Firewood crackled in the hearth, the flickering flames casting shifting shadows across Lydia's face.
When she groggily opened her eyes, the first thing she smelled was the faint scent of herbs mingled with the distinct, slightly bitter aroma of alchemical reagents.
But the next second, her gaze fell upon the low table beside the bed, and her pupils contracted sharply. She was instantly wide awake—the Festering Desire, its blade entirely black, lay silently on the tabletop, radiating a chilling aura that tightened her chest.
Though no black mist coiled around the sword, Lydia could still feel its familiar, bone-deep coldness at her fingertips.
"!!!"
Lydia shot upright, a sharp pain lancing through her shoulder as the wound was pulled taut. She seemed oblivious to it, instinctively shrinking back until her back pressed against the cold wall, her hands clutching the woolen blanket tightly.
Her mind flashed with agonizing memories: the excruciating pain of the black mist's corruption, Albedo Jr.'s crazed face, and the hollow emptiness at her waist where her Vision had been torn away...
Even the lingering, icy touch of the sword's hilt on her palm felt so vivid it was as if it had just happened moments ago.
"You're awake?" Albedo's voice came from nearby, tinged with concern.
He was holding a bowl of steaming soup, a few drops clinging to the porcelain rim. Seeing Lydia sit up, he quickened his pace and gently placed the bowl on the table.
"Don't move yet. Let me check your wound."
Only then did Lydia notice her shoulder was thickly wrapped in layers of gauze, and her arm was bandaged too. Faint medicinal stains were visible on the white fabric.
She didn't even dare to breathe deeply, afraid of aggravating the wound.
Albedo reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the edge of the gauze, as gently as if handling fragile glass. After confirming there was no bleeding, he sighed in relief, the tension in his eyes easing slightly.
"Good, the wound isn't infected. The residual Abyss energy has mostly dissipated. It should heal in a few more days."
He followed Lydia's gaze to the Festering Desire, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "Are you worried about this?"
When Lydia nodded vigorously, Albedo slowly explained, "This sword is... strange. After you fell unconscious that day, I tried throwing it into the deepest ice cavern on Dragonspine, sinking it in the distant ocean, and even attempting to refine it with alchemy."
"But it never stayed gone for more than half an hour. It would always reappear by your side, as if it were alive, stubbornly following you."
Lydia's eyes widened, her snow-white eyelashes trembling violently. "Following me? Isn't it Al—"
She snapped her mouth shut before finishing the sentence. Isn't this sword Albedo Jr.'s weapon? Why would it be following me?
Albedo picked up the Festering Desire from the table. The blade gleamed with a cold, hard light in the firelight, devoid of any warmth.
He gently rotated the hilt, allowing Lydia to see the patterns on the blade clearly. "I observed it for a full day and night. I found that the components of the black mist are identical to those of the Abyss. It no longer releases the mist to corrupt you; instead, it seems to have entered a 'dormant' state. Aside from being heavier than an ordinary sword, it's no different from a regular weapon."
"I had no other choice but to leave it with you. At least this way, I can keep an eye on it and deal with any unusual activity immediately."
Lydia hesitated for a moment before reaching out.
Her fingertips lightly touched the hilt. The weight was even heavier than she had imagined, yet it fit her palm perfectly, as if the sword was destined to be wielded by her.
She recalled her days learning Favonius Bladework with the Knights. Back then, she never had a weapon that suited her, and her sword practice was always half a beat slower than everyone else's.
Now, holding the Festering Desire, she could faintly feel a weak energy within the blade resonating with her palm, as if responding to her touch.
"Teacher Albedo," Lydia looked up at him, her eyes filled with anticipation, her voice laced with caution. "Can I keep this sword? It... seems to suit me well."
Albedo glanced at the sword, a hint of indulgence hidden in his eyes. "Since it insists on following you, it has likely already formed some kind of bond with you. It was meant to be yours."
"But you must remember!" His tone suddenly turned serious, his gaze solemn. "This sword was once deeply corrupted by the Abyss. No one knows if it might lose control again someday, or even turn against you."
"Unless absolutely necessary, you must never use it. It would be best to seal it away in a safe place for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"
"I understand!"
Lydia nodded vigorously, her head bobbing like a chick pecking at grain. She carefully cradled the Festering Desire in her arms, pressing it against her chest, her heart overflowing with joy.
Finally, I have a weapon of my own!
The pain in her shoulder and the despair of losing her Vision seemed to fade in the warmth of this newfound happiness.
Just then, a thought struck her. Her eyes widened, and she asked urgently, "Wait! Where's Klee?"
"Klee was taken back to Mondstadt yesterday afternoon," Albedo replied, a hint of relief in his voice. "After our confrontation, I was worried Dragonspine was still dangerous, so I immediately contacted the Knights. With Jean and Kaeya there, Klee will be safer in Mondstadt, and I can rest easier."
Lydia froze, her snow-white hair swaying slightly. "Yesterday afternoon? Then... how long was I asleep?"
"A full day and night."
I slept for that long?!
Albedo's words struck her like a bolt of lightning, leaving her completely stunned. She instinctively scanned her surroundings, only to find that the Holy Lyre der Himmel was gone from the camp.
Lydia threw off the blanket and stood up, ignoring Albedo's outstretched hand trying to stop her. Before she could even take a step, a tearing pain shot through her shoulder, making her grimace.
"Are you looking for the Holy Lyre der Himmel?" Albedo asked.
"Yes! I promised Venti I'd return it to the Cathedral!" Lydia nodded solemnly.
"I've already repaired it and handed it over to the Favonius Knights. It's probably back in its original place in the Cathedral by now."
Albedo smiled at her anxious pacing, then turned to a nearby chest. He pulled out a clean, warm coat and held it out to her.
"It's not safe for you on Dragonspine. I only kept you here to monitor your wound. Now that you're awake, returning to Mondstadt is the best option."
They quickly packed their things. Lydia hugged the Festering Desire to her chest, the coat she wore over it just managing to conceal the sword's outline.
The sunlight felt exceptionally warm on her skin, chasing away some of the chill. Lydia couldn't help but quicken her pace.
"Slow down," Albedo reminded her. "You'll tear your wound."
When they reached the Snow-Covered Path, Lydia stopped and turned to Albedo. She bowed deeply, her snow-white ponytail falling over her shoulder. "Teacher Albedo, thank you for repairing the lyre and for protecting me! I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Go on, be careful on your way back." Albedo couldn't help but smile at her earnest expression, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair.
"Mm-hm!" Lydia nodded emphatically, then turned and ran toward Mondstadt, gradually disappearing behind a snowy slope.
Once Lydia's figure was completely out of sight, the smile on Albedo's face slowly faded, his gaze turning cold and sharp.
He turned his head slowly, looking toward a nearby shadow.
"The nuisance is gone. You can come out now, can't you?"
As soon as he spoke, a dark figure emerged from the shadows—it was Albedo Jr.!
His back still bore unhealed wounds, the bloodstains stark against his clothes. The dark glow in his eyes remained intense.
He toyed with the Vision he had stolen from Lydia, sneering, "Albedo, you're quite the protector of that girl."
Albedo summoned the Cinnabar Spindle from his own Vision, pale golden Geo Elemental Power coalescing around his body. "She is my student. It's not your place to interfere."
"Then you should return what belongs to her!"
Two identical figures faced each other on the snowfield. Sunlight bathed Albedo, while Albedo Jr. stood in the shadows, wreathed in a faint black mist.
Light and shadow, warmth and cold... a new confrontation began.