Chapter Text
Upon opening his eyes, he finds himself slumped against the wall outside the city of Mondstadt. The sunlight was harsh, and he could feel the gentle breeze through his skin. Not like any of these matters. Kaeya’s real question is: How the hell did I fall asleep here? He had no memory of being outside the walls of Mondstadt, but here he is right now. He chalked it up to him simply being tired from last night. He scrambled to his feet and adjusted his usual attire. Taking one more look at the position of the sun in the sky, he can confirm it’s a little past noon.
Damn, he’s late to work. Jean is going to kill him the second his feet make the first step on the way to the headquarters. Deciding that it would be best to ponder his weird situation another time, he swiftly made his way back into the city.
Not before getting stopped by the two guards blocking the entrance. Kaeya placed his hand on his hip and looked at the two knights stopping him.
“Halt! Who goes there?” One of them asked. Kaeya raised an eyebrow. He knows these two men. They aren’t new to the Ordo. Even so, he’s pretty well known for his position as a cavalry captain.
“Good afternoon to you too, Knights Swan and Lawrence.” He replied coolly. “Any particular reason why I’m being stopped?”
The two looked at each other in bewilderment before looking back at the cryo user. Swan quickly turned his back and pulled out the Knights of Favonius’s handbook. Lawrence simply cleared his throat.
“Sir, how do you know our names?” He broke the uncomfortable silence. Kaeya gave him a look as if the knight before him is growing a second arm.
“I know all of the knight’s names. Why wouldn’t I? Now, can you let me pass through?”
The two knights started to look flustered and slowly backed all after seeing Kaeya getting visibly irritated.
“W-Welcome to Mondstadt.” He heard one of them mumble. Kaeya paused for a moment, deciding it’s not worth the effort of lecturing the two men about the proper way to address him as their superior.
He walked through the entrance of the city before turning back at the knights. He let out a dissatisfied “tsk” before turning on his heel and walking away from them. He made a mental note to speak with them at a later time.
The city was bright and bustling as ever. Had Kaeya not been running late, he would have stopped for a bite to eat at Good Hunter, but he’d rather not risk the wrath of Jean if he was even more than a moment late. He greeted some people as he passed by on his way, only to get some strange replies. They weren't terrible or offensive; however, he got replies like “Hey there, traveler” or “Welcome to Mondstadt!” Some people called him everything but “Kaeya” or even “Sir Kaeya.” It was quite odd, yet he didn’t have time to correct them. Still, it’s been a while since Kaeya has been welcomed as an outsider. When he joined the Ordo, he quickly became known in Mondsadt. Oh well, it’s condescending to expect everyone to know you by now.
As Kaeya made his way up the steps to enter the building, he got stopped by more guards. They gave him an odd look. As if Kaeya isn’t supposed to be here.
“What’s the problem, gentlemen?” He asked.
“Pardon our rudeness, but we aren’t allowing everyday citizens in at the moment.” One of them answered quickly.
Everyday? Kaeya started to look visibly irritated. First the knights at the front gate, and now these knights? It’s like they don’t know who he is. Did he get fired and no one bothered to tell him? Either everyone in the city magically lost all their memory of Kaeya Alberich, or the whole town is in on some sick joke. Both sides seem unlikely.
His head started to hurt.
“Look, I don’t have time for this right now. This isn’t funny.” His usual calm exterior shattered. He shoved past them and made his way inside, ignoring the two following him as they authorize him to turn back. Kaeya walked down the halls and noticed a few people inside are giving him a weird look. Is there something on his face?
Kaeya eventually found the door to his office and opened it up only to come face to face with a shocking sight.
This isn’t his office. Well, it’s supposed to be his office. He’s not crazy. There was a desk and chair, but that was about it. The bookshelf was empty, there were no photos of anything or anyone, and the desk was cleaned off. Not a single paper in sight.
Kaeya sharply turned his head to stare down at the two knights following him. “What is the meaning of this?”
The two men looked at each other and back at Kaeya. One of them had their mouth open to speak, but the other one managed to choke out a “Sir, what do you mean?”
Kaeya felt a wave of anxiety hit him all of a sudden. No, it’s impossible. He’s jumping to conclusions.
Jean. He needs to go find Jean immediately!
Kaeya walked past the two knights and made a beeline to The Grandmaster's office. And of course, he’s being followed by the knights asking him to calm down. Like hell, he’s going to calm down! Ever since he woke up, things have been getting weird!
