#NO FR WHAT IS THIS LORE? HOYO?? HOYO ANSWER ME!

[kaeyachi]

PERINHERI, THE MEETINGS IN OUTREALM: SERIES IV NAMECARD, AND ITS EFFECTS TO KAEYA’S LORE

Before starting, please note that this is purely for Kaeya’s lore. If you guys are also interested in the more detailed discussion for Perinheri and the namecard (both with interesting stories and implications involving so much more than just Kaeya),then I highly suggest for you to search in various social medias for a more in depth look into each! Both of these are incredibly interesting, especially since it basically involves Khaenri'ah predicting us and our twin's arrival to Teyvat and other key characters in the Cataclysm.

Additionally, this is kinda long. This is me basically giving a tiny bit of a breakdown for Perinheri and the namecard, and then proceeding to provide 3-ish different theories for Kaeya in relation to these sources (along with older information that we got). Maybe grab a snack and some water?

Without further ado, let’s proceed with the actual lore talk and theories!

First up, I will discuss a bit about Perinheri, the book that can be purchased from Fontaine.

Perinheri is the name of the book’s protagonist. He, like all others who have arrived to Khaenri’ah are adopted into Khaenri’ahs orphanage. This orphanage accepted 2 kinds of people- people from beyond (like us, the traveler) and Teyvatian.

Soon, some of these children became the knights for Khaenri’ah. The best of these knights are mentioned specifically by Angelica (someone who says she is from pre-Morax Liyue):

Njord, who I think may be Rhinedottir due to the description of them being the one who “walks with the Darksprites (war beasts created with Alchemy)”

Alf, the greatest warrior in the Universitas Magistorum (take note of this!!)

Alberich, commander of half the knights (I’m guessing the other half was under Dainsleif? They split the kids in the divorce/j)

Perinheri, our book protagonist who is called “the undefeated” (I lowkey want this to be Capitano). He also had a best friend named Hleobrant, who is also a formidable knight as proven by his track record of easily defeating other knights who were willing to battle him.

To cut the story short, Angelica invites Hleobrant up to the surface. Perinheri, wary of her, joined them. Upon reaching the surface, however, Hleobrant turns into a monster because, according to Angelica, Hleobrant had betrayed his own archon, meaning he is a child of Teyvat. Perinheri, on the other hand, had no god to betray in the first place, implying he is an outlander (he represents no other nation other than the nation that adopted him, which is Khaenri’ah)

And with that information given to us, we are now left to assume…that the Alberich ancestor may be similar to Perinheri- someone not of this world and adopted by Khaenri’ah.

However, a certain detail from a certain namecard brings that to question as well.

In this namecard, the word Sovereign is officially used, and the one talking is involved with the Universitas Magistorum of Khaenri’ah. That means that Khaenri’ah may actually have had a dragon sovereign. Now who could this sovereign be?

We have 1 more dragon who is technically unaccounted for, and that is the Dragon King Nibelung (as mentioned by Apep and Neuvillette). Nibelung had gathered forbidden knowledge and shared it to his fellow dragon sovereigns at the time and prompted them to join him into a war against the Heavenly Principles (which led to their tragic demise).

Now, why would Nibelung possibly be Khaenri’ah’s dragon sovereign? It had only been stated by both Apep and Neuvillette that he was their Dragon King.

Well, it all boils down to their source material for Nibelung’s name. The Der Ring des Nibelung (The Ring Cycle).

The story? It involves a Nibelung (elf race) by the name of Alberich. The same story also includes the name Rhinedottir. This is why some assume that Nibelung is Khaenri’ah’s dragon sovereign.

Interestingly enough, they are also the two people who were highly involved with the Cataclysm AND the two families from Khaenri’ah that have left their children in Mondstadt (Kaeya and Albedo).

Here’s the thing. Nibelung died before the Cataclysm. That means another dragon sovereign had to have been born in replacement to the old one. Could we dare assume…based on source material…that the reborn dragon sovereign is Anfortas Alberich? Because based on the timeline, it could still happen. We are left with time in between for the Sovereign v. Heavenly Principles and the Cataclysm.

This could be an alternative idea as well as how the Alberich clan also didn’t turn into monsters instead of being descended from an outlander. If they were born of the dragon sovereign of Khaenri’ah, then they would have no archon to betray in the first place either. Additionally, this is how Anfortas became first in line and uncontested for regency - the Alberich clan technically had ruling rights due to being descendants of their sovereign.

