Chapter 3: Reflections
Albert frantically grabbed the bundle of spare clothes Barbara had given him, quickly dressing himself and desperately trying to conceal his strange new appearance beneath layers of fabric. He nervously approached the cave entrance, heart pounding loudly.
Barbara glanced back as Albert emerged, confusion evident on her face. "Albert? Are you alright? You look strange."
"I'm fine," Albert stammered, pulling the hood lower over his face, hoping she wouldn't notice.
Barbara narrowed her eyes slightly, stepping closer. "Why are you hiding your face? Did something happen?"
Albert shifted uneasily, the discomfort intensifying. "It's complicated, Barbara. Something... strange happened with the slime."
"What happened?" Barbara asked urgently, her voice growing anxious.
Unable to hold it back any longer, Albert slowly lowered the hood, revealing Barbara's own face staring back at her. Barbara gasped sharply, staggering backward, panic flooding her expression.
"What is this? What did you do?!" Barbara cried, trembling.
"I didn’t do anything!" Albert said quickly, desperately trying to calm her down. "The slime—it grabbed my leg, covered my whole body, and then... I ended up looking exactly like you."
Barbara shook her head vehemently, breathing fast. "No, no, that's impossible. It can't—"
"Wait," Albert interrupted softly, noticing her panic increasing. He closed his eyes tightly, desperately willing himself back to normal. A strange sensation rippled through him, and moments later, Barbara watched in disbelief as Albert's form shifted back to his own familiar self.
Barbara's breathing gradually slowed, relief mingling with lingering shock. "You're... you're back," she whispered softly.
Albert nodded shakily. "I think I can change between your appearance and mine now. I don't know why or how..."
Barbara took a slow, steadying breath, guilt flickering across her face. "This is all my fault. If I'd been stronger, if I'd dealt with the slime better, you wouldn't have gotten involved in this."
"Barbara, it's not your fault," Albert said gently. He hesitated, noticing how strained and worn her voice sounded. "Are you alright? Your voice—"
Barbara quickly shook her head, averting her eyes. "It's nothing. I'm just tired from the concert."
Albert decided not to push further, sensing her discomfort. Instead, he pulled his hood back up, offering a reassuring smile. "Let's just get back to Mondstadt. Maybe someone there can help us understand what's going on."
Barbara nodded silently, still clearly unsettled, as they began the tense walk back toward Mondstadt, each lost in their own troubled thoughts.
The gates of Mondstadt loomed ahead as Albert and Barbara entered the city quietly, tension heavy between them. Barbara led the way, guiding Albert towards Lisa's library, both hoping she could make sense of their predicament.
As they stepped inside, Lisa looked up from a thick tome, a welcoming smile quickly fading into concern as her eyes landed on Albert.
"Barbara! And... Who?" Lisa began cautiously, her expression immediately darkening. "Barbara, why is that monstrous with you?"
Albert flinched visibly, embarrassment and shame overtaking him. Barbara stepped forward quickly, sensing Albert's discomfort. "Lisa, something happened with a slime. Albert tried to save me, and now he... he's different."
Lisa immediately stood, approaching Albert carefully, her eyes scanning him intently. She raised a hand, tracing gentle patterns in the air as elemental light flickered around Albert.
"Oh my..." Lisa murmured softly, her voice layered with fascination and worry. "Albert, you're not entirely human anymore. The slime has bonded with you at an elemental level. You're... something new—half human, half slime."
Albert paled, swallowing nervously. "Half slime? What does that even mean?"
Lisa sighed gently, folding her arms. "Slimes naturally replicate elemental signatures. Barbara was the last to make contact with it, imprinting her physical form onto the slime’s energy. That’s why you can transform into her."
Albert hesitated, then shifted uneasily, allowing himself to briefly demonstrate the change. Barbara stepped back, startled once more at the sight of her reflection staring back at her.
Lisa shook her head sternly. "Albert, you shouldn't do this again. Every transformation strains your elemental core, and honestly, I don't know what effect it could have on Barbara. She shares a connection with you now—who knows what disturbances your transformations might cause her."
Barbara paled slightly, glancing nervously at Albert. "This is all because of me. If only I'd handled that slime better—"
"Barbara," Albert interrupted gently, shifting back to his own form carefully. "You can't blame yourself."
Lisa raised an eyebrow suddenly, turning her gaze firmly to Barbara. "Speaking of hiding things—Barbara, your voice. You've been struggling, haven't you?"
Barbara tensed visibly, embarrassment flooding her cheeks as she looked away quickly. "It's just fatigue, Lisa. Really."
Lisa sighed knowingly, placing a comforting hand on Barbara's shoulder. "You can't hide something like this—not from me, and especially not from yourself."
Albert watched silently, guilt and uncertainty growing heavier in his heart as Barbara quietly nodded, clearly upset yet unwilling to speak further.
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