The corridors of the Knights of the Favonius Headquarters were unusually quiet that afternoon. Sunlight filtered through tall, arched windows, casting long streaks of gold across the polished stone floor. Aether walked beside Kaeya, his steps measured, his mind still racing from the meeting with Jean earlier.
Every door they passed felt heavy with authority, knowledge, and secrets—things Aether was still not sure he wanted to be part of.
Kaeya, hands tucked casually into his coat pockets, glanced sideways at him with a faint smile."Relax," he said lightly. "If Albedo starts dissecting you on the spot, I'll make sure to stop him. Probably."
Aether shot him a wary look. "That's… not reassuring."
They stopped before a wooden door etched with unfamiliar alchemical symbols and precise geometric patterns. Kaeya knocked twice.
"Come in," came a calm, measured voice from inside.
Kaeya pushed the door open.
Albedo's Room
The room they entered was nothing like Aether had expected.
Instead of clutter or chaos, Albedo's laboratory was meticulously organized. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with thick tomes on alchemy, biology, ancient runes, and unknown scripts Aether had never seen before. Several worktables stood arranged with near-mathematical precision, each holding glass vials, alchemical tools, sketches of anatomical structures, and glowing samples suspended in liquid.
A faint scent of herbs and minerals lingered in the air.
At the center of it all stood Albedo, the Chief Alchemist of Mondstadt, his pale hair tied neatly behind him. He turned as they entered, calm amber eyes studying Aether with unmistakable curiosity.
"Captain Kaeya," Albedo greeted. His gaze shifted to Aether. "And… our guest."
Aether felt that look pierce through him—not hostile, but deeply analytical, as if Albedo were already peeling back layers of his existence.
"Welcome," Albedo continued. "I am Albedo. Please, make yourselves comfortable."
Aether nodded slowly, his eyes drifting across the room. This place feels… dangerous, he thought. Not because of weapons—but because of knowledge.
Albedo clasped his hands behind his back and stepped closer."You are fascinating," he said plainly.
Aether blinked. "Uh… thank you?"
Kaeya chuckled. "See? Compliments already."
Albedo tilted his head slightly. "Your physiology, your energy signature, and the way the world seems to respond to you—it's unlike anything I've studied. You possess abilities that do not conform to the laws of Teyvat."
Aether remained calm.
"I would like to study you," Albedo added calmly. "Not as a subject—but as a phenomenon."
Aether remained silent, staring at the floor.
Study me…?Am I just another experiment to them?
The Abyss Revealed
Before the silence could grow uncomfortable, Kaeya cleared his throat.
"Right," he said. "Let's get to the important part."
He leaned against a table, his usual smile dimming."Aether, what you've encountered so far is only the surface. The real threat behind Stormterror is something far older—and far more dangerous."
Aether looked up.
"The Abyss," Kaeya continued. "And the Abyss Order."
Albedo nodded. "An organization that seeks to overturn the natural order of this world."
Kaeya's visible eye sharpened."They have a leader. Someone capable of wielding powers… not unlike yours."
Aether's breath caught.
"Someone like me?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Kaeya replied. "Someone who doesn't belong here."
The room felt colder.
Aether with a confused look. "Then… what can I do to help?"
That single question made both men pause.
The Crystal Tears
Albedo turned toward one of the shelves and retrieved a small velvet case. Opening it carefully, he revealed three crimson crystal tears, faintly pulsing with dark energy.
"These are fragments of Dvalin's corruption," Albedo explained. "The Abyssal energy within them is unstable."
He held the case out."I want you to hold them."
Aether hesitated only briefly before extending his hand.
The moment the crystals touched his palm, a sharp pulse of dark energy surged outward—then vanished.
The abyssal aura surrounding the tears was drawn into Aether, swirling around his arm before dissolving into nothingness.
Kaeya straightened instantly. "Albedo—"
But the energy was already gone.
Aether stared at his hand.
Three pure, clear crystals rested in his palm, gleaming softly.
"…It's gone," Aether murmured.
Albedo's eyes widened—just slightly."Incredible."
Aether's Resistance
Albedo immediately stepped forward, scanning Aether with alchemical instruments and glowing sigils.
"No signs of corruption," he said slowly. "No instability. No adverse reaction."
Kaeya let out a low whistle. "You just absorbed Abyssal energy like it was nothing."
Aether flexed his fingers. "I feel… fine."
Albedo looked almost exhilarated."This confirms it. You are immune—or perhaps… incompatible—with Abyssal corruption."
He carefully took the purified crystals."These will be used to restore the Lyre of Barbatos."
They both bowed their heads slightly toward Aether.
"You've made a significant contribution," Kaeya said sincerely.
Aether nodded, still trying to process everything.
The Uncuttable Body
Albedo hesitated before speaking again."There is… one more request."
Aether looked at him.
"I would like a biological sample. Blood. Hair. Anything."
Aether exhaled slowly. "Alright."
Albedo prepared a needle and gently pressed it against Aether's arm.
Snap.
The needle broke.
Kaeya blinked. "...That's new."
Albedo frowned and tried scissors next—snip.
Nothing.
Aether sighed, reached back, and pulled a strand of hair free himself.
"Try this."
Albedo accepted it reverently."Thank you."
That evening, Aether returned to Springvale, collected his commission rewards from Katheryne. He decided to have some fried meat cooked by Brook, the chef.
At the Headquarters of the Knights of the Favonius.
Jean "So we got the pure tear crystals now. So what's next?" She looked at Venti.
Venti installed the three pure crystals in the Lyre.
Venti raising the Lyre "Now it is ready to go."
Jean and others decided to summon Dvalin on the cliff in the Starfell Valley after considering the safety of the citizens of the Monstadt city.
They then set off to summon Dvalin using the Lyre.
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About 2 hours after the meeting in the Headquarters. Aether was resting on his room after eating the meals Mrs Brook prepared for him. He was thinking of his meeting with Albedo. His thought then suddenly slipped on to a fact that there is someone out there capable of doing what he can.
As he was thinking about whether that person have any sort of connection with him, something unexpected happened. What he saw though his window was seriously concerning. The Dragon is attacking the city.
Aether "Tch, Again....." he let out a sign.
So many questions popped on his mind. He pulled himself out of his room and flew over to the city with the true intention of stopping the Dragon. As he flew over the city, he found a lot of monsters trying to enter the city. The Knights and so many masked fractions trying to stop the monsters.
.........................