The Banquet

"Blah blah blah”

“Blah BLAH blah”

“Blah blah blah blah”

There were two voices talking at Kaeya.

They were both annoying, but he could only hear Tobias's.

Eula frowned as he continued to ignore her.

“Blah blah blah listening? Blah mission blah blah blah blah!”

Tobias looked from her to Kaeya and then back again. Most people were inside the Hall, leaving the courtyard empty of judging eyes. There were shadows creeping all around, made even harsher by the rising moon. His face was almost impossible to make out. Despite this, Tobias still looked like someone who wanted to hide behind a tree.

Kaeya hadn’t shown any signs of interest Tobias was rambling about qi extracts. But on their walk over, he demanded that he start speaking again.

He stared at Tobias now, his eye narrowed.

“Did I tell you to stop talking?”

Tobias laughed nervously, words bursting uncontrollably from his mouth.

“There was too much energy in them... some idiot might have drank one and exploded, and the sect would be liable. Plus, they crashed the economy, so everyone was furious at him...”

Tobias devolved into a coughing fit. He had been speaking for a long time, so even his words had to run out some time. The current situation wasn’t helping either. Eula had tried to approach Kaeya, but he only told Tobias to keep talking. It was an uncomfortable atmosphere for everyone, including Mika and Huffman who were standing silently nearby.

“Make way, make way!”

Two groups of people had teleported into the courtyard. Led by a harassed-looking guard, they hurried toward the Hall.

Kaeya at least had the decency to move out of the way. The others did the same, allowing the groups to quickly reach the Hall. The doors were pulled open, then shut again with an echoing thud.

Huffman asked, "Was that…?”

Even if it was only two words, it was an attempt to reach out to his brother. He sighed, running a hand through his voluminous locks as his words went unanswered.

Kaeya was watching them from the corner of his eye. He felt like smiling, but instead frowned as he realized Tobias was gone.

Fed up with the awkwardness, that plain piece of toast had slipped into one of the crowds. Tobias was now inside the Hall and far away from reach.

Without him as a distraction, Kaeya was forced to listen to Eula.

“He was friendly enough to Albedo. With that mutual connection, you can convince him to speak.”

Kaeya laughed harshly. “As if he’d do a favour for me.”

Eula stood her ground. “I can speak to him myself. But what happened with your father, it’s just as important!”

Normally unreadable, the captain’s face was open and earnest. Even their physical fight was forgotten in her quest for vengeance.

She reached out her hand, causing Kaeya to flinch.

“You have to speak. We can bring down the Erochs if you cooperate.”

“Cooperate”, muttered Kaeya. “As soon as it’s over, I am too? You’ll just throw me out. There’s no use for a broken blade.”

Eula stepped closer, causing him to step back.

Mika said, “Captain…”

She ignored him and placed a hand on Kaeya’s shoulder.

“You have to do this. There’s no other way.”

Kaeya pulled away, and Jayu appeared with a flash in his hand. Eula’s own claymore was quickly summoned.

It was a cold night, but the air was stifling to Kaeya. He tried to hide his discomfort by laughing harshly.

“How predictable…”

Eula’s claymore lowered slightly. “You need to stop this. Soon, it will be too late to do anything.”

Too late?

Kaeya’s head was filled with a strange buzz. His thoughts were loud and disjointed, bouncing around until there were many echoes of each.

Too late

She’s like him…

Captain, claymore, all the same

Be careful, be careful be careful bearefulbecareful

Worthlesspieceofshit see how they’re looking at you they hate you they hate you they hate you –

Shut up

Don’t just stand there do something

Shut up

Do you want it to happen?

Don’t let them hurt you again

He shoved Eula roughly away.

Her recovery was graceful, but her expression was strange as she stared in Kaeya’s direction. He tensed as she opened her mouth.

The doors crashed open and caused Mika and Kaeya to flinch. Tobias and Wu Jing ran by, with the latter carrying an unconscious young woman.

There was a silence as they processed what was happening. Was somewhere under attack? A dim part of Kaeya thought, ‘They should send reinforcements.’

Movement from Huffman – he was about to talk.

