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The sky was grey, dark clouds always looming over the kingdom buried under layers of snow and ice. Tiny flakes of snow were slowly descending down, painting the surrounding forest in layers of white. And not far behind it was followed by an icy air that bit at Albedo’s cheeks and exposed skin. The sun had already long set, giving away to the night. Thick fog curled close to the ground, making it near impossible to see what lay ahead in the already blinding white surroundings.
Amidst the solitude of the forest sat a castle with a red tiled roof. Green ivy grew up alongside its walls, stubbornly clinging onto it in spite of the season. What were once rows of several vineyards now sat abandoned with only the bitter frost forming alongside it. Apparently it had once been a highly profitable winery, according to what the townsfolk had said. Yet despite its clearly worn down state, the estate itself looked barely affected at all, as if it had been plucked straight out of a picture book and now sat frozen in time, isolated from the world with only the snow and trees to keep it company.
In there he would be able to find what he had been looking for. Master’s mission was what had made him end up all the way out here.
In order to finish the final project assigned to him he would need Inteyvats, the national flower of the fallen kingdom of Khaenri’ah. The only problem was that the flower couldn’t be found anywhere on Teyvat. No matter how hard he searched or tried to find a solution it had always frustratingly ended up in failure and he would be left to where he started. And going to Khaenri’ah would practically be a death sentence. Albedo had even begun to wonder if his Master had given him an assignment that was impossible to solve on purpose, or at least it was so till he had come across an interesting rumour in Mondstadt.
Far down the road, close to Wolvendom’s forest, where the trees stretched tall up into the sky and where the wolves howled at night in harmony with the wind, an old abandoned castle could be found.
Albedo’s breath left him in foggy clouds, a shiver ran down his spine as his teal eyes were glued to the building in front of him.
Shaking his head the blonde broke out of his stupor and began approaching the front door of the winery. He couldn’t help the creeping sensation that he was being watched, though by what he wasn’t sure. Lifting his hand he knocked on the door, each knock echoing out on the other side. When none came to answer he pushed the door open and peeked his head inside.
“Excuse me?” Asked Albedo into the deafeningly silent hallway.
It was a big entryway with a staircase leading up to the upper floors in the middle. Huge red curtains were drawing tightly over the windows, it was cold inside, he could even spot a few cobwebs hiding in the corners. Albedo couldn’t help but note that the air smelt stale like someone hadn’t aired out the place in years, and yet the whole place seemed spotless clean, not a signs of wear or tear, not a signs of dust covering the surface of the furniture decorating the hallway, there was only the occasional cobweb. It was cold and empty yet lived in. Contradicting, yet those two conclusions seemed to live in harmony together here in this empty manor.
No one answered, only silence greeted him.
Frowning, Albedo walked further inside. “Hello? Is anyone home?” The door’s hinges creaked loudly as it slammed closed behind him.
“And just what do we have here?”
Albedo flinched. His head snapped up and he was immediately greeted with the sight of a man standing by the end of the stairs. The blonde hadn’t even noticed him there, it was as if he had just emerged out of the shadows themselves.
The man had deep navy blue hair, his skin tanned with an ashen tint. He wore a simple loose white shirt, black corset, boots and pants. Yet, what was most noteworthy about the man was the pair of fangs poking out from between his lips and his uncovered eye, lilac in hue with a pupil in the shape of a four-pointed star.
He felt sweat trickle down his back. Albedo had to resist the urge to reach up and touch the same star that was tattooed on his own neck.
“Are you the master of this castle?”
“That depends, who's asking?” The other asked in return smoothly.
“My name is Albedo Kreideprinz, I'm an alchemist,” said Albedo slowly. “I- i’m trying to find something and according to all the stories and rumours yo-”
The lilac eye flashing a blood red was the only warning Albedo got before he felt sharp claws digging into the skin of his jaw. His head was yanked forward against his will.
Albedo gasped. His eyes widened, what had once been a lilac colored eye was now blood red. He could now see the fangs poking out from lips. A vampire. Just like the rumours and stories said. A shiver went down his spine as that blood colored eye watched him coldly as one may regard a fly.
