Chapter Text
Chapter One
No One’s POV
It was like the world had stopped breathing.
Everything in Mondstadt was still, like time itself was halted. This alone was enough to make a few citizens nervous, but a single glance up would make it much worse.
There was a storm coming. And anyone with a Vision could feel the massive amounts of power emanating from it.
“Acting Grand Master!” Jean looked away from the literal impending doom to instead watch the Knight approach her. “As you ordered, we have every available Knight posted along Mondstadt’s walls. Members of the Adventurer’s Guild are also taking posts in order to assist.”
“Good,” the blonde said with a nod, turning to continue her own surveillance.
“However,” he continued, causing Jean to pause. “We have been unable to locate Captain Kaeya. Actually, no one has seen him since he left Angel’s Share last night after he received a message.”
“Paimon hasn’t been able to find him either!”
Jean turned around to see the traveller and her floating companion coming to a stop in front of her.
“We checked everywhere he’s normally at, but he’s just… gone,” Lumine added.
“You don’t think he would’ve gone to investigate the approaching storm alone, do you? It’s too dangerous for any single person to….”
The Knight’s voice trailed off, and the group stared at one another in dawning dread. They all knew Kaeya was indeed the type to go investigate the storm and power alone without taking someone with him. The Honorary Knight was about to suggest going after him when they all felt it:
The powerful clash between Pyro and Cryo. and it was coming from the eye of the storm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The entire roster of the Knights of Favonius insisted on following their Dandelion Knight. After insisting that the citizens needed more protection than she did, and that she had enough backup with Lumine joining her, Jean finally consented to a small group of Knights and adventurers to tag along. If only to stop wasting time on debates.
As the group finally ran up to the source of the clash, it was like stepping into a nightmare. Directly underneath the storm were more Abyss Mages, Heralds, and Lectors than any of them have seen before- gathered together or otherwise. Ruin Guards and Hunters lined up behind them by rows of ten, ready to go on the attack. Hilichurls, mitachurls….
But worst of all, Kaeya Alberich was facing off against Diluc Ragvindr.
Kaeya looked the same as usual, yet different. His usually charming and mischievous smirk was gone, replaced by a much more sinister yet blank look. His appearance was the same as well, yet something was off….
“... had abandoned your mission! You were supposed to side with those of us who gave you a home, not the ones who left you on my doorstep as a child, Kaeya!” Diluc was growling.
“Such a foolish thought. He has always been the Khaenri’ahn princep,” a Cryo Abyss Mage declared.
“ Silence !”
With a swing of his claymore, the redhead sent the intense flames of his Dawn at the mage.
Everything moved in a blur. Kaeya swung his sword, creating an ice wall powerful enough to put out the flames. The first line of Ruin Guards and Hunters prepared to launch their missiles, but half were disabled by bowmen led by Amber. The other half locked on Diluc, only for the missiles to be blocked with shields from the adventurers.
Jean’s group ran to stand around Diluc as the redhead spoke again. “I have no interest in dealing with you. My business is with the traitor.”
“Hello! Those others could’ve killed you just now!” Amber pointed out from the line of archers standing at the ready behind them. Diluc merely ignored her.
“Kaeya, what’s going on? Paimon doesn’t understand why you’re fighting Master Diluc. You should be next to….”
“Shut up,” the Cryo user said blankly. Lumine moved a split second after he did, standing in front of the shocked floating companion to hit away the blast of ice.
“This is a waste of time. Let’s just grab what we came here for and begin,” a Dedro mage all but hissed.
“Very well,” an icy voice said behind the Honorary Knight.
It took a moment for the Knights to realize Kaeya had appeared behind the blonde traveller, but by then it was too late. A Cryo symbol glowed under her, and she was instantly wrapped in icy vines that started to pull her underground.
“Lumine! Honorary Knight!” Multiple hands reached for the blonde, but it was useless. Kaeya only created an ice wall around her as Lumine struggled futilely to free herself. Even releasing her own elemental powers proved to be pointless. It did nothing to deter her gradual descent into the symbol.
“ Kaeya !” The flames were intense as Diluc lunged at his sworn brother.
“Now witness the fall of Mondstadt!”
At the Abyss Lector’s declaration, the invading Order moved onto the attack. The last thing the traveller saw was the reason the ex-Calvary Captain’s appearance had seemed off.
His eyepatch was gone. And the Khaenri’ah curse glowed down at the descending Knight.