the subject!" Kaveh breathed in "Why do you always have to bring that up anyway?"
"You'll need to check in with your idiocy to answer that. We'll be here all day."
Nozomi watched as both bickered back and forth. Instead of feeling anxious or in a hurry to get out of the house, she let out a laugh. Both stopped as they watched her clutch her hips. It was a while before she stopped.
"Okay… well I can see why you both argue all the time." she wiped a tear away "Look, how about I just pay rent at the end of the month. I promise that if I haven't, I'll leave. No questions asked."
She pointed to Alhaitham and smiled. "I can also look for a job while I'm here. If I don't, well it's to the streets for me or I can board the Crux next time it's in Port Ormos. I can help with cooking and cleaning if you'd like?"
"Hmph." He looked at her, with a deadpan expression. "I don't expect much from you, but fine. You can stay for a month if I don't receive any rent-"
"It's goodbye Akademiya."
Alhaitham shrugged then pulled a letter from a pouch at the back of his hip. Nozomi recognized the seal from Yae Miko straight away. She quickly read the contents and her fingers let it slip to the ground.
"I have to come up with my first manuscript in a month too… heh, the odds eh?" Nozomi said through a wry smile.
Alhaitham gave a deadpan look as he walked past her.
"Welcome to the Akademiya, you start your first class tomorrow. See ya."
He waved over his shoulder and then went to his room. Nozomi slowly turned to Kaveh and sobbed. Kaveh came over and held her hands.
"No pressure right?" Kaveh scratched his chin "It'll all be fine."
"Riiight…" Nozomi said under her breath.