Kaeya watched him carefully, “And pray tell, why should I not just tear out your throat from where you stand? What do you have to trade in exchange for scuttling about in my home, dear alchemist?”
The blonde gritted his teeth and pushed the hand holding his jaw aside. “Perhaps I could teach you some manners first,” said Albedo flatly as he stared into the creature of the night’s gaze, rubbing at the sore spot on his jaw where the vampire had grabbed him.
“Well, aren’t you an interesting fellow,” said the vampire, his eye gleaming in amusement and no longer glowing bright red. “You must pardon my rudeness then. I don’t often get visitors, and when I do they rarely come here with good intentions toward myself.”
Monster hunters. Albedo had heard about them, an underground organization that hunted down things of a supernatural nature. They exterminate monsters and anything supernatural to sell their parts for a high price on the black market.
“It’s fine…i suppose i was at fault as well for just walking in unannounced.”
The vampire clasped his hands together with a smile. “Glad we set those differences aside. So what exactly did you come here in search for?”
“As I mentioned before, I'm an alchemist, I’ve been brought here due to the last assignment my master gave me. The experiment my master wished me to carry out is one that would require me to obtain inteyvats. And according to the rumours and stories, you’re the one in possession of them in that backyard of yours. So if possible then I would like to stay here for the duration of which it takes me to finish my experiment. I would of course make sure to be of no disturbance to you during all that.”
“Alright then.”
That… was easier than what he had expected. Albedo lifted an eyebrow in disbelief.
The vampire huffed in return upon sensing his silent question, “I don't care what you get up to, or do. As long as you keep out of my way and clean up after yourself.”
Albedo blinked. “Just like that?”
“Quite so, not sure what else you expected of me.”
“I had pictured you’d want something in return in exchange for letting me stay and sample the flowers in your garden.”
“I apologize for disappointing you then. Though I doubt you would have something equal to exchange if I did demand such a thing.”
“I suppose I should be grateful for your generosity then,” replied Albedo dryly.
“Then that is settled.” The vampire reached out his hand, a sly expression on his face. “Kaeya Alberich, at your service, alchemist.”
The blonde hesitantly reached out his own hand and shook the one offered to him. His skin was as cold as the snow outside he noted. “Albedo Kreideprinz. I’ll heed your warnings and ensure this partnership won’t become a bother for you.”
“Then it would seem we have a deal, dear.”
His master often told him stories of the place that was once her home country. A kingdom deep beneath the earth that once stood proud and grand. A land with technology far advanced, a land whose trees and flowers were said to glow silver as moonlight.
“Now it is a place with little left,” she would often end her stories with.
“I expect you to follow closely behind me, to learn from me and to carry out the assignments I give you till the very last one. Only then may I grant you the permission of being satisfied with where you stand. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, master,” he had once said, back when he was a newly apprentice who had just been taken in from the street.
A hand reached up and gently patted his head, his master looking down at him with a look Albedo couldn’t decipher past the mask she had put on herself.
It had been two weeks since Albedo was “invited” to stay at the manor/castle. His time there so far had been… surprisingly mundane, all things considered. Well, at least if you didn’t count the vampire he was living with.
They barely met each other, whether it was due to difference in routine, or simply having different plans through the days. It was almost like living with a ghost, he could feel the presence of the other, lingering around the corners and in the shadows of the manor, yet he remained hidden out of sight and far out of reach. Granted it was in that aspect pretty much what he had expected, what he hadn’t expected was the meals.
The first day he had walked into the kitchen after having woken up to see about making himself something to eat, instead he had been greeted with an already made meal prepared for him. A simple note of ‘For the Alchemist’ beside it.
The few times he hadn’t gone directly to the kitchen and instead stayed at the greenhouse to continue his experiment, he had instead gotten the food delivered to him right outside by the door.
He had questioned the other about it once on a rare occasion where he had run into him.
“Well it would be mannerless of me as a host to not feed my guest, and we can’t have that now, no?”
