Chapter 7: Kaeya
Kaeya followed the Traveller into the dark and damp domain, astutely aware of his brother's looming presence behind him.
He had to admit, he was rather shocked to find that his presence had been detected so quickly. Having received the same training as Diluc back when they were both in the Knights, Kaeya was able to take advantage of this by finding loopholes to avoid detection. Whoever this 'Quinn' was, she was certainly very skilled.
While he felt a pang of guilt at using the Traveller once again, Kaeya couldn't deny that this plan had worked better than he'd ever expected. After having followed the group all the way north past Brightcrown Mountains, he was curious to see if this 'lead' about the Abyss Order would in fact turn out.
Still, Kaeya couldn't help but antagonize Diluc a little bit along the way. It always frustrated him to no end that the wine tycoon could put on a very convincing, charismatic visage in the presence of others. But as soon as Kaeya entered the picture, he got nothing but the cold shoulder.
Soon, the dark passage turned into a large, open domain. The area was brimming with Hydro energy, and the presence of hilichurls suggested that there might be Abyss activity after all.
Their entrance was met with a chorus of "Ya?"s as the hilichurls noticed their presence. The Traveller and Diluc quickly pulled out their weapons and charged down the staircase onto the pathway below. Both Pyro and Anemo energy made quick work of the initial enemies.
Kaeya hung back, instead choosing to carefully watch Quinn's movements. She waited at the top of the staircase, intently examining the battle below. She made no attempt to join the scene, instead gazing upon it like a scientist analyzing their experiment.
A stray hilichurl berzerker tore its way up the staircase. Kaeya drew his blade in anticipation, but before he could charge, Quinn whipped out a pole arm that made quick work of the monster.
Kaeya lifted an eyebrow. "You couldn't have helped out any earlier?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same thing," Quinn replied with a cold smile.
Kaeya scowled, but for once he couldn't think of a witty response. Instead he made his way down the staircase, stepping mindfully around the many bodies left in the Traveller and Diluc's wakes.
"There should be more monsters ahead," Diluc said, staring into the large doorway that led deeper into the domain. Turning back towards the others, the red head scowled when his gaze met Kaeya's. The blue haired knight suspected that Diluc still hadn't quite gotten used to having to look slightly up at Kaeya, even if he was only an inch or two taller.
Kaeya took great pleasure in that fact, although he had to admit that Diluc still had some physical advantages over him. While Kaeya's tall and slender frame allowed him to move at greater speeds, even under the ridiculous amounts of black clothing the wine tycoon wore, he could tell that many years worth of swinging his large claymore had led to Diluc becoming quite lean and muscular.
As if in silent agreement, the group moved forward into the domain. A slight turn down another passage led them into a large open room. An Abyss Herald, likely the cause of the excessive Hydro energy, seemed to be conferring with several Mages.
Diluc prepared to charge forward, but Quinn stretched out her arm, blocking his path.
"I think we should let the Traveller handle this," she said with a mischievous smile.
"What, you're really planning on sending them in all alone?" Kaeya asked.
Quinn gave him a flat look before answering. "I'd like to see what this outlander can do. Besides, I've heard you're not a stranger to questionable tactics either, hm?"
Kaeya couldn't quite decide which was more bothersome, Quinn's playful smile or Diluc's silent agreement.
"I can handle it," the Traveller interjected, seeming to want to prove themselves.
The white-haired informant nodded. "If at any point you need assistance, we're waiting right here to step in."
The Abyss monsters seemed to finally notice the intruders' presence. The Traveller charged in, skillfully taking on the many opponents all at once. Kaeya always seemed to find himself surprised by how he underestimates the outlanders' growing power.
Despite their heroic efforts, the Abyss Herald managed to dodge the Traveller's deadly blow, hissing at its existing injuries. "Abyss Order, retreat to fight another day!" it called our to the few surviving Mages.
The Abyss forces scattered, attempting to escape in any and every direction. Finally, Diluc and Kaeya stepped in, slaying as many as they could prevent from escaping. Still, a few straggling Mages escaped along with the Herald. The group of unlikely heroes charged after them, chasing the monsters all the way out of the domain, at which point they scattered in different directions.
Both Diluc and Kaeya swore at their misfortune, then exchanged a startled look. Kaeya felt a pang of sadness realizing that they had both simultaneously said the same curse that Crepus had often muttered.
Diluc turned away quickly, leaving Kaeya alone in his nostalgia. "They've split into two groups, the Mages went East and the Herald went West," the wine tycoon pointed out.
"Time for us to split up as well, then," Quinn stated. "I'll go after the Herald with Diluc. Sir Kaeya can accompany the Traveller."
"Hold on," Kaeya interrupted. "I didn't go to all this trouble to meet Diluc's informant just for you to run off now." He still had many questions, and wasn't going to squander his only opportunity to get answers.
Quinn turned towards Diluc, lifting an eyebrow in a silent question. The red head sighed impatiently. "We don't have time for this, just let him do what he wants."
"I can handle the Mages," the Traveller offered, seeming very confident in their abilities.
"Very well, then. I guess this is where we part ways, Traveller." Quinn extended a hand, and the two shook in agreement, exchanging a friendly smile. "I hope our paths will one day cross again."
"Come on, those Mages will be getting away!" Paimon complained. And a with quick farewell, the outlander ran off into the night.
