Aether is digging for roots of petrified trees in a desolate domain on the far shores of Mondstadt.
Since he has to lean and contort to get access to the end of certain roots, he's placed Albedo's vision on a safe spot close to him but away from the seemingly endless abyss below. Albedo is sitting cross-legged next to the gem, and seeing him manifest is enough to put Aether's mind at ease.
Albedo's Vision has changed colour from white to red, but Aether doesn't know what that signifies, whether it is a mere trick of the light or a warning sign. He first noticed the change after their intimate conversation in Snezhnaya, but never had the chance to bring it up to Albedo. Even if he asks now, he doubts he'll get an answer.
Aether looks up at Albedo who's staring off in the distance.
"Albedo, I got us the roots. Roughly this size total," Aether gestures with his hands, unsure if Albedo can even sense anything besides him. "Just a few more things left to gather and I can set up the uh, array you had me write down. Or was it a reaction? I'm no good with terminology…"
Albedo tilts his head and doesn't answer.
Aether still keeps him updated, still talks, even if his conversations have become one-sided.
It's like he said. Every day Albedo loses more of himself. The very leylines that sustain him also wear him down. Whereas the various Gods, the Seven prime amongst them, could be likened to rocky cliffs towering under calm seas, Albedo was nothing more than a sandcastle under a rising tide.
Though Albedo's situation becomes more horrifying by the day, Aether tries to put up a brave face, acting as if things are still somewhat normal, as if Albedo is not slipping past his fingers.
"I'll just have a quick break to eat lunch and then go get everything else," Aether says as he sits down next to Albedo and takes out some cooked skewers.
Though silent, Albedo's gaze turns to him. Whether Albedo can consciously recognise him is doubtful, but at least he subconsciously trusts him, for Albedo reaches out to hold Aether's hand whenever he places it close by.
"My, my, what do we have here?"
Aether whips around to see a familiar, but unexpected face. "Kaeya?"
Kaeya gives him a little wave as he looks between him and Albedo with a raised eyebrow. "I'd heard rumours of strange ghosts around the neighbourhood and dropped in to check," he says as his gaze finally settles on Albedo. "It is good to see that our dear Chief Alchemist had one last trick under his sleeve. Though, did you really have to take out your frustrations on poor Springvale?"
Albedo doesn't answer. He doesn't even move to indicate he's aware of Kaeya's presence. Aether doesn't know if it's because Albedo can't see or hear him, or because he can't even focus enough to see or hear.
Kaeya's thin smile drops. "What's wrong?"
Aether gulps. "It's like… erosion, but quickened," he says, launching into a dumbed-down version of Albedo's already layman theory.
Kaeya listens to Aether's barely coherent explanation with furrowed brows. "And do you have a plan?"
Aether grimaces. Their best plan so far is recreating a physical form for Albedo, but that risks getting back into Celestia's radar, and he still has no allies who would outright rebel… Not to mention Celestia could easily threaten Klee's life or all of Mondstadt again… "We need a place away from the Gods' gaze."
Kaeya's smile returns. "I have just the thing then."
Aether crosses his hands. "The knights couldn't even organise a proper funeral–"
"Good thing I'm not here as a mere Knight of Favonius," Kaeya says with a small laugh and Aether takes a closer look at him. There's nothing that immediately stands out – except he notices an abyss mage mask by his hip, its presence obscured by his overly-ornamented outfit.
"... What are you here as, then?" Aether asks, his fingers fidgeting with the urge to draw out his sword.
Kaeya's eyes crinkle in delight. "A concerned royalty looking out for his subjects; synthetic or not is not an important distinction – my family's kingdom has become that rules over monsters after all."
Aether blinks a few times, trying to digest all this information. He had his suspicions, but to have them confirmed so blatantly… "This isn't an accidental meeting, is it?"
Kaeya's smile thins. "You'll find few things are in Teyvat."