He really does not give out anything for free, thought Albedo. To talk in circles without talking about anything of substance that could give yourself away, in a way it reminded him the same way his master talked. Though she was a lot more monotone and less animated than the vampire. They were similar yet so different. The other was apparently also very petty, Albedo had realised in that instant.
Albedo was abruptly brought out of his musing as a sudden loud klang echoed out throughout the castle, the sound of screaming and cursing following closely behind.
He sprung up and ran out into the hallway towards the direction of where the sound had come from.
It didn’t take long before he came across what had caused the commotion. Three men were lying on the ground, they were wearing heavy cloaks and had several daggers sheathed in their belts. One man had a stake clenched tightly in his fist. Their faces were ashen grey and their cheeks were sunken in and their necks had bite marks with red blood staining their necks.
His eyes darted from the three dead men on the ground to the vampire who was standing above them, his red glowing eye carefully observing Albedo. His heartbeat was still thundering in his ears and he could feel the cold sweat slowly trickling down his back. Albedo forced himself to take a gasping breath. “Who...?”
“They’re simply some uninvited guests who saw themselves fit to parade around as if this place was their own hunting ground, i think i mentioned something happened once in a while to you before, hm?” Albedo frowned. “You needn't look that serious, dear. They’re no concern of yours, it’s my head they’re after first and foremost.”
“Oh,” was all Albedo could reply with as he took several deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
“You seem oddly calm,” remarked Kaeya, his tongue darted out between fangs to lick off the blood from his cheek. His smile had never gone out of place, hadn’t since the day they'd met, but that lilac eye was staring at him straight to his soul. Probably calculating everything from the rate of his heartbeat to the subtle changes of his expression.
“Do you not want me to be?”
That made Kaeya look up to meet his gaze.
The two of them regarded each other silently.
“Are you injured?” Asked Albedo first.
Kaeya blinked, “i- what?”
“I asked if they managed to inflict you any injuries,” repeated the blonde as he glanced at the vampire from head to toe.
“There’s no need for worrying, dear alchemist, I'm quite fine.”
Albedo gave him a skeptical look.
“I can assure you that I am fully capable of taking care of myself,” Kaeya replied with a huff. “You can leave again, my apologize for the disturbance, there’s no need to concern yourself with this.”
His eyes darted between the dead men and Kaeya. “But-”
“No buts. This is my matter to deal with. We agreed to stay out of each other’s way did we not?” Kaeya was still smiling but his eye was watching him coldly.
Albedo hesitated, he wanted to protest, but he could clearly sense that this was not a topic the vampire was willing to bring further into discussion. Feeling defeated, the blonde nodded slowly.
“As you wish then.” Was all he said as he slowly walked away again, an acidic bubbling sensation rising in his throat.
“Albedo,” his teacher one day asked. “What is the use of alchemy for?”
He was confused as to why she was suddenly quizzing him this far into his apprenticeship on something like this. “Alchemy is the transmutation and creation of materials. If mastered it can be used to mature, purify, reshape and perfect the very basis of what makes up our world,” he answered easily as he continued to scribble down notes.
“Yes, good,” Master had said. “And what is the best way to master alchemy?”
Albedo paused in his writing as he thought it over. “A great mind and intelligence? The willingness to learn and the self-discipline to hold onto whatever knowledge is required to understand, to understand and to keep learning its formulas and basic principles.”
She nodded. “While those are certainly important, they’re not the thing every alchemist should require.”
The apprentice finally lifted his head from his notes and cast his master a curious glance. “Then what is it?”
“It’s curiosity, the willingness to understand the unknown things about our world that we’ve yet to understand.”
Albedo hadn’t meant to go snooping. He had simply needed a break from his experiment after repeatedly running into a wall, so he had opted to take a walk around the castle to explore and clear his head. After all there were many places in it that he had yet to have been in.
That was how he had found himself in a hallway on one of the upper floors. Its walls were lined with paintings of what he assumed to be generation upon generation of this household. And at the end of the hall he had found himself entranced with the last painting in this line of multiple ones.
Albedo stared up at the painting. Each stroke looked like it had been made with purpose and with a delicate care. There was so much life and warmth in it. It was beautiful.
