Ch. 16 – Traitor's Gambit
"What do you know about delusions, Master Ragnvindr?"
Kaeya strains his ears the moment he hears that question. He opens the door a bit more so there's a thin line of light from the tavern coming through the crack. Although he can't see what's going on downstairs, he stares down where he knows the two men are. All he needs to do is listen.
Two cups are set against the bar as Crepus pours himself and their guest a drink. Kaeya doesn't blame him for wanting one. He wants one, too. "I've heard of them before," he replies. "I was told that they're fake visions."
"I'm impressed you know that," Il Dottore answers. One of the mugs slides on the counter and is caught in a gloved hand. "Where ever did you learn of it? That is classified information."
Crepus hums through his drink. "I have my ways." He sets his mug down, letting it hit the bar with a soft thunk. "And if I'm not mistaken, you Fatui came to me first talking about them. Why would you offer one to me? I am just a humble businessman."
Clothes shuffle as the doctor moves. "You have my sympathy. Nothing more than that."
"Your sympathy?"
"Indeed. Word has it you were rejected from the Knights of Favonius countless times, despite being in perfect physical shape and sound of mind." He swirls his drink and takes a sip. "Why would that be?"
Crepus' voice is hard as he replies, "That is no concern of yours."
Dottore doesn't immediately reply and sets his mug down as well. "Very well." Kaeya can hear the smirk when he adds, "I also heard of that unfortunate attack on your children not once, but twice. Had you a vision, you would not have had to rely on your son to protect you. A delusion is a worthy replacement."
There's a brief pause and Kaeya forces himself not to open the door to peer down and see what they're doing. He strains his ears when he hears a light rustle, almost like a bunched-up piece of paper being moved. An envelope, maybe? "What is this?" Crepus asks.
"As you said earlier, you did not expect this meeting to happen today or at your tavern. This is a different location where we may reconvene at your leisure. I will be there for a few days before I must return to Snezhnaya." He can hear the smile that's most likely gracing his face. "After all, it would be best to speak in more detail without any prying ears."
Kaeya stiffens. Even though there is a barely-open door and a thick floor between them, it feels like Dottore's eyes are locked onto him. He tightens his grip on the guidebook and quiets his breathing as though the harbinger could hear him like he's standing right outside the door. He might as well be, with how he knows he's also there.
The stool the doctor is sitting in moves again as he gets up. "I must attend to other matters now. I hope you find that location with ease."
"Then why did you come here today? To tell me to meet somewhere else, like your friend and I have already discussed?" Crepus sounds annoyed although it is laced with guarded curiosity. "I'm sure both of us do not like our time being wasted."
Dottore chuckles, but he doesn't sound like he's taken any offense as he says, "I merely wished to see something for myself. I got my answer and my curiosity is satisfied for the time being." His heels hit the ground as he makes his way to the door. "I hope to see you soon, Master Ragnvindr. This is not an offer we do not make to just anyone." The door opens. "Do give my regards to your son. He is a special child."
Kaeya doesn't move as the door closes and is immediately locked again. His eye is wide with shock. He knows he didn't mean Diluc. His heart feels like it's in his throat, his eye wide as he stares out the crack of the door.
He knows.
He shakes his head. No—no, that's impossible. He hasn't told a soul about what happened to him except for Dainsleif, and he highly doubts the strange man would be working with the Fatui, much less give sensitive information to the harbingers. But how do they know who he is? He doesn't understand. Things aren't adding up. He's missing something, but what is it?
"Kaeya, you can come down again," Crepus calls from the first floor.
It startles him out of his thoughts. He pushes the door open and looks down, seeing Crepus standing at the bar again. "Are you all right?" he asks and quickly starts to make his way down the stairs.
"I am fine." He puts a piece of paper in his pocket. "It's best if you go home and rest. I will be here longer than I expected today."
He frowns and shakes his head. "You're going to go to wherever Dottore told you to meet him, aren't you?" Silence meets him. Kaeya's eyebrow twitches when he doesn't get an answer. He's warned him already, this is not a good idea. "You shouldn't go. Whatever the terms are, it is not worth the sacrifice."
Crepus takes the two mugs off the counter and puts them into the sink behind him. "What decisions I make is none of your concern, Kaeya. You do not need to worry about me. I can take care of myself."
He snorts. "Well, you're making a really dumb decision."
His eyes shoot at him and narrow. "Kaeya," he says in a warning tone.
