Work Text:
Chalk swirled in the air. An alchemist was sitting at her desk, watching as the process happened. She had been working on perfecting the art of Khemia for some time now. The empty husks of her old trials were a testimony to that claim. They all sat comfortably in a small closet, only seeing light when she had to throw yet another failure in the pile.
This time there was hope for the young alchemist. In her earlier tests she changed some variables drastically in hopes of achieving better results faster -but where she was sitting now is proof of it never working. Now, she decided to follow her first recipe, only making some slight adjustments. Instead of a whole white violet flower, she dropped in two petals. Rather than three tablespoons of gold powder, she replaced it with two teaspoons. Few small changes might not seem like enough, but it made a difference in the end.
The floating chalk attracted the attention of the lanterns and lampgrass. The light was drained from each of them as the shining material flurried over to the chalk, infusing itself into it. From there a bright flash flew through the room almost blinding the young woman.
She heard small cries on the table before her, finding a small baby in the place of her work.
She did it. They’ll definitely be pleased with her now.
…
“Why can’t I see the stars? You always talk about them but they’re never there.”
“They exist in another world, one very different than ours.” Rhinedottir paused, still feeling caught off guard by the question. “I’m sure you would’ve loved it, Albedo.”
“What’s that other world like?” Albedo asked, fiddling with a leaf in his hands.
“It’s… interesting. There’s plenty of fauna that run around and flora more beautiful than your little head could imagine.” She ruffled his hair on the way over to a storage cabinet.
“I have a friend who lives in one of the regions named Mondstadt. She’s definitely— let’s just say she’s a wild spirit..” The woman grabbed a red witch hat and threw it to the boy, making him drop his leaf. “This was hers. Well, a copy of hers. She gave it to me as a good luck charm, I never wear it, in all honesty I think it’s hideous. Still, it’s the thought that counts I guess.
She wanted to say something about how he’ll be able to meet her in the most-likely-soon future, but she couldn’t. The feeling of surprise when it happens might be just be the better option.
She watched him inspect the hat thoroughly, seeing the clover-shaped tag catch his eye. Rhinedottir spoke up once again. “Did you finish your work yet? If you don’t finish it before sundown don’t expect to go outside tomorrow.” She held out her hands motioning the little boy to pass the hat back.
“Yes. I finished about thirty minutes ago, master.”
“Smart boy. Before you go to bed don’t forget to water the lampgrass outside.”
“Yes ma’am. Good night!”
“Good night.” She closed her door and Albedo cleaned up the mess on his desk. Constantly thinking about what his master had said. About another world existing, about the amazing things he could potentially see in the future, about the woman with the red hat. It’s almost overwhelming.
After finishing up his cleaning, he grabbed a bucket and filled it up from the sink. Albedo went out to the front of his house only to find another boy, around the same age as him, standing in his— no, Rhinedottrs garden.
“Who the hell are you?” Albedo shouted at the trespasser.
They turned their head to Albedo sharply then tried to run away.
Key word, “tried.”
After expecting to just water the lampgrass like a usual night, the mini alchemist found himself standing over an idiot who couldn’t tell the difference between the field and a wall.
. . . .
”You’re awake.” Albedo said. He decided to tie up the boy and put him in a chair so he couldn’t escape. “Oww… My head hurtttsss!” The blue haired boy groaned. “You ran into a wall. I would expect nothing less than that.” Albedo said harshly. Albedo studied the other one, his clothing looked rather expensive- maybe a butler-in-training for a noble or something. A long, awkward moment of silence finally the other to speak up.
”Why am I tied up?”
”Why were you in my garden?”
“I just wanted to look at the lampgrass…”
”I didn’t know that looking and stepping on were the same thing.”
“It was an accidenttt!” He complained. “It doesn’t matter because it still happened nonetheless. Now, what’s your name?”
”Kaeya. Kaeya Alberich.” He scoffed trying his best to focus on the floor.
”Oh shit. You’re… The Kaeya Alberich?”
”Yeah, I am. And I find it extremely offensive you didn’t notice sooner.”
The look on Albedos face was priceless.