No, no, no

We trained together

I can’t hear this

He snapped, “You’re insane. Your plan won't work, so just give up already.”

Jayu hummed faintly, and Kaeya felt a wave of pure fear as it jerked out of his grasp.

Useless sword! What was it good for? The dumb thing just flew away whenever it wanted!

The knights were staring at him, and Kaeya felt exposed without a weapon.

“I’m not helping you,” he said. “Useless fucking Knights.”

He left quickly, hoping no one would notice his pathetic state. He inhaled sharply, almost coughing, as Huffman spoke up behind him.

“You can come back to Mondstadt if you’d like.”

Just like Eula, Huffman must hate him. His tone right now was stern, causing waves of anxiety to flood through his body. A person who didn’t hate him would never make him feel this way.

“We’re waiting a week. Make up your mind by then.”

When the doors of the Hall were pulled open for him, Kaeya hadn’t recovered from the conversation. In fact, he felt worse. Murmurs grated at his nerves, and the crowd was clinging to his every move. They had to stop staring. He looked down, trying to ignore them. His boots (or hers, he guessed – they were a little too big…) were traced by Jayu’s runes. They flickered again, a candle’s last gasp before giving up.

What a useless sword. Did Kaeya really need to 'feed' it?

Kaeya kept his shoulders loose as he picked Jayu off the ground. He’d made a bad first impression, earlier – this was his chance to make up for it.

“Kaeya!” squeaked a young adventurer. The man who’d been fighting him stood nearby, his sword dangling from his grip.

Right…

That was probably why Jayu had flown off.

“I thought this was a banquet,” said Kaeya. “Why is everyone watching this man stab a child?”

There were shocked murmurs.

“Don’t say it like that, Master Kaeya…”

“That’s not what’s happening right now.”

The adventurer in question looked offended. “I’m not a child! I’m the oldest in my adventuring team.”

“You’re the only one in your adventuring team,” snapped an angry-looking youth. “You deserve this. You knew you were cursed, and you hurt people anyways.”

He turned towards the solo cultivator, but he had disappeared into the crowd.

Hearing Kaeya's words, the harsh reality had suddenly set in for him.

Stabbing a kid... what was he thinking?

These people supported him now, but they had no loyalty. His reputation would never recover.

While he'd changed his mind, not everyone felt the same way.

“Drag it out if you’d like,” said Amira. “I won’t let demons walk free again.”

The crowd murmured in agreement. It seemed like the adventurer was still in danger.

The youth in question scuttled behind Kaeya, giving him a thumbs-up.

“Big night! Congratulations, Sir Kaeya!”

Kaeya felt a flicker of recognition.

‘It’s nice to meet you, Master Kaeya!’

‘You don’t need to call me that.’

Spreading from beneath the bandage, freckles dusted the adventurer’s tanned skin. A slight dimple was visible as he smiled at Kaeya.

How ugly.

He wished they were covered, or did not exist at all.

“If it happens enough times, it proves something’s wrong with you. How selfish to ignore it.”

Kaeya felt like laughing out loud, seeing Bennett’s crestfallen expression. Didn’t he know to keep smiling?

“That’s too cruel!” Samael was seizing the opportunity to be popular again. “He’s just a kid. It’s not fair to ruin his life over one night! Didn’t you cause your own father’s death? You can’t say anything with your history!”

“There was blood on my hands before that. I should have been faster, but I was too pathetic. ‘He’s just a kid’ – how stupid. I was ten when I lost my family, and seventeen when I lost it again. You don’t see me using my age as an excuse.”

No one knew how to react. Why was the 'saviour' acting like this?

Kaeya gave the crowd a cold look. “Should he face justice or not?”

The people in the front didn’t want to speak, because they would be seen as heartless. But from deeper in the crowd, there were mutters of agreement.

If he was cursed, he was the same as a demon. It wasn’t like he was human.

Kaeya dismissed Jayu and took Bennett’s sword from the ground. He held it out to the crowd.

“If he deserves it, take matters into your own hands.”

It was different, earlier…

Now there was doubt.

He looked too human, and his sad face was making people upset.

