Chapter Text
It was one mistake on patrol. One mistake that turned into multiple. Diluc clutched his wrist, having barely cleared a hillichurl camp. It was spasming out of control, as if lightning struck him despite the sky being clear. Why was he so weak? Wielding his had claymore became harder; hell, he could barely take on the fatui anymore. He was utterly pathetic; the sight of him was pathetic. His body was disgustingly weak. Scars littering nearly every inch of his skin, the whip scars that made it impossible for him to sleep on his back comfortably, the cigarette burns that still itched at night. All they did was taunt him. Remind him of his failures, of his crimes. He supposes it was only appropriate that he lost everything he cared about. His father, his brother, his friends, and himself, after all he had taken and never returned. An unsightly laugh ripped through his throat, his body trembling with the effort to stay standing. He couldn’t protect himself; how could he ever think he could protect mondstadt? So Diluc made a choice, a simple one. He pulled himself to the winery, lingering outside of Mondstadt's gates. He wondered what Kaeya was doing. If that apartment light in the distance was him. If he was happy.. But he didn’t deserve to know that; he had burned his ties to Kaeya long ago. So he turned away, and continued down the path to the winery. He pressed the door open with his shoulder, shutting it silently once he slid inside and he walked to his office, pulling out an old piece of paper that he had been keeping for far too long, at the bottom it read; inheritor of dawn winery: _______. Diluc pulled a quill from the drawer, finishing what he had been contemplating over for months. Inheritor of Dawn Winery: Kaeya Alberich; second son of Crepus Ragnvindr; Knight of Favonious. He signed it off with his signature, the one Kaeya had taught him back when they were knights. Then he took a blank sheet of paper and wrote a letter to the winery’s future. I won’t be here to limit your alcohol, but try not to put yourself out of business so soon. Your room is still where you left it, and Adelinde can acquire any furnishings you’d like. I know you probably didn’t expect this. I doubt anyone did. But in time, everyone will forget about me, and us. So you won’t have to worry about living up to their expectations; I already thoroughly broke them down for you. This letter probably doesn't make sense, but it felt wrong to leave you with nothing… again. Don’t waste funds searching for me–not that I expect you to. He tapped the quill on the end of the paper, having run out of room.. He grabbed a new one and continued, feeling tears well up in his eyes as he wrote. I know you kept my vision while I was away, so if it’s alright with you, could you watch over Dawn for me? She’ll probably try and follow me wherever I end up, but she isn't as young as she once was. I think she’d be happier retiring in Mondstadt under your care. A few stray tears fell onto the paper, smearing the ink, but the words were still clear, so he kept writing. I’m sorry, Kaeya. I wish I could have stayed and seen you grow up. I’m sorry about our fight. I accepted you as my brother years ago, when I first shared my room with you, cause you were scared of being alone. Elezer will be able to help you adjust, if you even want to run the winery. But it’s yours. The money, the house, the wine–which I’m sure you’ll be ecstatic about– it’s all yours. I have no family left, so don’t bother with a funeral. Diluc pressed his palm into his eye, trying to force back the tears that wanted to spill across the papers. I’m sorry, for more than these pages can take. You probably stopped reading a while ago, if you read these at all. But there is a journal I kept, under the counter in the tavern, it has notes about customers, advice on how to talk to snobby businessmen–who the winery commonly trades with–and everything you could need–except wine. –Diluc Ragvindr. Diluc set the papers aside, and stepped out of his office. He walked through the halls of the winery, a nostalgic smile on his face as he continued to his room. He didn’t plan on needing much, so he took a messenger bag off his coat rack and began packing. He placed small knives at the bottom, for defense.. and covered them with clothes, placing a few extra hair ties in the bag, before taking them out. They probably wouldn't see much use with him. Then he closed the door to his closet, slinging the bag across his chest with another useless attempt to clear his eyes that seemed to never stop watering. He summoned his claymore and placed it at the end of his bed, as he could barely wield it anymore. Maybe Kaeya will give it to Eula? Or perhaps a knight in training? He shook his head at the thought of it being thrown away. Diluc gave one last look at his room, and closed the door behind him. He would be gone by morning, and no one would notice his absence until all traces had been lost, and a cavalry captain receives a letter.