Chapter 3: Kaeya

Kaeya was out on patrol, although there wasn't really much to be on the look out for. Instead, he used the time to ponder as he sauntered through Windrise.

All of Mond was abuzz, excitedly whispering about this new vigilante who suddenly appeared several weeks ago, protecting the streets in the dark of night. At first it was treated as an urban legend, but quickly there came to be enough sightings that even the Knights of Favonius were beginning to take an interest. After all, there was far less for the Knights to do when someone else was doing their job for them.

Not that Kaeya minded. He was happy to have the time off, spending it in the tavern while gathering intel instead. He always did his best work outside of the scope of his Favonius career, after all.

No, Kaeya wasn't worried about this new hero at all. With Grandmaster Varka gone on another one of his expeditions and having taken the cavalry with him, there wasn't much for Cavalry Captain Kaeya to do anyways.

Still, he always kept one ear tuned to all the rumours. A merchant rescued from Treasure Hoarders here, a Hilichurl camp destroyed there, Kaeya kept close tabs on all of it. As long as this dark hero didn't do anything that suggested he would threaten Mondstadt, Kaeya was quite content to let him go about his business.

Stopping to gaze upon Venessa's tree, Kaeya concluded that there wasn't much more for him to do on patrol. The first hints of sunset were beginning to tinge the sky pink, so he decided to head back to Favonius Headquarters.

Mondstadt was bustling as always, the citizens heading home and merchants closing up shop for the night. After turning in his report, Kaeya planned on making his nightly trip to Angel's Share. On a beautiful evening such as this one, it was sure to be lively at the tavern. Perfect for snooping for any loose information from drunken patrons.

As Kaeya made his way into Favonius Headquarters, he was almost instantly aware of the uneasiness within the ranks. The other Knights seemed to avoid his gaze, and he could see two Sisters whispering to each other, sneaking quick glances towards Kaeya rather indiscreetly near the library.

Brow furrowed, Kaeya was determined to get to the bottom of this. Perhaps there was news on Varka's progress. He put on his trademarked easygoing smile and strode up to Huffman and Guy, who were not-so successfully trying to pretend they hadn't noticed the Cavalry Captain's return.

"Good evening to you both," Kaeya said in a sly tone, hoping to coax some information out of the two lower ranking Knights.

"Oh! Uhh… Good evening to you too… Captain," Guy started. "We didn't see you return from patrol."

"Oh, you didn't? Well, it seems I must have missed something pretty important while I was gone."

Neither Knight would look Kaeya in the eye.

"Please, am I going to have to try to guess it myself?" Kaeya mused, giving Huffman a playful yet pointed look.

"Uhh…" Huffman seemed to deflate under Kaeya's cool gaze. "Maybe… this might be a good one for Acting Grand Master Jean to explain…" he trailed off.

Kaeya began to feel almost as uneasy as Huffman looked.

"Well, in that case, I guess I'd better find Master Jean." Kaeya gave the two guilty looking Knights a suspicious look.

As if almost on cue, Jean burst out of the library with Lisa not far behind. Jean looked more frazzled than usual, and it seemed as if the librarian was trying to calm her down.

The uneasy feeling in Kaeya's gut was growing as he wondered what could have gotten the Acting Grand Master so worried. He gave his superior a small wave, and was even more surprised to see her face pale as soon as she noticed him.

As Kaeya strode across the Headquarters, Lisa seemed to offer Jean a few more words of reassurance before disappearing back into the library.

Jean finally turned to look directly at her subordinate knight. "Uhh… Kaeya. It's… good to see you're back from patrol." She was clearly trying hard to maintain her professionalism.

Kaeya worked to maintain with his own laid-back composure. "I see the Knights are very… worked up tonight," he prompted.

"Um," Jean swallowed hard. "Maybe we should discuss this in my office." She gestured at the door, inviting Kaeya in. Whatever was worrying her, it must be big, he thought.

Jean sighed, collapsing into the chair behind her desk. She looked exhausted. Kaeya took a seat across from her, anxiously wanting to hear whatever news was awaiting him.

"Diluc's back in Mondstadt," Jean said suddenly, not meeting Kaeya's gaze.

He felt as though he'd been punched in the gut.

"I… I wasn't sure if you already knew," Jean stuttered. "We were all pretty surprised at his sudden return, there was no warning whatsoever. The vigilante rumours seem to be keeping the citizens occupied at least, but with how Diluc left and Eroch's treachery… I- I don't know, are we supposed to issue an official statement? Do we just ignore it?" Jean rambled on.

But Kaeya had already stopped listening.

