Surprise is a brief mental and physiological state, a startle response experienced by animals and humans as the result of an unexpected event. Surprise can have any valence; that is, it can be neutral/moderate, pleasant, unpleasant, positive, or negative.

Surprise was one of those odder emotions that Albedo was not a fan of, especially when Viox, Klee, and Miss Rei all were covered in scrapes and bruises when they entered the large Inn room that Zhongli and Miss Rei were staying in. Klee had a few cuts that covered her arms and legs and Viox had a large one that was across her cheek. Miss Rei seemed to be limping as to show one of her legs was heavily injured by something.

Albedo was unsure if he was feeling surprised or worried, according to a few sources, the emotions had similar outputs. He stood up and his hands went to the smallest of the group as Zhongli had gone over to Miss Rei.

"What happened?" Was the words out of Zhongli's mouth

"A small group of Hilichurls. We were walking to a shady spot towards near the waters, but deep enough that Klee's bombs wouldnt cause too much noise. We had been ambushed." Rei relayed, taking a moment to slowly sit down on the large bed. She seemed the most hurt out of the group.

Albedo looked towards Viox. Shock was a natural thing when the person experienced a trauma, and the look in Viox's eyes showed she was truly in shock about what happened. He broke his gaze to look over Klee, who's eyes seemed bright and excited about the event. "Klee? Are you alright?" He asked the younger, looking over her scraped knees and the smaller bruises on her shins as well. Nothing that a couple days would fix, but he had to make sure his adopted sister was alright. He wanted to show the emotion concern, but it was not possible at this time.

"I feel great! Miss Viox used her Vision and everything went away! It was so cool! She's the best!" Klee said excitedly, she was grinning.

Albedo was sure it was surprise his body was trying to process, due to Viox using her Vision. His blank blue-green eyes locked with normally a bright green, but this time, Viox's eyes were a dark green, murky and clouded with thought. "Viox?" He tried to get the other to respond.

"Hm? Oh…I'm okay…" Viox's words were quiet, her hands were shaking as well.

Albedo knew that she was in shock and needed to rest. He carefully picked up Klee and placed her on his hip as he gently grabbed Viox's hand. It was still warm, but the little trembles from her body told him that she needed a moment alone to herself.

"I need to take Viox and Klee to our room, do you think we can meet up tomorrow again?" Albedo asked as he looked towards Zhongli, who was busy tending his courted.

"Of course, I shall see you in the morning in our normal spot." Zhongli replied, waving the group off.

Viox didn't remember much of what was happening. She remembered hearing Klee's scream, and then she didn't even think, she used her Vision to protect the younger of course as the electric thorny vines ripped through the ground to push off the Hilichurls so she could get to Klee. Even though the other was a Vision holder as well, surprise attacks were never a good thing. Rei was struggling fighting off the two on her person. Viox raced over to the youngest member as she picked up Klee, who had looked all too excited about the sudden attack. She then darted over to Rei to help the other push back the two Hilichurls. She couldn't recall how her cheek got cut, nor how Klee scraped up her knees. She remembered Rei's blood curdling scream as they darted from the area. After they got to the Inn, everything went blurry. She didn't recall Albedo leading them back to their own room, nor the hot tea cup that was placed in her hands.

She looked down at Klee. The little one was resting her head in Viox's lap as they took a moment to calm from the events. Klee was fast asleep, though it was probably from the adrenaline rush that she had earlier.

"Viox?" Albedo's dull voice called out

Viox merely turned her head to the side, as a cool cloth touched her cut. She winced a little as Albedo rubbed the crusted blood away from her face. Not that she minded, but she watched him work in silence. He seemed focused on cleaning her cut. Viox wondered if it would scar due to the size of it, maybe she could show it off to Violet when they went back home, in less than a couple months. How long had it been since they left anyways?

Albedo paused in his movements as he carefully placed a bandage on Viox's cheek. "Do you remember what happened?" He asked

Viox blinked and then tried to recall what all happened. Maybe Rei had a better explanation than Viox did. She raked her brain, "I remember we had been walking down a little past the Inn, Klee was hunting the spawns of fish while Rei and I were behind her, talking about her wedding planning. We hadn't gone too far, but apparently it was enough to be ambushed by the Hilichurls. I remember Klee screaming, and helping her, before Rei screaming as well, and then we were back here." She tried to explain to the Alchemist who was looking at her. Viox sighed, "I apologize Albedo. I'm not sure all that happened. I just remember that Klee and Rei were in danger and I wanted to save them. That's all I really recall. Perhaps Rei and Klee have a better memory of what had happened." She said looking down at her lap. Her hand lazily was combing through Klee's hair, it wasn't in her normal pig tails, she had let Rei take those down for fish blasting to keep the sun off Klee's neck so she wouldn't burn.

