The golden glow of sunset drapes the cluttered room. Parchments, crystal models, and blueprints are scattered across two long desks. KAVEH is hunched over his drafting table, sketching with a pencil gripped between two ink-stained fingers. ALHAITHAM sits by the window, an unread book resting in his lap.

The door creaks open. KAETHAM enters silently, still in his Akademiya robes. His satchel hangs heavily on his shoulder.

KAETHAM (expression unreadable, eyes low) Steps inside, closes the door gently behind him. Walks toward the corner of the room where his personal desk sits untouched.

KAVEH glances up, sensing the tension. He watches his son walk past him without a word. His pencil stops moving.

KAVEH (softly, but doesn’t speak yet) His brows furrow slightly. He follows KAETHAM with his gaze.

KAETHAM lowers the satchel beside his desk. His movements are careful, almost mechanical. He pulls out a half-finished wooden structure—his model project—but doesn't work on it. He just stares.

ALHAITHAM (eyes still on his son, voice calm, unreadable) Doesn’t speak. Observes. Waits.

KAVEH puts down his tools and walks over slowly. He crouches beside KAETHAM, eye level with him.

KAVEH (quietly) "...Rough day?"

KAETHAM doesn’t respond. His fingers hover over the pieces of his model but make no move to touch them.

ALHAITHAM walks over, arms crossed. He leans casually against the desk beside KAETHAM, scanning the layout of the model. It’s sharp. Original. But paused—frozen mid-thought.

ALHAITHAM (cool, even tone) "You changed the central arch. Why?"

KAETHAM's fingers twitch. He speaks finally, voice low, brittle.

KAETHAM "...They said I was just copying you. Both of you."

KAVEH and ALHAITHAM exchange a glance. KAVEH’s expression tightens. He exhales slowly.

KAVEH (sits on the edge of the desk) "You didn’t copy. You challenged us."

KAETHAM (quietly, bitter) "They still think I’m only worth listening to because of you."

ALHAITHAM "That’s because they haven’t figured out they’re outdated."

KAVEH chuckles dryly. KAETHAM lifts his head slightly at that. Just slightly.

KAETHAM "...Then why does it still feel like I’m standing in your shadow?"

A long silence. KAVEH finally reaches forward, gently straightening one of the wooden beams on KAETHAM’s model.

KAVEH "Because shadows mean there’s light behind you. And you—Kaetham—you’re the only one I know who builds toward it."

ALHAITHAM (nods) "And you don’t need to be either of us to surpass both."

KAETHAM stares at his model. Then slowly, carefully, he picks up a small glass piece and places it at the center of the arch. It clicks into place.

The silence lingers, but it’s no longer heavy. It’s warm. Mutual. Unspoken trust.

Outside, the wind shifts. A new blueprint begins.