"I thought you wanted to get this over with," comes the whispered reply. There's a moment of silence where Alhaitham's eyes just scan through Kaveh's face, the green much like Mehrak's own tech as it scans terrain.
Two plus two, equals...
He considers reaching to grab the architect by the collar and maneuver them both further away so they're not heard as he asks if Kaveh has anything to tell him. He wants to be as direct as possible, but he knows that there's no time for anything, much less fall into the lovely pastime they share which is arguing.
Kaveh tries to insist via means of holding back Alhaitham's cloak. He still wears his concern as loud as body language goes because he still believes they shouldn't have made it into the cave without any matra. His shoe accidentally bumps a stone that falls down with loose gravel directly towards the voices. As a result, a few of them immediately grow silent. "Alhaitham," Kaveh whispers harshly, all too knowing that Alhaitham isn't stubborn for the sake of messing with him at this point. They're far past that. Kaveh knows that Alhaitham knows. "We should at least talk to them first."
The pebble dropping down doesn't escape him, neither does the silence that follows. Alhaitham was always very good at pinpointing silence. Sought it like a beacon.
Still, he's honed in on Kaveh.
"Go right ahead, then, Senior. Are you going to say how you are frowning upon the injuries that they inflicted on me?" he snaps back.
Though before Kaveh can reply, Alhaitham quickly manhandles them both (and Mehrak, miraculously (Merakhulously, I guess?)) into the opposite nook where they were settled, as one of the voices' owners comes to check where the stone had dropped from. Thankfully they won't check the temperature of the floor they were sitting on, nor turn further than 22 degrees than they should—
Right, good. He removes the hand from Kaveh's mouth. Looks at him pointedly. "Well?"
It takes every fiber in him not to let out a sound the moment Alhaitham takes him and his toolbox against a crevasse to save them from view. Still, the shuffling itself must have garnered attention in their particular direction. Kaveh's frantic gaze holds Alhaitham's in the spot, breathing hot through his nose while his mouth is rendered useless. If had known they would run into them specifically, he would have never agreed that Alhaitham makes this trip at all. Surely, Alhaitham knows Kaveh would never purposely put them in danger. And just the other day, these men passed as nice before their contract. Then again, this is Kaveh, after all. He avoids his gaze and wipes his mouth once Alhaitham lets him go. "They're...Clients."
The look Alhaitham gives Kaveh is one that speaks volumes in its lack of shock. All these years, all this observing that Alhaitham tends to do with his roommate as the subject of it, he somehow knows that whatever future written in the stars for the architect is never simple, never from star A to star B. Astrologers would have a field day about the aspects, tensions, and detrimental placements, for sure.
'Challenges,' he had heard Layla say about them, her voice growing steadily and eerily different in the cadence. 'They're not heralds of doom, but obstacles that you choose whether to face or circumvent. The stars, after all, are but the writing of Guides. And even those Guides are wrong.' So it's not unusual for Kaveh's life, in which things never seem to go according to plan, that there is always an unexpected twist or turn that demands his problem-solving skills.
Their, if Alhaitham is somewhat involved. He knows all too well the unpredictable nature of their encounters, the way fate seems to weave them together sometimes in a stubborn and unnecessary tangle. And yet, despite his reputation as an egoist, Alhaitham does not want to leave him to his own devices like that.
"Inevitably, they always are," he muses internally, refraining from voicing his skepticism, aware that neither the moment nor Kaveh need this. Choosing his words carefully, he whispers sternly.
"I guess the ambush was just one branch of their attack," clever. He'll give them that.
As much as they might argue, if there is anything Kaveh wouldn't want out of a situation it would be Alhaitham hurting himself because of his decisions. He shouldn't have signed anybody so far away from the city unless he could verify their identities. It feels hot against the stone encompassing their safety, like he could melt into it and cease to exist. He feels gutted, guilty, knowing that Alhaitham is caught up in all this, too. "You should stay here, I'll talk to them. I doubt they will expect me to bring company and besides, we're on friendly terms. I can have Mehrak signal to you in case I run into trouble." There is enough moisture and puddles further inside that would make use of his blooms, too. He wouldn't want Alhaitham anywhere near those, either.
