บท 18: 17. Dragonspine: I Need an Adult

The Abyss Herald was gone, and the battle had finally ended, but the strain in my body was unbearable. Even after switching off demon mode, my mind felt scattered, my body sluggish. I tried to stand, feeling a sense of relief that we'd made it through. But then, without warning, my legs buckled, and I collapsed onto the cold, hard ground.

At first, I thought maybe I'd pushed myself a little too far. No big deal—demon mode always left me drained, but this... this was different. I wasn't in pain. In fact, I felt perfectly fine physically, but my body refused to respond. My limbs wouldn't move. It was like my brain wasn't sending the right signals, like I'd somehow cut the connection between thought and action.

"What the hell?"

I could still hear everything around me—the footsteps of my companions, the crackling of the fire we'd made—but all I could do was stare up at the sky, unable to move a muscle. My eyes darted from side to side, trying to make sense of what was happening.

"Hey, Tayden! You good?" Kaeya's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, his usual laid-back tone now tinged with concern.

I wanted to answer, but nothing came out. My mouth wouldn't move, my arms wouldn't lift. It was as if I was trapped in my own body, completely immobilized. The panic began to set in.

"Tayden?" Mara knelt beside me, her fingers brushing against my wrist as she checked my pulse. "No injuries... but something's not right."

Kaeya crouched down, peering at me with a curious but serious expression. "What's going on? You're not faking this to get out of carrying your gear back to the outpost, are you?"

I wanted to laugh at the joke, but all I managed was a small, frustrated groan.

Mara looked up at Kaeya, her face serious. "He's not injured, but he's not moving. I can't explain it."

Elric and Venn hovered nearby, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion. They'd seen me push myself in battle before, but nothing like this. I couldn't help but feel the weight of their stares.

"Damn it," I muttered in my head. "This isn't good."

Kaeya's face softened a little, realizing that whatever this was, it was serious. "Alright, we'll figure it out. Let's get him up."

The knights worked together to lift me, my body limp like a ragdoll. I hated every second of it—being carried like some helpless burden. Come on, move! I screamed internally, but my body remained unresponsive.

As they secured me, I could hear Elric muttering about how this shouldn't be happening. Venn glanced nervously over his shoulder, clearly still on edge after the battle.

That's when Kaeya's head snapped up, scanning the area. "Wait… where's the Abyss Mage?"

The group froze, eyes darting around. The captured Abyss Mage was gone. No trace of its presence remained—not even a puff of cold mist.

"It must've escaped during the fight with the Herald," Kaeya said, his voice tight with frustration. "Damn it."

I could feel the tension in the air grow. We had been so focused on the Herald, so caught up in surviving, that the Abyss Mage had slipped away. My immobile body didn't help the situation.

"Forget it," Kaeya eventually said, shaking his head. "We'll deal with it later. Right now, we need to get Tayden back to the outpost."

Just as the group was about to move out, a voice called from the direction of the mountain.

"Well, this is unexpected," the voice was calm, almost soothing.

Everyone turned as a figure approached from the snow-covered path. It was Albedo, Mondstadt's enigmatic Chief Alchemist.

"Albedo," Kaeya greeted him with a nod, though his tone remained cautious. "I didn't expect to run into you out here."

Albedo glanced at me, still slumped between Mara and Elric, and a spark of interest flickered in his eyes. "Neither did I. But it seems there's an interesting situation at hand."

He stepped closer, his gaze sharp as he looked me over. "This... doesn't appear to be a typical injury."

Mara shook her head. "It's not. He's unhurt? But he can't move. We think it's something to do with his powers."

"Hmm," Albedo mused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed my limp form. "Fascinating."

"I can help," Albedo finally said, his voice as calm as ever. "Bring him to my camp. I have the tools necessary to investigate this further."

Kaeya glanced at me, and I could feel the silent plea in my own eyes. No, please, not Albedo's lab!

"Don't worry," Kaeya said with a reassuring smile, ignoring the clear panic in my gaze. "You'll be in good hands with Albedo."

Seriously? My mind screamed. This guy wants to dissect me!

Albedo, completely oblivious to my internal turmoil, simply nodded. "I assure you, Tayden, there's nothing to fear".

Somehow, that didn't make me feel any better.

---

I could only scream internally as I was lifted onto the makeshift stretcher, my body still unresponsive. Every nerve was firing, every instinct begging me to get up and run—or at least walk—away from this situation, but my limbs remained limp and useless.

