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“You have challenged us, Barbatos. We don't appreciate being challenged.”The voice of the Heavenly Envoys echoed from all directions, pinning him into place. Anxiety pooled in his stomach, and a part of him wished to curl on a little ball on the floor using his deplorable wings as a shield. But Barbatos - no, Venti - refused to wield.Putting on his best smile, he shook his head and waved a hand dismissively.
“Me? Surely you jest. I don't make appearances as an Archon precisely to spread the concept of freedom, and to make sure the people of Mondstadt can learn that ideal. So I'm actually doing my job.”“Barbatos.” A new voice pierced the air, threatening, as much as the red diamond that ripped reality apart to let her appear. The white suit, the pale hair, the bloody-red marks crackling on her skin denoting how she embodied the coldness of a machine..
The Sustainer had personally shown up.
The anxiety was almost too much to hide.
“Oh, Susty! Long time no see. To what do I owe the honor?”“You have been summoned to be punished, Archon of Freedom, not to give excuses.” Her steps made an unnerving sound, every time her bare feet firmly hit the pavement. “You are far from the only one who tested the limits of your obligations, but you were the only one who did so boldly, without suffering any consequences. I trust you are aware of Focalors’ fate?“I, uh… the winds told me.” His mind raced after the implications. Had his end come? Could the Heavens be more inclined to destroy the throne of Anemo than to leave someone like him in it?The Sustainer finally deigned to meet his gaze. “So, to answer your question: I am here to do the honors of using you as an example.”“And here I thought Celestia was weakened…”, he mumbled under his breath, tearing his eyes away.They caught what he said,
and the voices replied in unison. “We were, yet we were watching. We are always watching.”
“And soon enough, the rest of my sisters will also awake, and our functions will resume properly”, the Sustainer warned, staring at the cube forming on her hand.Venti gulped.For the first time since he landed in the chamber, he dropped the smile, and faced them seriously. In the back of his mind, he was pondering how big were his chances to get away. “So, what is the Fate that awaits me?“You are too important to be killed. Too useful. Instead, we will simply chain your behavior to your obligations.”He didn't like the word ‘chain’. “What does that mean, exactly?” His voice was small, although stable. He had his singing career to thank for that.
In his attempts at self-control, Venti failed to notice the sigils forming on the ground, until they lit up in a flash of red. Blinking to see better, he spun around, and realized he was trapped in a ritual circle, leaking red cubes upwards and buzzing with energy. His heartbeat was out of control.The Sustainer raised a hand in his direction, palm turned up.“First, you shall never again hide your identity as an Archon. You will assume it publicly, and promptly attend to your duties.”Cursing his luck, Venti closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm down as the cubes started forming walls around him, irradiating heat. So much effort put into embodying the ideals of his dearest friend, and letting Mondstadt govern itself, just to have it crumble down so quickly. He didn’t know how he would deal with a punishment of this magnitude, and yet, there was more.“Second, when acting in an official capacity, you will wear the garments you chose, since you have no shame and claim it fits the ideals of freedom so much. Even outside that context, you shall hide your wings no longer."Oh, so she was trying to humiliate him as part of the lesson. Yes, he was aware his Archon outfit was revealing, although it wasn’t purposeful at first - his wisp self was still struggling to grasp human culture back then. In time, however, he made the conscious choice to keep it, since he did deem it fitting. He wasn’t going to be ashamed of that now - he was confident in his appearance, and some nudity had nothing wrong… right?But he never intended to be so exposed to many people, especially not often. And the wings, too… when was the last time he opened them?The cubes were now past his waist, and enclosing on his figure, as if intent on crushing him. Touching the borders accidentally burned, so he jumped away, although he had little space for maneuver.The Sustainer continued impassively. “Lastly, given your inclinations to form bonds with humans, you will from now on be dependent on attachments, emotional and otherwise. Failing to attend to your needs regularly will cause you pain. Let us see how free you truly are then…”A small whine escaped Venti, although he was unsure if it was caused by the threat, or the burning sensation aimed at the leylines, hurting him as collateral damage.“Wait!”, he found himself saying, unable to move. But he didn’t know what to say either
- his mind was blank.With a sinister grin, the Sustainer closed her palm.That was the last thing Venti saw through the hole in his cage, before being engulfed in darkness. The sudden searing pain was too much to handle, but he didn’t have time to scream.

How ironic. He was always running out of time…
He came to be under a breeze, its caress the gentlest of kisses. He leaned further in, tilting his head to the side, letting it run across his cheek and tousled hair. The scent of spring was thick in the air: wildflowers, and the faintest trace of morning dew still clinging to the grass. The crisp mountain winds sang, while the birds chirped good mornings.
He let out a slow breath, eyes fluttering open to the endless blue sky above, a sea where clouds drifted.For a moment, he thought he had simply dozed off here, lulled into slumber by the whisper of the wind - or by the ecstasy of dandelion wine. The warmth of the sun wrapped around him like an embrace, and the petals beneath his fingertips felt so soft, but so real. If this was the waking world, what guaranteed that the visions assaulting his mind were more than remnants of a nightmare?Perhaps the curse wasn’t real. Perhaps it was just his conscience punishing him, instead of Celestia - it certainly wouldn’t be the first time he was plagued by doubts, wondering if he was doing enough for his beloved city and children.But something was wrong.Something heavy attached to his back, crumpled under his weight. Something once fluffy and awe-inspiring, now missing feathers and damaged. Something less familiar than it should be, as if his attempts at hiding it had also tainted his memory.He resisted the urge to scratch his itching back.
In fraught silence, he sat up, immediately noticing how they dragged him down. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Shouldn’t wings help him soar in the sky? So why did they feel like a dead weight? It’s your fault for hiding and mistreating them. So what if he wanted to blend with the people he loved, and experience gliding and living just the way they experienced?Inner debates wouldn't spare him from those foreign wings, like an old memory unearthed from the depths of a dream.
It wasn’t a nightmare, nor drunken folly. Celestia’s curse was real, and nothing would absolve him.Venti’s lips quivered, and he curled, hiding his head against his pulled-up knees. He took a deep-breath, and again, trying to lose himself in the rhythm of the winds. They were trying to lift him up - literally, given how the currents rustled his wings, and yet they passed literally through, without any success.Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his head. There they were, ugly and practically featherless. Not only would he be forced to assume his role as an Archon, the people of Mondstadt would have to accept that the rumors from other nations were true: their Archon truly was pitiful.By impulse, he tried to hide them. It didn’t work. He tried to move them. The movement was small and stiff, and it brought a discomfort bearing on pain, so he stopped with a grimace. A part of him wanted to get up, accept it, and think of a plan. Another part had given up. No - it had already lost.
The breath caught in his throat.
Neither soft nor violent breeze would be able to pick up such mistreated wings. The wind, his longest ally, his voice, his freedom, swirled around him in knowing despondency, unable to comfort him in the way it once had, for it knew any attempt would just remind him further of reality.
For the first time in centuries, Venti felt caged beneath the open sky, seeing it for the prison it was.
It took him hours to gatter the will to get up, only once the sun was close to the zenith. And yet, his aimless wandering took him away from his beloved city, as if his body knew he wanted to avoid it, even if his mind refused to admit it.Venti ended up close to the borders of Liyue. The gurgling of the river was calming, which he was thankful for, but it was tempting him to just sit down and rest. Damned wings, they were so heavy! They had been dragging through the ground and getting stuck on things, pulling at his back. Why did they have to be so large? He didn’t have the strength to carry them like this, and because of all the holes, he couldn’t lift them with wind!With a frustrated sigh, he noticed the approaching seelie. He allowed a small smile to resurface.
“Hello, little one - seems like we are both a little lost, so let’s help each other.” Scanning the horizons, he spotted the stone garden hidden in the shadows of the Leyline Wayport, both neglected. “There it is, see? Hehe, clearly the traveler hadn’t stepped in Mondstadt in a while - I can probably demand some good drink from another region as compensation.”Venti gladly guided the seelie while getting lost in his musings, eager for a distraction from his misery. She offered him some Mora as a reward, which he received by joking around and thanking Barbatos for the blessing.
Comforted by the lukewarm leyline light, he pondered his options. The road connecting Mondstadt to Liyue was a trade route and, with some money, he would be able to ask some merchant for a ride to Liyue, to rest his wings. However, he would need to be careful to keep them hidden under his cloak, and his short walk had proven how difficult that was.The other option would be to use the teleport - after all, the Traveler wasn’t the only one who could do it. He wasn’t exactly eager to connect to the Leylines again so soon, but it would save him time and energy.
And then what?
In the back of his mind, staring torn at the gold between his fingers, he knew who he could recur to: his oldest friend, Morax. He was the only one who could understand Venti’s plight, and offer him a place to stay for a while, along with abundant wisdom. Even so, Venti was reluctant to bother him - teasing him was one thing, but he always tried to deal with issues pertaining to Mondstadt by himself.Besides, he hated letting people see him down.
But he was wasting time. He didn’t know when he was going to feel the paint he was threatened with, or an urge to go back to Mondstadt and assume ‘his duties’, so the sooner he got Zhongli’s advice, the safer he would feel.
Steadying himself, he placed a palm on the waypoint, and let his being disperse.
Regardless of how much he loved the liveliness of crowds, Venti would rather avoid them for now. Materializing on top of a cliff behind the Funeral Parlor, he sat on the border, asking the winds to locate Zhongli for him.
Their whispers evoked an image of a kind exchange with that interesting girl, Hu Tao - in many ways, Venti almost deemed her a kindred spirit. Lantern Rite had just ended, and the winged god was aware of what transpired, so it was nice to see how the hardships served only to deepen the bonds between everyone.Could he dare to hope the same happened to him?Figuring it was fine to let her build some suspicion - it wasn’t like Hu Tao didn’t have her guesses already - Venti decided he would show up now, instead of waiting for hours until Zhongli was done with work. Everyone knew he had a fairly free schedule, anyway. To get down, he still recurred to the glider he always brought along, that he had way more control over compared to his wings.He didn’t bother knocking, simply making sure his wings were hidden enough below his cloak, and entering. It didn’t take long to find them both, discussing some matter. Venti left them to it - he wasn’t that desperate - until the girl interrupted.“But let’s talk about the rest another time, since we have a visitor”, she noticed, twirling around energetically. “Oya, Venti! We haven’t seen each other in a while - are you here for another poetry competition?”“I’m flattered”, he started, doing his best to match her energy, “but not this time. I am actually here to… consult with Zhongli-Jìngcí! His knowledge precedes him, and there are some matters I could use help with.” That was technically not a lie.Zhongli, staring at him with those piercing golden eyes that almost gave Venti flashbacks of the Sustainer, put a hand to his chin. “Is that so?”Hu Tao simply looked between them, unimpressed. “Come on, Zhongli, you can’t say that every time you are hiding something, I know your tells already! You need to switch them up sometimes!”He blinked at her innocently, holding a polite smile. “Is that so?”Venti couldn’t help it - he laughed. Who would guess that after such a difficult conflict, the way this once war-mongering buffoon would cheer him up would be not by giving advice, but by demonstrating how much of a troll he became. Zhongli was in no position to scold him anymore.In places devoid of natural wind-currents, like interiors, Venti’s awareness decreased, so it was with some surprise that he noticed that the man had already gotten up and close. With a reassuring expression, more familiar than it was professional, the consultant made an invitation.“Should I assume the topics are of private nature? I know a place where we can have such discussions.”Venti exhaled, realizing how tense his shoulders have been. “Yes, you are correct. Thank you”, he said quietly.He noticed how Zhongli raised an eyebrow, but he went ahead, keeping his thoughts to himself.
Out in the city, he took Venti through quiet streets, perhaps sensing his inner turmoil. In turn, Venti appreciated the sensitive person his friend had become over the centuries.The streets of Liyue were bathed in the golden hues of leftover paper lanterns, decorations not yet removed after the festival, swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. The fragrance of good food, tea, and incense lingered in the air, mingling with the distant salt of the harbor below, where the docks stretched out into the water like the veins of the city itself.
Venti followed Zhongli in silence, his steps light but his shoulders heavy. Save for a few curious passersby, whose eyes lingered for just a moment on the lump beneath his cloak, not many people took that path, and most who did were too busy to pay any attention to them.
Zhongli said nothing, merely walking at a steady, unhurried pace. It was an act of understanding, Venti realized. No probing questions, no concerned glances… just quiet companionship as they wove through Liyue’s winding paths, away from prying eyes.At last, they arrived.
Venti knew it once he saw Zhongli take out keys, heading to a house tucked between two taller buildings, unassuming yet dignified. The dark wooden panels of the exterior were adorned with subtle carvings of ancient designs - a hint to the age of the being who called it home.
Venti hadn’t known what to expect from Zhongli's dwelling, but as he stepped inside, he felt the anxiety in his chest ease.The air was rich with the scent of aged parchment and polished lacquered wood, and the light filtering through the circular ornamental windows cast long shadows against the walls. And what walls they were, lined with artifacts, scrolls, delicate porcelain, rare jades, and weapons that had long since tasted battle. Some were encased in glass, others displayed openly, each piece telling a story of an era long past - Venti could even swear he recognized a couple of them.Zhongli closed the door behind them with a click, and only then did Venti truly relax, in one of the rare moments he felt more comfortable indoors than outdoors.He turned to Zhongli, forcing a small smile. “So, you do have a house after all. I half-expected you to just... fade into the rock, or dissolve into dirt, when the day ended. But a museum is a fitting house for you.”Zhongli huffed a soft chuckle. “It’s not a museum, but I am glad you can appreciate the value of my collection. We both value the preservation of art and history, after all.”The taller man hung up his coat, and left his shoes at the entrance. Venti also removed his shoes, but as for his cloak…Gently, Zhongli extended one hand, to take it from him. He held it, leaving Venti to decide, the invitation open. After a moment of hesitation, Venti gave in, aware that his friend was just trying to help. His wings would not be a surprise, at least - although their current state would. Shrugging internally, he unclasped the cloak from his shoulders, letting it slide down and noticing how Morax took note of the damage.“I am going to prepare some green tea - you can join me in the kitchen, if you wish", he said simply.Venti appreciated the companionship, so he went along, sitting at a wooden table. Zhongli moved with practiced grace, treating the process of brewing tea as an ancient art. Every step, from the movement of filling the pot with water and adding the leaves, to the organization of the porcelains at the table, was elegant and familiar. The domestic sounds were comforting, and sunlight adorned the table, already set with tempting lotus seed buns, that Venti reached for while waiting.Once the tea was ready, Zhongli poured one cup for both, sliding one to Venti. He took the other seat.
Zhongli sipped from his cup. “I might not know what brought your distress, Barbatos”, he started gently, “but I value the fact that you trust me enough to come to me in moments like this.”Venti chuckled softly. “Of course I do, Morax. We date a while back, after all.”“Indeed. However, given the memories formed in the past, I couldn’t help but notice the contrasting state of your wings, which, I presume, correlates to your affliction. I have to wonder: Is the cause a lingering danger, that I should be prepared for? Do you need my protection, or perhaps have a warning for me?”Deep down, he appreciated how his friend took the initiative to start the conversation, instead of beating around the bush. Subtlety was never his strong suit, Venti thought fondly.“Oh, well… your guesses are partially right, but there is no immediate danger to any of us. As for the state of my wings… it wasn’t caused by anyone but me.”Zhongli paused, and Venti could see the calculation behind his eyes. “You used to wear your wings proudly. Since when did you stop using them completely?”“Since the Cataclysm happened”, he admitted. “It felt… unfair to pierce Durin’s wings, and see a dragon so majestic and good be cast down by my powers, simply because I failed at making him perceive the devastation he brought. The fairest thing I could do was a similar sacrifice - so, after I woke up from my last slumber, I never used them again. And I didn’t intend to. I enjoyed living fully as a human, and sharing their perspective of the world - I’m sure you can understand, since you also reformed your role as an Archon.”The declarations were met with a low rumble. Both of them appeared to have forgotten their tea, and the cups sat barely touched on the table, no more steam curling into the air.“Humm. Your assessment is correct, and I pondered for a very long time if it was wise to shred my other form, given the damage it would suffer over time. However, I truly don’t expect to return to the Exuvia. Not now that the city moved on, and the Era of humans arrived.”“I believed the same, and yet… Celestia is starting to awake.” His voice faltered, and it took Venti some seconds to realize he had been staring into his cup for who knew how long, his mind blank. “And they chose to use me as an example.”As soon as he finished that sentence, his turmoil bubbled up in the form of a loud sob, shaking him from inside out. His shoulders slumped, and closing his eyes did little to stop the assailing tears. He vaguely registered how Zhongli’s chair scraped the floor as he got up suddenly, and when his friend grabbed his shoulders, Venti finally looked into his eyes.“Zhongli, they cursed me!” He lamented. He was completely breaking down for reasons he couldn’t even understand, yet his shame wasn’t enough to stifle the crying. “It’s not just the wings that I can’t hide anymore! They forced me to assume that I’m Mondstadt’s Archon, and to use the outfit I chose when acting in an official capacity, a-and…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the last demand. How humiliating that he would be forced to seek people, when love was a feeling that should be given freely.In a cruel twist of Fate, however, he longed for closeness right now, and Zhongli’s proximity only exacerbated that feeling.But perhaps the world’s kindness still managed to surpass cruelty. Amongst his sobs, and although he hadn’t given any more details or asked for anything, Venti was rewarded… with a hug, slowly enveloping around him. Zhongli’s arms were so strong, his hands expertly avoiding the stiff wings, and his whole being so reliable, that the relief brought by the gesture even halted the crying for a moment. Venti felt shielded from the world, and by impulse, he leaned forward, sinking against the man’s chest. Unaware at first, the rhythm of his breathing synchronized with the movement. It was... soothing.A part of him wondered how much the relief was compounded by the curse; Another part knew he always enjoyed physical affection, and remembered how unaware of boundaries he was when he had just gotten a human form, still used to behaving like a wisp. A wave of memories hit him, and a chuckle escaped in-between calmer sobs.Zhongli sounded confused. “Did you… laugh?”“I just remembered how I used to sit on your lap, completely unaware of how inappropriate that was. Of other Archons too. You were all too inhibited to explain your reactions, and it took me years to figure it out.” Sniffing, he allowed a smile to flourish, and returned the hug properly.Zhongli chuckled along. “I recall. I suppose we can say that we both learned more human customs over time, which in your case taught you self-control, while teaching me to be more open.”“You do a good job at that, for the record”, Venti confessed softly. He was unsure of what was causing his confidence to return, but it was better than feeling depressed, so he was quick to embrace it. “In a way, I miss that carefree side of myself. I might be carefree in many aspects still, and Mondstadt is thankfully quite affectionate, but I can’t just go around latching onto everyone.”A reply didn’t come immediately. Morax simply hummed, and Venti would be fine with that but, knowing him, he could tell the rockhead was thinking. “I apologize if the question is out of place, Venti… but is it possible that, beyond your current afflictions, you are touch-starved?”“Uh? Oh. Well, eh-he, aren’t you quite curious?”, he teased in response, but he was already caving in at the demonstration of concern. “I suppose a little. But, truth be told, even if I wasn’t, I will probably be now. You see, there was a third curse, to punish me for enjoying forming close bonds with humans.” He tried to sound nonchalant, almost mockingly of Celestia. “If I don’t get a lot of affection, I will be in pain.”Morax gave a long sigh. “I wish I could say Celestia took its punishments too far, but we both know this is nothing in comparison to what they could have done. However, I don’t mean to diminish your struggles.”“Don’t worry, I get it. It could be much worse - I was just a bit overwhelmed before. Well, still am. I don’t want to come across as clingy, my wings are just pitiful, and none of that helps my image as an Archon - especially not if I arrive at Mondstadt, that was doing just fine without my direct help, and demand that they let me rule it. That goes against everything it stands for.”It made his stomach churn, but Zhongli didn’t immediately reply. Instead, he lifted a startled Venti for a moment, unbothered by the extra weight of the wings, swapping their positions as he took Venti’s chair. Then, he nudged Venti closer, towards his lap. Venti blinked, staring into his eyes for confirmation, but there was no doubt he had permission to go on.
Hesitantly at first, he sat sideways on the legs, careful with his wings. But the firm arm around his waist and the sound of Zhongli’s slow heartbeat rekindled his longing, and trust, and Venti allowed himself to lean his whole body against the man’s torso, resting his head on his shoulder. They could still look at each other from that angle.Their closeness suddenly filled Venti’s heart with warmth. He was brimming, unable to contain his smile.
“By the Archons, I missed this”, he admitted fondly. Noticing Zhongli’s own smile, he couldn’t resist teasing, poking at his face with a finger. “Come on, old man, it’s your turn to say you feel the same way.”“I-uh…” Zhongli caught himself stammering, and laughed along with Venti - a deep, rich sound that rumbled through his chest. “You are correct, I missed this too. Truth be told, not many are as bold as to sit on the lap of Rex Lapis”, he teased back.Still holding a smile, Venti closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the moment. The rhythm of Zhongli’s breathing - constant, unhurried - settled over him like a lullaby. His embrace was soft yet steady, gentle yet firm. A faint osmanthus fragrance clung to Zhongli’s robes, grounding Venti in the present while stirring memories of an era long past. Could there be a presence more grounding than the Archon of the land itself?He sighed, shifting just enough to get comfortable without breaking the moment. The weight of his wings felt less like a burden, rather more of an afterthought, something distant and unimportant compared to the support surrounding him. For the moment, Venti didn’t have to bear anything alone.Outside, the city murmured, distant voices carried on the evening breeze. But here, within these walls, there was only peace.“You know,” he mused, his voice softer now, laced with drowsy contentment, “I might need to visit you more times for this. Besides, you are one of the few who knows the full extent of the situation.”“You may visit as many times as you wish… and your curse allows.” That last part tinged his words with bittersweetness, but Venti recognized he couldn't postpone his problems forever. “That said, I believe the curse is not overly binding. As long as you fulfill your part as an Archon, visiting other nations doesn't detract from the terms of the curse.”Venti hummed in amusement, although he didn’t bother to lift his head. “You really treat everything like a contract.”“It's a practical mindset, that stops the mind from wandering and getting anxious over made-up scenarios. Speaking of, I think none of the curses will get in the way of what you, and Mondstadt, value.”
Venti opened his eyes, perking up just enough to catch Zhongli’s gaze. The golden depths held no distance, no unreadable mystery - just millennia of experience. Regardless of how the feeling could backfire, Venti entertained some hope.

“How so?”, he dared to ask.“You are aware of how I governed Liyue until recently. The humans were responsible for everything - I merely descended into the city to offer advice once a year. Through the rest of the year, I mingled in disguise, and only interfered openly or in secret when a crisis really needed me. It's not overly different from what you have been doing, and Celestia never disapproved.”“That's… true, actually. Although, now that you fully gave up on your title and the Sustainer is around, you need to be careful - they might not approve of this new development.”There was a pause, then a quiet sigh. “I will think of something. Your situation is more pressing, and letting your nation know that their Archon walks among them, and is there to share the occasional advice, doesn't have to change much.”“Well, maybe not, but… what if people start seeing me differently?” Venti let his fingers idly trace the fabric of Zhongli’s sleeve, his touch featherlight. Then, a hilarious scenario occurred to him.
“Actually, nevermind, I think the Sisters will be so shocked that the church will refuse to acknowledge me. Problem solved~”“Amusing as such a situation might be, we both know things won't go that route. But do you have so little faith in your people, that you don't believe they can't keep being free once their Archon shows up?”Venti felt his eyes widen with realization, as some profound truth struck a cord within. “Of course I trust them! But they are my children, not my people. The people of Mondstadt only belong to themselves,” his throat tightened, “and they would never change their ways just to follow what an Archon said, or treat a god as if it was above them.”“Then, there is your answer.” Bending forward with the gentlest of smiles, Zhongli wiped a lone tear that fell from Venti’s eyes.He was moved, and beyond grateful, but also stubbornly decided it was about time to stop the emotional journey - at least for now. Besides, his belly rumbled. Loudly.
“Upsie… I only ate one apple when I started my trip”, he said apologetically with his best face of 'sorry for the inconvenience!'“Then let me pour you some hot tea first - that one is cold, and you should hydrate. I will prepare something of substance soon after. Is there anything in particular that you would wish to eat?”He hummed pensively. “Definitely not Bamboo Shoot Soup - I know it’s your specialty, but I’m hungry and that would take hours. Actually, is there any Lantern Rite special dish that you know how to cook?”“The only one without seafood that comes to mind is Bountiful Year: A combination of expertly sliced almost-raw fish, meats and vegetables, whose origin is debated since, after being brought by a migrant population in ancient times, has suffered multiple variations until resembling the dish we have today. Two populations in particular are-”“Okay, okay, you can tell me as you cook”, Venti interrupted, jumping out of the chair and only remembering about his heavy wings after. “Since it doesn’t need to cook for long, it’s decided. Can you show me how it’s done? Just don’t expect me to help much.”“I am well aware that ‘hard-working’ is not a trait that defines you.”“Hey!” He bumped their hips together in protest, not that it did much to a man as hard as rock.They cooked together, another pleasant moment in a row that had much improved Venti’s disposition. The meal was delicious, with the condiments conferring just the right spiciness, making all the flavors melt on the tongue like snow. Stuffed, and after being run through by so many emotions and sensations in quick sequence, Venti was practically slouching on the chair.
It was already impressive that Zhongli didn’t scold him for his manners, but the jaw-cracking yawn really tested his patience.“Rest if you need to, Venti. The world will still be here when you awake, and we can discuss the rest at another point.”For once, Venti found he didn’t want to fight the offer. Instead, he let Zhongli take him to the guest bedroom, and slid under the blankets without much resistance. His eyes slipped closed once more, and as sleep crept closer, he thought - for the first time since waking in that field - that maybe, just maybe, his ideals weren’t broken beyond repair.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As a poet, Venti had a way with words - but not when he had just woken up.

