Subject Two

Subject Two is an event-exclusive NPC who first appeared in the Event Story Quest The Snowy Past in Shadows Amidst Snowstorms: Act I.

He is a previous iteration of Albedo created by Rhinedottir as a result of her Primordial Human Project. He is distinguishable from the real Albedo by the lack of a golden star-shaped mark on his neck.

Profile

Introduction

Master's failed specimen in the dragon's belly—
This is where the story truly begins.

—Albedo, The Shadows Deepen

Subject Two was the first version of Albedo made by Rhinedottir as a product of the Primordial Human Project, but was deemed a failed experiment and was eventually swallowed by Durin. Many years after Durin's death, Subject Two escaped the dragon's body, taking Dragonspine as his haunt. Seeing Albedo live among humans, Subject Two grew envious that a synthetic being was able to fully enjoy the human experience and began shadowing Albedo, concocting a plan to replace him.^[10][11]

Subject Two created the Fellflower variant to distract Albedo, intending to eliminate the successful experiment and take his place when the time was right. However, the Traveler's abrupt arrival to Dragonspine foiled this plan. Sometime later, the Fellflower is dispatched of and after Albedo tells the Traveler about his star-shaped birthmark, Albedo notices that he is being watched by Subject Two from a cliff and goes to confront his impostor. The Traveler also suspected that something was off, but could not discern anything.^[10][11]

Several days later, Albedo explains what happened in the form of a story, referring to himself as "Subject One," the imposter as "Subject Two," Fellflower Albedo as "Subject Three," and likening the Traveler to a gardener who would be able to distinguish between the three. Albedo does not specify Subject Two's fate and simply says that his plan to usurp Albedo's identity had failed.^[11]

Albedo later reveals during an attack on Mondstadt that he had killed Subject Two when the latter confronted him, burying his body in Dragonspine. Monsters influenced by Durin's blood later recovered the body and brought the remains back to its stomach, where it absorbed Subject Two's knowledge and resentment of Albedo, leading it to mount an infiltration and later invasion of the city of Mondstadt.^[12]

Through Kaeya's idea,^[13] the Knights of Favonius faked Hertha's disappearance and spread a false rumor to attract Subject Two's attention and lure him to disguise as Fake Hertha.^[14] This implies that Subject Two was ultimately resurrected, presumably by Durin's blood. Subject Two became the "core" in the network of beings influenced by Durin's life force and monsters disguising as humans. If he transforms, those in this network will be affected by it. This weakness was exploited and used against him in the trial during the events of Paralogism to expose him.^[15] Subject Two was apprehended by the knights and put within custody while trying to run away upon his true identity being revealed by Albedo.^[16]

Subject Two's true current status after the events of Paralogism is currently unknown, with no solid information or dialogue confirming whether he has been killed once more, or continues to be alive after the removal of the heart like the Fellflower has.

Quests and Events

Archon Quests

• Interlude Chapter
  • Act IV: Paralogism
    • Crimes One and Two

Events

• Shadows Amidst Snowstorms
  • Act I: The Snowy Past
  • Act II: The Shadows Deepen

Gallery

Cameos

Version 2.3 "Shadows Amidst Snowstorms" Trailer - Genshin Impact

Notes

Change History

References