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Chapter Text

On his kitchen table laid a letter, a list of names and several small pieces of chocolate. One piece for each name on the list. 

He had made them by hand with a recipe from an old Sumerian book and wrapped them in midnight blue paper with a silver bow on top. It had taken him most of yesterday to ensure there was one for each person in his life. Now he would have to hurry if he wanted to deliver them all by the end of today. He stuffed the chocolates and the list into his bag, and hastily walked outside. He left the letter behind. 

Once outside, he immediately locked eyes with his neighbor and the first recipient. “Good morning, Miss Mona.” She wished him good morning as well, though with notably less cheer. 

[MONA]

“Did you pull another all-nighter?” he asked even when the answer was obvious. With her messy pigtails and night clothes still on, she appeared to have just woken up. However, knowing her writing habits, it was more likely she had not yet slept. 

“Yes, and you should know better than to test my patience.” She poked him with the rolled-up newspaper she was holding in her hand. “It should be illegal to sound so energetic this early.” 

He reminded her it was already 9 A.M. Her response was a muted groan as she dragged herself back into the warmth of her house. He casually followed her in. Living next to each other, they often drank coffee together in the morning. Neither could remember when such a habit had begun, but it brought comfort for the two who lived alone.

She went to the kitchen to brew some coffee while he waited in the living room. The room had a small table placed in front of a window and two armchairs around it. Expensive gadgets decorated shelves on the walls and thick books were strewn across the floor. He would not call her apartment messy, just a bit unorganized and in need of some dusting. Perhaps he should ask Noelle or Fischl to help her out later with the clean up.

Minute or two later Mona returned with two cups of steaming coffee. He sat down on the same soft chair he always did while Mona chose to sit on the older, more worn out chair. When he had asked, she told him it was her favorite, and even claimed she could not have it repaired since it brought her luck. So, the gentle soul she was, she offered her guests the better one. He suspected she was afraid of the repair fee and had once offered to loan her some mora, but was not really surprised when she vehemently declined. What he did not know, the chair was the first she had bought for her house in Mondstadt.

Like they always did, they enjoyed the calming taste of coffee and talked about anything they could think of. Today's topics included the weather, the column she had stayed awake to write and his plans for the day. 

Somewhere along the line, he placed a wrapped piece of chocolate on the table and wished her a happy Valentine's Day. She gladly accepted it. Once his cup was empty, he thanked her for the coffee and prepared to leave. Before stepping out, he paused and turned to ask a question.

“Mona, do the fates you read ever change?” 

She looked down at her still half filled cup before replying: “No. Fate is called as such, for it cannot be changed. I told you that last time I divined for you.” She had. She had told him so many times before. 

“Yes, you have.” Kaeya stared down for a moment as well. “Still, it doesn't hurt to ask. Try the chocolate before you go to sleep. I want to hear your opinion on it the next time we meet.” He gave her one last smile and left. 

Mona stared at his back through the window as he walked away. She knew her divination for him was ominous, even if she did not know what it would entail exactly. There was also something she had not told him, though she wished she could. She could not see her own fate or the future of those intertwined with hers. For that reason she only told him the rough outline of what the stars had planned, and that was the reason she claimed fate to be unchanging. 

Once Kaeya disappeared from her view, she unwrapped the chocolate and ate it. The taste reminded her of coffee with milk and a dash of mint. Comforting and warm but with some sharpness hidden underneath. She followed his advice and went straight to bed.

Kaeya made his way through the busy streets of Mondstadt. The market was filled with merchants and customers scurrying about. He stopped in front of the Adventurers guild, where three familiar faces were waiting in line. He could get three more names off his list.

[BENNETT, FISCHL & RAZOR]

“Good morning and happy Valentine’s. I have chocolate for you, if you’d like some.” 

The youthful trio accepted them with glee and their bright smiles warmed his cold heart, especially Bennett's. The unlucky boy with a heart of gold never strayed from his path despite everything the world had thrown at him. Kaeya often offered to train with him, hoping it might protect the boy from anything that might happen in the future. He was glad Fischl and Razor were there to watch the boy’s back, since he could not do it himself.

"Would you mind tasting them now? I'd like to know your opinions on the filling." He also did not want to risk Bennett's luck acting up before the boy had a chance to eat his.

As if they had been waiting for his permission, the three quickly unwrapped the treats and plopped them in their mouths. They seemed to think carefully before commenting on the taste.

“These exquisite offerings please your Prinzessin greatly. Smooth as silk yet hide behind a layer of vexing current we cannot put to words.” Fischl started.

“I get that,” Bennett continued before Oz could translate. “It started off sweet but left a tingle on my tongue.”

“It tastes good. Little weird at the end. I like it.” Razor finished. Kaeya ruffled his hair to thank him.

He wished them luck on their commissions and reminded them to return before nightfall. He hoped everyone would sleep sweetly on a day like today. His plan depended on it. Then they ran off, all ready to chase their dreams. He, on the other hand, headed in the direction of Cat’s Tail.

[DIONA]

Honestly, he was not that close with Diona, but he was a regular at the tavern she worked at. More importantly, she was a close friend of Klee’s and an awful liar. All it would take was a few careless words combined with Klee’s famous puppy eyes and his whole plan would come crashing down. It was better to play safe than sorry. Also, Diona deserved a present this Valentine like everyone else. 

He was hardly through the tavern door before Diona was already yelling at him. “Stop right there, boozehound, it’s too early to be drinking!”

He raised his hands in surrender to stop her from shooing him out too fast. “Dear Diona, your words wound my heart. I am merely here to deliver a gift.”

Her ears perked up in curiosity. “A gift? For whom?”

“Well, for my favorite TCG opponent of course.” Diona looked even more confused as he offered a piece of chocolate to her. “Don’t worry, there’s no alcohol in it. I also have one for Margaret, if you would give it to her for me.” 

Diona accepted both pieces, but offered him a free mocktail in return, saying she did not like owing favors to drunkards. 

“Then how about you tell me how you like the filling instead. Feedback from a professional would be worth more than gold.” 

She found no fault in his logic and agreed. Her shaker was put down on the bartop before she cautiously unwrapped the sweet and ate it. 

He took a glance at her vision, which was tied to the shaker. His heart shuddered. Every cryo user he had met shared a common factor: a never-ending struggle. For him, it had been a fight between the love for his native land and the love for the land that took him in. He had also heard stories of her father’s drinking tendencies, mostly from herself. He wished the struggle that brought about her vision would not leave more scars in that youthful heart of hers and that she could stay a horrible liar for years to come. 

“It’s too sweet for me, but I like the warm spice you mixed in. What is it?”

“Sorry but I can’t give away all my secrets,” he joked. Diona grumbled but understood. She was a professional after all, and professionals do not reveal their secrets for nothing. He waved her goodbye and stepped outside.

The next name on his list was Vile, his most trusted informant and the best paid one. To be fair, the information she brought was always worth it. 

He found her resting on a bench in the plaza of the Cathedral. Their meeting was quick. She gave him the rundown on the latest gossip and he passed her some mora along with her chocolate piece. If she was surprised by the gift, she did not show it. Perhaps she had grown far too familiar with the antics of 'Mondstadt’s Prince Charming'. He reminded her to eat it before the sun could melt it down and then he sauntered off to the Cathedral.

[AMBER & BARBARA]

He expected to find Barbara tending to a patient in the church infirmary. He had not expected the patient to be a scratched up Amber.

"My, oh, my. What happened to our little Outrider?" 

Barbara was too busy disinfecting Amber's wounds to respond. Amber expressed her annoyance by throwing a pillow at his face. He let it hit but it did not brighten her mood.

"My glider broke mid-flight," she said with downcast eyes. On the bench next to her laid a pile of fabric and metal. The remains of her wings. "I showed it to Wagner and he said it was beyond repair."

"I'm sure the Knights could get you a new one," Barbara tried to cheer her up. Amber nodded but said nothing. Both Barbara and Kaeya knew what the glider meant to Amber. It was the last gift she got from her grandfather before he disappeared.

Kaeya grabbed the pieces in his bag. "I know someone who can fix this. They also owe me a favor, so it won't cost much."

"Really? You're not up to something shifty, are you?" To anyone else Amber might have sounded skeptical but he could see the sparks of hope in her eyes.

"Really, I promise." 

He hurried off after handing both of them a piece of chocolate. He would need to make a trip to Wagner's. The blacksmith owed him greatly for the last batch of starsilver the knights had brought. Searching for ore in Dragonspine in the middle of winter was not an easy feat. It was only fair the man tried a little harder to fix the precious glider in return.

After the door closed behind him, Barbara continued tending to Amber. "Don't worry. Kaeya always keeps his promises."

"I know. But don't tell him I said that."

The two girls Kaeya thought of as little sisters ate their chocolates. The taste was soothingly cool and the scratches on Amber's skin stung a little less.

It took the Captain no effort to convince the blacksmith, but ordering express delivery cost more mora than he had planned. Still, as long as the reigning gliding champion got her wings back, it was worth it. Luckily, most of the remaining gift recipients could be found in the same place: Favonius headquarters.

[NOELLE & SUCROSE]

Had there been more time, he would have brought gifts for all knights he knew. But there was not. So, giving a piece for those who knew him best would have to suffice. He decided to start with Noelle. It was almost time for afternoon tea and she had a habit of bringing pancakes for everyone on Tuesdays. Therefore, she should be an easy one to find.

As he had predicted, Noelle was in the Knights’ kitchen preparing food. However, he was surprised to see Sucrose there also. All the better, he could strike off two names at once. They were both standing by the stove, facing away from the door. He sneaked closer to see what they were doing.

Sucrose was the first to speak. “I think it needs more spinach.”

“But wouldn’t that make the batter too runny,” Noelle replied. “And too green. People would notice it instantly.”

“Notice what?” Kaeya interjected, startling the two. They turned to face him, blocking his view of the stove. They stayed silent but kept exchanging glances with each other, as if they were trying to come up with a convincing story. 

Reluctantly, he chose to let the matter go, even if his curiosity was killing him. Although Noelle and Sucrose were described as shy and gentle, they could get extremely headstrong. Especially on things they were passionate about. For Noelle, that would be helping people. Kaeya was often tasked with keeping her busy just so she would not overwork herself. It was similar for Sucrose, though her passion was directed to research. Based on their earlier words and compassionate souls, whatever they were working on could not be dangerous. He was also on a tight schedule.

"Take it easy. I won't pry." With his words, the girls breathed a sigh of relief. "I only wish to give you these." 

Sucrose stepped forward to receive the gifts while Noelle shielded the stove from his eyes. They thanked him and watched him leave the room. They ate the treats before continuing with their work. The taste was difficult to describe. It was sweet and spicy. Warm and cool. A mystery inside a sugary shell.

[KLEE]

Next was the turn of his favorite troublemaker, the little Spark Knight Klee.

Kaeya knocked on the door and entered the 'solitary confinement' room. In actuality, it was just a room for Klee. It had a desk, a chair, a soft bed, her toys and everything else she could ever need. Yet, he did not see Klee.

He walked around the room. The floor was littered with loose crayons and papers filled with colorful sketches. He picked one up. To an unassuming person it might have looked like a normal childish drawing, but he knew better. It was a bomb schematic drawn with a purple crayon. While he studied the paper more closely, he could feel someone’s eyes on his back. 

"Oh, whatever shall I do? I brought chocolate for Klee but she's not here. Oh well, I guess I should eat it myself," he thought out loud and the trick worked. A second and half later something red and small peeked from under the desk.

"No, Klee is here! Can I please have the candy?" She meekly tugged on his sleeve and presented her greatest impression of an adorable puppy. She was a true manipulator in the making. He had never felt so proud.

Kaeya crouched down and gave her the treat. "Of course you can. Happy Valentine's Day, dear Klee."

She ate it so fast, he was not sure she had time to taste anything. But she did. To her, it tasted sweet and warm with a dash of cinnamon, like hot chocolate drunk during winter. 

"Thank you, Kaeya!" she said and hugged him tight. Kaeya hugged her back. He knew the tiny child in his arms would grow up strong and kind like Jean and Alice. He just hoped little Klee would not inherit the worst of her mother's destructive tendencies. He also wished she would stay this small forever, so he could keep her safe in his arms as long as he lived.

But he knew such wishes would not be granted. Instead he slowly loosened his hold on her and let her get back to designing the greatest Jumpy Dumpty the world would ever know.