The painting was of a man with red curly hair tied into a ponytail, bangs on either side of his falling down to his chin where a beard sat. He had kind eyes. To his left was a boy with the same identical red hair that fell down along his back and with the same red eyes that sparkled with warmth. The boy had his chest puffed out in pride. But what made him pause was what was to the right of the man.
A young boy with tanned skin who was an eyepatch and lilac eye with a star shaped pupil sat up against him, looking as if he wanted to hide behind the man, his tiny fist clenched tightly in his sleeve. Most notable though was the small fangs peeking out from between his lips.
Neither of the three of them looked out of place. A happy close-knit family.
The sound of steps behind him broke him out of his trance-like state. Turning his head, Albedo was greeted with Kaeya staring at him, given how secretive the vampire was with anything to do with himself, albedo was surprised to find no hostility in that lilac eye. Only an emotion that Albedo couldn’t decipher shone in his eye.
What Kaeya expected of him to say he isn't sure. He didn’t really care to play into his games. So Albedo simply lifted a brow at him and turned his attention back to the painting.
Part of him expected Kaeya to bristle at his lack of reaction, or even try to push his buttons in order to get a certain reaction and rise out of him. Yet he got neither of that.
There was a long pause of silence before the sound of approaching footsteps was heard behind him. Slow and calculated as the vampire made a deliberate effort to make his steps audible. Only coming to a standstill as the vampire stood beside him.
“You’re not going to ask?” Asked Kaeya, the first to break the silence.
“About?”
“I’m sure at this point you must have several questions,” explained Kaeya.
He pursued his lips. “And you’d answer them?”
“Well, I just might, depending on what burning questions you carry around. I’m sure at this point you’d like a few explanations.”
Albedo glanced back at the man beside. “You don’t owe me anything, if anything I'd say I'm the one who owes you, you’re letting me stay free of charge and have even let me practically take over the greenhouse for my experiment. Yes, I'm curious and may wish to know more, both about this place and you. But I'm not going to force you, nor do I want you to feel that you have to force yourself to do so.”
“Is that so?”
The blonde hummed in response. “I apologize if I'm overstepping with this comment, but if I may be so bold, you’ve been nothing but accommodating and kind since my stay here. You’re someone whomst well-being I've begun caring about. I do not wish to make you uncomfortable with my inquiries.”
The bluenette silently stared at him with wide eyes. At his continued silence, Albedo was beginning to become concerned whether he had overstepped, but then a sharp bark of laughter left the other with a shake of his head. Yet little humor seemed to be found in his expression, pinched, almost in pain, as it was.
“I see.”
The blonde waited, sensing that the other wasn’t quite done speaking yet.
Kaeya took a deep breath before meeting his gaze again. “In that case, I can assure you have my full permission to inquire as much as you’d like.”
“You don’t ha-”
“Yes, so you’ve made me aware. But it’s a different matter if I explicitly give you permission to, no?” interrupted Kaeya before he could even finish his sentence.
“You were adopted.” It was more of a statement rather than a question.
“No, really? Whatever gave it away? The fangs?”
Albedo rolled his eyes and elbowed him, which only earned him a snicker in response.
They stood in silence for another short moment before Albedo dared to ask, “what are their names?”
Kaeya glanced at him before his eye trailed back to the painting, a longing expression on his face. He pointed first at the man, “Crepus Ragnvindr.” Then at the other child in the painting, “Diluc Ragnvindr, his son as I'm sure you could have guessed.”
“Hm, like two peas in a pot.”
“You could say that again. The Ragvindr genes run strong.”
“They look kind,” commented Albedo.
Kaeya inhaled sharply before slowly letting go of it again. “Yeah. They were.” A pause of silence. “Foolishly kind as only humans can be, even to creatures so unlike them.”
“Yet you speak of those traits fondly,” pointed Albedo out.
That made the vampire smile, something warmer, something more alive taking place in his expression. “I like kind people. Foolish as those emotions may be, it would be a lie to declare it wasn’t what made me love them in the first place.”
