"...has something happened with Klee?"
Within the Knights of Favonius headquarters, in the city of freedom which was Mondstadt, two knight captains met up.
Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, approached the Captain of the Investigation team, Albedo on account of the recent actions of their youngest titled knight, Klee.
Lately, Kaeya noticed the noticeable change of mood of their youngest knight. Normally, that wouldn't have concerned him that much, but this was Klee he was worried about, the very same kid who blew up half a mountain by herself.
Any abnormality in her actions is a major sign that should not be ignored.
And given Klee and Albedo's close, almost familial connections, Kaeya approached him first to discuss this matter.
"I believe that I lack the necessary knowledge either." Albedo replied as he held a stack of papers. "It was a sudden change for me too."
"Well that certainly can't be good." Kaeya coarsely scoffed as he looked away. "Klee's mood wouldn't be so down without a reason. Something must have happened for her to suddenly get sad like that."
"Where's Ms. Alice anyway? Didn't she return recently?"
"Ms. Alice went to Dragonspine for an investigation. Something about the leyline anomalies there has attracted her attention."
"And Jean? Isn't she usually the one who cheers up Klee?"
"Acting Grand Master Jean is... still quite busy dealing with the aftermath of the Fatui diplomats. Evidently, she hadn't paid Klee much attention."
Hearing all of Albedo's answers, Kaeya couldn't help but rub his temples. Everything sounded like the perfect set up for Klee to suddenly blow everything up to the sky.
There was practically zero supervision for her!
"And what about you, Mr. Albedo? What have you been doing?"
"Similar to Ms. Alice, I've also been investigating the anomalous leylines around Mondstadt. I won't make excuses, and admit that I have indeed been sparing Klee little attention."
"I'm surprised Klee hasn't blown anything yet during the time she's been less watched." Kaeya sardonically chuckled as he looked around the headquarters. "Come to think of it, why didn't she? Given her spontaneous nature... I thought it would have happened sooner or later."
Albedo grasped his chin and thought for a moment before giving an apt reply. "From what I've heard, she's been talking with a friend named Isaac."
"A friend?"
"Indeed," He nodded. "Although I've yet to meet this friend of hers, the fact that no one has seen anyone nor known anyone that fits her description of him, I believe that this friend of hers is an imaginary one. Speaking of which, do you know anyone by that name, Kaeya?"
"No, I've got no clue." Kaeya shook his head. "But Klee likes to go outside and play, so perhaps this friend of hers doesn't live in the city."
"Whatever the case, it doesn't change the fact that she's been limiting her destruction due to him." He added with a faint sigh.
Having said that, Kaeya suddenly became silent as a thought blossomed in his mind. He tapped into it, pondering and expounding about the possibility of it.
Albedo watched in silence too, not interrupting his thought process.
After a while, Kaeya looked back up at Albedo. "Say... Do you think the reason she's been down in the dumps is because of him?"
Albedo hummed lightly as he entertained that thought. "I can't make a conclusive answer yet... But it's not entirely impossible."
"I can't ask myself, but perhaps only Ms. Alice could do it..."
Just then, someone interjected in their conversation.
"Oh? Only what I can do?"
The two of them turned their heads and saw a woman with pale blonde hair approach them. She was dressed in a high-collared, layered ensemble, and had a pair of eye-catching elongated ears.
"Aunt Alice? Welcome back."
Albedo was the first to greet her upon seeing her. "Have you already completed your investigation in Dragonspine?"
"Indeed, and what a troublesome endeavor it was." She said with a tilt of her head. "The cold there has always been so annoying. I've repeatedly attempted to melt it all away, but everything just eventually comes back."
"Melt it away... So that's all those explosions that were reported are about." Kaeya mumbled upon hearing this revelation. "So it was you, Ms. Alice."
She nodded with a proud look on her face, accepting his words as compliments. She then looked back at Albedo.
"Well, what were you talking about just now?"