[ALBEDO]

He climbed up the stairs to the floor where the captains' offices were. He passed by Eula’s room but did not find her there. She must be out on a mission, he figured. He did find Albedo in his lab, yet again busy with some sort of experiment.

The alchemist did not react when Kaeya greeted him. Albedo's focus was completely taken by whatever he was working on. He decided it was better to let the other be and left the gift to wait on a table by the door along with a short note.

The laboratory door closed with a bang, which woke the absent-minded alchemist from his thoughts. His eyes searched the room but found no one around. Then he spotted the blue package and the note on the table across from him.

He picked both up. The note was unsigned and contained only a single short message: 'Happy Valentine's day.' Still, he could tell who had written it by the familiar handwriting. The chocolate was sweet and its filling had a peculiar texture. Soft and cold on the tongue, like fresh snow from the peak of Dragonspine. 

Albedo was not that familiar with Valentine's day customs. Should he give something in return? He knew the Cavalry Captain was fond of Calla lilies. Klee had told him so. Maybe he could paint some as a gift after he was finished with this experiment. 

[LISA]

Lisa was enjoying a cup of tea in the library when Kaeya appeared in front of her. She offered him a cup but he declined. He questioned if she knew where Eula and Mika had gone. Springvale, she answered, adding that they should be back before nightfall. 

He placed three pieces on her table and asked her to give them theirs. He was already on Eula's vengeance list and did not want to increase his ranking on it. Mika, on the other hand, had returned from the expedition only a short while ago. In Kaeya's opinion he deserved a treat but maybe it was better Lisa delivered it. Mika always got so nervous around him.

Kaeya left Lisa to enjoy her break in peace. The tea just so happened to perfectly compliment the sweetness of chocolate. Even so, the witch had no trouble detecting a spell mixed in the filling. She trusted Kaeya to not play around with potions and nothing happened when she ate the treat, so she let it slide. If she checked what books he had recently loaned, maybe she could figure out the reason for his sudden interest in crafting sweets.

[JEAN]

Next, Kaeya knocked on the Acting Grand Master’s door and she called him in. When Jean saw it was him who entered, her posture slackened and she let her head drop down on the table with a thump. Just as he let his facade fall away in her presence, so did she let go of her noble decorum in his. At least most of it.

The piles upon piles of unfinished documents on her desk and her groans of discomfort were all he needed to deduce what was the issue.

"Another headache? You can't keep working when you can hardly see straight, Jeanie," he chided her.

"Like you're the one to talk. I saw you limp to the office last week, despite the church healers explicitly forbidding you from work. They even sent me your official permit for sick leave." She would have shot him a glare if it didn't hurt so much to keep her eyes open.

"I guess we're both hopeless in that regard, aren't we Jean?" 

He took out one of the chocolates, chilled it with his cryo, then told her to eat it. She tried to refuse, no sweets during work, but that left her mouth wide open for him to push it in. She tried to mumble something in protest. He ignored her and rummaged his bag for painkillers, which he placed in front of her with a glass of water. He told her to take the rest of the day off before bidding her a good evening and leaving. 

For a moment longer, Jean savored the sweet taste on her lips. It reminded her of the dandelion ice cream they used to run out to buy after training many years ago. Maybe they could do that again? She should ask him tomorrow.

The sun was setting, painting the sky in beautiful shades of red. Kaeya strolled through the sleepy streets to his favorite place in the city: the Angel’s Share. There were only two names left on his list, and he found the owner of the first one right by the tavern door.

[ROSARIA]

Rosaria sat at a table outside the tavern with two glasses in front of her. The first had red wine, her favorite kind. The second had a color of deep purple and a scent Kaeya could recognize in a heartbeat. She had been waiting for him.

"I hear you've been running around giving gifts. Mind telling me what that's about?" She twirled her finger slowly around the edge of the glass and her eyes stared deep into his. She would not stop until she got what she was looking for.

"What, can't a man give out some gifts without raising your suspicions?" He sat down and took a sip of the drink prepared for him. It was no longer cold. She had waited a while.

"A normal man could, not you. Now tell me, what are you up to?"

"I just thought that today was the perfect day to give everyone a present." He could not lie. The sharp-eyed nun could tell if he did. But he could leave the important bits unsaid. 

Rosaria scoffed, crossing her arms. A thought popped in Kaeya’s head. A ridiculous notion but he had to check if it was true. 

"Oh, Rosie. Did you worry I might not give you one?" 

The corners of her lips twitched and her gaze faltered. Just as she could see right through him, so could he see right through her. He pulled out a piece wrapped with a golden bow. "Don't worry, I made a special one just for you." 

He could hardly contain his smile as Rosaria quickly snatched the piece from his hands and ate it straight away. This one was made with dark chocolate since she preferred it and its rich flavor should match her wine perfectly. She usually was not fond of sweets but this suited her just fine. It was a wonderful balance of bitter and sweet.

She did not say a word as she finished her wine and left, but the knight could see the tips of her ears turn red. "Sleep well, Rosie," he shouted after her and without turning she waved him goodbye.

'Only one name to go,' he thought as he stepped inside the tavern and found his last target.

[DILUC]

"What is that?" the bartender asked when Kaeya placed the gift on the bar.

"Don't act like you've never seen Valentine's chocolate before. I know you have."

"I mean, why did you bring chocolate to a tavern?"

"It's a gift for my favorite bartender. Charles is not here, so I guess you'll have to suffice." Diluc rolled his eyes and Kaeya chuckled.

Diluc lifted the chocolate up slowly and carefully, as if it might explode. His eyes flicked between the treat and Kaeya in doubt. "Is this a trick? Did you put something weird in it?"

"Oh, Master Diluc! How could you doubt me so?" He wailed dramatically with one hand over his heart and the other on his forehead. Diluc remained unconvinced by his theatrics. 

"It really is just a harmless piece of chocolate," he lied. A one last lie to end all lies, he told himself. "I promise."

Yet, Diluc gave up and placed the candy on the shelf behind him. A silent promise to take it with him when he left. Glad, Kaeya changed the topic.

“I visited the winery yesterday to give Adelinde and Elzer theirs, and saw a very familiar looking vase in the hall. Yet, I recall you saying you got rid of it since it did not fit the winery’s decor.” 

He rested his elbows on the bar and looked at the red-headed bartender. Meanwhile, Diluc suddenly seemed very interested in the glass he was polishing, utterly unable to lift his gaze from it. 

Diluc stayed silent, so Kaeya kept talking. "Well, I'm glad you kept it. Although, I doubt anyone could tell it was me who gave it to you." 

Another beat of silence followed. Kaeya looked at the clock on the wall. He should get going.

"I think I'll retire for the night. Please eat the chocolate before the day ends. Valentine’s gifts should be eaten on Valentine's Day after all."

Whether Diluc agreed or not, Kaeya did not know because he could not hear the other's words through the door that closed behind him.

[HOME]

Night had rolled around before he returned to his apartment. All the chocolates were gone. His task was done. 

After tonight, all that would be left of him here would be an ownership document for this small house hidden somewhere in the Favonius archives. Even if the house was left abandoned, it would hold the treasures he had gathered in this city of wind. 

Treasures like Klee’s silly drawings, blankets bought for him by Jean, books on indefinite loan from Lisa, or small seashells he personally collected from the beach. On the walls were pictures of happy faces he had taken. None of them pictured him, since he made sure to always be the one holding the kamera. 

The treasures and pictures were valuable only to him. Anything worth something, like notebooks or documents, he threw away. That was to minimize the traces of himself if someone tried to find him. It hurt to leave the photos and ornaments behind, but he could not bring them with him. Thus, here they would stay.

He gathered some clothes, rations, maps and other things needed for traveling. It did not take long for his backpack to be filled to the brim. 

He still had time, it was barely two in the morning. He had to wait until everyone had fallen asleep. Everyone, even the most stubborn night-owls he knew, would have laid down to sleep if he waited until sunrise.

On the kitchen table laid the letter he had left behind in the morning. It was a fail-safe of sorts, in case someone found the house empty. A letter from one Kaeya Alberich, stating that he owned the property and would one day return back here from his adventures. Nothing more. As said, he should not leave too many traces.

It had taken him years but he had made up his mind. He would leave Mondstadt. As Mona had told him, one day his past would catch up to him and he would have a choice to make. That, however, did not mean he could not limit the consequences of his decision. When his father left him here, all the while calling him their last hope, he must have known his little son would grow attached to those who took care of him. He had lived here for almost twenty years. He'd be heartless if he hadn’t.

Kaeya had no idea what his father or native land wanted from him. So, like he always did, he prepared for the worst. They could not use him against Mondstadt if he was not here when they came calling. They could not hold his loved ones hostage if they did not know who he was close to. Neither could he be taken as hostage if no one knew who he was. Leaving the city would ensure the first one and the chocolates took care of the other two. 

Those tiny treats were more than simple gifts. They were his farewell to everyone. A sweet farewell enchanted by a potion. Once consumed, the potion would take effect the next time the person fell asleep. When they woke up their memories of him would be gone. It was a simple solution. If no one remembered him, no one could notice him missing. Yet, his heart ached at the thought. 

He wanted to leave before he could meet anyone. He was not strong enough to stay and watch his friends live their lives without him. He could not bear to witness the indifference in their eyes when he became a complete stranger to them. 

What if he stayed and met Klee one day? Would she ignore him or worse, be scared of him? What if Rosaria found him suspicious? What if Jean offered him one of her polite service smiles? The possibilities for heartbreak were endless. Hell, he might straight up cry if Amber called him of all people a respectable traveler. He could not stay. He had to leave.

He waited until the first rays of sun peeked over the city walls. Then he whispered a quiet goodbye to his house and home of many years.

He took one last leisurely lap around the city. The air was chilly but the earliest merchants were already setting up their stalls. They paid him no mind. 

Slowly but surely his feet brought him past the city gate and onto the stone bridge. A thought arose in his mind that this might be the last time he would cross it. A cool breeze pushed past him, which made him lift his gaze off the ground. On the left railing sat a short figure clad in a familiar shades of green and white.

[VENTI]

“No chocolates for little old me?” Venti smiled and offered out his hand. Kaeya pulled one from his pocket and placed it on the other's palm.

“Didn't want to risk it. Who knows if potions would work on Mondstadt’s greatest bard.” He knew Venti could tell it was not a normal treat by its scent alone. Yet, Venti ate it anyway.

“It’s a gentle spell as far as I can tell. Enough to muddy one’s memories but leaves some so the mind is not broken. A spell to wash away memories of one dear friend.” The bard’s smile was a little mournful now. Quite fitting for a parting.

“Yes. I chose it since it would do no harm. If memories are taken away forcefully, it can cause stress or even sickness should they realize there are pieces missing.” It had taken him months to comb through the restricted section in Favonius library. Then days to make sure the potion worked as intended. 

“After this, they will only remember someone named Kaeya used to live here, but they won’t know what I looked like or who I was to them.”

Venti stared deep into his eyes and not once did the bard's gaze waver. Those teal eyes would not miss a single tell. “Are you sure you want to leave?”

Kaeya shrugged his shoulders. There was no way to convey all the mixed feelings he held. His head told him to go, his heart begged him to stay and his soul cried for the journey to come. He hoped Venti would understand regardless. The young looking archon had not lived for centuries for nothing.

“Just know that we will be waiting here for you, even if the potion works. You can always come back, if you change your mind,” Venti promised.

Kaeya had no words left to say. Instead, he turned to look at the city he called home for the last time. He wanted to burn everything to his memory. The gate he had walked through countless times, the trees he had rested under on hot summer days and the buildings that housed all the people he cared about. 

Venti gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. He was ready now. He had said his goodbyes. It was time to go. 

“Where will you head first?” 

Kaeya did not know. “Think I’ll start with Liyue. Maybe I’ll go say hi to Collei after that. I heard Sumeru is beautiful at this time of year.”

“See you later, Kaeya. May the wind protect you.” Venti pulled out his lyre and started strumming a somber tune. One Kaeya did not know the name of, but had heard countless times.

“Thanks, I’ll buy you a drink if we ever meet again.” 

Kaeya waved him goodbye, and at long last he walked away from the city. The wind along with the tunes of a lyre followed his steps all the way to Stone gate. It took him that long to realize the salt in his mouth was the taste of tears running down his face. 

Chapter Text

[FEBRUARY]

On a chilly morning, Mona woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. It always rang 5 minutes before nine. She had never been a morning person, mostly due to her habit of writing during the night, and the five extra minutes ensured she was up before the clock struck nine sharp.

