SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 73 out, this is Chapter 74 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Pairings: Albedo/Sucrose, Zhongli/Mitsuko/Kazuha, One-sided Diluc/Mitsuko, One-sided Diluc/Jean
Disclaimers: Genshin Impact and Sailor Moon belong to miHoYo and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the plot, I hope.
Chapter 74: Teyvat Arc: Shadows Amidst Snowstorms, Part Two
A few days later...
"Albedo, we're here!" Paimon called out.
"Traveler, Paimon." Albedo greeted.
"How is your investigation going?" the Traveler asked.
"Your faces say that, perhaps, you haven't turned up anything?" Albedo guessed.
"We investigated all over the mountain, actually." Paimon admitted. "But we didn't see anyone that looked like you or hear of anyone else meeting you."
"This is not unexpected." Albedo agreed. "I haven't made much progress, either. He appears to know that we are looking for him and has opted to lie low for the time being. Still, there is one thing I found. I discovered footprints on some parts of the mountain, and although they were a little covered by the snow, I could tell they had been left by someone of a similar size to myself. The footprints were quite numerous, so I believe my next step will be to rule out each of the adventurers active on Dragonspine one by one."
"We can help with that." Paimon spoke. "We have plenty of contact with the adventurers. What was that!?" she squealed, hearing the noise of something tumbling in the distance.
"It came from that direction." Albedo turned.
"Could it be the impostor?" Paimon shivered. "Let's hurry!"
Outside...
"Did you see that?" Paimon instantly spotted the huge pile of fallen rocks near the camp entrance. "Did those rocks shake just now?"
"That was most unfortunate." Eula huffed in annoyance.
"I'd assume it was some sort of bad luck. The Traveler guessed, already knowing how it was with Bennett.
"I have to agree." Amber concurred. "We've been wandering this area for days."
"We ran into Pallad earlier." Bennett supplied. "You know, the kind of a reckless sort of guy? You know the one? Anyway, he said he was unlucky, so I gave him some adventuring survival tips."
"After that, he disappeared to rejoin the training camp." Eula added.
"Are you saying that after all this time, you still haven't made it back to the base camp?" Paimon exclaimed.
"As you can see..." Amber chuckled nervously.
"It was nothing, really." Bennett shrugged. "We just hit a few landslides and snowdrifts, and took a few downhill tumbles, you know the deal."
"They sound like unforgettable life events to me." Albedo pointed out.
"You're correct, we haven't made it to the base camp yet." Eula sighed. "We have had extraordinarily poor luck over the last few days, almost as if a sinister force has been trying to thwart our every move. Fortunately, I made advance arrangements for Gerald to remain in a safe location and conduct some basic physical training exercises."
"I'm sorry." Bennett voiced. "I'm the one to blame for all this. I've always had bad luck and it always rubs off on everyone around me."
"What can we do about that?" Paimon pondered. "Oh, Paimon knows, how about Paimon share some of her luck with you!"
"You're welcome to a bit of mine, too!" Amber offered. "Although, if the last few days are anything to go by, it seems in pretty short supply at the moment."
"Thanks." Bennett blushed. "With a little luck from everyone combined, we'll make it down this mountain for sure! Let me flip a Treasure Hoarder Insignia to test it out. It's tails, the opposite of what I guessed!"
"So, you can predict your fortune this way?" Paimon gawked. "But why are you so happy that you got it wrong?"
"It has two sides, so there is a 50-50 chance of me getting it correct." Bennett shrugged. "Luck all comes down to probability, too. So as long as I use up all the bad luck, everything else will go smoothly! Guessing wrong when I flip an insignia is one way to use up some of the bad luck. So, the probability of having some good luck in the near future just got a little higher. I guessed wrong in my insignia flip, which means we should be able to make it back to camp!"
"Paimon's not sure that's how it works." Paimon winced.
"Lemme try." Bennett stepped forward. "It's this way, right?! Ouch... Ow, my butt! What is this shard of ice doing here!" he complained, slipping on a sleet of ice.
"How truly miraculous." even Albedo was astonished. "This is a miracle of misfortune."
"I don't usually believe in luck, but Bennett makes the best case for it I've ever seen." Eula remarked. "Amber, if you are ever required to partner with Bennett in your future work and you encounter anything like this again, do not take any rash action. Wait for me and I will come to support you."
"Everyone must be exhausted." the Traveler instantly spotted Amber's tired look.
"Now that you mention it, I do feel a little tired." Amber hid a yawn. "Trekking in the mountains has a way of wearing you out."
"Since everyone is tired, why not take a rest in my camp?" Albedo offered.
In Albedo's camp...
"Here we are." Albedo led the group back. "Make yourselves comfortable. I forgot, I don't have that many chairs. Please wait a moment." pulling out his sketchbook, he started drawing.
