The Brick and the Box from Hidden Strife.
A few people asked me about where I, and the wiki, know about Anfortas being related to Kaeya and an Alberich; and while I've covered it before with my post about my theory he's Kaeya's father directly, I'll go over something else about it here.
ENGLISH:
Mysterious Box in a Secret Compartment:
The objects in the box are all pretty old. One particular sheet of paper stands out.
A piece of it has been burned away, and the remaining parts show signs of having been rescued from that same flame.
Every line on this sheet of paper has a matching one right under it. From the handwriting, it looks like a child wrote on this first before an adult stepped in, held their hand, and taught them how to do it the second time.
The writings are as follows:
"Remember always that it was the Alberich Clan, who did not have royal blood, who stepped in as regents when the strength of the one-eyed king Irmin failed."
"Though we could not restore Khaenri'ah to life, we of the Alberich Clan should lead lives as those who blaze like fire, rather than those who wallow in the embers."
If you flip the paper over, there are other words there. You reckon these must be annotations of some sort.
"I saved this one memento from the fire 'Father' made while he wasn't paying attention. This was in violation of our principles. Our clan's affairs should never be recorded."
"For me, this sheet of paper cannot serve as any form of identification, and will not give me passage anywhere."
"Now that I look at it, his handwriting was as grieving as a smoking ash pile. There is no way that I can write something like that, living in Mondstadt as I am."
Moving the paper aside, you can see a cloth bag underneath it that contains an eyepatch of significant age. A sticker is attached to the side, and the text on it reads:
"Hah! To think that all that play-acting as a one-eyed pirate would eventually end with one actual wounded eye."
"I have never blamed Diluc for that. I suppose I must have been asking for it, telling him the truth the day my adoptive father died without expecting conflict to emerge somehow."
"He seems to believe that I really was blinded, though that's not the case. Well, I've fooled him for a while, haven't I? Might as well keep going."
Two letters lie beneath the bag, all of which have "D" as their sender. The letters are in great condition, and there is a time written on the back. This is most likely the time these letters were received.
You can tell that the words have been written in a strong but elegant hand.
it then goes on with the letters from Diluc and some mementos he has stashed up there.
So here's the part that was harder to find:
CHINESE:
（这块砖…似乎有点奇怪？）
（这是…暗格？里面有个匣子…）
匣中的物品似乎都有些年头了。其中有张纸片十分显眼。
它被烧掉了一块，剩余部分看起来就像是从火堆里抢救出来的残渣。
纸上，每两行内容都完全相同。看笔迹似乎是有个孩子先写了一遍，某位大人又握着孩子的手再教了一遍。
所写内容如下：「…务必记得，独眼的王者伊尔明失能之后，是不流有王血的亚尔伯里奇一族挺身而出，暂任摄政。」
「虽无法使坎瑞亚起死回生，可我亚尔伯里奇一族的生命应是瞬息辉煌的烈焰，而非黯淡苟活的余烬。」
将纸张翻过来，背面还有别的字，应该是批注之类的东西。
「趁『父亲』不注意从火堆中抢回的唯一纪念。我违背了原则，有关家族的事本不该被记录下来。」
「于我，这张纸不能成为任何身份证明，无法支撑我去往任何地方。」
「如今看来，他的笔迹也如行将燃尽的火焰一般悲戚。生活在蒙德的我，是无法写出那种笔迹的。」
拿开纸张，底下还有只布袋，里面是一只陈旧的眼罩。旁边附有标签纸，其上的文字是：
「没想到从前假装独眼海盗骗人，终有一日自己也伤了一只眼。」
「我从没有责怪迪卢克的意思。选在义父去世那日吐露实情，发生纠纷也很正常。这都是我自找的。」
「他好像当真了。不过我没有真瞎，骗了他好一阵子…也好，就这样继续下去吧。」
布袋下方摆着两封信，署名都是「D」。信件被保存得非常好，背面标有时间，应该是收信的日子。
信上的字迹潇洒有力又不失华美。
That's right. I found it in Chinese. Let's go.
DEEPL (For Easy Comparison):
(This brick… seems a little strange?)
(Is this… a secret compartment? There’s a box inside…)
The items in the box seem to be quite old. One piece of paper stands out in particular.
A section of it has been burned away, and the remaining part looks like a charred remnant salvaged from a fire.
On the paper, every other line is exactly the same. Judging by the handwriting, it seems a child wrote it once, and then an adult guided the child’s hand to write it again.
The text reads as follows:
“…Remember this: after the one-eyed king, Ilmin, became incapacitated, it was the Alberich clan—who do not possess royal blood—that stepped forward to serve as regents.”
“Though we cannot bring Kanria back to life, the lives of us, the Alberich clan, should be a fleeting, brilliant flame—not the dim embers of a miserable existence.”
Turning the paper over, there were more words on the back—presumably annotations or something similar.
