Chapter Text
Most Kshahrewar students are more than happy to sit back and use the extensive research done by their esteemed Pir Kavikavus or her own research from over a century ago under the Haravatat on machine languages.
Pir Kavikavus deserves praise but Faruzan thinks that the Kshahrewar venerates him a bit too much. Even if they have had little else to celebrate since his untimely demise, his actions were groundbreaking but not something and entire darshan should rest on.
If he was still alive today, he would be ashamed of how his Kshahrewar administrative peers act: fawning over Grand Sage Azar and others in an attempt to garner funds. The Haravatat hasn’t granted her funds for research since she emerged from The Temple of Silence and she still doesn’t grovel at their feet for funding, nor will she change her research topics.
The Kshahrewar has both relied upon and ignored their own history for far too long.
In light of all of this, the thesis presentation of the so-called “Light of the Kshahrewar,” their latest prodigy and likely recipient of the Pir Kavikavus Prize, is shockingly interesting.
The student himself, Kaveh, is a willowy wisp of a boy who looks like he would blow over in a stiff breeze with a flair for the melodramatic. Fortunately for him, he is also sharp, passionate in his defense, and most importantly chose a thesis subject that is fairly interesting. Dismantling the idea that the Building Block of the City of Wisdom’s impact has only been positive, this Kaveh has done the most interesting thing a Kshahrewar student has done in years: be incisive and critical rather than insular and scared.
Faruzan decides that she likes him, even with his overly romantic ideals, and tells him as much later that evening.
“Imagine someone from the Kshahrewar being so willing to think creatively rather than focus on the past,” she tells him without preamble once she finds him at the reception.
“Madam Faruzan?”
Narrowing her eyes, Faruzan watches as the fair-haired boy stumbles as he bows. He seems wan, overwhelmed, and definitely inebriated but hopefully not beyond thoughtful conversation.
Then again, she has also been told myriad times that her presence intimidates others.
“Thank you for your attendance,” the boy says, suddenly formal as he visibly collects himself. “I didn’t expect to see many of the Haravatat researchers here given the animosity between our two darshans.”
His tongue seems loose, but not impotent. A perfect state for a good conversation.
“That animosity is due to the inability and feckless nature of your peers. But you will make no such mistake, will you researcher Kaveh?”
Squaring his shoulders, Kaveh shakes his head. “No Madam Faruzan I will not.”
“Good! I would expect nothing less from a student who dares to take on his own darshan. I wish more Kshahrewar researchers had your lack of fear,” she says. “They’re the only darshan now that researches puzzle mechanisms at all and none of them seem interested.”
She narrows her eyes and studies Kaveh more closely. “I don’t suppose you would consider adjusting your studies?”
“I am an architect,” Kaveh says, wrinkling his nose. “Although there will inevitably be overlap in designing buildings, especially if I am to expand well beyond the Building Blocks…I could use your expertise at these times.”
Faruzan sniffs loudly and places her hands on her hips. “You plan to use modern puzzle mechanisms in your designs?”
“Yes!” Kaveh’s eyes suddenly light up and he pulls a scrap of paper from the pocket of his Akademiya robes. “Here. These are the plans for a modernized palace. Underneath the eaves of the roof I’m going to install controllable cooling mechanisms using mist flower corollas and frosting essential oils. They’ll be attached to an interior central hub so the owner can control the amount of cold air during Sumeru summers.”
It’s not a bad idea if he can get the controls as small and precise as possible and she tells him as much. “Although a building of that size…” she hums and looks at the crumpled scribble again, motioning for the pen in Kaveh’s hand that he had stolen from the lectern.
“If you’re building this in the desert this will not work at all. The sand will get caught in the gears here.” She circles a sensitive junction just before the interior hub. “And here.”
“Oh I haven’t thought of where to build it,” he says airily. “I need to find a patron first.”
“Well don’t look at me, researcher Kaveh. I am a Haravatat scholar first and foremost and they have denied my past fifteen requests! You would think that they had forgotten that this particular research started with my rune translation, not the Kshahrewar!”
