Ch. 20 – A Name on a List

The day Eroch joined the Knights of Favonius, Crepus watched this newcomer rapidly climb his way through the ranks until he was given the rank of Inspector. While politics and its semantics have never been in his interest nor any of his business, Crepus found it odd that this strange man seemingly appeared out of nowhere and quickly became Varka's right-hand man. If anyone had asked him a year ago what he thought about Eroch, he would shrug and say he didn't know him very well so he didn't have an opinion of him.

But as he sits behind the metal bars of a jail cell meant for actual criminals and an all-too-proud Eroch on the other side, he would say he would love to punch the smug smirk off of his face. Crepus reels his temper in. If he wants this plan to succeed, he needs to keep cool and not let his emotions control his actions. It's hard to do when there is a suspected traitor in front of him.

He doesn't stand up to greet him and glares with all the anger he allows himself to show. He's far too irritated to humor the inspector. It's been hours since the knights that arrested him threw him in here and walked away with the key without so much as a backwards glance. He allows his irritation to show as he demands Eroch, "Are you here to interrogate me about a crime I didn't commit?"

"No, actually," Eroch answers. "I've come for a different reason."

Crepus scoffs. "If it's not to let me out of this cell, then get Grand Master Varka down here. I would much rather speak with him instead."

"Varka…" He sighs, as if he's annoyed by something. "He thinks he knows everything about this damn nation." He shakes his head. "Well, one thing is for sure: he doesn't know about your predicament." He steps closer until he's right in front of the bars, smirking again. "I needed to speak with you alone."

He clenches his jaw, allowing that much of his frustration to show. "So you had me arrested and throne into a jail cell instead of speaking to me like a grown adult?"

He ignores that. "I want to make you a deal."

He doesn't like where this is going. He had him falsely arrested, probably traumatizing Kaeya in the process, just to make him a deal? Things don't add up. What is he trying to keep him away from? "What kind of deal?"

"A bit impatient, are we?"

Of course he is and as much as he would love to get up to yell right in his face, Crepus forces himself to remain where he is. "You can say that," he says through gritted teeth.

Eroch huffs out a laugh. He leans against the bars, confident the wine master won't attack him. "Mondstadt is weak. It cannot defend itself with an absentee archon. The Knights of Favonius are in shambles from being dispatched all across the nation. Just earlier today, Varka said he wants to make an expedition in the near future, which would stretch the Knights already limited numbers further. With so many potential threats around the nation, we need to seek outside aid."

Crepus scrunches his brows together. "And what, pray tell, are these potential threats? Some drunkards that come out of taverns to go home? The pigeons on the bridge? A little bit of wind blowing in the air?"

"Monsters and treasure hoarder attacks are on the rise." He takes on a look of displeasure as he adds, "The Knights of Favonius have been so desperate, they are reduced to training children." He scoffs in disbelief. "Are they so weak they must rely on children to do their work for them?"

Crepus frowns the more he listens. The Knights of Favonius have rules in place for knights that are underage, why is this such an issue only now? There's another thing that catches his attention. He keeps speaking as though he is not a knight. It only solidifies his suspicions, but he can't do anything based on suspicions and assumptions. He needs to hear a specific set of words from Eroch's own mouth. "Are you not a knight?"

Eroch's smile drops, his face serious for the first time today. "You know the answer to that question."

He knows the inspector is a traitor to Mondstadt, and if he isn't saying it outright, he is smart enough not to admit it directly to his face. Does he know what he's trying to do? "I no longer know the answer to that question."

Eroch doesn't look pleased but he crosses his arms across his chest. "In that case, let me propose the deal to you: I know what you had Kaeya do that day."

Now he's truly confused. He doesn't care that he's deflecting away from the question. He's had Kaeya do nothing but be a kid for as long as he's known him. "What are you on about, Eroch?"

"What is it you told me that day? Ah, yes, I remember. 'Children are still used as tools.'" He gets off of the bars. "Tell me where you put those papers and I'll gladly release you."

"What papers? I am being truthful when I say I do not know what you are talking about." Did Kaeya find something he wasn't supposed to?