Diluc's back.

Those two words seemed to shatter what was left of Kaeya's coherent thoughts. They just kept repeating over and over in his head, as if eventually they would make sense.

Diluc's back.

Kaeya tried to focus back on Jean, who was still rambling anxiously.

"…I just don't know," she sighed. "If only Varka were here, he would know what to do."

Kaeya swallowed, attempting to push down whatever feeling he felt coming up his throat.

Jean seemed to finally snap out of her frantic state, noticing the black expression on her fellow knight's face. Her own expression softened.

"Right, I'm sorry. This isn't anything for you to worry about. It's my responsibility." She glanced at the clock on the wall next to her desk. "All your duties are fulfilled for the day, so you're welcome to head home."

Kaeya gave Jean a weak smile as if to thank her, then quickly headed out of her office.

Everything felt slow and blurry as Kaeya made his way out into the cool evening. The sky was almost completely dark, and he took a deep breath.

Diluc was finally back.

Kaeya could hardly believe it. He had spent so many sleepless nights replaying the events of that awful day in his mind over and over again, holding Diluc's Vision in his hands. The dull glow that had replaced its once bright red appearance gave Kaeya some comfort. As long as the Vision glowed at all, Kaeya had to believe that his brother was still alive.

If someone forsakes their Vision before they die, then will its light ever be extinguished? Or will it glow on, the abandoned ambition not dying with its user?

These were the questions that haunted Kaeya. He found it much easier to deal with these thoughts with the help of a bottle of Dandelion Wine.

Before he knew it, Kaeya awoke from his trance and found that he was just outside of Angel's Share. Realizing who might be inside, he stopped dead in his tracks. It had been 3 years since Diluc left, and so much had changed. Kaeya now had his brother's former position in the Knights. He had hardened himself, creating the carefully constructed facade of the charming and cunning Kaeya Alberich, far unlike his confidence-lacking younger self.

What would Diluc say when he saw him now?

Kaeya took a deep breath, forcing himself to walk towards the door of the tavern. Heart pounding, he put a hand on the doorknob, taking a few more moments to work up the courage to head inside.

Slowly pushing the door open, Kaeya looked at his feet, still not brave enough to look inside. Swallowing his nerves, he turned his gaze up at the man serving drinks from behind the bar.

It was Diluc.

Although to be honest, Kaeya almost didn't recognize him at first. The now young man had his long red hair pulled back in a low ponytail, and his face seemed far more chiseled and slim than when they had last seen each other.

But was struck Kaeya the most was when the two brothers' gaze finally met. Gone was the warmth in Diluc's eyes. Despite this being their fated reunion, Diluc's face was expressionless, his gaze apathetic and cold.

Whoever this man was, it was certainly not the brother Kaeya once knew.

Another patron a little too eager to drink shoved his way through the doorway behind Kaeya, distracting him from his thoughts. When he looked back up, Diluc was already busy collecting dirty glasses.

Kaeya made his way over to the bar, attempting to look as non-chalant as possible before taking a seat.

Diluc turned around, leaning forward on the bar. Kaeya held his breath, anxiously awaiting what he would say.

"Can I get you anything?" Diluc asked flatly, his expression unchanging.

Kaeya couldn't help but let out an incredulous laugh. "What?"

Diluc blinked, still having no reaction. "This is a tavern. I'm assuming you're here to buy something to drink, rather than just loiter."

Of all the things Kaeya was expecting to feel, it was definitely not anger. But here Diluc was, after disappearing without a word for three years, treating Kaeya as if he was no different than any other drunkard.

It was beyond maddening.

"And what would you do if I was just here for the atmosphere?" Kaeya asked, his voice dripping with malice.

Diluc still wouldn't react. "Then I'd have to ask you to take a seat at one of the tables. There are other paying patrons who would like to sit at the bar," he said in the same monotone voice.

Kaeya was practically fuming at this point. After all this time, all those nights he spent awake, consumed by guilt, this was what Kaeya got in return?

"Oh? And here I thought you would want to catch up with your dear old brother, since you never sent any word suggesting that you were even alive?" Kaeya said in an accusatory tone.

Diluc simply blinked again. "I didn't think you'd care," he said matter-of-factly, before turning back around to finish washing the dishes.

Kaeya stood up suddenly, having had enough of this bullshit. Almost knocking over his stool, he stormed out of Angel's Share, angrily making his way back to his own house. Tears pricked at his eyes as he strode through the streets of Mondstadt.

After all this time, all this grief that Kaeya had suffered, did Diluc really think he didn't care?