Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 21: You Make Me So Worried

Albedo cleared his throat as he dipped his brush into the water and swished it around. Kaeya had suggested Albedo paint to relax... which was a great idea, but he didn't know what to paint...
Normally he would just go outside and find something that sparked his creativity, but the storm was still at its tail end and Kaeya didn't want Albedo leaving.
But how could a storm be "almost over" for more than a day? What if Kaeya just didn't want him to leave?...
Albedo shook his head, Kaeya was only looking out for him...
He settled for painting a frog in the Springvale pond. He had nothing in his brain. It hurt to think right now...
Then Albedo turned around, having a strange tingling feeling. He had only gotten halfway through his painting before feeling paranoid again... He grumbled about it on the inside.
What was wrong?...
He looked around, wondering why Kaeya was taking so long to get back... He said he wouldn't be long, and Albedo trusted he wouldn't. Then again, based on the time, he could be at Angel's Share... which could add a lot of extra time...
Albedo chuckled, hoping Diluc wasn't barraging him with insults. He was glad they were putting their differences aside.
Albedo added some more wood to the fire. He kept getting odd chills. Normally Dragonspine wasn't so cold, especially not right after a storm like that... Normally it started to get a little warm, if anything. Then again, Durin was awake... Everything was just so weird right now.
Albedo sighed quietly, rubbing his hands together over the fire.
Then he flinched, feeling another chill. But this time it was accompanied by a stabbing pain that felt like hundreds of needles piercing into his spine.
Albedo bit his tongue, arching forward.
Next, his right eye started to throb as if it were pulsing. Albedo closed his eye and pressed his palm into it. His other eye felt like it were being stabbed by those paper-thin needles several hundred times.
His vision grew blurry and the warm, flickering fire before him faded away. It was replaced by the nauseating feeling of a thick, barely-liquid substance leaking from his left eye.
All he could see was black like the night sky... speckled with faint sparkles representing the stars... but there weren't any constellations he recognized. If there were any familiar ones, he was in too much pain to notice.
He could taste blood in his mouth from biting down on his tongue too harshly.
Then he was blinded by a flash of bright light. Those needles stabbed into his joints and forced him onto both of his knees and his one free hand.
Albedo saw two people fade into view. But the angle was weird... as if he were watching them from above...
"How do you take down an eye of the storm?" Rosaria held a stony expression as she gripped her weapon tightly, "you wait for it to fall."
Kaeya's eyes were empty. Where was his eyepatch? What was happening?
"Rosaria... I..."
"We don't have time to talk about this," she marched forward, "I'll wait for your signal."
Albedo opened his mouth to ask his millions of questions, but felt that same sickening feeling of the sludge seeping out. Now it was coming from his throat and dripping down his chin.
At the same time, Rosaria glared up in the alchemist's direction. But she didn't seem all that upset anymore... more like she wished this wasn't happening.
Albedo started choking, having to collapse onto both his hands to keep from falling over completely.
When the feeling had gone away, he slowly opened his eyes. Everything hurt...
But especially his right hand. He blinked, trying to see through his tears. He quickly sat up, then was shocked with another batch of unexplainable pain all over his body.
Once he could see again, he saw that his right had was extremely burnt and marred by splinters.
Albedo hurried to his feet, almost slipping as his limbs refused to work. His hands smacked against the floor as he hoisted himself up. He held in a scream as he rushed outside and buried his hand in the snow.
Albedo closed his eyes tightly, rocking back and forth as he breathed sharply through his teeth.
What was happening? What had he seen? Had his exposure to the mystery goop done this?...
Albedo wiped his face with his free hand, only to find it stained in water and nothing more.
But that had felt so real?...
No... Albedo couldn't be loosing it now... He still had a job to do. As a knight, he had an obligation to help those in need, no matter what. Plus, he was even more obligated because this was his purpose.

Kaeya laughed, "Venti sure is upset!"
"Yeah, something about his crush I think," Rosaria sipped her wine.
Venti was sitting at a table by himself, the sad and absent sort of drunk.
Kaeya blinked, "crush?"
Rosaria nodded, "someone from Liyue, I think."
"And you haven't told me?!" Kaeya smacked his hand against his chest.
Rosaria chuckled, "Venti didn't even tell me. He's just been mumbling to himself about it. Anyways, apparently it's a guy and he's very bad at picking up social cues."
Kaeya smiled, "that's adorable."
Diluc nodded, "mhm."
The two others stared at him.
"What? I'm not allowed to have opinions, now?"
"No, I'm just... surprised you agreed with me," Kaeya said slowly.