Then, like she always did, she got dressed and went outside to fetch the newspaper. However, this time she did not hurry back inside. Instead, she stayed on her porch for a moment, just watching people walk by. She was not sure why. It almost felt as if she had been waiting for someone. But who? There was no one she should have been waiting for. She was not close with her neighbors and all her friends should have been already busy with work at this time of day. 

Feeling cold and annoyed, she walked back in and straight to her kitchen to brew some coffee. Maybe she needed a drink to fully wake up. Her hands moved without a further thought as she prepared the kettle and some breakfast snacks. Once it was ready, she took the kettle, snacks and cups with her to the living room. She placed everything down, poured the coffee and sat in a chair, almost as usual. 

She stared at the sight in front of her in disbelief. To start, she had made more coffee than she ever could possibly hope to finish on her own. Then she had set the table for two, with two filled cups of steaming coffee and far too many snacks. She had even sat in the old chair, when the new one was much more comfortable on a cold morning like this. All without another thought, as if it was something she had always done.

But she had not. She was certain of it. She only sat in the old chair when she had guests over. At the moment, she was alone and was not expecting company. Then there were the two coffee cups. She would never knowingly waste her pricy coffee like this, her nearly empty wallet would not forgive her for it. The wastefulness of the thought alone was enough to send shivers down her spine. 

She read the paper in silence and drank as much coffee as she could before it got cold. All while frowning. Then she poured the rest down the sink with a heavy heart. Hopefully, her scatterbrained actions would not bring down the rest of her day.

[MAY]

The chief alchemist was in the middle of spring cleaning when a knock sounded on the laboratory door. Albedo placed the pile of books he was holding on a nearby chair before he went to open it. Once he did, he saw Sucrose carrying a tray of coffee and suspiciously green pancakes. 

“Oh, Master Albedo, I brought you some snacks.” She glanced behind him to see if he had been working on something important. There was no active alchemy equipment in sight, only strewn about boxes and books. It looked like the aftermath of a hurricane passing through. “I hope I did not interrupt your work too badly.”

“Ah, no. I was only cleaning up a bit. Could you leave the tray on the table? I’ll eat after I finish with this bookshelf.” Sucrose nodded in agreement and he returned to the books he had been sorting through.

She made her way through the room, carefully avoiding the numerous boxes, papers and gadgets that covered up the floor. Once she reached the table, she had to move a couple of books out of the way so the tray would fit on it. While she was doing so, she noticed a painting she had not seen before. 

Her curiosity made her pick it up. It depicted a lakeshore filled with flowers under a starry sky. Calla lilies, she presumed by the warm colors that contrasted against the dark blue hues of the background. Honestly, it was hard for her to tell since the painting was unfinished. She could see from the distinct style that it was painted by Albedo, but he was not one to leave a painting in an incomplete state. Granted, he had several sketches that consisted only of three lines in total, but oil paintings were a different matter altogether. In fact, he was more likely to work on one for days on end until every single detail was captured perfectly on the canvas.

"Did something catch your eye?" Albedo's voice spooked Sucrose, causing her to nearly drop what she was holding. 

"Just this painting. May I ask what it was for?"

Albedo examined the painting for a moment. Sucrose could see a hint of intrigue in her master's eyes, which struck her as peculiar. Was it not his painting, after all?

"That's something I'd also like to know," he answered. "You see, I found this earlier among the other paintings but I have no recollection of painting it." 

Her surprise could not have been any clearer by the way her eyebrows shot up. Master Albedo forgetting something like that was unheard of. The man could recite even his sister's frantic stories word for word if he was interested enough. Seeing her reaction, Albedo rummaged through the messy desktop and pulled out a note, which he handed over to her.

"This was attached to its backside. There is no signature, and I do not recognise the handwriting. Do you?" 

Sucrose read the message through. Three words were not enough for her to guess who could have written it, so she shook her head and handed it back. 

"I guessed so," Albedo sighed. The paper had been torn from one of his own notebooks, meaning someone had written it in a hurry. The writer must have been a knight if they could access the laboratory. And the note must have had some sort of significance since he had kept it. In that case, why had he attached the note to this painting only to leave it to collect dust unfinished?

"Well, I think this will have to remain an unsolved mystery." He said with a shrug of his shoulders. There were just not enough clues to go by. Sucrose quietly agreed before returning to her own work.

After he was alone again, he glanced at the painting one more time. For anyone else the scenery must have looked peaceful and gentle. However, he could see every hidden detail. The four-pointed stars in the sky, the far too sharp blades of grass and the frost glittering on each flower. The painting held a secret that he no longer knew.

'What a pity,' he thought as he packed the painting and the note away, 'If I had finished it, it would have been quite beautiful.'

[JULY]

On the hottest day of summer, loud groans could be heard from a private room of the Church’s medical wing. Inside, a certain young deaconess was tending to a patient dear to her. Sparkling blue water swirled around the patient's head, attempting to alleviate a particularly persistent headache that had forced them into bed rest, for the third time this month.

The deaconess said nothing but the patient could read the concern from her furrowed eyebrows. "Barbara, I'm fine. You should not waste your time on something minor like a headache. It will go away on its own." Barbara did not stop her healing spell. 

"I know Mondstadt always comes first, but you should not let your fatigue build up this much, Jean." Barbara scolded her older sister while said sister looked away in shame. She let out a deep sigh before continuing, “How many times has Lisa dragged you here this month after you fainted? Five?”

Jean almost corrected her, but realized admitting she had fainted three times in a single month would not help her case. Thus, she chose to stay silent, though she could feel Barbara's heated stare on the back of her head.

The silence dragged on for a couple more minutes until Barbara relented. She let out another sigh. The Acting Grand Master Jean Gunnhildr was more devoted to her work than anyone in Mondstadt. As her sister, she knew that best. Yet, she wondered why Jean’s workaholic nature had suddenly grown more extreme during the last few months. 

“Something cold would help your headache. How about ice cream?” she suggested, thinking something sweet might work better as a distraction, and it did. She could see Jean start to cheer up. 

“Ice cream sounds perfect. Do you think they still sell dandelion ice cream?” 

“I have never heard of dandelion flavored ice cream. Is it good?” Barbara asked, tilting her head.

“It’s made with a small amount of dandelion wine mixed in the base. We used to go eat some during summer after sword practice ended.” A soft smile appeared on Jean’s face as she glanced out the window toward the city.

“Oh, was it popular among the knights?”

“No, the only ones that liked it were me and–” Jean paused. And who? “Huh, that’s odd. I can’t remember.”

As she tried harder to recall, she thought back to a time roughly a decade ago. It had been a hot summer day, just like this one. She was standing in line waiting to buy three servings of ice cream: two with dandelion flavor and one grape. The training had been unusually grueling under the blazing sun and to make matters worse, the instructor that day had been an overly enthusiastic Grand Master Varka. She could still imagine how sore her muscles had been. She must have been around fifteen at the time. 

After she had received the ice cream, she had quickly walked to a nearby bench where two people were waiting for her. One was Diluc, with a face almost as red as his hair. By the way he devoured the cold treat, it was clear even the Ragnvindr prodigy had been bested by the weather, or by Varka.

Then there was the second person. The one whose face she could not recall, as if it was hidden behind a fog. Even so, she could remember what she had thought back then. How they seemed delighted by the red-headed boy’s suffering, despite their identical state of exhaustion. They had joked about the effects of pyro vision on body temperature. Diluc had punched them on the arm, grumbling that he’ll remember this the next time they complain about the cold in the winter. Somehow she had known Diluc’s threat was an empty one.

She had handed them their ice cream cone and they thanked her with a smile. It had been a sincere one offered without any hesitation. Simply thinking back to the sight, to that moment, tugged at her heartstrings now. She missed it. But how could she miss something she could not remember?

Barbara’s worried call broke her out of her memories. Jean assured her that the headache had eased up and she would be more careful in the future. Her sister was unconvinced but allowed her to leave the Cathedral. 

As Jean walked down the numerous steps of Mondstadt toward the market district, she tried again to remember anything related to the other person. They had to have been a trainee knight and they were around the same age as she and Diluc had been. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she could not remember a name or other details about them. Well, almost a decade had passed since then. Most likely they had left the city at some point, and it would make sense her recollection of them had faded over time.

With that, Jean stopped trying to remember. She figured the best she could do was to hold on to that sliver of a memory and treasure it along with the refreshing taste of ice cream. 

[SEPTEMBER]

Inside Cat’s Tail tavern, a group of four players were engrossed in a heated game of cards. Well, four plus a sentient raven, to be precise.

“Hey, hey! No cheating. Keep your bird on your side of the table,” yelled Diona, shooting a cold glare across the table to Fischl.

“How dare you accuse that I, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, would commit such heinous acts,” she responded while Oz returned to perch on her shoulder.

Diona did not relent. “I know you can see through its eyes.” 

“Wha… Who told you that?” 

"Can't remember, but nevermind that, just use your normal attack already. There is no way you have enough energy for a burst."

"Ugh… I should send the claws of fate on the one who set the cost of our full might to three whole points," Fischl lamented.

“At least you have your own cards, unlike us,” Amber piped in as her turn started.

“Speak for yourself. I have mine right here,” Eula stated from a seat across from her.

“Huh? How on earth did you manage that?”

“Albedo agreed to draw the card in exchange for me taking over his overdue paperwork. Then I asked my connections in Liyue to have it printed.” Eula seemed pleased with herself. Amber was not.

"Okay. Since you are so~ resourceful, you won't be needing my help renewing your gliding license, after all."

Eula decided it was best to change the subject. “Speaking of gliding, I noticed a scar in your glider. When did that appear?” Eula pointed at said glider that was hanging on the back of Amber’s chair.

“A scar?” Amber picked the thing up to check. On its metal frame was a long crack filled with a metal much darker than rest. It also had a bluish shine under the sunlight. "Huh. I haven't noticed that before."

She ran her finger along the mark. It felt colder than the other metal but surprisingly nice to the touch. She could feel the pyro energy coursing through her calm down slightly. 

"I think it's starsilver ore from Dragonspine. My glider broke some time ago and Wagner repaired it. He must have used the ore to strengthen the frame." 

"Really?" Eula wondered. "Starsilver ore is quite expensive. I'm surprised he did not charge you a fortune for it."

"He did not charge me at all, in fact. I tried to pay him, but he refused, saying that he owed a favor to the knights."

"Lucky you," Diona said. 

“Yes, lucky me.” 

Amber did not know why, but seeing the cracks on the glider caused a sting in her heart. 'They are just some silly cracks on an old glider, nothing to worry about,' she thought before returning her full focus to the game. 

The rest of the afternoon flew by in a blink of an eye, until finally Fischl was crowned the winner, much to Diona's dissatisfaction. The four parted ways and Amber headed home. In the privacy of her own room, she hugged the glider gently just for a brief moment. It felt cold but comforting.

[NOVEMBER]

A setting autumn sun marked the end of another peaceful day in Mondstadt and the end of Rosaria’s need to evade choir practice. This time she had chosen to hide in the Favonius library, thinking no one would ever look for her in there. She had been right, no one had disturbed her. The library had also been a perfect place for a quick nap and the librarian did not mind as long as Rosaria stayed quiet. She should go there more often.

At the moment, Rosaria was leisurely walking up the stairs to the Cathedral plaza. While doing so, she happened to look down at the sparring grounds where she saw three boys. She was familiar with two of them and had heard about the last one. She made herself comfortable leaning on the railing as she decided to watch over them for a bit longer.

Next to the wall, almost directly below her, sat Razor. The boy noticed her too, possibly through her scent. Razor greeted her with a quick wave, and she waved back before they both shifted their gazes to the middle of the ring, where a sparring match was taking place. 

An ashen haired adventurer with a sword was facing against a blond knight armed with a spear. The former she knew to be Bennett, who visited the church almost daily covered in scratches and bruises. She had overheard Barbara lecture the boy about his carelessness too many times to count. The latter she had only seen from afar, but a spear, a cryo vision and numerous Favonius emblems on his person could mark him only as the newly returned surveyor. Mika, she believed, was the boy’s name. 

Mika appeared quite well trained. A spear was an unusual choice for someone from Mondstadt, but Mika had created a style of his own. A style focused on providing support and pushing the enemy back, quite the opposite of her own. Apparently, he had also received instruction from Varka on the expedition. That old man sure took any hatchlings he could find under his wing. She would know. She had been one herself. 