Kaeya knows he shouldn't be talking to Crepus like this, but he has to get through to him somehow. Diluc must have inherited his thick skull from him. "You know I'm right." He sighs and his arms drop to his sides. "A delusion is not worth it."
Crepus' eyes soften a little, but he looks away to dump out the little liquid that is left in the mugs. He's silent as he washes them and finally lets out a long sigh after he's done. "I cannot rely on my ten-year-old son to protect me from monsters, Kaeya. If a delusion can help me protect the two of you, then I will take it."
"It's not—"
He interrupts him as he says in an almost sad and gentle voice, "When you have children of your own someday, you will understand."
But he does understand. He's fought with Bennett and Mika at his side many times, even Klee has been there. He knows the worry that shoots through him every time he had to rely on any of them. He understands the helpless feeling of relying on a child, but he also loves the proud moments every time they fell an enemy or when Klee and Bennett get rid of a cryo mage's shield for him.
He can't tell Crepus this. It's for his safety, at least until everything is solved. However, he's not entirely positive that will ever happen.
Crepus looks back at him. "For now, like I said, it's best if we get you home. I'll have someone escort you back to the manor. I need to stay here."
Kaeya has a feeling he doesn't want to face him. Is it out of shame? He understands that, too. It doesn't mean he would ever want to work alongside a Fatuus, much less one of their harbingers. "Please don't go, Father. Please don't make me watch this happen again." His voice is quiet, almost begging. Listen to me. Please, listen!
Crepus shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Kaeya." His adoptive father doesn't sound apologetic and the determined look on his face makes Kaeya's heart drop.
Nothing he says will change his mind. Even after his many warnings and pleas, he will still go to Dottore and he will still obtain the delusion. Frustrated, he slams the guidebook onto the counter. "Fine, don't listen to me. Go get yourself killed. See if I care," he snaps. He turns around and makes his way to the front door.
Crepus' eyes go wide with shock. "Kaeya!" he says sharply.
Kaeya ignores him and throws the door open. He doesn't care that it slams against the tavern wall with a loud bang. "I'll find my own way home." He has enough sense to close it behind him and runs out into the rain with an angry frown on his face.
No one stops him as he runs away from the tavern. Not the two knights he storms past nor any of the shopkeepers that are out in this awful weather. He stops before he turns another corner to go down a very familiar path and freezes as he looks down the road.
No, this isn't home anymore. He doesn't have his own little house in the city, he isn't neighbors with the friendliest little old lady in town. This isn't his home, not yet.
He takes a deep breath in and then lets it out slowly to calm his racing heart. "Right…" he mumbles under his breath. He came this way out of habit. Whenever he left Angel's Share after an argument with Diluc, he always went home the same way. Now, home is a long walk away and in a rainstorm like this, he's more inclined to wait for Crepus to be done for the day and take the carriage home.
The winery is his home now, with Diluc and Crepus. Adeline and Elzer, too. He can't imagine what any of them would think of him if they knew what he'd said to Crepus and immediate regret fills his heart.
He shouldn't have run out of the tavern like that nor spat out the words he said to Crepus. He really doesn't want to see his adoptive father get himself killed by using the delusion. He doesn't want to be angry at him anymore.
With a reluctant last look at what used to be (will be? He doesn't know what it is anymore.) his home, he turns around and trudges back toward the tavern. He already knows he's most likely going to be in trouble, but it's worth it if Crepus would just listen to him and take him seriously. Would he believe him if he told his adoptive father he remembered his past life? No, he'd most likely call him crazy or tell him it is just a bad dream.
No matter. He'll figure out how to keep Crepus away from Dottore. Hopefully it won't take much. He reaches Angel's Share in record time, jogging the entire time until he sees the extremely familiar building.
He doesn't take another step towards it when he sees what's going on in front of it. His eye goes wide when he sees Crepus. The man's own eyes spot him immediately and he looks relieved… despite being flanked by the two knights he'd run past.
What's going on? "Father?" he asks and runs toward them. "What's happening?"
"Kaeya, you need to go home," Crepus says urgently. The two knights don't stop him as he tugs his arms out of their grasp and kneels to his level, not caring about the rainwater soaking his pants.
Kaeya's gaze lands on the manacles that bind his arms in front of him, and he shakes his head. Why is he being arrested? What is going on?
