Chapter Text
Only when the sun embraced them they started to breathe again. Teyvat, the land of those gods who condamned their people..Like any Khaenria'hn, he always loathed it, seeing it as an alienation of humanity. But now, he felt relieved to see the surface for the first time, as seems to be his…Should he consider her his partner, after all this time? She was still holding onto the man's arm to recover some strenght, while he put his hand on her shoulder.
The human flood from the depths of the earth started to unleash everywhere to flee as far as possible from the underground, because after witnessing such atrocities and the destruction of their home, anywhere seemed more acceptable than hell itself. Should the shelter be the very one they tried to avoid for centuries, in a cruel twist of fate. Maybe, for those who came from here, it was like an stone inteyvat returning to its motherland. Or a flower seeing the sun for the first time, in a very litteral way. He had no idea. His inteyvat would bloom no more, now. As for the sun…They couldn't tell if it exists. They brought the cataclysm with them, and the sky was now filled with destruction, threatening to devour the entiere world. That was only natural. If the pride of humanity itself had fallen, how could the rest of Teyvat not follow?
*****
For days, all they could do was walk in search of somewhere to hide from the chaos spreading all across the world. People began to separate into groups of survivors, all going into different directions. Those who still had families in Teyvat were trying to reach their nation, while others like the one the small family joined was instead hiding in sumerian ruins, waiting for the calm to come back. If it ever did. Their situation was rather precarious, but they were organized enough to gather some rations of food.
At first, Clothar wasn't really comfortable with the others, considering he was a nobleman amongst commoners. But he soon realized it was a stupid way of thinking. There wasn't anybody left to say it was inconvenant, and the simple idea of someone saying it was laughable, now. Afterall, they were all Khaenrian's seeking shelter in the gods they once betrayed, that was the most inconvenant thing of them all. Nobody gave a damn about him having an illegitimate family, and he should really try to shut the voice in his head that kept telling him how much of a shame he was. Of course, he catched a few curious look on his clothes, a very obvious indicator of his previous status. But it didn't matter anymore. He never wanted to be a noble anyway. Maybe, if this cursed title would have helped his partner and child to have access to more food, he would have to us it. But the old rules didn't work anymore, here. They were broken the instant the flames pierced through the ground of their homeland. Everyone was gonna die all the same, were they nobility or commoners.
Sumeru's climate was considered humid and hot, but it was now painfully dry. The cataclysm has expanded everywhere, and even if they were rather protected in the ruins of an old building, they could hear anytime the constant chaos happening outside. They all knew it, the world was ending. But against all odds, they would wake up to a new dawn each day. A tiring, slow and stressful day, but a new one they survived nonetheless.
So maybe they had a chance. Maybe. Hope and denial were the only things left to keep them safe.
One evening around the campfire, Clothar's mind began to wander, thinking about what was next. Surely, the divine order wouldn't let their precious little world being destroyed, uh? So that nightmare would be over pretty soon, and they would have to start…something. Not in Khaenri'ah, of course. Even if they could go back, the man realized he didn't ever want to. For the first time in his life, he was now…free. He could finally have a family, and no one would ever know who they once had been. His gaze lingered on Caribert near to him, snuggling against his mother while he finished slowly the last remain of his evening ration. Watching them, Clothar became aware of what he could at last catch up with. The life he was couldn't have was just before him, within reach. And he swore to himself that he will seize this chance.
The child seemed to notice him, and gave him a shy smile while lifting his head in his direction. This one smile made his father's heart ache with bitterness. Of course, he was barely a stranger for him. He was never actually here for neither him or his mother, and all the financial support in the world couldn't make up for the fact that they had to face a lot of difficulties because of him. Caribert was considered an offspring of a whore who slept with a reckless nobleman. It was sickening. How deeply injust was it that an innocent child should pay for the stupid actions of his father? How could they not resent him, after that? But at least, the only good thing in this apocalypse was that it would never happen again. The man promised to himself that his family would never suffer these unfair judgements anymore. And he would be proud to call them his, and would never be embarassed again to acknowledge it.
For how selfish it may be…He never regretted loving this woman, and he even less regretted the birth of their son. Their existence was the only thing that kept him sane, even if so far away. He knew deep down that there could be no tomorrow, even if he didn't want to accept it. So it was now or never to finally seize the chance the had, and he did by waving at Caribert to invite him to get closer to him. After a small hesitation that nearly made Clothar awkward, the boy nodded and left his mother's arms to approach hesitantly, before finally sitting down. His eyes were wide open and switching between his father and the fire.
"So…How are you feeling?" Started Clothar fumblingly, realizing immediately it was a question so stupid he had to repress to urge to facepalm himself. He really had to learn how to talk to kids. Caribert stared at the ground with a sad expression, before lifting his gaze again.
"I'm scared…When are we going home, papa?"
"It will take a while, I'm afraid…" The man tried to avoid looking at his son. He couldn't tell him the truth.
"There was monsters everywhere…Why was the sky all red? Are..We going to die, too?"
The sheer terror in his eyes sent a shiver down Clothar's spine. Such an expression shouldn't belong to a face so young. Trying to not think about it, the man looked for his words carefully. "Everything will be okay, I promise. There are…big works in the city, so we all have to stay away for a while until it's all repaired. You…'ll even have a brand new room !"
The boy didn't seem particulary conviced.
" But I don't want a new room, I want to go home…"
"I'm sure you'll be happy when you see it. And this time…I could live with you two. What do you think?"
It was the magic world that made the child's expression change in an instant, his eyes widening from bewilderment.
"Really ? But mama said you have a lot of work !"
"Well…Yes, but I finally have the authorization to take a…long break. This year, I will even be able to be here for your birthday."
At least, if they survived until then. Caribert turned around to his mother, a wide smile on his face.
"Is that true, mama? Papa is gonna stay with us?"
For a second, Clothar didn't feel that comfortable anymore with what he just said. He was even surprised it worked well on his son, as he thought he might still be upset with his failure of a father. So for it to work with his mother….At first, she looked as confused as her son, her blue eyes wide open. Surprised, but not mad. Clothar gave her a light smile. Maybe they could really have another chance, afterall… The woman kept staring at him, as if asking silently if it was a real promise, and not a hollow one to soothe a child. But the man was dead serious, more than he ever was in his life. Never again would he abandon the only true family he had. So he holded her gaze, locking his eyes in hers. She didn't have pale eyes like Khaenri'ahs pure-blooded people, nor had she the star pupils. They were azure blue, bright as the sky from the surface. Bright as the smile finally appearing on her face, and for an instant Clothar thought the upside world wasn't so bad if it looked as beautiful as her. She had the same smile as their son, the beautiful once that made the mad fall in love with her all those years ago. He felt in in entiere body the same feeling he once did, when their eyes first met. He didn't remember how happiness felt like before today. Even the birth of Caribert was tainted in bitterness in his memories.
- Yes sweetheart, it's true.
There was still the question of where they would go when it would all be over. They were in Sumeru, but it felt too close to their previous home. And that meant it was both too dangerous and too painful. She was from Mondstadt, so perhaps so would like to go back to her roots? What was it called again? The city of freedom? Such a name under the Sevens made Clothar wanting to laugh, but it could be an advantage. Maybe it could be the freedom to start anew. Far away from Khaenriah' heritage, the monsters, where the skies wasn't red. It sounded….Good. Tonight, they forgot about the chaos deferling outside. And for the first time, Clothar fell asleep peacefully in the arms of the woman he loved and their child snuggled against them. Wishing that this simple embrace could chase away all the monsters and nightmares.