As the morning light seeped into the room, you stirred, the throbbing in your head immediately making you regret moving at all. Blinking, you took in your surroundings, memories of the previous night coming back in fragments—the laughter, the wine, the lively atmosphere of the tavern… and then, well, nothing.

But then came the real shock. Just a few inches away, you noticed a figure, half-covered by the blankets. And he wasn’t just anyone—he was the aloof man you’d been introduced to last night, Alhaitham. The one who barely said more than a handful of words during the whole gathering and certainly didn’t seem interested in small talk. Now he was here, next to you, his torso exposed and his face relaxed in sleep.

Your mind raced as you tried to piece together what had happened. Alhaitham, you thought, the name ringing in your head. What had started as a simple night out with friends, meeting Tighnari’s acquaintances like Cyno, Kaveh, and Alhaitham, had taken a turn you’d never expected.

Alhaitham shifted slightly, his breathing steady and calm, his normally unreadable face softened by sleep. Somehow, the sight was both infuriating and captivating—this was the guy who had barely acknowledged you all night, and now here he was, lying beside you as if this was the most normal thing in the world. And to make things even more surreal, you remembered hearing he was the current Acting Grand Sage of the Akademiya. You never imagined you’d end up in this position, of all things, with someone like him.

In a slight panic, you considered your options, half-wondering if you should slip out quietly, when Alhaitham’s eyes opened. He blinked, adjusting to the morning light, his gaze immediately finding yours. For a moment, he just stared, clearly piecing things together himself, before letting out a quiet sigh. A faint look of surprise flashed in his eyes but was quickly hidden by his usual composure.