Crepus puts a hand on his shoulder and it forces him to calm his breathing. "Charles will be here soon. Tell him to take you home and to keep the tavern closed. Do not listen to anyone else, do you hear me?"
He ignores his words and glares at the two knights. "Why are you arresting him?" he demands. "He hasn't done anything!"
"Kaeya, don't argue with them."
He turns his attention back to Crepus. The man's eyes are steady and sure, confident in whatever is happening. He calms down enough to realize that Crepus has a plan. What that is, he has no idea. Did he know this would happen?
He wants to ask him, but he also knows that anything he says right now to him, the knights would hear him. He doesn't know how loyal they are to Mondstadt or if they're on Eroch's side.
His thoughts come to an abrupt halt.
Eroch.
This is his doing, isn't it? No one else would do something like this. If this is because Crepus has been meeting with the Fatui, and two harbingers no less, then he will most likely be able to talk his way out of this. Master Varka will probably listen and believe Crepus more than Eroch.
Crepus has witnesses when Pantalone came into Angel's Share. An entire tavern full. Kaeya included. They would all say that there was no humble or kind greeting between either party.
Kaeya is also a witness when Dottore came in today, and both times Crepus hadn't expected them. It's not like he's the one reaching out to them. What is Eroch's plan? Why is he targeting Crepus? He's missing important details. He doesn't like not knowing things. It's making him anxious and he wants to shrivel under the two knights that stare at them and hide behind Crepus.
He nervously eyes the guards and Crepus forces him to turn his attention back to him by gently putting a hand on his cheek. "Wait inside the tavern until Charles comes. He should be here shortly. Can you do that for me?" he asks.
He slowly nods uncertainly. "Will you be okay?" he asks. Whatever Crepus is up to, he's still worried about him. He wishes he knew what he is planning. It would help him relax and hopefully he can make a plan of his own that would not interfere with anything Crepus has up his sleeve.
He smiles. "You don't need to worry about me." He gets up. "The key to the tavern is in my pocket. Lock up when you and Charles leave."
He wants to ask why since Charles has his own key. He usually opens Angel's Share alone, and the only way to get inside is with a key. Kaeya nods anyhow and reaches into his jacket pocket, barely pausing when he grabs the key and the bundled-up piece of paper right next to it.
Oh. He wants him to see something. He makes sure the paper is secure in his palm before he pulls them both out with his hand.
Crepus gives him a knowing look and then turns back to the knights. "Shall we?" he says to them.
One knight starts to walk and Crepus follows, with the second walking behind him. Kaeya watches them until they disappear into the rain and around the corner and then walks inside the tavern. He shuts and locks the door, running his fingers through his damp hair with his free hand.
"God damn it," he says out loud. He didn't expect anything like this to happen. This is completely new. Crepus had never been arrested in his other life, but again, everything is happening so much earlier than it had before. He shouldn't be so alarmed every time something else pops up.
He opens his palm with the paper and key. Crepus knew this was going to happen, didn't he? He sets the key on the counter and unravels the paper. It's a portion of a poorly drawn map and something circled near the top right corner. He squints as he stares at the hurried markings. What is he supposed to be looking at?
He's studied Mondstadt's map thousands of times before. Is this part of what Dottore gave Crepus? If it is, it makes him want to laugh. Dottore's artistic skills are lacking. Kaeya needs a map to see what the doctor was trying to point out, wherever this meeting is supposed to happen. A loud knock at the door makes him look up. "We're closed, sorry!" he calls.
He knows better than to open the door for someone that clearly doesn't have a key. Maybe it's a regular that is used to the tavern opening early or if it's a knight or anyone else, but he would rather listen to Crepus' words and wait for Charles to arrive.
He can safely assume this person isn't Charles. The bartender would most likely come in through the back door, anyway. He looks at the back door as a bad feeling begins to settle. He's long since learned to trust that gut feeling; it's saved his life on more than one occasion.
The person at the front door knocks again, a bit louder now. No one says anything from the other side and Kaeya dares not to say anything else. He takes one last look at the door, pockets the poorly drawn map and key, and makes his way as quietly as he can to the back door. It's time to leave. Whoever is there is not here for pleasantries.
As quietly and as quickly as he can, he makes his way for the door and winces as the lock loudly clicks as he twists the knob. Hopefully, the person at the door doesn't hear it. Then he hears the distinct sound of someone scraping something metal inside the lock. Someone is picking it, trying to force their own way inside.