"What's he doing?" Paimon wondered. "Painting?"
"He is painting a chair." Eula frowned. "Wait, alchemy can turn paintings into objects!? How is this possible?"
"My paintings are like blueprints — alchemy simply enables me to omit the manufacturing part of the process." Albedo explained. "It's an elementary-level technique. With enough research and experimentation, this same technique can even be used to create living beings. There's still some time before dinner." he added, after everyone settled in. "Get some rest, everyone. I'll tend the stove."
"Dinner's ready!" Paimon cheered as the stew in the stove started boiling. "Food's ready, everyone! Come on, let's eat!"
"I made a few dishes based on some popular Mondstadt recipes." Albedo introduced his dishes. "This is no Good Hunter, but there should be enough to go around. Please, help yourselves."
"Paimon's full." Paimon sighed in content. "What a great meal!"
"Albedo, you're too modest." Bennett praised. "These dishes are as good as anything you'd find in a top restaurant. Are all alchemists so good at cooking?"
"Paimon thinks so, too!" Paimon nodded. "It's his lab manner that gives it away — the kind of guy who holds a potion bottle as steady as a rock isn't the kind of guy who's gonna be slapdash with his salt and pepper."
"I'm so sleepy after all that food." Bennett started dozing off.
"He seems to be in a deep sleep." Paimon noted. "Paimon wonders if he sleep-talks?"
"No dad, no apples for me..." Bennett muttered. "I want Sticky Honey Roast and Fisherman's Toast."
"Sticky Honey Roast." Eula turned to Amber. "That's your favorite, isn't it, Amber?"
Sure is!" Amber nodded. "Give me a Sticky Honey Roast from Good Hunter any day! I used to take Eula to Good Hunter a lot back when we first met. Before long, Sara would start cooking our usual orders as soon as she saw us coming. She said we ordered the same things so often that it was practically muscle memory by that point! She also said that if everyone in Mondstadt ordered like we do, her job would be so much easier. All she'd have to do is to memorize everyone's favorites."
"Ahem!" Eula huffed. "Two people simply sharing a meal says nothing either way about the relationship between them."
"That depends if it's a one-off meal or a regular occurrence." Albedo pointed out.
"Paimon just noticed something!" Paimon exclaimed. "Whenever Eula doesn't want to admit to something, she raises her chin or puts her hands on her hips."
"You've all picked up on that." Amber giggled. "Didn't know Eula's tells were so easy to spot. And don't think I didn't notice you snacking on the Inazuma sweets Sucrose always brings back, Albedo." Amber teased.
"Oh..." Paimon looked interestedly at the blonde alchemist. "So, you and Sucrose..."
"Yes," Albedo answered, slightly flushing. "We're in a relationship."
"We are done here, yes?" Eula was not interested in any gossip. "I am free to go, am I not? Please excuse me. I have a frozen lake I need to be at."
"Wait up, don't go without me!" Amber ran after Eula.
"Alright you two, time to paint." Albedo declared.
The next morning...
"The path down the mountain is easier to follow in the daylight." Albedo reasoned. "Let's take this chance to head down to the base camp."
"If we make good time, maybe we can all get lunch together." Paimon agreed.
"I flipped another insignia just outside the camp." Bennett revealed. "Wrong again!"
"So, your bad luck is all used up." Amber noted. "We'll be down the mountain in no time!"
"My thoughts exactly, today's the day!" Bennett was confident.
"Oh no!" Albedo breathed, spotting a rock by his feet and looked up to see the incoming snowslide. "Avalanche!"
"Look out!" Bennett yelled in warning, Eula pulling Amber aside.
The avalanche then swept Bennett down the broken wooden bridge, with Albedo jumping after the younger boy. With the avalanche burying the bridge, Amber, Eula, Paimon, and the Traveler were forced to retreat.
"I don't see the other two." Eula took stock of the remaining party. "I'm afraid the avalanche may have pushed them off the cliff. I think they're both robust enough to survive the fall. But if the falling debris knocked them unconscious, and they're lying there in the freezing cold. We have to get down there and rescue them, immediately."
Near the bottom of the cliff...
"Ugh..." Bennett moaned. "Guys, I'm over here."
"Are you alright?" Paimon asked worriedly. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm a little dizzy, but I'm not in any pain." Bennett replied. "I don't think I'm injured. Wait, where's Albedo? Isn't he with you guys?"
"We thought he fell off the cliff with you." Paimon pointed out. "He still hasn't shown up."
"We've found Bennett here, so Albedo can't be far away." Eula reasoned. "Keep searching this area."
"Where could he have gone?" Paimon wondered, the group reconvening after a fruitless search.
"Everyone." Rubedo called out.
"Albedo!?" Paimon gaped. "Are you okay?"
"Nothing serious." Fellflower Albedo replied.
