[ everyone lies— that's an unchallenged truth that kaeya has lived with for most of his life. he has never been the type to believe in people's kindness at surface value, so the same goes for anyone who has more sinister things in mind, like the regent. it's hard to say just how much kaeya believes what the regent has told everyone, because ryunosuke is right — they haven't once given a straight answer nor any proof to back up their claims — but at the same time...

whatever flicker of doubt kaeya has only shows in a bright whisp of blue, but when he fixes ryunosuke with a steady gaze, it slowly dies out. ]

I'll give you that. The Regent isn't exactly the most straightforward when it comes to their claims, but what of the Pleroma? What about you? How do you plan to bring back what was taken from us?

[ everything that he's kept inside is spilling forth without him meaning to, because this isn't something he wants to confront right now— but there it is, anyway. ]

Were you banking on the power of... hope? To get you through this?

[ muted laughter escapes him. it's bitter and cruel all at once. ]

What good will it to do keep this world alive?

[ it won't bring back everything, everyone, that is now gone, so why should it get to stay? ]