Kaeya exchanged a look with Albedo as the alchemist began leading the way up the icy mountain path. "So," Kaeya started casually, trying to lighten the mood, "what exactly are you planning to do with him? No potions that turn him into a frog or anything, right?"

Albedo didn't break stride or even flinch at the question, his expression remaining calm and composed. "I have no such plans. I suspect Tayden's condition is related to the overuse of his regenerative abilities. It's not uncommon for a body to shut down temporarily when overworked beyond its natural limits."

"Oh great," I thought sarcastically, "my body's throwing a tantrum because I pushed it too hard."

Kaeya gave me a sidelong glance, his signature smirk making a brief appearance. "See, Tayden? You're just overworked. Nothing to worry about."

I glared at him—well, I tried to. It probably looked more like a blank stare, given my current state.

Elric and Mara carried me with careful precision, while Venn hovered nearby, clearly still jittery from the earlier battle. Every so often, I could hear him muttering something under his breath, like he was trying to reassure himself that the Abyss Mage wouldn't suddenly pop out of the snow and ambush us.

"Can't believe we let it escape…" he mumbled for the tenth time.

Kaeya turned to him, his voice light but with an edge of authority. "Don't beat yourself up, Venn. We had bigger fish to fry." His eyes flickered briefly with frustration. "We'll deal with the Abyss Mage later."

As the path narrowed, Albedo led us deeper into the heart of Dragonspine. The winds howled, and the cold seeped through every layer of clothing, biting into our skin. I could see my breath fogging in front of me, and while I couldn't feel the chill in my current state, I knew it was freezing out here.

"This is it," Albedo announced as we approached a hidden alcove tucked away in the mountainside. His camp was nestled beneath a rocky overhang, protected from the worst of the elements. A small fire burned in the center, illuminating an array of alchemical tools, books, and strange artifacts scattered around the space.

The knights set me down gently beside the fire, and for a moment, I was grateful for the warmth. I stared up at the flames, wishing I could feel their heat more acutely, but the numbness persisted. My mind was racing, screaming at my body to respond, to do something, but nothing happened.

Albedo immediately began rummaging through his supplies, setting up various instruments with a meticulousness that was equal parts fascinating and terrifying. Vials of strange liquids, crystals that pulsed with faint light, and more tools than I could count were laid out in an orderly fashion. I couldn't help but think I was about to become one of his experiments.

Albedo then lent Kaeya and the other's a vial of liquid and smothered it on their wounds. It then glowed a little light before dying out and the wounds look like they have been healed. Damn I want one of those!

Kaeya watched him for a moment, amusement flickering in his eyes. "So, Albedo, what's your diagnosis? Is Tayden salvageable, or should we just leave him here?"

Albedo didn't look up from his work. "His condition is temporary. However, it is more severe than simple exhaustion. His regenerative abilities are functioning, but they've been strained to their limit. I believe the paralysis is a result of neurological fatigue. Though it's still a guess."

That caught my attention, and I felt a wave of dread wash over me. Neurological fatigue? What does that even mean? I wanted to ask. But again, all I could do was lie there, completely helpless.

Kaeya raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "So, you're saying he fried his brain?"

Albedo nodded, almost absentmindedly. "Essentially, yes. His brain is unable to properly communicate with the rest of his body due to overexertion. It will regenerate in time, but until then, he'll remain in this state."

"Fantastic," I thought bitterly. I've turned myself into a vegetable.

The knights exchanged glances, and I could feel the concern in the air thickening. Mara stepped closer, her brow furrowed. "Is there anything we can do to help him recover faster?"

Albedo shook his head, still focused on the various readings he was taking. "Unfortunately, I don't think so. His body will need time to heal on its own. I'll monitor him closely and provide what assistance I can, but the process cannot be rushed."

Kaeya sighed dramatically, crossing his arms as he looked down at me. "Well, Tayden, looks like you're stuck with Albedo for a bit. I'll let Jean know you're in good hands."

My eyes widened in panic. No! Don't leave me here! But Kaeya either didn't notice or pretended not to. He gave me a sly grin, clearly enjoying my internal torment.

"Well, this should be fun," he said, clearly amused. "Albedo, take good care of him."

Albedo nodded without looking up. "I intend to."

As Kaeya turned to leave, I mentally screamed at him. Don't you dare leave me with him!

Kaeya paused at the entrance to the alcove, glancing back one last time with a playful smile. "Don't worry, Tayden. I'm sure you'll be fine."

I have been betrayed! I thought as he waved and disappeared into the blizzard with the other knights.

