Episode 2: Emergence
On a tiny island somewhere off the coast of Mondstadt, a lone man stood on a rocky cliff. The sun was still dyed orange as it slowly began to rise from the blue waves. A warm ocean breeze rustled the man's blue hair as he gazed straight ahead, unblinking. Spring was already in full swing, but he paid no attention to the natural beauty surrounding him.
"Still nothing, huh?" he mused to himself.
The object of the man's gaze was a place where something had once been, but no longer was. A place of utmost importance to him and his brother, and even the entire world. That portal to the depths would never accept another visitor again, it seemed. No matter how many times Kaeya checked it, it was always the same story: there was simply nothing there - as if nothing had ever been there to begin with. With his brow furrowed, Kaeya turned away from the scene.
"…I hope this was worth it, brother."
Opening Theme: SECONDWALL - 君の世界を
The bright morning sunlight poured through the large bay windows of the Goth Grand Hotel's Penthouse Suite, drawing Diluc back to the world of the living again. When his eyelids cracked open, the first thing he saw was long, pretty purple hair, delicately spread across his broad chest.
"So you're finally awake, huh? Thought you were going to sleep all day," she chuckled, smiling gently up at him.
His head was still fuzzy from a sore lack of sleep, so it took Diluc a few seconds to get his bearings again, but he finally managed a half-decent response.
"Well, you did keep me up pretty late."
"Yeah right. You were the one traipsing around in the dead of night while I slept, weirdo."
"You knew what you were getting into," he countered, then wrapped her up tight in his arms. "Too late to run now."
"Like I'd want to," she replied, returning his embrace.
"Good. Now we should probably get the day started."
"Right. I'll go get dressed."
As Keqing headed to the bathroom to get ready, Diluc quietly slipped out of the room. As soon as he was outside, his demeanor changed from calm, loving husband to something else: a persona he had honed over years of late night escapades and battles unknown to anyone but him.
Now, where are those two hiding?
Diluc didn't want to push his luck, but he knew he had to scope out the situation before Keqing ever set foot outside that room. He couldn't take any chances with that guy around.
But to his surprise, he found the hotel to be completely unremarkable that morning. No signs of the previous night's encounter remained, so much so that Diluc almost questioned whether he had just dreamed it all.
Guess he wasn't lying, he mused.
Jogging back up the stairs, he re-entered the room well before Keqing had finished getting ready.
Meanwhile, in the basement below, another clandestine meeting was taking place, unbeknownst to Diluc.
"Yaaaaawn… Damn, I'm tired," a brown-haired young man grumbled, laying his head on his arms.
"That's no good, you'll age prematurely if you don't get a proper night's sleep," an angelic-looking woman replied sweetly.
"Just who do you think is responsible for my lack of sleep?" Childe muttered, glaring at her.
"Alright, enough, you two," the man called "The Rooster" said, shutting down any further argument.
"Right. I have something important to say, after all," Damselette said, standing up from her seat at the table.
Everyone's attention went to her as she began to speak.
"I don't have any hard evidence yet, but I have reason to believe that a young man called Diluc Ragnvindr might be someone to keep an eye on."
Childe felt his stomach twist into a knot at those words.
"Huh? Who the hell is that?" Arlecchino spat out.
"A young man with red hair. The only born son of Crepus Ragnvindr: the former owner of Dawn Winery.
"Crepus? That's a name I haven't heard in a while," Pulcinella offered his input.
"And the brand-new husband of one Lady Keqing of Liyue as well," Damselette continued.
Childe sat silently, glowering at the woman doing the talking. When she noticed, she simply grinned at him widely, making his skin crawl.
"That's all I can say for now, but keep an eye out for him. I believe he may know more about this "event" that the good doctor so kindly informed us about," Damselette finished gracefully.
"Right. Got it," Arlecchino said, standing up to leave. "I see The Jester decided not to grace us with his presence this morning."
"He left to meet Dottore. He told me to inform all of you that we shall gather back here before the clock strikes midnight," Damselette gestured towards the grandfather clock at the end of the room, which was ticking away even then.
"Can't you just say it normally?" Childe growled, standing to leave.
With one last piercing glance at that winged woman, he left the room.
The remaining Harbingers dispersed, each heading to do their own thing until the meeting. This loosely-knit group was always like this when there wasn't a leader around. In fact, it was a miracle that even this many of them had managed to gather for one purpose.
Before Damselette could leave the premises herself, though, she was met by someone at the basement door. The man stretched out one arm, leaning against the wall and blocking her way up the stairs.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Childe said, his face twisted in anger.
