Chapter Text
The lights dimmed and the audiences chatter silenced. Kaeya couldn’t help but grin, he always wanted to see a magic show ever since he was young but never got too. But now he was here, in Fontaine watching the famous Lyney and Lynette preform. Not only that he was here with Diluc, his older brother. The two had reconciled a bit ago and this was their first big outing as brothers again.
“You seem excited.” Diluc grumbled out quietly as Lyney walked onto the stage. Kaeya nodded his head, he was astatic, Diluc couldn’t help but shake his head lightly at the youngest giddy expression. It was nice seeing Kaeya having a break.
As Lyney rambled on stage about magic and introducing his assistant, Lynette, Diluc took the time to look around. The two arrived right when the show was about to begin, due to Kaeya taking his sweet time getting ready in the hotel. To be honest he was shocked they managed to grab tickets, there was only one spot left when he went to buy them and he was going to give it to Kaeya. But then they ran into a young lady who gave her ticket to Kaeya instead, stating she wasn’t able to make it and overheard their conversation. After giving them a written and signed paper stating she indeed handed her ticket to them she left. He’ll have to repay her if he sees her.
His allowed eyes scanned the area, he spotted the Hydro Archon sitting above, staring at the magicians and then he spotted the traveler. He shouldn’t be too surprised, he heard about the travelers deeds in Sumeru so it was only time they’d come to Fontaine. He just didn’t expect them to be at the show sitting in the front, another interesting person he spotted what the male sitting next to the traveler. He had long white hair and looked elegant and gave off important vibes.
Either way, Diluc didn’t spot anything out of the ordinary and went back to watching the show. It was impressive, the water tank trick was something else as well. Suddenly a box appeared in the isle and on the stage.
The magician claiming he’ll switch spots with whichever lucky audience member gets chosen to help with the trick. Lyney then took out a random number selector and spun it before reading the seat and row numbers out loud.
Diluc hummed and checked his ticket before realizing the number called out was right next to him. He turned to look to Kaeya as a spotlight shined down on his brother.
“You! My lucky gentleman has been chosen to participate within this trick.” Lyney exclaimed. Kaeya’s eye widened as he looked to Diluc,
“Go ahead.” He said.
“Oh I will. This is amazing.” Kaeya whispered, causing Diluc to chuckle a bit as Kaeya stood and walked to the box in the audience isle.
Lyney explained the instructions and Diluc watched his brother disappear into the box, the audience began to count down and Diluc mumbled along. His eyes watching the box, a bit anxious with his brother out of sight. He really got his protective side back full force the second they reconciled. He heard a random thud but didn’t think much of it, knowing it was probably someone within the audience or Kaeya fumbling in the box.
He was a bit thrown off guard when Lyney exited the box with ten seconds remaining before jumping back in. Then the countdown ended and the light shined onto the box in the audience, soon Lyney bursted out. Diluc couldn’t help be feel impressed and clapped as the magician motioned to the box on stage where his brother was supposed to come out.
Pyrotechnics went off, fireworks and flames to make the act more dramatic and then a snap was heard and Diluc watched in pure horror as the water tank from above fell and crushed the box on the stage.
Everyone was quiet.
Diluc looked to Lyney to see if this was a part of the show, praying it was apart of the show but instead he saw pure shock, horror and confusion on the magicians face.
“This is apart of the show, right?” A lady asked in the audience but all that came out of Lyneys mouth was stutters and gasps of shock.
“N-No. This-“ Lyney was cut off by the elegant man from before as he gave orders to the guards and the audience. But Diluc didn’t listen, he couldn’t not when he could see the blood slowly seeping and pooling from under the debris of the crushed box. The body hidden away in the rubble as guards swarmed the scene, stopping him from seeing anymore.
Diluc felt nothing but horror and rage.
He came here with his little brother to enjoy and relax but instead his brother died in some stupid fucking magic trick.
In a fit of pure rage Diluc, not knowing he interrupted the Hydro Archon, ran at Lyney and grabbed him by the collar of his neck.
“What did you do?!” he growled, he felt like a animal, baring his teeth and glaring as the smaller man.
“S-Sir! This wasn’t-“
“Enough!”
Diluc snapped his head towards where the voice shouted, he saw the elegant man and the traveller staring at him. One looking at him sternly and the other looking shocked and saddened.
“Enough? Did you just say enough?” Diluc asked with a laugh, he heard others whispering as he threw Lyney to the ground.
“Are you aware who was in that box?” Diluc asked as he walked up to the other man, glaring. His hair smoking as small bits slowly began to light on fire due to his rage. His vision pulls and responded to his rage and sorrow.
“Sir. I understand you’re shock and I’m assuming the man within that box was close to-“
“That man was my little brother!” Diluc shouted.
(Unknowingly to Diluc the magician stared at him with saddened eyes, thinking how he would have felt if his younger brother was the one in the box.)
“D-Diluc! You need to calm down. Neuviellite here is the Judge. We’ll find out what caused this.” Paimon exclaimed. Neuviellite nodded,
“We will. I’m sorry for your loss but I promise you we will find who’s behind this.” He said. Diluc clenched his fists, his nails digging into his skin as the Hydro Archon spoke up, accusing the magician as the culprit. And as much as Diluc wanted to agree with her, he knew better then anyone else then to jump to conclusions.
