Chapter Text
What was out here, in this barren wilderness? What was left after torrents of snow pelleted the ground with spine shattering ice and dust-like frost? In the haze of eternal winter, the gentle crystals of white could be linked to ash. Like ash, the droplets of snow ensured death. The cold, frozen numbing of the body until there was nothing left.
The mountain of Dragonspine was covered in ash, not snow. It was drenched in the dead bodies of young adventurers who had not the tools to properly scale the mountain in their time. So the mountain was left alone like a pile of ash waiting to be blown away by the wind, but even Barbatos' holy wind could not penetrate such an ominous figure. Dragonspine would remain and in it would remain the death of many living things like a glorious burial ground.
Perhaps, then, the snow was not ash but rather flower petals there to grace the graves of many with proper respect. The one who lorded over the mountain was then generous in its disregard for human life. It allowed death as the natural course, but still properly mourned those who passed away. Whether plant, animal, fungi, fish, or human, all was covered in snow.
A clean sheet of white, as if to cover up from the eyes of those with fragile hearts. That was Dragonspine. The most improperly proper of burial grounds blessed by nothing but snow, ash, and flower petals.
Oh, how they continued to fall. Such was a fitting grave, to be buried in the mountain. From the soil and back into the earth. A complete, fitting cycle. Even while being sucked under countless layers of snow, Albedo couldn't help but think that.
Of course, he wasn't simply accepting his inevitable death nor patiently waiting for rescue. Currently, he was in contemplation. According to his research, he should've been well suited to traverse through the mountain. He had the proper tools and a means to keep himself warm, so where exactly in his calculated plan had he stumbled and fallen into the abyss?
No, those were thoughts for another time. Right now, finding his research material was of priority. If he could find his satchel, then he could gain access to his diminishing number of warming potions and buy his time while finding a safe place to ride through the storm and recover. No matter the number he had left, one or two was better than a quick, frozen death. Without them, returning to the soil would be a swift process for Dragonspine to accomplish.
Albedo found that his limbs refused to move. It seemed that, in his deep contemplation over his next course of action, he had forgotten about the clawing numbness that was encroaching on his body. Stiff muscles and sharp, painful pinpricks ran down his limbs as the feather light snow continued to cover his body in ash. He was being buried. From the very beginning of when he tripped and rolled down the mountain, the large pyramid of rock had a grave ready for him. Perhaps even before then it had already prepared his last resting place.
Albedo wished to turn his head and look around, to get some last glimpse of natures natural beauty instead of the ashy sky before passing on, but found he couldn't even turn his head. His eyelids were the only last working part of his body, but he knew soon even they would be either forced shut or left open to look like a haunting ghost of a corpse.
He probably should've been less calm about the situation. He realized then that his body was in shock. It probably had been since he fell, and since he had been too late to snap himself out of it, the mountain began to bury him. Dragonspine wouldn't accept weakness. Only those with strong will, intelligence, savvy, and a portion of luck would be able to survive. That was what Albedo deduced, yet it seemed he was still missing something, if he ended up in this situation despite his preparations. That missing puzzle piece was the last straw which would bury him beneath the snowy ash like many others.
Albedo pondered whether he should close his eyes or not. It wasn't as if anyone would find his body out in this snowy grave, not for a long time, so perhaps it didn't matter what he chose. But in his last moments, Albedo wished to look up at the sky and watch the beauty of death rain upon him. That was all he could think.
"Hey!"
A voice called out to him in the snow. The person was probably yelling, yet their voice sounded like a muffled whisper blanketed underneath layers of snow. The crunching footsteps in the soft powder was more prominent to Albedo who was mostly buried in the earth.
"Hey!" The voice called out to him again. The crunching sound was closer now, just paces away. They were heavy, stumbling steps."Is he even alive...?" The voice now spoke to itself, breathless rasp in quality. The person sounded winded."Hey!"
Suddenly, an encroaching darkness shadowed over part of Albedo's body."C'mon...C'mon...." the voice was desperate and pleading. It was as if it was crying without the tears, begging for something.
Fingers nudged at Albedo's neck, yet he couldn't feel anything but pain from the action. He wished to cry out, to jolt and move around from the rough touch against his skin which felt like cracking ice, but he couldn't even do that.
"C'mon..." the voice murmured again."Please...please be alive..."
Albedo had never heard a voice so softly begging for life. It was a wistful beauty and suddenly the ash-like snow against Albedo's face felt like flower petals. This person, in this moment, pleaded to the mountain for his life. They begged the imposing force to let him live. And with batted breath, the pair waited for the regal mountains response.
