The Dark Alchemist

Chapter 2: Mondstadt, the City of Freedom

    Mondstadt...it's so beautiful. The land, the animals, the grand lake-city standing proudly before me. At long last, I've arrived at my final destination. This is to be my home.
    I open my map and scan the city layout, sliding my finger along the roads, past various points of interest, until...there. The Knights of Favonius Headquarters. Master Albus sent his letter of recommendation ahead of me, so I should be expected. I stow away my map and, adjusting my heavy travel bag on my back, excitedly step up to the city gate.
    "Morning, traveler," greets one of the guards. "Are you new to Mondstadt?"
    "I am indeed!" I reply cheerfully. "Kyaera Cromlyn, Master of Alchemy." I extend my hand.
    The guard takes it and gives it a friendly shake. "Alchemist, huh? This just so happens to be the home of the Kriedeprinz. You've heard of him?"
    I grin with delight. "Of course! I'm quite the admirer. It is he I've come to meet, actually!"
    He raises his brow, seemingly impressed. "I see. Well, I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but the Kriedeprinz isn't in the city. Hardly ever is. He spends most of his time in those horrible mountains." The guard gestures south toward the Dragonspine. "You should find his assistant, Sucrose. She should be able to point you in the right direction, if you're hard enough to brave that frozen wasteland."
    I nod gratefully. "Thank you very much, Sir..."
    "Lawrence," the guard replies.
    "Thank you, Sir Lawrence," I repeat.
    "Happy to help," he replies with a bow.
    "Anyway, I'd best be going now." I give him a small curtsy. "I'll see you another time."
    "Goodbye and good luck, Miss." He salutes me.
    I enter the city and am greeted by many wonderful sights, smells, and sounds; fragrant food, sweet flowers, bright red rooftops, windmills scattered about everywhere, a blacksmith nearby pounding away with ear-splitting clangs, citizens chatting amiably among themselves. It's so peaceful and beautiful.
    I start walking briskly down the middle road of the city, and soon find myself in the central plaza, surrounded by shops and kiosks, with a lovely fountain in the middle. I look around me, eagerly absorbing the sights and sounds, until one little place in particular catches my eye.
    "Hi there!" says a tall, handsome young man as I approach. "Are you interested in alchemy as well?"
    I grin. "More than you know. I just earned my Mastery. Kyaera Cromlyn, pleasure to meet you." I shake his hand firmly.
    His eyes shine at the mention of my Mastery. "You're a master alchemist?! This must be my lucky day! May I ask you some questions, Miss Cromlyn?"
    I can't help but to giggle at his enthusiasm, and I nod once. "Certainly. But first, might I have your name?"
    The lad's face falls in horror. "Goodness, where are my manners?! I'm Timaeus. Please forgive my rudeness! It's just that I hardly ever get to see people as fascinated by alchemy as I am!" He shakes my hand again quite vigorously.
    "It's quite alright," I assure him. "Go on ahead and ask your questions, Timaeus."
    "Right! So, what brings you here to Mondstadt?"
    Not what I expected his first question to be. "I'm here to meet Master Albedo. I am to join him as his study partner, if you will..."
    "Oh, of course you're here to see Albedo!" Timaeus excitedly interjects. "He must be known all over Teyvat by now! He's a true genius, and his methods are refreshingly unusual, but they always work out! It blows me away!"
    "Quite the fanatic, aren't you?" I remark amusedly. "I am as well. Master Albus believes that Albedo and I can learn from each other and help one another to progress more expediently toward our goals. In fact, I was just on my way to the Knights' headquarters to ask after him."
    Timaeus's eyes widen, and he rubs his neck and chuckles sheepishly. "Sorry for holding you up. You should probably go, then..."
    "Oh no, please, it is I who approached you," I reassure. "I have time for one more question. Fire away."
    "Oh, thank you! Alright then, let's see...oh! Which branch of study is your specialty?"
    I smile, always delighted to have a chance to explain my interests. "The chemical function of the mind and body. I specialize in the centers of the brain that respond to stimuli, as well as hormones and chemicals and how they affect the body. I produce serums that can alter, enhance, or even completely halt certain emotions and physical or neurological functions."
    Timaeus's jaw drops. "That's...I've never given much thought to that area of study. I'd love to see your notes someday! Now that I think about it, the alchemical potential for study with the body and mind could be limitless...especially when you look into the way the body channels elemental energy, and why it only works with a Vision..."
