Albether

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

Princeps Cretaceus Chapter
Act I: Traveler Observation Report

Aether and Paimon arrive to speak with Timaeus, but find Sucrose instead. She recognizes them and tells them they could help her master, Albedo, since he seems troubled with one of his experiments as of late, which was rather surprising. She says that he will most likely reward them for their efforts, and that he and Timaeus can be found at Dragonspine.

Arriving at the base of the mountains, they find Barbara with Rosaria. The two argue for a bit before Rosaria notices Aether and Paimon eavesdropping. After hearing that they're searching for Albedo, she agrees to guide them, since she's also looking for him for her own reasons.

They soon find Albedo sketching a group of hilichurls, who become alarmed by their presence and attack. After the group gets rid of them, Albedo approaches the three, somewhat dissatisfied by the fact that they scared the monsters away. Fortunately, by the time they arrived, he had already finished his painting. Paimon wonders what's so special about this bunch, and Albedo begins explaining, which Rosaria interrupts, leaving. Albedo then recognizes Aether as the Honorary Knight and concludes that the strange abilities he possesses must mean he comes from another world, which Aether confirms. Albedo tells him that he wishes to perform an experiment to see how life functions in the worlds outside Teyvat, since he acquired an other-worldly seed that refuses to blossom. He promises to compensate for his participation, and ensures that he'll do everything in his control to ensure his safety. In the distance, Rosaria is spying on the two, commenting on how they seem to have hit it off and wondering if Albedo is a risk to Mondstadt.

Once they arrive, Paimon wonders what the seed will become. Albedo says he doesn't know himself, but the method by which they will achieve the goal seems more important to him than the end result. Paimon still doesn't get it, on which Aether comments. Instead of explaining further, Albedo promises that if it turns out to be a delicious fruit, dinner is on him. Aether notices how Albedo's seen right through Paimon's motives, and Albedo tells them then he occasionally has to look after a child.

His first research is the elements. He speculates that to manipulate the elements, one requires a Vision, which is absent on Aether's person, and that is why he asks several questions about the Traveler's physique: possible presence of multiple organs, whether the "floating child" is connected to his body in some way, or if she can channel the elemental power to him. The answer to all of it is negative, so Albedo concludes that there's no obvious difference between Aether's body and that of the humans in this world. He wants to examine how Aether's elemental power manifests externally, and lures a few slimes to the area, asking the Traveler to fight them using any means that come naturally.

After the test is over, Albedo offers some emergency potions to Aether in case he's injured, but concludes once again that there's nothing out of the ordinary. Next, to test the internal flow, Albedo asks the Traveler to drink a potion that extracts elemental power. However, it is missing some Starsilver Catalyst, which they find on the way to his camp.

They meet Timaeus there, and the man shares his thoughts about the Traveler being similar to slimes in essence. Albedo commends him on his efforts, but gently dismisses the hypothesis. After they were done talking, the potion was ready, so Aether drank it. Paimon asks how is it, to which Aether answers that it's bitter, and that he's surprised Albedo drank that himself beforehand. Albedo says that such taste was expected, and that the result is a very positive one. Paimon is shocked that Albedo knew that he'd be sick and still drank it, and Albedo replies that it's only natural for him to be the guinea pig for the concoction, since it was made by him. Aether is still confused by the fact that Albedo took the risk, but Albedo simply states that endangering his assistant would be a wrong thing to do. And, again, concludes that Aether is no different from anyone else in this world, as far as elemental energy is concerned. Yet, he continues that an ordinary result is better than a peculiar one, since everything that is "ordinary" is easily understood by others. Aether suspects that there's more to his words, but Albedo doesn't elaborate further, instead offering Timaeus to collate the experiment results. He then tells Aether and Paimon to look around the camp as he begins the next test.

In the second test, Albedo asks Aether to break a pillar with his mind, which he's unable to do. Albedo wonders if elemental-imbued food would help the situation, and if the food prepared by Aether would taste any different, to which both Aether and Paimon speculate that the alchemist is most likely just hungry. Once the Sunshine Sprat is ready, Albedo finds nothing special about it, although he praises the Traveler's cooking skills. He believes that the natural laws of Teyvat might be affecting Aether's powers. Albedo then asks him to to find a couple of items which he had misplaced at the campsite as the third test, which Aether does successfully as Albedo asks him a few more questions regarding his possible "superpowers", though all the answers are still negative.

In the fourth test, Aether arrives at a small peak where Albedo has him jump down and travel across the small lake nearby. While the Traveler is busy testing, Albedo is "recording data, responding to risks and providing emotional support". After completing the test, Albedo finds that Aether's easily outperforming the average Mondstadt citizen, but he still wonders if Aether's bound to Teyvat's laws or not. Either way, he's quite fascinated by the possibilities both options hold. He promises to show the pair something interesting once they return to his campsite.

Aether asks what else Albedo has researched this thoroughly, and Albedo compares the Traveler to gold, Petrified Trees and a sun eight times the size of their own. He shares that researching is quite enjoyable to him, yet the enjoyment is fleeting, and everything once fascinating eventually becomes mundane. Paimon remembers about the hilichurls he had painted earlier, and asks whether she and Aether will become boring to him as well. Albedo quickly rejects the possibility, saying that they've been of great assistance to him, and that he will remember this friendship for a lifetime. He then asks them to follow him to the ruins nearby.