Two beats later and the person let out a large, thankful sigh."Oh thank god...thank god...thank you..." they spoke, murmurs the closest sound to someone physically getting on their hands and knees and bowing their head.
And then, the person began murmuring to him."It's okay. It's okay. I'll get you out of here. I'll get you out." It was the murmurings of a mad man. And insistent, or perhaps persistent, reassurance that everything would be okay.
The person began to dig away the snow from around Albedo's body. They were quick, working with a haste before the mountain changed its mind and decided to bury them both.
Albedo felt the weight of the snow being lifted off him, yet could move no more than he could minutes ago. Even his eyes, now, could barely blink. They may have actually stopped doing so awhile ago. His entire body felt impossibly fragile and he worried that the minute this person picked him up he would simply shatter like glass.
But this person who begged for his life was gentle. Their hands were feather light and touch like he was a precious antique. The slight pinpricks of pain were already expected, but the strain was lesser then if he was handled roughly. It felt as if with each touch this person was trying to breathe life back into him.
Suddenly, the dark shadow of their body moved further upwards and Albedo's view of the ashen sky was covered. Looking upon the face of his savior, Albedo realized he had never seen a more welcome sight. Vibrant strands for red hair and deep pooling eyes that spoke of dawn stared back at him with a plead to live.
Ah, it's the sun, Albedo thought. It had been a long time since he had seen the sun in this icy wilderness. How glorious it was in its light and warmth.
That was when Albedo realized what he had been missing. As he was lifted up from his snowy grave, he finally understood the final puzzle piece to success to survive on this luminous mountain. It was the one thing he struggled with the most in his life and chose to forgo whenever possible.
Companionship.
On Dragonspine, one was never truly warm. Standing next to a fire was only a temporary reprieve. The warming potions Albedo had created only ebbed some of the cold and didn't last forever. One could very well be burning and still feel an icy chill creeping over their body.
It was the mountains way of reminding people traversing through of who the true ruler was. It was Dragonspine's decision as to whether they would survive the cold or not. As Albedo slowly came back into consciousness, he came to understand that the mountain had granted him the right to live through the snow, if only for this one night.
He felt instantly a feverish sensation all throughout his body. Parts of him stung as his body was so cold it hurt to warm it back up. His eyelids hurt and refused to open themselves, but beneath them he could see a bright light flickering in sporadic intervals. It was fire. Heat. He truly was alive if he was feeling all these sensations at once. Only a living human body could be so imaginative in its decisions on how to feel.
A heavy weight fell over part of his body, stopping Albedo from moving any further. There was a gentle press, like a soft warmed furnace, against his back that wrapped all along his backside. This must've been part of what kept him alive, Albedo realized. By the up and down motion and soft breath over the top of his head, Albedo realized this weight was a living, breathing human, or something eerily similar.
To show the figure he was awake, Albedo forced his aching eyelids open. The ice along his eyelashes had mostly melted and a small droplet of excess water fell like a tear down his face. Ever so lightly, Albedo checked the motor abilities of his body. He could sense all this limbs there, so his body must've not succumbed to frostbite.
At his gentle stirring, the warm body behind him made itself known."You're awake?" A voice, distinctly male, spoke out to him. Deep in the snowstorm and half entrenched by white powder, Albedo could barely make out that voice, but now it spoke clearly to him. It was husky and deep, the slight raspy quality telling Albedo he needed water.
Albedo made a small movement in response, not trusting his voice in that moment. He had tried to work his mouth open and test his vocal cords but all that came out were small coughs and intelligible half-grunts.
"Don't push yourself," the man responded to him."Give your body another minute."
Albedo, in response, gave the man a telling grunt of affirmation. Even without the mans suggestion, that seemed the best course of action. His body stung against the heat. It ached and groaned as Albedo slowly moved his limbs back into action. He started small, blinking in and out and curling his fingers.
As he did so, the man behind him spoke."My apologies for my current closeness. I'm sure being touched by someone you're not familiar with is unsettling." His tone took a solemn, softened note."This was the only way I could keep you warm. You..." He trailed off. The gentle quality of his words juxtaposed the gruffness of his voice.
"I was on the verge of dying," Albedo finished for him bluntly. His voice was worn and it smarted as he spoke, but Albedo ignored it. He couldn't go mute forever."Worry not. I understand this was the most effective method of keeping me warm, especially with the condition my body was in. Based on the heat emitting from your body, may I assume you're a pyro vision holder?"