"Why? It's an accurate statement." Diluc folded his arms.
Rosaria rolled her eyes, "enough about that sad drunkard. Why aren't you drinking?"
"I'll be going back to Dragonspine-"
"So? Alcohol keeps you warmer." Rosaria stated. "Oh, you don't want Albedo to see you drunk, huh? I'm surprised he hasn't already-"
"That isn't why." Kaeya said hastily, growing defensive. "I just... I need to be in my right mind. There's a lot to figure out."
"Uh-huh," Rosaria didn't take him seriously, "you're just afraid Albedo isn't going to be very kind to the more touchy version of yourself."
"I'm- I'm not-"
"You so are." Rosaria set her glass down and Diluc refilled it, "always crying all over me, refusing to let go."
"I-"
"Don't even try to deny it," Rosaria pointed a finger at him, "I bet you're worried you'll come on too strong for Albedo if you go back after drinking."
Kaeya closed his mouth and folded his arms, pouting.
She rolled her eyes, "such a baby. Worried about everything when it comes to him. Lighten up," she took a drink.
"Boundaries are important, Rosaria. And if you have to know I don't like me when I'm drunk, either."
"Why? Because that's when you tell the truth?"
Diluc snorted.
"No. That's is not-"
"Hah!" Rosaria smirked, "See? Diluc agrees!"
"You guys are soo louddd," Venti had stumbled over, leaning on the stool next to Rosaria.
"How are your boy troubles?" Rosaria rolled her eyes.
Venti sniffled, "troublesome... he-he's always so busy and I can never find him... and I think he likes someone elllsseeee..."
Rosaria pat his head, "there, there. If Kaeya can get engaged so can you."
"Yeah, okay," Venti wiped his eyes.
"Uhm. Rude. I'm right here."
Rosaria smiled over, "speaking of, how are things up there?"
Kaeya sighed, "not much different from when you left. But he's been talking less... whatever Durin said to him must have-"
"Durin?" Rosaria gave him a skeptical look.
"Well, he thinks he's talking with Durin... Maybe... I don't know..."
Rosaria shook her head, "you gotta-"
"I know. I know... It's so hard... I know it'll hurt him when I tell him what he's seeing isn't real... And when I think about that-"
"Then don't." Rosaria stated firmly. "This is for his own good. Think about how much better everything will be when you get this absurdity out of the way."
Kaeya sighed, "I know... but I just have this... weird feeling when I'm in Dragonspine. It makes everything just... off. I don't know..."
Rosaria looked him in the eyes, "when was the last time you got a full eight hours of sleep?"
Kaeya laughed nervously, "haha, good point..."
But, still... Dragonspine was always incredibly ominous and foreboding...
Venti groaned loudly as he let his head fall onto the bar, "how am I supposed to compete with the Traveler?!?!"
Rosaria looked over at him, "uh, maybe there isn't much hope for you..."
Venti started crying.
"Rosaria!" Kaeya threw her a glare. "It- it'll be okay, Venti. Aren't there things you can do that the Traveler can't?"
"No! They can do anything and everything I can! And do it better!"
Kaeya pursed his lips, "come on, Venti. There has to be something? How well do you know this person?"
Venti frowned as he forced his brain to work, "I guess it's been like... 500 years or so..."
Rosaria snorted, "look at him, he's not making any sense."
"Okay, uh, how long has the Traveler known them?"
Venti paused, "probably about a year maybe?..."
"So, listen, if this person decided to like someone they don't know very well, it's probably just a fleeting thing. Plus, the Traveler is all over the place, they probably don't have time for a relationship, right? You just have to shoot your shot, Venti."
The bard furrowed his brows, "I guess... but... but I have so much baggage..." he smooshed his face into the bar, "and I'm a handful to deal with..."
Diluc blew air out of his nose, "have you looked at Kaeya?"
Kaeya folded his arms, "you can keep your rude comments to yourself."
Diluc chuckled, taking Venti's empty keg away.
Venti grumbled quietly at Diluc, who completely ignored him.
Rosaria sighed, "anyways, you should probably get going. You know, make sure your fiancé doesn't freeze or something."
Kaeya stood up, "make sure Venti isn't crying all night, haha."
Rosaria rolled her eyes, "I'll try, or whatever."
Kaeya shook his head as he turned to leave.
"Kaeya," Diluc called.
The Cavalry Captain looked over his shoulder, "yes?" He was actually kind of worried about what Diluc was going to say.
"Don't die."
Kaeya chuckled, genuinely smiling, "I'll see what I can do."