Eroch studies him quietly, his eyes scanning him as if to find a lie in his features. When he finds none, he puts on a relaxed smile. "I have reason to believe that your son stole something of great importance from my office. So here's the deal: you get those papers back to me, and I'll let you out without putting anything onto your record."

"Nothing will go onto my record, as this is an unlawful arrest. I have done nothing to—"

"I have reason to believe that you have been colluding with the Fatui," he interrupts. That quickly shuts Crepus up instantly and he listens as the inspector continues. "Although I do not know what those meetings were about, there were two different counts where a high-ranked Fatuus has met you at your tavern in front of multiple people." He straightens his back, trying to make himself look taller than he already is. Crepus tries not to roll his eyes at the intimidation attempt. "In Mondstadt's best interest, that is grounds for treason."

Crepus balks at the accusation. "Treason? Both times they came to me. Never did I see them outside of Angel's Share."

"So you admit you knowingly met with two Fatui Harbingers?"

Crepus finally stands up, finding it hard to hold back his anger anymore as his hands turn into fists. His fingernails dig into his palms to keep himself from shouting at the man. "They were both unexpected meetings that I did not ask for. Neither meeting threatened the safety and security of Mondstadt. You can confirm this with multiple witnesses, including Kaeya, who was there both times."

Eroch's smirk turns cold. "Regrettably, that will be a problem."

"What problem would there be? He is young, but courts can take the words of a witness despite their age—"

What Eroch says next makes his world stop. "Kaeya has gone missing."

Crepus' eyes widen and his heart skips a beat.

The plan is supposed to be simple and straightforward: get Eroch to say he's working with the Fatui and get the evidence to prove it.

This is not part of the plan.

-x-

Five months ago…

Crepus breathes a sigh of relief as he steps inside of the Knights of Favonius headquarters out and away from the brutal summer sun. It's too hot to do much of anything, so he's decided against wearing any kind of jacket this day. He walks past the guards that wave and greet him and stops in front of the grand master's office. He knocks once and immediately he hears Varka's deep voice say from the other side of the closed door, "Enter."

He opens the door, smiling as Varka looks up from his pile of paperwork. "Good morning, Varka," he greets.

Varka returns the smile. Despite the summer heat and gentle breeze coming in from the windows, he's still wearing his full suit of armor and the heavy clothes underneath. "Crepus!" he cheerfully replies. "Good to see you. I hope the way here wasn't bad?"

"Not at all. It's getting too hot outside to be wearing heavy clothes."

"This summer is rather warm this year, isn't it?"

Crepus closes the door behind him and the smile drops from his face as soon as the noise out in the hall becomes muffled. "I got your message—what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

The grand master's face also turns serious. He sets down the quill and pen he's holding and folds his hands together on the top of his desk. He leans forward, asking quietly, "Can I trust you, Crepus?"

He blinks a few times as he sits down. "Of course you can, Varka." Worry etches itself onto his face. "Your message only said that you wanted to see me. What's wrong?"

He gets up and walks away from his desk toward the bookcase against the wall. "There is a case that I have been working on for months now and with your vast network of information, I thought to ask you for help."

Crepus frowns. "I'm not a knight," he tells him softly. "I'm a vintner. I make wine for a living."

He nods. "I'm aware." He pulls out a thick folder and makes his way back to his desk. "I will pay you handsomely for your help."

He lets out a long sigh as Varka sits back down. "I don't need your mora, Varka."

"Please, Crepus. We need help."

Crepus stares into the grand master's eyes, and his shoulders slump as he quickly relents. "Okay. Okay, fine—not because you asked me, it's only because of what you did for me."

Varka chuckles but the short laugh quickly fades as he opens the folder. "This case is extremely sensitive. Don't tell this to anyone. Not to even to Adeline or Elzer."

He raises an eyebrow. "They are well aware of my history, Varka."

He doesn't look happy but he pushes the folder to him. "Still…" He shakes his head, knowing Crepus would be telling Adeline and Elzer things if he needs something done. He nods to the folder. "Six counts of missing children, all between ages six and fourteen."

Crepus frowns. "That's… not good, but I'm not sure how I can help you with missing people."

"Have you noticed an influx of fatuus within the city?"