“Liyue’s beds are way too hard - my neck is cramping”, he complained when stepping into the kitchen, still with a bedhead, and rubbing his eyes. It was a valid complaint - he preferred the feathery texture and softness of Mondstadt beds, far closer to a comfortable nest, but even if it wasn't, he was slightly cranky and someone would have to deal with him.

Zhongli, already fully dressed, turned to him impassively. “Good morning, Venti. You slept for over twelve hours, so that’s another potential cause of your discomfort.”

“I can see that”, he reluctantly accepted. “My wings are still stiff, by the way, and the bed also didn’t help with that.”

“Now that you mention, I wished to discuss the matter of your wings further. But wake up properly - go at least wash your face, and you can have the rest of the Qingxin flower cakes I prepared for breakfast.”

Humming approvingly, he found his way to the bathroom. He took advantage of the fragrances Zhongli had in his home, and made sure to take care of his braids while humming a song, only then feeling like he was seeing himself in the mirror.

Myself, and…

He huffed fondly, curious as always of what his friend would have thought of the rest of his life.

Twisting his neck to look back, he was confronted with the fact that he didn’t know what to do with the wings. It had been a long time since he groomed them and, now, they were so damaged that even touching would probably send shots of pain up his spine.

So he gave up on caring for them now - they were not dirty yet - and went to enjoy being pampered.

They didn’t try to fill the air with trivial conversation, save for the occasional observation from a proud Zhongli pointing out that Venti seemed better. Apart from that, the man was content to let him eat, while cleaning the dust from some old ornaments on display. Such a simple, normal life he led now - it was hard to believe his status was once comparable to a King.

When Venti was finished, Morax rejoined the table. “Do you have any plans for today?”, he simply asked.

Venti glanced at the hand extended across the tabletop, aware of the longing pooling in his stomach. “Well… If you let me, I will probably hang around for a bit longer”, he opted to reply, resisting the urge.

“I don’t mind letting you remain here, but I’m afraid this house is too constricting for you”, Zhongli pointed out - in a way, Venti had to agree. “My recommendation would be Wangshu Inn - we both know it’s already been approved by a certain Anemo user, one who, in fact, cares about you, and who could empathize with aspects of your situation.”

“And put Xiao through the pain of remembering damaged wings?” He spouted that more harshly than he originally intended, and had to deliberately let go of the grimace. Shaking his head, he tried again, softer. “I would rather not. I just need another day, really. It’s not like I will be able to avoid Mondstadt forever.”

“I understand. In that case, please make yourself at home, and don’t hesitate to ask for anything.”

Venti looked around. At this time of the day, the sunlight didn’t enter directly through the window, making the house colder and darker, although still comfortable. “Perhaps… I will just try to go outside. Even if someone spots my wings, I can always pretend that I’m an Adeptus. It won’t help with the stares, given how my wings look, but I should start getting used to it. Actually, you mentioned wanting to talk about this.”

“I have. I think you should try to recover their condition, and seek advice.”

“Advice? From whom, a veterinary?”, he joked.

But Zhongli wasn’t joking around anymore. “I would take you to Dr. Baizhu, but I’m fairly certain he only specializes in human patients. So, the people I know who might have insight about your wings are Xiao, Cloud Retainer, and Mountain Shaper, since all of them have or had feathered wings. You already made yourself clear on meeting Xiao in this state, but at least we have more options.”

Venti had to recognize how sensible the advice was. “I…suppose. You told me before that Cloud Retainer had moved to the city as well? In that case, I could pay her a visit.”

“Very well. I will accompany you”, Zhongli decided, a not-so-subtle satisfied grin spreading on his face. “It will be easier to guide you than to explain the location of her house, and I can help you tell your story.”

With a twinge of affection, Venti nodded, and finally gave in. He placed his hand on top Zhongli’s, and squeezed in a silent thank you.

Zhongli turned his palm up, and held Venti’s hand in his own.

The streets of Liyue bustled with morning activity, the air thick with the scent of freshly steamed goodies and the crisp tang rolling in from the sea. Venti, dressed in emerald Liyuen garments provided by Zhongli, kept his head high, his gait as carefree as he could given the extra weight he carried.

The stares were just as heavy. Though Liyue had seen its fair share of adepti with animalistic traits, the sight of his tattered wings, now not even disguised under the cloak, drew too many wandering gazes. He let them think he was just another ancient being passing through, an Adeptus lingering in the mortal realm for reasons unknown, coming to explanations on their own. He always enjoyed catching rumors people made up about him - ehe, he spread fake stories about Barbatos himself - so why should this be any different?

Deep down, however, it

was

different.

Zhongli’s presence was a pillar of stability. That, at least, remained the same.

Xianyun’s residence, at the end of the street and right above the reputation section, had a splendid view of the docks and ships on the horizon. Venti took note of the scenery, sensing some verses of a poem coming to mind - a peaceful sensation. Tranquilized, he flashed a smile to Morax, who was waiting for confirmation that Venti was ready before knocking.

They were greeted not by Xianyun, but by a small child, dressed in elegant hues of teal.

“Ah, Zhongli-Jìngcí! Are you also here to join us for the meal?”

Zhongli had an affable smile when he bent over to pet her head. “Hello, little Shuyu. It would be our pleasure. Let me introduce you first: this is Venti, an old friend, who is also an acquaintance of your Master.”

“Hi hi~”, he singsang. “I never saw you before - I’m happy to see Xianyun continues her tradition of taking in new pupils.”

“Hu-hum, she is a very good Master! And it’s nice to meet you, Venti-gege.” The girl clearly knew her manners, and pushed the door open in welcome. “Go in, everyone is at the table.”

Once they entered, they were surprised by multiple familiar figures busy in the kitchen: besides Xianyun, who was focused on her machinery, Streetward Rambler and Ganyu were also there, just arriving from the tight inner patio with freshly-picked herbs. They all halted when they saw the visitors.

Xianyun turned to them fully, adjusting her glasses. “One thought it was old age playing tricks, but turns out one recognized the voices correctly. It’s quite a surprise to be graced by both of your presences, especially together.”

Venti imitated Zhongli in a traditional bow, with a fist pressed against the palm of the other hand in front of his chest. Not a commonly practiced gesture nowadays, but it still held value amongst ancient beings.

“We also didn’t count on such a lively meeting”, Zhongli started, his eyes glinting. “Ganyu, Streetward Rambler, it’s a pleasure to see you both.”

“It’s an honor, Rex Lapis”, Ganyu said formally, bowing more deeply. Madame Ping held an amused smile. “Is there anything you require assistance with?”

“Please, Ganyu, it’s just Zhongli now”, he reminded gently. “And although this meeting is indeed motivated by more than just pleasantries, we will approach the subject in due time. First, let us enjoy the good company.”

Her gaze softened, and she nodded, then turning to Venti. Shyly, she greeted him. “It’s been a while.”

Venti waved at her. “That’s right, long-time no see! Do you still have that bow I gave you?”

“I do. It’s very enduring, and I could confirm over time how what you told me when you offered it was true.” She put a hand to her chest. “I can still sense the aura of the powerful warrior who wielded it, and I’d loathe to part with this gift.”

“Then, Amos would be proud." A vision of a now blurry figure came to mind, her white hair like a mantle of snow moving on the wind, as she braved the storm her lover created. She was a truly admirable figure, and Venti would never regret picking up the bow in her honor - but Ganyu was the better fighter, and deserving of her inheritance more. "May it continue to serve you well.”

“Speaking of gifts,” Madame Ping said, eyes twinkling, “you are not as sneaky as you think, windy-one.”

Venti blinked, then grinned, already suspecting what she meant. “Oh? Have I been caught in some grand act?”

She chuckled warmly, with that funny laugh she acquired in her old form. “Two years ago, during Lantern Rite, there was a sudden, gentle breeze nudging me toward my old guzheng. More indirectly than that, of course - it was quite an elaborate story, involving many people looking for closure. But once I learned the full thing, I knew whose wind it was.”

Ganyu’s eyes widened in realization, and even Zhongli gave a quiet nod, unsurprised. Xianyun gave a knowing hum as she changed the settings in her mechanical pot.

Venti laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “You got me! But in my defense, it was just a suggestion. You were always free to ignore it.”

Madame Ping’s expression softened. “And yet, I am grateful. Though I have not played often since, that night was… special. Healing takes time, and I take it at my own pace. So let us both benefit from the blessing of our long lifespans, alright?”

What a tactful way to simultaneously thank him and express concern… Venti couldn’t help but admire her, and concede to the advice. Maybe the turmoil that weighed him down would be washed away in due time, leaving seeds of stories in its place that would bloom and cover the cracks.

A forced coughing interrupted the moment.

“Ganyu, Ping? I’m still waiting for the herbs”, Xianyun said strictly.

“Oh, but my poor old bones are tired”, Ping said dramatically, clearly an exaggeration. “I don’t know if I can make it to the other side of the kitchen.”

“I will help you, granny Ping!” Shuyu got up like a storm, rushing to take the herbs from her hands, unaware of the teasing. “Old people should rest. I know, because I took care of my grandma too.”

“Ho, ho! Thank you, sweetheart.”

Venti didn’t try to hide his smirk. Deeming it a good moment, he finally revealed what he had been hiding behind his back. “Anyway, we brought Osmanthus Wine. Let’s celebrate the start of a new year together.”

The moment settled into something light. They continued talking, exchanging stories and news about how the city was faring. Barbatos had lost count of how many meals he shared with loved ones since arriving at Liyue the previous day, but it warmed his soul to see how much importance the local culture put in it.

A breeze came from the courtyard, through the open doors, mingling with the fragrances and the voices. When it felt just right, Venti took a flute he had tucked in his sleeve, and lifted it to his lips.

The melody he played was one of Liyue’s own, a song woven from mountain winds and the legends from old Chenyu Vale. It danced through the room, wrapping around the pillars and carrying with it the echoes of ancient times. Madame Ping closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her, while Ganyu’s usually tense shoulders eased into something softer. Little Shuyu marveled, while her proud motherly figure smiled knowingly.

In the depths of his mind, Venti stored this moment for later perusal, treasuring the irradiating love.

Satisfied with their meal, they moved on to more pressing issues. Under Cloud Retainer’s thoughtful gaze, Zhongi explained what brought them there, letting Venti provide more details. No one made any remarks, although the winged bard could see from the corner of his eye how Ganyu’s expression shifted to one of sympathy.

Getting up suddenly, Xianyun moved to stand behind Venti, who allowed her. “Humm… The damage is indeed even more noticeable up close. Missing feathers are the most obvious trait, but the empty patches also expose the issues underneath. However, I don’t believe there is any major bone damage or deformity - you never broke them, and aren’t in pain, correct, Barbatos?”

“Yup, they are intact. Just… very stiff, and heavy”, he tried to say as nonchalantly as possible.

“As expected, given that you hid them for so long”, she pointed out sharply. “So, the main problem is not with your bones, but with your muscles. Muscle atrophy is a major concern, and you will need constant exercise to get back in shape. At least, as an archer, your pectoral muscles are strong - however, One still wishes to recommend some wing exercises.”

He sighed, and signed a sad okay to her while laying his head on the table. “I feel tired already…” It didn’t escape him how Zhongli and Streetward Rambler shared a look, chuckling. “Hey, are you two old fossils laughing at my expense? That’s not fair!”, he scolded, snickering soon after.

Before he realized, something touched the base of his wings, sending a shockwave up his spine. He yelped. “Wait! That, err…”

Xianyun let him go immediately. “My deepest apologies. Seems like One failed to realize the extent of the damage.”

Venti didn’t fault her for that, and he was well familiar with how the inventor liked to work on challenges hands-on. That said, the sudden pain was a reminder of how unwell he remained, and of the problems he would be forced to face. The sting of the awareness was what hurt the most.

Zhongli placed his teacup down, and reached out to hold one of Venti's hands under the table. “Are you alright, Venti?”

“Yes, yes, it was over quickly”, he squeezed his hand reassuringly.

“Alright. Xianyun, you seem to be thinking - any more feedback on how Venti can recover? We defer to your expertise.”

“Frankly, the recovery will take time, although nothing that long-lived beings like us cannot endure. I predict at least one year until the wings are fully regrown, and some more until they are strong enough for prolonged flights. But with regular exercise, and making sure that the wings regrow properly and are groomed, I’m sure it’s possible.”

In that moment, Venti noticed how Shuyu’s interest peaked, as she was tempted to touch a feather while fearing his reactions. With a smirk, Venti had the impulse to hit her lightly by surprise, yet for some reason, what he moved most naturally was not an arm… but a wing, that jolted closer to her.

And it hurt. The muscles in his back and wings were screaming, and he felt a burn wash over him for a split second, but the worst of it was over fast enough to let him catch the girl’s laughter. Melting, he laughed along through the pain.

“You scared me, Venti-gege!”

“Oh? Do you also get startled when birds take flight?”

“You’re not a bird! Master is more of a bird than you!”

“Well, I’m offended now”, he joked, making it obvious enough by pouting. After the initial confusion, the girl ended up jiggling.

Madame Ping cackled as well. “I suspect that you’ll end up exercising your wings more through natural circumstances, than through active practice. And I must say, it fits you well.”

“Perhaps, but he should still strive for a proper routine”, Xianyun said harshly. Then, she passed a scroll along. “Here, I’ve written down some exercises, along with notes to do them correctly, and the conditions you should meet to advance to each tier.”

Venti glanced down, for long enough to dread some of the exercises, before storing the scroll for another time. He was about to reply when someone knocked on the door at a maddening pace, startling all of them. Could it be an emergency, or someone in danger?

“New-year discounts! Die now, and get a reservation lateeer!”

Like a spell, everyone laughed at the same time. Oh, if only Hu Tao knew how many people in the room would outlive her - although she likely had her suspicions.

Xianyun was the one who got up to open the door, not even bothering to entertain her. “I see you are already employing your usual antics. One, or rather,

I

would expect you to have matured after recent developments.”

“Where would be the fun in that?”, she tilted her head to the side. “Besides, someone who respects death is someone who knows the meaning of life, and after my near-death experience, all the more reason to enjoy my second chance and have fun.”

“I believe there are better tactics to increase business, Hu Tao”, Zhongli said, raising and making her notice him. “That said, I am glad to see you enjoy your life properly - not that you didn't before.”

“Boo, you sound all dusty… Also also, Venti, you’re looking better now!” She waved when poking in, and he waved back at her. Neither commented on the wings, even though there was no hiding that he wasn’t human now. “Maybe I should give a raise to my employee here, since he clearly did a good job at helping. But alas, I can’t do it yet. I’m still paying the debts he put under the name of the Funeral Parlor when he used to forget to carry money around.”

She side-eyed Zhongli, who simply coughed against his hand, face dusted with a pink shade. Venti couldn’t help it, he loved having an accomplice willing to tease the blockhead, and so he eagerly got up to spur more fun at his expense.

But Hu Tao had other plans.

She caught his attention, as a few flaming butterflies fluttered around her. There was no doubt that she was talking to Venti. “

By ghostly decree, it appears our meeting was fated. Let us roam free - melancholy is too outdated.

Sooo… have you seen the decorations of this year? I have quite the story to tell about them.”

Appreciating how easily the rhyme rolled out of the tongue, he intuitively responded in tandem, thankful for his improvisation skills. “

The winds have spun, our threads entwined. Let us weave a song - none shall stop our charm combined.

” Not his best work, but it matched hers well enough in cadence and confident energy, and he puffed his chest when she raised on her tiptoes and bounced around happily. “I’ve only seen it from afar. The main lantern is shaped like a tree this time, right?”

She grabbed his hands, almost making him lose balance. “Let’s go see it now! Everyone, I’m going to kidnap Venti for a while.”

“By all means, do it. We could benefit of some quiet”, Xianyun said with arms crossed, although the corner of her lips was tilted.

“Hey!”

But his protests were ignored, as Hu Tao just yanked him out, and before he realized, he was running through the streets pulled by her hand. Anxiety assailed him for a heartbeat, and there were more butterflies in his stomach than those fiery butterflies surrounding Hu Tao as she dashed. His wings were protesting the speed, and people were staring, and-

No. No, it was alright. In fact, it was even kind of fun, staring at her silly face and seeing how people had to sidestep to avoid colliding with them, and people noticed his wings not out of pity or lack of familiarity, but because they were big and demanded the path to be open. No one was surprised by seeing the chaos Hu Tao caused, and they wouldn’t have the guts to scold a newly-formed hero, especially not when she was accompanied by an Adeptus-looking person.

Eh, thinking about it now, people would probably make some wild guesses about their relationship, perhaps painting her as a maiden who was saved by an Adeptus when on the verge of death, maybe even twisting it into a contract or a romantic partnership. Barbatos’ many tales of love never failed to amuse him, and if people knew he was the same person that showed up in that book about Yakshas, the theories would get extra creative. Perhaps he should spread some misconceptions himself.

Hu Tao’s laughter was contagious, and Venti’s grin spread. The winds were attempting to pick up his wings, and despite the limitations, they were trying to respond.

A butterfly and a bird… That wasn’t a bad combination.

It was a fun time, and it was rare for Venti to find another yapper like him. However, as he confirmed yet again later, Hu Tao was also perceptive, and liked to use the yapping and the silliness to hide a more serious side. Not that her high-spirited nature was fake, but it was only the most surface-level facet.

That was how, even without direct confrontation on her part, Venti ended up admitting to some of the truth: while he wasn’t an Adeptus, he was a powerful being struggling to heal his wings, who had recently been cursed to not be able to hide them, and to also seek proximity from people.

“Well, if you keep deteriorating and your death is imminent, you know who to contact for a funerary rite”, she spouted with ease, making him snicker. “What? I’m serious! That said, I also hope you recover, Venti. As my friend and my poetry rival, I still need you to practice, so I wouldn’t be opposed to being visited. But beyond that…”, she turned to lock eyes with him, hands behind her back, her smile unwavering. “A thread of the winds should not be stuck on the ground.”

Ah.

Truly, a kindred spirit

, he marveled. He hadn’t even told her the truth about his nature, yet somehow her guess was righter than what even people who knew of his godhood would assume.

He hummed weakly, noticing his words fail. Ultimately, he agreed with her, and he hoped everyone was right in thinking his wings would recover and strengthen, just like his bonds. Besides, improving his life as a consequence of a curse would be the biggest fuck you he could give to Celestia, and that was a massive plus.

“I want to give my best”, he finally said, sensing the realization settling in his soul.

“Don’t we all?” She spun around, arms still behind her, looking intently at the bright sky dotted with lights. “Sometimes, people fail, and die. Sometimes, our best isn’t enough, and we depart with unfulfilled wishes.” The somberness, somehow, fit Hu Tao. Followed by her shadow, larger than her, while wishes shone through the floating paper lanterns. “And sometimes, we need other people to help us achieve our goals, either during life, or after death.”

“Birds fly in flocks, wind currents are powerful together. The only arrogance of mankind is wanting to believe that life can be lived alone”, Barbatos concluded, feeling the vibrations of the sound in his chest. He grasped it with a hand, placed over the heart that only his human form had. “But if we work side by side, no dream is too big. That, I am certain of.”

As if summoned, the carrier of wishes, the witness of dreams, was right in front of them. Their paths crossed with none other than the Traveler, accompanied by Paimon, of course, who carried several dishes in her tiny arms. She was eating on top of his head.

“Paimon, for the third time, you need to eat elsewhere. You are leaving crumbs and grease in my hair!”

“It’s not Paimon’s fault that you are in a rush. If we could sit to eat, on a bench, Paimon wouldn’t need to sit in your head.”

“Why don’t you just float, again?”

Their bickering was far from discrete, and Venti and Hu Tao exchanged a glance, their faces contorted with mirth. Venti gladly projected his voice.“Traveler, over here!”

“Oyayaya, did I hear well? You two are leaving already?”

Perking up at the exuberant greeting, the strange traveling duo turned in the direction of the calling simultaneously. A radiant smile spread on their faces, and Aether raised a hand while approaching with that confident pace of his, while Paimon attempted to say something with her mouth stuffed.

“We were”, Aether replied to Hu Tao's question, “but we can delay it for a few minutes for two friends.”

Paimon swallowed her food with an audible indignant gulp. “

We can delay it for friends

”, she repeated mockingly. “But not for PAIMON, apparently.”

Aether swatted at her, then laughing in response to Venti's own laughter. Venti happily received his gaze, drinking his permanent radiance, to the point he didn't even feel bad when the Traveler made the unavoidable remark. “So… I finally get to see your wings.”

Venti signed dramatically. “Sadly not in their best state, and I'm afraid the recovery will take a while.”

He could see the questions in his eyes, yet as per usual, it was Paimon who had the audacity to ask. “Come on, Tone-deaf bard, you can't just say that and don't give any details! Why did you start using your wings so suddenly, if they don't even work?”

Hu Tao came to the rescue. "Paimon, look, there's a ghost right behind you!”

“Ah! Wait… you're not trying to scare Paimon, are you….?” The pixie had her suspicions, but still took the bite, turning around. Hu Tao's ghost popped into existence, and Paimon yelped, starting a stream of protests that probably even included curse words she picked up in other regions.

Venti chuckled, but the traveler was just unimpressed, exchanging an almost disappointed look with Hu Tao. When Venti was again the target of his attention, he finally bothered to reply.

“I'm tired of explaining what happened already,
and I still have many explanations to give when I get to Mondstadt”, he admitted. “But once you finally step there again, especially following your discoveries in Natlan… I might have a few tales to tell.”

Legends, hidden knowledge, and images of titans and apocalypses flashed through his mind. Hopefully, the Traveler would pick up on his tone, and consider the offer seriously. He was almost ready to learn more.

“So…”, Hu Tao started, “are you going back to Natlan?”

“I actually planned to visit Inazuma first”, Aether confessed, having the decency to look guilty under Mondstadt's archon gaze. “But yes, Natlan is next, and I will start planning my trip to Nod-Krai very soon.”

“Eh-he, your journey has taken you far already. I still remember when you were a lost child of Mondstadt.” Venti was teasing, but it was the truth. Ah, he was really getting old and nostalgic…

Aether smiled, and opened his arms in invitation. The sun shone brighter.

Without wasting time, Venti accepted and rushed into a hug, in what felt like a long time. Hu Tao followed, laughing mischievously when she almost threw them off-balance. The streets were still humming lively and, behind them, the boundless waves crashed on the shore, the rolling sounds pacifying their fears.

No shadow of Celestia could darken their shared moment.

The soft garments slid through his fingers like silk, and Venti held a small smile as he packed them, having just learned that the outfit was a gift from Zhongli. It made sense, in a way - he had found it strange when the old fossil revealed he had the perfect emerald hanfu for Venti to burrow, especially when the outfit fit his size and was backless, as if in consideration for his wings. Turned out he had simply sneaked out while Venti slept to buy it.

There was a practical gratitude to it as well - after all, undressing his previous outfit required sloppily cutting his old shirt, already with two holes forcefully created by the appearance of wings, so that the wings could pass through. Frankly, they were going to cause many problems. Just like the adepti, even when he used to have his wings at most times, Venti would dissolve them during actions like changing clothes. Now, because of the curse… hum, he would probably require altered outfits that were mostly backless.

He heard the familiar footsteps of Morax approaching, slow and heavy, but never frightening. On the contrary, the reassurance made Venti intuitively turn to the door, where the taller man stopped, under the archway and the filtering sunrays.

“See? I even have my things packed already. I promised I would only need to pester you for one day”, he said with a wink.

Zhongli chuckled. “You didn’t pester me - helping you was my pleasure.”

He approached calmly, taking a seat at the end of the bed, next to Venti. By impulse, Venti leaned against his side, the nerves on his body calming at the contact. He still couldn’t tell if the relief he felt was natural, or a result of the curse, but he wasn’t exactly inclined to complain. Even less when Zhongli passed an arm around his waist, keeping him close.

“How are you feeling?”, Morax asked. “My offer to let you spend more days here still stands.”

Venti shook his head. “Thank you, but no. I want to spend tonight under the stars, readying myself for Mondstadt. But don’t worry, you old buffoon”, he said, the tone of his reassurance teetering on teasing. Bonking his head against Morax’s shoulder, he reflected out loud. “I feel quite alright now. Even… serene, and hopeful.”

There was a pause, and his expression stilled - but it froze in a smile, that still held up even when Venti blinked and looked up, meeting Zhongli’s gaze.

Before Zhongli could answer, Venti’s true feelings tumbled from his tongue.

“I’m glad I came to you first. You’re the person I’ve known the longest, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”

It was Zhongli’s turn to halt, his lips parted as if someone had just stolen his air. Venti could swear he saw him blinking away tears.

Finally, his expression smoothed in fondness. He leaned forward, until their foreheads were pressed together. Venti’s heart beat faster over the closeness, yet it was a kind of excitement he welcomed, along with the opportunity to get lost in those golden eyes. Both were smiling, and yet, there was something deeper being exchanged between them, something that Venti couldn’t name but wouldn’t reject.

Outside, the winds were calm.

Finally, Zhongli replied. “I am glad too,

old friend

.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The sun was still rising when Venti started his antics.

The irony about having dysfunctional wings was the fact that the weight made it harder for Venti to glide and climb. The windows of the upper floor of the
Knights of Favonius Headquarters used to be just some wind currents away, but not anymore. When he finally managed to get to the parapet, he just sat there heaving, double-thinking his decision to talk to Jean before she started her day.

The fact that he was at the window of her bedroom could also pass as indecent. He was sure she wouldn’t be offended… but she wasn’t immune to being jumpscared.

He should have considered that she was braver than him. When the blinders opened suddenly, he startled, squeaked, and almost fell down. If not for Jean’s quick reflexes, he would have no one to catch him.

Hanging from her arm, he involuntarily looked up, crossing eyes with her. She blinked, both in surprise and to adjust to the light, her expression shifting quickly from a squint to a confused frown. “V-Venti? What…?”

His heart dropped when her gaze landed on his wings, once again changing - to pity, this time. But she knew how to prioritize, pulling him up in no time. “Don’t worry, I caught you”, she said, making him wonder about how many layers that affirmation had.