Likewise, Bennett's sword skills were not half bad. It was not the style Favonius knights used. She reckoned he might have learned from some other adventurer. On the whole, his skills were somewhat unpolished, but he had the basics down solid.

That is where her evaluation should have ended. To ‘unpolished but solid’. Yet, her mind kept telling her it was all wrong. The swings were too short and weak. The footwork was too slow and inefficient. His movements were too rough and… innocent. 

She could predict the boy’s attacks before they happened. Two downward cuts in a cross, an upward one followed by a lunge and a wide swing to finish. It was as if she had faced these same strikes before so many times they were ingrained in her core. As if she could still feel the weight of a sword hitting against her own spear. As if she could still see the footprints on a snow covered field after a match. As if she could still hear the victorious laughter of an opponent she did not remember.

Next, Mika shot out a burst of ice, forcing Bennett to coat his sword in flames to defend. Wrong, her mind screamed again. It was all wrong. The sword she knew was cold like hers. Sharp and piercing. Covered in ice and aiming to hurt. A burst of cryo should have been blocked by a shield made of ice. She knew that by heart.

Even so, her head disagreed. For all she tried, she remembered no friend or foe like that. She had no memories of friendly spars on snowy fields or losing a match to an opponent that would gloat and tease her afterwards. It all felt like she was thinking of a dream from a lifetime ago.

Then the church bell rang. It marked the end of the boys’ training session and reminded her she was late for dinner. All illusions of past memories would have to wait for another time. 

[JANUARY]

In the middle of winter, the smallest knight of Favonius laid sick in her bed. A minor flu had forced little Klee to remain trapped in her room, looking wishfully out of the window while others were free to enjoy the fresh snow. 

A knock on her door brought a smile to her face. It was Noelle. The dutiful maid had been taking care of her for the last few days, since her usual caretakers were busy. Big brother Albedo was again up on the Dragonspine investigating something, Master Jean had her hands full with official Favonius business and her mom was… away. But Klee was not lonely. She was a brave girl! And she liked Noelle, for her pancakes were the fluffiest she had ever eaten!

Though, sometimes she wished she had someone that would take her out to play. Someone who would like fish blasting as much as she did and help her out when she got in trouble for it. In her dreams, she had a friend like that, a tall blue knight. But he always disappeared once she woke up.

“Here's your hot chocolate, Klee. Be careful, it’s really hot.” Noelle said as she handed her a mug bigger than both her hands combined. 

Klee thanked her enthusiastically before she took a long sip. The mug warmed her hands and she felt better as the sweetness coated her throat. Then she paused. Something was missing. 

Noelle noticed the girl's baffled expression. “Is something wrong?”

Klee looked at her mug, then to Noelle and then back at the mug. She hesitated for a moment longer before she answered, “You forgot to add cinnamon.”

“Cinnamon? I’ll see if we have any.” 

Noelle took the mug back and walked out of the room. She was the one most familiar with the Knights' kitchen and had no recollection of seeing cinnamon in there. She also had no knowledge of anyone preferring it in their meals, so Klee’s request had come as a surprise to her. Still, she could check and if there were none, she could get some from the general goods store.

As she had expected, there was no cinnamon to be found in the spice cabinet. She decided to look through the rest of the kitchen as well, just to be sure. This was her first time looking after Klee when she was sick, but she must have had cinnamon flavored chocolate often since she craved it so much. The maid would not let her down.

One by one, she opened the closets, the drawers and the lockers but found nothing. At last, she looked into the cold closet. In the back of it, hidden behind other containers and bottles, was a jar she did not recognize. She took it out and read the label attached to the top. ‘Cinnamon syrup for Klee,’ it said, clear as day.

Needing no further convincing, Noelle reheated the chocolate and added a spoonful to both her and Klee’s mug. She tasted it and the added spice gave the drink a gentle kick. She returned to the little patient with the mugs. This time the drink was deemed perfect and in no time at all it was gone. Klee began to feel very sleepy. Her eyes drooped and she snuggled deeper beneath the warm blanket. 

However, a question remained on Noelle’s mind, so before the little knight fell fully asleep, she asked her who had made the syrup. Klee did not know. It was simply something she had always had when she was sick. 

Then the girl yawned loudly and Noelle left the room to let her sleep in peace. Though Noelle was curious who had made the syrup and the recipe for it, she could ask about it later. For now, she was happy that the child could continue dreaming of charming knights and warm hugs.

[MARCH]

It was a busy night in the most popular tavern of Mondstadt. A pair of brunettes were sitting at a table, enjoying the performance of a green clad bard. Well, one of them was. The other had had a few too many glasses of wine while lamenting about her financial troubles to the first one. She was now snoring happily with her head resting on the table.

The song ended with a cheerful applause. Scanning over the crowd, the bard noticed the still-awake brunette and then made his way to the same table. 

"Good evening, Miss Lisa. It's not often I see you here without the other knights," Venti said, pulling up a chair to join her.

"Why, hello to you too. Me and sweet Vile here were hoping to speak with Master Diluc. Unfortunately, Charles just told us he has been buried in paperwork in the winery and is unable to take any shifts here." 

"What a shame," Venti responded. "He has been acting quite antsy for the past month. Maybe it's because of the Windblume festival."

"I would think so. Vile was hoping to sell him her latest intel and I had a couple of questions about a case I am working on."

"Ooh! That sounds interesting. Mind telling me about it?"

"Well, it is quite the mystery, so I could use another opinion," Lisa said after only a second of hesitation, almost as if she had planned on asking him.

"It all started last fall when I was sorting through old files in the library. There, I found a report by a cavalry captain. Nothing unusual by itself, except it was dated after Grand Master Varka had left for the expedition with all the cavalry."

"So, I did some digging and there were many mentions of a cavalry captain but their name was not written down anywhere. Mika then told me he could recall one captain being in charge of all his knight exams, but could not tell me anything more about them. Not their name or appearance. Doesn't that sound odd to you?"

Venti nodded and Lisa continued with her story.

"I dug around some more and found a sick leave permit for a knight by the name of Kaeya Alberich from a year ago. However, there is no one called Kaeya in the Knights. It had been sent from the Church to the Acting Grand Master, so naturally I asked Jean about it. She also did not know them."

"Oh, do you suspect the unknown captain and this Kaeya Alberich are the same person?" Venti leaned closer as he asked.

"Honestly, in my opinion, two separate people having barely any records of them and then vanishing without a trace would be far too great a coincidence." 

There were no flaws to be found in Lisa's reasoning. Venti could only agree.

"Yesterday Jean told me about an old friend of hers she had nearly forgotten about. Once again she could not tell me their name or appearance. The only thing she did remember was that they had both spent a lot of time with Master Diluc in the past."

"I guess that was what you were going to ask him tonight? If he knew who this person was?"

She nodded. "The chances are that he has forgotten about them too since a number of years have passed. But he is the only lead I have at the moment." She let out a sigh. "If he is a dead end as well, my last option is to comb through the city archives and hope they owned property in the city, or something that–"

Lisa's sentence was cut short when Charles suddenly placed three servings of dandelion wine on the table. Noticing their raised eyebrows, the ever so clever Charles answered their question before either of them had a chance to ask.

"A gentleman by the bar bought drinks for you all to thank the bard for the song." He turned to point the buyer out but there was no one at the bar anymore. 

"How kind," Venti said. "What did they look like?"

"They had dark skin, blue hair and an eyepatch. I haven't seen them around here before."

Venti jumped up. Both Charles and Lisa could see his eyes sparkle with excitement. "What about their uncovered eye? Did you see it?"

"Why, yes. It was an unordinary one. A blue eye with a star-shaped pupil. Someone you know?"

Venti sat back down and took a cheerful sip from his glass. He made no attempt to hide his delighted smile. "Yes. A dear drinking buddy of mine appears to have returned home from his travels."

“Oh? Should we prepare a homecoming feast?” Lisa teased with a smile of her own.

“Maybe we should, if he can be convinced to stay. Hey, Charles, could I borrow a pen and some paper? And your fastest messenger bird? I know the perfect person for such a task.”

[HOME]

On the other side of the city, a man with blue hair and an eyepatch was headed home. Under the cover of night everything seemed the same as he remembered. But to be fair, he had been away only for a year. 

At first, he had traveled through Liyue. He had crossed the shores of Dihua marsh and marveled at the ruins of Guili plains. In the Harbor, he had admired the city’s long history and impeccable order. But he did not stay there. He found the people too stiff, too tied to their obligations and rules. Even though he met people with pure hearts, the rest seemed to only judge him by his value. 

Next, he had hopped on a boat to Inazuma. In the middle of a raging sea, he found beauty beyond measure. On Narukami island, the landscape adorned with red and purple stole his breath away and found ancient mysteries around every corner. Same was true for Watatsumi island with its unique flora and culture. Even so, Inazuma was not the place for him. He was always on edge, feeling the static in the air. Also, the land of eternity lacked the gentle breeze he so dearly missed. 

Some time later, he found himself in Sumeru. The invigorating scent of spices and the heat of the sun helped heal his weary body. The streets of Port Ormos never seemed to sleep with traveling merchants and journeying scholars scurrying about constantly. In the middle of it all, even one as striking as he was just one among many. Yet, it was not a place for him who longed for a more peaceful life. 

The city of wisdom did not interest him and the desert even less, so he set Fontaine as his next destination. However, as he traveled through the rainforest, he noticed quite a number of eyes following him. They never interfered with his plans nor did they seem to try to guide his path. They merely followed wherever he went. Without ill intent, he reckoned they belonged neither to the Fatui nor the Abyss order. Anyway, he was not one to let himself be shadowed. So, the first chance he got, he threw them off his scent. To put it simply, he sent his trackers on the road to Fontaine with some well placed baits, while he jumped on a wagon headed to Mondstadt.

That had happened about a month ago. Now he was back in the city of wind. Even though he had planned to stay away, homesickness had gotten the better of him. A quick visit would not hurt, right? As long as he kept away from familiar faces, no trouble should arise. 

During the day he had covered his head with a hood and walked among the crowds. Most people seemed to regard him as a simple traveler and paid him no mind. Same was true for the patrolling knights. A part of him worried for the city’s safety, but mostly he felt relieved.

Eventually he had felt brave enough to visit Angel’s share. Fortunately, it had been a particularly busy night in the tavern and he fit right in. Dandelion wine tasted as good as always and he had even been able to catch Venti’s performance. Although the bard had been too immersed in the song to notice him sitting by the bar, Kaeya had still decided to buy him the promised drink. After all, he always did his best to keep his promises. 

At the moment he was standing in front of his house. It took him a minute to find his keys and unlock the front door, which opened with a loud screech. Inside he saw everything covered in dust, including pictures hanging on the walls. He cleaned some of them, such as a photo of Klee’s sunny smile, another of Rosaria’s messy bedhead he had secretly captured on film, and a third with him, Jean and Diluc dressed in their knight uniforms from a decade ago.

He checked around the house, but nothing seemed out of place. Likewise, he found no traces of unwanted guests. At least, not until he stepped into the kitchen.

On the same table he had left his letter, now stood a red box. It was definitely not something he owned. He stepped closer with utmost caution, checking around every corner with elemental sight but found no signs of a trap or danger. So, he lifted the top off slowly, only to find a piece of chocolate and a note inside. He picked the latter up and read it once, then twice, and a few more times, not really comprehending what was written down. 

For a long while he stood completely still. So thoroughly shocked he failed to hear the front door open and close, nor did he notice the footsteps echoing down the hall. Still, it was impossible for him to ignore the voice that spoke behind him.

“Welcome back.”

Chapter Text

Only a year ago Diluc would have said there was nothing more annoying than thinking one had forgotten something yet not remembering what it could have been. He was wrong. There was a feeling a hundred times worse and it was knowing without a doubt that one had forgotten something, something very important. 

That very feeling had been pestering him continuously for the past year, growing more maddening every single time he happened to stumble upon a faint trace of a bygone memory. 

Then one night the traces clicked into place and a memory long lost reappeared.

[A NOTE ON A TABLE]

The first trace he found, he brushed off almost instantly. On a chilly morning, he woke up to find a simple note on his nightstand, written by none other than himself. It was accompanied by a piece of chocolate missing a bite and said 'Tell K the chocolate was too bitter.' Nothing more. 

