Later that night, when Albedo returned to Mondstadt, he and Nat enjoyed a little bit of the Ludi Harpatsum Festival. There were games, food vendors, and plenty of Bards playing music to liven the mood. If only the public knew what the Knights were dealing with behind the scenes: Archon residue, the Fatui, and evil robot monsters would certainly kill the festive mood…

That didn’t stop Albedo and Nat from trying to enjoy themselves, though. They lost at ring toss, but Albedo managed to win Nat a small arctic fox plush from a balloon dart game, which she promised to cherish with all of her heart. The couple looked through the vendor stalls and Albedo excused himself to grab them both dinner to go. Nat sat down on a park bench, seeing Amber and Collei from out of the corner of her eye. As she sat on the bench, she watched the two as they also participated in games, Amber overly enthusiastic as always, while Collei did her best to keep up. Collie held her hands close to her chest, and Nat could feel the nervous energy off of her despite their distance.

Nat wasn’t sure what Collei had been through, but she knew Dottore had talked about experimenting on kids from other nations, specifically Sumeru, right before Nat ran away. He was excited about it and said he had found some new serum or something to test on them, what exactly it was Nat couldn’t remember. Most of her time spent in the Zapolyarny Palace was hazy from the pain, medications, and trauma.

Nonetheless, Nat could remember her first time around a large group of people in Snezhnaya after her first few months of treatment. She was exhausted but was told by her mother what to wear and how to do her hair for a special gala honoring the Tsaritsa. It was an annual event, where the upper echelon of the Fatui and Snezhnaya gathered to pay their respects to their majesty. Nat can remember looking at herself in the mirror before leaving for the party. Her reflection showed bloodshot eyes accessorized by dark circles underneath them. Nonetheless, she wore a long red gown, made of a thick fabric with black embellishments on the sleeves. Luckily, the dress had a higher neckline, covering the rash she had gotten from whatever medication she had been given that week. She slipped her feet into heeled boots, losing the argument with her mother to wear more comfortable snow boots since no one would see them. A few months later Nat would have a hard time walking overall from her treatments, and occasionally be in a wheelchair. Luckily, those effects didn’t last more than a year.

When they arrived at the party, the number of people made Nat dizzy. It didn’t help that her mother and father had run off to mingle with some higher-ups, trying to stay in the good graces of the Harbingers. At the time, they had just announced an opening for the eleventh harbinger, who was referred to as Tartaglia. The previous Tartaglia had defected from what Nat heard, and most people at the gala were discussing possible replacements for him. He had been in the position for so long, that it was hard for everyone to imagine a qualified replacement.

Nat started to feel woozy and found a chair on the side of the dance floor. She sat by herself, running a fever, just trying to survive until her parents said she could leave. That was when the Knave approached her.

“Are you well child?” She asked, staring at Nat with red, piercing eyes. This Knave was new, another position that had changed over recently, but this one after a battle in Fontaine. Nat had also heard these rumblings in the Palace and at home.

“I’m just really hot and dizzy,” a young Nat responded. The Knave held her hand out to Nat, it seemingly just appearing from beneath her giant white coat. Nat took her hand, and on shaky feet walked with the Knave outside.

Once outside, the wall of cold air seemed to bring Nat back to life as snow fell around them. She let out a sigh of relief.

“You’re very young to be at this party, why are you here?” The Knave questioned, keeping her distance.

“Momma and Poppa said I had to come,” Nat explained, soaking in the chilly air as snowflakes hit her face.

“Why would your parents want you here?” The Knave continued to question.

“To make Dottore happy,” Nat said looking at the Knave, confused by all the questions. She gave Nat a look that seemed to want more details, so Nat continued. “Dottore does stuff to me. My parents leave me with him, he gives me needles and attaches machines to me, and then I go home. Momma and Poppa said that he would like me here.” Though at the time Nat didn’t understand the Knave’s look after her comment, looking back she now recognizes it as a look of disgust on the Knave’s face. This wasn’t directed at Nat, however, but at her parents and Dottore.

“What a disgrace…” The Knave mumbled to herself. From there, Nat remembers getting dizzy again and being sent home by the Fatui Harbinger. Even though it wasn’t Nat’s idea, her parents yelled at her later that night…

“Natalya, are you feeling okay?” Albedo questioned, snapping Nat out of her memory. Albedo stood in front of her, holding a basket with a worried look on his face.

