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The torrential rain could do nothing to soothe the aches in Kaeya’s body as Diluc turned his back to him.
“You are no longer a Ragnvindr. Get out of my sight.” The redhead hisses before walking away, leaving Kaeya alone to drown in his own thoughts.
His gaze falls to the bright blue orb that rests in his hand, enough to send chills throughout his entire body. How could the gods curse him now in the moments Diluc was going to kill him? Must he continue to bear this burden under the guise of secrecy?
There are no more secrets between them. The two of them have finally made their decisions. His fingers close around his cryo vision as a sob escapes his throat.
The Archons of Teyvat are far too cruel.
Diluc leaves no signs of where he has gone.
Not even a simple letter that wrote of his farewells. Kaeya could sense that a silent and mutual agreement was formed between him and Adelinde, to take care of the winery in his stead. All she had to speak of the young master was the pyro vision he used to wear on his belt. He left it behind, a testament to the journey ahead of him.
He will find the truth without the help of the gods.
“You should keep it, Master Kaeya,” Adelinde insists when he visits the winery.
Strange, Kaeya thinks to himself. Diluc has casted him away, yet Adelinde still treats him with the same respect she always has. A part of him thinks that she doesn’t have an inkling of what happened that night.
But the look in Adelinde’s eyes tells him otherwise.
She gently coaxed Diluc’s vision into his hand, a sad smile on her lips. The passion that the young master held had died out along with the flame of his father; Kaeya had everything taken away from him, the icicles piercing deep into his thigh a reminder that he only has his life now. As a maid, she was powerless to help the both of them.
Kaeya doesn’t expect her to hug him and is surprised when she does. He can’t see her face but from the way she’s shaking, he can tell she’s trying to hold her tears back.
“Please, Master Kaeya,” Adelinde pleads, “look after Master Diluc.”
Such an obscure request. How can he look after his brother when he’s no longer in Mondstadt? The pyro vision is warm in his hand, pulsating to life. The red orb glows against his skin. He almost swears that if he holds the vision close enough to his ear, he could hear another person’s heartbeat.
The only indication that Diluc is still alive. The red orb has yet to lose its vibrant color.
For the first time in days, Kaeya finds his motivation. To protect Mondstadt in his brother’s stead, in the hopes that Diluc will return to a peaceful, more free Mondstadt just as their father wanted.
Diluc’s vision is enough to keep Kaeya going.
Though he wouldn’t want to admit it aloud, Kaeya carries Diluc’s vision everywhere. He keeps it tucked away in his pocket, away from prying eyes. Every few hours he will reach inside and wrap his fingers around the orb, feeling the way it thrums against his skin.
The only remnants of his brother—is it okay to even call him that when Diluc casted him to the wayside?
Carrying the vision gave Kaeya a sense of hope. Eventually, he had the strength to carry around his own vision without flinching at the mere sight. In a sense, carrying Diluc’s vision felt as if he was always at his side, as it used to be.
He’s no longer perturbed by thoughts of what-ifs, of what he could’ve done differently. In Kaeya’s heart, he knew he made the right decision, even if it cost him everything he held dear.
Every night when he goes to bed, Diluc’s vision glows alongside his own on his dresser. Two heartbeats beating in tandem together, though separated and gone down their own paths.
It brings him a strange sense of comfort. He would’ve thought the image of their visions laying next to each other would’ve brought more pain. After all, it was these visions that caused them to separate that night. He remembers how Diluc’s flames threatened to burn him alive, and perhaps it is because the wielder isn’t there to use it that Kaeya feels more at ease. Even with such memories fresh in his mind, they’re not the first ones to come to mind when he comes in contact with Diluc’s vision.
Instead, he’s reminded of his days running through the grapevines with Diluc, Crepus patting both of their heads. The warmth of his family, the light that his brother shone on his dark path to realize the dreams he wanted to seize with both hands; those days were long gone. Kaeya must walk this path alone.
But even so…
In the moments he decides to be selfish, Kaeya allows himself to think that, with Diluc’s vision, he’s not as lonely anymore.
Kaeya has never been fond of the gods.
His home never had one to begin with, yet with a wicked stroke of fate, many gods came to destroy everything he knew at a young age. Khaenri’ah had no gods to pray to, no gods that could grant them salvation in their last moments.
No, there were only gods that knew how to take and take and take.
Earning his vision that day had felt like a slap to his face. Him, a descendent from Khaenri’ah, receiving a vision from the very gods that destroyed it. The gods were a fickle bunch; who was it that Kaeya could direct his anger toward?
Kaeya has never been fond of the gods. He made it abundantly clear when visiting the church with Crepus and Diluc that no gods deserved his devotion. How could he devote himself to the gods when they took everything from him?
It is why he finds himself at a loss for words when Diluc’s vision begins to beat rapidly in his hands before the red orb begins to flicker. He has heard tales before, oh how visions indicate the condition the wielder is in. Kaeya begins to think about the worst case scenario as the vision continues to flicker, the heartbeat beginning to slow down too much for comfort.
