Chapter Text
Jean cleared her throat. Curious thing she did, because she didn’t really have something in her throat, but the air of the Knights’ Captains’ room was taut with silence. While their meeting had undeniably run much smoother than usual, a certain lack of ice puns had, ironically, brushed any possible filler conversation cold.
“One last thing…has anyone seen Kaeya as of late?” The Acting Grandmaster finally asked.
“Lawrence tried his door earlier today again, but he still wasn’t home. And yes,” Hertha began before Jean could speak again, “The reconnaissance team returned last night. Border patrol doesn’t remember seeing him.”
“Have we checked the tavern?”
“Thrice.”
“Ah.” Jean straightened some papers in front of her, a task Albedo suspected she had done at least 4 times in the last 5 minutes. “Well, it has only been…a week.” She cringed. “I’m sure he’ll turn up at some point. Dismissed.”
Albedo, Captain of the Investigation Team and Chief Alchemist, collected the various sketches he had created during the meeting and headed out of headquarters.
He stopped by a variety of places, firstly the alchemy table, then the goods shop, and at last, one more place that he seriously didn’t belong. Then, he left the city.
He took the scenic route–as much as he was a sucker for efficiency, Mondstadt’s spring was nothing to ignore. The sky was dizzy with pastels, a white sun grazing the sunset. The recent rains left a mist that teased his ankles.
He pivoted off the path into a forest facing Dragonspine, walking through the thick of trees, and at once it was like he had entered a vacuum, only broken by the rush of a distant stream and the rustling of wildlife passing wildlife. His boots crunched through the dewy grass until it broke way to a faint path, and, like it had built itself seconds ago, a house. The lock released itself with a click, and he opened the door.
Kaeya Alberich leaned back from the couch, a book open in his hands. His eye was a crescent with his smile.
“Welcome home.”