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“It’s your duty”
Kaeya’s father had told him that, ever since he had left his son at the Dawn Winery.
“It’s my duty”
Kaeya had repeated throughout the years, never forgetting his mission as he grew up in wealth and happiness.
“It’s my duty”
Kaeya had told himself as he berated himself for letting his heart become infatuated with Diluc, the enemy of his homeland.
“It’s my duty”
Kaeya forced himself to internalise those words, as the abyss mages came knocking on his door.
“It’s time for you to show your loyalty.”
Kaeya took in a deep breath. Mondstadt was where he lived for most of his life, but it wasn’t his home. No, he told himself, this is the enemy’s home. He was living in enemy territory.
At least, that was what he was supposed to think. The last hope of Khaenri’ah was destined to save the kingdom, not sympathise with another city.
He knew what he was supposed to do, he knew what his duty was.
It took a night to tell the abyss mages everything, every nook and cranny of Mondstadt was revealed to them.
When morning broke, the abyss mages gleefully left his home, as Kaeya slumped in his chair.
Mondstadt was doomed.
That was his duty, wasn’t it? To bring about the end of Mondstadt, along with the rest of Teyvat.
Then, why did he feel so horrible?
Days passed, and Kaeya spent them with a smile, trying to ignore the fact that the end of Mondstadt was approaching. He had even thought of confessing to Diluc in these last days, but despite everything, the words would never leave his mouth.
“It’s for the best that I couldn’t confess, my duty never involved loving him anyway.” He smiled, as his heart ached painfully.
The day finally came.
The Princess, along with plenty of her subjects, stormed Mondstadt.
The time had come for him to live up to his duty as the “last hope”.
With a deep breath, he drew his sword, and drew blood from the soldiers who had once been his comrades.
His enemies, he reminded himself, Mondstadt was his enemy.
The hesitance in their eyes as they tried not to hurt their Cavalry Captain was just their weakness, he told himself, not because they truly cared for him.
The agony that his heart felt was not because he truly cared for them, he repeated, over and over.
He wanted to believe it for once.
With the knights down, he stepped outside, to be greeted by chaos.
The citizens of Mondstadt were screaming, trying to escape or defend themselves against the mages and the hillicurls, but to no avail.
They were dying and it was all because of him.
He caused this massacre.
He was at-
“KAEYA! YOU BASTARD!”
Kaeya barely managed to dodge Diluc’s claymore as it came crashing down on him.
“YOU BETRAYED MONDSTADT, HOW COULD YOU? THIS IS OUR HOME!”
Kaeya expected to see hatred in those amber eyes, but only saw hurt, pain, tears.
Ignoring his festering emotions, Kaeya laughed.
“It’s my duty, of course. It’s your home, but not mine.”
“KAEYA!”
Diluc shouted, as he lifted his claymore again, ready to deal an attack.
Kaeya just raised his sword, hitting Diluc with all the newfound power he had gained from the abyss, before tossing Diluc’s wounded body aside, crashing into a wall.
He would not let his emotions and his heart get in the way of his duty.
That’s what he told himself.
“MASTER DILUC! Why… Mondstadt needs you..DILUC!” Jean’s voice rang out through the screams.
What did he do to Diluc?
Did he..
No
Diluc was strong. He wouldn’t…
Die…
But there he was, slumped against the wall, skin pale as ice, eyes closed, heart stopped.
Kaeya collapsed to his knees.
He killed Diluc.
He killed the love of his life.
He killed Mondstadt.
He killed everyone he loved, for his “duty” to a kingdom he hardly remembered.
Kaeya screamed, and cried, and sobbed.
He didn’t notice someone walking up to him, sword in hand.
He didn’t notice as that person raised their sword in the air.
He only noticed as the blade of the sword penetrated his chest, the tip of the sword glinting in the light.
He looked back, to meet with the tear-filled eyes of Jean.
“You betrayed Mondstadt. That is an unforgivable crime, Kaeya.” She said, through gritted teeth, as she attempted to stop the tears from falling.
“I...know...it’s all my fault…” Kaeya smiled at his Acting Grand Master. “Once I disappear...it’ll all be okay…” before closing his eyes.
He would be joining Diluc. In a life where he could be honest, In a life where he did not have any duties, in a life where they were happy.