Diluc turned his cold gaze towards Kaeya. "If you're really planning on tagging along, don't get in the way," he warned, then took off running in the direction of the Abyss Herald.
Kaeya and Quinn followed in pursuit. It didn't take long for them to catch up to the trail of the wounded Herald, who they soon discovered feebly trying to heal itself in a small clearing.
The Herald sneered as it attempted to get back on its feet. "You would do well to stop meddling in our affairs, Darknight Hero," it spat, trying its best to stall.
Quinn offered Kaeya a mocking glance. "A distant relative of yours?" she asked.
Kaeya felt a familiar burning anger in his chest. He glared at Diluc, who wouldn't even look in the knight's direction. All these years, Kaeya had assumed his brother had kept his secret, since he was never chased our of Mondstadt with pitchforks as he'd expected. However, now it seemed he was wrong.
Kaeya charged forward, ready to slay this Herald at any cost. He had to dodge several Hydro attacks before he managed to impale it through the chest. The Abyss Herald fell limp off of Kaeya's blade, and he felt no remorse as it hit the ground.
He turned around, ready to confront his brother, when suddenly Quinn launched an unknown energy in his direction. Kaeya lifted his sword in defence, unsure what exactly provoked this attack. His efforts were unwarranted, however, since her attack flew past him and struck the Abyss Herald, which was apparently attempting to stab him in the back with a Hydro blade.
The energy almost instantly vaporized the Herald, which howled as it died. Kaeya stood completely still, attempting to process what had just happened. He recognized that energy, it was the same as…
The realization struck him. "You're Fatui," he sneered. He turned on Quinn, preparing for another blow from her Delusion.
He expected Diluc to do the same, but the red haired man stood completely still. The truth dawned on Kaeya, and it felt like a stab to the heart.
"You knew," Kaeya breathed in disbelief. "You knew she was a Fatuus and you still trusted her?!"
"Hm, you figured it out a lot quicker than Diluc did," Quinn remarked plainly.
"Shut up," Diluc growled, obviously still conflicted about what he should do.
"After everything that happened, after what the Fatui did to Mondstadt, to Father, you would still work with her?" Kaeya roared.
He had always assumed that Diluc hated him, but this, this wounded Kaeya in a way that he would never have expected. Even after the life they had lived together, as a family, as brothers, Diluc still refused to trust him after he told the truth about being a Khaenr'iahn spy.
And yet here Diluc was, knowingly working with a member of the Fatui.
"Why? How? How could you do this?!"
Diluc still did nothing, staying perfectly still with the same conflicted look on his face. Quinn seemed to take it upon herself to step in and explain.
"You're hardly one to talk about trust, Khaenr'iahn. How do you think Diluc got the intel about the Fatui and the Abyss' involvement with Dvalin, hm? How do you think he learned how to properly wield a Delusion? Did you ever really think he had no dealings with the Fatui whatsoever?"
"That's enough!" Diluc yelled. Anger burned in his eyes as he turned on his Snezhnayan informant. "You had this all planned out, didn't you? This is why you came in person, isn't it? You knew the Traveller was already in Mondstadt."
"Among other reasons." Quinn glared back, crossing her arms in defiance. "After all, I have to make sure my operatives aren't drinking themselves to death."
Kaeya let out a dark laugh. "Oh, Diluc doesn't drink, he only looks down upon those who do."
"Is that so?" Quinn asked, not wavering from her deadly stare at the wine tycoon.
All of Kaeya's pent up anger towards his brother seemed to finally come to a boil.
"Well, it's no wonder you push everyone way. How could you need anybody else's help, when you're working for the Fatui?"
"I'm not working for the Fatui," Diluc uttered through clenched teeth.
"Oh really? Then how could you trust this Snezhnayan spy, even after discovering she was a Fatuus? Or did you try to kill her, too, when you found out?"
Diluc stared angrily at the ground, not answering.
"You know, you should have just killed me when you had the chance. Would've made things a whole lot simpler for the both of us," Kaeya sneered.
Diluc stiffened, but still said nothing.
"I'll tell you what, since you seem to hate me so much. I'll leave Mondstadt, leave for good, and you can fraternize with as many Fatui as you'd like. That way, you'd never have to see my face ever again."
"Fine," Diluc finally muttered.
Kaeya let out a pained laugh. Some part of him had hoped that Diluc still cared, that they could one day reconcile. But really, his brother never wanted to see him again. It felt as if someone had punched Kaeya in the gut, knocking all the air out of his lungs.
"You know, it's a good thing Father didn't live to see you turn out like this. He'd be so disappointed."
As soon as those words left his lips, Kaeya instantly regretted it. As much as he wanted Diluc to hurt just as much as he was, he knew he'd crossed a line.
Something in Diluc's eyes just snapped, and Kaeya recognized that look all too well. It was the same as that night, when Kaeya try to place his hand on Diluc's shoulder after finally revealing the truth.
Angry tears instantly started pouring down Diluc's cheeks as he pulled out his claymore. Kaeya didn't even bother reaching for his own sword, having resigned to this fate. Flames danced on the blade, but rather than aiming his blow at Kaeya, Diluc redirected it towards the ground, plunging his claymore into the earth. Fire spread rapidly on the grass, and the red haired man collapsed onto his knees.
Nobody moved for what seemed to be an eternity. Diluc breathed heavily, his hands still gripping the hilt of his blade.
"…You're right," the former knight finally muttered, before turning around and stomping off into the night.