“Eh, you didn’t even let me say anything before you already made up your mind”, he tried to joke, the attempt failing to land. “I hope I haven’t startled you as much as you startled me”, he remembered to add.

She coughed. “Somewhat, but I’m glad I caught you. Next time, if possible, schedule an appointment, or at least knock on the door.”

She made sure he was firmly standing inside before exhaling, and letting her shoulders relax. No one said anything for a moment, and there was a certain shyness to her posture, which he understood. Jean was still in her pajamas, and with a bedhead. Meanwhile, her Archon was in a similar state, in Liyuen clothes still, and also had ruined wings to complete the image.

“Perhaps my judgment wasn’t the best, and I should have simply waited for you to be in the office before showing up. I just… oopsie? Or, well… Sorry.” He ended up saying, genuinely feeling guilty.

She shook her head, and took his hand, leading him to sit on the bed with her. “I’m sure you had your reasons. Tell me, Venti. How can I help?”

A smile crept up his face, and he didn’t fight it. He would always admire the resolve of the Dandelion and Lionfang knight - these were figures of power he could get behind, who knew when to be stern and exert authority, but were also kind and genuinely took care of people. Perhaps the confidence he had in that type of person was the reason behind why he first gravitated toward Zhongli.

Venti would loathe to take her role from her. At least, he had hopes that they could find a solution that would let them work

together

on behalf of the city, without making his presence overbearing.

“Honestly, I don’t even know where to start”, he sighed, briefly looking into her eyes. “I won’t waste time explaining or apologizing for my absence as an Archon. I wished to keep the people of Mondstadt free, and I don’t regret my rare and hidden interventions, save for some specific situations over time.”

She nodded, putting a hand to her chest as she reassured him. “I am familiar with history. For the record, I don’t blame you, and I know that no one else in Mondstadt does either. The freedom you gave us was a gift, not a curse, Lord Barbatos. So, you can tell me anything.”

He chuckled. “You are quite a fervent believer, aren’t you? Just Venti is fine. Although… it’s funny that you mention a curse, because Celestia doesn’t share your views, and so, as punishment for my absence, they cursed me instead.”

Saying it nonchalantly did little to help.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she crossed her fingers together in a subconscious prayer. “Are you hurt? Is something going to happen to you? Your wings-?”

“Are in this state by my fault alone”, he completed in her place. “I kept them hidden for centuries, with no plans of ever using them again, so now the recovery will take a long time. Celestia didn’t damage them - but they did curse me to never be able to hide them again, along with other conditions”, Venti clarified, his fingers sinking in the blankets. “And I wanted to share those conditions with you, because they will interfere in the relationship between Mondstadt and its Archon, contrary to my wishes. It’s only fair you know first, and I might also need your advice on how to proceed from here.”

Jean's expression softened, her lips curving into a warm smile as she placed a reassuring hand over Venti’s own. “Thank you for trusting me with this,” she said gently. “You don’t have to be afraid, Venti. Mondstadt is strong - not just in its defenses, but in its ideals. The freedom you nurtured here is not so fragile that it will break under change.”

Venti hesitated before voicing the question that gnawed at him. “Even if one of the conditions forces me to participate in the ruling of Mondstadt?”

Jean nodded, unwavering. “Even then. We’ve long governed ourselves, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for you. Still, I’d like to hear the details, to understand how much will need to be modified. The winds change, and so should we.”

Venti exhaled, appreciating how she quoted one of his values back at him. Letting his gaze drop to his lap, he recounted what had happened in simple terms. The punishment, the restrictions placed upon him, the advice Zhongli had given, how they analyzed the terms of the curse to figure out he still had a margin for maneuver - despite everything, there was still hope.

“But even knowing that,” he admitted, “I still don’t know what I can even help with… or how to announce my presence to the people.”

Jean hummed in thought before offering, “Then allow me to take care of that. I can prepare an official announcement for the city - all you’ll need to do is be there.”

“Thank you, Jean. Truly,” Venti murmured, his voice carrying a rare earnestness. He idly played with wind in his palms, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. “Now I just hope people don’t start seeing me differently. I was fine with you and Diluc figuring out my identity, and was prepared for that possibility before I started to interfere. It’s not the first time in history that I let the citizens of Mondstadt know who I am, either. But there’s always a certain change in the way people defer to me after they know.”

Jean nodded, and studied him carefully. Her expression remained composed, but her brows furrowed slightly, a trace of regret in her gaze. “I suppose I am guilty of that too,” she admitted. “Barbatos is a figure I was raised to believe in, and the church has some very dedicated members that preserve their image, that doesn’t fully correspond with reality.”

A wry chuckle escaped him. “Tell me about it. Do you know how many statues I’ve seen with my bangs and face wrong? I chose this appearance for a reason, you know! It’s no surprise people can’t tell I’m the figure in the statues!” That was a bold exaggeration - the statues got some details wrong at most, to the point he often wondered about the opposite. What spell prevented people from seeing the resemblance?

Besides, Venti was particularly fond of the huge statue in the plaza. It was restored after the aristocratic period was overthrown, in commemoration, and he had always enjoyed feeling like a little wisp in the hands of his friend. The statue was in his image, after all, as much as it was in the image of Barbatos. He would have loved to overlook the city, and see how the children of Mondstadt were free. Or maybe that was just Venti projecting his own feelings…

Jean was amused, but also seemingly lost in thought. Venti tilted his head to the side, inquiring her silently. “I was just thinking that there isn’t any clash between your Barbatos identity, and your more human disguise. Is disguise even the right word?”

“Well, in a way?” Venti shrugged, tapping a finger against his knee. “But it’s still who I am. Just a bard, with a big repertoire of ancient songs and tales, and some extra centuries of practice.”

Jean’s lips twitched into a small, thoughtful smile. The golden morning light filtering through the curtains illuminated her features, conferring a quiet warmth to her usually formal demeanor. The casual garments also contributed to that image, resilient and sweet. Truly, like a dandelion.

“Being a bard fits you very well, Venti”, she said with certainty. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think anyone will stop seeing you as the bard, and friend, you are. If anything, realizing you are Barbatos will only reinforce how we have always felt - that our god always cared about us, but allowed us to figure out our way, and our trust in you was not misplaced.”

He only partially voluntarily made her argument more difficult, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure that my wings inspire trust?” Despite the attempt at jest in his tone, a hint of vulnerability slipped through the cracks.

She remained serious. “Your wings, in their current state, are proof that you aren’t a distant all-powerful figure, and are instead another being with problems, like all of us. And just like all of us, you love Mondstadt and have a right and wish to participate in its daily life.”

Venti fell quiet for a moment, absorbing her words as he let himself lean slightly into her side. She wasn’t bothered - instead, she placed one hand above his, her thumb brushing soothing circles against the back of his hand, in an almost subconscious act of comfort.

The weight on his chest felt a little lighter. Outside, the city was beginning to stir with life, merchants setting up their stalls, wind chimes singing with the morning breeze, the church's bell… there was even a bard singing in the distance.

And that gave him an idea.

“You know what? You are right. I am a bard, the best bard of Mondstadt. So, if I’m going to be proclaimed as Barbatos, I might as well take the stage properly and give a performance”, he decided suddenly, brimming with inspiration. The way she straightened in concealed excitement was great motivation as well. “Now, eh-he, let me tell you about the rest of the curse.”

“There’s more?” Her voice shook.

“Just one more condition, but don’t be frightened. I am getting the impression that it might even turn into something good, although it’s a little embarrassing”, he confessed. “So…”

He shared the details in a way that got some poorly disguised giggles out of her, in their shared moment of vulnerability and privacy of the bedroom. She volunteered to fetch breakfast, suggesting that they eat it while cuddling side-by-side in bed. It was so natural, so kind, that Venti couldn’t say no.

He was starting to suspect Mondstadt would shower him with affection, and he was never a shy person, but at this point, he didn’t know how he would deal with so much of it.

Venti considered that a success.

He had that slow start of the day to thank, because the rest was far more stressful than he was used to handling. The speech preparations, choice of what to wear (taking into account what he wanted to represent and the adjustments needed for the wings), preparing a performance (even just deciding between composing a new song or a song of old already took some time)... It reminded him of when he was first announced as an Archon to the people of Old Mondstadt, who had just acquired their freedom at much cost.

Jean fussing over him and juggling all of her tasks was practically a ghost of his old friend, the first Gunnhildr. A hero in her own right - the clan even changed its name in her honor. They weren’t the same person, and yet, Venti cherished the way she, Diluc, and himself had so much in common with certain main figures in the rebellion, down to appearance.

“...nti? Venti, are you listening?”, he heard her call, finally tuning in.

“Ah, sorry, I zoned out!”, he said. “Looks like I will need a lot of practice until I can pay enough attention to be of help.”

Jean shook her head, but was smiling. “That’s alright. I don’t necessarily think you will have to help with bureaucratic matters, and I am more familiar with paperwork. As long as you assume you are Barbatos, much of what you used to do can count as acting in an official capacity. Such as when you give romantic advice during Windblume, or give lessons to the bards. Those are important tasks in Mondstadt.”

He huffed a chuckle. “Jean, I am happy to be rid of paperwork, but now you reminded me I might need to wear my Archon outfit in those scenarios as well.” He flopped dramatically to the floor, regretting the carelessness with his wings as soon as a light pain shot through his body. “Nothing will really be the same…”

He was making light of the situation but, in truth, it still worried him. It was one thing when people sought out his advice because they recognized his capacities as a bard - it was another when they knew their own god was advising them. Would they truly have the willpower to go against his recommendations if they so wished? Or would they blindly trust anything he said, above their own judgment?

A breeze entered through the window and rustled his hair, playful and comforting, but it wasn’t a wind of his own. Noticing a dandelion, he looked up to Jean, caught by surprise. She was sitting at her desk, writing some document, but Venti could see her Vision pulsating faintly with Anemo.

Venti smirked. Gathering his will, he propped himself up - ugh, he couldn't wait until those wings were more controllable - and sat on the desk. “So, you asked me something?”

She blinked at the reminder, and smiled at her own forgetfulness. “I was just asking if tomorrow at noon was a good time for the proclamation. People won’t want to stay around for long to bombard you with questions, since it will be lunchtime once it ends, and those happy with the announcement can use the meal to commemorate, or discuss it with other people.”

“Seems like you answered your own question”, he teased.

“I did, but I wanted to make sure you would feel ready by then.”

All that pampering was going to make him melt. “I will be, as much as I can. Honestly, the soon I get this over with, the better.”

She hummed. “And we can also start looking into healing your wings.”

That reminded him: he still hadn’t tried the exercises recommended by Xianyun. The first tier was simple - just a few repetitions of minimal movements, also engaging his arms and back muscles, and some brief stretching - and yet, in the current state of his wings, they still sounded tiresome and slightly painful.

But he really wanted to recover…

Leaving her to work, he decided to start practicing. Right there in the office, where he might occasionally hit things and send them flying to the ground, not that it was a problem when he could just catch them with wind. It wasn’t his most brilliant idea, but taverns, the plaza, and most places he enjoyed were off-limits until the announcement. Venti had already spent the night sleeping under Venessa’s tree, so he wasn’t in a rush to go outside.

He started with the simplest motion: unfurling his wings, not even moving them at the base - just from half of the length to the tip. A small movement, attainable at first and that barely engaged the muscles, but after the third repetition, his body was already protesting. The stiffness was glaringly obvious, given how he had to sit to gather himself once he reached the tenth time.

Now he just had to do it again.

Xianyun’s prescribed routine accounted for that, even recommending how many seconds he should wait before getting back to work again. With the precision and the discipline required, it was no surprise that every child she took under her wing ended up so strong.

The next exercise involved using his hands and arms to grab his wings, and try to move them with support. The idea was not to hurt, or to build strength, but just to refamiliarize with the movement of closing and spreading them, to rebuild mobility. Even then, Venti found himself gritting his teeth by the end of it, as his joints would rather not move. The touch of his pitiful wings, with feathers missing or already getting greasy, also left a bad impression under his touch.

The discomfort wasn’t unbearable, but the sheer effort it took to move them - when that should have been second nature - was humiliating. It also left a lasting nagging sensation.

The last exercise of this early phase required him to sit on the floor on all fours, hands and knees on the ground, and try to push his wings up against gravity. Keyword was ‘try’. His movements were clumsy and uncoordinated, with one wing always lagging behind even when the other was lifted through a jolt, for the brief moments his body recognized his muscles. He managed to lift them both simultaneously at the sixth attempt, and the sharp pull he felt only served to make him hiss and stop, unable to even complete the sequence.

He should practice that routine at least two times per day.

Venti knew he was supposed to not push too hard, but frustration clawed at his patience. Ignoring the recommendations on the scroll, as soon as the tugging subsided, he took a deep breath. Sitting, he forced himself to lift his wings, just to catch the breeze entering through the window, before easing them back down.

But nothing about that was easy. He could feel something stretch and snap, not quite breaking, yet enough to spread the burn.

Venti bit his tongue, seeing stars for a moment. Mentally insulting his luck, all he could do was lower himself to the floor, until he was lying on his side, waiting for the throbbing to pass. Even his neck was strained, as if his whole spine protested.

This doesn’t even make sense… My wings weren’t always attached to my back

, he remembered bitterly, as memories of how his wisp self affected his first Archon form came to mind. Or rather,

their

form - at the time at least. He wasn’t sure when they became connected to his spine, just like he wasn’t sure of when his body markings stopped glowing, or when his sense of self changed. It just happened, slowly, perhaps as a result of bonding with humans further.

“Venti?”, Jean called hesitantly, perking her head. “Are you…?”

Right, of course she noticed. He was just lying on the floor heaving, and no matter how much he silenced himself, he had been still for too long.

Nodding, he figured he was feeling well enough to rise. Realizing she probably couldn’t see the nod from that angle, he spoke up. “I’m alright, just tired. And, well, I might have strained some muscles more than I should. It’s nothing worriso-”

Before he could finish that sentence, the chair was pushed back, and Jean was heading towards him. He felt his eyes widen at first, but quickly melted into a smile.

“You didn’t have to…”, Venti muttered knowingly, making sure he conveyed his gratitude with the tone of his voice.

As she sat behind his back, carefully placing a palm between his exposed shoulder blades, her humming was affectionate. “I know, but I want to. Is it a more general pain, or localized?”

“It’s mainly at the base of my wings”, he said, letting his head fall back at the immediate relief that healing magic brought. “Yes, exactly there.”

The healing touch was cold, but appreciated, as the magic concentrated on Jean’s palms on the surface of her gloves. It was absorbed by his body, and traveled through his tired spine and muscles. When she pressed lightly against the base of his wings, instead of pain, Venti felt only the undoing of knots.

Maybe I should consider massages

, he pondered, unsure if people would even know what to do given how his wings were on the way.

Accompanying the use of Jean’s Vision, the scent of dandelions enveloped them, putting Venti at ease. She took it a step further and started helping in other areas, soothing the tension on his shoulders, then trailing along the rest of his wings.

A light touch in a particularly sensitive spot made him burst into laughter. “Wait, that tickles!”, he explained himself, squirming under her hands.

She removed them immediately. “Ah, I apologize.”

“Jean, are you really apologizing for tickling me accidentally?”, he turned to stare at her with half-lidded eyes, despite being further amused. “I always tickle lots of people with wind.” To demonstrate, he called upon the breeze, fustigating her hair and neck and making her chuckle.

Sharing a smile, they silently agreed to get up. Venti’s legs were wobbly, so he was grateful for her support, allowing himself to lean some of his weight against her side until he was feeling stable. Nodding to her, she let go.

They looked at each other in silence, an echo of that same morning. Venti held a small smile, not knowing what to say or even what to feel. Gratitude, resignation, frustration?

He could see in her eyes, more than hear in the winds’ whispers, that she felt just as conflicted. How could she not, when her god was going through this? No matter how much they were friends as well, and what she told him before, the fact was that a lot of her perception of Barbatos had changed in recent years.

And they were about to unleash the same conflict on the rest of Mondstadt…

Venti was about to open his mouth, but Jean beat him to it. Lowering one knee to the ground, he recognized the knightly pose that Mondstadt passed down through tradition, and held his breath. Was she… swearing devotion? To Barbatos, or…?

“Venti”, she started solemnly, putting his doubts to rest. Her head was lowered, and she had a hand on her sword. “I am your friend, and your follower. No matter the nature of our bond, I know you have always, and will always, be here for me and for the rest of Mondstadt, looking out for us in some way. Do you allow me to return the favor?”

He finally exhaled. By impulse, he kneeled too, to catch a glimpse of her expression as they were at eye-level. “How could I refuse?”

She smiled, meeting his gaze. “Then, I will be your Knight.”

Jean picked up his hand, gently, raising it to her lips. She kissed his knuckles, and Venti, heart trembling, could swear he felt the faint brush of a prayer.

Ah, Gunnhildr… you really are the one who is always here for me

, he thought, hit by the realization.

Despite closing his eyes, Venti couldn’t stop the single tear from forming.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The plaza hummed with anticipation, voices merging into a restless murmur as the citizens of Mondstadt gathered before the towering statue of Barbatos. A wooden dais had been set up at its base, simple yet sturdy, with a stone platform placed at the front. At its center, a single Cecilia flower rested, the same bloom that had long been cherished during the Windblume Festival.

Jean stood upon the dais, her presence commanding yet calm. She stood alone, without an escort of knights, a deliberate choice meant to convey trust rather than authority - to not mention that the knights were as unaware of what was going on as the rest of the city. The golden rays of morning bathed the square, catching in her golden hair, as she clasped her hands behind her back, waiting for the last stragglers to fill the space.

High above, perched upon the outstretched hands of his own likeness, Venti observed the scene, unseen. Dressed in his Archon regalia, the cloak draped over his shoulders was like a reluctant mantle. He had considered covering himself further, adding layers to shield against the weight of scrutiny, but he had dismissed the thought at the end. If Celestia wanted him to feel ashamed, all the more reason to assume his appearance fully, and not cower. Not before his people.

Below, Jean took a measured breath and stepped forward, her voice carrying with practiced ease.

"Thank you, Windborne Citizens, for attending this proclamation."

The crowd hushed, their restless chatter quieting into attentive silence. Venti could feel their curiosity swirling in the air, the way the wind carried their collective breath. He perched forward slightly, feeling the cool stone against his palms as he leaned in to listen.

"First of all," Jean continued, "I would like to reassure you that the urgency of this convocation is not due to any looming threat."

From his vantage point, Venti saw the crowd shift, a ripple of whispered relief passing through them. Some murmured questions to their neighbors, others exhaled softly, tension unwinding from their shoulders.

"However," Jean went on, "what I have to announce today is of equal importance. It concerns Barbatos, and it will likely change the way some of us perceive them. But I can only hope it does not change the trust, and even friendship, that many of you have placed in them."

The words settled over the crowd like a breeze shifting direction - subtle, yet carrying an unmistakable weight. At first, there was hesitation, as if the gathered citizens couldn’t quite place why Barbatos would be referred to as a friend. It was a curious choice, one that prompted furrowed brows and hesitant glances exchanged between people.

Venti felt a similar anxiety pooling in his stomach, curling uncomfortably like a tangled thread. But despite that, he did not regret the decision to reveal himself to everyone at once. Not that he had a large margin for maneuver, given the curse. But even if he had, more than anything, he was tired of repeating the same explanations in hushed conversations and cautious confessions. It was easier to rip off the bandaid all at once, to let the wind carry his truth to every ear at the same time.

Jean continued, solemn yet serene. “It would be misleading to state that Barbatos has once again descended, since, in reality, they have been with us for several years already.” Venti didn’t know if he wished he could see the look on people’s faces. From the shift in posture alone, the revelation had struck them. “They have looked out for us, both by contributing to the resolution of greater crises in a discrete manner, and by supporting our daily dilemmas. Most of you already know them -

him

. You just didn’t associate the two identities.”

The murmur of the crowd swelled into a full wave of whispers, to the point of being overwhelming. Venti took stock of the reactions below. Some were unsurprising: From the gasps to the head scratching, the disbelief cascaded through the crowd. There were a few hesitant nods from those who had likely suspected something before.

But his gaze caught on a few distinct figures: Hans Archibald was nodding to himself. Kaeya stood with arms crossed, his expression dark and difficult to read. Albedo appeared merely intrigued, no more rattled than if he were studying an unfamiliar alchemical formula. Diluc was reserved in the way only someone who knew the truth but not the motivations could be. Some members of the Knights of Favonius were expectant, while Church members were frozen on the spot, their expressions ranging from hope to betrayal.

“Barbatos was recently tasked to be openly involved in the governing of the city.” Venti smirked at Jean’s phrasing, admiring how craftly she understated the situation and kept the burdens of his curse tucked away. She knew how to wield diplomacy, and so she continued, steadfast. “They wish to do so while preserving the freedom we value, and thus, little will change in the way the Knights and the Church of Favonius operate. Instead, they will keep contributing in ways he already has - the only difference is, that now, you will be aware of who he is.”

Once again that seemed to relieve the crowd and, from his perch, Venti felt a small surge of pride. He appreciated how the people of Mondstadt were protective of their freedom, and the more they opposed the interference of an archon, the better.

Jean was reaching the end of the speech. “There is one last thing you must know, before we break the suspense and Barbatos is revealed.” The crowd held its breadth. “Our books and statues have always depicted them with wings, as you are well familiar. The portrayal is accurate, however, you will notice that the wings are presently in a neglected state. That is caused by misuse”, she explained plainly. “I ask of everyone to understand the situation and to be supportive as our Archon starts using them permanently, as part of a healing journey.”

Venti’s stomach twisted. That was the part of the proclamation that Venti had been more hesitant about. He didn’t want their

pity

. The mere thought of being looked upon with sorrow or fragile reverence made something within him coil defensively. And yet, he knew the people of Mondstadt deserved an explanation. They would see his wings, ragged and weak from centuries of disuse, and they would wonder. Better to meet their questions with honesty than to let wild assumptions fester.

Still, the moment he saw hands instinctively press over hearts in silent understanding, the tension in his shoulders lessened, just a fraction. No murmurs of doubt, no visible disgust; just quiet acknowledgment. Some exchanged looks, nodding as if to reassure one another and, unknowingly, reassuring Venti too.

Tender-hearted as he was, Venti almost missed Jean’s next words.

“Thank you. In that case… Lord Barbatos, you may make your entrance.”

The words rang in his ears. It was time.

Venti inhaled deeply, filling their lungs with the crisp air. Then, with a practiced ease, they called upon the winds to envelop them. Anemo energy surged through their body. They could feel it in the way their braids lifted, glowing with the radiance of elemental power, fluttering along with their skirt and cloak.

Summoning all bravery they could muster, Barbatos faced the dread, leaping from the hands of the statue.

One with the wind, the currents caught and wrapped around them in a familiar embrace, slowing their descent. They landed graciously, in front of a frozen crowd.

Silence.

When the winds dissipated and people could see them properly, making sense of their features, the shock was palpable. As people processed who they were, some had taken an unconscious step backward, hands covering their mouths. Others blinked as if trying to reconcile what they were seeing with what they had always known. Confusion, disbelief, outright denial… it was all there, plain as day in their expressions.

And yet, among the storm of uncertainty, there were those whose gazes softened in realization. A few nods of recognition, quiet and knowing.

It made sense to them.

Barbatos’s head throbbed slightly from the tension, but they pushed through it. Their mouth was dry, and they weren’t sure of how to move on with what they meant to say, despite their usual ease with audiences. They could only hope that the windborne children would accept them.

For a moment, the silence stretched on, thick and unbroken. Then, a young yet unmistakable voice rang out, clear as a bell.

“Oh, it’s Venti!”

The crowd turned as one toward the source: Klee, standing among the citizens with bright, curious eyes. She pointed up and jumped, utterly unfazed by the gravity of the moment. “Klee always thought he looked like the statues!” she added with a hint of ‘I told you so’, as though this revelation was the most obvious thing in the world.

A ripple of laughter broke through the crowd, hesitant at first, then growing into something more genuine. The tension that had gripped the plaza loosened slightly, the ice breaking just a bit.

Venti let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, a grin creeping onto his lips. He chuckled, the sound light and relieved.

“Eh-he, I’m also surprised most of you haven’t realized earlier,” he joked, slipping semi-effortlessly back into his usual relaxed demeanor. The citizens were now adorned with small smiles, some heads nodding in agreement. Oh, so they

had

noticed the similarities after all. “Hopefully, it’s not too surprising that Barbatos is a bard,” he continued with a playful lilt, “and makes good use of those wines you leave as an offering.”

This time, the laughter was more pronounced, scattered chuckles turning into shared amusement. The tension had not disappeared entirely, but at least now it had softened into something more manageable, something he could work with. Still, beneath the mirth, there was something lingering in the air, that he wasn't sure he would be able to get rid of. Venti felt it, that subtle pull of something unsaid.

Involuntarily, his gaze sought Jean’s. She met his eyes, steady and unwavering, and gave him a small nod.

Something about that gesture grounded him, the way it carried quiet reassurance, the way it called to mind another time, another moment in history. Had she a crown of laurels for him, and once again she would remind him or the original Gunnhildr standing at his side centuries ago, during his first proclamation.

Taking a deep breath, Barbatos - Venti? - once again addressed the crowd

“My beloved children of Mondstadt,” he began, his voice carrying over the plaza, “what the Acting Grandmaster said is true. I did not ask for this role, and nothing brings me more joy than knowing how Mondstadt is free from the influence of gods. Therefore, I am not here to challenge that”, he swore, lowering his head in humility and to hide his shaking lips. Even with all the support, the weight of this moment pressed against his ribs. “When I gave you advice during the Windbluem festival, when I sang for you, when I soaked in the ambience of the tavern… I was doing so as Venti, more than as Barbatos.”

His throat tightened with emotion, and he had to pause to gather himself and stabilize his voice, inhaling deeply before continuing.

