Albether

"Albedo sure is interested in you, though."

- Paimon to Aether in The Chalk Prince and the Dragon event

Albether is the slash ship between Albedo and Aether from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Princeps Cretaceus
In Albedo's Story Quest, in Act 1 of the story quest, Aether meets Albedo at Dragonspine with Rosaria who brought Aether to see Albedo. When Aether first meets Albedo, he was seen sketching but the hilichurls then noticed Aether so Aether had to defeat them. After Aether defeats the hilichurls, Albedo asks him who he is and why he killed the hilichurls. He thanks the gods that he finished his sketch when Aether asks him why he was drawing hilichurls, Albedo shows him his sketch to give him a clue. Albedo states that it seems Aether was looking for him. Albedo tells Aether that he came from afar which is correct. He also says that if he could procure his assistance, Albedo thinks the research would benefit enormously. Albedo says that he needs Aether's assistance. So Aether heads to the test site and Albedo asks him if he has any extra organs like a second heart or a fourth stomach. Then, Albedo makes Aether fight slimes to complete the experiment.

After Aether defeats the slimes, Albedo says that he'll take Aether to his campsite and that they can gather Starsilver Ore on the way. After they collect the Starsilver Ore, Aether takes a potion and drinks it from the desk. Albedo says that the result was a very positive one at that. The second experiment is for Aether to cook food, so after Aether cooks the food, Albedo says Aether seems well-versed in the science gastronomy. Aether uses his elemental sight to find the lost items as Albedo said. Aether then heads to the next experiment. Albedo tells Aether to jump off a small mountain as that is where the experiment is. But instead, Aether glides until the experiment was finished. Aether then participates in the final experiment, an intelligence test. Afterwards, Albedo and Aether both return to the campsite. When they arrive at the campsite, Albedo tells Aether that he is very human.

The Chalk Prince and The Dragon
In Act 1: Festering Desire, Aether meets Albedo again at his campsite after meeting Sucrose. Sucrose told Aether that she thinks Albedo is keeping a secret from her. Aether then confronts Albedo about it to which Albedo reacts confused and tries to change the subject. He gives Aether a sword called Festering Desire. Albedo wants to gather more data from the sword so Aether fights some enemies. After Aether fights the enemies, Treasure Hoarders appear. The Treasure Hoarders seem to know the sword as the Treasure Hoarders said "Hand it over" which is probably referring to the sword so Aether has to fight the Treasure Hoarders. After fighting the Treasure Hoarders, Aether looks sad at Albedo thinking that he stole the sword but Albedo responds that he didn't steal it.

In Act 2: Archon's Rival, Aether meets Albedo at his campsite again. Aether tells him that he made progress with the sword and the sword seemed to glow a bit. Albedo tells Aether that the sword grows stronger as he uses it in battle. Albedo then says that he investigated an area nearby and he discovered some unusual signs so they went to the area and saw a bonfire and a camp. Then the both of them come across Treasure Hoarders again but not just the Treasure Hoarders, the Fatui as well. After Aether defeats the Treasure Hoarders and the Fatui, Albedo says that perhaps they saw Aether using it on the mountains. Aether investigates the ley line disorder and fights some enemies. As the sword grows stronger, Albedo then tells Aether that they don't have enough information. If they wish to understand more, more data is required so this is where Aether comes in.

In Act 3: Raiders Amidst Snow Mist, Aether meets Albedo but outside of Dragonspine with the Branch Manager of the Adventurer's Guild. Albedo isn't interested in adventurers but he is interested in Aether due to his researches. After Cyrus leaves, Albedo and Aether head partway up the mountains but come across hilichurls while the both of them are chatting. After fighting the hilichurls, one of the hilichurls runs away with Albedo's sketchbook so Aether decides to try and get it back. When Aether gives it back to Albedo, Albedo says it was alright as most of the sketches were still intact. Albedo then says if he wants to know why he trusts him, it might be because of the "unusual" ones.

In Act 5: Afterword, Aether then meets Albedo at his campsite. Albedo thanks him and says that he knows he could count on him.

Windblume Festival
In part III of the Invitation of Windblume event, Sucrose wonders if they could take the ancient Windblume recipe to Albedo, to which Aether agrees. Timaeus says that Albedo should be at the camp at the foot of the mountain. Venti then sighs happily and adds that the mountain is a romantic location.

