Lydia rested her head on the table, her cheeks still faintly flushed from the cold water she'd used to wash her face.
Just as she finished tying her snow-white hair into a high ponytail, a dull thud echoed from the inner room, followed by Klee's muffled whimper.
Lydia didn't even need to look. The little rascal must have started fidgeting after she got up and rolled right off the bed.
Sure enough, the next moment, Klee came running out, rubbing her eyes.
The instant she saw Lydia, Klee's eyes lit up as if filled with starlight. She rushed forward barefoot and threw herself into Lydia's arms. "Big Sister Lydia! You're awake! I dreamed I was fish blasting! So, so many fish!"
The little girl's soft, warm body pressed against Lydia's chest, carrying the cozy scent of someone who had just woken up.
Lydia couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch Klee's chubby cheeks. "Careful, or I'll tell Acting Grand Master Jean and have you sent back to the confinement room."
Their playful banter didn't last long before Albedo entered, carrying a steaming pot of vegetable stew.
White steam billowed from the earthenware pot, revealing carrots and potatoes simmered to tender perfection.
The rich aroma, mingled with the warmth of the firewood, instantly filled the small wooden cabin.
He placed the pot on the table, then gently smoothed down the pigtail that had sprung up on top of Klee's head, his fingertips light and careful. "Breakfast first. We'll gather materials afterward."
Klee immediately sat down obediently, her eyes fixed on the earthenware pot as her little tongue darted out to lick the corner of her mouth.
The three of them gathered around the fireplace, the flickering flames casting a warm, cozy glow on their faces.
Klee held a soup bowl bigger than her own face, taking small sips and paying no mind to the broth dribbling down her chin. Occasionally, she would break off small pieces of golden-brown toasted bread and stand on her tiptoes to offer them to Lydia.
While munching on the bread, Lydia confirmed the gathering route with Albedo.
The more she listened, the more questions piled up in her mind.
Strange, she thought. In Genshin Impact, Dragonspine only has Scarlet Quartz and StarSilver. Why are there Crystal Ore and Magical Crystal Ore here?
But seeing Albedo's nonchalant expression, Lydia swallowed her doubts. As the Chief Alchemist who spent most of his time on Dragonspine, he couldn't possibly be mistaken.
She could only attribute the discrepancy to the difference between the game and this reality.
As if reading her mind, Albedo mistook her confusion for simple nervousness and deliberately softened his tone. "Just follow me. I'll handle any dangerous parts."
He then added, his voice turning more serious, "Dragonspine has been unstable lately. You two must not stray far from me. Stay close at all times."
Lydia and Klee obediently nodded in agreement.
They assumed he was just referring to the harsh weather on Dragonspine and didn't dwell on the deeper meaning behind his words.
After breakfast, Albedo led the two of them deeper into Dragonspine.
He knew the mountain's terrain like the back of his hand. The trio moved nimbly, avoiding areas with monster tracks and sticking to paths with less snow cover.
When they reached a frozen lake, he walked ahead, using his Geo Elemental Power to condense non-slip patterns onto the ice with his fingertips. He turned back and instructed, "Follow my footprints. Don't step on the thin ice at the edges—the water below is very deep."
Lydia held Klee's hand and carefully followed Albedo's footprints. Watching his reliable figure from behind, the anxiety in her heart quietly subsided.
Their first stop was a gathering point for Crystal Ore and Magical Crystal Ore.
Translucent, crystalline ores were embedded in the rock face, refracting the light into tiny, shimmering fragments.
Albedo condensed his Geo Elemental Power and, with a slight flick of his wrist, precisely struck the point where the ore met the rock.
With a few sharp clacks, several pieces of the purest ore fell onto the snow.
He bent down to pick them up, carefully wiping the snow from their surfaces with a cloth. As he handed them to Lydia, he warned, "Be careful not to cut yourself on the edges. This ore is extremely hard."
Next, the three of them went to the location of the Anemograna.
Pale cyan Anemograna drifted gently in the air.
Albedo took out a specially made Wind Catcher and swept it lightly through the Anemograna.
The translucent particles flowed into the bottle's opening, quickly condensing into pale cyan crystals inside.
Klee squatted beside them, utterly captivated. She couldn't resist reaching out to touch the bottle, but Albedo gently caught her wrist. "Elemental Crystals are very unstable. You could get hurt if you touch it. Be good."
The little girl reluctantly pulled her hand back, puffing out her cheeks as she stared at the glowing light inside the bottle.
In just half a day, they had gathered all the materials needed to repair the Holy Lyre der Himmel.
Back at the camp, Albedo immediately set up a simple Alchemy Table.
He arranged the Crystalline Ore, Anemo Crystals, and other ground materials with practiced, meticulous movements.
Lydia stood nearby, clutching the damaged Holy Lyre der Himmel, her palms slick with a thin layer of sweat.
This is a Holy Relic of Mondstadt, she thought. Whether I get scolded when I return depends entirely on this moment.
Even Klee had grown unusually quiet. She squatted by the table, her gaze fixed on the materials, her breathing so soft she seemed afraid to disturb Albedo.
"Are you ready?" Albedo turned to Lydia, a faint golden energy already gathering at his fingertips.
Lydia took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
At Albedo's signal, she gently placed the Holy Lyre der Himmel in the center of the Alchemy Table.
With a wave of his hand, Albedo sent the materials on the table levitating into the air.