Kaeya laughed coldly. “No one wants to hurt their reputation.” He tossed the sword to Bennett. “You know you’re a curse. Rather than hurting more people, you should just go ahead and kill yourself.”

He stalked off, the crowd parting around him. Bennett was left alone at the entrance. Eula and the others were just now entering – Mika, seeing his face, ran up to ask what was wrong.

Eula could see a senior knight heading towards Kaeya. She ordered Huffman, “Don’t let him say anything stupid.”

Kaeya slumped down at the alcohol table.

He'd blown it... he was supposed to be cheerful and popular, but instead looked like a total maniac. How could he go home now?

He remembered Yae Miko’s warning, but felt awful enough that he had to chug some soju.

It was their fault for having so much alcohol there… who needed a whole crate, anyways? It was no wonder no one touched it, when the rest of the table was invisible from drinks…

“Master Kaeya!”

He tensed at the sound of feet. A group of people had run up, star-struck expressions in their eyes.

Great.

They were probably here to accuse him of something. No one believed him – of course, they didn’t! He'd been too dramatic at the trial!!

One of them clutched her friend’s arm. “Oh my gods… I can’t!”

 A young man held out a package. Kaeya eyed it suspiciously, wondering if he should draw his sword.

“We got you a present, Master Kaeya!”

He took the package by its corner and dropped it on the table.

“Um… thank you. I’ll put it with the other gifts.”

The young man made a strange gesture with his thumb and first finger. “We’re such big fans – we just had to express our appreciation!”

“You were so great,” said another fan. “That kid would have stabbed without you.”

They all cheered and clapped their hands while Kaeya stared at them blankly.

“Get lost," said an older man, waving them off. “I have to speak to Master Kaeya.”

Since he looked official, they scurried off.

He examined Kaeya with a stern look on his face. He looked the same, except for some gray in his curly brown hair.

"You've become scruffy."

Kaeya hadn't expected to see his old inspector here. The man had been forced into retirement a while ago, but now he was in Eunmyeong of all places. He was even wearing a uniform again...

It was shocking enough that Kaeya reverted to muscle memory.

He saluted and barked out,

“Captain Acker!”

His stern expression gave way, and he laughed loudly.

“No need to be formal! I haven’t been a captain for years.” He smacked Kaeya’s back with the force of a lawlachurl. “Six years without a word. Why didn’t you visit, huh? I didn’t think my son was that much of a clown…”

A clown…?

Along with Samael, Acker's oldest son had terrorized him.

But after his outburst earlier, even Kaeya’s thick skin was starting to sting.

Besides… Acker was kind to him. He wasn’t like the others.

“I didn’t realize how long it was...” Kaeya said, trying to sound casual. “The world is much larger than I thought.”

“I’m glad you remembered us. But an old man like me… I can’t help but worry.”

From the corner of Kaeya’s eye, he saw Huffman lurking nearby. Was he really listening in so shamelessly? He felt like cursing him out, but it wasn’t like conversations were private here.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, pretending Huffman wasn’t there.

“I know there’s some bad blood between you and Samael. But isn’t this stretching it?"

"I don't know what you mean..."

"Don’t get me wrong!" said Acker. "I’m not that old-fashioned... I wouldn’t call you less manly for your preferences."

Huffman sprinted up to them, blurting out, "Master Kaeya!"

Acker continued, "Making up those stories... isn’t that too far, just to get back at him?”

There was a long silence, which was only broken by Huffman laughing nervously.

"Master Kaeya, we weren't done talking… why don’t we just go outside, and do that now?”

There was a little splotch on Huffman’s sleeve. The last time he’d worn that suit, its matching gloves were stained beyond repair. But on the suit itself, there was only that little red splotch.

Kaeya wasn’t good with faces, but he could remember that suit. It was one of the fragments of that night he forced himself to remember.

Bloody gloves, discarded in a puddle. Huffman arguing, shoving a knight away –

You can’t just arrest him

His suit – he’d been so proud of it, even if people made fun of it.

It was muddy now.

And the blood –

It was everywhere. He could choke on it.

Why was he so dirty, but Huffman was fine?

It wasn’t fair…

His suit was only marred by rain, except for that little splotch on his sleeve.