But…where does this leave Kaeya? What does all of this imply? Why is he their last hope? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM?!

Well, I have 3 theories for this specific topic. 1- The Alberich clan is separate from Nibelung and the first Alberich is an outlander/ non-Teyvatian. 2- Anfortas Alberich was the dragon sovereign who let a mortal king rule over him (similar to Neuvillette). 3- Somehow neither? The Alberich clan could simply be born of Khaenri’ah

The Alberich clan is separate from Nibelung, and the first Alberich is an outlander/ non-Teyvatian

Since the only legit proof we have of Nibelung possibly being an Alberich is from the source material, the defense could be a bit flimsy to many. What we do have, however, is an actual implication for the clan to be descended from an outlander.

The Alberich clan in itself is a clan of nobles, and knowing how nobles are, they have this blood purity mindset that probably kept most of their clan from transforming into monsters. Pls don’t ask for the inbreeding implications my mind is already reeling over here…

Perhaps Perinheri had returned to Khaenri’ah to warn his countrymen about what could happen should a Teyvatian go back to the surface, or perhaps someone else found out at a different time. Either way, this discovery could have possibly caused blood purity concerns, and thus the selective choosing of which knights leave to fight in the surface (like that one Alberich in Sumeru) PLUS the interest in war machinery by Khaenri’ah which could help them fight in the surface.

This could be further proven by the fact that Clothar Alberich would have been shamed by his family had they known he had a child with a woman from Mondstadt. Other than the fact that the woman wasn’t a noble of Khaenri’ah, this just also risked her and the child to turning into monsters as well if they moved to Khaenri’ah (and move to Khaenri’ah they did).

But since Kaeya is not a monster, is he a pureblood then?

I kind of doubt it due to several reasons… but ignoring Kaeya’s suspicious genetics aside, what we do have is the very high possibility that Kaeya has never step foot into Khaenri’ah.

Caribert had stepped into Khaenri’ah, as implied by Clothar when he said “no more red sky”. This was how Caribert was doomed to become a hilichurl- by having Teyvatian blood and entering Khaenri’ah. If Kaeya hadn’t stepped inside Khaenri’ah, however, then he has technically not yet betrayed his archon (whether it may be Nahida, due to my assumed birth nation for him, or Venti, the archon of his current home nation).

But do you guys see how dangerous this idea is though when it comes to future plot lines? If Kaeya goes to Khaenri’ah (whether forcibly or willingly), then he would not be able to leave until we, the traveler, figure out how to fix this. No one from Teyvat can visit him either lest they want to turn into hilichurls or get trapped along with him. Even if he is somehow a pureblood, then perhaps going to Khaenri’ah would just activate his own curse of immortality, which we can highly bet that this is something he doesn’t want.

The only way he could get a free pass over this is if there is something special about him… and maybe that’s why he is called their last hope…

 Anfortas Alberich was the dragon sovereign who let a mortal king rule over him

Let us say that Hoyo did apparently want us to consider that the Alberich line are the descendants of the newly formed dragon sovereign Anfortas. What would it possibly entail?

Well, the only source material with whom we have had regular conversations with is Neuvillette, and we are 500 years too late to know the exact details of how that works, but basically we get the idea that once a dragon sovereign died, a new one will take its place later on, but not immediately. Another detail is that it takes an archon to let go of their position back to the sovereign for them to regain full power and, in general, better understanding .

While without an archon, there could be a possibility that the time spent missing a dragon sovereign had lead to Khaenri’ah choosing their own new leader- a King by the name of Irmin. We don’t know what kind of powers King Irmin had, however, since he is recognized by the people before the new dragon sovereign was reborn, then he could simply be the archon equivalent in this situation (especially since the gnosis is not important in the grand scheme of things involving rulership transfer when we really think about it).

The new sovereign could easily mingle and observe the others, it was how Neuvillette was able to hide his true self from the people of Fontaine, after all. It is also easy for the people of Khaenri’ah to assume that Anfortas is simply another lost child in need of a new home. Maybe he saw how the king ruled and approved of it?

This could honestly explain Caribert’s mental state as well despite having being turned into a hilichurl. Despite being half-Teyvatian, a portion of him might also be the blood of a dragon sovereign. Surely that must account for something?

