The conversation indeed brought back unpleasant memories for the gem.

Albedo made sure to explain his hypothesis regarding gems and how they functioned. It seems minerals in Teyvat can break once they are exposed to certain elemental reactions, in their case, the overcharged explosion caused by Bennett and Razor's combined attack was strong enough to shatter them (although the gem suspected Noelle's shield had also affected their body but it would probably only reiterate Albedo's hypothesis).

From the small group present, Lisa was the one who appeared to be the most intrigued, as Amber and Jean shared puzzled expressions, while Kaeya seemed to be more focused on tossing a coin in his hand.

Phos was beyond confused. Sure, it somehow made sense to them that their body couldn't bear the damage caused by those so-called elemental reactions, but what was Albedo's purpose in explaining all of this to the others?

"I see, that makes sense." Jean finally spoke, placing a hand under her chin, in a thoughtful manner. After a brief pause, the blonde woman let out a tired sigh. "Then, do you consider it sensible for Phos to go on further expeditions?"

"Yes, but only to some extent." The alchemist responded. "From Amber's report, as well as Bennett's testimony, I am more than sure that Phosphophyllite has the skills to go on expeditions and protect themselves. However, I'd highly suggest that they only go outside the city with someone else, I'd also encourage them to avoid getting involved in fights with enemies that can manipulate certain elements."

As much as the gem wanted to protest, they knew it probably was for the best to listen to the blonde's advice. Besides, it still meant they could have the chance to further help the knights with the whole investigation on how to find a way back home, right?

Right…?

The next few days made Phos realize he had gone back to square one, only this time they were in a whole different world.

First of all, Amber had politely declined their offering to accompany her on her patrolling duties after explaining how, in one way or another, most enemies worked in teams where at least one of them could manipulate an element, and she didn't want to put the gem at risk again. Phos couldn't really blame the outrider, she seemed very kind and it was evident the incident had left her feeling a little guilty of their shattering.

What's more, it seemed Jean had spoken to the rest of the knights and, even if they may not be aware of their condition as a gem, they probably had gotten the memo of being extra careful with their guest. It wasn't a pleasant feeling for Phos to suddenly return to being a weakling. Even if more often than not they regretted most things that had happened since that winter when Antarc was taken to the moon, they didn't really want to feel pitied again, it wasn't a thing they wanted to feel once again.

Seeing they had plenty of free time now, it was Lisa who had taken them under her wing. The librarian seemed determined to teach them the basics of the language used in this world. "It may be useful for you in the foreseeable future, cutie ~", she had said. Phos wasn't particularly a scholar, that role fitted Alex better, but it would be rude to decline the brunette's offering. They also had a classmate, for the lack of better words. Razor, the scruffy boy who jumped into helping Bennett that day, was often at the library, he seemed very comfortable near Lisa. Phos remembered vaguely hearing him say something about a teacher, they didn't need to be a genius to put two and two together to conclude his teacher was the librarian.

Although he wasn't particularly chatty and his vocabulary seemed somewhat limited, the gray-haired boy turned out to be rather friendly, and while at first wary, he soon felt comfortable near the gem, as well.

"Phos… smell funny, like powder… and something else" Razor had said at the end of one of their lessons. "Weird… but not bad."

One day when Razor was out doing a commission alongside Bennett, Lisa told them about the feral boy's past.

"He was raised by the wolves in Wolvedom, it has been a difficult path for him to learn some things most of us learn since a young age." The librarian said while drinking her tea. "Grandmaster Varka taught him how to wield a claymore, while I had taken him as my pupil. You may not see it, but he has quickly learned some things that usually take years to do. My wolf pup is quite adorable, isn't he?"