"Oh? Was there something wrong with what I said~?" she replied coquettishly.
"Stop talking like that, it's disgusting. You know what you did. I thought you said you'd leave that guy alone?"
"That's how I normally talk, though? And I made no promises. That young man might turn out to be much more interesting than you, after all. Something tells me he knows something rather important."
"Yeah, because you eavesdropped on a private conversation. This has nothing to do with you."
"I'm very sorry, Childe, but if what he said is true, then there is absolutely no way I'm leaving it alone. Now, I have things to attend to. Goodbye."
Childe just watched as that woman ducked under his arm and strode calmly up the stairs. He couldn't bring himself to stop her. After all, he wasn't sure why he was defending Diluc, or even what the hell was going on at all. Nothing made sense. He shook his head, climbing back up to his room to get some much-needed rest.
The young married couple made quick work of checking out of the hotel, accepting the gracious congratulations of the owner on the way out. They stepped out onto the cobblestone streets of Mondstadt City once again, shielding their eyes from the bright mid-day sun.
"What a lovely day," Keqing said, her manners as impeccable as ever.
"Sure is. Let's go find something to eat."
Hand in hand, the pair headed towards the square. As they walked along, nearly every person that passed by offered their congratulations. It seemed that everyone in the city already knew about Diluc's new wife, to his chagrin.
Well, in a place like this, it'd be more strange if they didn't know, Diluc mused.
Taking their seat, they ordered a quick meal at Good Hunter to hold them over until they made it back home to the mansion.
Diluc smiled as he watched his wife daintily munch away at her bowl of Goulash. Her refined demeanor was so charming, no matter what she did - even more so when he considered the other side of her that the public didn't get to see. His heart was so full, it felt like it was overflowing.
"Well, well, if it isn't the newlyweds," a silky voice effortlessly demolished Diluc's joyful moment.
"Damn it, Kaeya. Can't you take a hint?"
"Oh, so that's what you meant when you were shaking your head vigorously at me? Sorry, I don't do hints too well."
"Seems like you just did, asshole."
"Anyway, this is my city too, you know. Can't just stop going about my daily routine. Some people can't afford to traipse about without a care in the world like teenagers in love," Kaeya sneered.
"Hey, don't be jealous, 'brother'!" Keqing sarcastically said, sticking out her tongue afterward like she had tasted something disgusting.
As Diluc watched this light-hearted scene, he remembered something very important. He stood, grabbed Kaeya's shoulder, and pulled him towards the corner of the restaurant, beyond the range of any prying ears.
"Sorry Keqing, give me a second with this guy," Diluc said apologetically, looking back at his very confused wife, who had stopped her spoon inches away from her open mouth.
Once they had slipped into the nearby alley, Diluc finally spoke up again.
"Kaeya, you guys need to keep an ear to the ground. The Fatui are in town."
"Huh? Ah, yeah, that's pretty normal. You should know that. Is that why you dragged me over here?"
"Not just any Fatui. Harbingers. Several of them."
Kaeya reached for his chin, holding it between his finger and thumb.
"Hmm. Now that isn't normal."
"No shit. Also… the guy that killed Keqing is one of them, and he's here."
Kaeya's eyes widened for a second, and his face grew serious.
"I see. I'll inform Jean and the Knights to be on high alert."
"Thanks," Diluc said, looking rather strained.
"You'd better get back to your wife now, pal," Kaeya said, gripping Diluc's shoulder firmly. "Try not to worry too much about it. I'm sure nothing will happen."
Diluc nodded, then looked up at the clear blue sky above.
"I hope you're right."
Nearby, a figure as fleeting as a ghost disappeared into the shadows. No, perhaps "disappeared" isn't accurate, as that figure had never appeared to begin with.
Red hair, huh? Looks like he knows about us, too. That crazy bitch must be on to something after all.
The Knave made her way through the backstreets of Mond, avoiding any other living beings along the way. She was lost in thought, mulling over what she had just witnessed in that alley.
Who's this wannabe pirate, though? Seems like he might be someone who would know something about that redhead…
Arriving at some sort of conclusion, she disappeared again, blending into the city without a trace.
At the nearby headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, the Cavalry Captain burst through Jean's office door, clearly out of breath. The wooden door slammed the wall as he rushed her desk.
Taken completely off guard, Jean almost leapt out of her skin, scooting her chair back with the screeching sound of hardwood scraping on itself.
"Kaeya?! Wh-What's wrong?" Jean stuttered, then grew quiet when she saw the look on that man's face.
He wasn't serious often, and when he became like this, she had learned to pay attention.