He doesn't like where this is going. "I've had a few of them visit my tavern, yes," he admits. "I haven't thought much of it. Fatui are everywhere in Teyvat."

"Inspector Eroch insists they have no ill intentions, but given that it's the Fatui, well…"

He doesn't need to finish that sentence. Crepus knows what he's getting at. The Fatui are so-called diplomats that are often stationed in many corners of Teyvat, and while Mondstadt is open to everyone, it makes him shudder to think what kind of plan they've cooked up now. It's common knowledge that wherever there is trouble, the Fatui are sure to be there.

He looks down at the folder and sees the names of the missing children and their sketches beside them. Dread fills him. Any of those kids could have been Diluc or Kaeya. To think of them joining this list makes his stomach churn. He can't imagine what their parents are experiencing right now. He doesn't know what he would do if either of his sons were reduced to being another name in a list of missing people.

He flicks his eyes back up. "You think the Fatui have something to do with the missing kids?" he asks.

"Their families all have some kind of connection with them." Varka turns a couple of pages. "This one made a deal with one of the fatuus." He taps a picture of a man with glasses on. "This is Schubert Lawrence. He isn't related to any of the kids, but he was spotted meeting a fatuus in the back of a wagon a few days ago. We interrogated him because we thought he had something to do with the case. Unfortunately, he doesn't know anything about the missing kids, but he said that the Fatui promised him that they would help the Lawrence clan take control of Mondstadt again."

Crepus scoffs with disgust. The Lawrence clan is a disgrace to Mondstadt, and this only proves that theory. "Ridiculous," he mutters under his breath.

"Mhm." He leans back in his chair. "But I have reason to believe we have a traitor in our ranks." He sighs. "I don't want to believe it, but I need proof of either innocence or guilt. I have already had… a friend go through Eroch's office, but there is nothing there."

"Eroch?" He looks up sharply, a deep frown on his face. He can't say he's surprised to hear it; that man has always given him chills. "You think he has something to do with the missing children?"

"It's a possibility. That's not why he's on my radar." He sighs, long and defeated. "I thought I could trust him, but it seems I cannot. He reports to me every morning, but I can tell he leaves information out. The knights that report directly to him tell me they find nothing suspicious. Yet the Fatui presence is still increasing. I don't know what their goal is nor how Eroch is tied to this, but I need to get rid of them before something happens."

Crepus closes the folder, biting the inside of his cheek nervously. "So you want me to what? Find the kids?"

"No. I have people working on that right now."

"Then you want to find connections between Eroch and the Fatui based on guesses, a bad feeling, and assumptions. That's a bold move."

"I know it sounds bad, but I know you can do it."

He hesitates and closes the folder. "All right." He looks up at him, determined. If anything, this will motivate him to keep other kids from becoming names on that list. "What do you need from me?"

His eyes narrow, but he looks relieved at the same time. "I want you to use your connections and find out what the Fatui are planning. I need you to bring me proof of guilt or innocence that Eroch is not colluding with the Fatui to harm Mondstadt."

-x-

The plan was supposed to be simple. When Varka heard Pantalone had come to visit Crepus personally, they needed a plan of action. Crepus is the one that came up with the idea to lure Eroch into action, and despite not liking the idea, it was the only thing that could possibly get them any kind of evidence against Eroch.

No one was supposed to be involved. It was just supposed to be him in this jail cell and no one else would get hurt. Crepus feels like he can't breathe.

Kaeya can't be missing. He doesn't go missing. He's not just some name on a list of missing people. He's good at hiding, he probably just hid from someone and made his own way home despite being told to stay at the tavern until Charles arrived. He could see that as the best-case scenario.

A grave thought hits him and it makes him pale. Worst case, he wandered out of the city by himself to go to the designated meeting spot Il Dottore. Maybe he thought he needed to go there, that Crepus would meet with him in that spot. Crepus shouldn't have let him take it—he only needed to keep that little piece of paper away from unwanted eyes. The thought of Kaeya being with that monster… He shakes his head and watches Eroch's smirk grow.