"I can't say if I know the emotion I am feeling is relief, but thank you for thinking about Klee. I appreciate it." He said

Viox hated the fact the man's voice sounded like a washed-out, wet t-shirt that was faded of all color. The fact that his face, eyes, and voice never changed from the dull monotonous state. Surprised at this sudden emotion, Viox took a deep breath. She shouldn't think that way towards the person who honestly didn't have much time to live, afterall, he was just a Golem, it was pre programmed into his mind before he came into this world. "Albedo?"

The Alchemist turned his head towards her, listening.

Viox gave him a weak smile, "I appreciate all your hard work as of late. I know I haven't been the best to get along with, but I'm going to try and become your friend."

Albedo watched Viox for a moment, as that odd feeling that was called surprise resurfaced. He nodded his head at her words, unsure if he should respond. Afterall, there wasn't much he could say to the other at the moment. Should he be shocked? Concerned? He felt as if he had been thrown into a twisting wind current by the odd emotions trying to bubble up in his body and mind. If he had to pinpoint a feeling. Surprise was the newest of emotions. Though he wasn't sure why his body was trying to feel that.

He merely brushed it all off as he told Viox he would be back after talking with Rei and Zhongli about the events that happened. Viox had given him a smile as she waved him off.

Albedo walked the long hallways, climbing the stairs. His body was always on autopilot as he walked upwards to the other Inn room. His ears did pick up the sounds of someone following him as he reached the doors of Zhongli's room, he turned to see who it was that was also wanting to speak with the Ex-Archon, but his eyes only found a smaller man with a funny looking outfit that was array of the colors of green, black, white, and finally purple. His yellow cat-like eyes had some red liner underneath as his hair was short with some odd long pieces.

"Hello." Albedo greeted as he reached for the handle, his wrist being stopped as the other man grabbed it.

"Who are you, and why do you smell of her?" The other asked bitterly.

Albedo stared, he was unsure who, he smelt like, but he was going to play the dumb card that Sir Kaeya had used on the Alchemist one too many times. "I am unsure of what you are talking about Sir." He began.

The other glared, "You smell of that Sinner…That woman from the land of Sinners." He spat out.

Albedo thought about it for a moment, but before he could voice his sentence, the door to the room opened.

"Xiao? What are you doing here?"

Albedo had a lot to learn still, which wasn't a shock to the Alchemist who lived mostly on Dragonspine. Xiao was an Adeptus who lived at the Inn. He enjoyed the peacefulness of it according to Rei. Zhongli had somewhat raised Xiao, though Xiao had a few glares sent towards Zhongli when the other had talked about it. Xiao was a lot older than Albedo in terms of living, where Albedo had lost count, Xiao hadn't.

It wasn't all too bad as they all sat down at the low table in Rei's and Zhongli's room. Tea was served by Zhongli, in which Albedo never touched still, the bitterness of hot tea leaves always made it hard to enjoy the other sweet flavors that tea could have. "Xiao, you said I smelt of the Sinner, can you tell me if you know who that is?" Albedo asked as everyone settled.

Xiao stayed quiet for a long moment, his yellow eyes staring as if he was thinking of something, "She was older than me. Blonde hair and blue eyes. She came from a place below ground, near the other part of the world. The smell is like Cherry blossoms and dirt. She came here a few years ago and talked with Morax.-"

"You can call me Zhongli, Xaio." Zhongli interrupted gently before going back to his drink.

Xiao looked hesitant but nodded, "Zhongli. They had talked for a long while before she went to Inazuma again. Then after that, I couldn't follow her any longer."

Now this was a surprise if Albedo understood the emotion correctly. Xiao had followed Rhinedottir all the way to Inazuma and back, and then due he was unable to follow her anymore meant that she had gone towards the Chasm. Not a lot of people dare travel into the Chasm for many reasons. He looked over at Zhongli, who hadn't said a thing. Albedo didn't understand, did Zhongli not know of Rhinedottir going to the Chasm and then never returning? Xiao didn't seem like someone who would keep this information from the Ex-Archon. So Had Zhongli been lying to Albedo?

He wasn't sure, he had no leads due to the past week and a few days, Zhongli had done nothing but help Albedo. That's when it clicked. Zhongli was bound to a contract. Albedo looked at the man. "You couldn't say anything because of a contract."

Zhongli nods, still not saying anything really, before he clears his throat, "One who breaks the contract, will suffer the wrath of the Rock. We are bound. I could only help you on this trip, but not say where. If the day ever came to you needing to find her, and you came to me, that is where my clues would have led you, but heed my warning Albedo." The older man turned to fully face the Golem, "You may not like what you will find if you go there. It's best to stay away for now."

Albedo takes in what the other warns. He was unsure if he should listen, but he merely couldn't see Rhinedottir now. Not like this as a shell still. He nodded towards Zhongli as he turned towards Rei, "Please, can you tell me about what happened when you were attacked?"