The Crystalline Ore melted into a silver liquid, flowing like a living thing along the lyre's cracks, filling the damaged areas bit by bit. The once-jagged fissures were gradually covered. The Anemo Crystals transformed into a pale cyan light that gently enveloped the entire lyre, forming a protective film that reinforced its structure.
"This is the moment of creation!"
VMMMM—
The Alchemy Table vibrated softly as a dazzling white light erupted, forcing Lydia and Klee to instinctively shut their eyes.
When the light gradually faded, the Holy Lyre der Himmel—once covered in cracks with broken strings—lay perfectly intact on the table.
Its body was once again smooth and lustrous, the patterns on its surface glowing with a faint cyan light. It looked even more radiant than Lydia remembered.
"It's fixed!" Lydia's eyes instantly lit up.
She hurried over and carefully lifted the Holy Lyre der Himmel with both hands, cradling it like a priceless treasure.
Her fingertips gently brushed across its surface, feeling the energy contained within. Lydia smiled happily. "Teacher Albedo, you're amazing! You really fixed it! It's even more beautiful than it was after we repaired it last time!"
But just then, a sharp snap echoed through the room.
The thinnest string of the Holy Lyre der Himmel snapped and fell to the floor.
The faint sound was like a needle, instantly piercing Lydia's joy.
Her smile froze on her face, and her arms, cradling the lyre, stiffened.
"How could this happen? It was perfectly fine just a moment ago..." She stared down at the broken string on the floor, her heart clenching.
Was the hope she'd so carefully built about to shatter again?
Albedo walked over, bent down, and picked up the broken string. He held it between his fingertips, examining it closely for a moment.
"It's a problem with the materials," he explained patiently after a pause. "The Crystalline Ore and Anemo Crystals we gathered could only repair and reinforce the lyre's body, not the strings. This string was already extremely fragile—it had been poorly maintained for a long time and damaged by an Abyss Mage's ice attack, weakening its fibers. Furthermore, the repair materials for the body were primarily ore-based, making them rigid, which is the opposite of the 'resilience' the strings require. The 'perfect' condition you saw just now was merely a temporary illusion sustained by alchemical energy. In reality, it couldn't withstand the tension from the lyre's body."
Lydia's shoulders slumped, and she clutched the Holy Lyre der Himmel even tighter.
Do I really have to return to the Cathedral with a broken lyre?
Will the Cardinal be angry?
Will Barbara cry?
Will Grace and Gotelinde blame me?
The thoughts flooded her mind like a tide, leaving a bitter ache in her heart.
Albedo remained silent for a few seconds, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table as he considered their options.
Suddenly, his eyes brightened. "There is one way."
"A Great Snowboar King lives on Dragonspine," he began, his tone growing serious. "Its bristles have been tempered by ice and snow for years, allowing them to withstand even the impact of Elemental Power. The toughest bristle from its mane might be strong enough to craft a new string. However, the Great Snowboar King is ferocious, and its territory is swarming with other boars. This journey will be dangerous."
He turned to Lydia and Klee, his voice firm. "You two stay here in the camp. I'll go alone."
"Absolutely not!" Lydia immediately retorted, her voice tinged with stubbornness. "I'm the one who asked you to repair the Holy Lyre der Himmel. How can I let you face the danger alone? Besides, even though I don't have a Vision, I can still handle those boars easily. I definitely won't slow you down!"
Klee chimed in, raising a Jumpy Dumpty with a determined look on her small face. "Klee's going too! Klee's Jumpy Dumpties can blast the Snowboar King away!"
Albedo was about to refuse, but then he reconsidered.
The increasing number of anomalies on Dragonspine lately had left him uneasy. If he left the camp, leaving Lydia and Klee behind, the consequences would be unthinkable if they were ambushed by whatever lurked in the shadows.
It was better to keep them by his side than to let them face danger alone... At least then, he could watch over them.
"Alright," Albedo finally relented, pulling two talismans crafted from Scarlet Quartz from his pack.
The talismans glowed with a faint red light, radiating a gentle warmth.
"The area near the Ancient Palace isn't as cold as the depths of Dragonspine, but the Snowboar King's territory is extremely frigid. These talismans will help ward off some of the cold. Wear them, and don't lose them."
Lydia and Klee took the amulets, feeling the warmth spread through their palms. They nodded firmly.
The three of them packed their things and set off again, heading towards the Entombed City - Ancient Palace.
The further they descended, the warmer the air became—even warmer than in the heart of Dragonspine. The thick fog caused by the heavy snow gradually dissipated.
The distant scenery grew clearer, and they could even see the ocean shimmering under the sunlight far away.
The sea breeze carried a faint, salty scent, and it didn't feel cold at all as it brushed against their cheeks.
Klee excitedly pointed at the ocean, bouncing up and down as she shouted, "Wow! It's the sea! Sister Lydia, look! It's so much bigger than Mondstadt's lakes!"
After shouting, she tilted her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lydia.
"There must be tons of fish in the sea! Sister Lydia, next time, can we use my new Jumpy Dumpties to go fish blasting?"
Lydia: "..."
She looked at Klee's innocent expression and sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.
Does this little one have some kind of obsession with 'fish blasting'?
She had completely forgotten that every time they went fish blasting, she laughed even more joyfully than Klee.
Lydia ruffled Klee's hair and agreed to the pact. "Alright! Next time, Big Sister will take you to blast all the fish in the sea!"