No, this isn't right. Kaeya is fine, he wouldn't have done that. Eroch is only lying to get him to say things he shouldn't. It doesn't stop the worried pang in his heart when he thinks about the possibility that he's actually gone.

If Kaeya really is missing, there's only one other culprit that comes to mind. He finally lets rage take over as he storms over to the bars. Unfortunately, the knight steps back far enough to avoid his fists so he grabs onto the bars that separate them instead. "What the hell did you do to my son?" he shouts over the loud clanging of the metal.

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean, Master Ragnvindr," he answers, his voice dripping with fake bewilderment.

It only angers Crepus further and his grip on the bars tightens so much, his knuckles turn white. He quiets his voice and says in a furious tone, "I have seen the way you look at him. Heard the way you talk about him as though he is lesser than human. You threatened to interfere with the adoption process. What do you have against an eight-year-old boy? Is it the color of his skin? Is it because he's not from Mondstadt? Or is it because he doesn't bend over backward to please you like all the knights that serve under you?"

Through his entire rant, Eroch silently listens, that god damned smirk never leaving his face. He remains quiet as Crepus finishes and a heavy silence stretches between the two of them.

Crepus frowns at his silence. The longer the silence goes on, the more agitated he gets. He can't help but start thinking the worst had happened, but he knows Kaeya is safe. He had him stay at the tavern and have Charles take him home. Eroch is lying to him, he knows he is. He has to be. He's the first to break their silence and he asks quietly, "Why should I believe you? You have lied to us before. Kaeya should be home by now, safe and sound."

"I can assure you that he is not." He shrugs and with as much sympathy as he can coat his deceitful tone, he adds, "It's unfortunate. I can't imagine what you are going through." He turns as if he's about to leave. "I don't think I can allow you to reunite with your children if you refuse to return the information that was stolen."

Murderous wrath builds within Crepus' chest. "You can assure me that Kaeya is missing. To me, that means you know what happened or you had a hand in this yourself."

Eroch looks over his shoulder. He's never wanted to see someone dead more than now. He wants to see the life leave his eyes and wipe that fucking smirk off of his face. "My answer depends on your willingness to work for me," Eroch tells him. "You get me that information, don't spill anything to your precious Grand Master Varka, and I won't allow any accidents to befall you."

He glares at him, scoffing as he says, "You're threatening me now? I've already said I don't know what information you're talking about!"

He sighs. "That's unfortunate." He starts to walk away. "I'll make sure to have some of my men visit your manor."

Crepus wants to shout at him to leave his home and family alone, but a heavy door screeches open and slams shut before he can get a word out. He curses and lets go of the bars. All he can do is wait for Varka to come down and let him out.

Thankfully, he doesn't need to wait long. Not even a minute after Eroch left, he hears the door open and he flicks his eyes up to see the grand master himself in front of the bars with a ring of keys in his hand. His shoulders slump with relief. "Thank gods you didn't take long," he says.

Varka opens the door as soon as it's unlocked and worriedly asks, "Are you all right, Crepus?"

He nods. "I'm fine. Eroch didn't specifically say he's working for the— Varka? Are you all right?"

The grand master looks far more relieved than he should be. Color is returning to his pale skin, and he rubs his face with relief. "I was worried about you—I thought something had happened to you."

"Worse than being falsely arrested?"

"Much worse." He shakes his head and steps out of the way so he can leave the cell. "I went to Angel's Share earlier, but you weren't there. Someone broke in, and both the front and back doors were left open. Charles is there repairing the door now. I'm not sure when it happened—"

Someone broke into Angel's Share? Why would they break in? Crepus feels hot and cold at the same time and his hands start to shake. There's nothing but alcohol to steal, and while it would be expensive to replace, that's not why he's suddenly frightened. "Varka, where is Kaeya? Tell me you know where he is."

"Kaeya? No, I don't know but—Crepus, wait!"

Crepus runs out of the cellblocks, adrenaline fueling him as he sprints his way through the building and out the door. He doesn't look back to see if Varka is following him as they exit the building and run through the rain and makes his way toward the tavern. He can hear the heavy footfalls directly behind him with the same sense of urgency. Crepus' heavily beating heart thumps against his chest the more they run, wishing he could somehow teleport inside of the tavern right now. Please, he begs to anyone listening, let my son be all right.