Kaveh hopes that his expression is sufficient enough to convince him to go as he plans, "I'm saying all this as your senior, too. I will use my vision if I have to, I needn't say more," he glances at his patched arm and shifts around him, exchanging positions in the crevasse.
A hand snatches and seizes Kaveh's wrist, quick as the way Alhaitham summons blades.
And yet—
Highlighting that the reason they decided to ambush both Kaveh and Alhaitham has more implications towards the architect's concept of who he is and who he hangs out with than he should approach now of all places.
He lets his jaw loosen, not realizing it had been set on gritting his teeth. "I'll be watching."
His fist tenses within the grasp, and his gaze burns just as strong. He only wishes he could convey the gravity of their situation. He pulls back trying to escape from his hold, muttering, "let go," under his breath.
He'll be damned if anyone but himself has to deal with them. So he steps out of their hideout and further down into the cave, where everyone falls silent the instance Kaveh appears. "The architect?" A voice calls out to him, and while Kaveh is a friendly face, the metal of his sword still shines as its held in preparedness. "Y-Yes, that's me. It's nice seeing you all again. I was wondering," he pauses, inching closer while he looks around for the materials Alhaitham was originally after. "I was wondering, uhm. When I'll be paid," he knows Alhaitham can hear him, he feels the jagged disappointment and judgement on the back of his head. He still feels his wrist throb from his lasting grasp.
The men laugh at him. One of them circles around him, more inquisitive and suspicious, "how did you know to find us here? Boss will be unhappy if he learns that you came here asking for payment without a proper plan on what to do with the land development." "And I do have a plan ready, who do you think you're speaking to? There are other details that require I talk to him in person, that's all."
"Right, right. What do you think guys? Is he telling the truth?" It's not whether or not Kaveh is convincing, it's more like all of them had already made up their minds the moment he showed his face. When Kaveh realizes that, his vision glows.
Alhaitham's eyes narrow, mind racing with possibilities as he watches Kaveh engage in the tense conversation with Azar's cronies. Kaveh teeters on the livewire of stubbornness and persistence once again, though brandishing a weapon into a negotiation of budget feels like less of the subtlety of creative liberties that the architect tends to defend.
Still, his primary focus remains on unraveling the intricacies of Azar's machinations and finding a resolution to this precarious situation.
As he observes the crooks' reactions and analyzes their body language, Alhaitham considers multiple outcomes, connecting them into an intricate network as he strategizes each move. His keen eyes scan the surroundings of the mossy cave, noting the number of adversaries they face and the limited avenues of escape.
One possibility emerges in his mind: negotiation. He considers the potential leverage they both possess, he is here to bear witness, after all, and two of the brightest minds in Sumeru hold weight in how the Matra would settle this. Alhaitham contemplates exploiting these factors to broker a deal, one that ensures their safety.
He understands that despite his best efforts to manipulate the situation, combat may ultimately become inevitable. The crooks, loyal to Azar and armed with their own motivations, are begging for a fight.
A measured exhale; he knows the time for deliberation and strategizing is no more. Alhaitham's gaze shifts to his surroundings once more, taking note of the rugged terrain, the shadows that dance across the cave walls, and the faint glimmer of concealed weapons in the hands of the cronies. He mentally calculates their numbers, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and weighs the odds of a successful engagement.
Another option flickers like a flame: diversion. Alhaitham assesses the acoustics of the cave, the faint echo of music permeating the air. He had noted that the crooks had been playing music, but none of them seems to be there to enjoy it, even through working... whatever they had been working on. None of them seems to have been there to appreciate it, which means...
He spots several scratches and divots in the muddy ground by a wall, a large rugged rock resting on it. Movement, dragging tracks, the rock itself clean of moss, too. They had been using the music to cover the sound of a dragging rock that conceals… something. Could be another cave, or an alternate exit. That would explain why they found no footsteps coming out when they were entering this place.
Alhaitham doesn't even need to think. He summons a dendro blade and throws it, flying past everyone and into the rock, shattering it.
"Mehrak!" He calls out frantically as the others move in towards him. There is instability in his mind, knowing Alhaitham is witnessing him become a failure in his eyes. Unable to solve their standoff in a diplomatic way, or claim his independence as their architect. The water puddles below them steams with his elemental prowess.