"Everyone accounted for." Eula nodded.
"We should keep moving." Fellflower Albedo pressed.
"Our top priority now is to get off the mountain and regroup with the adventurers." Eula agreed. "Whatever further dangers this mountain has to throw at us, we must face them together."
"We've been heading in the right direction for a good length of time now — we must be getting close, I can feel it!" Amber declared as the group neared the camp.
Weird things have been happening this whole trip. The Traveler pondered. Something feels wrong, but what is it?
"I don't think I've spent so much time on Dragonspine before." Amber admitted. "It sure is cold, but the view is amazing! Isn't it, Eula? Eula?" she blinked when Eula did not respond.
"Sorry, I wasn't listening." Eula was snapped out of her thoughts. "What did you say?"
Something seemed to grab Eula's attention. The Traveler noticed Eula was distracted. Does she sense that something's off, too?
"Albedo, is this the way down?" Eula turned to Fellflower Albedo.
"I think there are several routes in this area." Bennett recalled. "Does the path fork off here? It looks like it does, but maybe it doesn't. My head's still a little fuzzy from the impact."
"Either path will work for us." Fellflower Albedo remarked. "The smaller trail is less worn and harder to see, but it's also shorter. Since everyone is weary, I suggest we take the shortcut. Follow me."
"Wait." Eula voiced, stopping. "Bennett and Amber don't look well. Can we take a break? We can continue once their conditions have improved. Traveler, I know what that look means." she noticed the Traveler's stern expression. "What's on your mind?"
"It's like something bad's about to happen." the Traveler admitted.
"Maybe seasoned veterans have an instinct for it." Eula agreed. "I sense it too. Something seems to have changed, but I can't confirm for sure; it could be difficult to verify. It might be... imprudent to speculate out loud. But I believe you know what I am referring to." she added, seeing the Traveler glance over at Fellflower Albedo.
"Watch out!" the Traveler warned, seeing Fellflower Albedo dash towards them, his sword drawn.
The Traveler blocked off the initial attack, Eula rejoining the fight by slicing through the ice spikes Fellflower Albedo threw at them. Fellflower Albedo then leapt into the air, firing a rain of ice shards at them which Eula blocked with her claymore. The fight also drew Bennett and Amber's attention, the pair running in to see the Traveler and Eula clash with Fellflower Albedo. Acting quickly, Amber fired a Pyro-charged arrow at Fellflower Albedo who dodged the attack. Slamming both hands onto the ground, he sent two rows of ice spikes at the Pyro user, only to have Bennett jump in, igniting his 'Fantastic Voyage' to melt the ice. Not caring that he was outnumbered, Fellflower Albedo was about to form a Cryo 'Solar Isotoma' when suddenly, he was stabbed in the back.
"Albedo!?" Paimon stammered. "What's..."
"It's not over yet." Albedo warned, jumping back when Fellflower Albedo reverted to his Fellflower form. "Brace yourselves. This will be a challenge."
"What in the world was that thing!?" Paimon demanded after the Fellflower was defeated. "One moment it was human, the next it was a plant."
"Is everyone alright?" Albedo asked.
"We're fine." Amber nodded. "But can you please tell us what's going on? I don't understand."
"I take it this monster is whom I had the pleasure of meeting last time." Eula reasoned.
"Correct." Albedo nodded. "As you might have guessed, this is a mutated whopperflower. An extremely rare kind."
"But can whopperflowers turn into humans?" Paimon asked.
"Not typically." Albedo responded. "But conditions on Dragonspine are far from typical. Perhaps the dragon's blood seeped into the land, then was passed to the monsters via the ley lines, accelerating their rate of mutation. This mountain is home to the remains of Durin, the venomous dragon. If there is anywhere in the world one might expect life to do unfathomable things, it would most likely be here. Durin was an artificially created life form. Its existence is nothing short of a miracle, and proof of countless possibilities. In other words, this mountain we stand on is a cradle of life's profoundest mysteries. A vast and terrifying hotbed of possibilities."
"The avalanche." Eula frowned. "It must have been the work of this impostor."
"Agreed." Albedo concurred. "All the other troubles you faced on the way down could also have been its handiwork. My guess is that it was targeting everyone that I've had contact with."
"Did this whopperflower steal your alchemy notes, too?" the Traveler wondered.
"It's not inconceivable." Albedo related.
"But, what was its purpose?" Amber asked. "Was it just trying to get rid of us?"
"I have a preliminary hypothesis on this." Albedo voiced. "Whopperflowers are masters of mimicry, and those we encounter in the wild often appear in the vicinity of the plants they impersonate. In other words, the whopperflower likely has an instinct to 'replicate and replace'. As a plant, it will disguise itself as another plant and infiltrate the group, hiding among them for cover. The plant being imitated has no way to detect or fight back against this behavior. But when it disguises itself as a human..."