Wolves… phos hadn't seen one in person, being their only references to the things Razor would tell them and one picture from a book at the library. They seemed like fluffy creatures, similar to the tiny Shiros that infested the school that occasion, although Phos assumed wolves had to be bigger and less adorable. Lisa had mentioned it as if it was unnatural for humans to be raised by something non-human, so it probably meant that humans didn't seem normal to not live among their own kind, right? They had seen how the gray-haired boy would receive some indiscreet glances from some people on the couple of times they had accompanied Lisa outside the Library to collect overdue books.

One week passed since the incident, then another, then another, and Phos was beginning to feel hopeful that the incident wasn't as present in the Knights' memories to keep being a matter of concern. Perhaps they could finally have the chance to ask to go out to patrol. The investigation regarding the Abyss (the thing Kaeya and Lisa had agreed could have some involvement in Phos's presence in Mondstat) had proved to be slow, albeit promising.

Speaking of promising things, although less probable, was the matter of visions. It was a topic that Kaeya had dropped once when he was attending a sparring session with him and Bennett (the blonde had insisted the Cavalry Captain let Phos train alongside them, and who was Kaeya to refuse such a petition from a dear friend of his?)

"Rather impressive technique," He had said, "one could only wonder what you would be able to do with a vision, Phos."

"Oh, right! You sure could become extra strong, Phos!" Bennett beamed.

The gem gave them a puzzled look, uncertain of how to take what seemed like a compliment.

"Wouldn't a vision make me shatter again?" As far as they knew, these so-called visions allowed one to manipulate a certain element and create elemental reactions, Phos doubted they wanted to have one of those things always attached to them if that meant they could provoke another of those reactions. The Cavalry Captain's chuckle made them snap out of their thoughts.

"While it is true that visions allow us to manipulate certain elements at will, they also seem to enhance one's physical condition." He explained. "Who knows? The criteria of how people receive their visions are still greatly unknown, but it can't hurt to wonder if it could work, right?"

At that, the gem could only let out a slight grumble, thinking wasn't their best skill, and Kaeya's words had been cryptic enough to keep them awake the whole night. If it really was that hard to get a vision, why propose it in the first place?

"I'll be leaving tomorrow to continue my research on Dragonspine."

Those had been Albedo's words the next morning, much to Phos's dismay. It seemed the alchemist's presence in Mondstat when Phos arrived had been a matter of luck, as the gem soon learned Albedo spent most of his time doing his research in Dragonspine. While at first Phos thought of requesting tagging along with him, these thoughts were quickly discarded once they knew more about said place. The idea of a mountain where winter never left and there was not enough sunlight seemed enough to discourage Phos's intentions; knowing of the existence of even more dangerous enemies wandering around, adding the ongoing concern of possible Abyssal influence roaming across the region vanished the tiniest glimpse of hope that, perhaps, Albedo could let them tag along.

"Please be careful while I am outside the city." The blonde man said while tugging the strings of a heavy-looking bag. "I prepared more resin in case further accidents occur, and I taught Noelle and Lisa how to paste you back together in case of another accident; however, consider that our resources are limited and we may not be able to aid you every time it happens with the same efficiency." He gave a last warning before walking outside the city, a teal-haired girl with fluffy ears following him close behind.

Phos stood at the front gates for a moment, watching the two silhouettes walk away until they got lost behind a hill. Uncertain of what to do next, the gem was startled by a hand landing on their shoulder.

"Hey, hey, what's up with that long face?" Kaeya's voice had become somewhat familiar to them at that point, the Cavalry Captain reminded Phos of Morganite, as both seemed to enjoy teasing them, but felt not truly ill-intentioned. "Our dear Chief Alchemist is just worried about you don't you think?"

"I know, but…" Phos pouted, rubbing his forearm with one hand. "I… don't want to make you feel worried about me. I want to help… somehow! I know it's ridiculous but… I want to feel like I can be helpful… t-that's it." They avoided making eye contact with the taller man, it felt so embarrassing to return to their bratty attitudes even for an instant, it would only solidify the knights' feeling that they were fragile and they couldn't take care of even the smallest tasks, or so they thought. Instead of the mockery they were expecting, they felt the hand on their shoulder gently pulling them as Kaeya began walking further from the front gates.

