Only three days remained until Lydia's eighteenth birthday, and the door handle of Angel's Share was nearly polished to a shine from her constant visits.
Diluc leaned against the bar counter, a glass of amber-colored red wine held between his fingertips. He listened to Lydia's relentless pleading for the umpteenth time, his brow furrowed so deeply it could have crushed a fly.
"Master Diluc, just this once! I swear, just this once!" Lydia tugged at his sleeve, shaking it back and forth. Her snow-white ponytail whipped around like a small whirlwind, and her eyes sparkled as if filled with starlight. "Free drinks on my birthday! I promise I'll keep an eye on everyone and make sure no one gets drunk and causes trouble!"
"If that's not enough... um, I'll give you all the Mora I've saved for the past ten years! Just let me book the whole place, please?"
Diluc glanced down at the pouch she offered. The heavy Mora clinked crisply, and through a tear in the fabric, he could see the gleaming gold coins inside.
Clearly, this was Lydia's long-hoarded personal stash.
But the amount of Mora in the pouch was far more than Lydia could have saved from her Cathedral salary and her usual frugal habits.
Diluc pondered for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
It seems this girl has gone to great lengths for her birthday party, even planning to spend every last Mora she's saved over the years.
"Remember, the party ends at midnight," he said, gently placing his wine glass on the bar. The soft clink of glass against wood carried a note of compromise. "As for your Mora... take it back. Neither my reason nor my conscience will allow me to accept your money."
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Master Diluc!" Lydia leaped so high she nearly hit the ceiling.
She spun around and dashed out the door, leaving the pouch of Mora behind.
Diluc watched her whirlwind departure, shaking his head helplessly. He reached out, took the pouch, and tucked it into a drawer behind the bar.
I'll return it to her secretly after the birthday is over.
-
Lydia burst into Good Hunter, where Sara was busy grilling delicious food for customers. The moment Sara heard the words "eighteenth birthday," she immediately dropped what she was doing and patted her chest with a grin.
"A birthday! That calls for a proper celebration! Just let me know if you need anything on the day—I'll deliver it to you myself!"
"Thank you, Sara!" Lydia began to pull out her pouch of Mora, but Sara's warm hand gently stopped her.
"What are you paying for?" Sara ruffled Lydia's hair, her fingertips rough with flour but her eyes filled with tenderness. "You've helped Good Hunter so much over the years. Consider this my birthday gift to you. How could I possibly take your money?"
The warmth spread through Lydia's heart like a bowl of hot soup, melting her completely.
Her nose tingled, and tears instantly welled in her eyes. She threw her arms around Sara, burying her face in her apron. "Waaah~ Sara, you're too kind..."
Over the next day, Lydia practically wore a path through the streets of Mondstadt.
She dashed between the Knights of Favonius headquarters, the flower shop, and the blacksmith's forge, even extending her invitations to adventurers she'd never met at the Adventurer's Guild.
"Come to Angel's Share on my birthday!" she'd announce, her smile so wide it made the beauty mark by her eye seem to dance with joy. "There'll be free drinks and delicious food!"
When everyone heard it was her coming-of-age birthday, not a single person refused. The Knights of Favonius hauled over streamers and balloons, climbing ladders to hang them from the tavern's ceiling. Flora rushed over with a massive bouquet of fresh flowers, their petals still glistening with morning dew.
Wagner even stayed up all night at his forge, hammering out a silver-plated metal sign that read "Happy Birthday." He hung it in the most prominent spot in the tavern, carefully rounding the corners so Lydia wouldn't accidentally scratch herself on it.
-
Secluded in her room, Noelle used pink silk thread to embroider the doll's blush and white silk thread to perfectly recreate Lydia's natural, unique hair color.
She stitched and unstitched, over and over, until the needle pricked a tiny hole in her fingertip.
Noelle gently sucked her finger, then held up the small doll—a spitting image of Lydia—and smiled. "There, it's finished."
-
Meanwhile, Barbara was looking at the lyrics Lydia had given her a few days ago, asking her to sing the song at the birthday party. She tried humming the melody.
As the cheerful tune filled the air, even Barbara was taken aback, marveling at Lydia's talent.
Lydia crept over, trying to eavesdrop. Just as she peeked through the crack in Barbara's door, Barbara turned, laughing as she pushed her away. "No peeking! You have to wait until your birthday to hear it!"