“Perhaps it’s time to stop separating the two identities, or maybe they shouldn’t have been separated in the first place. Regardless, I never meant to deceive you - or at the very least, I had no ill-intentions in doing so. I was merely enjoying the freedom of Mondstadt myself”, he explained, hands clenching briefly at his sides. “The way you see me from now on is your own choice, but I genuinely hope you can make peace with this new development: The winds change, and so should we.”

A hush fell over the citizens, their expressions a sea of contemplation and quiet reflection. The tension in the air no longer felt like skepticism or shock. It was something softer, more accepting.

Venti’s gaze flickered instinctively across the crowd, searching, and his eyes met Diluc’s. The red-haired man held his gaze, steady and unyielding, like an anchor. For all his distaste for figures of authority, he more than many had grounds to believe Venti, given their casual interactions even after he learned that he was Barbatos. There was no judgement in his gaze, only recognition.

A flutter of wings overhead drew his attention, as a flock of birds took flight, their dark silhouettes streaking against the bright sky. The timing felt almost poetic, as if Mondstadt itself acknowledged this shift.

Then, a voice broke through the silence.

“Lord Barbatos, if I may?”

Venti blinked, caught off guard. The speaker was Hans Archibald - the man who long carried the legacy of his deceased friend, Stanley, and who Venti had once released from the burden of carrying another’s identity. A man who, in some ways, understood the weight of duality.

Venti did not love the formality, but he was not surprised either. He simply nodded.

“I want to believe this change will be for the better,” Hans continued, his voice steady. “Free as you might have been as a bard, I speak from personal experience when I say no one is fully free while hiding their identity. Coupled with the hiding of your wings… I think it was about time Mondstadt embraced all facets of its Archon.”

The words struck something deep within the bewildered god. Venti swallowed thickly, the full weight of Hans’ statement pressing against his heart. Around him, murmurs of agreement echoed through the crowd. Heads nodded, voices murmured words of support. It was not unanimous, but it was

enough

. So they really were alright with this? They truly believed both Venti and Barbatos could coexist?

By impulse, a breeze responded to his feelings, weaving through the crowd in gentle gratitude. He was known, the children of Mondstadt were known, and they were there for each surrounded by ever-present wind.

Venti let out a shaky breath, and blinked away the tears. With a small, earnest smile, he summoned his lyre, the familiar weight grounding him.

“Then,” he said, voice lighter now, “allow me to welcome this new period of Mondstadt with a song. It’s a new song I composed, but with some verses of old. I hope you like it.”

And with that, his fingers found the strings, and the first notes of melody filled the air. He raised his voice, which danced to the notes, as the breeze carried the rich sounds to those it was about.

“Children of the Anemo Archon, heed these words:

From the winds we have come, and with the winds we shall go.

When trees are stirred, when the falcon soars,

Our souls rise unshackled, and in tandem we flow.

Never grieve for change, but be ready to fight

like you always have, against tyrants or Fate’s decree.

The sky is our witness, there is no better sight.

Today Mondstadt still stands, unbroken and free.

From the highs you glide, looking down below.

From the breeze you are born, it’s your life’s key.

Your destination is a mystery that none can say.

But your unconstrained dream is for everyone to see.

When you're lost, the winds shall guide your way.

It’s when you pour out your truth that your tale begins.

When flowers bloom, when leaves sway,

That is me who sings the songs of freedom, of the winds.”

The words settled over the plaza like a blessing, the last note lingering as Venti’s voice faded. For a moment, there was only stillness. Then, a wave of warmth, a murmur of voices, and a ripple of applause. Some clasped their hands together, others smiled, and some simply closed their eyes, letting the song sink into their souls.

Venti sighed in relief, shoulders slumping, chuckling along with some citizens who spotted his familiar behavior. Hey, he

was

the best bard of Mondstadt. Anything less than impressing the crowd would just hurt his pride.

Everyone was at peace, and that was the most he could ask for. The trust was clear, even if the future was not.

There was only one exception to that reaction, staining the success of the moment. Through the corner of his eyes, Venti spotted her, slipping through the crowd and fleeing away in a rush, as if the air had suddenly become suffocating.

Barbara.

Venti’s stilled, the joy of the moment dimming just slightly. The wind stirred at his back, uncertain, mirroring the pang in his chest. She had always spoken of Barbatos with such devotion, such unwavering faith. And now, that faith had been shattered—not by betrayal, but by the truth and disappointment.

Some things were not so easily reconciled.

During the afternoon, Venti remained playing idly in the plaza, not quite ready to deal with interactions yet. At least he could finally be outside, and change back into most of his usual garments.
The only thing missing was his shirt - he would take it later to a tailor for adjustments to the wings - but with the corset over his white top, hiding most of the metals, there was barely any difference.

Perhaps the outfit was what put people at ease, or perhaps it was the routine of seeing him play for a big portion of the day. The fact was that, little by little, a small crowd started to form like usual, both audience and aspiring bards. They were quieter than they tended to be, but a couple still dared to ask for their favorite ballad, or ask him how he executed certain things.

“Venti?”, called six-fingered José. “Should we call you Barbatos now?”

“Humm. I suppose both are correct”, he trailed off, looking at the sky. “I will let people choose. But, in some ways, I'm more attached to Venti.”

He nodded promptly. “Then, can you show me how to do that thing again? That part from the song ‘The princess and the boar’, you know the one.
Sorry, I know I asked you almost 10 times now…”

Venti chuckled. “Alright, I will show you again, but you could really start taking measures to not forget my tips. Maybe write them down?”, he suggested pointedly, despite knowing it would probably take longer until the clumsy bard learned his lesson. “So, first, you place your hands like this…”

The familiarity of that moment almost made him forget that they knew who he was now,
or the weight of the wings. Almost. The occasional glance was enough of a reminder, but it wasn't as bad as Venti feared.

If this was just the first day, perhaps it was worth entertaining hope.

The night had fallen in the city, draping its dark mantle over the only kind of sky people knew. For the most part, it was quiet, save for the occasional daring cat, but not around the tavern. The humming coming from inside grew louder as Venti approached. Angel’s Share was bustling with life, as familiar voices toasting and boisterous laughter emanated from the inside. Staring at the wooden door, the god’s gaze landed on a nearby moth, attracted by the light coming from one of the few buildings still emitting light.

Maybe Venti should open the door? If not for himself, then, to let the moth enter.

Venti finally dared to step inside, and his tiny temporary companion fluttered along.

His senses were invaded with a heart-twisting familiarity, of visions, sounds and smells, from the aroma of wine to the flickering of the candelabrum. Glasses clinked, and then were drowned by slurping and burping sounds, followed by raucous laughter. Anecdotes, tales and heated drunkard opinions were being shared. José’s customary audience was teasing him for ruining yet again the piece Venti coached him through just some hours ago.

Giving him an unimpressed stare, Venti went straight towards his favorite bartender. If there was a place where he didn’t need the winds to feel at home, it was this one, and he could only hope that hasn’t changed.

As soon as he flopped on the stool, without preamble, Diluc bombarded him. “So? Why assume your role so suddenly?”

No mercy it was. Tilting his head up, a pair of tired eyes met. “Believe it or not, Jean really was telling the truth”, he said simply. “As for who tasked me with this… well, I’m sure you can guess.”

“I can. I’m just surprised Celestia took so long to interfere.”

Fair enough

, he thought, understanding how he reached that conclusion. Venti sighed dramatically. “Fine, I will give you all the details later. I just didn’t have a choice, alright? In using my wings as well.” He gestured vaguely to behind, where the limp feathers stuck out like a sore thumb. “They look ridiculous like this, and are just useless weight.”

“Frankly, yes, I never let one of my birds get to that level of neglect.” As soon as he finished that remark, Diluc caught himself and cleared his throat with a cough, speaking more measuredly as he started to pour a drink. “What I meant to say was that I know a few things about taking care of birds. If you need someone to check up on your wings from time to time, I don’t mind doing that.”

“Oh”, Venti blinked. “That… would be useful, actually.”

Diluc gave a curt nod, before placing the drink on the table with a decisive thud. Venti could recognize it from the fragrance alone, of apples and cinnamon, drifting up: it was a mug of his favorite cider, although he hadn’t asked for it. “It’s on the house. But only this time”, he deadpanned.

“Whoa, and here I was about to say you are so kind!” He dragged out the last word, making sure to sound as insufferable as possible. But deep down, as the warmth of the cider seeped into his hands, Venti found himself thankful for how their dynamic never changed, ever since the redhead learned he was Barbatos.

Sipping his drink, Venti let his gaze wander around the room. At least the patrons didn’t halt their fun when he arrived, although they weren't sure how to approach him, and he could understand. The unhinged nature of their previous interactions, the liveliness and friendly bickering, all of it seemed like crossing a boundary when dealing with a god. Would it be blasphemous to call their god a drunkard, and pass an arm around his shoulders to pull him for another round?

Venti could only hope they came around after seeing how his tendencies and personality didn't change. Not that it nullified the very obvious wings attached to his back, marking him apart.

But without the usual camaraderie, even though Angel’s Share was still the same, something was missing.

Turning to Diluc again, he rested his chin on one hand. The mellow atmosphere was the perfect invitation to laze around, and he started thinking aloud, knowing Diluc would hear him even with his back turned.

“I’d offer a performance to bring in customers, but I think I’ve met my quota for the day.” He swirled his drink absentmindedly. “Besides, I don’t think the reactions would be the same as usual.”

Diluc didn't even raise his eyes while meticulously cleaning cups, his retort coming flat and matter-of-fact. “I agree, but you better get back at it eventually, or find a job if you want to keep drinking. I'm not going to let you drink for free just because it's known you are the Archon.”

The harshness wasn’t anything strange for their dynamic - not just because he was the quiet kind, but because they have always acted like that around each other. In other words, Venti didn’t mind in the slightest, but Quinn, sitting nearby, took offense on his behalf. “Master Diluc, don't you think that's a bit much? Barbatos is our god.”

The door swung open abruptly, and Venti’s drinking buddies entered. Kaeya caught the tail of what Quinn said, and wasted no time slipping into the conversation, his grin sharp as ever.

“Don't be silly”, he said smoothly, striding inside with his usual lazy elegance. “Mondstadt has no god.”

That worked like a charm. The tavern was washed in a wave of amusement, with most clients just accepting it with a “oh, of course” and “never had one to begin with”, in a way only true Mondstadters would. Knowing nods ripple through the crowd.

The easy acceptance, the seamless shift back into familiarity—it was enough to lift a weight off Venti’s shoulders.

Kaeya’s words had sounded genuine too, which only cemented him as a true Mondstadter. But Venti knew better than to take them at face value. He had long been aware of Kaeya’s Khaenri’ahn origins, and that knowledge turned the simple jest - on the surface, meant to diffuse the building awkwardness - into something more layered.

Everything Kaeya said held veiled meaning, as much as it held truth. One thing was certain, Venti had to admire his skill.

Was this just his way of reaffirming his place in Mondstadt, aligning himself with its ideals? Or was it wishful thinking, a quiet hope that the city’s independence remained unchanged despite Barbatos’ return? Perhaps merely friendly reassurance, communicating that the nature of their bond wouldn’t have to change just because of the big reveal?

…Or maybe it was something else entirely? A refusal to acknowledge Barbatos as a god, a sentiment shaped by Khaenri’ahn blood and its long-standing resistance to Celestia?

With valid reasons

, Venti conceded

They always had a cautionary suspicion of each other, circling one another in unspoken understanding. Kaeya had never outright stated that he knew Venti was Barbatos, but Venti had little doubt he had figured it out long ago. Likewise, Venti was aware that Kaeya’s alliances extended beyond Mondstadt. But they were content with a friendship built on wit and votes of trust, just playfully taunting each other about their secrets, for as long as none acted on it and tried to exert power.

How much of that was ruined by Venti assuming he was Barbatos?

The pair sat at the counter beside Venti, cutting his trail of thought. Rosaria sat between them, like a divide.

“So, Lord Barsibatos, mhm?”, she asked smugly, not even bothering to say the name right. “I must say, your announcement left the church in shambles - many are struggling to believe that the god they prayed to is a drunkard. Personally, I like that - I was never devoted, and yet now we can say I got closer to Mondstadt’s god by drinking with him than they ever have with their prayers.”

Venti couldn’t help it: he barked out a laugh, marveled at how she not only didn’t care, but even got a kick out of the entire ordeal. In many ways, she had always been his favorite nun - he had a thing for rebels.

Kaeya was laughing too, even though his single eye lingered on Venti for uncomfortably long. But whatever thoughts were brewing in his mind, he shrugged them off, and turned to Diluc. “Bartender, get me one Death After Noon!”, he ordered, as always doing what he could to provoke him, both in tone and choice.

“And one Dandelion Wine for me”, Rosaria added distractedly, playing with the dagger on her palm.

Diluc, predictably, refused to be entertainment for them. A lesser man might have glared, sighed, or even rolled his eyes, but the redhead merely turned to fetch their drinks with professional composure. That, of course, was enough for Kaeya and Rosaria, whose amusement thrived in the knowledge of how hard the redhead tried to stay stoic.

Kaeya clinked his tankard against Rosaria’s, before drinking. Eyeing Venti over the rim of the mug with a teasing glint, he had no problems talking to him directly. “I will say, your Archon outfit is an interesting choice. I can see now why the sculptor who created the statues decided to cover you up.”

Rosaria huffed. “Just say he’s hot.”

Venti nearly choked on his drink, caught off guard by the comment. “That is… quite straightforward,” he managed, his laugh slipping out sheepishly. He let one of his braids fall forward, an instinctive attempt to shield his face.

Kaeya leaned back, peering at him. “My, my. No need to be shy, Venti. It’s not the first time people compliment your looks.”

“I mean, I am aware of that, of course.” It was true, and it pleased him to know people enjoyed his appearance, although he would have honored his old friend’s look even if it wasn’t considered beautiful. “But flattery works better if you go for subtlety instead.”

“Trust me, I know some individuals who react very well to bluntness.” Rosaria exchanged a look with Kaeya, and Venti

knew

what that meant - reinforced by how one of her hands squeezed his tight. Those two were close in more ways than one. She turned back to Venti, prodding more. “Besides, you always enjoy it when people compliment your songs. Why would this be different?”

“Eh-he, fine. It’s true, you caught me!” He raised his hands in surrender, returning their smiles. “I like it when people praise me. Fun fact, I always thought it was unfair that my statues cover me up when Morax gets to be depicted with his torso perfectly sculpted. He doesn’t even dress like that!”

The group laughed, already getting tipsy, while Diluc shook his head in one corner, clearly regretting every decision that had led to him serving this particular crowd. He said nothing, but the way he poured another drink just a little too forcefully spoke volumes. Even some of the nearby patrons, who had been cautiously weighing how to engage with their now-officially-revealed god, relaxed at the lighthearted exchange that they clearly listening to.

Feeling more relaxed, Venti downed the rest of his cider, appreciating the burning in his stomach, and leaned against Rosaria’s side, who didn’t flinch or pull away. He was secretly craving touches after so long without them, a hunger that was hard to sate - likely influenced by the curse, yes, but also born from his natural desire to be close to others. It was strange, how he could barely go one day without missing them, but he also recognized how privileged he was for having so many friends that were okay with physical contact.

So he just stayed like that, soaking in the atmosphere of the tavern.

Venti still engaged in talking from time to time. He faked dramatic offense when accused of cheating at music, arguing that centuries of practice were hardly an unfair advantage - just proof of his unending dedication. When someone asked whether the wild tales he spun about Barbatos had ever held a shred of truth, he doubled down, weaving even grander, more contradictory versions that left them no closer to an answer.

The stress of the past days was finally catching up to Venti, who found himself dozing off. At some point, he lowered his head to rest on his folded arms, telling himself it was just for a moment. Just long enough to blink the heaviness from his eyes. But the moment stretched into minutes, and the sounds of the tavern blurred into an indistinct buzzing. Someone ran a hand through his hair, slow, deliberate, tender. He didn’t know who. He didn’t need to know. He leaned into it instinctively.

Maybe I should try to get up,

he realized in the back of his mind. But his eyes protested at the thought.

Alright, I will just be here for a little longer.

As sounds of home whispered at the corners of his conscience, darkness pulled him under, quiet and soft as a lullaby.

When Venti started drifting in and out of a state of awareness, the first thing he registered was the warmth. The second was the rocking, and the third was the quiet thrum of a heartbeat against his ear.

His mind didn’t immediately care. He just relaxed further, tilting his face to sink into that warmth.

He couldn’t quite make sense of the hushed voices, muffled by the haze of lingering sleep, but some words got across.

“Can’t you coordinate better?”, asked a deep irritated voice.

It was followed by a retort dripping with sarcasm. “Oh I am

so

sorry for not knowing how to hold his hurt wings and not keeping up with your pace.”

“You’re just drunk, that’s why you can’t coordinate.

“Tsk.”

A smile tugged at Venti’s lips, finding the bickering familiar.

Wait…

“-luc? Kaeya?” He croaked.

“It’s us”, Diluc confirmed calmly. “I’m bringing you to one of the rooms of the tavern - don’t worry, I won’t make you pay for that - and Kaeya is helping support your wings.”

“They are quite big”, Kaeya pointed out. “I can barely make them fit through this tight staircase.”

Venti was starting to feel a bit more awake, and perhaps he should just offer to climb the rest of the stairs on his own. And yet, it was as if his body needed the contact, clinging further to the one who carried him. He simply couldn’t say it. When he was forced to let go to be placed in bed, the ache left was sated by the sensation of being tucked under the blankets.

As they turned to leave, Venti spoke without thinking.

“Don’t go just yet”, Venti called, halting them on their way out. Fighting the haziness, he continued. “There are explanations that you deserve. Both of you.”

Without skipping a beat, Diluc approached, but Kaeya remained at the doorway. “Are you going to share your secrets, Lord Barbatos?”, Kaeya asked coldly. That tone stung, prodding at a fear Venti had wanted to ignore.

Gulping, his reply was weak at first. “Some. At the very least, explanations pertaining to this situation. And please don’t call me that - I don’t want to just be a distant god.”

Something in his openness made Kaeya hesitate, letting the hostility go. It was hard to tell in the dimly-lit room, but his expression seemed to turn somewhat regretful and softer. After a moment’s pause, he exhaled and took a reluctant seat at the foot of the bed, mirroring Diluc, who had already settled on the other side.

It was Diluc who broke the silence first, sighing. “Let me just confirm one thing, and show you that I am also aware of it.” His crimson eyes flickered toward Kaeya. “You know about his origins, don’t you?”

“I know that he is a descendant of Khaenri’ah, yes”, Venti confirmed, no judgement in his voice. Glancing at him, Kaeya was staring at his own lap, holding a grimace. “For the record, it never bothered me, and I even appreciate how Mondstadt has citizens from all over the world. They are all my children”, he simply stated, relishing in the way he could just say the truth now.

Diluc scoffed. “Then you take it better than when I found out.” Kaeyaa huffed in amusement, attracting the redhead’s stare.

“That isn’t hard, is it, Diluc?”, was Kaeya’s comeback. There was a certain pain in his voice, but no heat or anger. “I suppose I should be grateful, and since we are in the mood for confessions… I wasn’t really surprised by the fact that you are Barbatos, Venti. You know that.”

Venti chuckled. “Of course I do - you were constantly hinting at it, from poems in hillichurlian to pointing out all the things about me that didn’t add up. In a sense, I had fun with that. I just hope your suspicions weren’t driven by resentment. Though, if you do hold some caution, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Because of Khaenri’ahs stance against gods?”

“That, and because you are a true Mondstadtian.” In his sleepy state, he reached out one hand and, after a heartbeat, felt the warmth of Kaeya’s fingers curling around his own. “I’m proud that Mondstadt doesn’t blindly accept divine rule with open arms,” Venti murmured. “That people would fight for their freedom, even against me if it came to it. That’s how it should be.” He squeezed Kaeya’s hand gently before letting go. “And I want to reassure you that I’m not doing this to seize power. I was forced into it.”

“Is this the part where you are going to share more about Celestia?”, Diluc quipped, slightly skeptical.

Venti hummed, and shifted under the blankets. “As much as I can, although there is a limit to how much mortals are allowed to know. Let’s just say that Celestia was dormant until recent times, thus why I managed to get away with being an absentee Archon for so long.” The pair held their breath. “Now, to punish me, I was cursed.”

The silence was deafening.

“That… is more confidential than I expected”, Diluc admitted, rubbing his chin. His tone softened just a fraction. “Are you alright, Venti?”

“I’m not hurt, and I won’t be”, he said for what felt like the hundredth time. “To be clear, my wings really are like this because I haven’t used them for centuries - and I would never use them again, if one of the conditions of the curse didn’t imply having them out at all times. So, healing it is, I guess.”

He attempted to laugh it off, but his companions didn’t go along.

“And what are the other conditions?” Ah, Kaeya was too perceptive for his own good.

“Again, nothing that warrants your worry. You already know one of them: I have to contribute to Mondstadt’s governance, openly. The proclamation was part of the requirements, along with me wearing my archon outfit when acting in official capacity.”

Kaeya nodded. “Anything else?”

“Well, yes. It’s just a little embarrassing.” Venti said with a nervous chuckle, hesitating. He was grateful for the darkness, hiding the blush creeping up to his neck and ears. He turned around in bed, sinking his face against the pillow. “If I don’t want to feel pain, I need to seek physical closeness from people, as punishment for getting so close to humans”, he mumbled.

Silence.

Then, Kaeya bent over cackling, and even Diluc's lips were pressed together, shaking with poorly contained amusement. Ugh, betrayal!

Please,” Kaeya wheezed, clutching his stomach. “Just let me share this part with Rosaria. It’s too funny to not let her know.”

“Oh, soooo funny,” Venti drawled, raising an eyebrow. “Why would I agree to that? So you two can bully me together?” He huffed. “Fine, you can tell her, but you two better help me with this as compensation.”

“Sounds fine to me. It’s not like affection makes me feel inhibited”, Kaeya purred, grazing his fingernails along Venti’s arm, a barely-there touch. It sent goosebumps through his body, and Venti grasped at the sheets. Damn it, he knew how to make it feel good.

Diluc stood there awkwardly, practically looking away, like a shy maiden from ancient times who would blush at the slightest exposed ankle or demonstration of affection.

“Kaeya, stop behaving inappropriately”, he muttered stiffly.

“Or what, will you tell us to get a room?”, Kaeya teased. He glanced at Venti before his grin widened. “Besides, why are you scolding me when our dear bard was the one who asked? In fact…” His tone turned mockingly reverent. “You could even say I’m obeying our god’s will.”

“Eugh, please don’t,” Venti groaned, muffling a laugh. “Don’t ever say that again.”

They all laughed together, even Diluc, in that discreet manner of his.

The pair kept him company for a while, with Kaeya still caressing his arm. Venti was comfortable, lulled by the motions and their bickering. His eyelids started to close, and he wasn’t sure if his friends were still around when he was enveloped in sleep’s embrace.

He was happy.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The birds greeted the morning with song, their melodies drifting through the crisp dawn air. Awakened by their singing, a small god stirred to conscience.

The chirping sounds were muffled by the source of the warmth that cocooned him. Fluffy and snug, the sensation wrapped around his body like a shield against the waking world.

A blanket

, Venti realized, his mind sluggishly piecing together his surroundings. Right, he was still in the tavern. Curling further, he sighed against the pillow, appreciating how nice Mondstadt’s beds were.

Maybe I could sleep indoors more often

, he considered. Even though the breeze wasn’t around to caress him, and it lacked nature’s embrace, there was a kind of comfort he couldn’t get outside.

Someone had undone his braids. That much was obvious from the way his hair splayed freely over the pillow. And, now that he was paying attention, his corset and shoes were removed too. Perhaps he had fallen asleep last night in the brief minutes between being carried and placed into bed, but that only made things more amusing. Did he really wake up just in time to stop the pair from leaving, and somehow manage to be perfectly coherent during the following conversations?

Or maybe I just dreamed it up.

He had to ask Diluc later…

For now, he stayed put, savoring the quiet moments before the day truly began.

After some more minutes in bed, he opted to finally start the day, by practicing the exercises recommended by Xianyun. His breathing was still half-asleep, which made exercising even more tiresome, but a part of his body was starting to get used to stretching, and even enjoying the dull burn that came with deeper movements. Not that the progress on his wings was visible in any way but, at the very least, the aching was tenuous.

Once Venti was finished - or as finished as he would bother to be at this Barbatos-forsaken hour - the sounds coming from below told him that there was someone already tending to the tavern. Angel’s Share was never opened in the morning, accepting clients only for lunch at the earliest. So that meant it was probably just Diluc, or perhaps someone with the keys coming to fetch an item left behind.

Seeing a good opportunity, Venti rushed down the stairs, grateful that his wings were finally losing their stiffness. The added weight was becoming easier to carry, though they still shifted awkwardly behind him as he moved. Just as he suspected, it was Diluc downstairs, although…

“Hm? You’re not leaving?” Venti called from the second floor, peering over the railing. Below, the man was already busying himself with work, tidying the bar even though it wouldn’t open for hours.

Diluc blinked, and stared up at him. “Can’t I be in my own establishment?”

Venti chuckled. “That’s not what I mean. It’s just that the tavern won’t open anytime soon, and you usually are asleep at this time, so I thought you were just entering to fetch something you forgot.”

The redhead raised an eyebrow, but didn’t question how Venti knew his usual schedule. Evidently, there were few secrets that the winds weren’t privy to. “That’s because I usually spend the night keeping the city safe,” he explained, returning to his task. Since I spent yesterday taking care of you, and I also figured criminals wouldn’t be stupid enough to act when Barbatos had just been announced, I went to sleep relatively early.”

“I see, I see…” Venti mused, hopping down the last few steps. “So that means my conversation with you and Kaeya wasn’t just a dream, huh?”

Diluc huffed, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Correct.” Then, as if deciding not to linger on the subject, he added, “Do you want something to eat? I was about to make breakfast.”

Venti tilted his head, considering the offer. “Tempting… but I was actually thinking of using the bathroom first. Maybe even wash up? My feathers are getting dirty.”