Upon arriving and exchanging greetings, the Traveler notes that Albedo must be lonely with the Windblume Festival in full swing, to which Albedo wonders why they are looking for him in that case. Paimon states that they're helping Sucrose, and they hand over the paper.

Albedo reads it, but doesn't believe that this is a recipe for a Windblume. Since his hands are full at the moment, he gives them a list of the ingredients, if they want to collect everything themselves. After Aether gathers all the components and goes back to the alchemist, Albedo walks over to the alchemy table and gets to work, creating the "Windblume" following the ancient recipe. He then asks the Traveler to pass the flower back to Mondstadt, wishing him to enjoy the celebrations.

Midsummer Island Adventure
Klee receives a letter from the Dodo-King threatening to take Dodoco from her. Her first instinct is to find Albedo, but in his absence, Klee finds the Traveler instead.

They discover the Golden Apple Archipelago short after, continuing their search for the Dodo-King. The team grows as they are joined by Kaeya, Diluc, and Razor, who have all received personalized letters spurring them to come. Turns out Albedo snuck off while Kaeya and Diluc were arguing, to which Aether notes that it's rather characteristic of the alchemist, and that he, perhaps, found something he's more interested in.

The party walks around the island in search of Albedo, calling out to him. After hearing them, he finally shows up, first noticing the Traveler and Paimon, then greets everyone else and Klee. He seems unbothered by the situation at hand and the so-called Dodo-King, though he points the group in the right direction in unlocking the mechanism on the central platform.

The Dodo-King is revealed to be Klee's mother, Alice. Upon the group's exasperation at such an act, Albedo explains Alice's character as an “extremely enigmatic and near-omnipotent sorceress.”

As the recording ends, Klee asks the Traveler if they love her, which they agree with. Klee then takes them out to go fish blasting.

Upon speaking to Albedo after the Midsummer Island Adventure event's main story concludes, he states that the game wouldn't have been much fun if he revealed everything from the beginning. Albedo then adds that the archipelago suits Aether perfectly well, noting that the Traveler “could spend a wonderful summer here.”

Of Drink A-Dreaming
Although Albedo himself was not present during the event, many fans have speculated that the "Snow-Covered Kiss" drink's description could remind one of the alchemist very much so, sprinkled with some sunsettia mentions (the drink is made with this juice) on top.

"The milky foam doesn't have much taste to it. It's kind of like snow on the mountains... The moment you taste the sweetness of the juice... [It's] like a sprout pushing through the ice to give you a kiss..."

- Aether, explaining the drink to Shenhe

Hues of the Violet Garden
The Traveler meets the first ship from Mondstadt at the docks. At first, a few bards appear, along with Albedo, who had been invited to the festival and had brought Klee with him as a dependant. He greets Aether and Paimon, saying that he predicted that he might run into them here. When Albedo mentions that Mr. Hirayama is gone, The Traveler directs them to the International Trade Association. He explains to the Traveler that he was supposed to be his contact for the Five Kasen. The Traveler then brings him to the Outlander Affairs Agency after remembering that the editors will be there.

The editors at the agency then try to hide what happened from Albedo and the Traveler out of panic, but Albedo's deductions cause them to reveal the truth. After that, the two of them go in search of the missing books.

Quests
"If one day, I lose control... destroy Mondstadt... destroy everything... Can I rely on you to stop me?"

- Albedo to Aether after he left

Midsummer Island Adventure
"Please, don't look at me like that. If we'd solved the riddle at the beginning, then the game wouldn't have been much fun now, would it? This archipelago suits you... and Klee. Don't you think so? Summer, islands, ocean... even if it is essentially just an ocean playground. It's perfect for those on the move. You could spend a wonderful summer here."

- Albedo after the conclusion of the Midsummer Island Adventure event's main story

Voicelines
"I am Albedo, Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius. You carry the aura of the stars, interesting... I would like to study you, if you do not mind. I'm certain we will have many opportunities to be alone in the future."

- Albedo's Voiceline: Hello

"Good night, you go ahead and rest. I will just finish one last experiment before bed... If you are interested in the results, I can discuss them with you tomorrow."

- Albedo's Voiceline: Good Night

"You... want to accompany me while I experiment? I'm honored. Oh, don't be nervous. My experiments may be dangerous, but no one gets hurt... most of the time."

