Chapter Text
A green clad bard holds a man’s hand tightly, dragging him out of the city gates while they pant from exhaustion. A lot of swords clashing and monstrous screaming could be heard from inside the city. A city that was once standing strongly but now looking like a ruin. The lake surrounding it was no longer crystal blue in color, and instead it was red, tainted with both human and monster’s blood.
“Venti…” the man who the bard was dragging muttered weakly and helplessly .
Venti shakes his head, glaring at the man but he’s not mad. His expression soon softened before it was replaced with a pained one.
“Kaeya, please. Please, you have to go there. It’s our last hope!”
Last hope… This all happened because Kaeya is Khaenri’ah’s last hope. This all happened because he failed them and protected Mondstadt instead. He placed Mondstadt, his only home, in danger because of his selfish desire.
“Kaeya, look at me! Look at me.. Please…”
The broken voice of his drinking friend snapped him out of his negative thoughts and he stared at Venti with his dark and hopeless eyes. One eye containing the golden hope of the fallen nation and another one, containing the pain and horror that the man had seen throughout this war.
Venti bites his inner lip before continuing to run away from the city, still pulling Kaeya with him. Once they were far enough, the bard grabbed Kaeya by his shoulders. Words were spoken to him but Kaeya couldn’t find the energy to listen. He still understood a few words but it just entered his left ear and exited the other side. But the most important thing that the bard wanted him to remember was a Sundial .
“...Will there really be hope?” he suddenly asked and Venti’s eyes widened. “Will I get everyone back…?” he asked and before the bard could answer, he continued with a few names while his voice trembled, “Jean… Klee… ‘Bedo… Benny… Lumine… Will I be able to get them back? Will I get Diluc… my big brother back?”
Venti pursed his lips before smiling in a painful way. He nodded, “Mhmm…”
They allowed a short silence to stay before Kaeya finally straightened up. That answer and affirmation from their archon was enough. A new found strength found its way into Kaeya and he trudged forward, following the road which he knew would lead towards the Thousands Wind Temple. The place where the sundial was located.
“I believe you could make a change… This may change what happened in the past but this seems like the only way…” Venti said but was unheard by the bluenette. He took a deep breath before turning around. “I’ll buy as much time as you need. I won’t let anyone follow you. I will let my winds guide you to your destination, Kaeya.” he said before the wind around him blew towards the bluenette, pushing him and making him walk a little faster.
.
.
.
Kaeya’s vision and mind was blurry. He had a goal at first but it quickly disappeared as soon as his despair and hopelessness creeped back. Regret and self-blame came like a wave but for some reason, he didn’t stop even if his feet ached.
Soon, he reached his destination and the wind around him died, making him fall on his knees. In front of him is an old sundial surrounded by ancient stories and myths. There was one god aside from Barbatos that once resided in Mondstadt but he doesn’t remember what kind of god they were.
He leaned back against the sundial, his heavy lidded eyes never leaving the sight of the ruins of Mondstadt in the distance. How did this happen and why did his feet lead him here? He’s too tired to try and remember but he did have a small recollection of a certain bard urging him to come here despite his hesitance. He clutched the deep injury on his stomach as he let out a shuddering breath.
He closed his eyes momentarily and when he opened them again, he didn’t expect for a woman whose body is transparent to be kneeling down in front of him. He didn’t have the energy to ask, he only blinked his eyes slowly.
“Hello… star-pupiled child. My old friend must have told you to come to me as a last resort.” the woman said as she smiled so gently. “Do not worry. I’ll grant your deepest wish and I hope this would be enough to change the outcome of this… dreadful war.”
He felt her hands cradling his face in a motherly manner and he closed his eyes. The last thing he remembered was a soft touch on his forehead and the cool and yet comfortable wind surrounding him in an embrace.
The next time he opened his eyes, he found himself sitting against a tree and the ground was damp and muddy from the constant rain. He blinked his weary eyes before looking around but it was dark. He remembered passing out next to the sundial so how did he get here in Whispering Woods?
He tried getting up but winced, his wound was aching really badly and he wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up infected. He sighed. He can either wait for Venti to magically appear and tell him what’s going on or he can wait for an enemy to show up and end his suffering, which is not really that ideal.
Kaeya suddenly tensed when he heard the sound of footsteps from a distance so he lowered his head and pretended to be unconscious. It might be someone from the Abyss Order since their numbers are overwhelming, but even so, he hoped it’s a knight.
He can now hear the footsteps getting closer. They seem to stop before their steps start to sound a little cautious.
“Could he be…?” the person muttered and Kaeya mentally relaxed but not to the point he lowered his guard down. The man sounded human enough so he can’t be a creature from the abyss but he knew that looks and sounds can be deceiving.
“It looks like I finally found the kid’s father.” the knight suddenly said, which only brought surprise and confusion to the bluenette.
What? What does he mean by that? He never had a child…
A sound of flare was heard and then there were hands checking his neck as if to check if he is still alive. Kaeya opened his eyes a bit to see a bit of the man in front of him. He was wearing the armor of the Knights of Favonius, it looks like he’s right but… there’s something odd. He can’t explain it but there’s definitely something wrong with this knight. Like… Like… Why send out a flare during the war? Wouldn’t their enemies find them? There’s something else but he can’t think anymore due to his exhaustion and weakness.
Before he could utter a word, his head suddenly throbbed and it was followed by a wave of strong dizziness, making him fall on his side. He coughs harshly for a few moments which surprised the knight.
“H-Hey! Don’t die on me now!”
He wouldn’t want to die too. He knew that there’s something he must do. Something that the Anemo Archon had told him to do but he can’t remember it anymore in this state.
What was it?
What was he supposed to do as Mondstadt’s Last Hope?