“The only memento I snatched from the fire while ‘Father’ wasn’t looking. I went against my principles—matters concerning the family should never have been recorded.”
“To me, this piece of paper serves as no proof of identity; it cannot sustain me on my journey to any place.”
“Looking at it now, his handwriting seems as sorrowful as a flame about to burn out. Living in Mondstadt, I could never write like that.”
Pulling the paper aside, I found a cloth pouch beneath it containing a well-worn eye patch. Attached to it was a label with the following words:
“I never imagined that after pretending to be a one-eyed pirate to deceive others, I would one day lose an eye myself.”
“I never meant to blame Diluc. It was only natural that a dispute would arise when I revealed the truth on the very day my foster father passed away. I brought this upon myself.”
“It seems he took it seriously. But I’m not really blind—I’ve been fooling him for quite a while… Well, let’s just keep it that way.”
Beneath the cloth bag lay two letters, both signed “D.”
The letters were in excellent condition, with dates marked on the back—presumably the dates they were received.
The handwriting on the letters was bold and fluid, yet elegant.
There are some difference. Namely the Chinese version actually makes some sense and the English has parts that sound nonsensical.
tKetLation:
I'm not going to translate the unimportant stuff, just the bits I feel matter- namely the letters contents.
「…务必记得，独眼的王者伊尔明失能之后，是不流有王血的亚尔伯里奇一族挺身而出，暂任摄政。」
You must remember, after the one-eyed king became unable to rule, it was the Alberich Clan一that did not have royal blood一that stepped forward as temporary regents.
Note:
失能 means disabled. Losing the ability to take care of themselves, so it doesn't actually say he's dead? but defintely incapacitated or unable to rule.
挺身而出 is a solid piece. It's "to step forward bravely" and it's an idiom that means taking action in the face of injustice or danger. It has moral weight to be very courageous and implies personal sacrifice. He's essentially saying the Alberich gave up a lot to do this. My sauce says this is the theatric drama "I'll handle this" of someone being personally brave and taking responsibility. It's true nobility. So in contrast to saying "while we weren't royal, we were more noble."
「虽无法使坎瑞亚起死回生，可我亚尔伯里奇一族的生命应是瞬息辉煌的烈焰，而非黯淡苟活的余烬。」
Although I am incapable of recovering Khaenriah, the lives of the Alberich clan should blaze like a raging fire, not flicker away like dim, dying embers.
Note: 暗淡 is "dim" but it can also mean bleak, dull, and gloomy. It's said in complete contrast to 烈焰 or "raging fires" so dying embers does work but the tone of this sentence was more... conviction than pity. He's essentially looking at his son and saying "We shouldn't have to live like this, we were meant for greater things."
「趁『父亲』不注意从火堆中抢回的唯一纪念
I took advantage while 'Father' wasn't paying attention and snatched a single memento from the fire.
Note: it really does say snatch, the word can also mean scramble. Even as a kid, Kaeya had his flickers of stubbornness apparently. The word memento here can also be keepsake or relic. It's something of memory.
我违背了原则
I went against my principals.
Note: Principals can also be "Doctrine." If you want to simplify this, he broke the rules/law he was told.
有关家族的事本不该被记录下来。」
Matters of the clan should not be written down.
Note: this is a bit interesting.
记录 is recording, note taking, record keeping-- stuff like that.
下来 is the word "to come down" or like- it's more a nuance word and means with the intent to share.
So the rule wasn't that it couldn't necessarily be written down: but more he wasn't allowed to share it. This is stuff people should not know. This is not to be recorded in history.
「于我，这张纸不能成为任何身份证明无法支撑我去往任何地方。」
To me, this paper cannot turn into any form of identification. It cannot offer me any support to go anywhere.
于 is a final sentence marker. This is the end statement.
So to Kaeya, it's nothing. It's nothing worth recording anyway.
「如今看来，他的笔迹也如行将燃尽的火焰一般悲戚。生活在蒙德的我，是无法写出那种笔迹的。」
Nowadays, his handwriting looks like a dying (or exhausted) flame. Living in Mondstadt, I'm incapable of writing like that.
baby boy.
The rest of the letter isn't as important-- but hey look:
「我从没有责怪迪卢克的意思。
I never did blame Diluc,
我 I
从没 Never did
有 to exist, to be. (See this as 'placed' or 'have')
责怪 to blame, to rebuke,
迪卢克 Diluc.
意思 is a tonal marker. This entire sentence is opinion or affectionate. This sentence is a gesture of good will.
选在义父去世那日吐露实情，发生纠纷也很正常。
I chose the day when my Yifu passed away to reveal my truth.
The "I" carries over as that was a comma.
选 Chose
在 to, located at, to exist
义父 Yifu. Yifu is yifu. Foster is a very misguided understanding of that meaning but it works for easier translation if you have no other somewhat words, which English does not. Ward Father doesn't sound as nice.
去世 passed away.