    "I hate to interrupt," I interrupt, "but I really must be going. I may have to find Master Albedo in the mountains, and I don't want to be stuck there after dark. It was lovely meeting you."
    "Oh, of course! I'm so sorry! I'll let you go, then. Thanks for stopping by!" He shakes my hand once more in farewell, grinning brightly all the while.
    I leave his little booth feeling warm inside. What a delightful chap. I should like to chat with him again sometime.
    I finally arrive at the grand Knights of Favonius Headquarters and find myself staring up at a huge, imposing fortress of a building, almost Gothic in style; narrow, arched windows in singles and pairs, square turrets, sturdy stonework, with a single tile-roofed steeple on one side, a stone archway flanked by carved stone eagle placards housing the huge front doors, and a stone staircase leading up to said doors, flanked by red pennants. Not very pretty, but the immensity almost takes my breath away.
    "Pardon me, Miss..."
    The voice startles me out of my reverie and I snap back to myself, quite embarrassed. "Y-yes, sorry. I promise I have business here."
    The knight chuckles knowingly. "First time in Mondstadt?"
    "Yes, actually," I admit. "I am to meet Mast—um, Chief Alchemist Albedo, but I am told he is absent."
    "That he is," the knight replies. "Has been for weeks."
    My heart sinks. "Oh...so he hasn't received the letter. A letter addressed to him did arrive, right?" I ask hopefully.
    "Yeah, it came a few days ago, but he wasn't here to receive it. Sucrose is holding on to it until he drops in again."
    "I'm afraid that won't do," I sigh. I bite my lip, pondering for a moment, and sigh again. "Well then, I suppose I shall deliver it to him myself. I can't wait here for him to arrive and find a stranger in his stead. Where might I find this Sucrose?"
    "Can't help you with that one," the knight says apologetically. "But if you go to Acting Grand Master Jean, she should be able to. Right inside and first door on the left." The knight pushes open one of the great doors and points me in the right direction. "I'll be here if you need anything else. Good luck."
    "Thank you," I say with a grateful nod, and step into the building.
    I can't say I'm terribly impressed.  
    Perfectly smooth square tiles of marble stretch across the floor, meeting a fine, polished wooden doorway and staircase at the other end of the foyer. The same wood crowns and bases the walls, simply but tastefully carved, and comprises the four doors on the main floor, as well as the paneled ceiling and loft that encircles the hall. A great square rug with the Favonius coat of arms lies on the floor, neat potted plants stand aside each door, and a gold-framed painting hangs on each wall. Each of the two side walls also sports a golden sword-and-shield hanging, the shields emblazoned with the coat of arms. Two great, beautiful chandeliers hang from the paneled ceiling, and each doorway has a sconce on either side. The whole is plain, simple, but not unattractive. Nowhere near as beautiful as the buildings in Fontaine.
    Nodding to the knights guarding the other doors, I briskly approach the first door on my left and knock twice.
    "Come in," says a female voice within.
    I open the door and enter a large, airy study; basket-weave wood floors give way to a bannistered platform on the left, with a great grandfather clock embedded between the bookshelves that seem to line the walls of the entire room, broken only by floor-to-ceiling windows in the back and right-hand walls. A great gold-trimmed red rug bearing the coat of arms rests in the middle. Another gold sword-and-shield array hangs on the right wall above a small fireplace, which sits between two sofas and behind a fine wooden table, this being adjacent to a similar wood desk centered to the back wall. A uniquely-crafted metal chandelier hangs from the ceiling. A beautiful blonde woman in smart uniform sits behind the desk, and she looks up at me as I enter.
    "Grand Master Jean?" I ask politely.
    "That's me," she replies. "And you are?"
    "Kyaera Cromlyn, Master of Alchemy." I extend my hand, which she takes, and give a firm shake. "I'm here to see Master Albedo, but as he seems to be absent, I've been instructed to find someone called Sucrose in his stead."
    "Yes, Sucrose is his assistant," Grand Master Jean replies. "Does Albedo know you're here to see him? He's not the type to completely blow someone off like that."
    I press my lips together grimly. "Master Albus—my instructor in Fontaine—sent a letter ahead of me, but I'm told Master Albedo hasn't received it."
    "That's right, I think Sucrose has the letter. I'll send for her. In the meantime, please make yourself at home. And," she adds, standing at the door, "you don't have to call him 'Master.' No one else does."
