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"Me and Albedo have a secret code! Whenever he puts a sign on his workshop door saying "Experiment in Progress," that's code for "Come back later, Klee." Albedo's really nice and he's so patient with me, so I don't mind waiting until he's finished with his work."
The fire in Mondstadt burns brighter than anything Teyvat has seen. Embers swallow the Land of Freedom, the hellish symphony of destruction and death surrounding the once serene country. Screams of pain and despair rang in the City of Bards, with death greeting anyone who dares stand in the enemy's way. The Knights of Favonius work together with the Church, rescuing and protecting their home, but it was futile. Pleads for help echoed in the city, houses crumbled, people fell, and destruction awaited to those brave enough to step up.
It was a surprise to everyone in the city - No one expected it to happen. After all, the day started out peacefully. With birds chirping, the laughter of the children ringing in the air, vendors calling out to visitors, the sound of metal hitting metal in the blacksmiths shop, and the occasional sound of a citizen gliding. It was peaceful - like a normal day in the city of freedom.
And perhaps, that was the biggest red flag of it all.
As soon as the clock hit 12NN, the birds quieted down. The air turns cold and solemn, with powerful tempests suddenly appearing out of nowhere. The windmills turned around and around violently, the flowers being ripped away from it's places. Dandelions floated around the air, with the once peaceful atmosphere of Mondstadt turning vicious, restless, and full of corruption.
And then, Dragonspine explodes.
And the City of Freedom learns the wrath of a corrupted Dragon - through their beloved genius Alchemist.
"The other night dear, as I lay sleeping,"
The traveler leans against their sword, golden hues staring in surprise, pain, and agony flashing in their eyes. Their floating companion, Paimon, frets over them with shaking hands and bubbling tears.
"I dreamed I held you in my arms,"
The person they once called a friend - someone they used to sleep in the wild with whenever nights were too long, someone they fought hard battles with, someone who they once trusted to have their back, is now a monster they could not recognize. Black veins crawling up to his chalk white skin. His once teal eyes that held gentleness was pulsing red, madness swirling within as purple energy emits from their hands. The sword he gave them held in his hands, with black wings sprouting from his back. Gentle hands that once dressed their wounds were now turned into scaly claws with sharp and deadly nails.
"But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken."
"What's wrong traveler?" His voice was distorted, switching between Albedo's usual voice and the voice of a dragon who has slept for hundreds of years. The traveler takes one look at him, at the corruption that bleeds into his skin, and makes a decision. They stood up, resignation in their face and their hands clenching their sword. "Albedo, remember what I promised you before?" They called out to their enemy - no, friend. Because Albedo will always be their friend, will always be someone the Traveler could trust. The enemy tilts his head, eyes glinting. "I promised you before...That if you ever lose control, that you can rely on me to stop you." The traveler says lowly, and they summon the borrowed power from Barbatos.
The enemy grins.
"Then let's dance, traveler of the stars. Make sure not to bore me, at least."
"So I hung my head, and cried."
The traveler snarls, and the power of the elements surged from their hands. They ran to their enemy, with tearful yet accepting eyes as they try and plunge their sword. For Mondstadt, they think. For everyone in the City of Freedom, they think as they dodged the dragon's attack. For Albedo, for he will not want this to happen. For Mondstadt to only become a speck in the long history of Teyvat. The traveler could only hope they were enough - enough to best the opponent known to be Barbatos' equal. Will they be enough, they wonder. Because they were never enough - never enough to save their twin, never enough to save Venti from losing his godhood.
"You are my sunshine,"
And of course, something goes wrong. The moment the doors of the domain were slammed open, the familiar scream of a Spark Knight ringing in the air, of the tearful yet pained "BIG BROTHER ALBEDO!" that echoed in the domain, and the sound of her cry for them to stop, the Traveler feels their heart momentarily stop. But the Traveler couldn't stop, not even for Klee. It was too late - their hand was already near Albedo's and the dragon's weapon near their heart, there was no way they could stop. So of course, the child does only one thing she could think of.
Klee ran and ran, and goes in between them.
"My only sunshine,"
Albedo stops, the Traveler stares in horror, and Klee whimpers.
Something in him changed - a ring in his ear as he stares at the teary scarlet eyes of the child he once called Little Sister. The shake of her body, as her blood slowly dripped in the domain floor. The malicious look in his eyes changed, and Albedo stares in horror, in despair, and in agony as the Spark Knight tried to smile.
"You make me happy when skies are grey,"
"Big...Brother...?" Klee whispers into the deafening silence, her tears dripping down from her eyes as shaky fingers clutched his scaly hand. She smiles - blood spilling over her mouth as she heaves softly. "Klee...wanted to thank you. For...always being so patient with Klee...For always taking time off to play with Klee...For...For being the best Big Brother Klee could ever have..."
"You'll never know dear, how much I love you."
The ringing in Albedo's ears does not stop, even when the child's scarlet eyes slowly dulled and her grip on his scaly hand weakens. With a blink, Albedo clutches the child's body to him, throwing the Traveler off of him. "Klee? Oh Klee, please. Breathe. Breathe for Big brother." He whispers, trembling. He tries to cover her wounds, but the blood does not stop. It does not stop, why isn't it stopping-
A hand clutches his, and Albedo rips his gaze from her wound to look at her face. Her skin is deathly pale, with specks of blood over her pale face. Her eyes are turning dull, and her spark is reduced to a mere candle. "Klee...Klee is so happy you were Klee's Big brother..." She whispers, and tears slowly fell from her eyes. "Klee thinks...that even if Big Brother is a scary monster...that he is still and will always be Klee's Big Brother." She leans against him, blood and tears soaking his clothes as the child curled up to him. With one last smile, Klee sags against him, and her scarlet eyes turns dull, and her chest never rises.
Albedo stares, and stares, and stares, as the Spark Knight takes her one last breath. As her shaking form slowly grows still on his arms, as her vision - the bright, red vision turns into grey.
And Albedo could only clutch her body to him, the dragon in him receding, and Klee losing her life.
"Please don't take my sunshine away."