Lydia pouted, her cheeks puffing out as if stuffed with apples. But seeing Barbara's serious expression, she nodded obediently. "Alright! I'll hold out until then!"
After inviting nearly everyone in Mondstadt, Lydia suddenly slapped her forehead.
I almost forgot that woman!
Rosaria, the one who's always slacking off at the Cathedral!
When Lydia found Rosaria, the latter was leaning against a cathedral pillar, dozing. Sunlight spilled over her, making her look like a silent statue.
"Sister Rosaria!" Lydia leaned close to her ear and whispered loudly, "Angel's Share is offering free drinks on my birthday. You in?"
Rosaria's eyes snapped open, the drowsiness instantly gone. "Drinks? Free? I'm in."
She clapped Lydia on the shoulder, her tone full of approval. "That graffiti you did on the Statue of Barbatos... No one else appreciated it, but your artistic talent is undeniable."
"Right? Right! You think so too!" Lydia puffed out her chest. "Barbatos is still holding back my artistic career."
Rosaria nodded. "Indeed."
She stretched languidly, her curves so striking that even Lydia swallowed hard and quickly looked away.
"I'll be there on your birthday. Don't worry."
With that, Rosaria sauntered out of the cathedral, likely off to find another spot to finish her nap.
Lydia watched her go, unable to suppress a laugh.
While Mondstadt was enveloped in the warmth of the birthday celebrations, a crisis unfolded on Dragonspine.
Albedo had just returned from Mondstadt to find his campsite in utter chaos. Tables were overturned, belongings scattered across the ground, and even his usual drawing board had been stomped on and warped, the unfinished painting on it smeared into an unrecognizable mess.
He clenched his jaw, his brow furrowed as he fought to suppress his anger.
Only a few people knew the location of his camp: Lydia, Sucrose, and Timaeus.
Lydia was busy preparing for her birthday. Sucrose and Timaeus held him in the highest regard; they wouldn't dare damage his camp—they even asked permission before using any of his equipment.
"Who was it?"
As the words left his lips, Albedo's gaze fell on a black stain on the ground. He touched it lightly with his fingertip, and a familiar, chilling coldness crept up his arm.
The aura of the Abyss!
Identical to the one he had sensed from that imposter!
His heart sank. He frantically searched every corner of the camp.
His notebook... was gone!
That notebook contained his research on the activity of Durin's cells, his analysis of Abyss energy, and even his personal notes from learning alchemy.
If that notebook fell into the hands of the Abyss, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Albedo clenched his fists and pursued the Abyss aura.
The trail led him to Wyrmrest Valley, to the cave where Durin's heart was kept.
Albedo slowed his steps, tightening his grip on the Cinnabar Spindle as a faint golden light of the Geo element flowed around him.
As he neared the cave entrance, he saw an eerie black glow emanating from within, and the air grew bone-chillingly cold.
In the center of the cave, Durin's heart floated in mid-air, dark purple, vein-like patterns writhing across its surface.
And in the shadows nearby, a black figure was materializing—its silhouette and form bore a striking resemblance to his own. In its hand, wreathed in black mist, was his notebook!
"Just as I thought," Albedo said, stepping into the cave, the Geo light around him intensifying. "You're supposed to be dead. What did the Abyss do to you?"
The shadowy figure slowly turned, revealing a face identical to Albedo's, but its eyes were devoid of any warmth, filled only with the impenetrable darkness of the Abyss.
He raised Albedo's notebook, his voice as hoarse as sandpaper scraping against wood. "Your research... is quite useful."
"Durin's heart will soon become a new 'vessel' to contain the power of the Abyss."
The temperature in the cave plummeted. Durin's heart throbbed with increasing speed as dark purple mist billowed from it, converging on the shadowy figure like a swarm of snakes.
Albedo's pupils constricted. He instantly understood his double's objective.
"I let you escape last time," Albedo said, raising the Cinnabar Spindle. The faint golden light of the Geo element dispersed the surrounding black mist. "Though I don't know how you came back from the dead... I defeated you once, and I'll defeat you again!"
The shadowy figure sneered, his laughter dripping with mockery.
The notebook in his hand suddenly erupted in black flames, the pages turning to ash in an instant. He raised his hand, absorbing the ashes into his body.
In that moment, the Abyss aura around him surged violently. The black mist coalesced into sharp claws as he lunged at Albedo. "Then let's see if you can stop me! When Durin awakens, all of Mondstadt will be your funeral pyre!"