那 That
日 Day
吐露 to tell, to reveal
实情 actual situation, truth
这都是我自找的。」
this was all suffering I brought on myself.
OR
I did it to myself.
这 This
都 all
是 is
我 I, my, or me
自找 is "to suffer as a consequence of one's own actions" or to bring it on oneself (sth unpleasant). You asked for this.
So literally translates to "This is all my fault."
The connection:
This is a note you can find right outside of Khaenriah:
Chinese:
【似乎记录了重要内容的布告，但由于时代久远，其上的内容已难以辨识。】
…鉴于至高的王者伊尔明已处于失能状态，以及王国目前所面临的未知的威胁…
…·骑士元帅安弗塔斯已宣布将暂时代理摄政一职，并领导「救国会议」直到王国恢复正常状态…
……
…请诸位国民…等待…必将…
DeepL:
[This appears to be a proclamation containing important information, but due to the passage of time, the text is now difficult to decipher.]
…In light of the fact that the Supreme Ruler Ilmin is currently incapacitated, and given the unknown threats currently facing the kingdom…
…·Marshal Anfortas has announced that he will temporarily assume the role of regent and lead the “Council for the Salvation of the Nation” until the kingdom returns to normal…
……
…We ask all citizens… to wait… for what is sure to come…
From what I can tell the translation in EN isn't bad, just a bit broken as the letter is broken itself, but i wanted to check that 失能 is the same, and it is. It's saying King Irmin is out and someone had to step up. 代理 is 'act as an agent or proxy' 摄政 to act as regent- so an a proxy regent. Holding until further notice- a time of peace, which never came.
So Kaeya, as direct line and proxy, is the acting prince of Khaenriah until further notice, being a time of peace.
----⋆⋆✧✧✦⋆-✦-⋆✦✧✧⋆⋆----
Other Notes
Then the box continues to show he has Diluc's letters, some seashells, and trinkets.
Please note he keeps this with the last memento of his father. Diluc means a LOT to Kaeya.
给K：
知道了，感谢你的来信。
另外，不建议你在写给我的信里提什么眼睛。别以为我不知道你右眼没瞎。
"Message Received. Thank you for writing. But, I don't recommend carrying on about your eye. Don't mistake that I am unaware that your right eye wasn't blinded."
You can practically HEAR Kaeya's smile in his response to this.
(Letter 5, saying he didn't MEAN to hide it from him, when in Letter 4 he was giving him a hard time about how hard it was to do something with one eye. This legitimately means Diluc was checking on him and made sure he was okay. He's comfortable enough with Kaeya's condition to tell him to (basically) stop whining or being dramatic.
You will not ever convince me Diluc doesn't have his share of regrets for what happened and I'll never believe he meant to hurt him, much less hates him. Some people waffle on the timeline of these letters but it's very clear that letter 3 and 4 were early into Diluc leaving, or even while he was or before. He didn't leave before knowing Kaeya was okay.)
给K：
感谢你的来信。
与骑士团合作一事客观有利，自然也会有弊，就像硬币的正反面。相信你比我更明白这一点。
安全问题无需担忧。自保不难，难的永远是向外推进目标。还是照顾好你自己吧。
Im not going to translate this completely but:
还是照顾好你自己吧。 is "You'll look after yourself, right?" or similar vibe of telling Kaeya to worry more about himself and his own goals than Diluc's.
----⋆⋆✧✧✦⋆-✦-⋆✦✧✧⋆⋆----
tKetlation is done more with Yabla, a Chinese Dictionary,
The box also has some seashells in pristine shape, just faded from age.Likely from their trip in version 1.6 to the beach. It was noted in a later event they spent quite a lot of time together, talking.
A character, (though this is a very foggy memory and I have not been able to find it since so grain of salt) mentions in passing that when Kaeya has a bad day he goes to the rooftop and comes down in a better mood. Knowing the box is there, it's obvious why.
Again, grain of salt. I can't find my sauce on that one. I personally remember it and my memory isn't what it used to be.
Hope yall have a good day, hmu if you need anything I suppose.
Just remember I am speaking in ENGLISH. if you HOYOLAB is any other language, this will be translated. If you respond in any language but english, I probably can't read it well I'm so sorry. I appreciate you.
Recommendations if You like my sort of explanations.
- Who was Anfortas and More Theories regarding his Relationship to Kaeya
- "In the Name of Anfortas" Achievement Retranslated and Explained Nuanced
- Kaeya and Crepus, their relationship and more
- Kaeya and Diluc versus actual sibling dynamics
- Breakdown of Kaeya and Diluc interactions - Spoilers, they don't hate each other is.
- What Kaeya actually is to the Ragnvindrs
- Other messed up examples of sworn brothers and the one time it isn't.
- Kaeya using "brother" in the English translated webtoon and the actual translations
- Calla Lily doesn't exist
- Collection of all my Info Posts
- External: The Difference between CHS Kaeya, JPN Kaeya, and EN Kaeya.
