Children Of The Abyss

Retour à la maison

"Happy 20th Birthday, Klee," Kaeya said, handing her a box wrapped in red, "can't believe you're getting so old." It seemed like yesterday; she was wearing her little red dress and short ponytails, but now her dress has changed to red pants and a red, gold and black shirt. She wore her hair in braids and had a smile as warm as her mother's. Kaeya missed watching her grow up, but spending birthdays with her was the only thing he was able to look forward to.

"I'm old?" Klee said gently, knocking into Kaeya laughing, "I'm not the one with white hair." Kaeya rolled his eyes and pushed her back. After going back to the abyss, Kaeya saw no use in continuing to dye his hair blue. It reminded him too much of the people he left behind, and there was no need to keep his identity a secret. Slowly, over time, the blue faded out, and his natural hair took its place.

"It's my natural hair, weirdo," he said, standing up, ruffling the top of her head. The sun was setting casting its last bit of warm rays over the top of Mondstats walls. Illuminating the dust particles and dandelion seeds blown around by the wind and children, causing the town to look like a hazy dream. It hurts not being able to go back, but what's past is past, and they're probably better off without him anyway. But still, he couldn't help standing there watching the town from afar.

From the corner of his eye, he could see Albedo walking towards him. He didn't want this, and he didn't know why Albedo tried so hard. No matter what, Kaeya was never going back. He was too afraid of what the people might say, too afraid to face his friends again after all these years.

"Don't," Kaeya started. Every year, it was the same old conversation about how he should go down there and apologize to his friends. He should go down there and let them know he's okay, that he's alive. And every Kaeya tells him no, that they're better not knowing.

"Just hear me out," Albedo said, turning to him, "you don't have to go down there and see them. You don't have to go down there and apologize. But you have to go down there and see Diluc."

"Why? He can't ever stand having me around, so this should be heaven for him."

"Go or don't go, it's up to you. But I'm telling you now, if you don't visit him, you're going to regret it." Kaeya watched as Albedo walked away before he turned his gaze to Dawn Winery. He wanted to see Diluc again. He really did, but Diluc is more unpredictable than a bipolar person. Kaeya knew what he must do, so he made the long trek down Dragonspine and to Dawn Winery, arriving when it was pitch black. The place looked so lonely and lifeless. There was a single lit window with a flickering light, no maids or grounds keepers were wandering around.

Kaeya slowly approached the deserted house. It made him kind of sad to see the house that used to be so full of life, dark and empty. Overgrown with weeds and dead grass. Kaeya knocked on the door, not expecting anyone to open it, but he was met with the tired face of Adelinde. She looked shocked and relieved, angry and happy to see Kaeya. Her first reaction was a slap to the face immediately followed by a long-awaited hug.

"Where the hell have you been?" she whispered into his shoulder. Adelinde sounded tired and defeated. Kaeya sighed and picked her up, carrying her inside. He set her down on one of the sofas before disappearing to make some tea. Maybe leaving without saying goodbye to the ones that raised him wasn't the best idea. He never meant to hurt anyone, especially Adelinde. Kaeya came back with the tea and sat down next to Adelinde. She smiled at him, placing a hand on his face. "Look at you, you let your hair grow out."

"Yes, I did," Kaeya said, chuckling a bit, "Adelinde, what happened here?"

"Well," she said sighing, leaning back to star at the ceiling, remembering the last ten years, "after you left, everything was normal around here, Diluc lost himself in work, constantly running between the winery and protecting the citizens from the outside world. But once the abyss started to disappear and he could no longer get answers to many of his questions, Diluc became lost. He spent his night wandering every inch of Teyvat. Sometimes, he would be gone for days, trying to find you. This went on for years until he finally gave up. He knew you were never coming back, and he knew Albedo would never tell him where you went. He had a pretty good idea where you were. We both did, but it still hurt him. He would spend his time sitting at his desk staring at the picture of you two for hours, not saying a word, and then he would disappear to his room. It wasn't until a couple of months later, when business started failing, that I found out about his.... problems." Adelinde got up and walked towards the cellar, exposing an empty place, "he became a worse alcoholic than you. He stopped listening to me, and I eventually had to get Charles to have half of it delivered to his place, so we didn't completely run out of business."

"What did Jean do?" Kaeya asked, staring at the empty cellar, overrun by spiderwebs and rats.

"She did her best to help, but he became so stubborn. He ended up firing everyone but me and the winemaker. He never let anyone come inside, and he kept himself locked up in his room. He barely eats, I never see him leave his room, and I'm just worried. I kept begging Albedo to get you to stop by, but he dined that you ever came to see him. But you're here now, so maybe, maybe you can help."

"Of course, Adelinde," Kaeya said, hugging her. He didn't realize how much he had affected Diluc by leaving, "I'm so sorry. I should've stopped by before leaving. I shouldn't have left you guy like this..."

"you're here now, and that's what matters."

A/n: i definitely did not write this while going on a Girl in Red binge. But anyway, this was supposed to he the final chapter, but i decided to break it up into two parts so i don't overwhelm you with words