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Was it God who ejected us into the blackness of the night
to rest alone in the dark on a tiny lost ball of dust?
And was it God who decided to gift us the ability to sin
to take our free will and choose anger and pain?
And when I chose anger and pain, and wandering alone
carrying the awful mark of Cain, lost somewhere east of Eden
- Kevin Patrick Brown, 2012
--
He first met him under the melancholy of Wangshu Inn, golden leaves blew aimlessly about, wafted by Liyue’s wind which as intense as always. Two golden eyes stared him down, full of forlorn hiding behind his indifferent front.
The boy—Xiao, Liyue’s own Adepti—Aether told him, named by the Geo archon themselves.
“I’m Albedo of Dragonspine, nice to meet you.”
Xiao gave him a slight nod, then turned his attention to Aether, as if he was not there. Whatever the traveler and the adepti talk about next sounds muffled in his ear.
Albedo watched him as he gracefully jumped down and lands on his light feet, and sweet smells of qingxin flowers blown out for a while, following the black and green haired boy movement.
Curiosity spread through his mind; his eyes riveted of the inhuman beauty before him.
He was mesmerized.
--
In his dream, dull teal eyes stared back at him
Stoic face, apathetic smile
“You and I, we’re the same.”
His shadow stated, voice alike
--
“Want to come with me?” Aether asked him one day, after spent exactly twenty-one minutes to explain what Lantern Rite is about.
It’s not as if he runs out things to do, Albedo still have so many things to be researched, and he didn’t exactly need to go sightseeing or like Paimon said—lighting lantern and watch fireworks. He had Sucrose and Timaeus who time to time come into his lab and study, he couldn’t just leave them alone researching without his supervision. But something about the way Aether’s eyes lit up when he talked about the ethereal beauty of those thousands’ golden lanterns, and Paimon’s voice when she gushing about the good foods made him agreed to join them.
“This year is going to be about Xiao!” Paimon told him.
Albedo didn’t have any idea who is this ‘Xiao’ person is, surely, they are someone friendly given how Aether and Paimon blurting out trivial fact about them.
“May I ask who is this Xiao you keep talking about?” he finally asked.
“Oh, he is an adepti—a god-like being, Liyue’s protector as you may say,” Aether stated, “Zh—I mean, the Geo Archon picked them to protect the land.”
“A god-like being—” he mused, the term really picked his curiosity, “—does it mean that he is immortal? Is he powerful?”
“Umm… do you think he is immortal?” Paimon glanced at Aether, who shrugged in silence, “but Paimon heard other adeptus has died, so I think he is not,” the small fairy continued, scratching her head, “but he is really strong! Even though he is so small like his name!”
There’s a sense of familiarity with the term, and he instantly felt profound relief. He has been searching for someone like him, who drift between a human and inhumanity. Is he as uncertain as he is? Everyday asking himself the same question, of what to believe and not, of why he is as alive as other human being, who kept living even they knew that someday in the future their mortal bodies will fade away?
Albedo nodded, as if affirming himself, then turned his head to the adventurer duo, “I will go with you. It’s been a while since I ventured to Liyue, after all.”
Aether and Paimon seem delighted by his words, then told him to pack for the journey. Albedo, trying to be a good host, serves them his special Woodland Dream with the black bass he caught this morning while they waited for him to pack. They would teleport to Wangshu-inn first and walk the rest of the way.
When Albedo asked why they should go such length and not use the waypoint all the way, Aether answered him, “oh, because it will enhance your experience that way,” he smiled, cheekily yet solemn as always, “and we have to meet Xiao first.”
--
The city is asleep, deep slumber
Road and roof coated fire red
The first and the end met, one smiled, one raging
Tell me, what would you give up, you sacrifice, to start over?
--
Albedo didn’t expect the stoic adepti currently sitting across him is really fond of almond tofu. Xiao is ready to go to the city when they first arrived, yet Aether insisted to make them some of the sweet dessert first while resting before the journey.
“It’s just something like a ritual, whenever I came to Wangshu Inn and he is here, I always make some almond tofu for him,” Aether explained.
“His almond tofu is different than Yanxiao’s, but still as delicious, if not better.” Xiao added nonchalantly.
“Of course, I use Osmanthus flower in my recipe, it’s not something Chef Yanxiao will know,” Aether smirked.
“Osmanthus wine, but that’s—”
Aether laughed at the confused look on Xiao’s face, “yes, Zhongli suggested it.”
And Xiao smiled.
It’s just a small, knowing smile, yet it still surprised Albedo greatly. He wanted to ask who is this Zhongli guy, but he afraid it will make him look intruding.
After the light meal, they continued their journey through Guili Plains. At first it become such a bore for Albedo, the humidity and yellow landscape of Liyue is contrast with the cold and chalky snow of Dragonspine, it’s interesting but looks… bare.
