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Diluc calmly walked down one of the many streets of Mondstadt, completing one of many errands while quietly enjoying the soft rays of sunlight that grazed his pale cheeks.
It was a strange feeling for Diluc. It almost felt… peaceful. But also hazy. Like a dream. Blurred. Distant.
Just as he was breathing in the fresh air left by last night's rain, a strange feeling made his blood run cold.
He was being watched.
To the left. Above the stand with the flowers, an ordinary girl was staring at him dreamily.
No… that wasn't it. There was someone else.
Behind him. Three of them.
Those masks…
Fatui.
All three wearing clothes designed for the cold, like they had just left their home nation.
The leader of the group raised an arm towards Diluc's turned back.
That snarling expression…
Impossible.
They couldn't have known about what he had done in Snezhnaya, could they?
Just an offer for some sort of partnership at the winery. Yes, that must be it.
But when the leader's hand formed a fist and aimed for Diluc's head, Diluc knew that this was not going to be a friendly deal.
Diluc spun around and caught the Fatui's wrist in a millisecond, then proceeded to twist their arm until a second Fatui sent a kick to his side.
Diluc let go of the leader and grabbed the second Fatui's leg, sending him into the leader before they had time to attack.
He failed to see the third, thinner Fatui sneak behind him, who wrapped an arm around Diluc's neck and raised a dagger into the air.
Diluc raised his leg and kicked backwards, hitting the third Fatui's knee and making their legs give in, which startled them and caused them to lose their grip on Diluc.
Just as Diluc was about to take a step backwards to breathe, the leader of the trio grabbed Diluc's ankle while the second Fatui landed a blow to his chest.
Diluc stumbled back, gasping for air, but fell to the ground instead.
Soon all three Fatui towered over Diluc.
The leader grabbed the back of Diluc's coat and flung him into the flower stand before he could react.
A sharp pain came from his head and blurred his senses. An earsplitting screech rang through his ears as his vision faded.
The three Fatui slowly stepped towards Diluc.
Get up. You need to get up. You must fight back. These amateurs are no match for you. Why wont you get up?!
Why can't I move…?
Diluc's breathing shallowed.
The leader lifted his foot off the ground.
Get up, quickly! Why am I frozen? WHY CAN'T I MOVE!?! YOU NEED TO GET UP!!!
The Fatui's foot hit Diluc's stomach and launched him into the stone wall behind him.
Silence.
Diluc's fingertips twitched.
His claymore materialised in his hand as he rose.
Justice. Courage. Duty. One strike for each Fatui.
The sword's Pyro-infused blade swung at each Fatui with ease.
A mighty roar came from above.
It's probably nothing. Quick, finish them off!
"Burn!!" A massive phoenix rose from the fiery blade of Diluc's claymore and soared towards the Fatui.
The air grew… cold?
Mondstadt was engulfed by a large shadow.
The ground shook as a massive dragon landed in front of the Fatui, its black and purple scales swallowing the fiery phoenix.
A single thought flashed through Diluc's mind:
That dragon looks like the one that got my father killed…
Has it returned to kill me too?
Just as Diluc was about to drop his sword in defeat, a battle cry sounded from the right.
"Knights of Favonius… always so inefficient." Diluc muttered, dusting himself off.
An army of knights came charging to the scene, but the second they locked eyes with the dark creature, they too cowered back in fear, dropping their weapons and shields.
"Call off that dragon of yours at once!" A voice came from the crowd of knights.
"Ah, the grandmaster herself!" The leader hissed.
"What brings you three to Mondstadt?" Another voice spoke.
"And you are?" The third Fatui asked.
"Cavalry captain. The name's Kaeya."
Both Jean and Kaeya stepped forward.
"I'd like to know what took place here and why." Jean stared at the three Fatui coldly, then turned to Diluc, who was holding his head and wincing.
"We've only come for the redhead." The second Fatui sneered.
"Why do you want him?" Kaeya asked.
"Because we received an anonymous tip that a man from the Ragnvindr family was killing our soldiers."
"And do you have any proof?" Jean scoffed.
"My entire family is dead. Is that not enough proof for you?" The third Fatui butted in.
"Diluc…?"
"I—I didn't kill THAT many. Surely not." Diluc stuttered.
"My beloved sister is also dead." The second Fatui spoke.
"Knights." Jean's voice cracked.
"Arrest him." She pointed at Diluc, her eyes full of fury.
Jean turned to the Fatui.
"Have your leaders already decided a punishment for him?"
"They want him dead, but feel free to keep him in a cell for the rest of his life. I'll put in a good word for you."
"I see…" Jean turned to the knights.
"Put him in the cellar."
Jean's tone was almost robotic. There was hardly a hint of emotion in her voice or on her face.
The knights hesitated for a moment. Diluc had helped the knights many times and was once their superior.
"NOW." Jean snarled.
"Jean… I didn't do anything wrong… It's all in the past—you don't really—" Diluc was shocked.
"How dare you call me by my name." Jean interrupted Diluc.
"But…"
"No buts. I never want to see your face ever again. Jean turned away coldly.
The knights slowly surrounded Diluc.
"I thought I knew you…" Kaeya followed after Jean, flicking his hair over his shoulder.
"WAIT!! YOU CAN'T JUST LET THEM DO THIS!" Diluc tried to run to Kaeya, but the knights held him back.
Kaeya kept walking, ignoring Diluc's cries.
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"That murderer really expects us to side with him. Pathetic." Kaeya scoffed.
Kaeya and Jean both turned to Diluc one last time, both their faces etched with disgust.
"Crepus would be disappointed in you." Kaeya sneered.
"But… I did this all for him…" Diluc stared at his hands as they began to blur.
