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Alice wasn’t there when it all happened. But words spread fast enough for them to arrive at Khaenri’ah not so long after the cataclysm. Well, or what was once Khaenri’ah. The smell of the burning flesh of humans and the ambiance muted screams from afar cloaking the entire city in the shroud of mystery and horror. Alice met some survivors who haven't turned into a monster or died yet. But there is no Rhinedottir among them—Alice can’t find her anywhere and she is now in full panic. She…she can’t…she is one of the most powerful alchemists in the entire Teyvat… she wouldn’t die just like that, she wouldn’t turn into a monster just like that, right…?
For the first time in decades, she starts to feel fear. An emotion she doesn’t experience very often anymore even when she was deadlocked into combat with 4 full-grown geisha. But Rhine is different. The possibility of her lover's parish made something in Alice just break. Through the smoke and deadly fume, Alice runs through the fallen city to get to the grand laboratory; the one that Rhinedottir often resigned in. Ignore the plea of whoever is still alive in the ruin, she doesn’t have much time and the more seconds she wasted the less likely Rhinedottir is still alive.
When Alice arrives in her lover’s office, it was empty. No sign of a dead body, no turned Rhinedottir. Just a room with all the stuff knocked over. However, exams are close and Alice sees important documents missing. The important documents and equipment that are portable are missing. Rhine must be the one who took it away, she has escaped. Alice lets herself go limp and falls into the granite floor; feeling incredibly relieved as it seems like Rhinedottir has got out in time.
And maybe that’s one of the reasons Alice starts to travel everywhere she could because she knows that Rhinedottir is out there somewhere. She heard the story of a very talented alchemist and her apprentice who she called Albedo. I might be a completely different person but Alice’s always-correct instinct tells her that that is the same woman she is looking for. And she finds her alright. In the most obvious place, she could ever possibly be, right there at mt. Sal Vindagnyr—in an open cave under the dark corpse of Durin.
Alice rubs her hands together as even inside a pair of thick leather gloves, her hands still feel like it’s getting frostbite. No one in their right mind would come here let alone settle—whoever decided that here is liveable is going to be someone confident that they will not die. Someone who lives and curses with immortality.
The open cave is filled with books, alchemical equipment, notes, and even the whiteboard in the back. She is still working—up until now. Despite the nation having turned to a cinder, she has survived—still, she is working. Alright, that sounds like the Rhine she knows.
Before Alice, there is a vague image of someone with shoulder-length blonde hair. So she rushes over, with her heart so heavy but oh so happy. 500 years of separation have come to an end.
“Rhine!” Alice calls out in excitement as she runs but when she approaches close enough to see the other person before her, she slows down in disappointment
It’s not the Rhine. It’s just a blond young boy.
“Ah, my apology young man…I—has gotten the wrong person,”
The boy looks at her, he looks like he is around the age of 10 or so. Alice has no idea what’s more alarming—the fact that a literal child is up here unsupervised in Dragonspine or the fact that he doesn’t even seem confused or defensive. Just…who is this kid?
But soon everything will be answered for Alice.
“You are right in a way ma’am, you’ve got the wrong person but you have come to the right place,”
He speaks extremely wise beyond his years. The kid pauses a little before picking up the conversation again.
“When you said ‘Rhine’ did you mean Rhinedottir? She is inhabited here but shortly left some samples of a cryo slime. She left roughly around 30 minutes ago, normally it would take around an hour. So please wait a moment ma’am—it wouldn’t take too long,” the boy gives Alice a very long and methodological explanation of the disappearance of Rhinedottir. Alice thanks him as she should but can’t fathom why this little boy sounds so much like Rhine. Make no mistake the boy is extremely polite and competent but shouldn’t he be out there playing…?
“Says…uh,”
“Albedo, that’s my name,”
“Right, Albedo…what exactly is your connection with Rhine?”
“Oh, she is my master,”
“Master? As a pupil and teacher?”
“Precisely,”
Then the conversation dies after the boy gives her a cup of black coffee that he made in a beaker. Something Alice remembers is a habit of Rhinedottir as leaving the lab for some coffee isn’t something she could afford. Oh, she believed this boy was alright; he is Rhine’s successor for sure. The smell of chalk, the smell of Khemia—and that scent of her all dance around bouncing off the wall of this open cave. Alice is impressed really—this place is set up well, there is a bookshelf, a table to place all the components for work, and a little humble corner for living space.
But Alice hasn’t been left alone with the elements for long. The boy who busies himself with his little experiment perks up immediately.
“Alice?”
It is her voice. This is not an illusion or abyss trick. Her usual rasping voice, even in the time, is still full of authority and confidence.
“In the flesh, you wouldn’t be so foolish to think I won’t be looking for you,” the woman in red rises from her seat.
Rhinedottir is normally unreadable, and unsullied by atmosphere and environment. Incorruptible, as the unalloyed gold she is. But not today though, her face is visibly painted in exhaustion.
“I have been waiting, Alice. I have never doubted you, have I?” The woman with blonde and golden eyes looks into the soul of Alice but not with malicious intent. It is all about yearning, and Rhine seldom yearns for warmth or comfort. This isn't a regular circumstance though, and now she wants Alice’s touch more than anything. Yet, she remains still. Until Alice closes the gap between both them.
“I’m here now,” Alice wraps her arms around the other woman’s neck and pulls her close. Their noses are touching and Rhine seizes up when she realizes how close she is with her.
“There is a lot to catch up to I bet,” Alice says, her lips curling up into a mischievous smirk.