Chapter Text
It's been 3 years.
Whole 3 years have passed since Diluc began his pursuit of the truth.
What was that mysterious dark power his father used to save his son that cost him his life? Where on Teyvat did he get that power from and why did he think it was a good idea?
So many questions yet almost no answers. At the very least he finally had a vague answer to the initial question. The so-called delusions -or a more fitting name The evil eyes - are tools created as some sort of substitutes for visions. Just like them they grant their wielder control over certain elements but are said to be way more powerful. The thing about them though is that unlike visions delusions can backfire on their holder. For great power you must pay an even greater prize right? Only in this situation do most delusion wielders pay with their lives.
So why…?
Why doesn't it affect Diluc in any way?
What's different about him…?
After he abandoned his vision along with his title in the knights and his serene, sheltered way of living back in Mondstat he took up his late father’s delusion and impulsively left his nation. It surprisingly didn't have any effect on him. It could simply be passed off as an effect of him being a vision holder and hence neutralizing the delusions power but one could never be completely sure as far as evil powers go.
He had no plan whatsoever, no idea where to start searching or how. But he began his travels in Liyue for it is Mond’s biggest ally. As inexperienced with traveling and getting information as he was, fortunately he met quite a number of people who were willing to help him and provide info. Turns out the organization behind the delusions - The Fatui - was despised by most people throughout the whole Teyvat. During his travels he visited 6 nations of Teyvat in total meaning there was one left, Snezhnaya . It was a logical move to leave the nation which the fatui hail from and reside in for last.
And here he was...
It's been 3 years already.
After 3 years Diluc is finally at the end of his journey.
in Snezhnaya.
… What now?
Ever since the moment he set foot into this godforsaken nation he knew it was a mistake. He had heard of Snezhnaya's harsh climate but he didn't think it would be this bad. Most of the landscape is permanently covered with thick white layers of snow due to snow falling here non stop. As soon as one leaves a city or a village they won't see anything but land enveloped in white, occasionally decorated with a few dead trees or bushes, everywhere they look for at least 2 days of traveling.
The nation is huge but not very populated which is to be expected considering its climate and current state of its affairs. Diluc had heard many people say that Snezhnaya's archon- The Tsarista - is a God with no love left for her people so most ordinary Snezhayans don't worship or respect her and some even refuse to acknowledge her as their God… Except for the members of the Fatui of course, worshiping The Tsarista is their job, a lifestyle even.
Ah right the Fatui
It's been a good few weeks since he entered the nation - which was an ridiculous ordeal on its own– and really all he's done so far was turn a few of their camps to dust. Seriously why was everything in this nation so fucking difficult?
He knew better than to ask the locals about, well anything since there's a good chance they would report him just because he's obviously a foreigner.
…and also obviously suspicious but that's besides the point.
Still out of necessity he interacted with a few locals here and there out of need for either food or a shelter. Most of the interactions were unpleasant if not awkward but his by far worst experience with Snezhaya’s citizens was with some locals from a small fishing village on his way to Ozjorsk.
Diluc doesn't like to admit it but he isn't the greatest with directions…
Which wasn't the best trait to have traveling in Snezhnaya where every dead tree, bush or a rock is a possible landmark.
Very much exhausted and hungry he didn't have much choice but to stop by a small fishing village, try to be as discreet as possible with his highlighter red hair, so the citizens won't remember him in case something goes south and ask for directions to Ozjorsk.
Ozjorsk…that's the city where Dottore was last stationed and still might be according to Yelan's agent's latest reports. If he's lucky enough he might be able to infiltrate his lab and either take the evidence with him or take pictures of it at the very least. And then of course, lay waste to that building.
But that's more of a dream scenerio than a realistic one, he would have to have at least two other people to help him execute that plan perfectly. Right now he was alone, meaning he should be cautious of everything even remotely suspicious and careful not to get himself any bigger injuries because there's noone to cover his ass or put him back together after every one of his risky ambushes.
What finally pulled him out of his thoughts was when he heard children laughter. They were running around on a frozen lake, one of them holding a small fish probably just fished out.
How carefree...
Looking around the rest of the village, it seemed very peacful; a few other fisherman were sitting over their respective holes in the ice each, a group of elderly women was sitting by a small hut, talking while peeling potatoes, other inhabitants were either knitting scarfs and sweathers, chopping wood or simply taking a walk.
Diluc was really hoping that's how it's gonna stay still after his little intrusion...
Fate had other plans though.
He decided to approach a group of women who were carving matryoškas out of small logs of wood. They looked like the best option and out of experience Diluc knew that conversing with women is always easier. So he approached them, even if a little nervous.
Trying not to fidget too much he asked in his best polite tone
"Privet, sorry to interrupt you ladies but.. may I ask you if you happen to know how to get to Ozjork from here..?"
He tried, greeting them in their language. He learned as a child while traveling with his father that it's a way to show respect as a foreigner to the native people from the nation they were visiting. So really he was kinda hoping to gain their acknowledgement with this greeting.
Unfortunately it did not work.