"Kaeya!?"
"Why is this happening to me…" Diluc fell silent.
"So long, Ragnvindr!" Diluc caught a glance of the three Fatui flying away on the back of the drake before the knights had fully swarmed his vision.
"It's such a shame that we have to close Dawn Winery. The only thing your father was good for… gone. fitting, don't you think?" One of the older knights chuckled.
"Say that again." Diluc scowled.
"And what are you gonna do? Run crying to your daddy? Go kill yourself and you might see him in hell-"
POW.
"OW!! YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT, PUNK!!" The old knight roared.
"SHUT UP!!" Diluc screamed.
"SEIZE HIS VISION! AND THAT STUPID CLAYMORE!!"
"GIVE THAT BACK!! HEY— THAT'S MINE—"
"Do you ever SHUT UP!?" Another knight intervened and struck Diluc across the face.
"LET ME GO!!! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!!!"
Knights.
Knights everywhere.
Dragging him along the floor.
Hitting him.
Yelling at him.
So many knights.
To think he was once a knight… how pathetic.
That's all he was.
A pathetic and weak knight.
He deserved this.
Everything was dark now.
The stone beneath him grew colder.
Being pushed from knight to knight.
The air frozen.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!!!"
His throat burned.
But he still screamed those pointless cries.
A knight lifted him into the air.
Knights of Favonius… Surprisingly good at throwing people.
"Damn you!" Diluc wheezed, clutching his arm.
He was in some kind of cell deep underground. There didn't seem to be any other prisoners. Or at least… living ones.
Piles of bones were scattered around the neighbouring cells.
Would he really die in this windless place, never to see the light of dawn ever again?? Would he even remember what the warmth of the sun felt like???
No… this can't be happening… why was the world so cruel??
"Have fun in your new home." One of the knights began to close the iron gates of the small cell.
"No… NO—!!" Diluc screamed, reaching for the door.
…
"Oh, thank Barbatos! Moco!! Fetch some watcher, quickly!" A distant voice said.
"Is he alright, Adelinde?" Another voice said.
"We can't be sure just yet, but he looks okay. Has Barbara arrived?"
"I have a feeling my sister is being held up by that fan club of hers."
"I'll go to the cathedral." A new airy voice spoke.
"Be quick."
Diluc slowly opened his eyes.
So… bright…
He closed them again.
"Diluc?!"
"What happened to the weird grown-up?" Said a younger, innocent voice.
"He's just tired, Klee. Go play with Dodoco over there."
"But I want to play with weird grown-up!"
A pair of small hands wrapped around Diluc's arm.
Where… am I…?
Slowly, but surely, Diluc sat up, squinting his eyes.
"DILUC!!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!?! WE'VE ALL BEEN SO WORRIED, YOU JUST COLLAPSED OUT OF NOWHERE AND WE WERE STARTING TO THINK YOU DIED AND—" Jean pounced at Diluc and hugged him so hard he felt as if his ribs would break under the pressure.
"Jean—I can't—" Diluc gasped.
"Jean, he might be alive, but if you keep hugging him like that then he might really die. Poor thing's been so worried…" Lisa muttered the last sentence.
Diluc fell silent as the sound of Jean's sobs filled the room.
Klee let go of Diluc's arm and placed her hands around the two adults, trying to be a part of the hug.
The door slammed open and Kaeya burst into the winery, followed by Barbara and Hillie.
"Diluc! You're awake!" Kaeya sighed with relief.
"Are… are you alright?" Kaeya knelt next to Diluc with hesitation.
Diluc stared at his brother.
Jean raised her tear-stricken face from Diluc's chest, her gaze flickering from Diluc to Kaeya.
Tears formed in Diluc's eyes.
"Diluc…?"
His slim figure began to tremble.
"Kaeya… I— I thought—" Diluc's voice broke as the tears in his eyes streamed down his face.
A harsh sob tore from his throat.
Kaeya blinked in surprise as Diluc threw his arms around the younger brother and buried his face into Kaeya's neck.
Now it was the sound of Diluc's sobs that filled the room.
Slowly, Kaeya wrapped his arms around his brother.
Lisa covered her mouth in shock as she watched the usually calm and emotionless nobleman cry his poor little heart out.
Klee tilted her head in confusion. Was it possible that the weird grown-up wasn't actually weird?!
The small child set down her bag, petting her little Dodoco before she made her way to the two brothers.
Not knowing what to do, Klee stared at her small hand, then outstretched it to Diluc's shoulder and gently pet him.
"It's okay, Mister Diluc." She said with a smile.
Diluc's cries subdued and he slowly looked up from Kaeya's neck.
"Don't cry, Mister Diluc! I'll get Dodoco! Dodoco always cheers me up!!" Klee hopped back to her bag and grabbed the Dodoco keychain.
Alice smiled warmly.
"That child really is perfect."
"That hole in the wall of my office disagrees, but her heart is definitely in the right place." Jean sighed.
Klee held out her arm once more, offering the Dodoco to Diluc.
Diluc smiled softly at the young girl's offer.
"It's okay. You can keep Dodoco," he said quietly.
"Klee, you can go keep Dodoco entertained over there while the adults talk, okay?" Alice bent down and picked up Klee.
Everyone remained still while Alice dropped off Klee on one of the couches on the other side of the winery.
"Diluc…" Jean hesitated.
"If you ever struggle with anything, or if you feel unwell or lonely… please, ask us for help. I know you usually do things on your own, but sometimes it's okay to get assistance from others. Especially us. We are your friends, Diluc, and we always will be. You can trust us." She placed a reassuring hand on Diluc's shoulder.
He nodded silently.
Maybe life isn't so bad after all.