He slammed open the door to Jeans' office. There she was sitting at her desk. It seemed that the sound of the door slamming open alerted her. She looked Kaeya up and down before calmly saying, “May I help you, sir?”
Sir? Jean never called him anything other than “Sir Kaeya.”
Kaeya narrowed his eyes. “Is this some sort of prank? I don’t find this funny.”
The woman tilted her head. “Prank? I’m failing to understand that situation.”
Jean wouldn’t lie. She would never go through with some twisted joke like this. Not even if she had a sword to her neck.
Kaeya walked closer to her desk. He slammed his hands on the table. He heard the sound of swords unsheathing. Jean looked behind Kaeya to raise her hand, silently telling them to relax.
“Do you know who I am?” He asked. His hands were trembling slightly, but he refused to show weakness as of now. Jean looked him in the eye with an apologetic smile. She gently placed the pen she was holding down on the table.
“I’m sorry, have we met before?”
Kaeya feels sick.
“Does ‘cavalry captain’ ring a bell to you?” He asked. Jean kept a polite smile on her face. The way she’s looking at Kaeya is upsetting him.
“The Knights of Favonius don't have a cavalry captain. We haven’t had one in years.”
Kaeya removed his hands from Jean’s table and took a few steps back.
“S-Sir? Are you okay? You don’t look good.”
Kaeya massaged his temples. “I’m fine. My apologies.”
And with that, he walked out of the office. He stopped to apologize to the knights who were following him this entire time. They offered to escort him out, but Kaeya told them that he knows his way out. He quickly left the building, feeling at a loss. It’s official. No one remembers who he is. He should take the time researching anything, or figuring out his new sort of income since he basically got fired from his old job.
For now, he’s tired. He wishes to rest before he figures anything else out.
While Kaeya is- well, was the quartermaster for the knights, he still desired to sleep in an apartment in the city. It gave him more of a Mondstadt-y feel in the city. Turns out it was a good idea in the long run. It would be complicated to try to return to your quarters in a place where people can’t remember you.
Well, that's what Kaeya thought before he saw a FOR LEASE sign in front of the door to his place. Seriously? His landlord doesn’t remember who lived here? Kaeya ran his fingers through his hair, taking in a deep breath.
His keys. Right! He should still have his keys on him!
...
He didn’t have his keys.
Or his wallet.
Enraged and stressed the hell out, Kaeya kicked the door while shouting many… many swear words. He stopped when he saw a concerned mother covering the ears of her child. He gave them a long look before deciding kicking the door isn’t going to fix his sudden homelessness. Kaeya swiftly left the area and decided to walk outside the city walls for a bit to cool his head.
It’s alright. You’ve been homeless before, you can do it again.
Except for the first time Kaeya was homeless, he simply wandered for a few hours before finding a rich family to take care of him. That was the best-case scenario. There is no way he is going to get lucky a second time.
He also thought about rejoining the knights of Favonius. If he’s able to get in once more, he will be granted a free place to stay. With his vision, it would be an immediate entry. That would be his best course of action. Well- it doesn’t help that he already made a scene at the Ordo. He would need to keep some distance from them for a while.
Kaeya noticed the clouds beginning to gather in the sky. Rain. Of course, it would rain. Every time the man feels like he’s at his lowest, the rain has to come to rub salt in his wound. Had his cryo not been more effective in the rain, he would have come to despise it.
Kaeya decided to walk a little further before turning back. It’s not like he’s late for anything. No one remembers him. No one is expecting him or his return. He’s not needed anywhere as of now.
For now, Kaeya focuses on the path ahead of him. He listened to the animals scurrying for shelter, his light footsteps on the dirt, and the additional sound of footsteps coming towards him.
Kaeya looked over his shoulder to see a group of treasure hoarders behind him. He turned back around to see even more of them walking towards him. Ah, it seems that he is surrounded.
“May I help you, gentlemen?” Kaeya chuckled to himself, trying to sound unamused. One of them- presumably the leader, walked closer to him.
“I haven’t seen you around these parts. Are ‘ya new here?” He sneered. “Usually, us boys like to charge a fee for travelers coming into our turf, yeah? I don’t know how in the hell you managed to slip past us, but we are gonna have to ask you to pay up?”
A hum. “And if I refuse?”