One of the ladies, the one closest to him looked him up and down, gave him a look - which he didn't really blame her for, he did look suspicious with the whole black cloak and hood over half of his face look but really she could've spared him- turned back around and just when it looked like she decided to completely ignore him she added a sharp:
"Get lost."
wow.
Talk about hostile behavior…
But he was really really desperate so where any other person would take a hint and leave, Diluc pressed on. Looking back at it he really should've just got lost and was pretty damn lucky they didn't report him.
"Gospozha, I'm not trying to cause any trouble, please I have urgent business there."
Which wasn't a complete lie, I mean his fatui annihilation journey was a business in its own way and getting to where Dottore was possibly stationed was getting more and more urgent each minute .
At that the lady put the unfinished matryoška down into a basket along with the carving knife - thank God - and stood up. She wasn't much shorter than him and from her posture he could tell she knew a thing or two about self defense. It's quite pathetic but Diluc had to admit he felt a little threatened.
"Quit with the broken Snezhnayan you upyrʹ, if you don't want me to report you to the Fatui right here and now..."
"Get. Lost."
As she repeated the last phrase again she dug her finger into his chest, more with each word. He felt everyone within 2m radius in the village bore their eyes into him, it was as if everyone from the kids to the elderly was ready to brutally dispose of him right then and there. If he felt threatened before he was borderline terrified right now.
… okay I may have stepped over the line there. Diluc thought and felt an urge to slap himself.
Seriously, what was he thinking??
He wasn't . That's the problem.
Diluc's life was still very much dear to him and the only thing on his mind right now was
run .
As he quickly turned around to leave the other ladies started throwing harsh snezhnayan insults at him.
He broke into a run but couldn't overhear the amount of
'Idi v’banyu's and 'Otyebis ot menya's from the elderly but even from the children.
Apparently the people from Snezhnaya are as cold as their nation
… and foul-mouthed too.
Diluc is well aware that it's definitely not the best way to think. Father taught him to be open-minded, they hail from the land of freedom after all. It's definitely not everyone here that behaves that way and honestly given that the fatui would most definitely find out if they helped him and could probably burn down the entire village if he caused any trouble in Ozjorsk, he really can't blame them.
sigh
The fatui really are a pain.
Even for their own people at that..
Right now Diluc was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Fatigue and stress were starting to get to him but how can anyone blame him honestly? While he was running for his life from the fishing village after the not very successful interaction with the locals, in the direction of Ozjork, well at least he thought it was in that direction, a blizzard started and he had to take shelter in a small cave.
Now he's sitting in the cave, looking at the map he got back in Liyue from Ningguang's inteligence agent Yelan which was already very worn out from both the environment it was being stored in and its holders occasional fits of rage. He cannot help but feel distressed from how slowly he has been advancing. Not only that but the last time he had slept in a real bed was a week ago. The last real, nutritious meal he had was back in Fontaine. All his canned food was gone so he was in quite a pinch here. So he was sitting in a cave in the middle of a blizzard, with a mild hypothermia, hungry, tired, holding a half torn, half damp, vague map of fatui strongholds in Snezhnaya.
great..
No matter , I'll try and hunt down some animals tomorrow.
He thought as he finally decided to quit glaring at the map and put it aside. He was great at hunting after all, the best archer in his generation of knights.
That thought made something in his chest twist painfully. If it was from sadness, anger or maybe both he did not know. Sometimes he wished they actually taught them some useful survival tips for times like these in The Knights of Favonius but then again why would they? Noone in Mond would ever need to use those, you could never get into a life or death situation in Mond he was sure.
He remembers that once the senior knights brought a food delivery to the 'wild survival training'. Kaeya brought a portable stove for them and trampled over all Diluc's efforts of lighting a natural fire with sticks and grass, without his vision. All injuries were healed by Jean - and by 'injuries' he means scratches Diluc got from falling off of Vanessa's tree because he was trying to save a cat that was stuck there- and all first-kit-aid boxes were left untouched and returned to the church in their original state. Plus they build their tents in Windrise, like 200 meters away from Mond's gate.
He chuckled fondly at the memory even if the expression on his face was a little too melancholic. They had a great time with Kaeya and Jean during that training. Noone really took it seriously; it was more of a formality than an important training that was supposed to teach them crucial skills to survive in the wild.
The Knights seriously…
so inefficient…
It was at times like these he wished he could've just swallowed up his pride and honor and stayed in The Land of Freedom…
He'd live a peaceful life as the youngest cavalry captain, enjoy the last year of his childhood..
Then sooner or later he would've gotten promoted to the grandmaster, everyone knew that, including himself.
And then…
… What then..?
Would he just lead a boring life of sitting in the office doing paperwork and occasionally going on patrols? Would he get married and continue the Raginvindr bloodline..? Would Kaeya forgive him-
No. He left that behind and it's for the best. Imagine leading such a boring life..
Pfft.
so peaceful, happy, comfortab-
Stop.
sigh..
He was so sure he came to terms with this.. new lifestyle .. but once a noble kid always a noble kid right?
Well that was enough thinking for today, he'll… just sleep it off and kill something big enough to feed him for at least 3 days before he arrives in Ozjorsk tomorrow.
Fatigue finally got the best of him and Diluc felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier. So he called it a day and at last, let sleep overtake him.