Chapter Text
"Keep your head straight. Your arm is to be in a right angle to the length of your body- concentrate for alchemies sake, where are you looking off to now?!" Rhinedottir could gradually feel her patience thin out more and more.
She was no combat teacher...
"Albedo!", she said and snapped her fingers at the side of the boys head. He didn't react, instead his gaze had fixed on a butterfly that was lilting through the air, it startled by Rhinedottirs loud voice and flew off to somewhere more quiet.
"It got away...", Albedo said, a disappointed hush in his voice. His sword arm had fallen to his side, the training sword hung limb in his hand.
Rhinedottir sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"You don't care for this at all, do you."
"Apologies, Master... I- I can't seem to focus here."
He bowed his head in disappointment in himself, Rhinedottir found. The boys ashen hair, which had grown to an unruly puff fell into his eyes.
"Oh, you are focusing just fine. Simply, you are focusing on everything but what I need you to focus on...", she said and sighed once more.
"Apologies, Master-"
"Oh, will you shut your mouth. I don't need your apologies, I need you to do as I say, understood."
Rhinedottir almost chocked on the way Albedo flinched from her rising tone.
"Understood.", he said.
"I sure hope you did. Now, if you want to accompany me on my expedition trips down into teyvats domains, I need you battle ready."
"Yes, Master."
Albedo had learned a great many things, since he had first opened his eyes, though he also knew that there still were many things left to discover, with the steady aid of his master.
As much as it made a full, warm feeling bloom in his chest, to know Master trusted his abilities enough to finally take him along for her weekly expeditions, he also found that there were so many things more interesting than combat training.
Though he tried to do his absolute, regardless, even if his absolute seemed to be far below what his master deemed the absolute minimum.
He lead his sword arm carefully, concentrating on keeping form and holding the wooden blade steady. Despite himself his hands shook uselessly from inexperience and lack of muscles. And as he tried to refocuse his strength, his thoughts started to wander elsewhere once more.
A wooden stick collided forcefully with the bend of his spine.
"Concentate, child."
Albedo sucked in a breath. It has been a while since Master had called him that; just child. The word usually meant, he disappointed her beyond saving for the day if not month.
In moments like that he finds himself wishing for Aunt Alice to show up. Or even just a letter from her for his master.
He wasn't emotionally dense enough to not have noticed the effect the strange adventurer had on his master, usually resulting in a calmer work environment for the both of them, as contradictory as that may sound.
Alice was bold enough to tell Master head on when something was going against her ideals, something Albedo simply doesn't have the authority for.
They returned home in silence, Rhinedottir was deep in thought about the event of the day, Albedo bit his tongue in fear of making things worse for himself.
Rhinedottir sighed, pulling out her hairpin and dragging a tired hand through.
Two twin grey strands of hair had lately accompanied the dark blonde, though her face stayed as frozen in time as ever.
Alice had teased her relentlessly about it, calling her old woman unknowing how true her words really were.
-
There were many instances where Master was in no need for Albedos contribution or help. Those moments were spent curled up on his madress, dozing about or outdoors, observing nature.
The small boy enjoyed those opportunities in particular.
Watching the grass and flowers sway in the gentle breeze, count the different kinds of finches flying to and from the meadows, he sometimes lay there so motionless that curious foxes would come to his side and rest with him, butterflies would perch on his hair and fireflies would dance right in front of him.
He loved nature, all things alive fascinated him beyond everything that was left. And how life came to be had been a question he wanted to ask his master.
Once, not too long ago, he had seen her made a small yellow flower spring to life from nothing but thin air, it's petals shimmered like gold and when he later snatched it from the table, while Master wasn't looking, he found it smelled like a cool midnight breeze, like the new moon and stars.
He couldn't pinpoint how or why he could discern those scents but as he touched the small flower it felt familiar in his hands like somehow they were the same.
Master had then asked him how he liked the flower, making his small heart jump into his throat from being caught stealing off of Masters table.
How do things come to being?, he had asked instead.
His master only chuckled first then turned her back to the artificial boy.
"Life, death and rebirth. I've already told about these things, do you not remember, Albedo?", she had said to him.
"You told me of birth, not of life."
"Then you want to learn about life and how to create it?"
"If you could teach me, Master, I will learn."
The small flower in his small hands was pressed to his chest, petals stroking over the fabric of his navy shirt, feeling the subtle in and out of his battered breath.
"Well, well, we will see if you are capable of mastering the art of Khemia."