chapter 4 - social interactions

I woke up to Klee jumping up and down the bed.

"Wake up, big sis" she sang with her sweet little voice, which was my biggest torture at that moment. "The sun is up"

"Klee, it's early. Let me sleep" I murmured in my pillow. "You need to sleep too, else you will never grow tall."

"Klee slept enough" she stated. "Big sis should've come home earlier. That's why you are smaller than mom. You don't sleep enough."

When did she gain such a sharpe tongue? My height is perfectly fine, thank you. I just can't reach the top shelf, but that's what stools are for.

"C'mon big sis, you said to me you need to do your research. The faster you finish, the sooner you can play with Klee" she exclaimed why she kept jumping on the bed.

"Fine, fine" I sighed as I crawled out of bed. I dressed up and started making breakfast for us. I made scrambled eggs with some vegetables, and served it with sunsettia juice.

After that Klee left to the Favonius Headquarters and I started organizing my research papers.

After I left Mondstadt all those years ago, I spent a year with my parents, traveling through all the seven nations. Then I turned eighteen and my mom gave me the choice to decide what I wanted to do. I decided to return to Inazuma where I gained all kinds of experience.

Then dark clouds emerged in the country. Rumors started to spread about the possible closing of the borders and the future vision hunt decree. I had many talks with my acquaintances there and they advised me to leave until I can.

But all those news bothered me a lot. That's when I started to get interested in visions. I escaped to Sumeru and enrolled in the academy. Once I started to deeply investigate about visions, my own appeared in front of me.

But I found it interesting. There are rumors about why people get visions: they represent ambitions, or they are acknowledgments from the archons, these are the most common.

But I wanted to know why we receive those specific visions we have.

I read every possible book in Sumeru regarding this topic, but I got intel from an another researcher that the Mondstadt Favonius Library has some very valuable books that would help me.

And that's why I returned home.

I wanted to know more. And I didn't plan to die before I get my answers. Thankfully, I would likely live a longer life than regular humans.

I wasn't so deep in my papers yet when I heard a knock on the door.

I stood up to check who it was. I was shocked to see Kaeya standing there, with a bouquet of Cecilias in his hand.

"Good morning, Tessa" he said. "Sorry to bother you now, but I just wanted to apologize for my behavior last night" he handed me the flowers.

I just stood there shocked. I almost forgot about the previous night. I shook my head to come back to present.

"Umm.. apology accepted" I said. "Would you... come in for a tea?"

Kaeya shook his head.

"I would gladly spend some time with you, but unfortunately I have urgent business to attend to" he smiled. "But next time, I won't reject your offer"

He left, and I stood there completely frozen in place. I didn't expect that from him, in the past he wasn't really that much polite-type. And that flirty tone again...

I closed the door and put the flowers in a vase. I tried to concentrate on my research the whole morning, but I couldn't stop thinking about Kaeya.

Throughout the years I spent abroad, I slowly alienated myself from people. I had a smaller circle in Inazuma, than I used to have is Mondstadt, and when I went to Sumeru I just cut people off. I concentrated so much on studying and research that maybe I forgot how to behave around people? That would explain why I didn't know how to treat Kaeya and Diluc and how to react to things like receiving an apology and flowers.

I need a walk.

I stood up and left the apartment. I needed to clear my head a little.

I strolled the city streets and breathed in the familiar scent of Mondstadt.

"Tessa, wait" I heard my name and turned around just to see Diluc running towards me.

"He-hello" I waved.

"I... just wanted to apologize for last night" he said. "There are things I shouldn't have said. I am sorry" he bowed his head. My heart raced fast is my chest. What the hell got into these two idiots? They both behave so... differently around me.

"You don't need to apologize" I said eventually. "Neither you or Kaeya did or said anything wrong"

"No, I..." he started but I interrupted him.

"There's no need" I smiled. "Everything's fine. Have a nice day"

I walked away. I swear every situation with my precious childhood friends felt like walking on eggshells.

I was different with them - a shy little idiot - while they acted towards me like I was someone they have to behave around else their reputation would break down.

I needed to talk to someone. Someone with a clear mind.

I'll go and visit Albedo.

My adopted brother spent most of his time at Dragonspine. Our relationship wasn't similar to the one I had with Klee, but we sure had some common ground.

I left a letter to Klee then I quickly left to arrive at Albedo's camp before sunset.

I found him in his cave. He sat on the ground, by the fire, going through a very thick book.

"Hello, Albedo" I said as I entered.

He smiled and looked up at me.

"It's always nice to see you, Tessa. How was your journey home?" he asked.

"Tiring" I sighed and sat down next to him. "I meant to visit you, but I have to admit that I literally escaped here now."

"Are you in trouble?" he asked, putting his book down.

I didn't mean to bother him with trivial matters, but I needed to talk to someone who is not involved. And Albedo was always a great listener with some great advices. I summed up the whole situation to him.

After my story, he just smiled slightly.

"I still don't know enough of human emotions" he said eventually "And I wouldn't say I know a lot about that two. But... you need to understand that you left for many years and they didn't hear a word from you. Even though you were their friend before, they changed. And you also changed. So does the world. Maybe they feel the same about you, as you do. They know who you used to be, but now they don't know who are you now. They are probably as confused as you are. Just give it some time."

"You're probably right." I said "I am sorry that I bothered you with this"

"I will always try to help you Tessa, no matter what. I believe it is part of being a big brother" he opened his book again.

I spent the night there with him. I helped him going through some books, then I fell asleep by the fire while he continued his work.