Chapter Text
A lone sojourn through Windrise. It was raining, he would usually enjoy the rain. Jumping in puddles with Kaeya in his favorite boots as a kid, they were fond memories. He smiled but it never reached his eyes. His heart ached. He knew he had fucked up. The phoenix of flames dancing a grim macabre, and fear and acceptance and then the horrific smell of burning and the one he grew up with, wasn’t going to stand next to him anymore. He was alone. Losing the people he was close too all in one day. He sat quietly on the viridescent grass in the faint breeze, but there was nobody to give him a comforting embrace or express words of affection. He watched the crystal flies hover gently under the tree, a distraction.
He hated the fear in Kaeyas eyes, his lilac eyes glimmering with regret and hurt, as sword met sword and they danced their final dance.
Reminiscing. Recalling memories of running around the tree laughing and smiling but now he could recall collecting asthers and butterflies as only so painfully nostalgic. He remembered how warm their smile made him feel, but Kaeya was gone. He was alone, he’d hurt the only people he had left. And then he broke. And he let out a pained ululating cry, he shouted for Kaeya he shouted for his dad, he shouted a million sorrows and words he never got to say but sorry wouldn’t bring them back. Grief clenched firmly, choking and unforgiving. But, the wind still continues to blow and the crystal flies continue their song, but this time without Kaeya there with him.
And there laying in front of him, was his father in a puddle of blood;
“Dad?” but there was no reply. His knees gave way and he fell, eyes tearing and shoulders trembling. it wasn’t supposed to go this way. He was too late. He was too late. His vision blurred and his head spun. He should’ve been here sooner he could’ve gotten there in time to do something. He had failed his dad and he had failed Kaeya His heart set alight as a tear broke free. And the rest fell relentlessly in an unbroken stream. He was suffocating, drowning. breath clogging up. He could hear Kaeya, he couldn’t face him. His throat made something between a sob and a shout. Pleading and in pain. Desperately attempting to calm his faltering breaths. Loss had stabbed him ruthlessly through the heart and the wound would never ever truly heal.
”Diluc?” Lilac eyes met amber “I have something to tell you, I’m a spy for Khaenri'ah.’ Betrayal was heavy in the air and time seemed to slow down and the world caved. “You're not my brother!” Then unfaltering anger ignited and burning flames met metal. Kaeya stumbled, eyes watering and shaking violently. One sword user trapped behind an illusion by rage another in an abyss of self loathing. There was a sudden surge of heat and then flames met flesh. Then a choking pained cry. A flash of resignation. And lilac eyes went dull. Then, suddenly encased in the despairing wonderland of Cryo, he lay there - but Celestia was all too late. He looked so vulnerable and young. Cold hands enclosed softly over a dimly lit vision.
’They say when vision bearer die the light dies out of their vision.’
Grief extended another claw and threatened to tear him into pieces. He let it happen.
You murderer
Diluc found himself remaining under the tree. But the loneliness only ever grew.