The thug reached out and grabbed Kaeya’s chin. Staring straight at him. As much as it sucks having no one remember who you are, it’s quite amusing to see a couple of punks not know who the hell Kaeya Alberich is, and how quickly he can make everyone here go from an is to a was .
“If you don’t pay up, then I guess we’ll have to figure out other ways of making you pay.”
“With my life or with my body? Because I don't feel like doing either.” Kaeya chuckled, earning himself a slap to the face by the leader.
“I don’t remember asking for your goddamn opinion! Now, pay up or else!”
Kaeya slowly placed a hand to his cheek, and looked up at the man who had just struck him. A small grin played on his lips. He was already in a terrible mood before these thieves came along. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise. Kaeya could use a way to burn off his anger.
Kaeya quickly summoned his sword and began attacking the group of treasure hoarders. He’s strong. Of course, he is. He is- well, was a captain of the Knights of Favonious. He’s quite skilled with his sword. Taking out a group like this is a cakewalk. He dodged every attack with ease.
Well, he was doing great until someone slashed at his side with a sword.
He paused for a moment and pressed a hand to his waist. He then slowly retracted his hand and looked at the color red staining his gloves. He’s not going to lie to himself- it hurts. A lot. Still, he can’t stop the fight here. He tightened his grip on his sword and fought through the pain. He successfully parried, struck, and froze his enemies as he went. Eventually, those who could still walk had to flee with the wounded. Despite Kaeya being hurt himself, he was able to keep his ground in that fight.
Once the treasure hoarders were out of sight, Kaeya doubled over in agonizing pain. He knows that he is losing quite a bit of blood. He held his side once more and steadied himself to his feet. Now is not the time to collapse. He should head back to Mondstadt and visit the church for some treatment.
That is if he can make it back.
The clouds turned from a pure white to a dark grey. Soon, rain began to pour from the skies. He slowly continued his journey back. He was quite close until his vision started to get blurry. He decided to lean his back against a tree. He didn’t even notice himself slumping to the ground. Soon, he was sitting his back against the tree, watching the rainfall.
He’s alone. He’s all alone again. He is in a situation where no one remembers him. He starts to think about how they are all living normally as if Kaeya’s presence wasn’t impactful at all.
He couldn’t stop his mind from traveling. He thought about his dad. No, not Crepus, his adoptive father. He thought about his biological father. The man who dropped him off in this city that’s ruled by the anemo archon. Does he remember him? Does anyone from his early childhood remember him? How he’s supposed to be “Khaenri’ah’s last hope?” If not, then he truly has no purpose to serve this world.
It’s hard to ignore that feeling swelling up in your chest. It feels tight. As if it’s hard to breathe. Kaeya does his best to push those feelings down. Down and out of mind so it doesn’t come back to hurt him. He closes his eyes and thinks about nothing but the sound of rain hitting the ground as it falls. He opened one eye the moment he heard the sounds of footsteps slowly approach him. He was surprised when he saw a pair of boots block his view.
“Are you alright?”
Kaeya recognizes that voice. He looked up and saw a familiar redhead. He seemed completely unbothered by the rain. As much as Kaeya Is in pain, he’d rather not have Diluc of all people seeing him.
Kaeya turned his head to avoid his stare. “I’m fine. Leave me be.”
Diluc crouched on the ground, trying to be at eye level with the wounded man. “You’re bleeding.” That was more of a statement than a fact.
“I told you. I’m-” a sneeze.
“Let me at least walk you home.” Diluc insisted. Kaeya gave him a cold laugh.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. I have nowhere else to go at the moment.”
Diluc stared at him for a while longer. He then stood to his feet, brushing some of the dirt off of his knees.
“Very well then.” He started. “Here, take my hand.”
What? Kaeya notices Diluc holding his hand out for him to take. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of deja vu from this gesture.
Right. Diluc doesn't remember him. For him, this is his first time seeing him. Just the other day, when Kaeya was drinking away at Angel’s Share, he saw Diluc staring at him with an annoyed look on his face. He always had that face.
But now, his face has softened. It looked… pitiful. Kaeya is unsure how to feel about his ex-brother wanting to help him. He eventually reaches out his hand and has the Pyro user help him to his feet. With his arm around Diluc’s shoulder and Diluc’s arm around Kaeya’s waist (the uninjured side) to support him, the two of them began walking back to the winery.
Perhaps it won’t hurt to accept the man’s help… right?