“In that case I'm glad on your behalf that you managed to meet kind people like them”
Kaeya gave a small shy smile at that comment. No extravagance or act to play. Just truth.
Albedo couldn’t help but internally think that it was a good look on him.
The temperature had slowly gotten warmer and the ground was now wet with melted snow. The wind still remained cold, biting at any exposed skin it could sink its teeth into. It would still be a month till green grass and flowers would begin sprouting out the ground anew. Albedo looked forward to when spring would come.
He came to a stop as he rounded a corner in the garden.
Kaeya was standing a few feet away with his back to him, the air around him was tense and heavy as his gaze was fixated on two headstones in front of him. From where Albedo stood he could even spot a small collection of wild flowers sitting on each grave. A task that couldn’t have been easily done given the lack of greenery in the current season.
Suddenly Albedo was hit with an onslaught of memories. A master who had brought him in from the streets. Had taught him everything from how to hold a pencil, to the basis of alchemy and taught him her ways. He thought of that woman who had never been fully able to engrasp warmth, yet who remained gentle with him as freshly fallen snow. How her eyes shone whenever he grasped something difficult that she had lectured him on. How she had never truly spoiled or coddled him, but still remained in a chair at his bedside on days when he was unwell, her voice quiet and monotone as she read from one of her books in an attempt to make him fall asleep. How she had laid a hollow shell of what she once was as sickness plauged her body, her hand firmly wrapped around his as she gave him his final assignment.
And it was all so painstakingly familiar to him. He knew that look, knew what it entailed and meant. To be lost in a place that turned from familiar to a stranger. To grieve. Albedo wasn’t sure what to do, wasn’t sure if it was his place to care. It was hardly like him to stick his nose into others’ business. Perhaps it would be better to pretend not to have seen anything and walk away as if nothing happened.
Except Albedo didn’t.
Slowly, Albedo approached Kaeya to stand beside him, there was no way Kaeya hadn’t heard him coming from kilometers away. But Albedo still felt it appropriate to approach with care given the vampire’s current demeanor.
He couldn't help but frown as Kaeya didn’t as much as acknowledge his approach, not even sparing him a glance as he came to stand beside him. It wasn’t like him to have his guard down this much.
Just what would be the best to say in this situation? What was he even supposed to say? Albedo could hardly understand other people on a good day, to claim knowing what a vampire would feel would be arrogant. The silence felt sick and suffocating.
“It’s quite funny,” began Kaeya, his voice steady yet quiet as small ripples in water. “I’ve spent my whole life torn between what I am and what I wished to be, grieving for myself and for those I deceived by hiding my true nature from. Grieving this second undead life granted to me. Mourned those who had already left me and those who still lived by my side.”
“It’s quite contradictory, I suppose I’m not making much sense am I?” Asked Kaeya aloud, though the question didn’t seem to be meant in Albedo’s direction. A scornful reminder to himself if anything else. Or maybe it was an attempt to chase off that stale silence that permanently now filled the once lively castle.
Albedo hummed, “I wouldn't necessarily say that. contradictions are human nature, it’s what makes us seem humane. Feelings are complicated things, they’re delicate in nature. And in return they are often the most complex to decipher and put into words or simple categories.” He paused before continuing, “...And I think the fact that you ponder over this so deeply is a testimony to how much you care. To grieve someone at your side that you know you can’t keep there forever, is that not proof of those feelings in itself?”
“...You really are a peculiar human.” Kaeya shook his head, a smile creeping up on his face despite himself. Albedo couldn't help the small feeling of victory rushing through him at the sight.
“You would not be the first to call me so.”
“Oh~ Is that so?” The vampire leaned down with a smile to be more in the blonde’s view, a teasing glint in his eye. Any previous burden weighing him down was gone for now. “Do tell me about one of those stories of yours in return, dear alchemist.”
“Hm, I'm afraid they’re nothing too terribly interesting though.”
Kaeya’s gaze softened as he offered out an arm to the blonde. “Maybe. Even so, I'd like to hear them. I also think it’s about time you share something, after all you’ve been listening to me prattle on an awful lot ever since your stay here.”