Kaeya felt his heart sink at Huffman and Acker’s expressions.

Huffman was staring at him like he’d gotten stabbed, and Acker was no better.

Kaeya had never seen him look so uncomfortable before.

Had he slipped up? Showed an expression or - he didn't know -

He forced himself to smile. He couldn’t make a mistake like that again.

It didn’t matter what happened to him...

To go home – to make his father proud again.

The Ragnvindr name was the only thing that counted.

“Of course!” Kaeya said. “I’ll apologize soon.”

His voice was too loud. It should be more subtle – more casual – but that was out of the option. He hoped sounding earnest would be enough.

Like most knights, Acker was uncomfortable with emotions. He was eager to return to his regular boisterousness, clapping Kaeya on the back again. “Good boy! They’ll make a captain out of you yet!”

“Haha…” Kaeya said, still smiling. “I’m just grateful to get back home.”

“There are some people who wanted to talk to you. Not the friendliest bunch… but it might be a good opportunity.”

Acker didn’t wait for a response. As he marched away, Kaeya closed his eyes for a moment. He pressed a hand to his eyepatch, as if that would make things better.

“Kaeya…” Huffman was still looking at him with that expression.

Kaeya didn’t need this. He brushed him off, ignoring the worried look on his face as he fixed a cheery smile to his own.

It's fine.

I’m fine.

It’s all part of the plan.

He hurried to catch up to Acker, who continued the conversation where it left off.

“You know how Mondstadt is. With the monsters all around, it’s hard to get anything in or out. These people want to change that.”

“They’re traders?”

“Exactly.”

He smiled and waved at the nearby table of people. Some of them smiled back, but the majority were talking quietly amongst themselves. One looked awkwardly away, coughing into his sleeve.

“After the trial, you couldn’t get a word out of them. Maybe since you’re… you know… you can do better.” He leaned in so no one would hear. “I know you and your brother aren’t on the best terms, but this is a good opportunity. Dandelion wine is all the rage over there. There are samples at the table.”

So this is what it was about?

What a waste of time.

Kaeya sighed internally as Acker took his leave.

The table of people went quiet, turning towards Kaeya….

What was this, a staring party? They were attacking him with their eyes.

“I’m sorry to let you down, but the Dawn Winery is not exporting right now. I’ll send them your regards.”

A woman with an expansive hairstyle smiled at him. “It’s alright, sweetie.” She gestured to the end of the table. “Come and sit. We’ve been waiting for you.”

This was too strange. Kaeya felt like drawing his sword as he gingerly sat down.

“I’m sure that man told you already… but we’re interested in opening some trading routes.”

Kaeya offered, “There are merchants you can talk to…”

A Liyueren shook his head seriously. “I don’t want to get murdered.”

“That’s an exaggeration…” said a young man in an Akademiya uniform. “I talked to them, and I was fine… I just don’t want to do it again.”

A noble sighed. “They thought I was a servant, and asked me to do their laundry.”

The woman pointed at a knight. “He asked me to brush his hair.”

To be fair, that last part was probably just Huffman being Huffman…

The woman continued, “Even with the conflict, people are making new products every day. Our nations are too saturated to make any money. We need new markets, and Mondstadt is the perfect opportunity.”

The scholar nodded. “People are curious about your nation. My classmates are going crazy trying to make dandelion wine.”

The noble said, “We’d rather not deal with the locals. So someone like you, who already knows the area, is perfect as a sort of… in-between.”

Kaeya thought about it, then drew his weapon.

There were gasps of alarm. The traders closest to Kaeya leaned away, and the scholar murmured, “So patriotic…”

Instead of attacking anyone, Kaeya went to the alcohol table. The ‘samples’ must be in the untouched crate… he pried it open with Jayu, and caught sight of a fiery red interior.

There were many bottles of dandelion wine, packed carefully in thick red fabric.

There were dried dandelions, too… the trademark of the Dawn Winery. But Diluc would never send wine to Kaeya’s banquet. It must be a mistake, or some sort of cheap imitation.

He took a bottle and smiled at the merchants.

“You have to try the products before selling them.”