For a short moment, he was perplexed by it. When had he written it and who was 'K'? He did not remember anyone like that. Was it a shorthand for one of his informants? Also, if the chocolate had been so bitter he had only taken the tiniest of bites, why on Teyvat would he have written a note to remind himself about it and then saved the leftovers instead of discarding them?

Yet, the moment passed and he did not bother to wonder any longer. He was a busy man after all. He wrapped up both the note and the chocolate piece, then tucked them away in a drawer.

[A DRINK TOO MANY]

The second clue he would have forgotten about too, had it not been accompanied by the appearance of another annoyance: an unfamiliar voice.

“You know, no matter how hard she tries, Rosaria can’t keep looking you in the eye while telling a lie.”

On a regular night at Angel’s Share, Diluc had served the said woman her usual drink of choice. They both were used to the motions by now. As usual, she had walked in with her metal heels clanking on the hardwood floor, sat on the second stool from the left by the bar and ordered a tall glass of red wine. Then, like always, he fulfilled her order needing not a second thought. 

However, perhaps a second thought would have helped, because this time he made a mistake. Without noticing, he had poured her a second drink: an extra Death After Noon. By muscle memory alone, he had mixed it, poured it and pushed it in front of the leftmost seat. As if it was another part of this routine of theirs. But that could not be it, for all she ever ordered for herself was a strong red wine. 

"Is the great Master Diluc misremembering things? I never ordered a second drink," Rosaria asked with one eyebrow raised and a steel nail circling the edge of her wine glass.

That was when he heard the voice for the first time, right after he decided to make use of his little mistake. It appeared out of nowhere, ringing so clearly inside his head he almost turned around to look who had spoken. Yet, he did not because a part of him instantly knew what it was: a ghost of a memory. A memory he could not recall. The voice did not sound like anyone he knew, but everything else about it was familiar in a way he could not explain.

Diluc crossed his arms before replying: "I only wanted to make sure you haven't become forgetful yourself, seeing how two nights ago you tricked three treasure hoarders on me, forcing me to take care of them in your stead without even a word of an apology."

"Whatever do you mean? I never saw you that night," Rosaria claimed with her gaze cold and stern. Had he not been expecting it, he never would have noticed, but for the briefest of moments it faltered. For less than a blink, she glanced away.

He let out a short, unbelieving huff while staring straight back at her. "Is that so?"

“And if she’s embarrassed, the right corner of her lip will twitch. That’s what makes her so fun to tease.”

While he saw no benefit in teasing Rosaria, he was curious to know if the voice playing in his head was speaking the truth.

“Well, I do understand why you needed help. Their supply of pyro potions seemed never-ending. Just, if it happens again, do give me a warning beforehand,” he said, and true enough, the right corner of her mouth twitched just a bit. Apparently, having her weakness be exposed was enough to make the seemingly cold-blooded nun shy, or maybe it was the unexpected offer to help.

Even so, 'everything’s negotiable' was the only response he got out of her before she escaped to the second floor with both of her drinks in hand. This was the first time he had seen her icy front falter, though the voice, memory or whatever it was, suggested otherwise.   

The rest of the evening passed without any other surprises, making Diluc think the peculiarities would also end there. But he was wrong. 

From that night onward, the voice continued to echo inside his head. It only appeared for brief moments at a time and very infrequently, but not remembering whose words it was repeating irked him. 

Most of the time it offered just plain words of advice anyone in Mondstadt could have told him. Things like 'if you need to find a cat, ask Diona', 'Razor won't eat carrots unless you hide them in his food', or 'if Albedo is sketching, he won't hear a word that is said.'

Though sometimes the things it told could be quite unexpected, making him wonder who on Teyvat he had heard them from and what could have prompted them. Examples of such things would be to 'never ask Sucrose where she acquired the hilichurl bones in her room from', or 'do not disturb Lisa during teatime unless you wish to be zapped unconscious like Barbara's creepy stalkers.' Those sentences tended to end in a delighted chuckle.

Despite all his pondering, the voice came and went as it pleased, and like the other odd things he had seen, he did his best to ignore it. 

[A HOUSE LEFT ABANDONED]

The third one was too much to ignore. 

On a sunny summer day in Mondstadt, he was walking leisurely through the residential district. He had just passed by the Astrologist's house and stopped to pet a stray dog, when out of nowhere Bennett rushed from around the corner. The boy was carrying a comically tall tower of boxes, which swayed back and forth as he tried to keep them all balanced. The sight prompted yet another unhelpful tip from the voice in Diluc’s head.

“Bennett is such a sweet lad, but his bad luck is relentless. If he is nearby, you should always prepare for things to go awry.”

Surely not, he thought but even he could tell what was about to happen when the tip of Bennett’s shoe got caught between cobblestones. A quick, short breath escaped Diluc's mouth as he watched Bennett fall and the boxes fly out from his hands. Most simply fell down on the street but a rebellious one met the ground, bounced back up and crashed against a door of a nearby apartment.    

“Told you so.”

Lacking a way to punch a disembodied voice, Diluc rushed to help Bennett off the ground. The latter was unharmed but understandably flustered by the havoc he had caused. Fortunately the boxes had been filled with books and paper which had remained unharmed. Diluc assumed that his employer this time had had the foresight of packing only such things. After all, Bennett's luck was infamous. 

Together, the two checked all the boxes and piled them up again. Bennett’s face darkened when he noticed how the rebellious box had left a clear mark on the wooden door it had collided with. The damage was not bad, but reimbursing it might weigh heavy on Bennett’s wallet. 

Even without the voice telling him, Diluc could tell Bennett truly felt guilty, so he promised to talk with the homeowner for him. Bennett bit his lip and hesitantly agreed, but only because he was running late with his delivery. 

As Bennett ran off with his still swaying pile of boxes, Diluc moved to examine the extent of damage closer and found out the box had done more than scratch the door. As unbelievable as it was, the collision had managed to break the lock and push the door open. 

He knocked loudly on the wooden door frame and stepped inside when there was no response. By the thin layer of dust covering everything in sight, it was clear no one had lived there for months. The absence of shoes or other outerwear by the entrance supported this assumption as they must have been stored away while the owner was gone. But how should he deal with the broken lock then? Perhaps he could fix it temporarily and leave a note somewhere for the owner to find once they returned.

He walked further in, down a small corridor with a staircase to the second floor and two open doors. The first doorway on his right led to an office, where he hoped to find paper and a pen. 

Curtains were drawn on all windows in the office, yet enough light managed to peer through for him to easily observe his surroundings. The room was tidied up like the entrance had been with only an antique bookcase, a worn out sofa and a writing desk left behind. On top of the desk were a few pens, a Sumerian-looking book and an empty notebook. He tore off a page from the last one and wrote down his contact details along with the story of how the lock on the front door had been broken. Lastly, he moved the other book aside so his note was left alone on the center of the desk. It should ensure the house owner would spot it easily later.

As he turned around to leave, he noticed the wall behind him had a number of framed photographs hanging on it. So many frames, all different shapes and sizes, it was almost covered in them.  Curious, he stepped closer and was surprised to see several familiar faces. 

The closest picture showed an exploding cauldron, a room filled with black smoke and a silhouette of a surprised person wearing a witch's hat. Next to it was a photo of the Favonius Alchemist, who had fallen asleep at his work desk with his hair decorated with a number of colorful scrunchies and bows. By his side stood overjoyed Klee, marveling at her latest work of art. The other photos seemed to be more on the ordinary side. One showed Barbara singing cheerfully on a stage and another Eula and Mika instructing a Favonius sparring session on a sunny day. All of them were clearly taken by someone close to the portrayed people, yet Diluc had no idea who it could be.

Until he found a photo of himself. 

The photo showed him as a teenager wearing a knight captain’s uniform and laughing with Jean in front of the city gates. On Jean's other side stood someone, who he did not recognise. They appeared to be rushing to be in the picture but had not quite made it before the timer had run out. Their face was blurry and the only things that could be distinguished were their tan skin and dark blue hair. 

Diluc paused and stared at the picture. He had no memory of it. At first, he tried to reason that it had happened such a long time ago it must have slipped his mind. But then the voice in his head started speaking again.

“Oh, why do I like this picture, you ask? Well, even though my gorgeous looks aren’t in focus, you and Jean do look quite dapper.” 

The voice paused and for a moment Diluc could not breathe. He had been right. The voice was an echo of the past but he had not only forgotten simple moments or conversations. He had forgotten the entire existence of someone. Someone close to him. 

“Also, it’s the only one I have of that day when Jean was made a captain. She was so nervous before the ceremony, she made us listen while she practiced her speech over and over and over, but I found that endearing. She really has come a long way since then, being the Acting Grand Master and all.”

The voice cut off and silence filled the room again. Diluc could not take it. 

He ran.

[A BOX STORED AWAY FOR SAFEKEEPING]

His evasion was successful for the next month and a half. Then, on a beautiful autumn morning, the announcer of the fourth trace came knocking on his door.

"Good morning, Master Diluc," Amber greeted cheerfully. "We are sorry to bother you so early, but could this mister and Captain Eula wait here while I run back to the city to request a transport? His wagon was attacked by hilichurs," she added without giving him a chance to say his greetings. Behind her stood Eula and a man dressed like a Liyuean merchant, wearing a gloomy expression. Diluc recognised him. 

"Of course. Please step inside, Captain Eula and Mr. Loi. It has been a long while since you last visited."

The merchant brightened instantly. "Oh! It was such a brief visit, I never would have thought you would remember me."

The head maid Adelinde stepped forward to direct both of the guests to the dining room for breakfast, while Diluc stayed by the door to watch as Amber quickly left running back to the city.

“Our little Outrider really is speedy. She can run from one end of Mondstadt to the other faster than the wind itself. Makes one wonder what Favonius even needs a cavalry for.” The voice sounded oddly proud.

When Diluc stepped into the dining room, the merchant rushed out a peculiar question: “Say, Master Diluc, did you sell the vase that used to be on display in the hall? I offered to buy it from you last time, but you refused. Did you happen to change your mind?”

For once, Diluc was glad for his unflinching poker face. He had no idea what vase the merchant was talking about. Still, admitting to it might imply he did not remember their previous meeting like he had claimed, so he chose a white lie instead. 

"It is currently being cleaned and polished elsewhere. Thank you for your offer but I have no intention of parting with it," he said despite having no idea why he had refused the first time.

The three enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Diluc and the merchant spoke at length about the recent developments in wine trade, while Eula quietly observed them, seemingly pleased to enjoy her meal with someone else running the conversation. Sneaking a glance in her direction, he noticed new shadows under her eyes and pronounced wrinkles in her uniform. She seemed tired in the same way all Favonius captains had been for the last few months. It was not caused by a simple lack of sleep. No, this was the product of pushing oneself a little too far continuously every day, every week. 

Unfortunately, the current state of Favonius could not be fixed by an outsider like him. Even if he wished he could. It was something the knights had to sort out by themselves.

Not long after they finished, Amber came knocking on the door again with a new wagon in tow and the three left as suddenly as they had arrived. With the guests gone, Diluc could finally ask Adelinde if she knew anything about the vase Mister Loi had mentioned. She pulled out her personal notebook from the pocket of her apron and began flipping through its pages. Only a few seconds later, she found the right section.

"There's a note on 14th of February last spring about an accident, where a vase in the hall fell off its stand and shattered. It was moved to the inner storage room to wait for repair." She paused for a bit to scratch her cheek. "Though, it's odd that it has taken this long, even when I have marked it as a high priority task." 

“Did you write who broke it?”

“No.” 

“Oh.” It was Diluc. 

Adelinde returned to her duties and he headed to find the said vase. The storage room was located in the back of the winery, where hardly anyone ventured voluntarily. Well, anyone but him, Adelinde and sometimes Elzer. A wave of nostalgia hit him when he opened the door and saw everything inside. His father’s paintings hung on the walls, his own childhood drawings laid framed on a table and a large number of stuffed toys sat on ceiling-high bookshelves. None of them were dusty.

The things in the room were placed there to remain safely out of sight. Though not of high value, they were irreplaceable to him. So, why would a vase he could hardly remember be placed there?

He did not need to look far before he tripped over the box he had been looking for, marked unmistakably with 'to be repaired' and '14th of February'. Inside were large pieces of porcelain painted in gold and every other color imaginable. It must have looked horrendous. It certainly did not match anything else in the winery. Maybe it would be better to throw the pieces away than waste time fixing it.

Even so, holding the pieces in his hands, he found he could not. For some indescribable reason, the thought made his heart ache. He could not part with it. He had to repair it.