Additionally, we don’t exactly have proof of Anfortas’ death, right? (unless I missed it somewhere…). Who knows what he has been doing if he is actually still alive after all…

This means that Kaeya can be Khaenri’ahn without his ancestors being from beyond this world. Again, however, are Kaeya’s genetics getting questioned! Why are the other Alberich successfully cursed, but Kaeya isn’t?

Boldest statement from me, a Kaeya simp, but perhaps while the other simply had dragon blood in them, Kaeya may actually be their next in line.

Because seriously speaking, Khaenri’ah still somewhat has its people, but it has no ruler. It is not our twin, they have decided to rule the Abyss Order (and the fact that they cannot assume the King/Queen position is still up for questioning, because the Abyss Order is still Kaeya's if we are following birthright). If Anfortas is still alive, then of course Kaeya can't assume the role of Dragon Sovereign, but if Anfortas actually died along the way of our travels… (5-star Kaeya? Pls Hoyo???). Also, I know the chance that Kaeya’s eye being different from the rest of the Khaenri’ahns are just because he’s an early character, but imagine how fun it would be if that was their indication that he is their next ruler hahaha

If Kaeya won’t be the next dragon sovereign (because I literally don’t have a solid backing for this one folks), then having dragon sovereign blood must mean something for him, right Like, idk, free access pass to Khaenri’ah without repercussions? Hidden abilities? Anything dragon involved?

On a side note, the amount of times the mention of  “stepping through fire” or something similar when it comes to Kaeya is looking a bit suspicious as well. The first instance is him facing Diluc’s flames. The next mention is from his father’s notes that state that “we of the Alberich Clan should lead lives as those who blaze like fire, rather than those who wallow in the embers”. The next is during his hangout quest where he had to act as the character who had walked through fire to convince his father of his innocence. It’s starting to sound like having the protective capabilities of dragon scales, does it not?

Also, doesn’t this idea make things harder for Kaeya to decide on who to side with? He quite literally will have the responsibility over this nation. Mona did say that fate will catch up with him…

The Alberich clan could simply be born of Khaenri’ah

There isn’t much to say for this other than the fact that actual Khaenri’ahns have always existed prior to all the outlanders and sovereign drama. They could have always been nobles and a family of knights. I am also trying to manage my expectations over here because the other 2 theories seem a bit too good to be true, and I think I need to calm down even though their looking very very possible to me right now thanks to the information given to us. TRYING TO MANAGE THE DELULU REAL HARD HERE.

This does, however, make Kaeya’s intentions a bit more done by him and not for his responsibilities to Khaenri’ah. Kaeya might simply want what is best for his birth nation and home nation. The simplicity sure is nice to think about.

In addition, hoyo can easily create another character to fill up the Dragon King position as well (even if that one was my favorite idea)

Also, just to put it out there because this was originally supposed to be my actual lore post before I found all these info, but I've been exchanging mildly insane ideas with @/makiandcheese and one idea I proposed was that Kaeya isn't born- he is created as partnership of a Sumeru scholar and Kaeya's father who commissioned for it (which makes him curseless and allows hints of Sumeru in his design)

The idea was that Khaenri'ah got tired of waiting for us (the traveler) to arrive and lead the war against the heavenly principles, and so they started the idea of creating their own. This then, unfortunately, was the real cause of their downfall. This surprisingly connects well with an Alberich stealing something from the Rhinedottir in the original story WHICH WAS NOT MY INTENTION, but hey if it works out huh?

This also connects to the original theory, which is the fact that in CN, Kaeya isn't a spy, but is instead described as a "pawn". A pawn is technically a part of a chess set...and Genshin has their own chess reference, which are the gnosis.

A special ability of these pawns is that once they reach the edge of the enemy's side, they could "ascend" to a higher position (alternatively, this could also imply that all archons were pawns that ascended).

Interestingly enough as well, both Mondstadt and Khaenri'ah somehow maintained the monarchy type of system (with Mondstadt slightly modifying things BUT they also still have their uncrowned king Diluc). Kaeya has positioned himself very near the top...

In conclusion!

WHAT IS THIS LORE. WHY IS THIS SO STRESSFUL FOR HIM? FOR US? I’D DRINK REGULARLY TOO, TF? We should all wrap Kaeya in several blankets and tell him very cute bedtime stories and play classical music and give him goodnight kisses and tell him words of affirmation because this all sounds EXHAUSTING.

If you managed to survive this entire hellpost of Kaeya lore and theories, then congratulations! and ily!! Odds are, I was motivated by you to actually finish this one, so thanks!