Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 34: Summit

Albedo smiled as he finally stepped foot on the summit. Finally.
Not too far away was what looked like an old alchemy table surrounded by four pillars. Just beyond the ritualistic setup was an exact copy of that thing.
Albedo approached slowly, "I'm here to help you..."
"Home." It said firmly as it turned to face him. "Take me home."
Albedo nodded, extending his hand, "I'm here to take you home."
It slowly placed a swirly hand in his. As it made contact its hand morphed into a small, dainty human hand. The skin white and the knuckles red from the cold.
Albedo looked up to see that this half was significantly larger than the other. It was the size of an adult, while the other half, the one down the mountain, was shorter than Albedo.
The alchemist gently held its hand and began to turn, "it's just down the mountain. It won't be long."

Lisa almost slammed her hands into the bowl of murky water, "this isn't helping! Albedo's already gotten to the other half! We don't have much time!"
Kaeya was holding Klee tightly, "what do we do?... what can we do?..."
Klee paused, "where is big brother Albedo's mind?..."
Lisa looked up, "what did you say?"
"I asked where big brother's mind is?" Klee tilted her head in Lisa's direction.
Lisa swept a few books into a bottomless bag, "that's it! Klee, you're a genius! We have to take his body to his mind! If we can get his mind back where it belongs, then we can exorcise the monster without loosing Albedo! Maybe it can hurt him but it won't be able to withstand my magic! It really isn't that powerful! It's like a child..."
She paused for a moment, "but we have to be quick. I don't know what will happen if Albedo puts it back together."
"But," Kaeya stood, setting Klee down, "do we even know where Albedo's mind is?"
Lisa smirked, "you told me earlier. It's right where you left it."
"You mean-" Kaeya's eyes widened.
"Exactly."
"What?" Klee asked.
"Help me pack, Klee. We need to get to Dragonspine as fast as possible."

Albedo felt numb. Everywhere. Just being around the smaller half of that being was difficult, but touching the larger one made him feel like he could hardly move. They were making their way down the steep mountain at the most painfully slow pace.
"You have questions for me," it said.
Albedo nodded, "I... I want to know what you are... what you really are..."
It seemed to pause, "... I do not know."
Albedo hummed, "I suspected not... Then, I guess, no one knows..."
Albedo noticed the skin on the hand he was holding was much darker than when he had first grasped it. The rest of the being remained like starlight, completely indescribable and indiscernible.
He knew this being must originate from Khaenri'ah and their technology... but what did they do to make it? And what was it for?...
The two holes in its face bored into Albedo's mind, making the worst kind of eye contact.
Albedo looked away and kept moving. He was so cold he couldn't even shiver anymore. He was so weak, he wasn't sure he could make it... After all, he had given them everything...
Given who everything?... he knew he gave it to someone. His vitality, right?... Why couldn't he remember who?
Albedo's head hurt, and he seethed.
"You want to know more."
"Y-yes," Albedo did his best to stay composed, "I don't know how much you know, but... I want to know who made you."
"Who made me..." It was silent for a long moment, "... I do not know."
Albedo's shoulder sank, "oh... Then this is a question I'm sure you don't know the answer to... but I'll ask anyways. Do you know what the meaning of this world is?"

Huffing, Lisa drew a salt circle and started crushing ingredients with her mortar and pestil.
Kaeya laid Albedo down carefully in the middle of the circle, "Lisa..."
Klee took Kaeya's hand and squeezed it, "don't be scared, Kaeya. Lisa is really good at keeping Albedo alive. She's done it many times before."
Kaeya smiled down at her, pain in his eyes, "I know, Klee." He sat down on his knees and Klee sat beside him.
Lisa shoved the stone bowl into Kaeya's hands before digging through her bag, "feed that to him."
"Feed it to-"
"Just put it in his mouth! It'll dissolve!" Lisa shivered, "man, this place is creepy!"
Klee shifted on her knees, holding Kaeya's hands tighter as she whispered, "why are all the Seelie staring like that..."
Kaeya noticed that the Seelie had eyes when they normally went away after the little guys became one with their courts... He pushed the thought from his mind, putting whatever Lisa had given him into Albedo's mouth.
"I don't know, Klee. Just ignore it, okay?" Kaeya was trying really hard to stay calm.
Lisa sat down on the other side of Albedo and poured a liquid into his mouth, "One is for drawing his mind back into his body, and the other is to help get rid of the intruder. Are we ready?" She held out her hands.
Klee took one and Kaeya took the other, making a small circle over Albedo.
Lisa nodded and they all closed their eyes. "Please, let this work."