He doesn't stop running until he's in front of Angel's Share. He pants as he looks around the tavern. Charles is there, hammering a new doorknob into the door and the old one on the ground beside his feet. Even from where he's standing, he can see a tiny piece of metal stuck inside the lock.

However, that's not what Crepus is looking at. He doesn't care about a broken doorknob. He ignores Varka saying something to Charles as his eyes trail to the side of the building, where the carriage is still sitting. Why is the carriage still here? Did Charles not take Kaeya home? Kaeya must have just taken Lilly then, he wouldn't have walked all the way home in this weather.

He doesn't realize he's starting to get dizzy until Varka's hand lands on his shoulder and brings him out of his stupor. "Let's check inside, make sure he isn't hiding anywhere," he tells him gently.

Crepus swallows hard and nods. "Right, of course." He looks at Charles. "Is Kaeya still here?"

Charles shakes his head. "He wasn't here when I arrived," he replies.

No, no, that's not right. Kaeya's supposed to be here or at home. "Are you sure?"

The bartender nods, now with more worry than Crepus has ever seen on his face. "The tavern was empty and both doors were open when I got here. Only the front door was forced open, the back door looks like it was opened from the inside. There was also a shattered glass on the floor behind the counter, but nothing was stolen. All of the wine and spirits are still accounted for and the mora is still in the office, too."

The vintner frowns. "Then why would someone break in?" he mumbles under his breath.

"I'm not sure. I suppose it's lucky I arrived before any regulars showed up. Master Varka thankfully showed up not too long after and I was able to start repairing the door."

Crepus' gut twists uncomfortably. "Are you absolutely positive Kaeya is not here?" He doesn't want to believe Eroch—Kaeya has to be around here somewhere.

He shakes his head. "I am certain, Master Ragnvindr."

He tries to keep himself calm. He can't lose hope. Maybe Kaeya got scared of the break-in and found someplace to hide until help came. He's good at hiding, especially when he doesn't want to be found. Crepus rushes inside without another thought. "Kaeya?" he calls out into the empty tavern. A worried Varka follows him as Charles closes the repaired door behind them.

No one answers him. There is no pattering of small feet running to greet him from the office, nor anyone coming downstairs from the spare room. Crepus goes up there anyway to check. He throws the door open, hoping to see at least a small form huddled in a corner to hide. "Kaeya!" he shouts, getting more agitated the longer he doesn't get a response.

Nothing. There's no one there. No one is moving underneath the covers of the rarely used bed nor coming out of the wardrobe that could be used as a hiding spot. Dread pools in his stomach. Where is Kaeya?

He hears Varka walk up the stairs to get to the attic and check to see if Kaeya is hiding there. Crepus can barely hear him shouting for the boy as well. He has a sinking feeling he won't find him there nor anywhere in the tavern. He hastily leaves the room and looks downstairs toward the bar.

Someone had broken in from the front, but there are no signs of forced entry from the back door. Both doors were open when Charles arrived, and there was broken glass on the floor behind the bar, as if the cup had been pushed from the customer's side of the bar toward the bartender.

All signs point that Kaeya had run out and was likely chased by whoever had broken in. He was running from someone, and he wasn't there to help him. He grips the wooden safety railings tightly as worry fills his mind with dreadful thoughts.

A young boy stares up into the sky, his eyes that used to be so full of life and happiness now empty and unblinking even as rain pours into them. He'll never know who killed him. The boy's neck is sliced open so wide he can see the inside of his throat, and there is so much blood that he turns away to vomit. There aren't any other wounds he can see. He died a sad, painful, and lonely death—

Crepus blinks a few times at the sound of his name. He turns his eyes over to the stairs, seeing Varka watching him with worry. "Crepus, are you all right?" he asks him.

He swallows back as much anxiety as he can before he nods. "I'm fine. I need to leave. I—I have to find Kaeya." He runs downstairs with care to make sure he doesn't slip and fall.