Diluc is in danger, and Kaeya is helpless to do anything. He can only watch in panic as the vision begins to lose its vibrant glow, the red fading to a colorless nothing. How cruel! The gods are so kind as to give an indication that his brother is on the verge of dying.
He feels himself beginning to shake. Is there anything that he can do?
And then, Kaeya does the unthinkable.
He starts to pray.
Kaeya doesn’t pray, but if there is anyone in this world that is worth his prayers, it would be Diluc. And so, he gently cradles his brother’s vision in his hands, and starts to pray. He prays to whatever Archons are willing to listen to one who is privy to damnation, one who has been shunned by them only to receive their blessings in return.
He prays that Diluc will come out alive, that the Archins will grant him reprieve; his brother isn’t worthy of death yet. Not until he has sought the truth with both hands. He prays that his brother will come soon to Mondstadt, to see that Kaeya has fulfilled the promise of protecting their home.
He prays because that is all he can do at this moment.
Perhaps the Archons will laugh at him, take his prayers and crush it with their hands. They are notorious for cursing him at the most inopportune moments.
But if even for a moment, the Archons will take pity on him and grant him this one wish…
...then perhaps there is worth in praying to them, if only to pray that Diluc comes home safely.
When he pushes the vase toward Diluc, Kaeya says his farewells.
He no longer has to carry around his brother’s vision, nor any reason to look after him anymore. He knows Diluc will continue to protect Mondstadt at any cost, but he can’t do it without power. It’s why he finally hands over the pyro vision to Diluc, closing his eyes as the gentle thrum of his heartbeat slowly drifts away, back to its rightful owner.
Rumors start to spread quickly. There’s talk of a brave soul roaming Mondstadt’s streets at night, purging evil with a fiery and righteous hand. The courageous blaze that pierced through the darkness, dealing with adversaries without hesitation.
Kaeya knows without a doubt that all of this is Diluc’s doing. He finds it quite amusing if he’s being honest. He has seen the way his face twists in disgust at hearing the people of Mondstadt utter the name “Darknignt Hero.” His intentions of staying low had only caused the citizens to sing of his praises, second to that of the Knights of Favonius.
He keeps this information under lock and key because there is no need to inform the Knights of Diluc’s nightly activities. After all, it is his duty to protect Mondstadt.
He walks into Angel’s Share that night to order a glass of Death After Noon when Charles has already prepared one in advance. He quirks a brow at the bartender before he waves at Kaeya.
“It’s on the house,” Charles informs him. “Have as many glasses as you like.”
Kaeya slides into his seat with ease, gingerly picking up his glass and watches as the liquid gently sloshes around. He hums.
“What’s the occasion?” He asks.
“Consider it a thanks from Master Diluc,” Charles says before turning his attention to the patrons that enter.
Kaeya eyes the drink, everything becoming white noise as he focuses on what Charles told him. A thanks from Diluc himself in the form of Kaeya’s favorite alcoholic drink.
He smirks to himself as he takes a sip of Death After Noon. Surely there is no possible way for his brother to know that this is his favorite drink unless he has been paying extra close attention to his tab. There’s still some sort of connection between them, even if it’s strained.
For what Diluc is offering his thanks for, Kaeya has no clue. The one piece of the puzzle he can’t seem to solve as the night continues. It’s not long until Charles is seeing him out, and he’s far too drunk to even think about Diluc’s intentions anymore. He yawns, tears forming at the edge of his eye as he walks out of the tavern. Perhaps there’s no reason to look too deep into it.
Except for the fact that Diluc is standing outside the tavern when Kaeya walks out.
He freezes from the shock of seeing him, arms folded across his chest as he leans against the wall. Kaeya eyes him warily and Diluc scoffs.
“I take it you had your fill?” His brother asks and Kaeya almost swears there’s a hint of amusement in his tone.
He shakes his head, trying to keep his composure. “Why?” Kaeya cuts to the chase; the alcohol makes him bolder in situations like these.
Diluc averts his gaze. “Why, indeed,” He sighs, avoiding the question.
The silence that follows after is nearly suffocating. Neither have made a move to walk away nor continue the conversation. Kaeya nearly tips over, the alcohol hitting his senses harder. He really shouldn’t have downed five glasses, but the offer was far too tempting to resist.
Finally, Diluc is the first to move. He stands up straight and Kaeya eyes the vision that is hanging off his belt, glowing brightly in the darkness. He looks back up at Diluc and notices that there’s an almost… fond look in his eyes. Is he seeing things?
“Consider it my thanks for looking after this vision of mine,” He speaks up. His words are genuine, no hints of malice as he tells the truth. They’re nearly vulnerable in these moments.
“That’s all.”
Kaeya can tell there’s more that he wants to say. Diluc always clenched one fist whenever something was on his mind, where there was still more that had to be said. But not now. They’re not at the stage where he can pry his brother for more answers; not anymore at least, but Kaeya can only hope that can change.
In the meantime, he can continue to offer his silent prayers to Diluc in secret. There are no gods worth his prayers, but his brother is the sole exception.
Even if his prayers fall on deaf ears, he can only hope that one day they will be realized, and he will offer his prayers to Diluc aloud, with the hope that he will heed Kaeya’s words with care.