He's stayed here for too long. He quickly opens the door and runs out, not bothering to lock it when the front door suddenly bursts open. There's a loud curse, distorted as if whoever is there is wearing a mask and hard footsteps hit the wooden floor as they make chase.
Kaeya curses and runs for the main road. If he can go out into the public, someone is bound to see him and he can safely go to the knights for help, right? He sprints over the cobblestone roads, looking around through the pouring rain.
The streets are empty, void of any sign of life. The usual people that stand near their stalls aren't outside, and guards that usually patrol the streets aren't there. He doesn't bother to stop to see if he's just missed anyone and they're inside. Where is everyone? In rain or shine, day or night, Mondstadt is usually busy. People are used to rainstorms and cold days, business doesn't stop for weather.
He looks behind him and sees a flash of red and black and he turns a sharp corner between two buildings to avoid his pursuer. He's seen that same cloak and face mask issued to more than one person in his previous life. He doesn't want to stay and see what the Fatui Pyro Agent wants with him, but he can't imagine it's anything good.
The little alley he runs through opens back up to a side street, thankfully one that has another set of stairs that leads up to the next tier of the city. It's not as well-known or as used as the main square, and it takes a bit longer to ascend since it wraps around to the back of the Adventurer's Guild, but it does the job. He reaches the stairs and dares to look behind him.
The fatuus is gone.
However, he isn't sure if he's truly alone. He knows their invisibility trick. There's no red outline of the agent, nor any footsteps splashing through puddles. He looks ahead again, running up the steps so he could get to the Knights of Favonius headquarters. If he can get there, he'll be safe until he can find a way home. He'll probably be sent home with Diluc, at this rate.
He slides to a stop at the top of the stairs, panting for air. Would he risk Diluc's safety by coming here? He quickly looks behind, watching out for the fatuus. He looks back at the headquarters and then runs past the building and makes his way to the main stairs and quickly descends them. Perhaps the guards at the gate can help him.
If he can avoid getting Diluc involved, he will. Running straight through the main street won't be the best idea. He'll need to find a different way around, maybe even go out the side gate. If he can get to the stables, get Lilly, and escape the city, he's sure he can make it back to the manor in no time.
He pants as he keeps running. It's no coincidence it's all happening at the same time. Dottore's sudden meeting with Crepus, and then Crepus' arrest, followed immediately by a fatuus chasing him through the city? This has Eroch written all over it in bold lettering.
His legs cramp as he slows down a little, going through the back alleys to avoid being seen from the main road. He should probably start training if he wants to be a knight soon. He needs to attend the training Diluc is doing, that would help build his stamina.
He hears metal clanking together—its clear, distinct noise telling him it's plate armor that is issued to the knights. Relief fills him. Finally someone else is here. He slows to a stop and looks around, trying to find the knight that is running nearby. "Halt!" a deep voice calls to him.
Kaeya turns to face the alley leading to the main street. Not one, but two knights are running toward him, and he pauses when he recognizes one of them as one who took Crepus away. What relief he had washes away instantly. He can't risk being with either of these knights.
"You need to come with us, kid. With your father's arrest, we'll have to take you home," the first knight says.
He takes a step back from them with a deep frown and his brows furrowed. "That isn't policy," he says carefully. He's read not only the Knight's Handbook front to back, but the laws and policies in place for instances like this are ones he has never ignored. "You should have done so at the site of the arrest, and with at least three knights, not two, especially if you arrest someone as high profile as my father."
The second knight, the one he has seen before, sighs. "Look, kid, we only do what we're told," he says. "Come with us quietly and things won't need to get ugly."
The more he looks, the more he feels like they aren't really knights. Their armor looks off, the chest plate warped as if whoever smelted it didn't take the time to ensure it would protect its wearer, and the gold trimming has a strange film over it like it was painted over and the rain is washing it away.
To an untrained eye, they're simply a couple of men that are part of the Knights of Favonius. To Kaeya and other real knights, it's obvious that these two are imposters.
Kaeya looks between the two after he's finished with his brief study and a few dots begin to connect. This isn't the first time where imposters have tried to make their way into the Ragnvindr's lives. "I would like to ask you both a question."
The second knight sighs, annoyed. "Hurry up and ask it, then," he replies impatiently.
If Kaeya is quick enough, he can run past them and get out to the street, perhaps take the side gate outside of the city and sneak his way to the stables. He needs to leave, now.