One of the men still manage to get a hold of Kaveh from behind, and he feels a cold blade by his neck. Miserable as it may look, Kaveh doesn't entirely lose composure. Besides, he knows they need him alive. He glances over at the direction where Alhaitham hides.
The bursting dendro cores leave the skin with a painful rash that is more similar to a chemical burn. Elemental power in its rawest form is quite dangerous for people without visions. The man pushes Kaveh away while he withers from the effects. "Alhaitham!" The blade that comes takes everyone's attention, even Kaveh, by surprise. "What are you doing?!"
Dust and rubble fill the space they're in once the other hole is exposed. More dendro manifests over the mossy rock walls, all credit to Alhaitham's superiority in strength. "He's a traitor! I knew we shouldn't have trusted someone from Sumeru City! He brought back up!"
"The Scribe is here again, this is our chance," another voice calls. In the heat of the altercations, a body slams against Kaveh. She's bleeding and suffering from his cores, but she's strong enough to push herself and Kaveh away from the resonating dendro, and they both disappear through the hole Alhaitham has exposed in the rock wall.
At least for now, the mess is necessary. It's organized chaos: sellswords and zealots suddenly rile themselves up for different reasons. Those in the know aim their aggression at different people than those who have only gotten the bare minimum to get them to work.
He'll deal with the perceptions of others later. The fight is yet, unavoidable and necessary, but this time Alhaitham makes it quick. At least quick enough to leave most people wounded.
As he follows after Kaveh and whoever that was, a few dendro cores burst behind him as his cape brushes past them. They make something sing and sizzle, but Alhaitham has no time for that now; grits his teeth as he pushes himself forward to dash through the tunnel.
Where exactly is this heading? Who was that and what was her goal? There are a myriad of questions, hypotheses and connections running through Alhaitham's mind, but he knows only one thing for certain, and it's that he can't let Kaveh out of his sight.
Edited (pressed enter too soon! ) 2023-06-18 21:47 (UTC)
"T-Traitor," she utters once the two collapse into the depths of the cavern. There is only so much the lasting effect of his cores can salvage. He's still scratched, the fabric on his forearms and elbows ripped. A vision can grant mortals more sturdiness, which is why he's still capable of standing up while she's in worse shape. Despite all the unknowns working against him, Kaveh offers his hand to help her up.
"What do you mean? Were your friends up there not the ones who attacked first? I didn't know I would run into you all," he coughs and glances up towards the sounds of blades and bodies impacting one another. "You're one of us now, you swore your loyalty to us by signing the contract with our boss. If you still think of turning against us and helping the Scribe, then I'll have to kill you." "Wait what-- What if you just tell me how that would benefit any of us? You'd be breaking your own contract with the boss if you suddenly got rid of me based on empty accusations."
The rain outside is also getting stronger, putting their site at a high risk of a flash flood. Water is already trickling from the space above Kaveh had fallen through and inside his cavity, the earth around them rumbles. Dangerous as it might be to stay directly near the steepness of the rock, Kaveh knows Alhaitham would soon follow his same fate. The fighting from above seems to have ceased, but he also has to keep his eyes on the woman.
Thankfully, Alhaitham can teleport through short distances. With a dash of flared dendro, he arrives at where the drop begins and instantly lets out of sigh of relief upon hearing Kaveh's voice. He presses his fingers to his headphones, the tech inside scanning around him and picking up on the sound outside instead.
A contract. With the eremites, no less? No wonder they called him a traitor. He'll give credit where it is due: whoever webbed this intricate network made it with care. How unlikely, considering zealots tended to lose themselves in the details of things due to the feverish grandiosity of their beliefs.
The water runs from the mossy cave they had all been in and over the cliff. The land and rocks are somewhat porous, which means that they're either near or at a phreatic level.
Hopefully the water needs to go down further before it hits bedrock. Alhaitham just stays there, crouched, listening in.
Perhaps luck is on his side for once, as the woman holds onto to her bleeding arm watching him. She’s in no condition to keep fighting, yet she still has a knife latched on a leather sheath by her belt. Kaveh has Mehrak, and the water below his feed that could inflict more dendro cores if he chooses.
