Written by SentryForge223
Dusk Before Dawn
Chapter I
Being penniless wasn't Fischl's business.
I mean, I AM a princess after all. This urge to consume mortal consumption is just another trite to my plans, Fischl thought to herself whilst wandering the streets with a hungry stomach. Her loyal servant was not helping her current situation, as the King of Ravens was busy munching on wild berries on her shoulder. She wishes she can be satiated by berries as well, it can solve her hunger issues, as well as save a lot of Mora. But her cursed appetite for meat was a problem.
Still, another job well done, if she can say so herself. A smug look can be spotted on her face as she marches forward to one of her loyal vassals, Catherine. Finally finished with feasting on the berries, Oz decided to stretch his wings out a bit and flew around the area, spotting any trouble that might pop up.
Fischl knew best that he was just lazy right now to translate her "royal speech" and decided to leave the transaction alone to her. Of course, such faith for his lady, Ozvaldo was confident that Fischl can inspire awe and majesty amongst the mortal dwellers of this world.
"...Can you repeat that again, please?" Catherine begged, clearly lost on what Fischl had just said. "I didn't get that quite right, I'm sorry. Did you just say that you cleared off the Ruin Guard at the Thousand Winds temple?"
"Indeed. Why the surprise, Lady Catherine? I thought one such as yourself is quite confident in my abilities." And she must as well, both her and Catherine go way long back, and is one of the few that actually understood her nature in speaking best. Though, at times, the poor woman would have trouble keeping up if Fischl decided to just mouth off her problems and frustrations.
"Um, that's great, Prinzessin," Catherine was speechless. No, she really was, as a look of bewilderedness and confusion was clearly on her face. "I mean, there was no commission for it, but I'll find something?"
Slouching was for the weak, but Fischl couldn't help it. Her shoulders sagged when she found out her extra effort of bringing in Mora was but a wasted endeavor. Great. Where can she find Mora to feed her damned mortal body?
"What about the commission we actually sent you for?"
She perked up, hearing that question. "Aha! Yes, I have brought the metal ores the Guild has requested, and brought in a little extra, as I, the Prinzessin, was feeling generous." Not really, Oz was just adamant to mine the iron ores as well with the steel ones. But she supposed Oz was right in doing so, at the very least she was compensated for her work, and in following Oz's advice.
Catherine gave a beautiful smile, and an honest one at that. "We appreciate your efforts, Prinzessin. With this, we might be able to achieve this week's quota."
That statement alone made Fischl puff out her chest in pride, because of course, she was being praised for her efforts in helping the mortals of this world. No good deed goes unrewarded. And she feels that meat shall be her feast for tonight!
"Congratulations. And thank you again! Here's five-thousand Mora."
Eh?
What?! Fischl felt betrayed. All those hours toiling away on rocks, and dealing with monsters, for little pay?! "Preposterous! I did not agree on such a dastardly notion. This outrage cannot be accepted." Crossing her arms, and giving a fearsome stare was her trick of the trade when dealing in such situations. A little patience, and she'll have her answers to such madness.
The receptionist frowned slightly, "What do you mean? Isn't this what your little bird, Oz, and I agreed upon?"
Ozvaldo von Hrafnavines, King of Ravens, and her most loyal servant BETRAYED her! That damned bird! Is this why he tried to fly away from this conversation? And as to why he was silent on the entire trip back? Fischl was starting to believe that birds and chickens actually taste good. Maybe later, for now she must burden this responsibility as a sovereign, and as a Lord to her vassals. Even if they tricked her.
"Very well, I shall accept. Tis but a humble pay for my great service to this nation." Fischl scoffed as she quickly snatched the small pouch from the poor woman's hand and left without any other word. Catherine knew that look, and prayed to Barbatos for the familiar's mercy.
According to that haunted look on the bird's face in the sky, Catherine doubts he would get any.
Diluc never really liked alcohol. It can muddle the mind and has the capacity to make a normally amiable person commit grave mistakes. This is why he drinks grape juice, non-fermented, and fresh off the fields of his winery. Though, that wasn't the only reason. He just doesn't like weird sensations in his mouth. It felt wrong, like an inequity to the masses and the principles of Monstadt's founding. Whatever, Diluc has no right to criticize a nation's love for beverages he makes.
The only reason why he still makes alcohol for the people of Mondstadt is to honor his late father's passion for sharing the joy and gifts of Freedom to the many folks of Mondstadt. If it truly brings such things, and if his father genuinely loved doing so, he won't question it. Plus, it helps him move forward.
Other than having late-night "incursions" and managing the Dawn Winery, he really has nothing much to do with his life. Not that it was empty, Adelinde and Elzer are there to look after him. At least there were people he can trust, and the good folks of the winery are like family. He would do everything to give meaning to their livelihoods and passion for the work they do. Just like his father, it was another service to Mondstadt's growing economy and national pride. Another reason to live out his life and perform his duties as Lord and Manager.
Just not for the drunkards of Mondstadt's societies.
"The things I do for Mondstadt," Diluc sighed as he witnessed the sun's fading light. It's time.
Getting up from his father's desk- his desk, Diluc decided to just continue his paperwork tomorrow. Sure, Adelinde might scold him for shirking his duties, but does she never? He really understands the worry the head-maid would display every time he would descend from the stairs and be determined to "clean house."
