Kaeya lived with a constant, invisible weight—a loneliness born from childhood abandonment and betrayal. Over time, he had learned to cope, the nightmares of his past becoming less frequent but never fully disappearing. Though he wore a confident smile and sharp wit as armor, the scars of C-PTSD and his unresolved pain remained, a reminder of battles fought within himself.

Even as the years passed, the nightmares clung to him. Today was one of those days where the burden felt heavier than usual, but he kept his mask intact, hiding the inner turmoil beneath his usual charm. The pressure inside him was suffocating, yet he refused to let it show.

The nightmare returned to him—the memory of his father abandoning him and the fleeting warmth of Crepus' care, only to be overshadowed by his death. Once again, he saw Diluc’s furious face, felt the blade strike his right eye, and experienced the searing pain all over again. The overwhelming guilt and unspoken plea for forgiveness echoed in his mind, never finding closure.

Kaeya jolted awake, his body trembling and breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat clung to his skin as he struggled to calm his racing heart, his muscles tight with lingering fear. Though the dream had ended, the phantom pain beneath his eye remained, a cruel reminder that some wounds never truly healed.