He took in a deep breath, his hair turning back to normal as he closed his eyes and allowed the sound of everyone talking to drown out into the background. His eyes opened and wandered over to the crime scene, his eyes watering as he prayed.
“Please, Barbatos, with some miracle. Let my brother be safe. Let the one who was in that box not be him. Please do not take him from me when I just got him back. Please, let the wind guide him home.” Diluc spoke softly.
“You’re from Mondstadt.”
Diluc glanced over to see Neuviellite, people were filing out in a single file line. He didn’t realize how much time passed.
“I am.” Diluc mumbled and looked at the other, a bit on edge. Before Neuviellite could respond a giggle was heard and none other than the Hydro Archon skipped in.
“My my. What a turn of events! Even a vision holder hailing from Mondstadt is involved. Do tell, does Barbatos really leave his nation in the hands of his people?” She asked. Diluc felt his eye twitch, before he could say or do another rash Neuviellite spoke up.
“Furina. Now is not the time. This man just lost his brother.”
Furina sighed.
“You are right. My apologies, either way I do hope we have a wonderful battle in court Traveler.” She chirped and turned to attention to the other. Diluc wanted to strangle the god but instead he stepped away from the party and towards the crime scene.
“Ah! Diluc where are you headed?” Paimon asked, catching everyone’s attention.
“To see what the fuck happened to my brother.”
“If you get involved, you will not be allowed to leave the building.” Neuviellite mentioned. Diluc scoffed,
“I was involved the second my brother was taken for that stupid magic trick.” He hissed and glared over at Lyney and Lynette. Lyney hiding behind his twin.
“Very well.” He heard Neuviellite say as Diluc mad his way onto the stage. He was going to find out what happened.
Diluc walked up to the crime scene, his nose scrunching up at the strong smell of copper. Before he could ask the guards there he heard someone call for him.
“Sir!”
Diluc turned to see Lyney and his sister running over, he glared at the two as they approached.
“Sir. I apologize for what happened. I swear this was not apart of the show, nothing like this e-“
“Are you aware who was inside that box?” Diluc asked, his voice calm.
“Your little brother.” Lynette responded.
“Do you know what my little brothers role is back home?” He asked. The two shook their heads.
“We’re from Mondstadt. He’s the Calvary Captain and Quartermaster. And now he’s dead and so far all claims are pointed towards you two. Be lucky we don’t wage war.” Diluc hissed.
The two looked concerned at his semi threat, Diluc couldn’t care less. He knew that Jean would not let the death of her right hand man go off smoothly when she finds out two Fontainians killed him.
Before he could focus on the crime scene, the traveler and Paimon ran over. The two explained what was happening and asked if Diluc would wish to join them.
Diluc agreed. He was neutral at the moment even though he kinda wanted to just blame Lyney so he had someone to lash out on. Either way he took the notebook Paimon handed to him, taking the role as notetaker as the other two talked with people, knowing he’d get worked up if he talked.
He just hopes he’d find some answers.
Kaeya wasn’t in the box.
His little brother wasn’t the one in the box.
It was some man he can’t bother to remember the name of because all he cared about is that his brother wasn’t the one who got crushed.
Barbatos heard his prayers.
He’ll remember to treat Venti when he gets back.
“If it wasn’t Kaeya in the box then where did he go?” Paimon asked as they walked over to where Lyney and Lynette were conversing with the guards. A lady named Navia and her companions joining them.
“Somewhere safe I hope.” Diluc mumbled. He tried using elemental sight since Kaeya was a vision holder but he found no traces.
They reached the two magicians and they explained that they’d be heading below stage where the swapping trick magic takes place. Diluc grumbled a bit to himself, a bit mad he’d get the trick spoiled but he also didn’t care since he needed more clues for where his brother went.
They descended the ladder and immediately was hit with a wave of cold.
“That’s strange, it shouldn’t be this co-“ Lyney was cut off as the group took in what happened below ground. Shards of ice scattered the area, props and boxes where covered in frost or ice. Any liquid was frozen solid as snow particles fell softly, accumulating on the ground.
It was like they entered an entirely different biome.
“Your brother. What was his vision exactly?” Navia asked as she shivered, Silver handing her a coat immediately.
“Cryo. He was a Cryo holder.” Diluc mumbled as he stepped forward, he heard the guard saying that Lyney and Lynette couldn’t stay with them but he didn’t really pay attention. He thinks the twins were also explaining the trick to the group but again, he didn’t care.
Instead he wandered the frozen tunnel, his steps slow so he didn’t slip. He didn’t want to melt anything either since this was evidence.
Soon he reached the end of the tunnel, the trolley resting at the end of the track as well. And laying within the trolley, was none other then his brother’s vision.
The wings clipped and vision letting out large pulses of Cryo, causing the tunnel to stay as a frozen tundra. Diluc let out a shaky breath of air, it releasing in a puff from the cold.
His brother was somewhere, without his vision.
Diluc could only hope that he was okay.
He heard footsteps behind him then the small gasp that would only belong to none other then Paimon.
“Is that?”
“Kaeya vision? Yes. Yes it is.” Diluc mumbled as he wrote the evidence down.
“Can I pick it up?” He asked.