[diluc's head hangs, the lion's mane of his hair that had been tossed up into a ponytail falling over to hide his face. the death of the tree should mean his resolve to bring back teyvat is heightened tenfold, but despair grips his heart instead. it's a mental battle he can't seem to win, and the frustration of that compounds his frustration at himself.]

This isn't like me. If something is hopeless, I do whatever I can to forge a path in spite of it.

[but alas, the memories of the worst day of his entire life continues to haunt him. if only he could take his mind off things by killing off some abyss creatures, but he is instead under a tree. just suffering with his thoughts. he hasn't found kaeya yet either.

his mindscape is in such disarray, they bleed through communion on top of it all. it's just one thing after another!

he looks over at zhongli.]

And yourself? Are you plagued with thoughts and emotions not normally your own?