So, that is what he did. He locked himself inside the storage, sat down with the pieces and spent the rest of the day gluing them back together. Luckily, the pieces were large and their edges clean, so the process was simple. However, several of them had scratches on their inner side, particularly those near the bottom, suggesting the vase used to contain something hard and sharp. He wondered what such a thing might have been.

Once he was done, he stepped back to examine his handiwork. Seeing the vase in its full 'glory', he was convinced it truly was an awful piece of decoration. Something one would only keep if it was gifted by someone dear. 

“It’s the vase I promised you the other day.” A single sentence was the reward for his efforts. It was said with a teasing tone but somehow, he felt there were more to those words.

He took a long breath and made up his mind. No more running. He had to know who he had forgotten, and why.

[A KIND SUGGESTION]

The fifth trace did not help. Not at all.

The same night he laid in his bed, sleeping peacefully. He dreamt he was a child again, running down the long, warm corridors of the old Ragnvindr manor. He was late for breakfast and very, very hungry. 

"Morning!" he loudly greeted his father as he pushed open the door to the small parlor, where they ate together every day. His father looked up from the newspaper in his hands and greeted him back. 

Diluc quickly sat down in his seat by his father's side and noticed the table was filled with all his childhood favorite foods, like blueberry pancakes, valberry muffins and, of course, sweet grape juice. His stomach growled loudly at the sight. However, when he reached to fill his plate, his father stopped him by putting his hand on top of Diluc's.

"No eating until everyone has arrived," he gently said, gesturing to an empty seat on his other side. Diluc now noticed the table had been set for three. But why? They never had guests in the morning. 

"Who are we waiting for?"

His father did not answer. He only looked at Diluc with that far too familiar, all-knowing gaze of his and smiled gently. 

Diluc woke up and groaned. If his old man was set on nagging him from beyond the grave, the least he could have done was to give him the name of the person he should be looking for. 

[A CHILDISH DRAWING]

While searching for the sixth, he also found seventh and eighth. 

Couple of days later, he returned to that abandoned house in the city. He had been nervous at first but knew there was no point postponing it. He spent the day scouring through each and every room, looking for clues of the person who used to live there and where they had gone. 

For all his hard work, he managed to find two things. The first was a letter in the kitchen that told him a name: Kaeya Alberich. Once again he did not recognise it. The letter said that this Kaeya person had left to travel the world but gave no estimate when he would be back. 'One day' was not much to go by. But at least he now had a name to call the voice, which was better than nothing. However, two more questions remained: who was this Kaeya to him and why could he not remember them. He hoped his second finding would help to answer those.

In his hands he held an old book. Its cover was green as moss and decorated with golden swirls. The text seemed Sumerian, but he could not read it because he had never studied it. Luckily, on the very last page was a symbol he had seen before, the mark of Favonius library.

The clue had brought him to the library in search of Lisa, since who else would he ask than the Librarian. Unfortunately, Lisa was nowhere to be seen. He was just about to give up for the day and head back, when a cheery, squeaky voice called out to him.

"It's the weird grown-up!"

Klee was standing on a chair on the lower floor, waving excitedly at him and beckoning for him to come over. She stood next to a table covered with crayons, paper and several piles of books taller than herself. By her side sat Fischl, who apparently had been reading out a story for her. On the other side of the table was Noelle, completely focused on a Favonius training book. Quite an unusual trio.

He made his way downstairs and greeted them, spooking Noelle in the process who had not noticed him. Klee responded by telling him about their new book club. 

"Fischl and Noelle read a lot of books! Fischl likes story books like me and Noelle likes knighty stuff, like me! So we read together. Do you want to join?" She held up a paper with 'The best book club' written with brightly colored crayons. 

He politely declined. "Another time, perhaps. I was looking for Lisa. Have any of you seen her?"

"The custodian of high knowledge has caged herself inside the sacred sanctum of forbidden tomes–" Fischl started but was quickly interrupted by Oz jumping down to the table from his sleeping spot on top of a nearby bookshelf.

"What Mein fräulein means is that she went to check some books in the restricted section." Fischl shot a one-eyed glare at her companion for daring to interrupt her, but nodded to agree. Noelle politely covered her smile with the book she had.

He thanked them for their help and headed for the restricted section. Technically, he did not have permission to enter but with his reputation, no one would try to stop him. Well, no one apart from Lisa.

"Being the richest man in Mondstadt does not mean rules do not apply to you, Master Diluc," she said in a lecturing tone once he found her near the Favonius archives. She was holding in her arms some official documents. Mission reports, he guessed by the format. 

"My apologies. I was hoping you could help me to identify something." He offered her the book he had found. She first looked at its cover, then flipped open the last page. 

"What a coincidence. I've been looking for this one. It's been missing from the restricted collection for a while, but there was no record of who borrowed it," she responded with her eyes scanning him up and down, silently asking if it had been him who had taken the book without permission. Of course he had not, but he did not want to tell where he had found it either.

"I can not read Sumerian. Can you tell me what the book is about?" 

Surprisingly, Lisa seemed pleased with this response and dropped her questions. She told him the book contained all kinds of potion recipes from simple sleeping draughts to mixtures that could make flowers bloom for a whole year. More importantly, she told him it had few spells capable of erasing memories.

With his question answered, he thanked her and left. He did try to take the book again first, but when he had asked, the air around Lisa had become dangerously charged with static. He and the voice in his head agreed it was best to leave.

However, as he walked past the book club table again he stopped to ask something. "Klee, why do you keep calling me 'the weird grown-up'?"

"Because it makes the knight laugh." 

"Which knight?" Had the state of Favonius fallen so low, they would mock people behind their backs?

Klee pulled him closer by his sleeve and showed him the drawing she had been working on. It had a big purple castle in the background and four stickmen in front, all wearing eyepatches. 

"These are the eyepatched knights of Princess Fischl," she said while pointing to a figure drawn in purple with a bird by its side. "The red one is me and the yellow one is Noelle." 

Next she pointed to a tall one drawn in blue. It had a circle for the head, a sword, an eyepatch and an eye shaped like a star. "This is my friend the knight. I tell him jokes to make him laugh, we go fish blasting and he gives the best hugs!"

Diluc stared at the drawing and found it strangely familiar. One more thing to add to his ever growing list. "Where did you meet him?"

"In my dreams. Mom said that if I think about them really hard before sleeping I can see anyone I wish. Maybe you can do it too to meet him."

"I can try, but I don’t think I need to be asleep to hear him." 

[WORDS OF A DRUNKEN BARD]

A month flew by, then another, before anything else happened. 

Diluc was stuck. He had a name, a reason for his missing memories and the confirmation that the voice had really existed. Yet, he still could not decide how to proceed. Should he try to find the man or leave everything up to fate, hoping they might truly decide to return on their own? But what then? He might not even recognise them if they walked past him.

He sighed and his breath turned to frost in the cold winter air. He was standing on the bridge leading to the city, leaning on a railing and staring mindlessly toward Dragonspine. As the night grew darker and colder, snow also began to fall slowly from the sky. Perfect weather to remain lost in thought. He caught a large snowflake in his palm and was watching it slowly melt away, when a clink of a bottle against stone and a sing-songy voice broke the surrounding silence.

“How about a story to go with the snow?”

Diluc turned around to see Venti the bard sitting on the left railing with a bottle of spiced wine in his hand. Diluc greeted him with a nod.

“Remind me to never bet against Venti in a drinking game. I still owe Mona quite a lot of mora for the last time I made that mistake.” Was there anyone in Mondstadt the voice did not know?

“Could you spare me a moment of your time, Master Diluc?” the bard sang. “I have a story I think you'd be interested to hear.” Venti barely waited for Diluc to nod again, before he began reciting his tale.

“There once was a clever little knight. His first family realized how smart he was far too fast and his second far too late. The first sent him away and the second he left behind on his own.”

“The knight treasured his later family greatly. So greatly in fact, that he would do anything to protect them. And he deemed himself to be the worst threat to their safety, or more precisely, the things that might come calling for him.” Venti paused to tap his fingers on the side of his bottle as if he was playing a tune to accompany the tale. Diluc on the other hand realized whose tale Venti was telling.

“The clever knight came up with a plan. He chose to run away, to leave his dear home, so they would stay safe. But he was far too familiar with the pain goodbyes could bring, so he used a spell that erased him from the hearts and minds of everyone else."

"The spell should have taken away any lingering feelings, leaving behind only cold truths like his name and rank. But, as you might have gathered, it failed. Instead of erasing feelings, it only hid them out of reach. Even his name was mistakenly hidden.”

Diluc leaned back and crossed his arms. “If this knight was so clever like you keep saying, he must have tested the spell before he used it. Why did it still fail?”

Venti answered the question wearing a sad smile. “Yes, the knight made sure it worked, but he tested it on people who were but passing acquaintances. Travelers from here and there, who would have forgotten about him naturally, if given enough time. How could their memories be compared to those who treasured him for years or even decades?”

"And what would you like me to do? Drag him back by the ear?"

This question brought out a laugh from the other. “That hardly seems fair. You, yourself, traveled for three full years outside of Mond. He should be allowed the same freedom to journey as long as he desires. No, the reason I told you this was to simply ease your troubled mind.” 

Venti stood up and began walking back to the city, while Diluc stayed still. After a couple of steps, however, he turned his head and winked back at Diluc. “Although, what you do with this knowledge is for you to decide.” 

[A SHADOW FOR A MAN ON THE RUN]

“Give up, Diluc. You know I’m faster than you. Once I start running, you can never catch me,” the voice teased like a child playing tag. Even so, Diluc was nothing if not stubborn.  

After that talk with Venti, he had begun searching for the missing man in earnest. At first he had relied on his contacts in the underground intelligence network he was a part of. Then when they had returned empty handed, he had begun to employ independent informants. 

A particularly motivated one had sought him out herself, a woman called Vile. She stated her most valued customer had up and disappeared one night, leaving her struggling to make a decent living. She had smiled mischievously while adding that she figured she could look for them while fulfilling the task from Diluc. Anyhow, he was glad to have hired her since she had been the first to track Kaeya down.

Her sources had spotted a man in Port Ormos fitting Kaeya's description: tan skin, dark blue hair, an eyepatch and a starry eye. With such ambiguous details, Diluc had doubted that anyone could find him. For a moment, it seemed that luck was on his side.

Unfortunately, the trackers got too greedy. They got too close to their target, ultimately getting tricked and losing sight of him. Vile had been furious and fired those incompetent trackers, but it was too late. The trail had grown cold.

Four weeks had passed without a word of Kaeya’s whereabouts. During that time Diluc somehow developed a habit of visiting the empty house in the city almost every evening. The first time he had gone to fix the broken lock. On the second and third visit he had tried to find more clues. The fourth time he had simply sat in the kitchen for an hour without doing anything. In the end, he had visited so often the front door now screeched from the lack of oil in its hinges.

The last time he went, he had placed a red box on the table where the letter had been. As far as he knew, Kaeya's memories were still intact. If he ever returned, maybe he would see it and choose not to disappear again. A foolish dream, but he had nothing else left. So, with no leads to follow and nothing to do, Diluc had grown more and more frustrated. In the end, he had been forced to lock himself in the winery, since working in the tavern had become a bit too risky with all those easily shattering bottles and flammable liquids around. 

Then, on a late evening in March, he was about to bury himself in paperwork until midnight, when out of the blue a messenger bird knocked on his window.

[THE FACE OF SOMEONE DEAR]

The last trace forced the spell to break.

Running all the way to the city might have been overkill, but Diluc could not help it. He had no idea when Kaeya would leave and he would not let this chance slip by. He did not even pause to consider where to look. He did not need to. His feet brought him straight to the residential district.

The house was quiet and dark. Only moonlight illuminated his path as he rushed in and straight to the kitchen. There a hooded man stood staring at the box he had left. It seemed to have worked as hoped. 

Diluc did his best to control his nerves. A deep breath in, a deep breath out. The other man had not yet moved. Did he not hear Diluc's arrival?

"Welcome back," he said, breaking Kaeya out of his daze. He flinched and quickly spun around. The hood fell off and at long last Diluc could see his face.

'Oh, I remember you.'

Chapter Text

One day in March, Jean was woken up in the middle of the night by a small voice calling her name.

“...Master Jean?”

She opened her eyes and saw Klee standing right next to the sofa she had been resting on. The little girl was dressed in her pajamas and her eyes were filled with tears. 