I was left with Albedo, who now seemed entirely focused on his work. He adjusted his instruments, occasionally glancing at me like I was some fascinating specimen.

"Now," Albedo said softly, more to himself than to me, "let's see what we can learn."

As much as I trusted Albedo to help, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease growing in the pit of my stomach. I knew he meant well, but being left alone in his lab while I couldn't move or speak? Yeah, this was going to be a long recovery.

---

After Kaeya and the knights left, the alcove fell silent except for the soft crackle of the fire. I lay there, still completely paralyzed, while Albedo moved around the camp with his usual calm efficiency, setting up various alchemical tools and instruments. Despite the situation, I couldn't help but feel like a lab rat about to undergo some wild experiment. I mean, I trusted Albedo, but the guy was known for his… curiosity.

He finally approached, holding a strange contraption that looked like a cross between a tuning fork and a glass vial filled with a glowing liquid. "I'll need to run a few tests to understand your current condition," he said, more to himself than to me.

Great. Just what I needed, I thought. To be Albedo's next big discovery.

Albedo placed the instrument on my forehead, and I felt a faint hum reverberate through my skull. It was an odd sensation, but still, my body remained completely immobile.

He hummed thoughtfully to himself, then muttered, "Your regenerative abilities are still active, but the communication between your brain and your body has been disrupted. It's as if your brain has exhausted itself to the point of temporary shutdown."

Yeah, no kidding, I thought bitterly. Would be nice if you could fix that a bit quicker.

Albedo continued, his voice even. "Think of it like overexerting a muscle. When a muscle is strained beyond its limit, it needs time to recover. Your brain, in this case, has been overexerted from the prolonged use of your powers, and it will need time to regenerate properly."

He adjusted one of his alchemical devices, watching the readings carefully. "It's fascinating, though. Your brain is healing itself, but at a much slower rate than the rest of your body."

Yeah, that's fascinating, I thought sarcastically, mentally rolling my eyes. If I wasn't stuck here, I'd be jumping for joy.

As he continued working, I suddenly remembered something TD had told me about overusing demon mode. It was one of those warnings I should have paid more attention to. His exact words echoed in my head: "If you overuse demon mode beyond your current limit, your cells will start to disintegrate, or die. Basically, cell death."

Oh, great! NOW I remember! I cursed internally, frustration bubbling up.

Albedo paused, turning back to his instruments. "It seems you've pushed your 'abilities' beyond what you are currently capable of," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "When you extend your time in that state, it begins to take a toll on your body, specifically your brain. You've reached a point where your brain is struggling to repair the damage caused by the overexertion."

Thanks for the recap, Albedo. Really helpful, I thought with sulking in my immobile state.

Albedo continued his analysis. "Your body's regenerative abilities are impressive, but there are limits. Your brain simply needs time to recover from the strain. You'll regain full movement in a couple of days, but until then…"

Until then, I'm stuck here, immobile. Fantastic...

Albedo stood up and crossed his arms, observing me with a calculating gaze. "It's interesting," he mused. "Your regenerative capabilities are unlike anything I've ever encountered. I've seen rapid healing before, but this… it's almost as if your body has adapted to withstand extreme damage—except when you overextend yourself, like today."

I mentally groaned, realizing that my overzealous use of demon mode had officially turned me into Albedo's new favorite subject. Why do I feel like I'm never going to hear the end of this?

Just as I was processing my predicament, I could almost hear TD's voice in my head, smug and filled with sarcasm:

(In Tayden's Imagination)

"Well, well, look at you now. Overdid it again, didn't you? Bet you're real proud of yourself, huh?"

"Oh, shut up, TD."

"Hey, don't blame me. I warned you. And now you're Albedo's little experiment. Honestly, it's kind of funny—if it weren't so sad."

(Back To The Real World)

Albedo knelt beside me again, inspecting my eyes. "I'll keep you here for observation until your brain fully regenerates. It may take a couple of days, my guess is two days or a little over that, but rest is the best solution for now."

Two days? I can't even move! What am I supposed to do for two days—just stare at the sky? I screamed internally.

"Don't worry," Albedo said, his tone still as calm as ever. "You're in capable hands. I'll monitor your progress closely."

He gave me a small, reassuring nod, oblivious to the internal meltdown I was having. "I'll make sure your recovery goes smoothly. There's no need to rush the process."

As Albedo moved back to his equipment, I could only sigh internally. My brain was in repair mode, and there was nothing I could do but wait it out.

This is going to be a long few days.