BeginningKaeya’s eyes widened at the thrashing creature.

There, in the deepest part of the Domain, lay a humanoid, reptilian being. Its molten gold lifeblood spilled from a deep gash down the center of its underbelly. The high-pitched cries and gurgles fell heavy in the pit of his stomach.

The Knight’s wide, lavender eye flicked around the scene, stopping on each hilichurl and abyss mage lifelessly impaled on sharp columns of translucent amber. The ground thrummed with fading energy beneath his feet as the creature fell limp in anguish, the fight all but seeped from its form.

Claws scraped desperately against stone as the beast attempted to drag itself from the wreckage of the battle. A subtle golden glow flickered from a peculiar star shaped scale at its throat. It’s arms gave out beneath its heavy, battered body. With a wet thud, it collapsed onto the stone floor.

Kaeya’s breath caught in his throat at the sight of one wing, hanging partly severed from the creature’s back, more shimmering gold sliding over the scales in sticky streams.

<i>What was a dragon doing deep in a domain so heavily chilled by Cryo energy</i>

He shook his head.

<i>Could this creature even be considered a dragon</i>

Against his better judgment, he approached the heaving beast as it bled out on the frost covered tile. The golden liquid had begun to coagulate in the cold air of the domain. It clung to black and navy scales in gooey clumps. A shimmering tear ran from the beast’s blue eye. The other was sealed shut beneath a violent gash on its brow.

Before he had even left the safety of the shadows, the black slit drowned in sea green darted towards him as a loose stone clacked against the floor beneath his boot.

It spoke a warning that turned Kaeya’s blood to ice. A language he hadn’t heard uttered from the mouths of anyone but the stragglers of the Abyss Order prowling about the surface of Teyvat.

“<i>You know Khaenri</i>” He said in his native tongue before his mind could even register the words.

The creature’s eye narrowed in an indecipherable manner.

“<i>You too speak the mother tongue of a starless land.</i>” It replied slowly, strength visibly ebbing from its body as it continued to stain the floor gold. “<i>Why have you come here</i>”

“<i>I was instructed to cull followers of the Abyss I found within this Domain, but you’ve already done the job for me at a heavy price.</i>”

“<i>Everything is reclaimed by the earth in the end. We were all born of soil, and so shall we return.</i>” The best breathed, the hot vapor crystallized in midair. It’s blue eye unfocused for a moment as it fought to keep its head raised to watch the knight. "<i>As above, and so below…</i>"

“<i>Do you intend to bring me harm</i>” Kaeya asked, voice even.

“<i>I intend to protect this Domain from those who threaten its peaceful state. Do you pose a threat to this place</i>” A sharp edge remained in its weakening voice.

“<i>It seems our intentions are the same, then.</i>” Kaeya held out his arms, vulnerable wrists facing up in a sign of surrender. “<i>I do not wish to cause harm to you, nor this Domain. I only came to remove the Abyss followers that tainted it and brought suffering to the people on the surface.</i>”

Eerily human eyelids fluttered as the creature's head finally dropped to the floor in exhaustion. It’s breathing was labored and shallow.

“<i>Do you have a name</i>” The knight asked as he cautiously stepped forward.

“<i>I was once called Albedo, though I have not heard the name in a very long time.</i>” It answered as its eyelid grew heavy.

Kaeya was close enough to see the beast’s form clearly in the cold gloom of the Domain. Shiny scales in shades of black, navy and gold littered its skin in a curious pattern. They grew sparse on its underside, leaving soft, pale flesh as white as chalk. Gleaming obsidian horns sprouted from the crown of golden hair upon its head. Veins of shining yellow snaked up from base to tip. Dark lashes fluttered over cheeks devoid of color aside from the molten blood splattered across its skin. The four pointed star on its throat emitted a light so faint it had all but faded. Delicate silver bands rested high on its arms, matching cuffs clung to its thin ankles as well. The tips of its fingers melted into obsidian points similar to its horns. It’s stomach and the insides of its thighs were soft flesh edged with dark scales. Two once proud wings rose from its curled back, one now rendered useless and limp, hanging only by the thin membrane stretched between the branches of bone. The long tendril of a tail lay motionless at its feet. Gold tipped the very end of it in another star like the one at its throat.

Even in its bloodied state, the creature took the Knight’s breath away.

“<i>Albedo…</i>” Kaeya let the name tumble from his lips.

“<i>I had forgotten what it had sounded like from the mouth of another…</i>” The creature sighed, eye finally falling closed. “<i>It’s been so long… since I’ve spoken peacefully with another being… in the language of Khaenri.</i>”

Kaeya dropped to his knees in front of the beast, sticky globs of cooling gold blood staining his pants. The mitachurl that had cut it down lay limp off to the side, frost already claiming the carcass and once fiery axe.

“<i>Is there anything I can do to ease your suffering</i>” The Knight asked quietly, hesitantly reaching out a hand to stroke the golden hair atop its head. It weakly cracked open one eye.

“<i>Do you know... what Khaenri’ah was like In its glory... before the fall</i>” Albedo asked the Knight. “<i>Could you recall it for me I have no memories beneath... the false sky, unseen by the world of the gods… .</i>”

“<i>Khaenri’ah It was beautiful before its collapse. A place of creation. Hanging gardens of golden leaves and golden fruits, soil fertile with Ley Line roots that broke through the ground and snaked up the sides of the temples and laboratories. The main sources of light came from crystals the elders claimed held the light of fallen stars from the true sky. They dotted the cavern walls like the dots of light I’ve seen on the surface. Everything was trimmed with precious metals. Children practiced Khemia in outside classrooms beneath trailing gold vines. Anything you could imagine was made upon those tables.</i>”

The golden hair was soft and feathery between Kaeya’s fingers. A weak burst of light came from the star on the creature’s neck at the mention of Khemia.

“<i>Are you familiar with the ancient art</i>” He asked Albedo.

“<i>Khemia… it is my purpose…</i>” It’s brow furrowed. “<i>My… my crafting table. Beside it. A book… there is a formula with the properties to heal…</i>”

“<i>Where is your table</i>” The Knight asked, quickly catching on to the creature’s train of thought.

“<i>Just over the threshold…</i>” Albedo’s eye slipped towards a doorway across the room.

“<i>I will return.</i>” He nodded and stood.

“<i>Now that I have… heard another voice… I do not wish to return to the soil in solitude.</i>”

Kaeya turned back to the creature at the new form of pain laced between its words.

"<i>I will be swift in my return.</i>" Kaeya promised.