"Yeah, I am," the man responded."That's very keen of you to realize." It was an offhanded comment, spoken in a voice with no particular flavor.
"It's to my understanding that pyro vision holders have a natural body warmth. Based off the heat you're currently emitting, I would say you're also utilizing part of your vision to keep me warm," Albedo began, theories running wild in his head without fault."I've found that with visions, it takes a lot more concentration and skill to do smaller acts such as heating ones own body without burning ones self, so I assume you got your vision at a young age, perhaps before you hit your teen years."
Albedo paused abruptly there. He realized then that he was blabbering on. It was no good to do so, because he may accidentally be intruding on the mans life and making him uncomfortable without realizing so. Albedo always had a problem with that."My apologizes for all my rambling," he said after a beat.
"Don't worry about it," the man responded, voice cool as ever. The sight jovial rasp to it warmed Albedo's gut."The fact that you're talking so much lets me know you're feeling better."
It was the first time Albedo's excessiveness was met with a positive response. What an odd feeling.
"Do you think you're okay to move your limbs or would you like me to continue heating you up?" the man asked. He moved slightly away from Albedo in suggestion.
Albedo pondered his words for a second. Then, he realized this situation may be as uncomfortable for the man as it was odd for him. Though he still had a slight chill about him, he could move the rest of his body just fine. The cool chill that constantly kept his hairs on end was never going to go away. Not until he left Dragonspine.
"You may move now," Albedo responded politely."Thank you for the help."
"It's the least I could do," the man responded. The sound in his voice made Albedo realize that saving another's life came naturally to him. He was a true pursuer of justice.
The man moved away from Albedo, sticking behind him and aiding him as he slowly sat up and hunched near the small campfire in front of him. A thick woolen blanket was draped over his shoulders and Albedo found himself quickly shivering underneath it.
It wasn't as if the man kept him fully warm, but it was warmer than he was currently, despite the heat from the blanket that Albedo noted the man was using previously. He also felt the oncoming sniffles and feverish sensations course through his body. Sure enough, he had caught a small fever. It was no wonder he felt so sluggish and tired.
"Ah, right, I'm sorry for the late introduction. My name is Diluc Ragnvindr, owner of Dawn Winery," the man suddenly spoke on Albedo's left, snapping him out of his feverish daze. He took a seat next to him, thick coat the only thing keeping him warm besides his pyro vision. Albedo remembered that red hair and those red eyes. He had hallucinated them as the sun before and understood exactly why when looking upon them in the snowy wilderness once again.
Albedo ran the mans name through his head. Right, he remembered the man being whispered about recently since he returned back to Mondstadt. If he recalled correctly, Diluc Ragnvindr also owned and ran Angel's Share, the tavern the Cavalry Captain liked frequenting.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Diluc," Albedo responded in kind."I'm Albedo Kreideprinz. I've just recently been appointed as Chief Alchemist of the Knight of Favonius."
Something in the mans expression changed, as if to harden into stone. The tone, or perhaps the air, that shifted between them changed its tune. Just one ringing off beat note before switching songs, back into rhythm once again. Albedo had no idea what he had said wrong. He had little time to ponder either as it seemed Diluc wanted to get straight to business.
"I'll be frank. I'm not sure where we are on the mountain right now. I lost my way in the middle of the snowstorm and was focused on looking for a safe place to hide out as the storm passed instead of tracking where I was." His tone was much more controlled than it was before. It was as if he had a reign over his words."But in your current condition and with the snowstorm yet to let up, it's probably better to just wait it out."
Albedo looked to the entrance of the small cave they were holed up in. White snow pattered and whipped around the entrance. It was as if a barrier of snowy ash forbade them from stepping a foot outside. Certainly, the storm had not let up any. It seemed as though it was warning Albedo. The small series of sniffles he endured after looking was all the more reminder.
Still, one didn't survive on Dragonspine because of fear. Nor did they due to negligence.
"Approximately how long have I been asleep?" Albedo asked.
"Five hours at most, I presume."
Albedo nodded and shook the blanket off his person."We must hurry then." He stood on shaky legs, feeling out his muscles and letting the thawing ligaments grow used to moving once again.
"Hurry where?" Diluc asked. He stood up alongside Albedo. He didn't reach out for him like he once did, but he did watch him wearily."You're in no condition to go anywhere right now. Plus, the snowstorm is still ongoing. There's no point in leaving now when we can't even tell where we're going."
Diluc's tone was clipped, curbing the edges of anger which wished to make themselves known. Albedo ignored his tone and instead gave Diluc a deep, long stare."Tell me, Master Diluc, when did you arrive on Dragonspine?"