Two hours in, hilicurls camps started to show here and there. At first Aether tried to lead them to avoid the creatures, but after a while, getting rid of them seems a faster way to continue their journey.
Then he saw how the black and green hues of Xiao’s fighting stance for the first time.
It was fierce, yet exquisite at the same times. He fights with speed and such vigor, giving a little bit of his life with every strikes. It’s different kind of beautiful from his Rite of Progeniture or Solar Isotoma.
Glanced at his mask, Albedo wondered what does it means, and he longed to touch it.
--
Are you lonely?
Then let me take your place
It’s became so suffocating, in here
I want to breathe, too
--
Aether and Paimon left them to walk by themselves a while ago, muttered something about looting and upgrading before they go. Like a blooming flower, Xiao opened up steadily. The more he fights, the more he talked about something else other than the usual prattle. By the time they see the Sea of Cloud from afar, he already knew a lot more about the shorter man beside him.
“You see—I live to protect Liyue, and to serve Morax.” Xiao said.
For Albedo, it’s sounds like a shallow will of life. He expected him to have greater plans or vision, yet there’s no uncertainty or regret behind his voice. In fact, there’re hints of fondness and gratitude hiding behind his impassive expression.
Suddenly he remembered his own vision, the Geo vision he suddenly got from out of nowhere. He’s thankful of it, but he never considered why the Geo Archon—if they really the one who gave this vision—would give him, a synthetic human being, a thing as important as a vision.
“Tell me, what kind of Archon Morax is?” he finally asked.
Xiao smiled, “you can tell how He’s like with the way he made these,”
Albedo turned his head to the direction Xiao’s pointed at. And he saw the infamous strong Liyue, stone forest protruding from the ground as it was nothing, the sea calm with howling breeze flowing around, and from afar, he can see the famous Liyue Harbor, standing there by the sea, with thousands of lanterns hanged and ready to sent out, people prayed and sending their wishes to the sky, hoping it would be heard.
“I used to dislike these kinds of festivities, it’s a mortal thing we adeptus just didn’t understand—” he paused, then looked back to Liyue Harbor, “—but if Morax Himself willing to try living as a mortal, how am I not appreciate the human in humanity?”
He is taken aback by the words. As brilliant as Rhinedottir made him, he never saw the world that way before. All this time, he always thought his sole purpose is like an hourglass—like he always reminded by his nightmare, everyday—sand trickled in bit by bit, waiting to be destructive.
“Thank you, Xiao. You may be didn’t knew, but our talks have been very helpful for me,” he sincerely said.
Confusion flashes on the adepti face, but then he turned his lips knowingly, “you’re welcome.”
“Another thing, you said Morax is currently trying to live as a mortal, may I know where is he currently resides?” he cautiously asked. It would be delightful for him to talk to the Geo Archon himself, and ask him if he really was the one who give him his vision.
Xiao seemed reluctant to answer it, and Albedo is suddenly scared of being out of line.
“He goes by the name Zhongli and now lives in Liyue Harbor,”
It wasn’t Xiao who answered it, but Aether who just came back with Paimon from their small side shenanigan.
Xiao sighed and nodded sheepishly, “yes, Zhongli-xiansheng now works in a funeral parlor,”
Ah, so he was the ‘Zhongli’ they talked about earlier. It suddenly clicked, how Xiao seems happy whenever they talked about the man.
“You can meet him, actually, just remind me when we arrive at the city,” Aether grinned.
“In fact, he might be come to the festival, too!” Paimon chimed in.
Albedo smiled, “thank you, this journey has been so insightful for me,”
Aether nodded, “don’t mention it, we just thought you may need it,”
“Yeah! To be honest, who has the will to spent all year in Dragonspine? Even and frostarm lawachurl have to get out once in a while!” Paimon added.
He laughed heartily, for the first time since a few months ago when Klee accidentally singed a part of Timaeus hair. Liyue’s city gate stand tall before them, he could already smell the appetizing cuisines from the food stalls and heard the chit-chats and laughs.
The Lantern Rite is as beautiful as Aether and Paimon told him, the symbolic green and black hues is as the same as Xiao’s appearance. For a while, they just stood there, watching thousands of lanterns flew out to the sea, Liyue’s breeze brought people’s wishes and prays up to the sky.
“What are you praying for?” Xiao suddenly asked, his voice near whispering.
Albedo turned his body, realizing how close they are by the way he could felt the other’s body heat, “I pray for everyone happiness.”
And hoping I always be become myself.
Xiao looks pleased, “I already like you,” he then tapped his shoulder, “see you later, Albedo.”
With the last word, and as fireworks painted the sky with colors, Xiao left, leaving behind sweet smell of qingxin flower that he’s going to memorize.
And he stood there, not afraid of his nightmare anymore.
--
Are you not afraid of me?
Why should I?
We could paint this world red
And I can dye it again and again
I’m not afraid of you, of us.
--
Fin.