Albedo and Kaeya looked at each other first before they started explaining what had happened with her child.
Alice listened carefully for a while, but when they mentioned the name of Klee's supposed friend, her demeanor subtly shifted.
"...and that's why we were wondering if you can ask her about it yourself as her mother." Kaeya finished.
"I understand." Alice nodded subtly. "I'll talk with her about this. Thank you, both of you."
They exchanged a few more words to each other before they each went on their way.
And Alice, upon hearing their words, couldn't help but mumble a name under her breath.
"Isaac..."
That name lingered in her mind for a bit longer, as if the very notion of saying it would uncover some sort of hidden secret.
She then turned and went to look for her daughter. It didn't take long for her to find Klee due to her magic that she invented specifically to locate her, as a mother should.
Down in the library of the headquarters, Alice saw her daughter, Klee, looking at a picture book.
Seeing her child, she smiled warmly. "My little dodoko, I'm back~"
Hearing her mother, Klee's eyes lightened up as she turned her head. And, upon seeing her mother, she ran up to her. "Mom!"
Alice spread her arms, catching her in a tight embrace before lifting her with ease. Whether it was lingering motherly strength or a touch of magic, Klee felt as light as the day she first held her.
Alice nuzzled her cheek gently against her daughter's. "And how have you been, my darling? Still my good little girl?"
"I am! But..." Klee initially started with an enthusiastic look, but gradually shifted to a saddened look. "Mom... Can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course. Anything my sweet daughter says, I keep it forever." Alice nodded lightly.
Hearing this, Klee lingered for a moment before speaking. "Mom... I've been playing with other people I haven't told the knights yet..."
"Other people?" Alice gently inquired. "What other people?"
"My friends! Friends at the café!" Klee explained. "It's a place I can go to whenever I want and hang out with my new friends, where I can play as much as I want, together with my new friends."
"And it's Mr. Isaac who lets me do all those things."
"Isaac..." Once again, Alice repeated the name she heard earlier. "Klee, my dear, what is this Isaac like to you?"
"He's a really good person!" Klee said. "He owns that café and always supports us who come and visit. Whenever we had a problem, we could go to him and he would do his best to help us out!"
"He's also really nice! There's this one time that I accidentally set off one of my exploding toys in his café, and he shielded his toys from them. But instead of punishing me, he only told me to not do it again and be careful."
"Oh! And he's also really funny! Whenever we visit, he's always doing something that would make us laugh!"
"Mr. Isaac is the best!"
Hearing her innocent daughter's words about the man whose name lingered in her mind, Alice remained silent as she contemplated.
"Does Isaac..." Alice asked. "Love tea and coffee?"
"Hm? Yeah he does!" Klee nodded. "How'd you know, mom? Do you know him?"
Alice didn't give an immediate answer. Instead, she smiled gently at her daughter as she put her down.
"It was just an educated guess. Anyone can come to that conclusion given that he owns a café."
"But regarding him and his café..." Her eyes then narrowed down. "Can you lead me there now?"
"I want to! But... I can't. No matter how hard I try, the door that gets me there no longer takes me there..." Klee said with a dampened look. "I don't know what's happening..."
"Does Mr. Isaac not want me anymore?"
Hearing this, Alice's eyes slightly twitched. She then patted her daughter's head gently.
"Don't say such a thing. Who would reject a little angel like you?" She comforted her. "I'm sure he just got a little busy, that's all."
"In the meantime, how about we go out and play, Klee? Mom's got some new specimens to test out your new toys."
"Really? Yay!" Klee's mood instantly turned the other way when her mother introduced a new fork of entertainment. "You're the best, mom!"
Alice smiled. "Ehe, anything for you, my darling."
"And while we play, how about you tell me more about this Isaac friend of yours?" She added.
"Hm? Okay! But why do you want to know that, mom?"
Alice smiled.
"Not telling~♪"