“Klee? What’s wrong? Why are you awake?” Jean asked, stealing a glance at the windows, then at the clock. It was far too early for a child to be awake. The morning was still hours away.

“I had a nightmare. Klee saw lights in your office, so we came to find you,” Klee said between small sniffs, holding her toy Dodoco close.

Jean sat up, tidied up some papers scattered on and around her before beckoning Klee to hop on her lap, who did not hesitate to do so. She was still shivering, so Jean began combing her fingers through her hair to calm her down. It was a well-practiced trick and sure enough, the little girl in her arms slowly relaxed.

“How bad was the nightmare?”

“Bad.”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Klee shook her head.

“Are you sure? It might make you feel better.”

Klee took a moment to consider the suggestion. She glanced up at Jean, before turning her eyes back down. Jean waited patiently until she felt brave enough to start speaking.

“In the dream, I was with my friend. We were catching fish near a river,” she explained, having regained a bit more of her normal spark. Jean knew even in her dreams, her preferred method of catching fish must have been bombing them. She wondered if she should teach her some of the other methods, but this was hardly the time for it.

“Then, I threw Jumpy Dumpty really, really far and caught a really, really big fish. It was bigger than me and Dodoco combined! But when I turned to show it off, my friend was gone.”Klees's grip on Jean's sleeve tightened and she buried her face against Jean's shoulder.

“Next thing Klee knew, the sky turned dark and something grabbed my ankles. It started pulling me in the water. It hurt. It was freezing.” She shivered from the memory alone. “I tried to call for my friend, but he was not there. My head sank below the surface and I woke up in my room.”

Jean pulled Klee closer and continued to soothe her down. “Now, now. It was just a dream. I’m sure your friend is fine.”

“Really? You promise?” Klee asked, turning cautiously to look in Jean's eyes.

“I promise,” Jean said. Next she rose to stand, still holding Klee tight in her arms. “Now, let's get you back to bed. Who knows, maybe he is already waiting for you to return.”

For once, Klee instantly agreed instead of insisting on staying awake. So, Jean carried her to her own room and tucked her snuggly beneath the covers of her bed. She turned to leave, but after only two steps, Klee called out to her again.

“Master Jean?”

“Yes, Klee?”

“Can you ask Miss Sucrose to stop adding spinach to my food? I don’t like it.”

“She only wants you to grow up strong and healthy like we all do. I know your dream friend would as well.”

“Okay,” Klee pouted, ”but can you at least ask that she doesn’t put it in the pancakes?”

“That I can do. Goodnight, Klee.”

“Goodnight.”

Jean closed the door, leaving Klee to drift asleep in peace. After that she headed to her office. With some luck she too could rest her eyes for another hour or two.

[MORNING]

For the last year Jean had felt that something was not quite right. 

At first she had blamed the feeling on her workload that suddenly seemed never-ending, then the headaches that had begun to pester her in the evenings. However, the feeling had persisted and just when she had thought it could not get any worse, she had been proved wrong. Her mind started to play tricks on her.

It had started off small, with her seeing glimpses of someone in the corner of her eye that was not really there. Then, little by little, the glimpses turned to hazy illusions, to something she could just barely make sense of if she focused hard enough. It started to feel as if she had a ghost following her around. A more appropriate description might have been to say she was being haunted, but even so, she never felt scared or disturbed by these sights. No, in fact they felt oddly comforting.

The same was true the current day when for some peculiar reason the glimpses had turned clearer than usual. So clear that Jean could at last make out some of its general features. This time the ghost was sitting at the other table in her office, moving its hands as if it was writing something on paper, setting said paper aside and grabbing another from a second pile and repeating it all again. 

Jean kept staring at it, trying to discern any details of its appearance, but most she could do was guess it to be a man around her age. As it turned to face her and she noticed it had quite long hair as well. The ghost seemed to be saying something. Maybe if she focused a bit more, she might figure out that it–

“Jean!” Eula called out, shaking a hand in front of Jean's eyes. The latter’s attention snapped back to the present, where she was supposed to be listening to the Reconnaissance company’s weekly report.

“My apologies. So, to summarize, the Abyss order is still patrolling the border in high numbers.”

Eula huffed, then nodded. “Yes, and annoyingly most of them are cryo mages. Therefore, I suggest we send out more patrols and each group should include at least one claymore wielder or a knight with a pyro vision.”

“I understand, but our forces are spread far too thin already. We do not have the manpower to guard every inch of Mondstadt. Even so, thank you for your efforts.”

With the official portion of their meeting concluded, the two relaxed for a bit.

“Permission to speak freely?” Eula asked. She was not one to mince her words, but she stubbornly held on to the knights’ code of conduct in the oddest of moments.

“I've told you before you do not need my permission for that,” Jean replied.

“You look awful,” Eula said, crossing her arms tightly. Her honesty certainly did not disappoint. “When was the last time you got a full night's rest?”

The words stung, but Jean let none of it show. In that way she and Eula were the same. Although neither would admit it, they were raised as nobles and held true to their decorum, never letting it go. 

“I might say the same to you,” Jean replied, giving her counterpart an obvious look-over. Her clothes were wrinkled and her hair, though well-maintained, lacked some of its usual vibrancy. There were slight shadows under her eyes as well, partially hidden under makeup. In a word, she looked tired. They both did.

In any case, Jean knew better than to try to argue with Eula on matters such as this. It would not end in her favor. Therefore, she relented.

“If I promise to end my work on time today, will that appease you?”

Eula huffed. “You'd better or my vengeance will be swift.” 

Following her declaration, Eula left the office with her head held high, feeling pleased to have made her point. Meanwhile, Jean rested her head in her hands and wished that the rest of the day would be as uneventful as possible so she could keep her word. 

[LUNCH HOUR]

About an hour later, she found that her wish had not been granted when news of an accident by the Stone Gate reached her ears. A wagon belonging to the Adventurers’ Guild had been attacked by a group of Abyss mages on the path between the gate and Dawn Winery. Jean had then quickly made her way to the Cathedral patient wing, where any injured passengers had been escorted to by the Knights, along with Noelle, who had been injured as well. 

Noelle had been the first one at the scene, who by coincidence had been on a scouting mission near the area. According to her, when she had arrived at the scene the passengers had managed to successfully defend themselves and chased the attackers off. She had fired a signal then began helping the passengers evacuate the area. Then, suddenly a cryo Abyss mage appeared and Noelle hurt her leg protecting passengers that were not fast enough to run away.

“Fortunately, Amber and Mika arrived at that moment. Amber used her pyro vision to deal with the mage’s shield after which the mage got scared and escaped,” Noelle said. She had a cast on her left leg and was sitting on one of the Cathedral’s patient beds. Although she was not a knight herself, she still was a member of the Favonius and had been assigned her own room for the duration of her recovery. 

“The reinforcements from the headquarters reached us half an hour later and helped to escort everyone to the city,” said Mika, who was sitting on a chair next to her bed and had been keeping her company. 

“Noelle, you knew the Abyss order has been patrolling the border for months. It was reckless to go alone. You should have taken someone with you or at least tell us where you were going.” Jean sighed. It was true that Noelle had followed the Knight’s protocol perfectly at the scene, but she should not have been scouting alone in the first place. As harsh as it was to say, Noelle was still far too naive and selfless in her pursuit to help others.

“Sorry, Master Jean. I will do better next time,” Noelle meekly replied. At least she understood what she had done wrong, which was more than some knights did.

“I hope so. You have to take care of yourself and rest when you need to. Otherwise, you might get hurt worse than this time.” 

As Jean finished her short lecture, she could feel a cold, disapproving stare at the back of her neck despite the fact that there was no one standing behind her. The lack of sleep seemed to be really getting to her today. 

Next, she wished Noelle a speedy recovery and left. Yet, she had only managed to walk to the entrance of the Cathedral when Mika caught up with her again. He told her that they had forgotten to mention that after the Abyss mage had made its escape they saw Amber pick up something it left behind. However, they could not see what it was.

“Thank you for telling me.” Jean thought for a second, then got an idea. “Mika, can I ask you for a favor? Could you look after Noelle for me? She might be strong but we all need someone to watch over us every now and then.” 

Mika did not hesitate with his answer. “You can count on me, Master Jean!”

Jean smiled and waved as Mika ran back inside. Talking with Mika always felt a bit nostalgic for her. She felt as if she was speaking with a younger brother of hers. Except that could not be right for she had never had a brother, only a sister and nearly not even that. 

She sighed again and began walking back to the headquarters.

[NOON]

After a short lunch eaten on the fly, it was time to listen to the Investigation team’s report of the accident. As such, Jean hurried straight to the Chief Alchemist's office. 

Over the years Jean had worked with Albedo, she had learned that his office,which also acted as his laboratory, was unlike what she would have guessed a scientist room would be. In normal circumstances, Albedo kept his room very organized and tidy. His desk would be clean and every piece of alchemy equipment would stay in its own spot. Which is why she had been surprised to see his desk and shelves cluttered up by drawings of flowers and stars. 

She was also desperately trying to ignore the sight of her ghost lazing about on the couch next to Albedo as if it had every right to be doing so. If she would not have looked crazy doing so, she would have liked to give it a strong smack on the head.

“When the investigation team reached the site of the accident, most of the ground was still covered in ice created by the abyss mages. We presume they were looking for something in the area, which would explain their high numbers around the area,” Albedo said and flipped to the next page of his notes. 

“The passengers escaped with nothing more than a few bruises. However, one adventurer that had been traveling with them was seriously injured while protecting the others. We are still trying to figure out who he is and who to contact about his current condition.”

“Didn’t he carry any personal effects on him? Something that could be used to identify him?” Jean asked. Such a shame that a person who risked themselves to protect others had no one by their side.

“Not really. Any papers they might have carried were damaged beyond repair. They suffered a serious blow to the head and fell into the river during the battle. The healers at the cathedral were unsure when they would wake up.”

Jean nodded. Without any leads, there was nothing more they could do, except hope the adventurer would recover from their injuries. Yet, there was one more thing that Jean found odd about the situation. 

“But why would the Abyss order attack a random caravan?”

“Our evidence is inconclusive. Unlike hilichurls, Abyss mages are more organized and tend to avoid unnecessary scuffles. However, they have been patrolling the border for quite some time. Perhaps these ones disobeyed orders due to boredom.”

Even if blaming everything on a coincidence left a bad taste in Jean’s mouth, Albedo’s theory sounded convincing. Deeming his account of the events finished, Albedo set his notes aside. “Now that I have given my report, I have a question to ask: have the knights ever used calla lilies as a code for something?”

“Not that I recall. Windblooms maybe, but not calla lilies,” Jean answered. She presumed Albedo’s question was related to his newfound interest. “Although, I recall that back during my time as a trainee some knights used it as a nickname for someone for a short while until the cavalry captain at the time put a stop to it.” 

What Jean left unsaid was that the captain had been the current Master of Dawn winery and that the name-calling had started from his mistake in the first place. Yet, when Jean tried to remember who the nickname had belonged to, all she got was a sudden headache piercing through her head. It was so strong, it made her wince.

“Are you alright?” Albedo asked, noticing her discomfort.

“I'm fine. It's just a headache. It will go away on its own.”

“If it's a regular occurrence, you should ask a healer to check it out.”

“Yes, I know.” At least half of Jean’s recent visits to see Barbara had been medical examinations and she would rather avoid adding to her younger sister’s already busy schedule, no matter how hypocritical it was. “Does your question relate to all those flowers you’ve drawn?”

“Yes. It seems that I have forgotten something. Something related to calla lilies but I’ve yet to figure it out what. It’s as if there is a gap in my memories, but every time I get one step closer to recalling them, I forget what I was thinking of. Therefore, I’ve started making detailed notes to avoid losing progress.”

“I see. Well, I hope you find out what you’ve forgotten soon.” Jean said along with her goodbyes before letting Albedo continue with his work. She felt a bit guilty of feeling relieved to hear she was not the only one with memory issues. 

[TEA BREAK]

After the meeting it was finally time for a long awaited break, and even if it lasted only fifteen minutes, Jean desperately needed those fifteen minutes. 

She and Lisa sat around a small table hidden in a corner of the library’s upper floor. Today Lisa had chosen to brew a brand of black tea that was popular in Fontaine. Its scent which carried a hint of lemon lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of old books and ink. Jean was glad that Lisa had for once decided to indulge her with caffeine. So, she smiled as she brought the cup to her lips, slowly savoring its taste to the fullest. Her pleased expression made Lisa smile as well.   