“Of course you can. The water takes a while to warm - I can go draw a bath for you.”

His casual offer caught Venti slightly off guard, though he quickly masked it with a grin. “Oh, how generous! How could I refuse such hospitality?”

Minutes later, Venti was sinking into the wooden bathtub, letting the warmth ease the lingering tension in his muscles.

He carefully tucked his wings to fit into the space, using his hands to guide them, mindful of their size. Fortunately, they weren’t dirty enough to cloud the water, since he suspected Diluc would be less than amused if he had to drain and refill the tub. Instead, Venti simply slid lower, until only his shoulders peeked above the surface, and ran his fingers through the softened feathers, rustling to coax out any lingering grease.

He feared it would be uncomfortable to keep his wings confined to such a small space, but that wasn’t the case at all. Positioned on either side of his body,
they were almost cradling him, evoking memories of a sweeter time when everyone would scoop up his small elemental form. Well, sweeter for him, still innocent and unaware of much. His friends at the time didn’t want to worry a little wisp, but the moments of peace that they knew were few and far between.

A knock on the door took him out of the reminiscing. “You can come in”, Venti said, sitting and turning around in the bathtub. The tub was positioned under the small window, fr from the doorway
in the opposite end of the room so it wasn’t like Diluc could see his intimate parts from there.

Diluc brought some items with him. “Here’s a robe and extra towels, in case you need it”, he said simply, placing the neatly folded fabrics close to the door. “I figured your wings will take some effort to dry.”

“Oh, ehe, good thing you thought about it, because I had forgotten that detail myself.” He propped his arms on the edge of the tub, resting his chin on them. As he trailed the redhead’s movements, his damp hair dripped onto the floor, cool against his skin. Before he could second-guess himself, he blurted out an impulsive question. “Can you wash my hair?”

Diluc turned so fast that he hit his elbow against the door, hissing. Venti winced in sympathy, and returned his startled expression with a lopsided grimace.

“Err, sorry? I don’t know what got into me, it was probably just the curse.”

“I get the impression that’s not how it works,” Diluc said flatly, arms crossed. “And that you’re starting to use it as an excuse.”

Venti opened his mouth to protest, but Diluc continued, voice softer now. “No one’s going to fault you for wanting closeness. Especially not in Mondstadt. You know that, right?”

Venti’s eyes flickered downward, a little embarrassed. “I know, it’s just- hmphf!”

Something slammed against his face, soft but heavy, cutting him off mid-sentence. He flailed and protested instinctively, although the sounds were muffled. Disoriented, he picked it up, realizing it was a towel. Still bewildered, he couldn’t contain a laugh. “Hey! I didn’t expect Master Diluc to be so mischievous!”, he teased.

Diluc grunted. “Just put that around your waist - I don’t want to see you naked”, he stated dryly, turning around.

It took Venti a few beats to process the implications. Did he really take Venti’s request seriously? He was torn between insisting that there was no need, and accepting the special treatment. Venti ended up rising, and haphazardly wrapping the towel around his waist, water splashing over the edge as he settled back down. Not that he cared that much about nudity, or even arbitrary indicators of gender, but after so many centuries getting used to human customs, he understood why Diluc did.

“I’m ready”, he announced with a playful lilt.

He heard Diluc’s heavy footsteps from behind, approaching, and he couldn’t help but giggle when the redhead finally keeled behind him - out of nerves or amusement, it was hard to tell. “I can’t say I have ever been pampered like this, not even with my cute looks”, he mused, tilting his head back to catch Diluc’s eyes.

“It’s my first time doing this for someone else, too”, Diluc confessed quietly. There was something fragile and tender in his tone, softening the usual drynesss. The vulnerability also reflected in the way he touched Venti’s hair, firm and strong, yet tentative.

“Then why accept?”, Venti murmured, voice matching the soft cadence. “I was just joking.”

Diluc was silent for a moment. One of his hands scooped the warm water and brought it to Venti’s hair, gently washing his scalp before applying other products. He kept working through his hair with careful fingers, massaging in slow circles. With a shiver, the smaller leaned back into the pleasant touch, almost forgetting he was waiting for a reply.

“When I was a child, Adelinde used to take care of me and Kaeya, almost like a mother. I never knew my real mother, and my father…” He hesitated briefly before continuing. “Well, you know what happened to him later. But I still treasure those memories of being looked after, and I know that Kaeya does too.”

As he talked, his fingers never halted the methodical work. Venti listened, eyes half-lidded with comfort, his body pliant beneath the gentle touch. Diluc’s voice was quieter than usual, almost thoughtful.

“In some ways, I think I model how I care for others after those memories,” he admitted. “And beyond that… I found myself wondering if you had anyone who would do this for you.”

Venti blinked, then let out a small chuckle. “Ah… technically, I do have a mother. Just not in the sense humans do. I also have friendships with other gods, some very close ones at that. On the other hand, I think the closest I’ve been to someone was…” He closed his eyes, inhaling the scent of whatever herbal mixture Diluc had worked into his hair.
“It was before I became an Archon. I didn’t even look like this back then, you know? I was just an elemental wind wisp.”

“You didn’t…?” Diluc’s hands momentarily slowed before resuming their work. “Nevermind, that makes sense. Rex Lapis also had a non-human form. I just never imagined you looking any different.”

His movements were now more confident, and Venti hummed, both in appreciation and in response to what was said. When Diluc’s fingers dug into his hair, Venti was about to melt. As strong hands brushed against the back of his neck, an unexpected shiver ran through him, and a quiet, breathy noise escaped before he could stop it.

Diluc chuckled. “You like this?”, he asked, doing it again.

Venti squirmed slightly, but didn’t pull away. “A little too much,” he admitted with a sheepish grin, relaxing further into his friend’s hands.

His friend indulged him, letting his hands slide and press down on Venti’s shoulders, in slow circular motions, before sliding back up, tracing the curve of his neck. One hand kept caressing his nape, while the other moved to the front, contorning his chin and face, until the other joined on the other side. Cupping his face, Diluc’s thumbs smoothed over his skin: jawline, cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead… Then, the hands moved again, this time towards Venti’s ears. It tickled slightly, but it was also oddly soothing. The fact that his hands were always warm was the cherry on top.

He eventually moved back to washing his hair, properly this time. The small god exhaled a contented sigh, shifting under the water. Their conversation drifted back to casual topics, with Diluc commenting on the ease of washing his practically-short hair hair.

“Why do you only leave the front strands long?” he wondered at one point, genuine curiosity lacing his tone. “Why not just grow it evenly, and use the full hair for the braids?”

“It’s lighter like this, and besides, the Archon of Freedom gets to make some bold choices instead of following conventions”, Venti joked, shaking his head slightly so the long strands swayed. “Although… When I said I didn’t always look like this, I left many details out. Even my human appearance changed slightly over time, and the non-human parts, like the wings, changed even more. My wings weren’t always attached to my back, for example - don’t ask me how that worked, I don’t know either.” He raised his hands in mock surrender before Diluc could ask. “That said, some traits, like my face and hair, remain practically the same, and there’s a reason for that.”

Diluc gave him a skeptical look, raising an eyebrow. “Alright, I’ll bite. What’s the reason?”

“Not telling”, he teased, staring back at Diluc in a challenge. Diluc stared back, impassively. Then, he grabbed one of the longer parts of Venti’s hair and pulled it, hard. “Ouch! Fine, fine, I will tell, I was just joking.” Venti whined, his voice as pathetic as he could make it. “You’re so meeean, Diluc!” Despite the complaints, he found the reaction hilarious. Unlocking the more mischievous side of the grumpy redhead was a reward on its own.

“So?”

Venti clinked his tongue, still pondering if he could drag it longer. But he finally shook his head. “It’s just to honor the appearance of a friend I lost. Old books, passed down the Gunnhildr Clan through generations, still mention him: a nameless bard, who fought against the tyranny of having music taken away, and ended up leading the rebellion against Decarabian, alongside some friends.” He hesitated, then glanced at Diluc from the corner of his eye. “One such friend was me, a tiny wisp who learned almost everything from him. Two others looked a lot like Jean… and you.”

Diluc’s hands stilled for a brief moment before resuming their gentle movements. His expression was unreadable, but something shifted in his gaze. “Sometimes I forget how ancient you are, and how much you have seen that I can’t even dream of.”

“Sometimes, even I do.” He exhaled slowly. “But I treasure the chances to preserve history through song, and to see how the efforts of people I loved bloom in time. It’s not always easy, and I messed up a lot at times.” His voice wavered, and his lips shook. “But it’s worth it.”

Diluc mumbled something under his breath. “...ood archon.”

“Hum?”

“You’re a good Archon”, he repeated, more clearly.

Venti blinked. Turning to look back, he searched for Diluc’s eyes, who still held his hand up. Hesitating, Venti took his hand, pressing the palm against his face, and offered a smile. “I hope other people think the same, especially now that they know that I’m Barbatos. I don’t want to be worshiped, but I don’t want to fail them either.”

“You never failed us any more than we also failed ourselves”, he said, shaking his head. “No one is perfect. If anything, I think the knowledge that Barbatos is Venti is beneficial for everyone, and fits with the way Mondstadt perceives its freedom. The last thing we needed would be an Archon that made people even more complacent and reliant on divine protection.”

Venti chuckled. “Do you really have to bring up the Knights at every chance you get?”

“Yes, and your debt over drinks as well. You didn’t perform for the clientele yesterday, but I very much hope you start soon.”

Venti couldn’t resist it. He imbued a breeze with Hydro from the bathtub, and threw it against Diluc’s face, who made an indignant sound.

Kindly enough, Diluc didn’t scold him. “Let’s finish this, we’ve already spent too long with your bath. Your hair is done. Would you like me to have a look at your feathers?”

Trusting him with it, Venti nodded and adjusted his position, letting his friend inspect the wings. Diluc was careful, knowing well how to manipulate them thanks to experience taking care of birds, and even helped clean harder-to-reach areas without causing pain. The sensations were still varied, from slight discomfort to tickling, and some pleasant sensations that made Venti ask him to continue the ministrations.

“You have no shame”, Diluc complained, while simultaneously prolonging the touch on his bare back. “Since you like this so much, have you considered visiting the Onsen in Inazuma? I heard it reopened recently.”

“In Inazuma?”, he perked up. “Oh, I remember! It was closed last time I visited, sadly. Maybe I can check it out in a few months. Eh-he, would you come with me?”

Diluc sighed.

After they were done, Venti stayed behind to dress, while Diluc headed to the kitchen. When he finally emerged, the bard was presented with a sight fit for a king: sumptuous pancakes, piled up, dripping with syrup and topped with fresh strawberries. He wasted no time digging in, stuffing himself in record time, and had to admire how much the redhead could eat.

Dangling his legs on the chair, Venti leaned forward, pouring another cup of grape juice. It wouldn’t be his first choice for a drink, but who was he to contradict the tavern owner? He had to admit, it tasted great, and Diluc’s smug satisfaction at watching him want more was another great perk.

“I would entertain the hopes of making you drop alcohol”, Diluc mused, sipping his own drink, “but something tells me that it would take more than a few healthier alternatives.”

“Please, I could never reject alcohol so radically. What about the offerings people leave for Barbatos?”, he asked with a grin.

Diluc snorted. “Knowing that you are Barbatos, I wouldn’t be so sure in your place that people will want to keep feeding your alcoholic tendencies.”

Venti stopped chewing, hit by the sudden realization. Oh no, no no no. He hadn’t thought about it, but it was too unfair to be true. Sharing the brews with Barbatos was a long-standing tradition! People wouldn’t just stop because he already got his fair share throughout the rest of the year, right?

Before he could spiral any further, a rare sound filled the tavern: Diluc’s heartfelt laugh, catching him by surprise. Delighted by that reaction, Venti almost forgot his predicament. Resting his chin on his hands, he smiled as he intertwined their legs under the table.

“Are my problems that amusing to you?”, he asked teasingly. “I’m starting to fear that all of my friends are going to betray me that way.”

“Of course not”, was the retort, barely concealing the glee. “But you should have seen your face.”

Venti pouted, but the sparkle in his eyes gave away how pleased it was to see Diluc so at ease. Diluc finished his portion of the breakfast, and cleaned his lips with a napkin, well-behaved like always, fully emptying his mouth before resuming conversation.

“Speaking of Barbatos’ habits, I’ve wondered about something for a while. Where do you live, Venti? Do you even own a house?”

Venti waved a hand lazily. “Well… Archons have their own personal domains, in a way, so I could always go there at any point. The Traveler also gave me a sigil to access his teapot - you know what I’m talking about - but he is constantly changing the layout, and I would rather not get lost”, he said with a grimace. “Apart from those places, no, I don’t own a house. But I enjoy sleeping out in the open, under the stars, although I admit that beds are also nice.”

Diluc gave it some thought. “We still keep Kaeya’s room intact, just in case, but I’ve been meaning to clean my father’s old room for a while. I inherited most of his belongings, and the little else Crepus kept in there were either secrets you probably know about, or things I already got rid of. It’s about time that room is repurposed.”

“Are you saying what I think you are?”, Venti asked, tilting his head.

“If you want it, yes”, his friend confirmed. “Just make sure to not pass out drunk before you get into the actual room, and to not wake up people at night when entering the mansion. If you promise to behave, it’s yours.”

Venti gasped dramatically. “I don’t know if I should be offended or flattered. Eh-he, are you sure that’s a good idea? Aren’t you afraid I might sneak into your room once I am so close?”

“You could have done such already if you had so little regard for how I feel about it”, he pointed out sharply, the tips of his ears turning a little red. He coughed once. “Besides not having anything to fear from you, I’m sure I made it clear that I am not opposed to affection. Again, it all comes down to your ability to behave.”

Venti burst into laughter, thoroughly delighted. He was already looking forward to his own space, and to be closer to Diluc.

Maybe this hospitality would extend beyond just the bedroom. Maybe they’d have breakfast together. Maybe he’d get help grooming his wings, or they’d play music in the mansion from time to time. He couldn't quite put a finger on why - he genuinely liked to sleep outdoors, and he was sure he would still do it often - but he was giddy with excitement. His dynamics with people were changing so fast, but he was yet to think negatively of it.

By impulse, he got up, trotting closer to the redhead. He draped his arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug. Diluc froze for a couple of seconds, before returning the gesture, reliable and warm.

“Thank you”, the smaller said. “I promise I will do my best to not be much of a parasite.”

Diluc huffed. “You’d better. And, Venti?”

“Hm?”

“I know I had my rebellious phase, so I have no right to judge. But it was about time you started taking care of yourself.”

Sunlight filtered through the windows, and the birds were still singing, this time in symphony with the bards. Venti still intended to step outside and enjoy the beautiful day.

