Prologue: Crepus

It was a calm and clear night, the moon hung high and every individual star in Teyvat's night sky was visible. Most of the Dawn Winery staff had been sent home hours ago, save for Crepus Ragnvindr and his head maid. Adelinde busied herself upstairs, tidying the winery, while Crepus nursed a glass of dandelion wine in the lobby, his leg bouncing impatiently.

The red haired man glanced at the grandfather clock, anxiously awaiting the stroke of midnight. Taking another sip from his glass, he sighed and instead fumbled with the stack of papers sitting on his lap.

A creak of the front doors opening caught his attention. A cloaked figure slipped inside and made their way over to where Crepus was sitting. Suddenly, the clock finally struck twelve, startling the older man, but the unknown figure paid no notice to the chimes. Setting aside his papers and half-empty glass of wine, Crepus stood up to greet his guest.

"You're right on time," Crepus said with a welcoming yet nervous smile, gesturing for the other person to take a seat across the low table from him.

"I generally make an effort to be punctual with my clients," the cloaked figure said in a teasing tone.

Through the low fire light, Crepus could now glance under his guest's hood, noticing the face of a fairly plain looking young woman. Still, as the crackling flames of the fireplace reflected in her eyes, he could tell that there were many years worth of knowledge and experience hidden behind her easy-going smile.

The two sat down, ready to start talking business.

"I take it those are for me?" the girl straightforwardly asked, waving her hand towards the pile of papers.

Crepus couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her bluntness. "Yes, these are all of Dawn Winery's transaction records from the years that were asked for." He handed her the stack, allowing her to quickly glance through and make sure every piece of data was accounted for.

The girl hummed as she skimmed through the records. "Though these are technically private business documents, I'm still not sure how they could be of such high value to you… Unless you're planning on selling them to a competitor." Crepus asked cautiously.

The cloaked woman turned her gaze back to Crepus, offering another teasing smile. "Not to worry, these aren't to be sold to any other wine tycoons, or anyone for that matter. A lot can be deciphered from people's large purchases of alcohol."

"Well in that case, everything should be in order." Crepus drew in a breath, preparing himself to ask his next question. "And I trust you've brought my payment as well?"

The girl's face suddenly turned somber, as if she was in great confliction about what to say next. "Yes, though I urge you to listen carefully to my warnings."

Crepus leaned forward in anticipation. "Of course."

"There are many other ways that I could repay you for your information. Antiques, artifacts, even more information. Are you certain this is the payment you desire?"

"There is nothing other I could ask for," Crepus assured her.

The young woman sighed, suddenly looking older, far beyond her years. She reached into her dark cloak, pulling out a small wooden box. Opening it, she set the box on the table, turning it towards Crepus. Inside was a black fingerless glove, with a faintly glowing gem fixed on top.

The older man's eyes widened. "Are you certain this is a genuine Fatui Delusion?" The girl nodded somberly. "The weapon of the Harbingers…" He let out a breath, reaching out to touch the gauntlet.

The cloaked woman pulled the box slightly out of Crepus's reach. "I know there are many rumours you must have heard regarding Delusions. First, tell me what you know."

Crepus let out an impatient sigh. "Delusion are like counterfeit Visions, though I hear they are far more powerful."

"That power comes at a great price," the girl warned, a deadly serious expression on her face. "Unlike Visions, Delusions are not granted by the grace of the gods, they are created in spite of them. The energy they hold is unstable, and extremely dangerous. Even if you are able to wield this weapon with few side effects, there is no guarantee you will always be able to control its power."

Crepus looked back at his guest, trying his best to match her seriousness. "I understand the risk."

"Do you?" she asked in an accusatory tone. Sighing heavily, she continued. "Before we complete our transaction, I must ask you what you plan to do with this Delusion. After all, I cannot have this weapon falling into the wrong hands."

"I have no desires to do ill to anyone." Crepus stated honestly. "As you can see, I am not a Vision-bearer. I have never been favoured by the gods. My sons, however, have succeeded in every way that I have not. I fear that there is nothing more that I can give to them, or teach them."

"If I can master this weapon, then perhaps I will be able to protect my family in ways I could not in the past. When my boys come of age, I will pass this on to them."

"That's a very dangerous gift," the young woman cautions, raising an eyebrow. "What makes you think that you, let alone your two children, will even be able to wield such power?"

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for my family," Crepus says earnestly. "My eldest, Diluc, is my pride and joy. The youngest Cavalry Captain in Knights of Favonius history. He's a passionate young lad, and I don't doubt his abilities one bit."

"Though we are not related by blood, my dear Kaeya works ever so hard to live up to his brother's reputation. Though he so far lacks the confidence to stand in his own right, I have no doubt that Kaeya will also become one of the greatest of knights."

The girl let out another heavy sigh. "I suppose there is no dissuading you." Pushing the box towards Crepus, she reluctantly resigned to this outcome. "I am entrusting this weapon into your possession. Use it wisely, for if I hear that a Delusion is being used for questionable purposes, I won't hesitate to take it back."

"I understand. Thank you." Crepus offers her a grateful smile.

Now that the transaction was over, the young woman stood up, straightening the papers in her hands. With one last reluctant look at the Delusion, she offered Crepus a pleasant farewell. Watching her leave, Crepus couldn't help but notice the glint of a gemstone peaking out of her cloak. A Vision? Or perhaps...

As quickly as she had arrived, she was gone. Looking out the window, the red haired man could see no trace that his guest was ever even there.