In the fifth test, Albedo shows Aether a locked mechanism and tasks him with unlocking it as a test of intelligence. The Traveler finishes the test by using several local Seelies to unlock the mechanism. Albedo notices that the water has receded and investigates alongside Aether, where they find mysterious scripts on the wall. Albedo takes a copy of them before returning to the campsite. Before the Traveler and Paimon could leave, Rosaria stops them, concerned about how everything is going. She comments on how Aether's been taking orders from a complete stranger, drinking anonymous potions and participating in all kinds of strange experiments, wondering if he's that naive or even colluding. Aether says that he just helped Albedo with his research, and that he doesn't think that Albedo is a bad person. Before Rosaria leaves once she's sure Aether's not a threat, she warns them to be wary of Albedo.

Returning to the camp, Albedo concludes that Aether is like an ordinary person in Teyvat, much to the pair's apparent disappointment. He tells them that nothing in this world should be taken for granted, and asks whether they've ever considered that the world of Teyvat may have a natural hostility to outlanders. Aether agrees that it might be possible, and Albedo adds that the fact they're able to converse right here and now is arguably a small miracle. Nonetheless, Aether's participation has given him inspiration in his research, and so he shows off the otherworldly seed, blooming a flower from it. It withers quickly as Aether comments on how beautiful and short-lived it was, and Albedo says that even a momentary burst is precious, continuing about a life lived efficiently and to perfection is necessarily one unburdened by loneliness, mentioning them conversing here being a small miracle again. The conversation becomes heavy for a moment, before Paimon dilutes it by saying that she wants to be Albedo's friend. Albedo thanks them both, saying that even if dispelling loneliness is not essential for life, it certainly doesn't hurt. Aether wonders if he's a helpful specimen because of it, and Albedo clarifies that the time they've spent traveling was a valuable journey for him. He then asks if he can ask for his help again in the future, if the need arises, and Aether answers that he can find him anytime, even if he just wants some company.

As the pair leaves, Albedo notices some sediment growing at the bottom of the vial, which shouldn't be there. He muses on how both he and Aether are alike, both composed of a substance that has yet to be fully defined. Worried that one day he will "lose control" and "destroy everything", he wonders if he can rely on Aether to stop him if that time ever comes.

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.

Of Ballads and Brews
During Weinlesefest, Aether and Paimon agree to help the Knights out, setting up a charity shop. Albedo heard that they were running the Knights of Favonius' stall, and came over to pitch in. He brought over his recently made batch of Extra-Strong Sobriety Potion, and asked to hand it for free to anyone who might need it. Aether says that they can't take all this and give nothing in return, and offer Albedo snacks that he can share with Klee. Albedo doesn't refuse it, and then compliments them over their keen business sense, adding that "if any other knight of Favonius were running the show, it would be a much more generic operation".

Paimon assumes Albedo himself has plenty of charity-doing experience, and Albedo agrees, telling how "provided a dozen or so landscape paintings for a previous charity event". It is revealed that, even though his style is 'copyrighted', many artists began to imitate his paintings, and they became a common sight throughout Mondstadt. Aether isn't that surprised by the news. Though it was hardly Albedo's original intention, he's content with his unexpected philanthropic achievements. Aether praises him, and says that he'd like to learn to paint as well. Albedo replies that he's happy to share his expertise with him, but practice is still the most essential factor, hinting at the need for the Traveler to come over more often.

Aether makes some snacks for Albedo to take back with him, and Albedo thanks him, wishing him and his shop all the best, bidding farewell.

Fanon
Albether is a popular ship among the Genshin Impact fandom. Albether is 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).
 * 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 birthday letter of the same year (2021), Albedo says that “it is indeed a joy to gather and celebrate with important people”, and attaches two drinks to it.
 * 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 the birthday letter of the same year (2022), Albedo offers Aether to meet up. He says he's painted a lot of different drawings in various styles, and that he wants to hear Aether's opinion on them, so that he can draw Aether a portrait based on his preferences, as he had promised long ago. He also looks forward to discussing a bunch of different topics with Aether once the latter arrives, and assures he'll prepare the refreshments, as usual.
 * In Albedo's birthday story from Taking Pictures and Recounting Good Times (2022), 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.
 * In the accompanying text to Albedo's birthday art (2023), Albedo thanks Aether for the flower "of excellent quality" the latter gifted him, offering to make spices from it together, and promises to walk him through it if there's something Aether doesn't understand. The ribbon on the flower flask matches Albedo's eye color.
 * In the asian versions of the caption, the word for "spices" (香料, 향료) might also mean "perfume".
 * In the birthday letter of the same year (2023), Albedo goes on to tell Aether about paintings meant "to capture the beauty of a moment for eternity". Paints crack with time, however; and so he paints over the fissures to be able to continue to cherish the old piece. Then, he says that "seeing the wrinkles left by long years of hardships, worries, and lament on one another's faces thickens the bonds between friends". Right after that he politely invites Aether over to "add a few more brushstrokes to the painting called «You and I»".
 * Albedo's English voice actor, Khoi Dao, read the letter on his Twitter.
 * Just like in 2021, he once again attaches two drinks to the letter along with yellow/golden paint.
 * The drink is made from sunsettias, which might be a reference to Act III of Shadows Amidst Snowstorms.
 * In Albedo's birthday story from Taking Pictures and Recounting Good Times (2023), they're both drawing in what might be Albedo's office. Aether is focused, and to Paimon's worrying that it might take a while and become boring to Albedo, Albedo answers that it's no problem, and that's the meaning of painting is to record special moments.
 * Aether is the only person (excluding Paimon) whom Albedo trusts enough to tell the secret of his origin without much hesitation.
 * Aether 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”.