He glances up towards the hole they had fallen from, “Alhaitham?” Worry bounces off of the cold stone around him, echoing. He’s sure he would have made it now by now, and he can’t hear anyone else’s voices. She laughs the moment the name escapes his mouth. “Then consider this part of your job. The building boss wants to build wants this underground tunnel incorporated as our trade routes. Construction would also take place here.” “Huh?! That’s too dangerous. Can’t you see around you?! Any strong rain would loosen up the foundation and put an entire structure at risk. Trade routes? We have those above ground!”
But then she laughs. Alhaitham releases a huff as he listens to the rest.
"Clearly they think they bought your complacency and your silence," he says as he teleports down. Scanning Kaveh's form quickly for bruises and injuries, he then focuses on the woman instead. "Have you considered why the boss would want to create underground routes? I thought we were working on making things more transparent."
It wouldn't be the first time Kaveh falls into a world of scams, although he is technically not bought yet considering he's still missing his money. He's a little roughened up, but he has no major injuries besides that of losing his patience in a place like this.
The woman then replies, "I know why, are you suggesting I'm not trusted by the boss?" Alhaitham doesn't just get under Kaveh's skin, clearly he has similar effects on others. Except Kaveh would never draw a knife to him, unlike the woman now reaching for hers. She has already noted Alhaitham came in bandaged up already.
As Kaveh steps in to prevent the two going head to head, the cave rumbles again. This time, loud and strong enough that the first chamber with all the men gets blocked off entirely by a large fallen stone. Silence only follows as Kaveh and the woman stare up at it. "They..."
Alhaitham takes no chances, he uses the distraction. Throws one of his swords right into the blade of the woman's dagger, making the weapon scatter away from them all. He's not going to engage in a fight here if he can help it, not with Kaveh around, not with himself already drained from the fight from before.
"They were already leaving this place when I left them," this is aimed at both Kaveh and the woman. Meant to reassure and also, maybe, highlight that he does care whether these people live or die. Never mind that he just did something extremely dangerous that would have probably injured the woman at least if it weren't for the Scribe's own skill. Still, he's focused on the fact that just because their attackers were on the move, doesn't mean that the slowest people aren't trapped. "We need to move fast if we're going to check. This area is too unstable."
Alhaitham's words can only bring so much calm to Kaveh. It's not enough in this situation. Kaveh's initial spike of adrenaline is subsiding and his injuries are becoming more focused, the pain is sharper. They've been walking all day, too, and Kaveh's stamina isn't as great as Alhaitham's, but he hides in his silence. He glances at Mehrak. "Make sure you keep that knife with you, Mehrak."
They have no choice but to move forward through the labyrinth, and it naturally gets so dark that only a few fungi in the distance emit enough light for them to not accidentally slip through another hole. Kaveh glances at Alhaitham through the dim light. The woman is in the lead for now. Without a weapon, strength, and bleeding, she has little choice but to walk them through the cavern. Only she's familiar with all the incoming set of traps after all. "Are you okay?" He finally asks Alhaitham, he's tired of the silence, and now his thoughts are better gathered.
The architect's inquiry about his well-being hints at a deeper weariness that goes beyond their immediate predicament. Kaveh doesn't exactly mind silence. Not really, and especially not when they need to be focused, be it due to work or something else. When he does this, Alhaitham already knows that he's slowly careening into exhaustion, running on fumes.
"Hm," he cants his head in what he hopes is reassuring, and folds his arm to tap at his own forearm to indicate his roommate's, that he should be concentrating on himself, too. He's not about to assess and highlight both their injuries in front of someone who could turn on them quickly, but... "You're lucky I don't do a bad job when I can use both hands to bandage up."
Kaveh can't help but sigh through his nose in disapproval of Alhaitham's gestures. Sure, he might be right that keeping to themselves will benefit them in the presence of an enemy. She's hurt, too, the chances of her attacking them again is more unlikely.
They enter a large dome that is less claustrophobic than the previous tunnel. Places like this do inspire Kaveh under other circumstances that isn't so perilous. Mansions with underground, secret tunnels is something he'd like to explore with building at some point.