Also, while Lisa had not been looking, Jean had pulled over a third chair, reserved solely for the fuzzy yet frustratingly persistent figment of Jean’s imagination, which was drinking tea out of an equally imaginary cup.

The silence of the empty library was abruptly broken by the sound of metal heels clanking on the hardwood floor. Just by the sound alone both Lisa and Jean could tell that it was Rosaria. Lisa asked if she would care for a cup but she declined her offer, telling them she was only there to deliver something.

“Barbara sent me to give you this,” Rosaria said while placing an envelope on the table in front of Jean. “Also, she expects you to visit her today after work.” Then she left, leaving behind two bewildered people and an astounded ghost.

Lisa recovered from the shock first. “I heard she's taken a liking to the kid from the Adventurers Guild.” 

“You mean Bennett? She doesn't look the type to take someone under her wing.”

“Yes. I’ve seen her around the training grounds with him and Razor. I guess all cryo-users act tough but are in reality big softies on the inside,” Lisa said as she flipped open a book she had brought with her. It was green with golden markings.

“You might be right about that,” Jean said, taking a sip from her cup. Then she reached for the envelope and opened it. Inside were more of the same pain medicine Barbara had previously described her. Apparently someone had tattled about her headaches to her sister and Jean had too many suspects to even start guessing who.

Luckily, Lisa knew better than to press Jean about the subject. “I might have been studying this book for too long. I’m starting to see signs of spells everywhere I look. For a moment I considered that also about your headaches.”

“Thanks for the concern but it will go away after some rest,” Jean said, chuckling softly at the suggestion. Why would anyone cast a spell on her that gave her an occasional headache?

“As I said, I’ve been studying too much. And speaking of rest, would you like to join me for a drink at Angel’s Share after work?”

“Not tonight. I promised Eula that I would rest properly.”

“In that case, you have no choice but to keep it,” Lisa laughed.

[AFTERNOON]

The last item on Jean’s schedule was to hear Amber’s statement of the accident. However, she could not find Amber anywhere. She was not in her room and she had no office of her own. Jean checked the barracks, the training ground and even the roof of the headquarters, but found no sign of her. Perhaps Amber was out on an errand. Jean stopped her search and was heading back to her own office when she passed by Sucrose’s room and heard something explode.

She knocked on the door and waited for a response. None came, so she knocked once more before she let herself in. As she did so, she was met with a cloud of smoke and saw Sucrose standing by an open window, trying to guide it out using a notebook as a makeshift fan. Apparently in her daze she had chosen that as the better option to her vision. 

Once the cloud had dissolved, Sucrose let out a sigh of relief only to stiffen up as she turned around and found Jean standing in front of her. She was visibly nervous, just like she always was in Jean’s company. Maybe a change of subject would ease her tension.

“Sorry for entering without permission, Miss Sucrose. I was just wondering if you had seen Amber recently.” 

“Oh? Oh, yes, I saw her heading in the direction of the captains' offices about thirty minutes ago.” 

“Thank you. Can I ask what were you working on just now?” Jean decided to indulge her curiosity when she saw Sucrose relax a bit. 

The question made the tips of Sucrose’s ears flutter. Like any researcher, she loved talking about her experiments, even failed ones. “I wanted to see if pyro whopperflower nectar could be used in cooking as an energizing ingredient. I hoped it would help with fatigue, but it seems to be more volatile than I had anticipated.” It appeared that Jean and Eula were not the only ones who had noticed the growing tiredness among the knights. 

“Speaking of cooking, Klee wished that you would not add spinach in her pancakes. I think the taste is too overwhelming for her.”

“Oh.” Sucrose’s ears dropped back down. “That’s a shame. She’s been looking down lately, I thought some extra vitamins might cheer her up.”

Jean leaned against the doorframe as she pondered for a moment. It was true that Klee had been downcast for a while, but she doubted it could be fixed with food. Also, according to her experience, calm activities were especially beneficial for energetic kids with pyro visions. 

“If that’s what you want, I think she might appreciate your company more than the pancakes. She has been interested in books and stories lately, so maybe you and her could read together instead.”

“Yes, that sounds good,” Sucrose replied with her ears in their normal position. “Would you happen to know which stories she might like?” 

“She likes knights, so I think the tale of the Heroic King of Khaenri’ah. It was one of my favorites as a child.”

Sucrose thanked her for the recommendation after which she returned to her work. Similarly, Jean resumed her search for the missing Outrider. 

[DUSK]

As Jean walked down the captains’ corridor, she noticed a door to one of the unused offices was left slightly ajar. She reached for the handle and cautiously peeked inside, where she found her ghost leaning against a desk. It brought a finger to its lips, asking her to be quiet, then pointed toward a corner of the room.

Jean's eyes followed the motion. At a glance the room was the same as all the other ones. It had a desk in front of a window, a large bookshelf filled with thick books, and a small sofa placed in a corner between the previous two. And on that small sofa slept Amber. She was holding in her arms a piece of clothing consisting of white fur with a bluish tint and lavender fabric with elaborate embroidery and clutching onto it like a blanket. On closer inspection it was oddly reminiscent of a Favonius uniform. 

Jean stepped closer and crouched down in front of Amber's sleeping form. She looked so young like that, hidden alone in a dark corner of an empty office. At the end of the day, even the brilliant Outrider was just a girl who needed a place to rest every now and then. 

“Amber,” Jean quietly called her name and gently placed her hand on Amber's shoulder to wake her. Slowly but surely, Amber roused from her short nap.

“Jean? Is something wrong?” 

“No. I'm sorry to wake you, but I had something to ask about the accident at Stone Gate. I heard you found something at the scene.”

“Oh, I forgot I still had it. I should have left it to the investigators,” Amber said, reaching for her bag that she had left on the floor by the sofa. From it she pulled a small leather pouch, which she handed over to Jean. “It's just that the abyss mage was tossing it around in its hands so carelessly I was worried it would break. So when it accidentally dropped, I dove right in and grabbed it. Unfortunately, that sneaky mage saw its chance to escape just then.”

“It’s alright. Thank you, Amber, for keeping it safe.” 

Jean rose up to leave, but before she had taken two steps toward the door, Amber asked her a question.

“Would you happen to know whose office this is?”

Jean paused to think. “I believe this office used to belong to the captain of the cavalry, but since the cavalry was taken by Varka to the expedition, it currently has no owner.”

“I see,” Amber absently replied, letting her eyes fall down to the mess of fur and fabric in her lap, which she had started petting like a cat. It seemed to bring her comfort.

“Like I said, this room is unoccupied, so you're free to use it if you want.”

“Really? Thank you, Master Jean!” Amber said, offering her a sleepy but wide smile.

Jean smiled back and bid her goodbye for the day. She stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed, so none would disturb Amber’s rest.

[DAY’S END]

In the evening, Jean found herself resting under the great oak tree in Windrise. At first she had planned to join Lisa at the tavern for a drink as she had asked. Yet, the moment she had opened the tavern door and seen just how packed with people the place had been, she changed her mind. She had no energy left in her to face them. Not tonight. So, before anyone could notice her, she turned around and left. She walked out of the city and felt she could breathe again. She continued until her feet brought her all the way to Windrise, where she sat between the wide roots of Vennessa’s tree and quietly watched the stars shining in the dark sky. 

As the wind brushed through her hair, a shining crystalfly landed on top of her knee to rest. Seeing the little creature drop its guard, she realized just how quiet it was. Even the ghost had vanished from her sight. She was completely alone. 

Perhaps for a little while, she too could rest, just like the little crystalfly. 

She reached for the bottle of Dandelion wine that she had stopped to pick up from her home before leaving the city. It was hardly a secret that the Acting Grandmaster of Favonius often went to Windrise to relax during the day, but none were aware of her habit of sneaking some wine with her if she went there during the night. Only those she trusted the most knew about it.

She shook the bottle a bit, hearing the liquid splash around inside. It was only half full. She wondered when she had bought it. She had no memory of doing so. It must have been over a year ago, since that was the last she had enough time for herself. Neither had she ever been a drinker, but did enjoy a glass or two shared with friends.

She pulled out the cork and took a sip. It tasted sweet. It tasted bitter. 

She leaned back until her body was completely hidden in the shadows. The wind sang softly and grass around her swayed along its tune. Her eyes felt heavier. Her breaths became softer. Slowly and quietly, she fell asleep.

Warm hand on her shoulder woke her up as a voice she knew well called out to her. Or rather, a voice she used to know well.

"Jean? Jean, are you alright?"

She opened her eyes and saw Diluc kneeling on the grass beside her. He was frowning, something he did often nowadays. Though, a hint of concern flickered through his expression.

"Are you alright?" he asked again. 

Jean straightened her posture and lifted her arms above her head to stretch them. She guessed her little nap had taken longer than it felt as her muscles had gone numb. 

"Yes, I'm alright. Sorry to worry you, Master Diluc."

Now Diluc's expression showed something different. Jean had always thought that she was good at reading people's feelings, but her once senior had changed a lot since their youth. It did not seem like disappointment. Was it irritation, perhaps? No. It was relief wrapped in awkwardness and a hint of… guilt?

"Jean, please, there's no one else here. You can drop the title," he said as he stood back up and brushed pieces of grass off his clothes. "Come now. I'll walk you back."

He offered her his hand to pull her up. She took it. Then, they began walking back to the city, side by side.

"Why were you outside at this hour? Wouldn't sleeping in a warm bed be more comfortable?" he asked after a while.

"I'll answer that if you tell me what you were doing this far from the winery in the middle of the night?" she countered.

"My staff suggested that a walk might help clear my thoughts," he stated. However, the way he chose to look anywhere else than in her general direction, revealed more than his words.

"I take it that Miss Adelinde chased you out for accidentally setting something on fire again?" Jean asked and by the speed at which Diluc's ears turned red, she knew she was right. She chuckled at the sight. At least, some things had stayed the same even after all these years.

Diluc huffed. "Well, I answered, so it's your turn. Why were you out alone?"

Jean waited a moment to answer. "I needed some time for myself, away from people. I wasn't planning on falling asleep."

Diluc nodded. He knew the feeling very well. But it did not lessen the worry he had felt. "Jean, you look exhausted. You need to stop overworking yourself."

"Yes, I've been hearing that quite often recently."

"If you don't, you’ll have more wrinkles than Varka when he finally manages to return."

"I hardly think you're any better. I met Miss Adelinde the other day, and she told me how you've been scouring through mountains of paperwork all by yourself." 

Jean took a deep breath. Maybe it was the shared struggle or the familiarity between childhood friends that made her feel as if she could talk to Diluc freely without worrying about how she might appear. For the first time in a long time, talking felt easy.

She sighed. "I guess we're both hopeless in that regard, aren't we?"

The conversation died out, but the silence that followed felt more than comforting for both of them. The two walked back to the way to the city and up the stairs to the Cathedral, where Jean had promised to meet with Barbara. Once there she stopped one of the sisters passing by to ask where she might find her. 

Yet, when turned back around to say goodbye to Diluc, she was surprised to find him standing completely still in front of a patient’s room. Its door was wide open, giving him a clear view inside it. His eyes scoured through the room. The next moment, they locked onto an unconscious man laying perfectly still on the hospital bed and Jean saw something shift inside him. One careful step after another, he inched his way closer, as if he was afraid he might wake the man from his slumber. By the look on Diluc’s face, it could not be clearer that he knew him.

"Was he someone you met on your travels?" Jean asked to break the silence.

"No.” Diluc shook his head. “I've known him far longer than that."

His hand trembled as he took hold of the man's hand. Had the room not been so dark, Jean might have even noticed a tear slip down his cheek. 

“Kaeya. His name is Kaeya.” 

Jean nodded but said nothing more. She reached for her pocket and pulled out the pouch Amber had given her earlier. She unwrapped it and pulled out a Mondstadt cryo-vision with a pair of wings missing. She set it down on a table next to its owner. Its light was dim.

They stood still in the dark room as Jean took a closer look at the stranger. He had long hair and seemed to be around her age, maybe a bit younger. Strangely, he looked somewhat familiar. A while later, Diluc let go of the hand he had been holding and sat down on a chair next to the bed. Jean sat down next to him. A minute more passed, before he could speak again. 

"Jean, would you like to hear a story?" 

She nodded and he continued.

"There once was a clever little knight."