Chapter 1: Diluc

Diluc sat alone in Dawn Winery. Perhaps everyone left to allow him to grieve, or maybe they left to grieve themselves.

Looking down at the strange weapon in his hands, Diluc couldn't help but wince at the sight of his father's blood staining his clothes. Continuing to stare into space, a million thoughts raced through his head.

Diluc's father was dead. Dead. Some part of him still couldn't process it. Everything happened so fast. What was supposed to have been Diluc's 18th birthday had spiralled into a blur of painful emotions. He could hardly remember quitting the Knight of Favonius. All he could remember was his rage. Anger. Betrayal… and his sadness.

Diluc felt as if in one day, everything had been taken away from him. His father. His career. His aspirations.

The knock on the Winery door sounded so distant, he almost didn't answer it. He didn't want to speak to anyone. All he wanted was his father back.

Reluctantly, Diluc stood up, every movement feeling slow and sluggish. He made no effort to clean the dried tears from his face. Taking one last glance at the short note he left on the table, he turned around. His limbs felt so heavy as he dragged himself to answer the door.

Outside, soaked by the still pouring rain was Kaeya Alberich. For the first time since their father's death, Diluc felt a pang of hope. He wanted to collapse into his brothers arms, to grieve their father together… But the expression on Kaeya's face stopped him. It almost seemed as if Kaeya was nervous.

The two brothers hadn't seen each other since… Diluc didn't even want to think about it anymore. They both just stood there, staring at each other in the rain. The sight of Kaeya, still in his Knights' uniform, felt like a stab in the heart.

Finally, Kaeya opened his mouth to speak. "Diluc… I need to tell you the truth."

Although Diluc could hear the words coming out of his brothers mouth, they made no sense. It felt as though the world was spinning. Talk of 'duty to his people', Kaeya's biological father, and Khaenri'ah… It became too much for Diluc. As his vision blurred once again, there was only one thought echoing in his mind…

Why is he telling me this now?

The world seemed to fade away as Kaeya continued speaking, the same question repeating in Diluc's head over and over again. He didn't even notice when Kaeya stopped talking, opting only to look at the red haired boy, anxiously awaiting a response.

A hand on his shoulder awoke Diluc from his trance. Finally, he looked Kaeya in the eye, only to find that he couldn't recognize his brother anymore. Suddenly the tears came, pouring down Diluc's face, mixing with the rain. Now, only one word echoed through his mind.

Traitor.

Everything they'd been through together… was it all just a lie?

The apathetic pain was suddenly replaced by red hot anger. Swatting Kaeya's hand off his shoulder, Diluc drew his blade, flames sizzling across the shaft. He swung his claymore with all his force. Kaeya, caught completely by surprise, attempted to dodge Diluc's blade, but ended up getting struck on his shoulder. Yelling out in pain, Kaeya stepped back.

Quite literally blinded by rage, Diluc swung his claymore again and again. Teeth clenched, tears still streaming down his face, Diluc allowed the power of his Pyro Vision to flow through his blade. Kaeya, still stumbling backwards, was forced to draw his sword to block the attacks.

"Diluc, wait-!" Kaeya cried, desperately trying to get through to his brother. But Diluc couldn't hear him.

Finally, Kaeya found his foothold, the two brothers blades meeting with a loud clash. As they struggled against each other, Diluc leaned in, spitting out one word:

"Traitor."

With that, the older brother managed to push the younger to the ground. Kaeya fell into mud and grass, watching as Diluc swung his flaming blade above his head, preparing to deal the final blow.

Then, something unexpected happened. When Diluc's blade met Kaeya's, an icy power fought against Diluc's flames, pushing him back. Completely bewildered, Diluc attempted to process was happened. Breathing heavily, he looked down at his younger brother once again. Something was glowing in his left hand. A Vision. A Cryo Vision.

Finally, Diluc saw the look on Kaeya's face. He was afraid. Afraid of him. Kaeya's wound smouldered on his shoulder, and the two brother's locked eyes. The same word echoed through Diluc's mind, only this time with a different meaning.

Traitor. Diluc was the traitor.

Horrified, he dropped his claymore, the flames extinguishing in the rain as it fell. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to do. All he could see was his younger brother, wounded on the ground. Wounded by him.

Looking down at his own Pyro Vision, Diluc couldn't help but wonder if this was all a cruel joke. His father dies on his eighteenth birthday. Then he discovers Kaeya had been lying about his identity and purpose in Mondstadt their entire lives, and in a fit of rage, Diluc nearly killed him. Now his younger brother lay injured in the rain, having just received a Cryo Vision. It was almost poetic.

There were no words Diluc could think of that could fix what he'd just done.

Instead, Diluc grabbed his vision and slammed it to the ground next to his fallen claymore. Then he turned and ran. He ran as far and as fast as he could. He had no idea where he was going, all he knew was that he had to get away.

Away from Mondstadt.

Away from the Knight of Favonius.

Away from his brother.

Tears still streaming down his face, Diluc didn't even notice that the weapon that had killed his father was still in his pocket.