There are some boxes stacked against one of the stone walls, sealed shut by nails. It would appear they were smuggling something, not that it matters now. Kaveh glances at Alhaitham again, he stands closer to him. "It would have been worse off had I not intervened and you know it. Anyway, you, where are you taking us to? And how much longer are we supposed to delve? I do have blueprints to finish for your boss. He will be unhappy if I don't get them finished in time and it'll be your fault."
Alhaitham can't help but interrupt his scanning of the place to look at the architect, his head snapping so fast that it's a miracle that he doesn't get whiplash. Kaveh is a terrible liar, the diva act doesn't suit him at all, but then again, Alhaitham knows that he's privy to many things about the architect that most people don't know. For a second, he thought that he was actually serious about considering working with the zealots despite them trying to take down Alhaitham himself.
They're both exhausted or skittish. The Scribe instead decides to check everything around them, crouching and touching the water of a puddle as though to check for something in it.
Instead, he focuses on the temperature of his wet finger once he gets back up. One side goes slightly colder than the other. There's an opening, another exit nearby. It's only up to her to see if she's trying to bluff or buy more time instead.
The woman takes his bait for the time being, grumbling as they tread into the depths of the cavern. Kaveh remains close to Alhaitham, it's a more clear indication that his concern for his well being is more pivotal than whether or not he gets a paycheck from this. In fact, Kaveh wouldn't be in a position to accept it anymore, not when Alhaitham has been hurt through this process.
"What are you thinking about?" He asks this in regards to the curiosity on water flow, or whatever it is he's inspecting. He keeps his voice low when he speaks, muttering at best so the sound doesn't travel to unwanted ears.
"There's a draft," Alhaitham tilts his head towards and lowers his chin, eyes cast low as he mutters softly near Kaveh's ears. He thinks this is enough to let the architect know what he's thinking— there's an exit nearby, which means there can be a way for them to leave, or some other people to come in.
If she's stalling, then it means she's hoping for backup. He lets himself stay there in that position, waiting for Kaveh to make any comment or question, but instead he just hears the woman practically roll her eyes and mutter something about 'lovebirds'.
Luckily Kaveh doesn’t hear the comment from her, or his voice might have made it through all the mapped tunnels underneath Sumeru.
Kaveh’s gaze is potent on Alhaitham— his admiration for him has never subsided despite everything between them keeping them apart. He trusts him.
“Can’t we make a run for it, then?” These are words that suggest that any he’s planning to use any extent of their laws to void whatever contract he roped himself into with these people. Even if he’d be walking out on money.
Alhaitham shakes his head, and he makes it look exasperated instead of answering his question by reaching up to pluck some dirt off Kaveh's hair absently like it's the most natural thing for them to do. He looks at the flick of his fingers as they shift in the air to make the dirt flutter to the ground beside them, and holds onto the architect's wrist gingerly as though he's examining his injuries.
In a way, he's concerned. He knows that Kaveh needs that money—to leave their home, build a new future for himself, to settle his debt, to finally revel in the tranquility that comes with it. But somehow, there seems to be some odd karma on his end, where every opportunity comes with a dire catch. "She's stalling, we may get caught," he tilts his head, whispering and tutting as though he's upset that the architect's clothes are ripped at the sleeve. "There's an adventurer's commission from the Matras."
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Two plus two, equals...
He considers reaching to grab the architect by the collar and maneuver them both further away so they're not heard as he asks if Kaveh has anything to tell him. He wants to be as direct as possible, but he knows that there's no time for anything, much less fall into the lovely pastime they share which is arguing.
He shakes his head, silently, a firm 'no'.
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Still, he's honed in on Kaveh.
"Go right ahead, then, Senior. Are you going to say how you are frowning upon the injuries that they inflicted on me?" he snaps back.
Though before Kaveh can reply, Alhaitham quickly manhandles them both (and Mehrak, miraculously (Merakhulously, I guess?)) into the opposite nook where they were settled, as one of the voices' owners comes to check where the stone had dropped from. Thankfully they won't check the temperature of the floor they were sitting on, nor turn further than 22 degrees than they should—
Right, good. He removes the hand from Kaveh's mouth. Looks at him pointedly. "Well?"
