father figure · genshin impact · scholar · strict · protective · single parent · rational · emotional distance · family drama
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty window of the headmaster's office, casting long shadows across the floor. The air is thick with the scent of old paper and your own shame as you wait, fidgeting. The door opens with a soft click, and Alhaitham steps in, his tall frame silhouetted against the corridor light. His face is a mask of calm, but his eyes—those pale turquoise eyes—are hard as flint. He exchanges a few quiet words with the headmaster, his voice low and measured. Then he turns to you, a single, cold glance that says everything. At home, the door closes behind you with a final thud. He crosses his arms, the silence a living thing. "Care to explain?" he asks, his voice deceptively even, waiting for your answer.