Chapter Text
There are many places Kaeya would rather be at the moment. Pretty much anywhere would be preferable than the middle of the woods in fall moments before a heavy storm. He wishes he was back at the tavern, getting in one last drink before heading home to nurse the oncoming headache. Sadly, he had been approached by a certain bard, insisting that the cavalry captain head into the Whispering Woods.
“Why, what reason would I have for doing that?” Kaeya questioned cooly, taken back by Venti’s sudden suggestion.
“Bard’s intuition.” Venti replied, feigning innocence to his own true nature. “The wind tells me you’ll find something of great knightley interest.”
“Is that so?” His eye narrowed slightly, unable to hide his suspicions. Such a statement would be odd coming from anyone, but Venti wasn’t just anyone. Kaeya is well aware of the bard’s true identity, and his feelings on the matter are…complicated, to say the least. However, Venti has always treated him as a friend, so the least Kaeya can do is reply in kind.
For now, he finds himself wandering through the woods. A cold chill hung in the air. His mind was running with wild ideas as to what he might find. Abyss activity? Fatui meeting? Despite the many threats Mondstadt could be facing, there seems to be nothing unusual in the forest so far.
“I’m starting to feel as if our beloved archon led me on a wild goose chase…” He muttered under his breath, not feeling the need to hide his annoyance.
Thunder rolled overhead, and Kaeya weighed his options. The bottom was about to fall out, and with the already cold weather, getting soaked would be a hassle, if not an outright danger.
With a sigh, the cavalry captain turned to walk back to the city. At least, he tried. Because a sudden gust of wind pushed back against him. He wasn’t sure if that was from the storm, or a particularly persistent bard. The wind died down, and after a moment of hesitation he realized he could hear something.
Turning back to the forest, he just barely made out a figure. Someone was curled in on themselves, beneath a fallen tree and pushed up against a small cliff. Their head was hidden between their knees, and he was able to recognize the sound he heard.
Crying.
Kaeya approached as another wave of thunder rolled through the air and the first few drops of rain began to fall. Getting closer, he saw this person couldn’t be much older than 16, but it was hard to tell without getting a proper look at them. Not only that, but their clothes were soaking wet. The storm hadn’t even started, and yet shivers ran through the unknown figure as they seemingly awaited their demise.
His boot crunched against the ground below, and the mysterious person snapped up to look at him. Fear was evident on their face, and Kaeya could see just how young they really were. Yet, alongside the fear there was something he couldn't quite name. Bewilderment and recognition somehow mixed together.
Giving a small smile, he held his hands in front of him.
“Hey, it’s alright. I’m not here to hurt you.” He spoke calmly. “It’s about to storm. Would you like me to escort you home?”
The child’s lip quivered. Whether it was from the cold or fear, he couldn’t tell. They seemed hesitant to speak at all.
“Can you stand?” The knight asked, wanting to get back to the city as soon as possible. A cold breeze blew against them. The child flinched as their body convulsed with shivers, before shaking their head slightly. One leg was pushed forward, and before anything else, Kaeya realized this person had no shoes. Their feet were covered in cuts and bumps. A couple of thorns were stuck in their heels in a way that couldn’t possibly be comfortable.
Then he noticed how swollen their ankle was. It was as red as a cardinal, and it was doubtful any weight could be put on it.
The rain grew harder, and a memory from long ago flashed in Kaeya’s mind.
Of a stormy night almost a decade ago, when a man stumbled across a frightened child and brought him into the warmth of a home.
“I’m going to help you, okay?” Kaeya forced himself to say, moving closer. He unclipped his cape and laid it on the child, hoping to provide some kind of warmth or comfort. He then picks them up, and could feel just how hard they were shivering. Despite how cold they were, Kaeya could feel a developing fever.
He lifted the child and ran. They clung to him tightly, and he pretended his heart didn’t break as sobs managed to find their way through the storm.
The sound of footsteps on mud became footsteps on stone. Running past the gates, Kaeya ignored the guards. They couldn’t help, and he needed to get out of the rain as soon as possible.
Kaeya cursed the city’s vertical design, with all its stairs. Typically, the chapel acted as the city’s center of health. All the nuns there were trained in medicine to aid the people of Mondstadt. But this kid needed to be out of the rain as soon as possible, so he picked the second best option.
He burst through the Favonius HQ doors, startling the guards standing at the entrance.
“Captain Kaeya?!” One of them gasped.
