Falling for You

Chapter 42 - Our Home

Venti's POV

 I need to get this done before Xiao comes back.

 After leaving the winery, I rushed up to Dragonspine. Within just a few minutes, I had already arrived a the small camp halfway up the mountain.

 "Albedo! Albedo are you here?" 

 Don't tell me he isn't?

 "What are you shouting for? My ears are going to burst." Luckily, an annoyed voice came from behind me.

 "Well, aren't you in a bad mood?" This was rare.

 "And whose fault do you think that is? If it wasn't for your stupid request, I wouldn't have been unable to sleep for the past week."

 "My request? Weren't you done with it?"

 "Done, done, of course, I'm done. It was because I finished it that I was able to see something I couldn't before."

 "And that is?" Just what is it?

 At my question, all the annoyance and tiredness disappeared from his face, being replaced by pure fascination.

 "After finishing it, I discovered that if we could insert something that grants control over any kind of elemental energy, controlling said energy might actually be possible without breaking the puppet."

 Hearing what he found I couldn't help but sigh.

 "Albedo."

 "Yes?"

 "You mean something like a vision?"

 "Something in that direction, yes."

 "So a vision or perhaps a gnosis?"

 "Exactly! A gnosis would be even better!"

 "Albedo, where is my gnosis?" I asked, completely defeated by his sudden enthusiasm.

 "Snezhnaya?"

 "And who has it?"

 "The cryo archon?" he looked at me with a face that was questioning why I was asking about something so obvious

 "Do I have a vision?"

 "No?" He obviously knew this one was fake.

 "So, my dear alchemist, can I, or can I not, provide you with a vision or a gnosis?"

 If I still had my gnosis this wouldn't be that troublesome.

 "My apologies, I got too excited. Why are you here, anyway?"

 "I just wanted to give this to you."

 I took out a small box from under my cape.

 "Is this it? The soul stone?"

 "It will open the moment I go through with it, so keep it on you at all times."

 "Will it really work?"

 "Even if you don't trust me, at least trust yourself. You're one of the best alchemists around after all." I chuckled seeing his uncertainty.

 "One of the best? You know other alchemists on this level?"

 "Well, I know one person who was quite successful in creating life amongst other things."

 Istaroth can create more than just life, actually.

 "Can I meet them?"

 "No." I answer immediately.

 "Why not?"

 "She's not around right now." She really wasn't.

 "When will she come back?" He continued to question.

 "She has been gone since the archon war. How would I know when she'll return?"

 Though, she was here just recently...

 "Since the archon war... Mondstadt... Alchemist... The God of Time?" He suddenly asked.

 "What?!" How did he know that? 

 "Master once told about one of the greatest alchemists to exist was the God of Time, Istaroth. Knowing that she resided here for a long time, I thought it might be her you're talking about."

 If it's his master...

 "Hah! You still can't meet her."

 "I understand. Though I don't know the exact details, I know that she would be in quite the awkward situation if she reappeared in the world again."

 "Thank you for your understanding." I didn't expect him to give up this fast.

 "But if you find a way for us to meet..."

 Of course, he wouldn't give up like that.

 "No, is no. I'll be going to Inazuma so you won't be able to contact me. Goodbye, Albedo."

 Without wanting for his answer, I flew down the mountain.

 What a bother, I'll probably need to let them meet at some point.

 Well, at least I got that done before leaving. Now I just need to wait till the time is right.

 "Let's get back and see whether Xiao got permission to leave. If he didn't I'll just go talk to Morax myself."

 Hmph, hmph, you can't stop me from taking Xiao Xiao out on a vacation you old blockhead.

 When I got to Windrise, Xiao was still nowhere to be seen.

 Did he get held up?

 Just then, a puff of dark green smoke appeared behind me.

 "I'm home." He said with a smile.

 Home...

 Yes, home. Our home.

 "Welcome home, Xiao Xiao!"

 This one short sentence was something I would never forget.