He's stopped when someone grabs his upper arm. He looks back to see Varka, who is studying him with concern in his eyes. "Crepus, stop. Let the Knights of Favonius handle this." He lets his arm go, positive he won't run outside without a plan. "Did Eroch tell you anything while you were in that cell?"

Charles' eyes widen but he quickly turns away and makes himself busy. It wouldn't matter if he is listening or not—Crepus trusts him with his life. He probably knows more secrets than he lets on. "He—he made it sound like he knew Kaeya's gone," he answers. He curses when he stutters, but he doesn't pay any mind to it. "Eroch knew."

"Eroch did? He didn't say anything to me." Varka frowns as well. "How many knights came to arrest you, Crepus?"

"Two this morning."

"There's supposed to be three or more, especially when there is a child involved—Crepus?"

He can't hear him. He's shaking horribly now, his thoughts straying to that imaginary body he saw, Kaeya's eyes staring blankly into the sky. It makes him want to run outside and rush to find him, but darkness is creeping around the edges of his sight as his body feels like it's both hot and cold. "Kaeya was there. I—I told him to wait here at the tavern until Charles came. Gods, I— this is my fault, I told him to stay here—"

"No, it isn't. This isn't your fault." Varka's interruption makes him look up. He's squatting right next to him to stay at his level and only now does Crepus realize he's sitting in a chair. When did that happen? "You can't have predicted this. Follow my lead. Take a deep breath."

Crepus finds it difficult to obey Varka's directions. He shakily obeys, feeling a rush of oxygen rising up to his head and the darkness starts to fade away. Who knew not breathing makes you feel so light-headed?

Varka is quiet when he asks, "Can you tell me three things you can see?"

He looks at him, confused. "What I can see?" He shakes his head. "Why—why would you need to know that?"

"Trust me."

If anything, he can humor him. He still doesn't understand why he would ask him that. "The stools. Cups. That ugly painting Diluc loves so much." He shakes his head. "Gods, what am I going to tell Diluc—"

He's immediately interrupted before he can fall back into his panic again. "We can worry about that later. Now, tell me three things you can hear."

He nods and takes another deep breath as he concentrates. "Rain outside. Someone's counting mora. The wind blowing."

"Last one: three things you can move."

He feels his frustration build. He can't sit here at Angel's Share with Kaeya missing. "This is dumb, Varka, I need to find my son!"

"It's not dumb. I need you to be in the right mindset before we do anything else." He looks serious as he pulls up a chair.

He sighs and lifts his arm. He then moves his legs so they slide a bit closer to the chair. He then lifts his head to look up at him, feeling better despite shouting at him. "I'm sorry I snapped at you," he mutters.

"It's all right." He looks up as Charles comes around and sets two cups down. Whether it's liquor or water, Crepus can't tell even as he downs the entire glass in one go. "Now, I'm going to escort Diluc here, and I want you two to go home. I'm going to have some of my most trusted knights escort you home and have them patrol the area near the winery for the foreseeable future."

He shakes his head. "Fine. But I don't want them bringing Diluc here alone. You need to be with them."

Varka nods. "I understand. I'll get him, we'll be right back, okay? Will you be all right waiting here?"

"I would rather come get him myself."

"And I want you to stay here. I can't risk the chance of Eroch discovering you're out of that cell. I know that temper of yours."

Crepus manages a tiny smile. "Whatever gave you that clue?"

Varka chuckles and gets up. He looks over to Charles. "I'll be right back. Have him drink some more water."

Charles nods. "Be careful out there, Grand Master," he says. He locks the door behind Varka after he leaves, then turns to face Crepus, sympathy on his face. "You want something other than water?"

"Strongest we have," he replies with a nod.

Charles wordlessly walks behind the bar and pours a glass of death afternoon and brings it to him. While the wine isn't as strong as he wants, he can't get drunk right now. He doesn't know how fast the knights can find Kaeya. There hasn't been a ransom note as far as he can tell, and Kaeya hasn't come back at all. There is still a sliver of hope that he's at the winery, safe and sound, warm and protected from the rainstorm.

His grip on the mug tightens and he glares at the wall. He knows Eroch has something to do with this.

Unbridled fury returns with a vengeance.

He is going to make Eroch regret the day he stepped into Mondstadt.