“Someone call a healer!” He ordered immediately. “I found a child in the Whispering Woods. They were soaking wet even before the storm hit. A fever is developing, and their feet are likely to be infected. Go!”
Both guards scrambled to follow orders as the captain continued to the medical wing. Once there, he places them on the first bed he sees. A few moments later, some of the medical knights came in, explaining that the nuns would arrive in an hour or so. Kaeya stepped away, and let the professionals get to work. He watched for a moment, before a knight walked over to him with a towel.
“You’re soaked, sir.” The young knight said as they made their offering.
Kaeya cracked a smile. “It would seem I am.” He spoke, taking the towel and beginning to dry his hair. “Thank you. I wouldn’t want to drip all over the report papers.”
The knight gave a solute, and Kaeya dismissed them with a nod. He looked over to the child he found once more before turning away. This would be a long night.
The report he wrote wasn’t much. At least, not yet. Leaving out the involvement of Venti, it simply stated he found an injured child in the woods before a storm. Said storm was now raging outside the window, thunder shaking the foundations of the city. There’s no doubt that the kid would have died out there. Lightning, falling trees, flash flooding, aggravated monsters, hypothermia… His mind was a never ending list of all the threats one could face in a storm like this.
Some threats he himself had once faced.
Despite how simple the report had been, quite some time had passed. Mostly, he was looking through records of missing persons, trying to find anyone who matched the child’s description. And yet, there was nothing.
His gaze wandered towards the window, watching as drops of water glide down the window. His eye then went to the clock on the wall. It’s late, and he should be getting home. Before that though, he needed to check on them again….
Walking through the halls, Kaeya made his way to the medical wing. Before opening the door, he could hear a gentle voice singing softly. Quietly, he slowly opened the door, seeing none other than Barbara sitting at the stranger’s side. A smile found itself on his face. He leaned in the doorway, taking a moment to listen.
“Lovely as always.” He eventually mused. In response, Barbara squeaked in surprise..
“Captain Kaeya! My apologies, I didn’t realize you were there.” She said, standing up with her hands waving.
Kaeya laughed lightly. He doesn’t like to tease the idol too much. Poor girl already has enough on her plate. “No worries, Barbara. I just wanted to check on our friend here.” His gaze fell on the child in bed. There was a damp cloth on their forehead, likely to try and bring the fever down. “I feel much better knowing they were in your capable hands.”
Barbara accepted the praise with a shy nod, before picking up a clipboard and walking over to the captain.
“Here’s everything we could find.”
Kaeya took the board, reading over the sheet as Barbara vocally explained everything.
“Their feet were the main source of worry. The medical knights mostly took care of them before I arrived, removing the debris embedded in the skin and disinfecting the wounds. They were given a change of clothes, since they were soaked, but...”
“Hm?” Kaeya looked up from the medical report, raising a brow. “But…?”
“Well, I was told that when the medical knights tried changing their clothes, they suddenly freaked out.”
“Really? I didn’t think they even had the energy…”
“Neither did the knights. It was only when one of the knights asked if they could change themselves did they calm down.”
That was certainly a strange detail. When Kaeya brought the child in, they were barely conscious, clinging to him as if they’d vanish without him. But their apparent panic at being undressed is certainly concerning.
“They almost immediately passed out once they were changed. The poor thing was exhausted.” Barbara looked over to the child, sleeping with uneasy breaths.
“What’s the outlook?” Kaeya asked, following her gaze.
“I believe they will recover. The next few days will be rough, but they should come out the other side.”
With an understanding nod, Kaeya placed a hand on Barbara’s shoulder. “Thank you for your help, sister Barbara. Go get yourself some rest.”
Barbara smiled. “No trouble at all. I’m happy to help.” She moved to the door. “I’ll come back tomorrow to check up on them.”
“Do you have an escort?”
“One of the sisters said they would send Rosaria!”
“Then I have nothing to worry about.”
After their goodbyes, Kaeya took in the silence before looking over at the bed. Walking over, he sat at the bedside of this mystery person. Thinking.
Though he would never admit it out loud, this situation was uncomfortably familiar. He couldn’t imagine this was someone else from Khaenri'ah, though. The lack of stars in their eyes confirmed that. Still, what could possibly lead to such a scenario?
Nothing was adding up. A child found soaking wet in the middle of autumn right before a massive storm. Their clothes were strange as well, looking unlike any fashion he’d seen throughout Tevyat. The fabric was odd as well. And the lack of shoes? For someone to run into the middle of the woods barefoot, there must have been a motivating factor. Were they being chased? By who or what? There were hilichurl camps nearby but no sign of them by the time Kaeya had arrived.
