Chapter Text
We lift our voices
And nature joins in
Our hearts as one, a mighty chorus
The wind shall guide you
My love beside you
And when you’re weak, I’ll be your strength.
No pouring rains
No roaring thunder
No stormy sea will pull you under
In any weather, I’ll be your shelter
And when you’re weak, I’ll be your strength.
Wherever you go
I’ll always follow
In rain or shine, in joy or sorrow
Lost or alone
I’ll bring you home
And when you’re weak, I’ll be your strength.
Surely this was some sort of prank. Surely Kaeya was aware of his presence and was singing that song to mock him. Why else would he be? Well, whatever the reason, Diluc wasn’t going to concern himself with it. He was here for the task at hand and nothing more.
He cleared his throat, loudly enough to announce his presence, and made his way over to the man who was skipping stones across the water’s shimmering surface. They had agreed to meet near the body of water that bordered Liyue and Mondstadt.
Since Kaeya had time to skip stones, Diluc assumed that his trip to Dragonspine had been successful. The former abruptly stopped once he heard the other and turned to meet his gaze, his lips immediately settling into that signature smug smile.
“My, I didn’t expect you to be here so soon. Things went rather well on your end, I take it?”
A slight sigh of annoyance escaped Diluc as he reached into his coat pocket to pull out a roll of paper.
“You seem far too happy about this…In any case, yes, I got the intel.”
“Well, can you blame me? It’s not every day that you actually request help from the Knights, especially from one as ‘extraordinarily inefficient’ as I. Besides, as Cavalry Captain, should I not take pleasure in assisting the civilians I’m sworn to protect?”
The eyeroll Kaeya’s reply earned seemed to do nothing but widen his smile, but he at least seemed compliant enough to bring out his own set of papers. The two men found a large stone to use as a makeshift table and began to compare notes.
“Here’s a visual of all the routes that were originally predestined to that mountain camp, and these are the locations of ones we’ve intercepted.”
The Calvary Captain’s smug smile completely dissipated and was replaced by a look of firm seriousness the moment he unraveled the map.
“Interrogation, unfortunately, yielded no information concerning what exactly the Treasure Hoarders planned to do with all those ruin guard missiles and disassembled parts...I’m guessing that they were probably recruited by some third party.”
The last part of that sentence made Diluc scoff.
“I’d wager half of this year’s earnings that it’s the Fatui.”
Kaeya huffed a laugh, but the sentiment was short-lived. “So, what did your investigation uncover?” he asked.
It was Diluc’s turn to unroll a (much smaller) map and lay it out on the makeshift table.
“There’s a shipment making its way into our borders around noon in three days. About eight people in two caravans under the pretense of merchants are set to arrive in Mond, and from what I’ve gathered, they’ll be carrying a large supply of electro crystals in addition to the ‘goods and wares’ they intend to sell.”
“Electro crystals,” Kaeya mused. “Now that’s intriguing…A bit odd as well…”
“What in Teyvat they plan to do with them is anyone’s guess,” Diluc added, but his words seemed to fall upon deaf ears.
The look on Kaeya’s face was one of contemplation and deep concentration. It was a look that the former Calvary Captain was very familiar with. In years past, Kaeya had adorned that expression whenever the Knights were in a tricky situation or were faced with some tough case that needed cracking.
Those around him would wait, some in awe, others in worry, with bated breaths as he pondered. No matter the situation, however, Kaeya would always emerge with a solution, and between his brains and Diluc’s brawn, there wasn’t an obstacle encountered that the Knights couldn’t handle.
That, however, was all in the past. A time when the world was much simpler. A time when the two men stood side-by-side as brothers—twins even, like two halves completing a whole. A time before bonds were not only severed but burned to ash in a fiery blaze.
Such a time could never be returned to, so there was no point in dwelling on it…Still, even if Diluc would never admit it, that familiar sight, the idea of knowing exactly what gears were turning in Kaeya’s head (though he could never fathom the thoughts churning) brought a sense of joy to the Ragnvindr.
And perhaps, if Kaeya had not been so deeply in thought, he would have noticed the ever-so-tiny smile tugging at his brother’s associate’s lips or the ever-so-slight softening of his gaze.
“Hmm,” Kaeya hummed as he shifted his gaze up towards the sky. To the average person, the boundless blue emanated only promises of fair weather, but such was not the case to this keen eye.
“It would seem that a storm is approaching as well…I’d give it about three days’ time…”
That new bit of information wasn’t exactly enough for Diluc to follow along with whatever train of thought was running through Kaeya’s head. However, despite his growing impatience, he knew better than to rush or interrupt his thinking process, so Diluc placed his hands into his pockets instead.
A minute or two passed and then a smile dawned the Calvary Captain’s face once again as his shoulders relaxed and he began to lean upon a nearby tree. Diluc surmised that he had reached whatever conclusion he was searching for.
“Well?” he asked.
“Well, what?” Kaeya asked in return, as if he didn’t know.
“Let’s hear it,” came the reply in tandem with an exasperated sigh, to which the captain clicked his tongue and sighed.
“Not even a mora for my thou—”
Kaeya was cut off in his attempt to catch the item that was abruptly flicked at his face. After a successful catch and further inspection, he found that it was a single mora. He looked up at Diluc in shock and found the other raising his eyebrows as he crossed his arms, lips settling into a smug smile.
Kaeya couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed almost genuine, even if only for a moment, and unbeknownst to him, that smug smile on Diluc’s face turned into something more sincere.
Twas all short-lived, however, and the two almost immediately returned to the serious matter at hand.
