Some things about Diluc, based on this recent event. Crepus was always characterized as a parent who wasn't really there

Some things about Diluc, based on this recent event.

Crepus was always characterized as a parent who wasn’t really there for Diluc. He pushed his own ideals onto his son to the point where when Diluc got his vision, Diluc’s thoughts were ‘now I can use this to further my father’s dream’.

Diluc had his whole life mapped out for him and he had no issue with that. Why would he? And even if he did think about what he personally might want, he was met with obstacles. (Example from the event being Diluc making a drink becaude his father sat him down and made him- and when Diluc just makes juice, his father says absolutely nothing.) But there’s also the thought that Diluc’s ambition was to do what Crepus couldn’t- this was solidified by him gaining a vision. In his eyes, the gods themselves were telling him that he needed to do what his father couldn’t. He needed to be a knight. He needed to be strong.

Diluc already dealt with ridiculous amounts of training as a kid (and he got his vision at the age of 10, according to the manhua). I’d imagine that, because Crepus was so keen on Diluc being a carbon-copy of himself, that Crepus had interests in bartending. If Crepus was anything like he was to Diluc when Diluc was learning how to mix drinks, while training Diluc for knighthood, could you imagine? Crepus probably never really told his son he was proud of him, or gave him any sort of direction.

Diluc lived his entire life for a person who wouldn’t even give him any sort of direction or emotion. We see, in the manhua, that his dad did care for him. I mean hell, his dad ended up dying saving Diluc. But did he ever tell Diluc he was proud of him to his face? Did he ever say 'you’re doing a great job, son’. He thinks to himself that he’s proud of him, so he is.

Do you know what that does to someone?

When their whole life they just look up to someone and every moment of their life they’re scrambling for attention and affection from that person? When they’re only given bits and pieces by said person, but don’t realize that that’s like, extremely messed up?

For someone to be there for them but only when they want to be/when it’s good for them/ when it benefits them?

When someone who works hard on something/does something that that person enjoys but you didn’t 'do it right’ or 'its fine but they don’t say it’. Living your life for someone who doesn’t bother to communicate their true feelings or intentions?

Now imagine that’s the person you’re doing all of this for. That’s the person your ambition is based on. That’s the person your entire life is shaped to support.

It’s no wonder that when Crepus died, Diluc was lost. Crepus died and he realized he didn’t know who he is.

Even when he came back from his 4 year Fatui murder-spree did he really learn anything? We don’t know. But in the Manhua we see him give back the Fatui mask and the delusion.

I think that’s where Diluc started to realize he needs to change and live for himself.

Getting back to the event, Diluc has acknowledged his father’s faults. He talks about his father unprompted (which shows how much he trusts the traveler) and discusses how his father treated him. We can imply a whole lot from those lines, of course. But what’s important here is Diluc is breaking out of that cycle.

He specifically tells you he’s happy for you. He acknowledges that the traveler is choosing to learn this skill.

He supports them and tells them he enjoys the drink.

He doesn’t want to be like his father, anymore.

I think that when he came back to Mondstadt and after the delusion was gone, his vision changed form. His namecard implies that Crepus never could have forseen making a bird of fire. (And while we’re at it if you need more proof that Diluc struggles to not just be his dad? His friendship namecard mentions his father explicitly.)

I think that the Phoenix is perfect for him symbolically. Rising from the ashes of his former self. Breaking away from what society expects from him. Learning that he can be more than what he thought he could be.

He’s already changed so much since we first met him in Mond. :)