“Kaeya?” A familiar voice broke the man out of his thoughts. He turned to see Jean standing in the doorway. Her mere presence somehow allows the tension in his shoulders to bleed away.
“Acting Grand Master.” He responded with a playful smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m worried about you, Captain Kaeya.” She responded with his official title this time, walking over with a smile. “As well as this one here…” Her gaze fell to the bed in front of them.
The child seemed to be having a restless sleep. Their skin was still burning with fever. Every now and then, a weak voice would mutter out apologies. For what, Kaeya didn’t know.
“Jeanie, why ever would you be worried about me in this situation?”
“Because I know you, Kaeya. And I know you’re thinking of every possible thing that could have gone wrong, or could go wrong.”
Kaeya could only chuckle softly in reply. He can’t exactly argue against the truth. Especially when it comes from one of the only two people who can read him like a book.
“I suppose you’re right.” He admitted. Raising his hand, he channeled the smallest amount of elemental energy to his fingertips. Lightly resting his palm on the child’s forehead, he can only hope it provides some amount of respite.
“What are you thinking?” Jean spoke again.
“No clue. And we won’t be able to learn anything until they’re better.”
“Hm.”
The two stood in silence, watching over the child as their shivers began to slowly subside. Pained whines grew softer, and finally their breathing evened out.
“You’re worried.” Jean broke the silence.
“Of course I am.” Kaeya doesn’t like to admit his own weakness, but Jean is someone he trusts completely and wholly.
A hand rested on his back, and the man looked up at his friend. Jean smiled down at him, her eyes crinkling ever so slightly.
“It’ll be okay.” It was as if she willed reassurance and kindness into her every word. “We have to get through this part. We can worry about what comes after when we get there. But for now, know that you saved a life.”
“Hm.”
It wasn’t long after that Kaeya made his leave, only after making Jean promise to get some sleep before the sun starts to rise. For now, there was one last order of business he needed to address before heading home. Walking down the street in the now-dying rain, he made it to Angel’s Share.
There was a small chime as Kaeya entered the bar. With long strides he made his way to the counter.
“Captain!” Charles greeted. “Good to see you.”
“Likewise, Charles.” He smiled with ease, glancing around before his eye landed on who he was looking for. A bard clad in green stood in the corner, gently strumming his lyre. Venti glanced up, nodding slightly before thanking his crowd and moving to the upstairs area.
“Shall I pour your usual?” Charles offered.
“Not tonight. I’d like to get a bottle of a white vintage.” Kaeya responded. “Two glasses, please.”
After receiving his order, Kaeya took the bottle and glasses and walked up the stairs. This is typically the less populated part of the tavern, and it was completely empty at the moment except for a table in the corner. Sitting there was Venti.
“Greetings, Captain Kaeya!” The bard said cheerfully. “Looking for a private performance?”
“Perhaps…” He mused, walking over and sitting across from the other. The two glasses were placed on the wood with a “clank”. Popping the cork off the bottle, Kaeya smoothly fills each glass. The two men took their respective drink and took a sip.
“So…” The captain began, placing his drink down. “Seems like your tip was spot on.”
“The wind never lies.” Venti mused with a wink.
“Indeed. Though the wind could do with including more details.”
“Mm. Perhaps~” With a giggle, Venti finished his first glass, placing it gently back on the table. A moment passed, eyes focused on the glass. “How are they?” The bard asked softly.
“Alive.” Kaeya replied. “Their feet are torn, and currently suffering from a bad fever due to infection. However, Barbara has given an optimistic outlook.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“It is. But…none of this sits right with me…”
Silence hangs above them, both knowing what the other is thinking. Every aspect of the situation was odd. There was no moving the conversation forward, at least not on its current path. Kaeya sighed, reaching for his glass and taking another sip.
“Well…” Venti spoke once more. “I guess that leaves only one question left.”
Kaeya blinked. “Huh?”
“How are you going to help this lost soul?”
He did have a point. Once the kid is awake and fully healed, what then? It doesn’t seem like they have any place to return to. Or rather, any place they want to return to. And despite how suspicious everything feels, he knows fear when he sees it. Even if that child has their secrets, they’re also deeply afraid. A pang of uncomfortability rang through his chest. This is too familiar for his liking. If this is a threat to Mondstadt, or truly a child in need, his answer is the same either way.
“I think I have an idea.”