“Anyway,” Kaeya began. “I’m guessing that the location in Dragonspine, is still the target drop-off spot for the cargo, same as the ones we intercepted. The whole merchant thing is probably just a cover-up to get past the Liyue checkpoint. Once clear, they’ll likely shift routes and head for the mountain—”
“Wait, the mountain?” Diluc interjected. “How exactly do they plan to get two caravans up there? It’s not like there are any roads along that route leading there anyway. Plus, didn’t you say a storm was approaching? Not to mention the electr—”
“Patience, Diluc.” Kaeya interrupted calmly.
”I—“ “Let me finish…The storm is exactly what they’re betting on. Carrying electro crystals during a rainstorm is awfully hazardous, so the logical thing would be to unload them temporarily before heading to Mondstadt with the remaining cargo. Plus, there are some empty merchant stalls set up along the road just past the checkpoint, perfect for the task. No one would leave merchandise unattended, though, so of course—”
“They’ll have most personnel stay and ‘watch over the ore’ while sending a few ‘merchants’ to Mond—except the majority will actually be trekking up the mountain with the crystals instead,” Diluc, albeit interrupting again, finished.
Kaeya didn’t seem to mind it, though.
“Now you’re catching on; I knew there was a brain under that crimson mop of yours.”
Diluc scoffed but Kaeya continued.
“As for their business with the crystals, well like you said, it’s anybody’s guess. However, judging from the contents of the convoys we’ve confiscated, I’m guessing they’re part of some sort of experiment in weaponry. Perhaps they’re looking for an alternative power source to chaos cores, and I must admit, if one could harness the power of electro crystals, it’d be quite an amazing feat. Getting up the mountain will be no easy task, but operating during a rainstorm offers protection from prying or patrolling eyes, and it’s easier than traveling through Dragonspine directly.”
Diluc had to admit, although he’d never do it out loud, that after Kaeya had laid everything out, it made sense. Perhaps his expression betrayed his thoughts, however, because Kaeya seemed to have read his mind.
“You’re probably wondering how I came to deduce such an elaborate scheme. Tsk, tsk, surely by now, you’ve realized that it comes with the territory,” he said, gesturing to himself.
The territory? Oh, the territory of being an implanted spy. Those words, however, were left unsaid.
It made sense, though. Of course it would be easy for someone sent to covertly gather intel for bringing about Mondstadt’s downfall to surmise (or devise) elaborate schemes. Perhaps it was as simple as asking, ‘What would I do in this situation?’
Diluc vanquished the thought as soon as it entered his head. He knew that regardless of whatever reason Kaeya was sent to Mondstadt for, he would never raise a finger against the nation. Diluc knew first-hand how hard Kaeya worked to protect Mond’s people. Yet despite it all, Kaeya’s comment was enough to sour his mood.
Why did he have to go and bring that up? That thing that ruined everything—or rather, that thing that caused him to ruin everything.
If only he had reacted differently. If only he knew then that it wasn’t another betrayal or just an admission of guilt, but instead a cry for help from a grieving, battered, and burdened soul. If onl—no, Diluc would not go down that spiraling rabbit hole today.
They had made their choices and went their separate ways; there was no coming back from that. Ever. Besides, they had bigger issues to focus on at the moment.
“So,” Diluc said, breaking from his thoughts. “What’s our next move?”
What he did not expect was a surprised look from Kaeya.
“You’re asking me? I was under the impression that I was merely here to assist and follow your lead…Though, I suppose I do have a plan if you really want to hear it.”
Right, things were different. Diluc supposed he had fallen into old habits again.
“Assisting or otherwise, it’s only fair to hear out the opinions of all parties involved in this endeavor.”
Kaeya huffed a laugh, but it came out as such an indignant thing.
“Oh, of course. Be it far from me to say Master Diluc is anything other than the epitome of civility.”
There was a fleeting emotion on Kaeya’s face as he said those words. Anger? Sadness? Hurt? Of which, Diluc couldn’t tell because the captain so quickly tucked it all behind another signature smile of his before continuing.
“Well then, I propose that you let me designate some personnel to meet the ‘merchants,’ and you and I handle the crew that will be transporting crystals.”
“Absolutely not,” a very unamused Diluc responded. “I don’t trust the Knights as far as I can throw them; you know that, so why don’t you handle the merchants and let me deal with the crystal situation personally?”
“Oh come now, let’s not start that, especially after they’ve worked so diligently in helping intercept those other convoys. Besides, there’s no way you’re going solo—”
“What, you think I can’t handle a few Treasure Hoarders?” Diluc interjected, frustration growing.
“I didn’t say that, and you know it. Besides, it’ll be raining, and my element is better suited for this sort of thing. Plus, pyro and electro don’t exactly mix well together, now do they?”
Diluc sighed. He knew Kaeya was right, but his stubbornness wouldn’t let him give in so easily.
“What if the ‘merchants’ are actually heavily armed?”
“Unlikely,” came Kaeya’s quick reply. “They wouldn’t make it past the border inspection, and if they’re acting as a cover-up, the last thing they’d do is cause a fuss or arouse unnecessary suspicion.”
“Still, it’s not like you can arrest them…Electro crystals aren’t exactly contraband, last time I checked.”
Kaeya chuckled in response at that remark.
“Who said anything about making arrests?” he cooed, much to Diluc’s dismay.
His sigh of defeat was all Kaeya needed to know he’d emerged victorious in this dispute.
“Well then, it’s settled,” Kaeya started as he began rolling up the spread-out maps. “I’ll go make the necessary preparations and we’ll meet back here at dawn in three days. We can decide then what place will be best suited for heading them off. As of now, I bid you fair winds and a pleasant evening.”
With that, the two went their separate ways.