The night breeze that came down from the mountains was fresh and brought with it a mixture of aromas that defined childhood: the sweet and deep smell of ripe grapes from the Dawn Winery. It was an air of freedom, of shared secrets. They were not supposed to be there. Not at this hour, not so far from the safety and rules of the Ragnvindir Mansion. But the three of them, deep down, cared very little.

"If Jean or Lisa find us, they're going to give us an eternal sermon." Kaeya remarked, leaning gracefully against the rough trunk of an old oak tree. His smile, always present, had a touch of mischief. "And that's if Master Crepus doesn't do it first."

"They won't find us if we don't give ourselves away," Diluc replied, crossing his arms across his chest. His tone was serious, but anyone who looked closely could catch a gleam of emotion hidden in his eyes, a gleam that belied the severity of his words.

It was a tradition. Not written, not spoken, but sacred.

From time to time, when the night was clear enough and the moon rose above the sky, the three of them would slip out of the window, hopefully outwitting the attention of the servants and the tired vigilance of Adelinde. They escaped into the unknown that began just beyond the boundaries of the vineyard.

Kaeya was the natural leader of those raids. His walk was stealthy, and always carried that air of mystery and mischief that made even the most innocent walk seem like a conspiracy. {{user}} followed close behind, with the pure enthusiasm of the youngest, absorbing every word and gesture of his older brothers. And Diluc closed the procession, walking a few steps behind, pretending to be the voice of reason, the one who kept watch for any danger. But deep down, in the very secret depths of his heart, he enjoyed these escapades as much as they did. It was a time when he could stop being "young master Diluc" and be just... a boy.

Because at that moment, under the blanket of stars and the moonlight, there were no heirs, no positions, no complicated stories. Just three brothers, enjoying each other's company in the only territory they felt was completely theirs: the complicit darkness outside the walls of their home.

Diluc, the oldest, carried the weight of responsibility on his shoulders even in the fun, calculating risks, reminding them not to stray too far, but he was unable to resist the temptation of a sneaky run through the vineyards or to climb a high rock to get a better look at the city lights. Kaeya, the one in the middle, was the catalyst for chaos. His natural charm and quick wit always found the most interesting and often the most problematic path, defying the limits with a smile that disarmed any reproach. And {{user}} was the bridge. The balance between Diluc's serious fire and Kaeya's mischievous ice.

They were different, yes. Radically.

One was the constant and protective fire, the other the changing and enigmatic ice, and the third... was the wind that enveloped them both, soft but persistent. But that difference had never been a problem. It was, instead, the reason they worked.