Kaebedo || Where The Cold Doesn't Touch

Monster - 31

Each day now has felt repetitive. Albedo works from day to night in his office up in the mountains. Sucrose has helped immensely by not asking what he has been trying to work on, but she knows to not to question him. She brings supplies that he asks for and brings in any reports from Jean if the time calls for it.

The problem is the fact that Albedo has been getting irritable lately. He's agitated at such little things, like his coffee being too sweet or even Sucrose talking when he's focused. She doesn't deserve the treatment and he apologizes right afterwards, he can't understand why he's like this.

He's always been calm and collected but recently he's been completely out of character. Sucrose catches on quickly and leaves him be when he's especially frustrated.

Albedo sighs and ruffles his hair back as to get it out of his eyes. He can't exactly call for Kaeya to be present, since Kaeya also has work to do. But he desperately wants the Captain's company. The Alchemist decides that he should wash his face and rest for just a moment. He goes over to the pool of water in his cave, splashing the water on his face and it cools him down.

But as he opens his eyes he finds purple streaks on his cheek, running down and almost completely covering his neck. The prominent gold diamond that sits on his neck is now being shrouded by dark purple streaks.

He touches his neck, his hands are shaking and he can't say anything. Before he knows it there are tears flowing out of his eyes. It's like he's slowly becoming something that he can't recognize.

"N-no... why, I- I need more time," he's shaking and so is his voice. He might not be able to hide his curse anymore and he's losing hope in being able to find a cure. His experiments for the last few weeks have been futile. The more he tries to make anything, the more it fails.

He kneels down on the ground, not moving or speaking. He can't bear to go outside of the cave, he doesn't want to be seen or heard. The cold air blows in and he doesn't move for what seem like hours, like he's frozen in place. Not from the cold but from fear.

———————————————

Sucrose had recently gotten into touch with Rosaria and they had a decent chat. Mostly Sucrose being awkward and Rosaria being dismissive about some topics of conversation. But it was decent all the same.

Master Jean had put out a statement regarding the Abyss situation to the citizens of Mondstadt. Many were rightfully scared of what may come of such an endeavor, as the Abyss had never tried to kill a member of the knights outright before. There was commotion and discourse between the authorities and the people, Jean was responsible for dealing with the decisions but the knights all help out in some ways.

Jean had specifically asked Rosaria and Sucrose to go notify Albedo about the current situation, to ask of his input on the situation at hand. So now the two women were on the long trek to his office in the ice and snow. Both of them being accustomed to the rigid temperature so it wasn't difficult at all.

"You know, I'm surprised he hasn't come down to Mondstadt even once ever since his visit with Kaeya," Rosaria said.

"Yes, he's been working quite diligently. He won't even eat until I have to force him too," Sucrose sighs.

"But he's been a little too quiet. When was the last time you saw him?"

"He asked for my assistance three days ago, why do you ask?" Sucrose walks up to the little office in the cave but it seems there is no one in sight.

"Because he's never been this quiet before."

They search through every book and beaker, going deeper into the cave hoping to find him sleeping somewhere.