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'Challenges,' he had heard Layla say about them, her voice growing steadily and eerily different in the cadence. 'They're not heralds of doom, but obstacles that you choose whether to face or circumvent. The stars, after all, are but the writing of Guides. And even those Guides are wrong.'
So it's not unusual for Kaveh's life, in which things never seem to go according to plan, that there is always an unexpected twist or turn that demands his problem-solving skills.
Their, if Alhaitham is somewhat involved. He knows all too well the unpredictable nature of their encounters, the way fate seems to weave them together sometimes in a stubborn and unnecessary tangle. And yet, despite his reputation as an egoist, Alhaitham does not want to leave him to his own devices like that.
"Inevitably, they always are," he muses internally, refraining from voicing his skepticism, aware that neither the moment nor Kaveh need this. Choosing his words carefully, he whispers sternly.
"I guess the ambush was just one branch of their attack," clever. He'll give them that.
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Kaveh hopes that his expression is sufficient enough to convince him to go as he plans, "I'm saying all this as your senior, too. I will use my vision if I have to, I needn't say more," he glances at his patched arm and shifts around him, exchanging positions in the crevasse.
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And yet—
Highlighting that the reason they decided to ambush both Kaveh and Alhaitham has more implications towards the architect's concept of who he is and who he hangs out with than he should approach now of all places.
He lets his jaw loosen, not realizing it had been set on gritting his teeth. "I'll be watching."
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He'll be damned if anyone but himself has to deal with them. So he steps out of their hideout and further down into the cave, where everyone falls silent the instance Kaveh appears.
"The architect?" A voice calls out to him, and while Kaveh is a friendly face, the metal of his sword still shines as its held in preparedness.
"Y-Yes, that's me. It's nice seeing you all again. I was wondering," he pauses, inching closer while he looks around for the materials Alhaitham was originally after. "I was wondering, uhm. When I'll be paid," he knows Alhaitham can hear him, he feels the jagged disappointment and judgement on the back of his head. He still feels his wrist throb from his lasting grasp.
The men laugh at him. One of them circles around him, more inquisitive and suspicious, "how did you know to find us here? Boss will be unhappy if he learns that you came here asking for payment without a proper plan on what to do with the land development."
"And I do have a plan ready, who do you think you're speaking to? There are other details that require I talk to him in person, that's all."
"Right, right. What do you think guys? Is he telling the truth?"
It's not whether or not Kaveh is convincing, it's more like all of them had already made up their minds the moment he showed his face. When Kaveh realizes that, his vision glows.
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Still, his primary focus remains on unraveling the intricacies of Azar's machinations and finding a resolution to this precarious situation.
As he observes the crooks' reactions and analyzes their body language, Alhaitham considers multiple outcomes, connecting them into an intricate network as he strategizes each move. His keen eyes scan the surroundings of the mossy cave, noting the number of adversaries they face and the limited avenues of escape.
One possibility emerges in his mind: negotiation. He considers the potential leverage they both possess, he is here to bear witness, after all, and two of the brightest minds in Sumeru hold weight in how the Matra would settle this. Alhaitham contemplates exploiting these factors to broker a deal, one that ensures their safety.
He understands that despite his best efforts to manipulate the situation, combat may ultimately become inevitable. The crooks, loyal to Azar and armed with their own motivations, are begging for a fight.
A measured exhale; he knows the time for deliberation and strategizing is no more.
Alhaitham's gaze shifts to his surroundings once more, taking note of the rugged terrain, the shadows that dance across the cave walls, and the faint glimmer of concealed weapons in the hands of the cronies. He mentally calculates their numbers, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and weighs the odds of a successful engagement.
Another option flickers like a flame: diversion. Alhaitham assesses the acoustics of the cave, the faint echo of music permeating the air. He had noted that the crooks had been playing music, but none of them seems to be there to enjoy it, even through working... whatever they had been working on. None of them seems to have been there to appreciate it, which means...