"Bad news. Several Fatui Harbingers are in town. Not sure about the details, but Diluc looked pretty shaken up."
"I see. You don't look so great yourself," Jean trailed off.
"Ran… all the way here," Kaeya breathed out as he took a seat nearby.
"I'll inform the Knights immediately," Jean said, slipping into her work mode.
"Good. Also… I probably shouldn't say this… but apparently the guy who… killed Keqing before is here," Kaeya said quietly.
Jean's eyes flew open, then she stared down at her desk in consternation.
"B-But that doesn't make sense… surely it's just a coincidence…"
"Maybe, maybe not. We can't take any chances. We still don't even know how the hell this whole thing works, anyway. I mean seriously, is this a whole new world or just the same one from before? I haven't said much until now for his sake, but this whole thing is unnerving."
Kaeya gave a voice to that nebulous feeling that they had felt ever since the Reset, a special feeling reserved only for those who knew.
Jean could only agree. They knew far too little about the miracle that had taken place back then. It had been such a sudden revelation, almost like some deus ex machina that had long been planned in the background, unbeknownst to them. It bothered her too, for reasons that went beyond the hideous jealousy she hid away in a dark corner of her heart.
"Yeah, but then again, things seem to be okay so far… We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves."
Kaeya took a deep breath, finally taking his own advice that he had carelessly given to his brother earlier.
"You're probably right. Still, I'm upping my patrols, and I suggest the guards be informed likewise."
"Already on it," Jean said, standing to her feet.
As Kaeya watched her leave, he just couldn't shake the ominous feeling in his chest. That feeling wouldn't leave him, even as he patrolled the darkened streets of Mond late into the night.
That night, long after the sun had taken its well-earned rest for the day, a shadowy group was gathering at a certain location. That god-forsaken place showed no signs of life, as usual, but to those who could discern the world beyond the physical, that lonely corner of the world was rife with intrigue.
For that reason, six figures stood on a small cliff overlooking a semi-circular reef off the coast of Mondstadt. Each wore similar attire: a long, light-gray winter coat accented by dark fur. The sound of the waves crashing against rocks was suddenly interrupted by a snide male voice.
"There's nothing here. You sure about this, Doctor?"
"I'm more than sure, I'm certain. This is where that energy radiated from. No, still is radiating from."
"So what's the big deal? All this shit about "energy" and "radiating" makes no sense. Why drag the rest of us out here for this?" a short-haired woman crassly responded.
Il Dottore sighed, holding his head in his hand.
"I know you are anxious to get back to experimenting on young children, Knave, but please try to keep up. While I was working on a certain other 'project' of mine, my tools detected something very strange. This pulse of energy was unlike anything I've seen in years. It is almost certainly the leftovers of a cataclysm-level event, one that seems to have happened surprisingly recently."
Childe furrowed his brow, looking uncomfortable as he listened to the doctor's monologue. Meanwhile, Columbina was grinning knowingly, as if she already knew a lot more than she should have. That attitude of hers irritated Childe even more.
"I wouldn't have gathered you all here if this wasn't important," Pierro boomed, calling the group into order. "Dottore has informed me that he believes this to be the work of a god. The power released was on such a scale that nothing else makes sense."
"A god? You mean an Archon?" Childe queried, remembering his time with another Archon in Liyue.
"No, something even greater," Il Dottore responded, his smooth voice low and serious.
"I would have to agree with the good doctor," Columbina said, smiling gently. "The veil is quite thin here."
"Alright, but what of it? This place is barren now," Childe replied, gazing distastefully at the sharp rocks that made up the base of Musk Reef.
"Yes, you are correct. But in the past, who can say what happened here? That is what we must discover," The Doctor murmured.
"Indeed. This is of utmost importance to us. The new world we desire has no place for such principalities meddling with our lives. For now, we may have reached an impasse, but Il Dottore has a plan. Don't you, Doctor?" The Jester gestured to the man on his right.
The masked man nodded, his lips curling into a sadistic grin.
"Give me a few weeks. She will reveal everything soon enough…"
Ending Theme: satella feat. Sennzai - Reincarnation
As the eclectic group parted ways, the beautiful winged woman's smile grew even wider. She took to the skies, soaring like a bird above the black waters off the coast of Mondstadt. The cool wind buffeted her, and she turned on her back, floating like a swimmer being carried downstream. As she gazed at the stars above, she began to speak, with no audience there to hear her words.
"I know what you're up to, Dottore. Too bad, though. Who needs to dredge up the 'memories of the world' when we have a first-hand witness?"
"Isn't that right, Mr. Ragnvindr?"
Next:
Episode 3: In the Shadow of Night