Albedo gracefully accepted the offered arm, linking his own elbow around the other.
“That so? Well, I suppose I can entertain you. In that case I can start with the time I had to resort to eating spiders during an expedition.”
The blonde couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the horrified look Kaeya gave him at that.
The doors to the library were pushed open, the force of it almost making them bang against the wall.
Kaeya's head perked up from where he was lying on the couch. To his surprise it was Albedo. He had hardly seen the blonde the past few days, the other had been too busy with his experiment in the greenhouse, where he had practically locked himself up.
He would have been alarmed if it wasn’t for the fact that the blonde alchemist was smiling, a buzzing quiet of eager energy seemed to vibrate off of him. Kaeya could even hear how his heart was beating against his ribcage like a hummingbird in a beautiful melody. Had the other run all the way here? Or was it just pure excitement?
“Hello to you too, my dear alchemist. May I ask what brought you here in such a hurry?”
Instead of answering Albedo walked up and practically dragged him up from his seat and out the library’s doors.
“Albedo what is-”
“It’s done,” interrupted the blonde.
“What?”
“The experiment, I managed to succeed,” he explained.
The vampire huffed fondly, finding the blonde’s excitement adorable. Kaeya let himself be practically dragged through the castle and through the door to the backyard. The sun had already set and the black night sky was now out, the silver moon and stars casting its light onto the ground.
Albedo went over and held the door to the greenhouse open for both of them and then herded Kaeya over to stand in the middle of it. Kaeya observed him quietly as the other excitedly went over and took a bottle off the table he had set up for his experiment. The liquid inside of it was glittering and constantly changing its hues from purple to blue.
“It took me a while, especially when it came to figuring out how to apply the inteyvats into the recipe since my master didn’t list how it should be prepared,” Albedo explained. “It should activate as soon as I remove the cork.”
“And you wished for me to be here as it did?”
“Of course,” he answered. “I would have never been able to fulfill this task my master had given me if it hadn't been for your hospitality. It’s only right that I share the result with you.”
Kaeya smiled. “In that case it would be a great honor.”
Albedo returned his smile warmly. With the bottle in hand he walked a little away before setting the bottle down on the ground. The blonde took a deep breath, “alright, here goes nothing.” He swiftly removed the cork and hurried over to stand beside Kaeya again.
They both watched entranced as a dark blue mist rose out from the bottle and up into the air. It rose higher and higher, spreading out and nearly covered the whole ceiling as it went. The mist swirled, changing between different hues of purple and blue. White sparks began appearing amongst it, glittering and twinkling as they drifted along in the mist. They almost looked like stars hanging in the night sky. Slowly those little white stars descended, swirling around like a meteor shower between them, only to change and shift between many tiny different forms and shapes. From birds flying, to fish swimming, to rabbits jumping through the air, to deers running circles around the two of them.
Throughout it all Kaeya couldn’t help but watch the awe-struck expression of the alchemist at his side. Albedo was watching it all with such warmth and awe that it nearly took his breath away. And had he paid a little more attention, he would even realise that beneath his own ribcage a heart that had been dead for decades had slowly started beating to the sound of a low and slow rhythm.
Before Kaeya realised what he was doing, he had already leaned over and gently pressed his lips against the blonde’s temple. His skin was smooth beneath his lips and he smelled of inteyvats and chalk with the faintest hint of sugar present.
Albedo froze, his eyes widening.
Kaeya drew back immediately and stared back at the blonde equally shocked. “I- uh-” The vampire found himself speechless and unable to come up with any sort of fitting excuse. “I-i shouldn't ha-”
But before he could finish his sentence Albedo pulled him down by the front of his shirt, and kissed into a proper kiss. A noise of surprise left Kaeya as he felt the blood starting to circulate in his face again. Carefully he shifted, wrapping his arms around the small of the blonde’s back and pulling him closer to deepen the kiss. Neither of them pulled back till they were both out of breath.
The smile on both of their faces mirrored each other, shy but never fading as they turned to observe the rest of the swirling mist, quietly enjoying each other’s presence and company.