    "Ah. Well, at the Academy in Fontaine, titles are expected to be used at all times," I explain. "It's a habit that I'm afraid may be difficult to break."
    "I see," she replies. "I apologize if I've offended you, then."
    "Oh goodness, you haven't!" I exclaim hastily. "Please, don't worry at all!"
    "Ok," she chuckles, and sticks her head out through the door, calling to one of the guards. I tap my fingers on my lap, playing an imaginary piano. One thing I will miss about Fontaine is the music. I don't know if Mondstadt has rock and roll, but I'm quite sure that the electronic instruments I used can only be found in Fontaine. None of the other nations have mastered our level of technology, or so I'm told.
    Grand Master Jean comes back into the room, leaving the door ajar, and gives me a small but friendly smile. "Sucrose is on her way. Would you like something to drink?"
    I shake my head. "No thank you."
    "Suit yourself." She takes a ceramic pitcher from her desk, fills a glass with what appears to be water, and empties the glass without even taking a breath. I can't help staring.
    "So," she continues, "was that letter sensitive, or are you able to tell me what was in it? Just so I can help you, of course," she adds hastily. "I'm not trying to be nosy."
    "Oh, it's a letter of recommendation from my master to Master Albedo," I explain. "I was always...well, a rather hungry pupil, if you catch my meaning. I lived and breathed alchemy texts, and I worked solutions and conducted experiments more often than I slept. By the time I finished my apprenticeship, Master Albus said he had nothing more to teach me, but my hunger hadn't been satiated by a long shot."
    Master Jean smirks. "That does sound like our Chief Alchemist."
    I smile and nod. "Master Albus agreed. He said that Rhinedottir's protégé and I could benefit from each other. Rhinedottir was an old friend of his, so he thought there could be nothing better than us joining forces in our quest for greater knowledge." My smile turns wry. "The letter was meant to explain this to Master Albedo and prepare him for my arrival, but I suppose that's a moot point by now."
    A timid knock sounds at the door, and I turn to see a petite, bespectacled girl, with long green hair and what looks like fox ears on her head, shyly slip through the door. She turns to us and bows.
    "H-hello Jean. Um...I brought the l-letter."
    "Sucrose, this is Kyaera." She gestures to me. "Kyaera, this is Sucrose, Albedo's assistant."
    "A pleasure," I smile, and offer Sucrose my hand. She looks at it, hesitating, and finally takes just my fingers, shaking them timorously.
    I giggle. "You needn't be afraid of me, dear. I don't bite. Well...not girls, anyway." I mutter this last bit under my breath and give  Sucrose a wink and mischievous smirk. She stares at me wide-eyed and oblivious, and I realize she's too innocent for my humor. All the better.
    "You wanted M-Mister Albedo's letter?" She turns to Master Jean.
    "Actually," I interject, "I might take it. Do you know when he should be back?"
    "N-no, he doesn't...come back v-very...often," Sucrose murmurs.
    I prop my chin on my fingers, thinking. "Alright. Well then, I'll deliver it myself. Then I'll also be able to meet him right away, rather than waiting here to surprise him whenever he decides to show up. Two birds, one stone."
    Sucrose's eyes widen in alarm, and she shakes her head. "M-miss, Dragonspine is d-dangerous...Mister Alb-b-bedo can handle it b-better than most, but..."
    "Sucrose, love." I plant my hands on her shoulders and look her in the eye. "Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and speak. You don't need to be afraid, right?"
    "I-I'm sorry," she mumbles. "I'm not v-very good at this..."
    "Sucrose is right, though," Grand Master Jean speaks up. "Not many who journey into the Dragonspine Mountains make it out alive. My own knights hardly venture out there. Albedo's used to it, but if you're not, you won't survive. And besides, I can have it sent to him so you don't have to go."
    "It's alright," I assure them. "With my serums, I can handle practically anything. Anyhow, I'm much more useful to him where he actually is than hanging about where he isn't. I traveled all the way here from Fontaine; a little more travel won't hurt."
    "Well, if you're s-sure, then...I c-can...take you there," Sucrose suggests.
    I bite my lip and frown with concern. "Are you sure? I'd hate to drag someone else along with me needlessly."
    "I-it's ok," Sucrose replies softly. "I don't mind. You'd be s-safer with a guide, anyw-way."
    I smile gratefully and nod. "Right then. Thank you very much. When can we leave?"