"Is that so?" He hummed, leading Phos through the city streets. "Are you aware that not every form of help requires physical strength, or remarkable combat skills, right?"

"Yeah, but… I'm not the brightest to think of solutions… nor did I have a utility back home until recently, and that was being a warrior." Phos replied, lifting an arm, giving a tiny fist bump in the air, their golden alloy reflecting the sunlight. "I'm afraid to admit that, otherwise, I'm quite useless."

"Didn't take you as a pessimistic one." Kaeya teased, rubbing the gem's hair with a gloved hand. "However, if you're adamant about lending us a hand in your way, who am I to stop you? Although I'm afraid you won't receive the same encouragement from other knights."

"I know, but there must be a way…" Phos muttered, slumping forward as they got dragged along by Kaeya.

"Perhaps, perhaps not." The cryo user shrugged. "Why don't you come along with me? I have some commissions to finish in the city, surely it will be less boring than staying in the headquarters, am I right?"

Phos pondered Kaeya's proposal for a minute, he was kind of right, tagging along would be more exciting than staying in the library or their room lamenting their current state.

By the time they had ended with Kaeya's commissions, it was already night. Who would've thought you could do so many things in a city? It probably was time to return to the Knights' Headquarters, yet to Phos's surprise, the Cavalry Captain took a detour from the main path, going instead through the smaller yet still busy streets of the city. Lamps in the streets and lights coming from inside the buildings filled the night with warmth, it was still something that Phos couldn't get a grasp on, how lively could nighttime be for humans?

"Uh… Captain Kaeya, where are we going?" They asked as they jogged to keep up with Kaeya's pace, only to earn a light chuckle from the taller man.

"You'll see soon, now follow me, okay?"

The Angel's Share was a place Phos had overheard from Kaeya and other knights, yet they hadn't seen it in person before. Turns out humans enjoy spending their leisure time drinking and chatting in places like these, taverns, they call them (although Lisa had mentioned names could vary depending on locations and what activities could be made there, humans were so complex…). The Cavalry Captain guided them to one of the seats placed in a row in front of the serving bar, there, Phos spotted a vaguely familiar face.

"Why doesn't it surprise me to see you slacking at such hours, Cavalry Captain?"

"My, my, is that how you greet every customer, Master Diluc?"

It seems like everyone in Mondstat knows each other, or so thought Phos.

The gem shrunk in their seat as they felt Diluc's glare once again, it was the same glare he had given them their first day in Mondstat, back when Bennett had first taken them to the city. It seemed Kaeya had noticed the redhead's glare too, as he leaned forward, placing an elbow on the bar as he rested his head on his hand, giving a teasing smirk, at that, Diluc scowled, finally moving his sight to the cup he was cleaning before the couple had entered the tavern.

"I'm only worried about the bad influence you might have on the youth you brought along." Diluc scoffed, placing the cup back in the cabinet before turning to face the blue-haired man, arms crossed while his expression remained seemingly annoyed, Phos wondered if the man ever got tired of frowning like that. "Is the Acting Grandmaster aware of the things you might teach their honorary guest?"

"You hurt my feelings, Master Diluc!" Kaeya let out a brief chuckle, placing a hand on his chest in a dramatic gesture. "I see news get carried by the wind; then, I'm sure you've already heard of our little guest here, right?" He asked, reaching to pat Phos's shoulder, at which the gem stiffened their posture.

Diluc's expression seemed to soften, although just a little.

"And I imagine you haven't brought them just to introduce ourselves." He inquired, earning another chuckle from the tan-skinned man.

"Sharp as always, I see." Kaeya gave a glance around the tavern, by that hour the place was mostly empty besides them and a couple of drunkards who were probably already asleep. He seemed to ponder his words for a second before spitting it out. "Then I'll be clear. I was hoping you could take our dear guest here on a little field trip."

"You want me to do what?"