Against The Cold ~ Alberose

Chapter 4

Sucrose bit her nails nervously and ran a hand through her teal hair. Somehow, although she'd never been able to tell how, she felt that something had gone wrong.

Maybe it was because she always felt like that, or maybe it was because no matter how hard she tried, Sucrose couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at her insides -- Albedo was in danger.

She watched the snow lazily drift down onto the white field of the soft powder outside the cavern walls, trying to take her mind off of her fear. She bent her head down over her notes and rested her face on her arms, which were folded on the desk in front of her.

Letting out a long sigh, she closed her eyes and tried to get some rest, weariness seeping into her bones.

However, although exhaustion came, sleep did not, and Sucrose soon found herself walking around the laboratory in search of something to ease her mind.

The sun cast a fiery glow over the snow. Sucrose brought an arm up to shield her eyes from the light.

Mindlessly, as though it were programmed into her, carved into her very DNA, Sucrose found herself tracing Albedo and Timaeus' footprints to Wyrmrest Valley.

When she could see the looming shape of the dragon Durin's ribcage, Sucrose could faintly make out what she thought to be some shouting and screaming in the distance.

Eyes wide in panic, adrenaline pounding throughout her body, Sucrose picked up the pace and made a beeline for the valley.

☆: *᯽* :☆

"Timaeus! Watch out!" Albedo cried, stumbling over his own feet to stand up.

Timaeus' bow went flying from his hand and he skidded backward, just barely managing to dodge the Fatui agent's knives.

He stood up and put his fists up in front of his face, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Albedo gritted his teeth and unsheathed his sword. Running over to Timaeus, he swore under his breath. The agent was now closing in, his knives a blur of red and blue against the snowy landscape.

Looping Timaeus' arm over his shoulder, Albedo forced all his remaining energy into forming a golden shield of Geo energy around him and his assistant.

Agent Kverchov circled the shield, laughing menacingly. "Ah, so you're a little witch, aren't you, boy?"

Albedo met the agent's glare calmly, his blue eyes glossing over as he struggled to keep the shield up.

"You got the blessings of the gods, don't you? Hmm?" the agent taunted. "Suppose that'll make you more fun to beat!"

Albedo, nearly collapsing with exhaustion, was forced to break the barrier. The agent laughed and lunged at the alchemists. Albedo dodged just barely to the side, his shoulder caught by the blade and his forehead hit hard with the agent's elbow. He winced, red blood appearing from the deep cut. Timaeus, it seemed, had gotten it worse -- one hit with the blunt handle of the knife and he crumpled to the ground.

Suddenly a wind current swept Kvcerchov up off his feet. "What the- What kind of sorcery-" The agent was flung against the rock wall and fell onto the snowy embankment, unconscious.

The Abyss mage and woman, who had been watching the fight avidly, scuttled across the cavern, picked up the agent, and ran from the cavern in fear.

Albedo's vision was fading. I've lost too much blood, he thought, his head throbbing. The crimson liquid dripped from his wound and stained the white terrain beneath him. Someone was calling his name. It sounded echo-like, as though they were calling to him underwater.