But for some reason, he decided to stay just a little longer.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A week had gone by. For all that time doomed, it also brought blessings and settled fears, and that was exactly what had been happening to Venti. The more people started to process he was still the bard they knew, the less the presence of wings was an inconvenient reminder of their differences.Funnily enough, his two identities were merging in interesting ways, especially in the eyes of Mondstadt’s children. Just as he - they? - were descending the stairways of Diluc’s mansion, they caught whispers from the maids, confirming that very development.“I think Barbatos has been stealing from the cellar”, one of the maids was saying. “The other day, I was cleaning the place, and one of the shelves was nearly empty.”“Well, are you surprised? For some reason wine is a common offering to them during festivals.”Barbatos was not a ‘he’: at least, most religious scriptures tended to refer to the Archon in a neutral way. Frankly, Venti didn’t quite know what they were either, and while masculine pronouns were easier to explain and he grew comfortable with those over time, that wasn’t how he was referred to in the beginning. Neither wisp nor newly-ascended god had been referred to in quite the same way - although the later caused more confusion, with some people even wondering if ‘she’ was righter, just like they had used to wonder about the Bard.
Venti remembered how their old friend had shrugged it off, and just let people make assumptions. In that aspect, both were similar, since Venti was also fine or even entertained to see what theories people conjured. That was not to say the bard never gave it some thought, or wondered what to make of the things people stated about their person. But the battle for freedom simply took priority, and after that, Venti took the mantle, and their identity was forced to change quickly on many fronts beyond gender.
As for Barbatos’ anatomy, well, it might not be fully accurate to what humans perceived as either masculine or feminine. They were more aware of the differences now, after years living amongst humans, but still hadn’t bothered to look into it in detail, or change his body intentionally to pick one. If anything, his form would change organically, just like his wings had. Those parts were always hidden away by clothes, anyway.Venti frowned. He really had been using ‘they’ in his head sometimes, huh?
It was hard to conciliate all he had been, and all he emulated, without dissociating. Their essence was shifting, as if it was trying to combat the singular soul with time, forcing it to be many, even if they couldn’t be all encapsulated in a single moment.
Sometimes, Venti’s hands sank in the flow of the Thousand Winds, and emerged tainted by divinity.Other times, in the blink of an eye, they felt as if the spirit of their friend possessed them.
For the past few days, when they stared at a mirror, they were thrown back to the first time they saw their just-ascended reflection, not knowing who they became besides no-loonger wisp. Not knowing if they were more human, since they had just taken the appearance of their friend, or more god.
Their development was composed of two conflicting forces that manifested simultaneously, two essences that were never mixed and, especially in the past, were bound to fight one another. Both pulled Venti in different directions, and freedom of tyranny didn’t grant freedom of the confines of a material body.
They had forgotten what being thorn was like. It was rarer to feel that way in the present, and mirrors no longer taunted them. They were comfortable enough with the person they have become, and their appearance. But recent developments brought a lot of uncertainty, despite the support, along with the reminder that a body could only store one soul, and had its own demands and constraints.The heavy wings made that clear.
The giggling of the maids who said something he lost dragged Venti back to the present, and he realized they were leaving. He shook off the rambly thoughts. No matter! The maids were right, he had been taking one bottle of apple cider every day for his personal stash, and this was his chance to sneak in again.Minutes later, he was already popping open the cork lid to celebrate another successful heist, when a familiar voice called sharply.“Good Morning, Venti. I see you have already replenished your reserve of wine.”
He turned swiftly on his heels. Adelinde stood in the hallway, hands neatly clasped behind her back, wearing a polite but pointed smile. Though her tone was laced with courtesy and wrapped in layers of kindness, yet the unmistakable steel beneath it sent a chill down Venti’s spine.Still, he wasn’t one to admit defeat so easily. Schooling their expression into an innocent smile, he flashed the expression at her.“Oh, Adelinde! Eh-he, that’s right, and I am very grateful for the privilege of having direct access to the Winery’s reserve.” Venti raised the bottle in a toast, careful not to spill a drop of its precious contents. “Surely it’s alright as long as I sing in the tavern, to attract clientele? Now that the shock has passed, people are easily compelled.”“I too am feeling compelled to report the speed of your consumption to Master Diluc”, she squinted slightly. “He will not be opposed to letting you access the cellar, but I believe he expected it to be paced more reasonably.”Venti could tell she was amused, yet also offering genuine advice. In a way, he appreciated that. She received the news that he was Barbatos quite calmly, hardly flinching at the knowledge that the carefree bard was, in fact, the Anemo Archon. Practical as ever, she had immediately set about ensuring that their new accommodations suited the space their wings required. I guess that’s what happens when the two kids you raise grow up to have secret identities , he mused, as Kaeya and Diluc came to mind. Adelinde wasn’t necessarily privy to everything, but she knew enough, and was fiercely supportive of those two.
Honestly, she deserved a ballad in her honor. Those who worked tirelessly in the background, keeping everything running smoothly, were the kind of unsung heroes Venti admired most.“Fine, fine, I will try to moderate. I was just taking advantage of the situation for a while, no need to bother Diluc with that”, he relented, pressing a hand to their chest in only half-mock solemnity. Then, he winked. “Besides, I can always compensate by making sure Barbatos brings extra-good weather, for a better harvest.”Adelinde huffed in amusement but said nothing.“And, Adelinde?”“Yes?”“You’re a kind soul, always looking out for everyone. I really don’t want to abuse the hospitality”, he said in earnest, letting sincerity soften his usually jesting voice. The way she blinked, momentarily disarmed, before her expression melted into something warmer—that was exactly the reaction Venti had hoped for. “Thank you for adapting my clothes as well, to fit the wings and all.”She chuckled, shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it, little one. I had plenty of practice sewing clothes for two active boys, and let’s say that even as grown ups, their adventures sometimes still result in outfits that need mending.”He chuckled along. “‘Little one’? I will let you know I have several millennia on you!”, he pointed truthfully, although he was quite amused.
With a cheerful wave, they continued on their merry way, intent on savoring every last drop of that Dandelion Wine.
After savoring his drink and an apple freshly picked, Venti was ready to tackle the routine wing exercises. Once done with that chore, they could finally go to the city, feeling the chill of the morning breeze on their open back.
More precisely, they went towards the library.Lisa had asked for their help with “a little secret room”, and they understood what she meant. The Imaginarium Theater hadn’t been maintained by the witches for a while, and even though Lisa was a competent scholar - one talented enough to receive an invitation to the Hexenzirkel -even she could benefit from a second opinion from an Archon. In some ways, having their identity out in the open meant people could freely reach out to ask for help, and Venti didn’t have an issue with that.
Inside the library, the scent of parchment and ink swirled in the air, accompanied by the soft scratch of quills and the occasional shifting of books. The purple witch was yawning at her desk, distractedly turning the pages of her book. If Venti weren’t intimately familiar with the fine art of conserving effort until truly necessary, they might have wondered how she managed to be such an extraordinary individual.She noticed his presence, beckoning him closer with one hand. When he was at talking distance, so she didn’t have to raise her voice, she cast an appreciative look, her lips curling into a knowing smile.“My, my, what a handsome little lass you are today”, she purred. “Here I thought Barbatos wanted people to think of them as just a bard, but with your new looks, it seems the rumors that you enjoy attention are true instead.”That made him laugh. “Why not both?”, he quipped, propping to sit at the edge of the desk. “I could want attention as a lovely bard, no? But actually, these clothes are just a necessity, because my old shirt tore when the wings sprouted, and it’s impossible for me to wear anything with a full back. That’s why there is a big hole, and the collar clips together at the back of my neck.” He twisted his body to show her.“I can see that, but it doesn’t explain the switch from baggy shorts to more… form-fitting pants”, she teased. “I must say, it’s a nice change, and I like how they integrate the old design. Same for your cloak. It’s all well put together.”“Oh, that!” Slightly embarrassed, he fiddled with the fabric of his cloak for a moment, before he brushed it off with a laugh. “Let’s just say Diluc is a generous patron of the arts. But really, what are those rumors have been going around?”“Oh, you know…” Lisa’s voice lilted with amusement. “You’ve been closer to people. More affectionate. Cuddly, even. Jean had a few stories to tell, as I’m sure you’re aware of.” She gave him a look, mischief glinting in her eyes. “Sneaking into a lady’s room through her window? That’s the kind of thing great romances are made of. Although, I do wish it had been me.”“You wish I entered in your room through the window? I mean, that can be arrang-”“I wish I was the one entering Jean's room, silly!” She covered her chuckle with one hand, thoroughly entertained, and Venti couldn’t help but snort at the misunderstanding. Indeed, that made more sense. “My attempts at wooing her always fall flat when she decides to prioritize work.” Lisa sighed, shaking her head. “And Diluc hasn’t been much luckier. But that’s why we love her.”“You really enjoy your gossip, don’t you, Miss Lisa?”“Of course. What else would people talk about over tea?”Venti’s grin stretched from ear to ear as an idea struck. “Well then, would you like some advice from the god of freedom and love? Normally, I reserve my wisdom for the Windblume Festival, but for you, I’m willing to open an exception.”Lisa’s smile told him she saw right through his nonsense, but her curiosity won out. She remained still as he leaned forward, bringing his lips close to her ear. He even went so far as to cover his mouth with one hand, as though someone might overhear them in the practically empty library. At last, he whispered the oh-so-wise suggestion, in the conspiratorial tone of someone imparting a great secret:“If you want to conquer her heart, you should dress as Barbatos, tiny-clothes and all.”He barely got the words out before he was shaking with laughter, utterly delighted with his silly idea. Poor Lisa Minci… it was rare for her to laugh so hard, her whole body quaking as she leaned against his shoulder for support. Venti had to shift back to avoid getting an eye poked by the tip of her hat.He was endlessly grateful that Mondstadt lacked the rigid taboos of other nations and that people could simply have fun with suggestive jokes. Frankly, the mental image of Lisa surprising Jean in the bedroom with a sexy-Barbatos cosplay was comedy gold.Between fits of laughter, Lisa admitted as much, and managed to gasp. “I confess I have my own ideas on how to make Barbatos-inspired lingerie seductive… but I can’t begin to imagine Jean’s face. She’s too pure for her own good, and I doubt she’d even get the message. Most likely, she would just react all knightly and offer to cover me up.”Venti snickered. “Oh, I can see it. Now imagine how much more fun it would be if I gave the suggestion to Diluc instead.”That set them both off again, laughing until their stomachs ached and they lacked the strength to continue. It was a good thing the library was so devoid of people, or otherwise the citizens would be in shock, and not because of Lisa’s powers.“Whew,” Venti exhaled, struggling to stop bending over. “Haven’t laughed that hard in a while. So… you had a favor to ask me?”Lisa wiped her eyes, still smiling as she replied. “I do. I’m sure that the library’s secret room is not so secret to you?”“Oh, you know, me and the witches are good pals.”“Then please come with me, cutie.”In that magical room suspended in space and time, they drifted together, investigating a strange anomaly.It wasn’t a leyline disorder - Venti wasn’t even sure if the room could be affected by those, given how the witches so deftly transcended the restrictions of Teyvat. It wasn’t any of the moving pictures, floating objects, or talking stuffed toys either - those were all part of the room’s natural charm.No, the true anomaly lay in a particular book, one that was writing itself, and the story kept up with the feats of certain familiar faces.“The Traveler has taken it upon himself to fight the increasingly real actors of the stage. Wolfy here can probably tell you more.”The pet scurried closer, hopping onto the chair to be able to gesture to the book. “Yes, yes! The golden-haired hero has been helping fight the monsters that take the stage, and even brings friends sometimes! Now, I don’t know what you mean by ‘more real’ - they have always been real to me - but they are getting more dangerous, and the further the hero gets, the more pages appear in this book.”Venti traced the illustration with his fingers. The figure truly resembled Aether, although not fully accurate. He flipped through a few more pages, letting the story take shape before him. It was… intriguing.“I don’t get the impression that this book is simply chronicling our Traveler’s journey, neither in the Imaginarium Theater, nor in the rest of Teyvat. Yes, it happens to reflect the achievements of our traveler, but it’s possible that Aether is not the only one with such achievements. Besides, it appears that the story repeats itself”, he noticed.Wolfy nodded eagerly. “Just like when he restarts the fights.”Venti hummed pensively. “Wolfy, are the stages similar to the locations painted on the pages? Last time I checked, they weren’t exactly like this. If anything, these places remind me of another story… one with titans, three fate-weaving fairies, and a world destined to restart itself over and over until a new variable helped stop that cycle.” He tapped at the hero’s figure. “Although the variable in question has strong similarities to our Traveler.”Lisa was silent, contemplating the pages. Venti was unsure if she was familiar with the tale he was referencing. Knowledgeable as she was, there was only so much that mortals had access to, and even amongst the Archons, Barbatos had particular connections to stories and to time that derived from Istaroth.“So you are saying”, she started, “that this story is happening somewhere else, and yet, Aether’s journey parallels it? Do you think it's a coincidence?”“Not necessarily coincidence, more like… related origins, and purpose. But I wouldn’t say this is concerning, nor that it constraints what happens to our Traveler. I would just let him keep pursuing his journey. Letting him know of this book might just make him unnecessarily apprehensive.”Lisa considered his words for only a moment before nodding. With a decisive motion, she shut the book, then allowed it to float back to its rightful place on the inverted shelves.
“It’s settled, then. I will update you on any new developments.”With that, Lisa headed towards the intricately carved long table, taking her place. Wolfy trailer after her, responding to the familiarity of the scene. Barbatos, on their part, was tempted to let their thoughts linger on the mysterious book, but the present moment demanded their good spirit more.“Would you care for some tea, Venti? The cupcakes here are really good too - they resemble fontaine cakes, and never spoil.” Lisa waved her hand to order the tea set into place, perfectly arranged.
Venti gladly sat beside her, beaming. “Why, of course! I would never refuse free food.”She chuckled. Pouring a cup of tea for both, conversation flowed easily. “That reminds me… The glass you helped me test some years ago, to see the imaginary friends of children, has gotten popular in Sumeru.”Venti tilted his head, grabbing one of the cupcakes. “I had almost forgotten about that. You shipped it to the Akademia, right?”“I have, but its use has grown beyond academic purposes, and is allowing people to confirm that their childhood memories of the Aranara were more real than adults tended to think. Teenagers too have been using it, to avoid saying goodbye to their friends… although I’m unsure how that might affect their development.”He hummed. “Worried that they won’t mature?”, he guessed. A sigh was the only reply given. “Personally, I think it would be nice if people didn’t have to say goodbye to their childhood.” Wolfy didn’t say anything, but he nodded in agreement, which was endearing - and also made perfect sense for a magical stuffed toy. “But I understand that having a child-like wonder is different from living protected in a dome, where nothing bad happens…”If anything, he understood too well how a protective dome was also stifling, and that breaking free often required sacrifice and loss…Shaking off the gloom over past memories, Venti focused on the conversation, determined to not ruin tea time. Having tea with a witch, who knew of his identity… that took him back.
After a pleasant break, and listening to wolfy’s stories for a while, they decided it was time to go back to Mondstadt.
Once they pushed the wooden doors, and stepped upon the library, the air vibrated with a sudden, deafening explosion. The entire building trembled beneath their feet, books rattling on their shelves.
And it came from behind.Venti’s first instincts were to turn around to where they came, wind howling furiously in his palms, ready to tackle the dangers even if his wings weighed him down. Lisa reacted just s swiftly, taking a stance at his side. Her own hair crackled
with electricity.
They were ready to face whatever had emerged from the Imaginarium Theater - only to pause.In hindsight, it was obvious that the explosion didn’t come from the magical room: it had no connection to Mondstadt, and nothing that happened inside its domain could affect the outside. That meant the explosion was coming from the Ordo’s building.Venti exchanged a glance with Lisa, realization dawning in unison.
“Klee”, they uttered, deflecting instantaneously.Lisa let go of the elements, and shook her head, despite holding a smile. “I am all for encouraging creativity, but her mother could have kept the formula to make bombs away from her…”Venti grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. It wasn’t like he would have tried to stop Alice at the time, so he was in no place to criticize. So he just deflected the topic. “Are the explosions normally this loud? This is something I would have expected from the lab, not from Klee’s room.”“That’s the other thing: with her brother being an alchemist, it’s very easy for Klee to get access to supplies she shouldn’t. But it might be better to check on her”, she reconsidered.
Lisa’s heels echoed through the library as she stride, climbing the stairs to the upper floor, toward the exit.
They stepped into the hallway just in time to witness a scene that was as familiar as it was amusing. Klee stood at the center of the commotion, head bowed, guilt written all over her face as she hugged Dodoco tightly to her chest. In front of her, with arms crossed and lips pressed into a firm line, stood Jean. The Acting Grand Master was every bit the image of a stern figure - yet, to Venti’s trained eyes, she wasn’t unkind. It was just that the exhaustion of dealing with this particular problem for the hundredth time was creeping in at the edges.She exhaled, finishing her lecture. “Do you understand, Klee?”“Yes, Jean…” The way the little girl dragged her words almost pulled at Venti’s heartstrings.Jean’s expression softened, but her decision was final. “Then, you know it’s time for confinement.”Before Klee could protest, Lisa swept in, voice like honeyed wine. “Oh, come now, is that really necessary, Jean dear? I’m sure Klee didn’t mean to cause such a mess.”Calling it a mess was an understatement. Peeking behind the tall women, Venti got a glimpse of the state of Jean’s office. Since it was just besides Klee’s room, the impact of the explosion that occurred inside the girl’s reinforced room reverberated to the space, and this time, the candelabrum had even fallen and broken.But the child was quick at defending her case.“It was an accident! Klee promised to go explore Wolvendom with Diona, so Klee wanted to make a stroooong bomb”, she opened her arms to explain, “that could protect us if the wolves attacked. Not lupical, the bad ones!”Jean pinched the bridge of her nose. “I suppose the shaking from the explosion managed to dislodge the sword stuck in my ceiling, so… Not everything about it was bad. However”, she added, halting the child’s brightening expression, “Klee still needs to learn her lesson, and besides, everyone who could take care of her is either away or busy.”That was Venti’s cue.With an exaggerated flourish, they spread their arms wide.“Guided by the winds, tunes of joy just survived! Klee, despair not - a babysitter arrived!”At his words, Klee’s eyes widened with pure, unfiltered delight. “Really?! You’ll play with Klee and Diona?”Lisa chuckled, glancing at Jean. “My, my, how convenient. The one person who could possibly keep up with Klee’s energy just so happens to be available.”Jean gave Venti a wary look. “Are you sure about this? You have responsibilities now.”“Ah, responsibilities!” Venti waved a dismissive hand. “What kind of Archon would I be if I couldn’t make time for Mondstadt’s cutest little troublemaker?” He knelt before Klee, his grin mischievous. “Besides, the winds have whispered to me… There’s a secret mission only Klee can complete.”Klee gasped. “A mission?”“A super important one,” he said as he knelt, voice dropping into an exaggeratedly serious tone. “You see, if we are to prepare for future adventures, we need to test your bombs safely . Therefore, it is my duty to ensure that grand explosions happen outside of city walls. What do you say?”The little girl attempted to make an Ordo salute. “Yes, Venti!”Jean hesitated, but when Lisa hugged her arm, she caved in. “Fine. But only if you promise not to get into trouble.”“Me? Trouble? Humm… alright, that is basically my middle name. However! I promise no fishes will be blasted, and no mountains will be blown. Besides, Diona will be there too, right? That’s a responsible child if I’ve ever seen one. And, and…”, his mind scrambled for more arguments before she could get a word in, “you of all people should have some trust in Barbatos.”Celestia be screwed. If he was cursed to assume his role, he wasn’t above abusing it to unlock even more freedom to the children of Mondstadt.Lisa chuckled. “Of course she trusts you, cutie. She is just doubting your... enthusiastic and unrestricted methods. Hopefully the god of freedom will know when to tell ‘no’ to children.”Venti put a hand to his chest, in dramatic solemnity.Jean put her hands on her hips, piercing them with her gaze. Klee and Venti cooperated, joining the power of their cute innocent faces.At last, she sighed. “Go, before I change my mind.”“Yipeeeee!”
Klee started running without having to be told twice, and with a laugh, the – god darted after her, out of the headquarters. The winds still brought him the exchange between the two women.“Between that trio, I’m not sure who’s babysitting who.”Jean exhaled, watching them go. “Neither am I.”If only he knew how right they would be…
The moment they were outside the city walls, Klee took off in a sprint, Dodoco swinging wildly in her backpack as she cheered. “Fish blasting!”, she shouted, completely forgetting what Venti promised to Jean. Diona wasn’t far behind, tail flicking with excitement, though she tried to play it cool.Venti, of course, had other plans. “Now, now, my little adventurers,” he called out, as the wind stirred around them. “What’s an outing without a proper grand entrance? Shall we take to the skies?”Klee gasped, eyes sparkling. “Gliding?”Diona frowned, crossing her arms. “Tsk. My paws are fine on the ground, thank you very much.”“Oh? But what if you had a little assistance?” Venti wiggled his fingers, and a playful gust of wind brought fallen leaves and petals to float around their group. She yelped, then glared at him, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.So, with Klee already strapped into her glider, giggling as the breeze carried her higher, Venti offered a solution to Diona: a wind current that allowed her to hover just enough to experience the thrill without needing to raise too high. She grumbled, but eventually allowed herself to be lifted, arms stretched like a fierce little feline in jump.After soaring over fields of dandelions and weaving through tree branches, they landed in a clearing not far from Wolvendom, where Klee excitedly unpacked her “toys”.“I made new ones, to protect you from the big-scary wolves!” she declared to her friend, placing a few handmade bombs in a neat row. Venti was second-guessing his babysitting capabilities. “They don’t just go boom! They can help with hunting, too!”Diona’s ears twitched. “Hunting? Humpf! My bow and arrows are enough for that.”Klee shook her head. “Mom always says adventurers need to eat, and we can catch food faster with a big explosion.”Venti, ever the enabler, clapped his hands. “Let’s put it to the test! We will catch some boars, and after that, we can even have a picnic. It’s almost lunch time, after all.”With careful positioning (and plenty of safety measures - Venti wasn’t reckless all the time), Klee tossed her creations towards the tall grass where a few unsuspecting boars roamed. A couple of explosions later, they had successfully caught lunch.Diona, who had been skeptical, hummed in approval. “Not bad. Though I bet I could catch prey without all the noise, but there is no need for it now. We have more than we can eat.”“You can take some meat back to your village”, Venti suggested. Klee agreed eagerly.
They complemented the makeshift meal with ingredients that they gathered. Venti started a fire to cook it, even teaching the kids on how to prepare it safely, although the precaution was probably unnecessary considering that one was a hunter and the other created bombs. The combination of roasted boar with baked apples and mushrooms, seasoned with a few herbs they picked, was delicious. It was as earthy as expected, but there was an extra flavor that may or may not have resulted from Diona’s magical talent.Klee and Diona sat side by side as they ate, talking about what they wanted to be when they grew up. “Klee likes to be a Knight, but my mom is a great adventurer, so Klee wants to be an adventurer too!”, she declared proudly. “And you, Diona? Do you want to be like your dad?”“My dad?” The girl’s brows furrowed. “Don’t make me laugh. Who would want to be a pathetic drunkard who can’t even keep his promises to his daughter?” She took a sudden bite, chewing with intensity.
Klee pouted. “Did he break another one?”, she asked, voice small.Diona turned her back to Klee. “Doesn’t matter. It’s what he always does, anyway.”Venti could tell that the poor girl was just trying to act strong, and had reasons to struggle. He had pondered several times about some way of interfering to make her dad more responsible, or at least more present in her life, but why would a drunken adult accept the lecture of another? And now, as Barbatos, there were other complications.Klee was seemingly thinking about the same thing, although in a different direction.“Venti? Can’t you convince Diona’s dad to be good, because you’re a god?”He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s not that easy… I don’t want to abuse my power to influence people, not even for a good cause. There might be ways of helping him overcome addiction, but… not like this.”“Then how? You’re just saying that because you’re a drunkard too”, Diona declared, and he couldn’t exactly fault her conclusion.Venti gave it some thought. Scooting closer, he offered another portion of his apple to her.“I know that it’s difficult, Diona, and you’re right to be mad. I don’t think that alcohol is the enemy, but rather the lack of moderation, but you don’t have to agree. Either way, your father needs help to stop, and that shouldn’t be your responsibility”, he assured her. “And since I’m Barbatos… maybe that responsibility should fall on me, yes. I will bring this to Jean, and we will see what we adults can do, alright?”Diona finally deigned to look at him, and he could swear he saw tears in her eyes. She nodded once, snatching the apple from his palm and turning her back to him again.The mood lifted during the rest of the meal, but Klee still had more energy to spend. Since they have several hours left until her curfew time, Venti agreed to go gather berries in Wolvendom - in her own words “to give to Jean as a gift!”As the afternoon settled, golden rays filtered through the canopy of the trees, strong and ancient, untouched by human civilization. Darting in and out of the sunlight streaks, the two girls played catch, sometimes hiding in bushes to jumpscare each other, their task forgotten. Laughter filled the air as Venti trailed behind, humming a lighthearted tune.It was peaceful - at least, for another hour.Venti had completely forgotten how much of a hassle his wings could be, until he started getting tired, and noticing their presence more. Due to their damaged state, they dragged behind him with every step. He tried to tread carefully, but the uneven ground of the area was less forgiving than the proper paths of Mondstadt. That meant his feathers kept getting caught, either on the gnarled roots that riddled the way, or on spiky branches.
The real problem eventually manifested.He felt another familiar cut, but the sharp tug was new. Bouncing back, Venti did his best to not fall, and he turned slightly to assess the situation, only for another stab of pain to shoot through his shoulders. His wings had gotten tangled in the massive roots, dangerously close to the muscles. He wasn’t pierced - not quite - but stuck so high up, he wasn’t sure if he would manage to free himself without losing some of the precious little feathers he had left.
Venti sighed, tugging gently, then more urgently when he realized they weren’t budging. He winced. The more he struggled, the tighter the roots seemed to grip, digging in uncomfortably.Wonderful. The mighty god of freedom, reduced to a trapped bird.Klee and Diona, still lost in their berry-picking, hadn’t noticed his predicament yet. He considered calling out, but hesitated. Did he really want to admit that he needed help? He was supposed to be their caretaker, not the other way around.Unfortunately, his next attempt to move sent a visible jolt of pain through him, and Diona’s ears twitched at the sound of a poorly stifled hiss. Glancing in this direction, she exchanged some words with Klee, and the two of them came running.Klee arrived first, and gasped. “Venti! Are you stuck?”He gave them a sheepish grin, though it was a bit strained. “Ahaha… just taking a little break, you know? Really appreciating nature up close…”The girls weren’t buying it. Klee stomped closer, Dodoco bouncing against her backpack. “That doesn’t look like a break! Does it hurt?”Venti considered lying, but one look at Klee’s worried expression made him sigh. “A bit,” he admitted. “But I’ll get out eventually! Just need to, hum… think about it.”Diona crossed her arms. “Tsk. You’re not getting out of there on your own, and we aren’t strong enough. We need to call for help.”Klee immediately perked up. “Razor can help! He’s really strong, and he’s super good with the forest!”The idea of being rescued by a bunch of kids didn’t exactly do wonders for Venti’s pride - and alright, he wasn’t sure about Razor’s age, it was hard to keep track when humans didn’t even live a single century - but he wasn’t in a position to argue. He gave them a grateful, if somewhat resigned, smile.“That would be very kind of you.”Diona volunteered to go. “I am a hunter, so I can navigate Wolvendom well. I’ll go find Razor.”“No, no!” Klee’s hands moved from side to side to insist further. “Klee knows where Razor’s cave is, and you don’t like wolves. So Klee can go. Diona, make Venti stay put!”Diona rolled her eyes. “Not like he has a choice”, she said, not opposing the suggestion.With that, the spark knight turned and ran deeper into the forest, leaving them to their fates.After several minutes that the pair left behind spent ranting, Razor and Klee arrived with wolfhooks in their arms, and also another companion. More precisely, Bennet, who apologized profusely.“It’s all my fault, Lord Barbatos! I was in the area with Razor, so my bad luck rubbed on you!”“Bennet, get up.” Venti’s response came out drier and more disappointed than he intended, so he tried to clarify. “You don’t have to call me Barbatos, or at the very least, do away with the ‘Lord’. I am the same person you have always known. Do I even look very god-like like this?” He raised his arms and cloak, letting him see the state of the stuck wing. “And besides, I am certain this had nothing to do with your luck. I was just careless.”“Yeah, Bennet, it’s not your fault that the bard didn’t pay attention”, Diona echoed, seemingly having fun taking a jab at him. Venti squinted at her, and she stuck out her tongue.Bennet was perplexed by their interaction, but the small god could only hope it showed him that there was no authority present to respect.
“So… Do you want me to help?”, the boy asked, hesitantly. “I really don’t want to make things worse…”Truth be told, Bennet’s lack of luck wasn’t just imagination. Knowing where he was found as a baby, and the reason why people from Natlan never left their nation, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together. That said, Venti suspected that the recent developments in the region, in part helped by the Traveler, significantly changed the situation - even if Bennet was not yet aware.So, perhaps this was a chance to show him that things have improved.
“Sure”, Venti said, smiling through the discomfort. “I don’t think you will make things worse - I just need help parting my feathers to pull the root out. And I can’t quite reach that part of my back, you know?”“Oh, okay, that doesn’t sound difficult. Razor, what do you think?”“Razor don’t know, but Razor can pull. Later, berries help lupical.”It was a struggle, more than Venti had expected. After much pulling, and several hands trying to part the feathers, he still ended up losing a couple, quickly assuring the kids that it was fine since his recovery was still so early on: there was little to lose - although it was still discouraging. His muscles also protested all of that movement, but it was to be expected.After a brief moment to collect himself, and let the muscular pain subside, it was over. Smashing the berries brought by Razor, they applied some wolfhook juice to the wounds, hoping that the medicinal properties could at least prevent infections, but there was nothing they could do to regrow the lost plumes.Razor insisted that Venti was checked by his teacher, and while he was sure it wasn't needed, and that Lisa couldn't do much about it… noticing the concerned faces of the kids, he ended up acquiescing.On the way back, the smaller ones promptly forgot what just transpired, too focused in the present and in pursuing the butterflies. Razor and Bennet, on the other hand, kept up with Venti’s pace.They were mostly talking to each other, or, well, Bennet was the one making most of the conversation. While Razor didn't particularly care about the big reveal, perhaps because Andrius was such a prominent figure in his life,
Barbatos could sense the apprehension from Bennet, even after recent events.
They understood where it came from. So, to show how nothing had changed,
they let the scenery be their inspiration: the mostly vanished stream of water, the peaceful darkness of the area, the peculiarity of the berries, the signs of wolf activity… ah, there, their muse.
Venti took out their lyre, strumming gently, gifting the world with a new poem.
A branch has fallen.A small part of the whole, and I wonder if their siblings miss them. The tree still stands, waiting for spring. It grows and grows and births more branches. Leaves. Flowers. As a seed, it needed care, yet as it grows, it becomes home to the birds. And I wonder if it remembers… The days of sun. The song of the now dry stream. Is it driven by hope, or fate? How much does it want to grow? A branch has fallen. And, if there's a wish, it shall become another tree.
The last note rang, followed by appreciative silence.It was welcomed, too. Venti wasn’t sure how they felt about that particular poem, and how much the melancholic tone was fruit of the reflections of the past week. In part, they did wonder how their wisp siblings felt about them, but that wasn't all swirling in their mind.
They simply waited for the comments of the two boys. Razor spoke first, expressing what he could with his limited vocabulary.
“Words, pretty. Razor not good with them. But poem, sad.”Bennet put a hand to his chin. “I wouldn't exactly call it ‘sad’, but it makes me nostalgic. Like… like if I wanted to hug my past self, and tell him that everything would be alright.”Venti hummed. “That's quite poetic too. Everyone has struggles, and they don't get smaller, but we can learn to move on. Not just for ourselves”, they pointed out.
“The people who hang on are often those who have a duty to others, and to future generations.”
The pair was listening intently. “I know we are much younger than you, Venti, but even like this, I already feel like I've grown so much… so, the thought of looking back doesn't make it hurt. I just feel… hum, there's a word for when a person is reflective…” He scratched his head.The bard took a guess. “Contemplative?”“Yes, that's the one!” At their side, Razor just looked puzzled. “But what about you, Venti? Was this poem because you are sad? You, hum, didn't exactly seem thrilled by needing our help.”
Venti sighed dramatically, deflating. “Alas, it seems like my acting skills are declining… You're right, I feel somewhat pathetic. I have long accepted that I'm not a strong Archon, but I promised Jean to take care of the children, and not only did I fail at that, I even needed their help instead.”“Right, err… I can relate to the embarrassment of needing to be helped. But it's okay!” Bennet shook off the negative thoughts, flashing a smile along with a thumbs-up. “There’s nothing wrong in being unlucky and asking for help.”Razor could understand that part, and he nodded along.
Venti chuckled, deeply endeared by then. “You're right, but it's amazing to see how you deal with it so well now, Bennet. As a child, unfortunate situations used to make you cry. Ah, humans grow so fast… and they keep making me proud.”Bennet was beaming, although he didn't know how to respond to the praise.
It was Razor who continued talking. “Leader of the pack says the same, and teacher. That Razor grew fast.”
“Did you see us grow, Venti?”, Bennet wondered. “Since, well, you are basically immortal. But I don't remember seeing you when I was a child…”, it occurred to him. “Did you change form?”
“Ah, well… It's complicated. Barbatos has, let's say, a need to slumber for long periods. Sorry, I can't share much more.” It was his turn to be apologetic. “My present iteration only woke up soon after Dvalin, when he was attacking the city due to corruption. I had a lot to catch up on, and my priority was helping the crisis, and my friend Dvalin, who was suffering. But the winds shared the memories they carried with me - meaning that, in a way, I have recollections of what the people of Mondstadt went through.”“So that's how it works… it makes sense how everyone remembers old things during Weinlesefest, if the winds can carry memories”, Bennet mumbled to himself. He brightened. “It's really cool that we can ask this kind of thing directly now. I'm glad that you're our Archon, Venti.”Razor chimed in. “Wings are hurt now, not pretty. But in future, pretty and big.”Venti blinked, needing to close his eyes for a moment to reign in the overflowing emotions. He took a deep breath.“Thank you”, he exhaled, letting a smile flourish. “I hope you're right.”
The breeze swirled contentedly around them, and a bird was singing nearby.In that moment, he heard Klee call excitedly, catching his attention. “Ventiii! Look, this Seelie is lost, but Klee can't get to the stone garden up there!” She shouted from Diona’s shoulders, that she must have climbed at some point to try to get higher. “Can you help?”With a laugh, he summoned a strong wind current, that sent her flying up along with the Seelie. The girl reached the top of the pillar, delighting with treasures abound.
His children were happy, and so was he.
Neither he nor Klee managed to escape a scolding from Jean, while Lisa chuckled from the corner, where she was talking with her pupil. But Klee was rewarded for helping Venti, and not punished.
Regardless, it was time for her to be in her room, since it was getting late. Seeing how the girl didn't want to be in solitude, Venti offered to keep her company a little longer, in her colorful room. Oh, the bedtime stories he could make up about all of those stuffed toys!...In the presence of friends, even small prisons could pass as a magical secret room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Stirring to a homey note, Venti’s conscience reformed, landing on Mondstadt. They knew it even before opening their eyes: from the sound of the creaking door, to the voices of the knights at a distance, the winds bringing the clashing of swords in the training patio…Oh. They must have fallen asleep in Klee’s room.Blinking groggily, they had to chuckle as memories came back - it seemed like the bedtime stories didn’t just put the little girl to sleep. They took in the state of the room: the morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor, and inside the huge dollhouse, where the dolls were still frozen in time. As for themself, they were half-collapsed against her bed, having somehow managed to fall from the chair without waking up, and their wings softened the landing.Realizing that there was a third figure in the room, silent like snowflakes, Venti tried to turn his head - that was a big mistake. The previous dull ache from the position he slept in flared up rapidly,
hitting the back of his neck so suddenly that he saw stars.“Ow ow ow…”, he whined pitifully, making it worse by trying to cover his nape with one hand.
A princely laugh came from the figure, now recognizable.“Good morning, Venti. If I may, I believe I have a potion to alleviate the discomfort.”‘Discomfort’ was putting it mildly, but Venti was in no position to argue. Reaching into his coat, Albedo produced a vial with a greenish liquid, and stories of his feats and risky experiments came to Venti's mind - he wasn't sure of which one surpassed the other. Bending over, the alchemist offered it.Eyeing the flask, Venti dared to ask. “Is this medicine?”Albedo simply shrugged. “You can see it like that.”“You know, if not for your expertise, that answer wouldn't inspire much confidence”, he quipped, with a hint of truth. “Let's hope the great Chief Alchemist of Mondstadt doesn't accidentally kill Barbatos.”He was simply joking, once again taking advantage of his forced coming-out. However, when he grabbed the potion in Albedo's hands, he couldn't help but notice how his eyes widened for a split second. Right. He was an homunculus, and Rhinedottir's creations tended to lose control, and be of draconic nature, and…Their hands brushed against each other, the touch feather-light.
Venti decided against confronting that topic for now. They would have plenty of time, and besides, Klee was right there, albeit asleep.He uncorked the vial, sniffing, and taking just a sip at first. He tasted the freshness of herbs and the tingling of alchemy. Downing the strange liquid, a refreshing coolness spread through his body, alleviating the worst of the pain and melting away the stiffness in the rest of his spine, even from his wings.Venti could finally lift his head properly, so he did, even opting to get up. Albedo remained some steps in front of the doorway, staring with his head tilted. Despite the composed expression, the curiosity was undeniable.“Did it help with the soreness?”, the alchemist wondered.“A lot, yeah!”, he even stretched briefly to demonstrate. “You always have these on hand?”Albedo’s lips curved gently, his whole behavior princely. “It pays to be prepared.” Then, after a brief pause, his gaze flickered toward Venti’s back. “Although I must admit, I wasn’t sure if it would work for you. Between the different anatomy, and possibly the composition of a god, much could have strayed from the expected results of the concoction.”Venti stared with his eyes semi-closed. “So you were considering that the potion could really harm me.”This time, Albedo chuckled at the provocation, but still felt the need to clarify. “Not quite. While I expected a range of adverse effects - that might still manifest, quite frankly”, he added not reassuringly, “I was fairly certain that none would be enough to cause harm to a god. More than that, I have seen you eat and ingest other potions before, without any complication. Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen you receive healing from Barbara or other nuns, although I suspect that is more related to secrets you once held than out of fear from elemental reactions.”Hesitating, Venti nodded. “Me being Barbatos really changes that much, huh?”They have been talking in ushered voices, to avoid awaking Klee, but the quietness that followed was different. Heavier. Perhaps the question was unfair - if things really had changed that much, the people they knew wouldn’t treat them with the usual kindness and practicality, instead adopting a much-unwelcomed reverence. And even amongst the changes, they weren’t bad ones per se. It was just a lot to process in few days, and when Barbatos stopped having fun at its expense, the reality and the confusion settled in.In those moments, they always felt the weight of their wings.
Albedo was the one who replied first, measuring his words. “In the technical sense, yes. In a social way, not necessarily. Mondstadt is… surprisingly adaptable when it comes to accepting people of all sorts, even non-humans.” He wasn’t looking at Venti. He wasn’t talking about Venti, or at least, not just. His gaze was lost in the views, on the other side of the window, staring straight at Dragonspine. “Personally, I value it a lot, and even if someone’s existence, or someone’s way of existing, changes or ceases, its worth is not undone by that Fate.”Blinking, as if to awake from a dream, Albedo’s eyes focused on Venti again. His smile was composed, he was dressed for the day, his fair complexion was flawless, and there was not a single hair out of place. His features were somewhat androgynous, but not in a cute way like Venti’s, rather more elegant, but hard to place, sitting somewhere between a knight and a scribe. His speech was eloquent, and his manners serene, with just enough emotions under the surface to convey his sincerity, while keeping the distance of an avid researcher taking life as a grand opportunity for understanding. Truly, he was fit for the title of Kreideprinz.He was taking something else out of his pocket. And when the prince knelt, he closed his palm, summoning particles into changing the form within. With Khemia, he transformed what was probably a seed into a fully grown Cecilia, graciously offering it to the small god.“The life of a flower is no less meaningful just because it’s going to wither away, and its seeds are a catapult of change.” His smile was as still as undisturbed snow, and yet still melted Venti’s defenses. “Mondstadt knows that well, correct?”Venti hummed appreciatively when accepting, putting the Cecilia in his hair, diagonally across the one on his hat. “That was quite a smooth delivery - I might have taught the art of romance to Mondstadtians a bit too well”, he joked with a smile. Noticing how Albedo huffed in amusement, his grin spread, and he decided to tease further. “Admit it, the reason you were just standing silent in the doorway before I woke up was because you were entranced by my beauty, wasn’t it?”Albedo laughs “That’s an interesting theory, and I admit that I was staring. Yet I was merely observing your wings - I confess that they have me intrigued, and I would love the opportunity to study them.”“Ah, so I am merely a test subject to you”, he exaggerated the rejection. “But I have no reason to oppose. What has you so interested?”“Well, in a way, I would like to see how they are able to lift a human body - pardon my bluntness, but the anatomy makes no sense. It’s also a great chance to learn more about bird wings, and to compare them with yours, and I would also like to run some comparisons with the wings of different species. I might also try to uncover ways of speeding up the recovery”, he added, and that last option was quite enticing. “I would love to keep a journal, to record notes and the progress. If you’d allow me, of course.”He gave Albedo a lopsided smile. “Alright, alright. You can have your research - no way I would refuse after seeing your enthusiasm. Just promise you won’t try to turn me into a full alchemy experiment, okay?”Albedo gave a small bow, as if sealing an honorable agreement. “You have my word.”“And I’m accepting apples in return.”“Apples?” The alchemist chuckled. “That reminds me, you must be hungry. It’s already late in the morning. I can go fetch some breakfast for you, and for Klee as well, but if it’s not much to ask, I would like you to stay here for a little longer - I’m sure she would be pleased to see you remained with her throughout the night.”Venti agreed easily, and Albedo departed, leaving him to reflect on their exchange.

