Chapter Text
“Subject Two’s plan was meticulously crafted. Subject Three would draw Subject One’s attention. After Subject One disposed of Subject Three, he would assume the threat had now disappeared, and would let his guard down.
The next moment that Subject One was alone, Subject Two would make his move. He would eliminate Subject One and become the only one remaining.
He would secretly replace the Subject One of everyone’s memories, and inherit his identity, residence, clothing, sword, name, friends, and partner.
People would have no idea that the individual they knew had become somebody else from one day to the next…”
Albedo watched with a content smile as the Traveler and Paimon began to make their way down the mountain alongside Amber and Eula. If he stilled his breathing, he could just barely hear Paimon chattering about some sort of tasty dish, before her voice was eventually lost to the dull roar of the snowy wind.
Once the group had disappeared from view, the small smile that Albedo had worn for them vanished as well, a serious expression taking its place.
“Right… It’s finally time to see which of the flowers in this garden is truly worthy of inheriting her will.”
With an elegant flick of his wrist, a gold and azure crested blade materialized in the palm of his gloved hand.
“It looks like I was correct in my assumption of your grand scheme.” At first it appeared that those words were heard only by the empty air, but after a moment, a snide chuckle echoed in reply.
Brows furrowed, Albedo watched as a man wearing his face emerged from the shadows.
“I would expect no less from Rhinedottir’s golden child.” the other Albedo sneered, a cruel expression painting his face as his own sword appeared in his hand. “That was a nice story that you told them, but not every story ends with such a happy ending.”
Steeling himself, the real Albedo met the other with piercing eyes, “There is more than a little truth to that statement.” A tired sigh escaped his lips, “I do pity you. You did not deserve to be cast aside as you were, however… There are too many precious things in my life that I will not hand over without a fight.”
The wind screamed as the raging blizzard picked up in strength, with it bringing a cascade of fresh snow on to the two men. Soon it was nearly impossible to see ten feet ahead, let alone each other.
The only warning that Albedo was allowed was a single glint of the reflection from his enemy’s blade, before it was suddenly racing towards him. He quickly lifted his own weapon to receive the impact and there was a harsh clanging of metal that was drowned out by the howling of the storm.
“I do not need your pity,” The imposter growled, bitterness clear in his eyes. “I need your life. ” His words were laced in venom that only served to empower his strikes.
The two of them traded blows rapidly, Albedo found that he had to train his entire focus on his enemy in order to avoid being struck. It was like a passionate dance, the two of them were so similar that it was not a challenge to predict the other’s movements. When Albedo thought he had found an opening, the other’s blade would meet him in the middle and vice versa.
It seemed as if the fight had continued for hours before the first blood was drawn. Albedo managed to push his clone back and knock him off balance, leaving him with an opportunity to slash across his opponent’s forearm. But that was not the end of it. Subject Two had faltered in his rhythm and Albedo took full advantage, continuing the barrage of blows. He managed to land another hit. Then two. Then three. Until the doppelganger was covered in numerous cuts, his clothing quickly stained crimson.
“I do not wish to kill you!” Albedo yelled over the wind, “Just leave Mondstadt and find your own place in the world!” He stood over the other who had been knocked to the ground, the scowl on his face still just as potent as when the battle first began.
“You will never understand!” With some difficulty, the clone struggled to stand upright, resilience still fresh in his eyes.
Albedo sighed, wishing with all of his heart that it did not have to be like this.
He raised his sword once more, poised to deal the finishing blow. Subject Two could see it coming but could not lift his own sword in time to shield against it. Albedo drove the sword downward, ready to end this. But then something happened.
He hesitated.
Albedo hesitated at the very last moment. He could not bring himself to do it. He knew that the man in front of him was just as helpless to his fate as he was. He understood that all Subject Two wanted was just a place to belong. A home. His heart clenched at the thought of being the one to take that away from him. His sword stilled for just an instant, paused in mid strike just inches from the other’s neck.
Subject Two did not let this chance go to waste. In the extra moment that he was allowed, he swung his own sword upright, slashing it deep across Albedo’s chest.
In an instant, a line of red appeared and the alchemist’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of blood staining his white coat. He was barely able to collect himself in time to block Subject Two’s next strike. Metal screeched against metal once more, but this time it seemed that it was the other who had gained the upper hand.
Albedo groaned with exertion as he strained to keep Subject Two’s sword at bay. The wound on his chest seared with pain and he found himself steadily being pushed back across the snowy ground.
“You are a fool.” Subject Two’s words were soaked in hatred, “You let your resolve weaken, you do not deserve to be the keeper of that life!”
“No…” Albedo struggled against the force shoving him backwards. For the first time in his life, he felt helpless. His mind was blank, all the equations and solutions disappeared and he felt fear forming in his heart.
“Finally… It’s my turn.” The other Albedo smiled, it looked wrong. Like that kind of smile should not exist on that face.
Albedo felt a final harsh push and when he lifted his foot to step back, there was nothing. Empty air greeted him as he felt himself fall backwards off of the edge of the mountain. It didn’t feel real, hurtling weightlessly through the air as he was.
Maybe this is for the best. The thought crossed his mind. After all, Albedo had spent all of this time in Mondstadt searching and searching for the answer to the question that his master had given him.
“ Show me the truth and the meaning of this world.”
Those were his master’s final words to him, written in a letter that Albedo must have read over one hundred times.
The meaning of this world… The question still puzzled the alchemist, he had researched and performed countless experiments, traveled the world and visited new lands, but he still didn’t seem any closer to the answer.
Albedo thought of how he had lived his life alongside other humans. That might have been the most difficult part so far. Humans were hard to understand. Their emotions were fickle and their thought process completely illogical sometimes. When he walked alongside them, Albedo knew deep within his heart that he would never be like them. He floundered in many social situations, unable to understand jokes or the behavior of others. He made decisions with a calm rationality, never letting his emotions get the better of him.
Rhinedottir sought to create an exact human copy but Albedo could not fathom how he was one. He had spent the majority of the past few years searching and searching for answers but had yet to make any progress. Maybe his predecessor would be able to succeed where he had not. With that train of thought, Albedo began to make peace with his descent, pouring all of his hopes into the one who had struck him down.
His brain suddenly flooded with images of a young blonde girl with pointed ears and a bright smile on her face, and then a face half shrouded with an eyepatch and hair that was as deep a blue as the ocean depths. His last thought was wishing that he could at least say goodbye to those two.
And then, everything went dark.
❅
The victor stood at the edge of the cliff, watching his prey fall and disappear from sight. His body burned from the numerous injuries he had sustained, but he didn’t think about any of it. He had expected to feel an unimaginable joy at this moment, the moment that he had been waiting for his entire life. But that wasn’t the case. He felt numb, suspended in disbelief that he finally had all that he desired.
“I am sorry too…” The remaining Albedo whispered to himself and to the body that he had disposed of, “I wish that we both could have been given a chance.”
He stood there a moment longer, before collecting himself and beginning the silent walk back to the research lab in order to clean himself up. As he walked away, he lifted a hand to his throat. When the hand receded, in its place was a mark in the shape of a golden star.