Chapter 22 The Story of Brigella
Lumine's POV

Kaze and I were now standing outside of the house.

"So, Hat Guy", Paimon started. "How true was that story you told us just now?"

"All of it was true, actually", Kaze revealed. "Just as I received your letter, Mona came to me and asked if I could escort her to Snezhnaya."

"So she has no idea why you're actually here", Paimon asked.

"No", Kaze replied. "She was surprised when I didn't object to escorting her here, so I told her that I knew she'd keep pestering me until I said yes."

"I see", Paimon said.

"So, Traveler", Kaze started as he turned to look at me. "You want to know who the person who held the Brigella title before you was?"

"Yes", I replied. "I want to know…if the previous Brigella was a man named Crepus Ragnvindr."

Flashback

After Diluc told me that he was the true culprit behind the Black Fire Incident, he also told me what he wanted me to do in return for him giving me this information.

"Huh", Paimon exclaimed in shock. "You think the previous Brighella was your father?!"

"I do", Diluc replied.

"Why do you think it's him", Paimon asked.

"After my father's death, I left Mondstadt in order to find out the truth behind the monster that killed him", Diluc revealed. "After years of digging, I was able to discover that he was at some point a part of the Fatui."

"Your father was a part of the Fatui", Paimon exclaimed in shock. "But why would he do that? And why do you think he was Brigella?"

"While I was able to discover that my father was once a part of the Fatui, I was not able to find much information about what he did while he was working for them", Diluc revealed. "However, as I continued my research, I discovered that there was once a Harbinger who was dubbed 'Brigella'. However, there was very little record of this Harbinger, and that's when I began to wonder if that was connected to my father. However, before I could find out more, the Fatui chased me out of Snezhnaya."

"I see", I said. "So, you want me to try and find out if your father was in fact the previous Brigella?"

"I do", Diluc replied. "Will you be able to do this for me, Traveler?"

After being asked this, I nodded.

"I'll do my best to see what I can find."

End of Flashback

"So, Kaze, was Crepus Ragnvindr the previous Brigella?"

After I asked this, Kaze let out a sigh.

"Yes, he was."

"What", Paimon exclaimed in shock. "Diluc's father was the previous Brigella?! How did that even happen?!"

"Thankfully, I was already a Harbinger when he joined our ranks", Kaze revealed. "And I was still there when he left. So I know the whole story."

"Can you tell me it", I asked.

"I wouldn't have come all the way here if I wasn't going to", Kaze pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah", Paimon said. "Tell us the story already! Paimon wants to know what happened!"

"Okay", Kaze said. Then, he began his story.

"Before he became Brighella, Crepus Ragnvindr wanted to join the Knights of Favonius. However, he failed to get in. He was disappointed and angry, and this made him the perfect target for recruitment.

One night, during an event Crepus was hosting, a Fatui diplomat approached him, and suggested that he the join the organization. Feeling rejected by the Knights of Favonius, Crepus accepted.

While Crepus was a decent fighter, his combat abilities were ultimately lacking in comparison to the other Harbingers. However, what he lacked in fighting abilities, he made up for in connections. Because he owned one of the largest suppliers of alcohol in the whole of Teyvat, he had many connections to high up people, and the Fatui realized they could use this. However, if it was well known that Crepus was a member of the Fatui, most people would not likely trust him with any sensitive information. Therefore, the Jester created a title and seat that would unknown to most; including members of the Fatui themselves."

"I see", I said. "So that's how the 'Brigella' title came into existence?"

"After Crepus was given his title, he began his work as a Fatui harbinger", Kaze continued. "Using all of his connections, he created an elaborate spy network he could use to gather information the Jester tasked him to obtain.

Crepus was a harbinger for a few years. But then, something happened. Like many fools, he fell in love."

"Fell in love", Paimon asked.

"He never revealed much about the woman he fell in love with", Kaze revealed. "All he said was that he wanted to marry and start a family with her, and that he did not want his position as a harbinger to potentially cause harm to them. Therefore, he asked to leave the Fatui."

"He asked to leave the Fatui", Paimon asked in shock. "What did the higher ups say?"

"The Jester did not want to let him leave", Kaze revealed. "However, for some reason, the Tsaritsa granted Crepus' request."

"She did", I asked in shock.

"Yes", Kaze replied. "Crepus was so grateful to her that, even though he was no longer going to be a part of the Fatui, he vowed to take their secrets to his grave."

When I heard the words 'take their secrets to his grave', a grim tough popped into my head.

"Kaze", I started. "Do you know about Ursa the Drake: The monster that Crepus died defeating?"

"I know of it, as well as the event that led to Crepus' death", Kaze revealed.

"Do you…", I started. "Do you know if the Fatui had something to do with that?"

"I don't know the details", Kaze revealed. "All I know is that the Fatui purposely orchestrated that Dottore would kill Ursa the Drake so that Mondstadt would be indebted to them, and forced into cooperation. However, I do not know if Crepus' death was also a part of the plan, or if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I see", I said sadly. "Well then, thank you for telling me all of this, Kaze."

"Just make sure to remember it in case I ever need something from you in the future", Kaze instructed.

"Yeah, yeah", Paimon said. "We will."

"Girlie", I suddenly heard Childe call out for me.

I then quickly turned around, and saw him walking up to us.

"There you are, Girlie", he said when he got to us. "You guys have been out here for a while. What have you been talking about for so long?"

"Oh, uh…", Paimon started nervously. "We've just been talking about…"

"Hat Guy has just been telling us about all that's been going on in Sumeru", I lied.

"I see", Childe said. "Well, you guys should probably head inside. Especially you, Hat Guy. Afterall, that coat you're wearing isn't actually covering much. How are you not freezing to death?"

"Like I said before", Kaze started. "I like the cold of Snezhnaya."

"I like it too", Childe started. "But even I'll freeze to death if I stay out here too long. Come on. Let's head back inside."