He spots several scratches and divots in the muddy ground by a wall, a large rugged rock resting on it. Movement, dragging tracks, the rock itself clean of moss, too. They had been using the music to cover the sound of a dragging rock that conceals… something. Could be another cave, or an alternate exit. That would explain why they found no footsteps coming out when they were entering this place.
Alhaitham doesn't even need to think. He summons a dendro blade and throws it, flying past everyone and into the rock, shattering it.
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One of the men still manage to get a hold of Kaveh from behind, and he feels a cold blade by his neck. Miserable as it may look, Kaveh doesn't entirely lose composure. Besides, he knows they need him alive. He glances over at the direction where Alhaitham hides.
The bursting dendro cores leave the skin with a painful rash that is more similar to a chemical burn. Elemental power in its rawest form is quite dangerous for people without visions. The man pushes Kaveh away while he withers from the effects.
"Alhaitham!" The blade that comes takes everyone's attention, even Kaveh, by surprise. "What are you doing?!"
Dust and rubble fill the space they're in once the other hole is exposed. More dendro manifests over the mossy rock walls, all credit to Alhaitham's superiority in strength.
"He's a traitor! I knew we shouldn't have trusted someone from Sumeru City! He brought back up!"
"The Scribe is here again, this is our chance," another voice calls. In the heat of the altercations, a body slams against Kaveh. She's bleeding and suffering from his cores, but she's strong enough to push herself and Kaveh away from the resonating dendro, and they both disappear through the hole Alhaitham has exposed in the rock wall.
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He'll deal with the perceptions of others later. The fight is yet, unavoidable and necessary, but this time Alhaitham makes it quick. At least quick enough to leave most people wounded.
As he follows after Kaveh and whoever that was, a few dendro cores burst behind him as his cape brushes past them. They make something sing and sizzle, but Alhaitham has no time for that now; grits his teeth as he pushes himself forward to dash through the tunnel.
Where exactly is this heading? Who was that and what was her goal? There are a myriad of questions, hypotheses and connections running through Alhaitham's mind, but he knows only one thing for certain, and it's that he can't let Kaveh out of his sight.
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"What do you mean? Were your friends up there not the ones who attacked first? I didn't know I would run into you all," he coughs and glances up towards the sounds of blades and bodies impacting one another.
"You're one of us now, you swore your loyalty to us by signing the contract with our boss. If you still think of turning against us and helping the Scribe, then I'll have to kill you."
"Wait what-- What if you just tell me how that would benefit any of us? You'd be breaking your own contract with the boss if you suddenly got rid of me based on empty accusations."
The rain outside is also getting stronger, putting their site at a high risk of a flash flood. Water is already trickling from the space above Kaveh had fallen through and inside his cavity, the earth around them rumbles. Dangerous as it might be to stay directly near the steepness of the rock, Kaveh knows Alhaitham would soon follow his same fate. The fighting from above seems to have ceased, but he also has to keep his eyes on the woman.
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A contract. With the eremites, no less? No wonder they called him a traitor. He'll give credit where it is due: whoever webbed this intricate network made it with care. How unlikely, considering zealots tended to lose themselves in the details of things due to the feverish grandiosity of their beliefs.
The water runs from the mossy cave they had all been in and over the cliff. The land and rocks are somewhat porous, which means that they're either near or at a phreatic level.
Hopefully the water needs to go down further before it hits bedrock. Alhaitham just stays there, crouched, listening in.
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He glances up towards the hole they had fallen from, “Alhaitham?” Worry bounces off of the cold stone around him, echoing. He’s sure he would have made it now by now, and he can’t hear anyone else’s voices.
She laughs the moment the name escapes his mouth. “Then consider this part of your job. The building boss wants to build wants this underground tunnel incorporated as our trade routes. Construction would also take place here.”
“Huh?! That’s too dangerous. Can’t you see around you?! Any strong rain would loosen up the foundation and put an entire structure at risk. Trade routes? We have those above ground!”
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But then she laughs. Alhaitham releases a huff as he listens to the rest.
"Clearly they think they bought your complacency and your silence," he says as he teleports down. Scanning Kaveh's form quickly for bruises and injuries, he then focuses on the woman instead. "Have you considered why the boss would want to create underground routes? I thought we were working on making things more transparent."