He takes a breath and glares up at them, his hands in fists. "How was Sumeru?"
The two knights freeze in surprise, eyes wide as though they hadn't expected him to connect the dots. These two, most likely fatuus, were the ones that had gone through the ship at Port Ormos.
They were looking for him. They've been looking for him. He has to get away. Now.
Kaeya takes the chance and runs right past them, avoiding a panicked arm that shoots out to grab him. Shit, he thinks. That was too close. The rainwater is making the cobblestone slippery, and more than once he has to make sure he doesn't slip and fall. He tries not to focus on the two sets of heavy armor chasing after him, seemingly unbothered by the rain.
His lungs scream for air as he makes his way behind a building. While the alley leads back out to the road and most likely to safety, he can't keep running like this. His body is not built for this much full-on sprinting yet, plus he's up against two fully-trained fatui members, three if he counts the pyro agent.
His eye spots a pile of crates that is stacked beside the building and he glances behind him when he hears the two fake knights catching up. He climbs on top of one and lets himself drop behind it, slamming his back against the wood and puts his hand over his mouth to quiet his frantic breathing.
A heartbeat passes by and he can hear the two knights running by. "Where did he go?" the first one demands.
"Just keep going, the brat doesn't know when to stop!" the second one retorts.
The first one groans, most likely as tired as Kaeya is, and runs after his partner. As soon as the loud armor is far enough away, he slips his hand off of his mouth and gasps for air, trying to catch his breath and calm his heart rate.
It takes a few minutes before he deems it safe enough to climb out of his hiding spot. The imposters will likely be on the main road, waiting for him so he decides to stay in the alleys this time. While there aren't many alleyways in the city, there's enough to keep him hidden until he can get out of Mondstadt and get to the winery.
He sighs as he quickly walks. Now would be a good time for Dainsleif to swoop in and help him out of this mess. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen and he makes his way for the stairs one more time.
What does happen is the splash behind him of a boot hitting water. He doesn't freeze, he doesn't look back. All he does is start to run again; he doesn't need to look to see that it's the pyro agent, who is most likely cloaked and invisible. There's a low chuckle and the fatuus says, "There's no escape!"
Kaeya yells when something hits his back, the force of the impact causing him to slam into the ground face-first. Whatever had hit him burns and he winces in pain as he pushes himself back up, forcing himself to push through the pain and begins to run again.
He doesn't get far. He runs straight into a pair of armor-covered legs and feels a hand land on his shoulder, grasping it with a painful grip. Surprised, he looks up and is instantly filled with dread when he sees who it is.
Eroch smiles down at him, all teeth and fake kindness. When had he arrived? He didn't see him, didn't even hear him until now. "Fancy seeing you here, young Kaeya," he says. He loses his smile and looks up at the Fatui agent. "Three men and you couldn't catch a single boy?"
The fatuus scoffs at him. "I do not need to listen to you," he retorts. "Get this over with. We have places to be."
Kaeya rips his shoulder out of Eroch's grip, but the man instantly grabs his arm in a grip that he knows will bruise soon. "Let go of me!" he snaps, doing whatever he can to get away. He kicks at the man's legs, but the armor protects him from his strikes and he tries to bite him though the gloves protect him from that as well.
Eroch looks amused and shakes his arm to get him to stop fighting. It doesn't work, and he kicks him some more and tries to pry the thick fingers off of his arm. He's pulled closer, far too close for Kaeya's comfort and he uses his free arm to push against his armored chest. "Like the good man said, Kaeya, we have places to be and things to do."
Now more than ever, Kaeya wishes he had his vision. Fear is running through his veins, powering his struggles against the painful grip Eroch has on his arm. He wishes he was with Crepus, or decided to stay home today—
Eroch steps back and he's too slow to see or even try to avoid the fist that slams into his mid-section right above his stomach. He chokes as the wind is knocked out of him, though the grip on his arm doesn't loosen as his knees buckle and his free arm wraps around himself.
It hurt. If Eroch wasn't still holding his arm, he would be on the ground and probably curled up in pain. Disoriented, he doesn't feel the second, quicker strike to the back of his head until his arm is released and he's falling to the ground.
Muddled voices surround him, becoming an indecipherable mess of noise he can't make out.
Someone lifts him up and he's tossed roughly over a shoulder.
"Wake up."
He blacks out.