“But I can still contact you for ideas, right?”
Kaveh looks flushed and hopeful and still very much drunk, although he’s a point where he’s over-enunciating everything rather than slurring his words together.
“Of course!” she says, noting the feeling of pride that swells at the request. “I welcome any Kshahrewar students during my office hours, even the ones who have imprudently asked me to switch darshans.”
***
Faruzan immediately recognizes the student in front of her when she walks outside of the lecture hall and down the stone path towards the Haravatat offices. Alhaitham is someone for whom Sage Khajeh has great expectations.
Personally, Faruzan has not seen the same spark from Alhaitham that she has seen in other students. He seems content to do his work without much thought, despite being capable of much more.
“It was a most enlightening presentation, don’t you agree?” she says, hardly expecting an answer.
To Alhaitham’s credit, he doesn’t startle or jump. From what Faruzan has heard and seen of him, it likely takes a lot to disturb him at all.
Placing a small book into the pocket of his trousers, Alhaitham stands and bows.
“Madam Faruzan,” he says, standing and bowing slightly. The tone of his voice almost makes it sound sarcastic and she squints at him in the darkness. His silver hair shines in the moonlight, making him look older than he actually is. “It was amusing."
She snorts loudly and glares at the boy.
“You would do well to open your ears a bit. The Kshahrewar may be infants in comparison to the knowledge I hold on the language of puzzle mechanisms and placement but this Kaveh has a bit more spunk to him I suppose. He doesn’t seem to be as much of a freeloader as the rest of them. At least he can think for himself.”
Alhaitham nods in response at Faruzan’s small lecture, but doesn’t say anything else. Snorting again, Faruzan turns brusquely on her heels and walks away.
There’s no point in talking with a student so disinterested in the fascinating things in front of him.
***
Kaveh graduates with honours, wins the Pir Kavikavus Prize, and manages to find a patron all to the shock of the Akademiya and the small triumph of Faruzan, who enjoyed talking to the Kshahrewar scholar during his thesis defense.
She does wish sometimes that he would drop by her office more frequently. Unfortunately, she still hasn’t been able to secure funds for her research or take on any students, save the lost and wandering Kshahrewar scholars who ask her to switch disciplines.
Carefully fitting the turbid prism into the slot beside the gearshaft, Faruzan crows with delight as the mechanism on her desk begins to slowly whirr. A loud click echoes in her office and tinny music begins to play.
“A music box?” she says aloud to herself. “How unexpected.”
The delicate sounds of the small metal prongs striking intricately organized patterns on the raised spinning drum are quickly drowned out by the sounds of an argument outside.
At first, the voices are muffled by her closed door, but they grow louder and then stall out directly in front of her office.
“Your impatience, as always, is one of your worst qualities”
“I was locked outside for hours! Hours!”
“You were also drunk.”
“Why even bother having two keys!? Why bother giving me a key at all if you refuse to—”
“—an interesting question. Perhaps I should consider—”
“You wouldn’t dare—”
“You two should take your lover’s spat somewhere else,” Faruzan says sternly, throwing the door open.
Alhaitham and Kaveh are standing outside, Kaveh frozen in what appears to be shock or fear and Alhaitham with his usual apathetic look on his face.
She looks directly at Kaveh, knowing that he’ll at least respond to being reprimanded.
“Preferably out of earshot of anyone,” Faruzan continues, “But certainly out of the range of my hearing and not at my office door.”
“We most certainly are not lovers!” Kaveh yells, tripping over his words and spluttering melodramatically. “The fact that anyone would think that I would stoop as low as to consider someone as arrogant as Alhaitham of all people!”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Kaveh makes a disapproving sound with his tongue and turns his head sharply away from them both.
For his part, Alhaitham shrugs and yawns.
This is why she has never liked that boy. Even the way he says her title seems sarcastic and he’s still never shown a modicum of ambition.
Without saying anything further, she turns around and shuts the door. She would rather another Kshahrewar student come and ask her to change darshans again rather than deal with any Akademiya scholars' love problems.