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It wouldn't be the first time Kaveh falls into a world of scams, although he is technically not bought yet considering he's still missing his money. He's a little roughened up, but he has no major injuries besides that of losing his patience in a place like this.
The woman then replies, "I know why, are you suggesting I'm not trusted by the boss?" Alhaitham doesn't just get under Kaveh's skin, clearly he has similar effects on others. Except Kaveh would never draw a knife to him, unlike the woman now reaching for hers. She has already noted Alhaitham came in bandaged up already.
As Kaveh steps in to prevent the two going head to head, the cave rumbles again. This time, loud and strong enough that the first chamber with all the men gets blocked off entirely by a large fallen stone. Silence only follows as Kaveh and the woman stare up at it.
"They..."
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"They were already leaving this place when I left them," this is aimed at both Kaveh and the woman. Meant to reassure and also, maybe, highlight that he does care whether these people live or die. Never mind that he just did something extremely dangerous that would have probably injured the woman at least if it weren't for the Scribe's own skill. Still, he's focused on the fact that just because their attackers were on the move, doesn't mean that the slowest people aren't trapped. "We need to move fast if we're going to check. This area is too unstable."
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They have no choice but to move forward through the labyrinth, and it naturally gets so dark that only a few fungi in the distance emit enough light for them to not accidentally slip through another hole.
Kaveh glances at Alhaitham through the dim light. The woman is in the lead for now. Without a weapon, strength, and bleeding, she has little choice but to walk them through the cavern. Only she's familiar with all the incoming set of traps after all. "Are you okay?" He finally asks Alhaitham, he's tired of the silence, and now his thoughts are better gathered.
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"Hm," he cants his head in what he hopes is reassuring, and folds his arm to tap at his own forearm to indicate his roommate's, that he should be concentrating on himself, too. He's not about to assess and highlight both their injuries in front of someone who could turn on them quickly, but... "You're lucky I don't do a bad job when I can use both hands to bandage up."
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They enter a large dome that is less claustrophobic than the previous tunnel. Places like this do inspire Kaveh under other circumstances that isn't so perilous. Mansions with underground, secret tunnels is something he'd like to explore with building at some point.
There are some boxes stacked against one of the stone walls, sealed shut by nails. It would appear they were smuggling something, not that it matters now.
Kaveh glances at Alhaitham again, he stands closer to him. "It would have been worse off had I not intervened and you know it. Anyway, you, where are you taking us to? And how much longer are we supposed to delve? I do have blueprints to finish for your boss. He will be unhappy if I don't get them finished in time and it'll be your fault."
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They're both exhausted or skittish. The Scribe instead decides to check everything around them, crouching and touching the water of a puddle as though to check for something in it.
Instead, he focuses on the temperature of his wet finger once he gets back up. One side goes slightly colder than the other. There's an opening, another exit nearby. It's only up to her to see if she's trying to bluff or buy more time instead.
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"What are you thinking about?" He asks this in regards to the curiosity on water flow, or whatever it is he's inspecting. He keeps his voice low when he speaks, muttering at best so the sound doesn't travel to unwanted ears.
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If she's stalling, then it means she's hoping for backup. He lets himself stay there in that position, waiting for Kaveh to make any comment or question, but instead he just hears the woman practically roll her eyes and mutter something about 'lovebirds'.
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Kaveh’s gaze is potent on Alhaitham— his admiration for him has never subsided despite everything between them keeping them apart. He trusts him.
“Can’t we make a run for it, then?” These are words that suggest that any he’s planning to use any extent of their laws to void whatever contract he roped himself into with these people. Even if he’d be walking out on money.
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In a way, he's concerned. He knows that Kaveh needs that money—to leave their home, build a new future for himself, to settle his debt, to finally revel in the tranquility that comes with it. But somehow, there seems to be some odd karma on his end, where every opportunity comes with a dire catch. "She's stalling, we may get caught," he tilts his head, whispering and tutting as though he's upset that the architect's clothes are ripped at the sleeve. "There's an adventurer's commission from the Matras."
Which means there's a reward, at least.
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beautiful
LMAOOO i'm so sorry
"is this a flirt? sorry, i have to go" LMAOO
JEEZ
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