The alchemist was back shortly, bringing a tray from the cafeteria of the ordo. It had a plate with buttery biscuits, another with toasted bread accompanied by jam, and a third with an apple perfectly cut. For drinks, they both had fruit juice, and there was milk for Klee.The tray was placed in the small table for kids, still covered with a fake tea set and surrounded by plushies. Venti was already sitting next to it, on the floor with his legs crossed.“She is still asleep”, Albedo remarked as he sat, looking at the child who had just tossed Dodoco across the bed, as if she was tossing her explosions in her dreams. “Color me impressed. Venti the bard truly is quite the dedicated storyteller.”
“I try my best,” he said with a carefree grin. “Though I may have underestimated the toll of storytelling marathons.” At least his throat never got sore from singing lullabies.Something in him was starting to grow uncomfortable, although not in a physical sense, nor emotional, really. It was a deep itching in his whole body, whose origin he couldn't quite pinpoint. Scratching did nothing, so he tried to ignore and attack the food.They were halfway through their meal when Klee woke up, jumping in bed when she spotted them.“Venti! Albedooo!” She bounced on the mattress, her smile brighter than the sun.“Hello, little ball of of energy!”, Venti exclaimed promptly, opening his arms to receive her hug and squeezing her, making the girl giggle.
Her brother was more moderate, but still clearly happy to see her. “Good morning, Klee, I hope you slept well. I covered your milk, so it’s still warm.”She wasted no time joining them at the table, and they had a good time letting her lead the conversation, as Klee told them about her colorful dream, describing in detail how the characters from Venti’s tales in the past day were in it.After that, Albedo helped his sister wash her teeth and prepare for the day. Venti helped her pack her things, occasionally hit with the weirdness of the normalcy of putting explosives in the young girl’s backpack. Not that anyone could contain the child of a witch, and Venti was sure that, even if he tried, the only thing he would achieve would be getting a scolding from Alice, regardless of his Archon status.
“Albedo, can we go Fish Blasting with Kaeya?”, Klee was asking.He hummed. “I’ll make sure to schedule the time soon. Kaeya is not back yet, so what about in two days?”“Okay!”Once she was happily sent on her way, the pair of adults could finally exhale.
The bard turned to the Albedo. “Klee is adorable, but she can be a lot. I don’t know how you do it”, he confessed, shaking his head. A joke came to mind. “I’m too old to match her energy.”That made the alchemist chuckle. “I can imagine. I’m not that young myself, and even then I already feel tired at times.” Venti raised an eyebrow, wondering if he was purposely hinting at his origins, but Albedo just continued. “I will head to my camp soon, since I left most of my equipment there. If you’re free, would you like to come? Perhaps we could get started on researching your wings.”Venti agreed easily, and they went on their way.

The first thing Barbatos did when he arrived at the camp was scooching as close to the flames as possible, hoping to defrost his wings. He had vastly underestimated the impact of the weather on them, especially when he wasn’t able to move them for proper circulation, and his exposed back also caused extra complications. He did try to bring in some warm wind currents, but there was only so much he could do when surrounded by snow.
This was as good a time as any to start the stretching routine - the movement would allow him to feel warmer and dispose of the stiffness, and Albedo could take that chance to study him and, well, check how early in his recovery he was.
“A bit pathetic, isn’t it?”, he ended up wondering between pants, having just finished another set that should have been easy, but wasn’t.
The alchemist pondered. “I don’t think that’s a good descriptor. There is nothing pathetic about someone starting a journey of healing - not the effort, and not appearance. It’s just one stage of the process.”“Fine, fine, I’m convinced. I will stop the self-deprecating comments”, he decided, actually partially convinced. Tilting his head, he invited Albedo. “Do you want to get a closer look?”He didn’t waste time. With a polite nod and his journal at hand, he sat behind Venti still at a small distance from the fire, analysing his wings. They didn’t speak much - the winged god wasn’t sure of what the alchemist was searching for, but he was taking notes, if the sound of the pen scribbling in the pages was anything to go by. After less than 5 minutes, he was met with a question.“Are you comfortable sitting like that? I would like to sketch the appearance of your wings, to make it easier to see the recovery, but it might take a while, so it’s better for you to be in a more comfortable position.”Venti gave it some thought. “Yeah, you can go ahead. I will tell you if I stop feeling my legs”, he joked lightly.
Even emotionally, he was comfortable with the situation, and with the focused silence that followed. While it was somewhat strange, he could sense Albedo’s professionalism and interest, and he was happy to let a friendly-face - an actual friend? - satiate his curiosity. The only thing making him uncomfortable was that deep itching, more noticeable now that Venti got rid of bigger problems like the frost, spreading further.
He shifted in place. Albedo guessed on the reasons. “Do you want to move somewhere else?”“No, no, I’m fine sitting like this”, he waved it off.
Humming, the artist continued. Perhaps he thought Venti was lying and made a point of rushing, or perhaps he was just close to finishing, but he was done soon after their exchange. The whole affair didn’t even take half an hour.“It’s ready”, he said with a small proud smile, turning the journal for Venti to see. The ‘sketch’ was surprisingly detailed, capturing not just his wings, but also his torso, and most of his spine. “You can see how even at this state, your back muscles are fairly strong, and I suspect they will just develop more as you exercise and engage them to move your wings. It will be fascinating to look back in some years and realize how much has changed.”That was a good word choice. In part because the drawing was already fascinating by itself, but there was something intimate about letting a friend know his body in such detail, and in being privy to the subtlest changes he went through.
“You did a really good job”, Venti remarked truthfully. “I don’t even know how to feel besides being impressed. Is there anything else you want to see?”“Actually, there is”, Albedo admitted, coughing to clear his throat. “Would you allow me to touch your wings, and back? It would help me draw comparisons with types of wings I’m more familiar with.”Venti chuckled. “You don’t have to be all inhibited, I don’t mind. Besides, at this point I feel like you know every muscle in my body just from drawing it. Here”, he allowed, turning his back to him again.
Hesitating, Albedo finally breached the distance, touching his feathers at first. He was careful, but also intentional, clearly looking for specific things for his studies. He seemed interested in the way his feathers connected, in comparing how patchy they were, their length and type of wing, and more. He felt the muscles that the feathers were attached to, tickling him, which Venti did his best to explain without squirming.
“Ah”, he laughed softly. “My apologies. I think I’m mostly done here, anyway.”He then placed a hand on Venti’s back, so cold that it caused him to shiver. He put pressure with his fingers on certain spots, and the angel could swear he caught him mumbling under his breath about how it was practically the anatomy of a human, sounding perplexed. During that part, Venti was already starting to get an inkling of what the cause of his discomfort was, given how the touching made him feel.But it was when Albedo’s hands slid to the base of his wings, feeling them, that Venti was sure.With a shudder, he closed his eyes, and let a controlled gasp escape. It felt way too good, more than it had any right to be. It wasn’t just a slight massage - it was the contact with someone else, and how that interacted with the curse after a couple of days without that kind of affection. He hadn’t expected those needs to show up so suddenly, and they were growing rapidly.
He must have hid his pleasure worse than he expected, because Albedo noticed something.“Is everything alright? Please tell me if I’m hurting you, and if you still feel sore, it’s not harmful to take another potion.”Venti shook his head. “Thank you, but this is not an affliction that can be helped by alchemy.”Albedo let it be.After a short while, and scribbling more on his journal, he was ready to give his verdict. “My conclusion might come as a surprise, but you are the perfect blend between a bird and a human. Your back seems to be exactly like that of a human, with just minor differences right at the base of your wings, but then the wings are perfectly bird-like - more specifically, similar to the wings of a dove”, he pointed out. “That shouldn’t make sense, since wings attached to just this part of your back shouldn’t be able to lift your weight, so it’s almost as if your body defied the laws of physics.”Venti finally sat in another position as he absorbed the information, turning to Albedo. “Truth be told, it may turn out that these wings can’t lift me into the skies, not even after healed”, he considered, the possibility discouraging. “You see, they didn’t use to be like this. They weren’t connected to my back - most often, they seemed to transform from my cloak, and it was as if everything about my body was ethereal.”“Oh? And did that version help you fly?”“Humm… It’s hard to say? I floated naturally - I don’t think it was thanks to those wings. Even before I had a human appearance, I was a wind wisp, actually, and not too different from a seelie. I had three wings back them, but they weren’t even attached to me at all. Either way, I’m unable to turn those wings like that anymore.”“Fascinating. That ties in well with an old theory of mine”, Albedo muttered mostly to himself, flipping through another journal. Venti had to blink, slowly realizing that the alchemist wasn’t shocked in the slightest - he was purely invested in the pursuit of truth. “I have long suspected that Seelies could be a regressed version of angels, or angels with different abilities. Their abilities have too much in common, and even their appearance does as well, with their ethereal form, the horns and color scheme. Given what you just told me, about your angel and wisp form, that strengthens my hypothesis.”Barbatos was impressed. With how few angels survived with their shape intact, there must have been very little samples from Albedo to draw that conclusion from. In all fairness, he was a student of Rhinedottir, and that witch was old and knew much that should be kept a secret, so she might have given him some hints. But the god knew she never told him everything - that was her challenge to her apprentice, so that meant the merit of this discovery was mostly from his efforts.As he wondered how much he was allowed to reveal, the winds outside were picking up, as if reminding them of the threat hanging up in the skies. The cave was getting colder, and they should probably close the entrance soon.
Noticing that, Albedo rose, letting the flaps on top of the rock formation fall down and cover the entrance. Placing his palms on the fabric, he summoned his abilities, completely changing its nature. The entrance was now closed by a pile of rocks, enough to block the elements outside, but with small spaces between each other to let air enter, keeping the space breathable. The cave was much darker now, but with the soft crackling of the flames, casting a dim light around them, the space was comfortable. Cozy, even.
“I can’t outright tell you what I know, Albedo”, Venti said as he approached again, opting for honesty. “But you are on the right path, and I will say that I admire how knowledgeable you are. Also, I have a hint for you: there is another species that is related to angels and seelies.”Albedo’s walking slowed to a halt, and his smile wasn’t particularly amused. “You mean dragons, don’t you?”
Venti’s lips parted, but from them came no sound. The atmosphere had changed in an instance.“I am starting to realize how much the beings of this world can have their origins traced to dragons”, the alchemist shrugged, as if trying to convince himself that such a revelation wasn’t anything special. “Truly, it makes sense, especially considering the project of my Master. I never quite understood why, in Gold’s attempts at creating the Primordial Human, her first creations resulted in dragons. I never understood”, he continued, staring at his own hands, “why I am the way I am. But now, I think I do.”Venti gulped. All of their talent with words hadn’t prepared them for this moment, and they weren’t sure if Albedo wanted information or comfort. It truly was strange how his announcement as an Archon was acting as catharsis, propelling everyone else to also share their secrets.“Albedo…”“You know what I can become, right, Barbatos?” The confrontation was almost cold. The god nodded, but even if Albedo didn’t see the answer in the darkness, he continued. “So tell me: am I a danger to Mondstadt? If I ever attempt to destroy it, and ruin the lives of those I held dear, will you do everything you can to stop me?”In the shadows of the cave, with only part of his features illuminated, and arms slightly open at his sides, he looked simultaneously desperate and welcoming an attack. As if telling Barbatos, ‘Come and finish me now while I won’t resist, to prevent me from becoming a threat in the future’. Those were the words brought by the winds curled around his figure, their emotions twisted for a moment.And Venti didn’t like it.
“Albedo, come closer. I can’t see your face from there”, they said sternly, unwilling to play that game.
That response seemed enough to take him off guard, and his posture deflated. The alchemist came back to sit next to Venti, unsure of what to do with his hands now that they weren’t acting dramatically, until he folded them on his lap. His expression was still guarded, but the way he leaned forward told the Archon he was receptive to listen.With a sigh, Venti summoned his lyre, playing with the strings to avoid his gaze. “I confess I have imagined the scenario you just posed before. When something about your nature snaps or gets corrupted, you attack Mondstadt with powers you shouldn’t have, and I am forced stop you.” He glanced up briefly, noticing Albedo’s undivided attention. “And to answer your questions: yes, I would strike you down if needed to protect Mondstadt, just like I have done with Durin.”It was Albedo’s turn to sigh, although in his case it sounded more akin to relief. Under the Archon’s inquisitorial look, his laughter was broken and nervous. “That’s oddly comforting to know, if I’m honest. I don’t want to die, but I would gladly accept that fate if it meant sparing the people I love”, he admitted. He was smiling. “And there’s something fitting about meeting the same end as my brother.”“Then, I hope you can also see having your life improve after tragedy the same way - just as I hope happens with your brother”, Venti shared, ready to explain. “You see, there is much I regret about Durin’s end, and I don’t just mean the fact that it spent my powers and poisoned Dvalin. Durin was a gentle child, unaware of the damage caused by his existence, who just wanted to play. Did you know that?”“Not… really.” He was a little lost.“I only realized it a little too late, as well. I keep wishing I could have done something different, to spare him, but since there is no going back - and trust me, much can go wrong in trying - the best I can do is pay some visits, and play him some lullabies to ease his misery.”
They huffed. “I’m sure you must have spotted a bard close to Durin’s heart at least once, before I vanished.”Barbatos had collected their fair share of regrets, although they rarely spoke about it. The worst part is that their prolonged “sleeps” always aggravated the situation, and made them come back to a world vastly worse than he expected, rushing to fix their mistakes that already festered for too long.
Perhaps the shame over the problems they caused was another factor that made them drift to a human existence, in the hopes of dissociating their bard side from the figure who messed up so much, so many times. But they were aware of their responsibility, and would never flee from it - regardless of what Celestia thought, they didn’t have to be ordered around to show up for their children.
Realizing they stood silent for too long, Venti concluded. “So, even if I ever need to strike you down, the least I can do is to offer the same consolations, while waiting for you to awaken, so I can do better. Just like I’m doing for Durin right now - it’s well known that he will come back soon.”Albedo’s posture was slumped, a rare sight on the alchemist, but his resigned smile held up. His gaze was vacant, yet the reply that came, bittersweet as it was, proved he had been paying attention.
“I would still wake up to a different world, where the people I knew were gone, at least most of them.” Venti’s heart squeezed in silent agreement. “But I suppose I have no right to complain about that - not to a god that is often gone for long periods too, since you probably understand that anguish. For the record, I appreciate the small mercy. I would very much like the chance to come back.”He still sounded discouraged, but the reply made Venti smile. There was something sweet in his attempt at being considerate of a god’s feelings, even when talking about his own demise. Slowly, the angel scooted closer, and took Albedo’s delicate hands in their own. Even though Venti was lean and their hands thin, they were callused from playing instruments, and using a bow. In contrast, Albedo’s hands were flawless and frail. Those were the hands of an artist, not of a monster.“Albedo, you don’t have to think of yourself as a ticking time bomb. At least, no more than many other children of Mondstadt”, Venti pointed out, noticing his curiosity. “I won’t say names, but for starters, we have people with ties to different Nations: a girl with family in Liyue, a boy of Sumerian descendance, and another born in a region of Natlan where the winds do not blow. Then, we have an heir to the lost civilization of Khaenri’ah, who works as a spy, but while it’s hard to know to which Nation he spies, I am undoubtedly certain that he loves Mondstadt. Perhaps it should worry me, but it doesn’t.”Albedo nodded knowingly, going along with them. “Don’t forget Alice - she is more powerful than any other person I know.”Venti laughed. “Of course not, how could I? She literally transcends the barriers of this world. And her daughter, the tiny elf you call your sister, besides having connections to the dragon race too, literally plays with bombs. But there’s more: During the day, the Knights are led by a reincarnation of one of my oldest friends, and at night, protected by another, who also has strong intel on the Fatui. We have a nun who doesn’t worship Barbatos, who comes from the north. We have two witches, who just don't belong to the Hexenzirkel by a slim margin, but still know almost as much. We have several people with what can be considered animalistic traits, where instances of atavism manifest in their bloodlines. And I can’t exclude the girl who claims to be from another world. Theatrics as those claims may be, her loyal raven is very much real.”The alchemist’s reply was tinged with amusement. “When put into perspective like that, I have to agree my situation doesn’t seem as unique.”Venti hummed. “And if I must say, I take a lot of pride in the way the region developed. It became a fairytale where people of all backgrounds can relax, and live free of chains.”It was his turn to take the cecilia from his hat, and offer it to Albedo with a flourish, in parallel to their
prior exchange. The chalk prince blinked at first, but quickly regained his composure, accepting it graciously.Realizing that one of their hands were still joined, Venti allowed himself to be a little selfish, and to relish in the contact. Lacing their fingers together, he kept rambling about personal feelings. “The charm of this city has infected me too, if I’m honest. And even after the curse that changed my dynamics with everything, it’s still a fairytale.”He had forgotten that nothing escaped the alchemist.“Oh? Is that curse the reason why you assumed your Archonhood, and why you’ve been so restless?”The question was like a bucket of cold water, and the small god bit his tongue, realizing he spoke too much. Well, it wasn’t like it had to be kept from Albedo, and they have just been pouring their fears and secrets to each other, so no point in hiding it now.
With a dramatic sigh of defeat, Venti confirmed it. “...yes, yes it is. Assuming my role as an Archon, and my inability to hide my wings, are just two aspects of the curse imposed by Celestia. A third one makes it, let’s say…”, he hesitated before dropping the truth, and his wings twitched lightly, “somewhat painful for me if I don’t receive affection and physical contact from people. It’s just meant to humiliate and remove some freedom from me, so nothing worrisome.”Albedo’s eyes widened slightly at the peculiarity of the curse, and he sounded concerned. “Do you need some contact right now? I noticed how you responded to my touching before”, he pointed out, putting his free hand over Venti’s, whose heart started beating faster. “And while we aren’t particularly close, I would say that, after this frank conversation, it wouldn’t be inappropriate or bothersome for either of us to cross some of our previous boundaries. If you need me to attend to you, with a hug or something, I can-”“Yes. Please”, he found himself saying, his throat clogged with want. How fast could his desire spike? He was almost shaking now, and it was his fault for neglecting his needs for more than one day, but regardless, it was shocking how sudden the symptoms hit him. “Just for a little while should be enough.” He wasn’t sure of that, but he didn’t want to impose.Albedo hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”When he leaned forward, and wrapped Venti in his arms, the relief was instantaneous.By impulse, the small god dropped all reservations, and latched to Albedo's chest. His arms immediately found Albedo’s sides, almost tempted to go under his cloak, but a voice in the back of his mind still had enough common sense to reign in his behaviour. Venti contented himself with wrapping them around the cloak, feeling slightly guilty at his friend's strangled sound. However, when he was about to back off and apologize, Albedo tightened the hug, not letting him go.
Venti could swear his mind went blank for a moment. All thoughts turned off, and he could only feel . He felt the pressure of their ribcages together, the contact of their legs through the thin layers of their pantyhose, the rhythm of their breathing. He could feel the icy touch of Albedo’s hand as he started caressing the back of his hair, and keeping Venti’s head where it practically collapsed on his shoulder.As he trembled, Albedo held him close, never once complaining.
It took some minutes for the shaking to pass. Once he was feeling more capable, and processing what just happened, Venti couldn't help the slight embarrassment. “Sorry for being so clingy, it was stronger than me…”, he spoke quietly, not daring to meet his eyes yet. “I never got like this before, and the closest I got was with long-term friends. I guess I'm still learning about the effects of the curse.”They didn't mean to use excuses - it was the truth - but they still hoped they hadn't overwhelmed the alchemist.“It’s alright, I don’t mind”, Albedo reassured them, continuing to pet their hair. “I wonder if this is some kind of hormonal response, although I’m unsure of how Celestia can cause that. I don’t know if I should be marveled or defensive.”Venti rolled their eyes, even though Albedo couldn’t see. “Just don’t attempt to replicate any potion with these effects. I joked yesterday with Lisa about Barbatos-inspired lingerie, but the last thing Mondstadt needs is a Barbatos-inspired love potion.”The alchemist chuckled. “Why not? Not a fan of those?”“Not really, actually.” Since they were feeling better and were focused on the conversation, Venti put some distance between them to talk, so that they could see each other’s faces. “I’m all for people getting rid of their inhibitions with alcohol and such, but elixirs that make them infatuated can not only be dangerous, but also seem to cross the line of innocent fun.”“That’s strangely conservative for a god of love and freedom”, Albedo pointed out, his tone non-judgemental.“Hey, I told you I’m old, remember?”, Venti laughed it off. But they still wanted to clarify. “I think love should be given freely, not necessarily created artificially. For the record, I would never stop people from using aphrodisiacs willingly. It’s just that… I’ve seen several periods when non-consensual actions were more common-place, and I just get bad vibes from anything that might create the illusion of consent and desire. And, well, you’re not that wrong, maybe I can be called conservative in some ways. I am comfortable with affection, and even several degrees of sexiness and nudity, but when it gets to actual sexual topics… I’m just not very experienced. Or at all, really.”Albedo hummed. “Would you perhaps consider that you don’t feel sexual attraction? Because if so, I would relate, although I still feel curiosity, and could be willing to try it as an experiment.”“Oh,
that's an interesting question.” In fact, why had he never thought about it so clearly? “Yes, I would say so.”It was curious to talk about that while being so close, practically sitting between Albedo’s legs. With an amused smile, he leaned further in, this time resting his head against his friend's shoulder properly, and showing that he could do the same by placing a hand behind his nape, and guiding him to rest his head against his own.
They stood like that for a moment, before Albedo had an offer. “If you’d like, we can go to my makeshift bed. It’s nothing fancy, but should be more comfortable than staying on the floor. And besides, with the storm forming outside, we won’t be able to leave any time soon.”Venti chuckled. “That’s where you’re wrong. I would be able to tell the winds to take the storm elsewhere, but I won’t complain for having an excuse.”Albedo laughed softly in response, disentangling himself from Venti’s hug. Getting up, the prince extended one hand to the bard, who accepted, lazily getting up and already missing being clingy.
They go to the bed, which was more akin to a cot, although not quite - Albedo must have used Alchemy to modify an existing object in order to make it more comfortable. They started getting rid of inconvenient clothing pieces, like Albedo’s high boots, and the corset and shoes in Venti’s case, that he simply kicked.
It was colder in that part of the cave, further away from the fire - so, after removing his cloak and sliding into bed, the alchemist added it on top of the blankets. Venti did the same with his own cloak, and instinctively grabbed one of his wings with a hand to pull it, in order to envelop their bodies.
Pressed together in a hug under the pile, their legs entwined, and basically breathing the same air… It was oddly intimate - when was the last time Venti shared a bed with someone? - but also everything he could ask for. It was warm, and nice, and exactly what he needed to calm down his flaring nerves, much better already. He really loved the sensation of being protected by someone else, and feeling like a wisp nesting in his old friend’s chest.He both felt and heard Albedo sigh in their cocoon, and it was rewarding to know he was enjoying it too.
“Should I sing you a lullaby?”, Venti murmured to a crown of golden hair.
He felt the laughter reverberating through his chest. “At this time of the day? If I recall correctly, you woke up just a few hours ago.”“What can I say? The recent developments are turning me into a spoiled, lazy cat, eh-he.” It wasn’t like he didn’t love sleeping and napping before, anyway.They sighed contentedly again, now at the same time.
The pair was silent for a while, listening only to the storm outside, the slow, heavy sounds occasionally broken by sharp whistles. The wind was alive and thriving, relishing the opportunity to break free from restraints, to drag everything with it and soar higher than the peaks. Venti could feel its strength in his core, every heartbeat in tandem with the demonstrations of power. Perhaps by chance, or truly synchronized, Albedo’s heartbeat matched his own, the pulsing of a dragon undoubtedly connected to the very soul of the mountain. To the soil, to the snow…
He was what Venti wasn’t, the land under the wind.“I don’t think it makes a big difference to know that you are Barbatos”, Albedo mumbled eventually, his eyelids closed. “It’s similar to having a friend promoted to a high position, and I have many of those. You were right, Venti - none of us are special. My current theory is that… that…”His words failed, and it took Venti a moment to realize he had fallen asleep. Guess someone spent the night researching , he guessed, finding the alchemist cute.Tilting his head to the side,

he pressed a kiss to Albedo’s neck,

and surrendered to sleep.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The wind carried a clear melody over the fields, yet sadness lingered in the notes. There was a mournful quality to them weighing down Venti’s heart and, recognizing the voice as belonging to Barbara, he felt personally responsible for it.