- Albedo's Voiceline: About Us: Experiments

"Would you oblige me by serving as my assistant? After observing so many experiments, you surely know a good deal about alchemy by now. Relax, we will work together. I don't think you will have any problems. I have faith in my ability to instruct you, and even more faith in your exceptional talents."

- Albedo's Voiceline: About Us: Assistant

"There's something I've always wanted to ask you, but feared rejection and disappointment... Eh-hem... I am very interested in your little floating companion. May I borrow her to investigate for a short while?"

- Albedo's Voiceline: Something to Share

"Happy birthday. You look especially happy, would you mind if I sketched you? The capacity of our brains is limited, so we are bound to forget things. But when an image is transferred onto paper or canvas, the sketch becomes an extension of our memory. We can remember that past feeling when we later look at the sketch."

- Albedo's Voiceline: Birthday

"Albedo is the step in which change begins. Clearing away the excess so we can take on all the knowledge that is available. Would you like to investigate this world with me?"

- Albedo's Voiceline: Feelings About Ascension: Building Up

"Rubedo in alchemy refers to the refining of feeling. I feel the refining of my own emotions is also thanks to you."

- Albedo's Voiceline: Feelings About Ascension: Climax

"Citrinitas is the final stage of the alchemical transmutation process. The meaning of the object being transmuted has finally been brought to light, becoming gold and revealing its true value... I too have found my own meaning."

- Albedo's Voiceline: Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion

Fanon
Albether is a popular ship among the Genshin Impact fandom. Albether is also the 2nd most written for the two on Archive of Our Own. It currently has 1500+ works in AO3, in between slash and gen works.

Albether has gained lots of attraction from the 1.2 Dragonspine update, it also gained more attention of what Albedo said at the end of Act 1 in his story quest, being that the thing that Albedo said was "If one day, I lose control... Destroy Mondstadt... Destroy everything... can I rely on you to stop me?", making people make edits as well of Albedo and Aether, it also gained attention as well from the 1.4 Windblume Festival update.

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Trivia

 * Both of their outfit names have a connection with the stars (Rising Star for Aether; Newmoon Starlight for Albedo).
 * In his birthday letter, Albedo says that “it is indeed a joy to gather and celebrate with important people”, and attaches two drinks to it, perhaps assuming that no one else is invited except Aether.
 * There are many confirmations of Aether representing the Sun, such as several symbols of the sun on his outfit (the elemental one on his chest, stylized sun rays on the top of the back of his cape, the alchemical symbol of the sun (☉) a little lower), the warm color scheme, him being a summer person and generally more expressive (than his twin sister); In turn, the albedo stage symbols include silver (Albedo wears silvery elements on his arms), the Moon, white rose, etc.
 * The alchemical symbol of the sun also corresponds with gold.
 * Citrinitas (the final stage of the alchemical transmutation process in the game) is often called the wedding (or the union) of the Sun and Moon.
 * In the accompanying text to Albedo's birthday art (2021), Albedo thanks Aether for the cake he brought him.
 * In the accompanying text to Albedo's birthday art (2022), Albedo thanks Aether for the invitation [to the party] and speculates that there seems to be something Aether wants to tell him, and offers to "go outside quietly and get some fresh air for a while", stating that the others won't mind their absence. The art itself seems to be from Aether's POV.
 * In Albedo's birthday story from Taking Pictures and Recounting Good Times, Aether and Paimon were on their way to give Albedo his birthday present, but before they got the chance to, they encountered Klee, who made a mess in Albedo's workshop. At Klee's suggestion, they helped her catch some fish to apologize. Albedo accepted the apology, inviting Aether to grill the fish together.
 * Aether is the only person (excluding Paimon) whom Albedo trusts enough to tell the secret of his origin without much hesitation.
 * The Traveler is the only one who pays close attention to Albedo's neck and the star mark.
 * Albedo offered an analogy stating that he is a perfect rose, and Aether is his gardener — the only person in all the world who can tell the difference between him and his doppelganger(s).
 * Klee doesn't call Aether “Mr.” (similar to Albedo and some others in that case, the English translation being wrong), most often she just calls him her older brother. Aether cares about her too, agreeing that he loves her and thinks of her as a friend.
 * The Traveler is also the person that Klee thought about and went to when she didn't manage to find Albedo.
 * Out of a huge number of people (Klee, Jean, Kaeya, Diluc, Barbara and Razor), Albedo states that he would prefer to have a conversation with Aether specifically, and adds that the Traveler is intelligent and he likes “to talk to intelligent people”.