when I played Caribert, I was pretty disappointed about the lack of impact Dain seemed to have on Kaeya, honestly. during Kaeya's hangout, he didn't mention the weird cryptic blond dude who just dropped family lore once, which I thought would have been pretty important?
but in truth, I think Dain actually had a HUGE impact on Kaeya.
we can all know that from Kaeya's personal lore and former events that Kaeya had very conflicted feelings over his duty to Khaenri'ah and his love for Mondstadt, even with his estranged relationship with Diluc (which now seems partly fixed?), but in the performance route of Kaeya's hangout, Kaeya makes his choice.
The story of Prince Qubad is a very thinly veiled metaphor for Khaenri'ah all throughout, and then we finally get to the end scene of the play:
Kaeya: When I departed my beloved home to fight in a foreign land, I did so to honor his (my father's) wishes and for my duty to our people.
Kaeya: alas, is this fate's grand design… that I should spend the rest of my days in a foreign land, till I am laid to rest in a grave far from home?
K: Must it be so…?
K: my dear audience, I ask you this: do you believe in fate? if fate decreed that your life was to end in tragedy, what would you do?
Traveler: I would challenge my fate, and rise above it. / I would bravely face my fate.
K: then so must it be! I shall discard this intaglio, and rid myself of the shackles of fate.
G: my dear prince, do you intend to betray your father, and abandon your heritage?
K: fate means to send the machinations of war to every corner of the land, to fan the flames of conflict til they engulf the entire world…
K: fate would see my sword tainted with the blood of innocents, that the bright banner of my homeland might fly in every nation known to mankind.
K: but I shall not bow to the will of fate. I am no pawn in heaven's plan.
K: I, Kaeya Qubad, will spend the rest of my days in a foreign land, til I breathe my last in a place far from home.
K: but I must walk this path, or freedom dies by my hand. goodbye, my tribe and kin. farewell, sweet land of my birth.
after a lifetime of questioning his role, Kaeya makes his choice for Mondstadt. and I think this happening after meeting Dain isn't a coincidence. (and no, not in a soulmate way or shipping way- this is Kaeya's moment of choice, not infatuation.)
after not only learning the history of his origins, Kaeya meets a Khaenri'ahn who... doesn't want to return Khaenri'ah to its glory days? who is more focused on helping others and minimizing damage than causing more for his own gain? who chose his path and has not budged since, even through loss?
Kaeya gets to see someone who is so Khaenri'ahn, so human at his core, someone who cares not for the fate and tragedy of their nation. He gets to meet someone from his homeland who tells him to leave it all behind, who tells him he should take the chance he has been given at his own life.
even though he never said it, I think meeting Dainsleif helped Kaeya choose his own path, which is all Dain asked of him, anyway.
(this is not intended as romantic/ship so at the very least please don't turn my analysis post into a ship post, please 🙏)
romaincrisis
gamechangershow
origamiaround
yousharknotpass
ellievsbear