“Yeah, I was just thinking,” she explained, “but look Collie and Amber seem to be having fun,” Nat said and Albedo followed her line of sight and saw Collei and Amber as they started to enter a circus tent.

“Is Collei the green-haired girl?” Albedo questioned.

“Yeah, I’ll tell you more about her when we aren’t with all these people,” Nat explained as Albedo held out his hand to help her up, continuing to hold her hand as they walked through the city, escaping to Starsnatch cliff.

Once they had left the city gates, and no known Mondstadt guards were near, Nat told Albedo everything she knew about Collei. He listened intently to her as she explained the assumed experimentation, questioned if Dottore had ever touched her, and wondered if there were more kids like her around.

“Dottore needs to be locked away, I swear. Why is he allowed to continuously be near little kids and poke and prod at us? We’re not lab rats or dolls, we’re real people.” Nat explained, flustered, as they walked.

“You are a very real person, who very much matters. While I can’t talk much for Dottore, I can say I’ve heard rumors from other knights that the Fatui have been trying to take in our kids. Whether it’s because of their orphanage, or something with Dottore, I do not know.” Albedo responded, pausing for a moment to think. “Do you think you can help this young girl?” He asked. Nat looked down at her feet as she thought for a moment.

“I do, even though it seems we’ve had different procedures done to us. She said she could hear a voice in her head. At first, I thought I misheard her, so I kinda just skipped over that part, but I never heard voices. I promise.”

“I ran into Lisa earlier and we chatted about Archon Residue. I had some questions about side effects you may experience from your exposure, she had mentioned that sometimes people exposed to archon residue hear voices or gain special abilities,” Albedo explained. “It’s just a thought, of course.”

“Huh, you think she got covered in residue at the fire?” Nat asked.

“Or perhaps that’s what they experimented on her with. You’ve noted that you had injections and topicals applied of unknown substances. It’s possible they used that on her.”

“What freaks.” Nat scoffed, and they continued their walk. Nat asked Albedo how Dragonspine was, and he proudly announced that their issues had been resolved and everything was back to the status quo. Albedo was going to be spending the rest of the week working from Mondstadt, and he was excited to be around more for Nat.

When they arrived at Starsnatch, Albedo pulled out a blanket from his basket, lay it on the ground, and gave Nat his coat after seeing her shiver a bit. He sat down, leaning against a rock and Nat sat in front of him, leaning her back against his chest as he hugged her close. They sat like that, watching the festivities of the Ludi Harpatsum from afar. They could even hear the music from the festival in the distance, a light murmur compared to the roar of sound they heard from within the city gates.
“May I ask you an odd question?” Albedo asked and Nat shook her head up and down in response. “Would you like to take a visit to Liyue on my day off to meet with Director Hu or her consultant?”

“Why would we do that?” Nat asked.

“Your parents have passed away, and I’m unsure of traditional Snezhnayan funerals. Do the Fatui hold their own ceremony? Or is the family expected to do their own service? I know you weren’t close, but perhaps we could meet with the director about some sort of service to help their spirits move on. Something to help you gain closure.” Albedo suggested, his voice soft. Nat didn’t answer at first, and Albedo held her tighter, a reminder that she didn’t have to be alone with her thoughts.

“I hadn’t thought about that at all. I assumed their bodies were charred to dust, and that nothing would happen. I know the Fatui holds private ceremonies for the passing of Harbingers, and slightly more open funerals for high-ranking officials, but I’m not even sure where my parents stood in the Fatui… If they had many friends even. And considering their only known family is considered dead, they may not hold anything.” Nat stopped for a moment before continuing. “That’s kinda sad, isn’t it? They had each other but they really died alone, without me. Without friends or family, just the Fatui.” Tears had started to form at the corners of her eyes.

“They had you, you were right next to them when it happened. They knew you were alive, well, and they seemed rather proud. Even though your mother showed it in a very mysterious way…”

“I don’t know, what would Director Hu even do for me?”

“The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is all about providing Teyvat with proper send-offs. I’m sure she could do something.”

“Fine, we can go, but maybe next week? Take the day off and come with me to work?” Nat asked as she bent her neck backward to look up at Albedo. He looked down at her as he answered.

“Who said you’re going to be allowed back to work next week?”

