My name is Sucrose, an alchemist in Mondstadt and currently Albedo's assistant.
Not long ago, I met an alchemist named Shen Qin. He invented a new flying tool that could replace wind gliders, and I'm curious about its mechanism. So, I struck up a conversation with him.
He was very friendly and even invited me to visit his alchemy workshop. I thought it would be a great opportunity to exchange ideas about alchemy.
But then I hesitated. 'Would it be rude to show up empty-handed? Should I bring him a gift?' Unfortunately, I'm not very good at choosing presents, so I sought advice from Marjorie, the shopkeeper. She suggested I pick something I personally liked, as he was an alchemist too.
After much deliberation, I decided to bring a box of sunsettias with a small lamp grass flavor as a gift. But by the time I made up my mind, I realized —an entire month had passed since his invitation!
I had missed the appointment. Would he be angry and no longer welcome me at his workshop? I was a bit anxious.
Last night, I saw him entering the Adventurers' Guild. After he left, I asked Katheryne about his visit and learned that he had commissioned adventurers to escort him on a trip to gather alchemy materials.
'That was perfect!' I thought as I immediately accepted his commission. This time, I was determined to deliver my gift and have that alchemy discussion.
Now, I was waiting at the entrance of his workshop, but doubt still lingered in my mind. What if he rejected my gift or turned me away? Returning with the box of sunsetias would be so embarrassing...
While lost in thought, the workshop door suddenly opened, startling me. I quickly greeted him, stammering, "H-hello, Mr. Shen Qin... It's nice to s-see you again."
"Sucrose? Didn't I invite you to visit my workshop before? I thought you were busy with some alchemy experiments since you never came."
Seeing Shen Qin's warm smile, I realized he wasn't upset. It was all in my head. Relieved, I offered a small lie to explain, "Y-yes, I was busy with some experiments. But now I have some free time, so I brought you a box of sunsettias I cultivated. They have a small lamp grass flavor."
"You didn't have to go through the trouble, but I appreciate it. I've never tried sunsettias with this flavor before, so I'll gladly accept," he said with a smile as he took the box.
His words filled me with joy, so I eagerly shared, "I also have sweet flower-flavored apples and mint-flavored raspberries. If you like, I can bring those next time!"
"Thank you, but there's no need to trouble yourself," Shen Qin said, gesturing for me to enter his workshop. "Your timing isn't ideal, though—I'll be leaving the city for a few days. Otherwise, I'd love to exchange ideas about alchemy, especially in the field of biological alchemy."
"Actually…" I hesitated, then mustered up my courage, "I think I'm the one who accepted your commission..."
He seemed surprised but then chuckled. "Well, that's perfect. With you accompanying me, I feel more at ease. We can even chat about alchemy on the way."
His approval made me immensely happy.
Shen Qin packed lightly, taking only a small bag and wearing an unusual glove. He stepped onto his hoverboard, and we departed together.
Curious about the glove but too shy to ask directly, I instead inquired about his task. "Mr. Shen Qin, what kind of materials are you looking for today?"
"I can't say for sure," he replied. "Just take me somewhere with a wide variety of materials."
It was an odd response, but I understood his need. As alchemists, we often don't know exactly what materials we need until we experiment with different options.
I decided to take him to the area near Starfell Lake, where we could head west to the beach or north to Windrise and the Stormbearer Mountains.
On the way, I noticed him frequently using his glove to touch various objects. Puzzled, I finally asked, "What is that glove for, Mr. Shen Qin?"
"It's a detection device," he explained with a smile. "It appraises materials to see if they meet my requirements."
That made sense. I wanted to know what he planned to create, as it might help me pre-select suitable materials for him. Just as I was about to ask, a stranger approached us.
It was a man in a slightly worn and stained Knights of Favonius uniform.
"Hello, are you travelers from Mondstadt?" he asked, bowing politely.
"And you are?" Shen Qin responded smoothly, sparing me the need to answer.
"My name is Godwin. As you can see, I'm a Knight of Favonius patrolling outside the city. I promised my beloved that I would write to her regularly, but I've been too busy lately. Could you deliver a letter to her for me?"
I noticed a strange expression on Shen Qin's face as Godwin spoke.
"Of course," Shen Qin replied. "We'll be returning to Mondstadt tonight, so we can deliver the letter. Who is your beloved?"
"Her name is Glory. She's blind, so you'll usually find her sitting on a bench along the street near the Cathedral Square," Godwin said with a smile, handing the letter to Shen Qin.
"Ah! So you're Glory's lover! I heard you were on an expedition with the Grand Master. Is that true?" Shen Qin feigned surprise, though his expression seemed more playful than genuine.
"Well… uh… the Grand Master did assign me some secret tasks, which brought me back to Mondstadt. Glory doesn't know the specifics," Godwin stammered, clearly lying.
"I see. We'll make sure she gets your letter," Shen Qin said, not pressing further.
Despite Godwin's obvious lie, Shen Qin didn't challenge him. This confused me.
"Let's go, Sucrose," Shen Qin said, urging me onward. Strangely, he flew at a slower speed than before.
After a while, he broke the silence. "I bet you're curious about the special material I'm searching for, right?"
"Kind of," I admitted honestly.
"This time, I'm looking for a material that will allow me to create an alchemical product capable of restoring sight to people who have lost it unexpectedly."
His voice grew slightly louder, but I was too captivated by his words to notice.
"Can alchemy really restore a blind person's vision?" I gasped in disbelief. Worried that my tone might sound rude, I quickly added, "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to doubt you!"