"It wanted to replace you and infiltrate our group?" Paimon exclaimed.
"Yes." Albedo nodded. "Maybe it created the avalanche to get rid of us. I predicted this eventuality, so I availed myself of the avalanche to hide and lure it out. It was watching us the whole time, and when it saw that I had disappeared, its instinct was to take my place. At that point, its disguise was complete and its next move was to hunt its prey."
"So, when it approached and attacked Joel, what was that?" Eula wondered. "A trial run?"
"Perhaps." Albedo mused. "Or maybe it enjoyed posing as a human and wanted to experience what it felt like to be human."
"We're fortunate to have discovered it in time." Eula noted. "I think the Traveler was the first person other than Albedo to notice something was wrong."
"Traveler, how could you tell the real me and my impostor apart?" Albedo asked.
"The impostor didn't have a star-shaped mark on its neck." the Traveler answered.
"It goes to show how difficult it is to impersonate a human." Albedo explained. "This mutant whopperflower tried its best to replicate the original exactly, but still managed to miss some details."
A whopperflower... the Traveler mused. It adds up, but a piece of the puzzle is still missing. Was this the same one we met on the day we were chasing the thief? It didn't feel quite the same. Could the whopperflower's mutation be unstable?
"We've been delayed long enough." Albedo looked at the darkening sky. "Time to move on."
At Albedo's camp, after leaving everyone at the Adventurer Guild's campsite...
"Sorry for bringing you back here once again." Albedo apologized. "Some topics are best discussed in private."
"Is this about the impostor?" Paimon asked.
"That's right." Albedo nodded. "I have to say, Traveler, I'm very surprised you noticed the difference between me and the impostor."
"Do you mean the mark on your neck?" the Traveler inquired.
"This mark..." Albedo mused. "Perhaps it's where it all began. What do you think this diamond-shaped mark means?"
"A scar?" the Traveler guessed.
"Consider it... a birthmark." Albedo replied. "Have you ever seen an intricate glass ornament and wondered how it was made? One method for crafting with glass is a technique known as 'glassblowing'. Glassblowing is not a widely known art in Teyvat. For this reason, glassware made in this way is usually very expensive. As the name implies, glassblowing involves blowing air into a hole, much like blowing up a balloon. This type of glassware is known for having a 'pontil mark' at the point where the blowpipe was inserted, where the hole was sealed at the very end. This mark is a sign that the item was crafted by a human hand. It is a wondrous and beautiful art form. Alice says that these marks are seen as proof of the maker's fine handiwork, the only flaw in an otherwise perfect work of art. My mark is something similar to this. The difference between synthetic and natural life lies in the directional flow of the life force. The energy of a natural life form flows out from within. That's why flower buds bloom and curled leaves unfold. It is the very reason we watch in wonder at blossoming flowers. Creating life artificially, on the other hand, involves — to a certain extent — the introduction of an external source of energy into the embryonic life form. When the hole where the life force was infused is sealed at the end, it leaves a mark not dissimilar to the pontil mark in blown glass wares. The alchemical substance drips and spreads out in all directions, resulting in this rather ingenious diamond shape. This mark is a sign of my artificial origins, and proof of my imperfection as a human. I presume that the impostor intentionally avoided replicating this mark, so as not to become less than perfect himself."
"Should you be telling me all this?" the Traveler asked.
"You are fundamentally different from other people." Albedo assured. "I have few qualms about sharing my secrets with you. The transcendent and miraculous are not the only things to which human beings aspire. They pursue the everyday, the ordinary, to a far greater extent than I would have ever imagined. People like to believe that those who are thoroughly different from themselves could only ever exist in stories. It makes things much easier. Or in other words, all the unfathomable things we have seen recently would make good material for a novel. I have friends who write novels. If they wrote this story, it would probably be even more complex."
"Making up stories is easy." Paimon bragged. "Even Paimon can do that!"
"I didn't know you had that kind of talent." Albedo remarked. "In that case, how about we have a storytelling contest? We can base our stories on the events of the last few days. My story..." he stood outside his camp after the Traveler left; a snowflake landing on his hand. "Yes, I should have known." he looked up at the sky. "Master's failed specimen in the dragon's belly. This is where the story truly begins. If we switched places, if you were the survivor, then, as the abandoned experiment, the failure of the Primordial Human Project, I'd wanna replace you too." he turned to see Rubedo staring at him on a cliff. "I would replicate your appearance, study your alchemy and create miraculous lifeforms." drawing out the Cinnabar Spindle, he proceeded to meet with Rubedo. "To divert your attention, I would wait for the right moment, then dispose of you and the Traveler; the sole person to have known your secret. Now that I have someone important I want to protect... Sucrose, please forgive me for what I'm about to do, Sugarplum."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.