“I better be allowed back to work next week, I can’t just sit around.” Nat huffed as she looked back toward Mondstadt. Albedo held her a little tighter as he answered.

“Darling, you need to rest and process what has happened. In the past, you’ve charged straight back into life after an experience like this,” Albedo said, thinking of Crepus’ death, “you need to allow yourself time to process at home. Not to mention burns like that need additional time to heal and your exposure to archon residue took a large toll on you, remember Dr. Baizhu and Lisa said it could affect your stamina for a bit.” Nat wrinkled her nose at his response and sighed. She knew Albedo was right.

Nat started to get lost in thought again. Wondering what they did when the old Knave died. Did they hold a ceremony? Had Nat ever attended a Fatui burial? Nat turned her body and leaned her face into Albedo’s chest. Albedo was confused but embraced her nonetheless. If he was being perfectly honest with himself, it was nice to see Nat with her guard down. He felt like maybe she finally realized she was safe. She was home.

They stayed there a bit longer before returning to Mondstadt just in time for the throwing of the Ludi Harpatsum ball from the Barbatos statue. Upon their arrival the streets away from the Barbatos statue were barren with leftover trash scattered about from the festival, so Nat and Albedo picked up what they could, knowing it would be some other knight’s duty tomorrow if they didn’t do it themselves. As they cleaned up they heard what sounded like shattering glass and a person falling. Nat dropped the trash and rushed to the scene, Albedo calling from behind to wait up.

She got to the edge of the alley and realized it was coming from the street below them. Peeking her head out from above to observe the scene when she saw Collei on the floor, blood dripping from her arm. In front of her was her assailant… Kaeya? Nat was about to jump down and stop him when he shot another ice shard at Collei, but before Nat could say or do anything, Albedo grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth.

“You know the quarter captain must have a reason, Nat. Don’t interfere and get hurt.” Albedo whispered in her ear. Nat was mad as Albedo let her go, apologizing. Both of them looked over the edge to see what was going on. Kaeya had created an ice wall, cornering Collei as he prepared more ice daggers. They couldn’t hear the conversation from above, but they could see mouths moving, saying something with passion and disdain.

Suddenly, a large purple smoke cloud erupted out of Collei’s body, creating a snake figure. Albedo pulled Nat back and behind him, as they watched the smoke figure rise above them.

“What in the archons is that,” Nat questioned and Albedo seemed unsure.

“It seems like a manifestation of some sort of dark power, possibly archon residue?” Albedo hypothesized. Collie’s body glowed with the snake as she lunged at Kaeya.

“Kaeya!” Nat yelled over the edge, but he didn’t hear her, as he skillfully dodged the attack and put up another ice wall, but Collei just punched right through it. Kaeya dodged the ice shards, landing on the ground, rebounding with his weight to spring at Collei, sword in hand. But without any sign, black smoke wrapped around Kaeya’s neck, strangling him.

Amber appeared around the corner, only visible from Nat and Albedo’s vantage point, but it seemed like Collei saw her too. The purple aurora that radiated seemed to slow down as Kaeya was pushed back and Collei seemed to talk to herself. Kaeya decided to take her moment of hesitation to go in for a kill shot, when Amber threw a Baron Bunny onto the field, causing an explosion that distracted Kaeya as she grabbed Collei and ran off.

Nat couldn’t be held back any longer as she used her geo vision to create a staircase down from their location to check in on Kaeya. Kaeya was thinking to himself, stuck in his head, when Nat collided with him. He looked down at her hugging his body and saw Albedo coming down the makeshift stairs behind her.

“What in the archons Kaeya! Are you okay?” Nat asked as she pulled out of her hug.

“I’m okay Nat,” Kaeya started, unsure of how much she had seen.

“Why were you attacking Collei? Why did that snake look just like that one at the carriage fire?” Nat continued to question as she checked Kaeya’s neck for bruising or blood. “Kaeya if that was archon residue we should get you checked out before something happens.” Nat expressed her concern as Kaeya nervously laughed.

“Is Collei the source of our archon residue?” Albedo asked. Kaeya and Nat turned to look at him.

“I believe so. It seems to have its own consciousness deep within Collei that is out of her control.”

“So does that mean she started the carriage fire?” Nat asked, quietly.

“I’m afraid so,” Kaeya responded.