Not that Diluc blames her, he knows when a moment is given she would weep to long-gone memories and past recollections of good and simple times. How could he, because to say the opposite would easily make Diluc a hypocrite. He too, weeps for the simpler times. His proud father, and his caring and strong-spirited mother. Both departed this cruel world, but those who share good memories with them shall remember their deeds and passion. But faith could only be tested so much until it breaks.
The night of the incident, Kaeya told him the truth. Of how he was a spy, sent to infiltrate Mondstadt's trusted elite. Tricking the goodwill of his father, and lying to him, Diluc at the peak of his emotional turmoil, cracked under pressure and did not think clearly about what he did next. Murder was a tool, not medication. He learned that at the night of the funeral. Mistakes were made, and nothing stayed the same after that fateful night.
It was the moon that really perturbed his soul, it was unnatural as it was beautiful. Mysterious and elegant. Full of light, whilst overshadowing its darker side. Diluc never knew why he was delighted to appreciate the things he feared most. When he was small, Kaeya would always tease him in the dark to spook him. His former brother didn't know at the time, but he really was scared of the dark. His mother once told him; "The only time we can be brave is when we fear something. Bravery without fear is merely false courage."
Diluc learned to shoulder that fear and many others along with it. He grew into a man that his mother would be proud of. He only wished for her to witness it herself.
"Master Diluc, dinnertime is nearing and what meal do you wish to be served-" Adelinde hesitated to continue when she saw her master garbed in his usual outfit for "disposing of trash" late at night.
"...I'll let the kitchen staff know to fix you a late-night snack, have a good night, sir."
Diluc merely sighed, as he saw Adelinde hastily retreat from the main hall. Probably off to complain to Elzer.
The warmth of his home felt colder in recent days, and the atmosphere felt different. Since he finally returned home to Mondstadt after two years of soul searching, both Elzer and Adelinde were relieved to know he was alive and well. They had feared that Diluc might've perished. Well, he certainly didn't. His welcoming to Mondstadt was a quiet and private affair, only those who worked in the winery were invited. Even if it was public knowledge, the threat of Stormterror filled the minds of the citizens of Mondstadt.
Not that Diluc actually minded, he preferred it that way as the threat overshadowed everything else and the opportunity to re-establish his hold over the city. The knights, incompetent as they are, did not notice his grand return when he raided a treasure hoarder hideout within the city. He could have been more subtle about dealing with it, but Diluc couldn't let an opportunity to mock the knights pass by leaving the thieves tied-up and left to be displayed in the plaza of the city so easily.
It was worth it in the end, and it gleamed to Diluc of how undefended the city was. Any foe could've used the same route he did and caused a lot of damage. All in all, his return to Mondstadt was quite eventful. Diluc doesn't pride himself on these acts of vigilantism, but having the knights running around like headless chickens in broad daylight for all to witness was quite an entertaining sight. Unfortunately, the Acting Grandmaster put an end to it all and brought order back.
"The threat of treasure hoarders in the city was finally neutralized, as reports the night prior suggested as much." Those words were the official statement from Jean, clever and honest. Calming the city chatter whilst giving no perpetrator in the process. Basically, "The problem was solved, do not worry much about it." is the clear message, and Diluc found it funny how quick the knights were in implementing their story.
He never slipped then, as the knights became more aware of another player. Diluc spent countless days finding new routes and exits, just in case of any trouble.
It irked him of how easy it was to just slip in, unnoticed and undetected. A pair of knights vigilantly watched over the walls of the northern gate. And that was it. Just a pair of knights, keeping watch.
And no one else to back them up.
Diluc doesn't know whether to resist the temptation of knocking them out or let them be blissfully unaware of a shadowy presence. His presence to be exact. Garbed in his dark-brown and black sleeves beneath a tattered cloak, Diluc's sharp eyes gaze within the city through a porcelain mask with gold highlights. Crouching in a steady pose, and with his father's Delusion at hand, the Dark Knight Hero prepares to spend another night watching over the city of Mondsatdt.
Both knights -he couldn't recognize- shifted in alert as they suddenly felt a rush of wind passed through them. Diluc was used to training his body to be light and silent as much as possible. If it could trick Sneznhayan sentries, then it could easily trick the knights.
Taking a silent leap across the street, Diluc finally entered the city unimpeded. Incompetent as they are, one of the knights deigned to report their suspicions to an officer. Diluc wouldn't put it pass them to do so, considering that Jean was in charge. Proficiency within the knights doubled when he showed up, and Jean gets to display her prowess.
Too bad, Diluc faced much worse.
Jumping across rooftop-to-rooftop, the Dark Hero managed to reach a warehouse. Auspicious in looks alone, no one could be fooled that it was abandoned. Sure, there were no souls around, but the maintenance is given and the lack of dust are factors that Diluc considers suspicious.
Working in a tavern actually helps in gathering information- rumors, hearsay, and even hushed conversations in wariness all shared around with a glass of wine. Nothing escapes the loosened lips of drunkards and idiots. Charles was unaware of Diluc's true intentions at being a bartender himself. Others believed it to be a very modest approach to his business- and they were right. He does enjoy the time he works at the bar, even if he was serving drunkards and a certain cavalry captain he wished never existed.
Observing closely, Diluc noticed a wooden door- a cellar door -which was blocked by several empty crates. Clever, hiding the entrance in such a way and has easy access to those who can move the crates without problems.
Still, it proved too easy, and Diluc's honed instincts told him that something wasn't right at all.
Fate proved far too sadistic for his taste to take such a risk, but dived in nonetheless.
Whatever dark end he meets, at least he would face it head on.