"About a day ago."
"I see. And in that time, have you ever once not seen snow whipping through the air or falling from the sky? Has the air ever been completely still?"
Diluc mouth paused, parted slightly in a small gaping expression. He realized it then, Albedo was sure. Never once had Dragonspine not been trapped in a snowstorm. In the whipping winds raged snow that fell like ash. It engulfed the entire mountain like a death trap. In some areas it was less deathly, certainly, but it was always there. Ever present, just like the luminous mountain of graves.
"But still, why must we leave now?" Diluc asked, rough quality of his voice making itself known once again."There's no point in leaving during such a heavy snowstorm if we have no idea where we're going."
"I've been drawing a map of Dragonspine during my explorations here," Albedo explained, tone hurried in his hast to get moving."I slipped and fell down part of the mountain. What caused my fall was my bag which got clipped on a tree and caused me to slip. If we locate my bag, we'll find the map which can lead us back down the mountain. Which means we must leave now, because with the severity of this storm, my bag or the map inside of it may get picked up in the snow and wind and move to somewhere I can't find anymore."
Diluc took in his words, expression grimacing as he went on. It wasn't the ideal situation by far. Albedo knew by going to find his bag again, they would in fact be back tracking by heading further up the mountain. Whether it was a risk Diluc was willing to take was solely up to him. But Albedo wished, secretly in his heart, that he would agree. Right now, after facing the edges of deaths grasp over him, he realized that companionship was absolutely necessary on Dragonspine. He couldn't take this trip alone.
"...Do you even know the direction to get back to your bag? You were unconscious when I moved you." Diluc's words spoke to Albedo the fact that he was considering this option he proposed. Even with the small grimace on his face, he was weighing their options and tipping the scales of what was a good risk or not.
"When you picked me up, in which direction did you walk? Did you go in the direction my head was pointed or my feet? Or perhaps one of my arms?"
"I went in the direction your head was facing," Diluc responded wearily, though the clarity of his words told Albedo he wasn't second guessing himself. That was good to hear.
"Alright, then we'll go back the direction you came and slowly climb the mountain upwards. There are a couple key markers I remember. The minute I spot one of them I'm certain I'll be able to locate my bag with ease." His eyes shifted to Diluc, staring at him with a simple question."Will you help me, Master Diluc?"
He stared at him, seeing in Diluc's expression a solemn distaste of something. But besides that, what truly stood at the forefront of his expression was the face of a man who wished to get home safely. Someone who was willing to take the risk, even when a complete stranger was the one proposing such a plan.
He let out a long breath."Let me pack everything back up, and then we can leave."
Albedo smiled."Okay," was all he could find himself responding.
Relief flooded through his system. Now he was fit for Dragonspine. With a companion by his side and two minds and bodies to help one another in tandem, certainly they would be able to make it. They would be the first to not make Dragonspine their snowy grave. This place had coffins ready for them, but those spaces would remain empty, of that Albedo was certain.
Diluc finished packing what little things he had. Albedo offered to carry some of his supplies but with his fever still coursing through his body, he was mostly useless. He would be more of a hindrance than help. With a pensive look, Diluc offered him one of his smaller woolen blankets to put over his figure to protect from the cold.
"You're still running a low fever," he spoke to Albedo, handing it over to him."You may not be able to break out of it anytime soon, so the least we can do is keep it from worsening."
At this moment, it was all they could do. Albedo accepted the blanket with little protest."Thank you."
Diluc nodded, looking away sharply and heading to the entrance of the small cave in the mountain. He looked to and fro idly while waiting for Albedo to wrap the blanket around himself and meet him at his side.
"Which way did you come in from?" Albedo asked behind him.
"This way." Diluc pointed left."I'll lead the way for now, so stick behind me so I can try to block some of the wind from hitting you. If you see anything that's familiar to you, let me know."
"I will," Albedo responded, not protesting Diluc's plan. He would be useless leading at the moment. He needed to get over this fever quickly. The sluggishness of his body and mind was a weakness Dragonspine wasn't afraid to exploit.
"Alright." Diluc made sure his bag was securely on his person."Let's go."
And so they exited out into the snowstorm. The minute they stepped into the snowy winds of Dragonspine, a large gust of snow blew through the air right into their faces. The wind whipped even more rapidly, rustling nearby trees and causing them to snap and crackle. It was as if the mountain was laughing at them. In that moment, the same haunting fact ran through Albedo and Diluc's mind.
This mountain was alive.