He followed the never-faltering sound - Barbara had years of practice as an idol and a nun - stepping lightly through the grass until he spotted her, sitting among the wildflowers. She had found a soft patch between Vennessa’s tree and the riverbed, and was entangling the grasses and flowers in her hands, forming a garland. The flowers were her only audience, and the only witnesses to her sorrow.

Or they were until Venti arrived.

He hesitated. He had been avoiding this moment, waiting for her to seek him out, for the hurt to fade, for things to somehow fix themselves without his interference - did he even have a right to interfere? But seeing her now, looking so small despite the vastness of the world around her, he knew it was time.

He took a deep breath, and stepped forward. “Barbara?”

She startled slightly, cutting off her song mid-verse, but she didn’t jump to her feet or turn away. Instead, she lowered her hands into her lap and let out a quiet breath before lifting her gaze to meet his. “Lord Barbatos.” The title sounded too formal, practically reverent, and her voice held no warmth - only duty, pushing past the pain.

He winced, but offered a smile anyway. “Would you mind if we talked?”

She gave a slow nod, as if she’d expected this conversation to happen eventually. “Of course not, Lord Barbatos.” She scooted aside to make room for him in the grass.

He sat cross-legged beside her, letting the silence settle before speaking. For as much as he wished to tell her that she didn’t need to refer to him like…

that

, he feared it would do more harm than good. She was looking for faith, not to have the few lasting remnants destroyed.

The breeze attempted to comfort them, but Venti knew that most of the effort would have to come from him.

Mustering bravery, he started softly. “I keep feeling like I owe you an apology, and I shouldn’t have postponed it for almost two weeks.” He glanced at her. She was still staring at her lap, and simply shook her head. “I know the way I conduct myself as Venti can at times be unbecoming of Barbatos. So it must be hard to conciliate that we are the same person.”

“That’s not it”, she replied in a small voice. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then tell me,” he encouraged, watching her carefully. “Whatever is in your heart, just say it, and let it be taken away by the winds.”

She exhaled, slow and deliberately, staring at the distant horizon. “I think… I’m just lost. I grew up believing in Barbatos, in their freedom, their protection. They were everywhere and nowhere, a presence both distant and comforting. They were someone I could pray to and feel heard, even if I never got an answer.” Her hands tightened in her lap. “But then you-” She paused, then corrected herself. “Then they-” She stopped again, annoyance flickering across her face.

Venti felt the involuntary urge to complete her words. “Then the proclamation happened, and you learned we were the same person?”

“Yes!” Her frustration hit a breaking point, and her face twisted, letting a humorless chuckle escape. “But I don’t think Venti goes against the values of Barbatos - on the contrary, it’s almost too perfect!” Her intensity took him aback, and he blinked, but she wasn’t done. “Venti - you - do everything that Barbatos teaches, but in the most human way possible! While still having lots of wisdom to offer, effort put into studying music, and a love for Mondstadt and for everyone.”

“So, huh… you’re not disappointed?”

“Slightly, but I’m more disappointed at myself for not realizing. It’s a bit ridiculous to pray to a god every day just to not notice when they are present.” Barbara scoffed. She paused for a moment, letting go of the tight grip on the garland, and her feisty burst dissolved. “I just miss having someone to look up to that felt larger than life. I don’t doubt that Lord Barbatos still watches over us - I know you do. But now… I don’t know what to believe anymore, or who to pray to”, she admitted with a sigh.

Ah

. In all honesty, it was a relief to know Barbara didn’t see their two identities as conflicting. While she didn’t deny that some of their attitudes vexed her, she apparently managed to see the logic behind much of what they did, and they should have never expected less of her. Frankly, to have someone turn to them and outright say that no, they weren’t hypocritical and their actions always aligned with what they valued… It was reassuring.

But this wasn’t about them. Barbara was the one who needed to be comforted, and while she wasn’t actually feeling disappointment, they were aware that her beliefs were shattered. Venti couldn’t blame her for feeling adrift.

Feeling adrift… now that was something familiar.

“I understand,” they said finally, voice quieter than before. “You always had this image of Barbatos to lean on, one that felt safe and untouchable. And now you see me, and it’s not the same. You don’t feel like you can share confessions with the wind, because that means letting the silly bard know them.” They glanced at her, giving her a small, wry smile. “But I am still the god who knows you, and just as willing to offer guidance. I’m just a little more real than you expected.”

Barbara looked down, thoughtful, but without rejecting their words.

“Also, Sister Barbara…” Venti was willing to use her title too. “I hope you don’t feel that your devotion has been for nothing”, they said earnestly. “It’s important for an Archon to have believers, even though I have mixed feelings about it, and try to encourage people to believe in freedom more than in myself. But your faith was so bright, that it gave me more strength than the faith of many people combined.”

She perked up slightly, hope gleaming in her eyes. “Really? You aren’t just bluffing?”

Amusement stirred in his chest. “Me? Pfft, since when do I do that?” She rolled her eyes at the joke, her discouraged state broken for a moment, and he counted that as a victory. “Yeah, I shouldn’t have faked the repair of the lyre… Sorry? I mean, it’s technically mine and it was borrowed for a good cause, but… Anyway, what I said just now was the truth, your faith was helpful.”

“I was heartbroken when I realized the lyre was an illusion.” She was pouting at this point, but there was no deep resentment in her voice.

He smirked, deciding to encourage her. “Yup, and I’m sure you were also angry at me, as you should.”

“But you are Barbatos. I can’t just be angry at you like that”, she argued, fingers clenching around her sleeves.

They melted. Something in the way she said it made them smile, but on this, the small god was willing to insist. “Yes, you can. And I am Barbatos as much as I am Venti - although you can choose how you wish to see me. Frankly, my sense of identity will probably struggle for a while”, they added with a shrug. “Just don’t feel the need to constrain yourself over me, child of Mondstadt.”

The winds picked up, bringing rustling leaves to dance around the pair. The trees of Windrise swayed gently, including the massive oak of another of Venti’s old friends, but her roots ran deep. Venti couldn’t tell if nature was responding to their emotions, or if it was the other way around. All they knew was that their braids were fluttering along, their teal glow spreading, and they could swear for a moment that their form was more ethereal and translucent than usual. The currents were ready to sweep them up if only they allowed it, once they wished to return to being one with them.

Barbara’s breath caught in her throat, wonder crossing her expression.

Here you have it, a glimpse of godhood for you

, they mused when meeting her gaze, although they didn’t say it out loud.

Graced with an idea, Venti stood, dusting off the dirt. “Tell you what. I can’t exactly take you flying with these things”, they gestured toward their Archon wings, still heavy and ruined, but more pleasant to the eye under the sunlight. “But I can still make it fun.”

With a snap of his fingers and a teasing grin, he materialised his trusty glider, and extended a hand to Barbara.

“Come on. Let’s see if the wind still listens to an old drunkard like me, and if it can take us both soaring into the sky.”

Barbara hesitated, then let out a breath that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “If you weren’t Barbatos, I wouldn’t trust you with not letting us fall, but in this case…” Smiling, she took Venti’s hand.

They stared at each other, and chuckled.

Maybe she wasn’t ready to believe in him the way she once had. But maybe, just maybe, she was ready to learn who he really was.

She strapped one wing to her back, while he made sure to put on the other - they would need to share, since she didn’t have the same kind of abilities as Venti did, and he could only materialize his own things. Pulling her closer so that they could hold onto each other, Barbatos summoned strong currents. Barbara threatened to lose her balance, grabbing his shoulder a bit too strongly, but he made sure to secure her with one hand around her waist.

Then he started running across the fields, pulling her along, and when he heard her laugh, they jumped.

The winds caught them, and took them higher, higher.

The breeze dissipated all the awkwardness and tension left, embracing them unconditionally. They glided over the fields and the sea, seeing their figures mirrored down below.

The pair made their way back to Mondstadt through the skies, light and effortlessly, the currents guiding them and allowing for a smooth landing. As their feet touched the stone pavement near the cathedral, Venti stretched his arms above his head, feeling the lingering rush of flight still in his bones.

“That was refreshing!” he said with a grin, tilting his head toward Barbara. “And I even brought the Deaconess on time for her choir - there will be a rehearsal soon, right? So I shall not keep you any longer.”

Barbara let out a soft chuckle, rising happily time and again to her tiptoes. “It

was

nice,” she admitted, her voice carrying an ease that hadn’t been there before. She glanced toward the cathedral steps. “And usually, I would get going around this time, but I won’t be attending today.”

Venti blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Oh?”

Barbara folded her hands in front of her, hesitating for only a moment before speaking. “I decided to take a short break, and notified the Church, so Sister Grace is taking care of my duties for now,” she explained. “It didn’t feel right to perform while having doubts about my faith, so… I wanted a period to figure things out.”

The honesty in her tone made something tug at Venti’s chest. He shifted his weight, rubbing the back of his neck. “I see… so that is my fault, huh?”

“N-not really”, she added quickly. Her pigtails bounced back and forth as she shook her head. “And you helped me a lot just now, Lord, hum, Barbatos.” His lips quivered in amusement, which only made her sigh at the difficulty of choosing a title. But her next words came out fast, laced with Barbara’s usual determination. “Either way, I want to help you back too, and since you said my faith can achieve that and also allowed me to get through my feelings, I’m sure I can resume my responsibilities soon.”

“That’s appreciated, but don’t force yourself. Return only when you feel ready”, he reminded her. “Speaking of breaks, perhaps I could arrange another trip to the Golden Apple Archipelago meanwhile, at least if I can convince Dvalin to take you there again.”

“Ah, so it was… That makes a lot of sense, now that I think about it.” She was just muttering to herself, but the bard-god could see in her eyes how she was puzzling everything together: why did he know where that mysterious Island was located, and how did he manage to summon Dvalin to take them there.

“For the record, the credits for that special summer don’t just belong to me”, he said with a sly smile, confirming her suspicions. His gaze drifted towards the sky, reminiscing. “Although I technically formed the Island - centuries ago when I was, let’s say, making the land of Mondstadt more hospitable. But the decorations and the idea to turn it into a vacation spot were all Alice’s doing.”

“I can see it, fits the kind of thing she always does”, she commented with a knowing giggle. “But then why didn’t you come as well?”

“Well, with most of Mondstadt’s protectors away, someone had to help keep the city safe, right? Between me, Lisa, Eula, and Rosaria at night of course, I think we did a pretty good job.”

It was her turn to blink. “So you really take your duties seriously sometimes. Ah!” There she was, already getting flustered. “I apologize, that came out too rude, Lord Barbatos.”

We waved a hand dismissively. “It’s alright,

really

. More importantly, did you enjoy your time there?”

Barbara hummed, a faraway look in her eyes. “I had a lot of fun. It was nice to spend time with Jean, as well. That doesn’t happen often.”

Venti tilted his head, studying her expression. “You two weren’t raised together, were you? Sorry if the question is too private, you don’t really have to answer, but the winds tell me things and sometimes they are hard to make proper sense of.”

Barbara shook her head. “I don’t mind you asking. When our parents divorced, our dad was the Deacon, so he raised me, while our mom took Jean with her to become an adventurer. When my sister came back, I was happy, but she was so…

Jean

. Responsible. Busy. Always carrying the weight of Mondstadt on her shoulders.” She hesitated. “We like each other, but sometimes it feels like there’s a gap I don’t know how to bridge.”

Venti tapped his chin in thought before giving her a lopsided smile. “Well, since you’ve got some free time, I could lend a hand.”

Barbara peeked at him, brows slightly arched. “With what?”

“Oh, nothing too dramatic, just a little chat”, he said while rocking on his heels, wondering how to motivate her. “Jean has known about my Archon identity for a while, you see? Even though she never told you.”

Emotions crossed through her eyes: mostly confusion, although Venti could see a hint of betrayal. Wasn’t he so trained in music and sound, however, and he would swear her voice didn’t reveal any of that. “She has?”

He nodded. “If you’re curious about why she kept that to herself, now’s as good a time as any to ask. And while you’re at it, you could let her know that you and I are on good terms now, and that there shouldn’t be any more secrets between the two of you.” He gave her an encouraging grin. “It doesn’t have to be a long heart-to-heart conversation, but even small things can help close gaps.”

Barbara mulled over his words, then let out a breath. “You know… that might not be a bad idea.”

“Great!” Venti beamed. “Let’s go find our beloved Acting Grandmaster, shall we?”

Barbara nodded, and together, they set off toward the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius.

Inside the building, Venti spotted Albedo entrusting Kaeya with his little sister in a corner of the hall. Allowing the memories of their last time together to resurface, Venti’s lips curled up, and he waved at the group in passage, receiving smiles and gestures in return - along with an enthusiastic greeting from Klee. As for Barbara, she was too laser-focused on the office’s door to notice them.

Knocking, she waited for a reply to enter. The small god followed close behind, halting when he saw how the two sisters hesitated, staring at each other.

Jean’s wide eyes denoted she wasn’t expecting this visit, and she glanced at Venti with an inquisitive expression. He shrugged carelessly, not being of much help but at least communicating there was nothing to worry about. That seemed to help her a little, but the brave knight was still unsure of how to act, if her hand frozen mid-air was anything to go by.

“Sister Barbara, Barbatos, it’s nice to see you both”, she said at last, her voice breaking for only one second as she relied on formalities to keep the nerves at bay. “Please, take a seat.”

Glued to the floor, Barbara took a deep breath, and only then did her feet resolve to move. Sitting slowly, she didn’t even dare to look at her sister properly, making Venti wonder if he rushed that conversation. Did his attempts at killing two rabbits with one stone backfire? If they weren’t ready-

Jean cleared her throat, interrupting his thoughts. “May I help you with anything?

“Acting Grandmaster, are you free?”, Barbara asked, mindful as always. Venti noticed how she was gripping her dress below the table. “What I have to discuss is nothing urgent, and I wouldn’t want to take precious time from you. I was just free myself, so Lord Barbatos encouraged me to discuss more personal matters.”

Jean blinked, starting to grasp what this was about. She shifted her position on the chair, as if trying to get more comfortable while thinking about the best course of action.

The office of the Knights of Favonius was as orderly as ever, the scent of parchment and ink filling the air. The bard-god had stayed back, leaning casually against a bookshelf, wondering if it was time to interfere and nudge them in the right direction - he still wanted to give them space to make that choice themselves. He could almost hear the unspoken tension stretching between them like a taut lyre string.

The older sister eventually settled for an encouraging smile, the words that followed kind.

“While I always have things to do, as long as nothing is urgent, like now, I will gladly make time for friends. You, as my sister, are no less than them.”

The response had the power to make a small smile bloom in Barbara’s face. “Thank you. I appreciate it… Jean.” The choice to forego titles was paired with a silent question that the winds whispered to Venti, a tentative crossing into personal territory, to build a bridge and start closing the gap.

The clock was ticking. Barbara continued, putting a hand on her chest. “In that case, I wanted to start by apologizing for running away, during the announcement of Barbatos’ identity. It was quite disrespectful on my part, and my shock is no excuse. I have talked with them meanwhile, and I even agree that Barbatos and Venti have much in common. So, I will resume my Holy duties soon.”

So humble and dedicated

, Venti noticed once again, shaking their head to themself. From the corner of their eyes, they saw how Jean was melting, likely observing the same things.

“There’s no need to apologize for that, Barbara. The shock was to be expected, and everyone deserves time to process things”, she said earnestly, getting a shy nod from her sister. “But I’m glad you two are on good terms, and that you have accepted Venti’s identity. Venti, there’s no need to stay so far away - come sit as well.”

Of course not. The role of the wind was to listen and to show the way, not to drag things along. That was only reserved for obstacles.

“Eh-he, I didn’t want to interfere”, they explained simply while rubbing the back of their neck. Succeeding at not making it about them, they hopped towards the desk.

Barbara was looking between them and Jean, mouth agape in awe. “You two really are friends.”

The statement sounded so puzzled that Venti had to chuckle, and even Jean, exchanging a glance with them, still pursed her lips to try to stay serious. “We are”, she said. “I have known about Venti’s identities for a few years already. More precisely, since the crisis with Dvalin.”

But Barbara’s gaze flickered up and down. Her posture was less strained at this point, yet the niceties didn’t fully get to her. “Barbatos told me that right before we entered, but in that case… why not share that information with me?”

Jean’s eyebrows raised, lips parted as if to argue the call out, but that was quickly replaced by recoiling and accepting it. Barbara’s own guilt spiked up in turn for making her feel that way. Venti would be tempted to roll their eyes if not out of concern for them, and for genuinely understanding what made communication so troubling.

Barbara immediately tried to rectify the situation, too fearful of overstepping, and she stumbled over her words as she gesticulated. “Ah, sorry, I don’t want to pressure you, and I completely understand if it was confidential informa-”

“It wasn’t.” Jean cut, sitting completely straight. If Venti’s guess was right, she was about to assume how she had been acting until now. “Venti never asked me to keep it a secret.”

“Yup, that is true”, they chimed in. “I didn’t exactly wish for the whole city to know, since I didn’t want the way Mondstadt operates to change, or to be revered… bah, you know that already”, they waved a hand. “But I would be fine with specific people finding out.”

Jean nodded. She was solemn, even more than usual. “I just wasn’t sure how to break it to you. In part because I feared it would shake your faith, and in part because, if I’m honest, I don’t really know how to speak with my own sister in general.” Her gaze softened, as if contemplating past choices, regret woven into her semblance. As for Barbara, the admission had left her bewildered. “Even when we got the right opportunities, like during summer vacations, I always wondered if it would be kinder to let you enjoy your breaks without ruining them, so I opted to never tell.”

Barbara swallowed. “So was that why you never told? To protect me?” Frustration was slipping into her tone, but she deserved some moments to decompress and let her true feelings rise, so Venti didn’t want to stop her.

Jean nodded again, slowly, her voice calm. Her hands were clasped over the table. “You have every right to feel betrayed. Making the decision for you, and assuming you couldn’t handle it, wasn’t my calling. I don’t want to use my feelings as a clutch, so let me say this: you deserved better, Barbara, and for that, I am sorry.”

Barbara hummed. “I do feel a little betrayed, but… don’t worry, I
understand.” Her smile didn’t fully reach her eyes. “Actually, I often feel similarly, at least when it comes to not knowing how to act around you. Can you just, well, trust me more from now on?”

They met each other’s gaze, and Jean gave a faint smile. “Of course, I will keep that in mind. I never intended to shut you out, and as your older sister, I should-”

“That is not what she means, Jean. It’s not a matter of ‘should’”, Venti felt the need to point out. Otherwise, the pair would keep dancing around each other and never fully meet in the middle.

Barbara took the chance to gather her words, and reinforce her position. “Yeah, it wasn’t. I don’t want you to trust me just out of obligation. I care about you, so I don’t want to let you carry everything alone. Even with the help of the Knights, and Barbatos, it’s still a lot. Besides, we are sisters - and I don’t like how you feel unreachable just because we were raised separately.”

“Oh.” Jean blinked, then chuckling. “It wasn’t only out of obligation, I just struggle a little to let go of old habits. I care about you too, Barbara - you’re my little sister.” She reached out, placing a hand on top of the hand of the other woman, trembling slightly on the table. “I may not be the best at sharing my duties with others, but I’m glad I can count with your help and care, and beyond thankful that we got to have this conversation.”

Barbara giggled. “So am I! And I’m also happy that we can drop the formalities - oh, and really proud of having you as my sister.” The fainted tears glimmered in her attentive eyes, that she didn’t try to hide.

Jean was more shy, trying to conceal her smile as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So am I.”

Sensing the moment was right, he clapped his hands together lightly. “Ah, now

this

is the kind of harmony I like to see!” The two sisters laughed along. “I guess that coming out and confronting things can also be a form of freedom, hum? Freedom always involves sacrifices, but the paths that open up and the friends that wish to accompany us on our journeys are well worth it.”

The two sisters were fully holding hands now, and Venti was grateful for witnessing their amend.

A heartbeat later, bursting with enthusiasm, Barbara suddenly got up. “Jean, can you come watch me at my next concert?”

Jean put a hand to her chest. “I promise.”

“Great! Then… I hope to see you in two weeks in the plaza!”

Leaving the garland she created prior on the table, Barbara left hurriedly with light steps, her pigtails bouncing. Her glee was unmistakable, even contagious, not that it was hard to make the other two smile after what just transpired. Venti took that as a cue to give Jean some rest, getting up as well with a grin.

Hands behind his back, still beaming at Jean, he added: “She even forgave us for breaking the lyre!” Jean chuckled at his victory. “Well, I’ll get going then, see you!”

He dashed out of the office, eagerly awaiting where the wind would lead him.

Mondstadt had plenty of energetic children, not just Barbara. Not even one day later, the wind had very literally led a new adventure to Venti, who got a flash of what the future entailed before those threads of winds were gone, leaving him only with a familiar Liyuen scent and a tingly feeling on his lips. What wasn’t gone, however, was the shadow of the figure gliding right above his head, shouting.

“Ventiiii! I finally found you!”

Amber expertly closed her glider mid-air, spinning and landing without any hassle. She waved her arms to make sure she got her balance back, straightening with a grin and a salute.

“I have a letter for you, that just arrived from Liyue. I figured I could find you faster from the skies.”

The ease with which she referred to him, without an ounce of hesitation in saying his name, was simultaneously amusing and comforting. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he put a hand to his chin, guessing dramatically.

“Hummm, I wonder who it could be from. I know several people in Liyue - I’m a popular bard, after all - but not many who would be willing to pester me.”

“Well, the letter has a fancy seal, but I don’t know enough about Liyue culture to recognize it.” She took the letter out of her bag, handing it to Venti. Ah, just as he imagined, the golden seal of Morax.

Silly old man

, he thought fondly.

Amber was in a rush, so she was already preparing to leave, looking for the nearest edge to climb and glide from. “Alright, we can catch up later, I have an important patrol to do next. Oh, and one last thing - it’s okay to call you Venti, right?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, it is - people can call me by the name they find more comfortable.”

“Then I will keep Venti - it fits you very well, actually”, she said happily, unaware of the emotions that affirmation alone stirred inside him.

That it is,

he thought, remembering who bestowed it.

He invoked some currents to give her extra impulse, watching bemused as she laughed and aimed at the skies. Only then, as things had quieted, did they procure a place to sit and read in peace.

That wasn’t hard. The sun was setting, and people were scurrying to the comfort of their homes, to have dinner, to chatter, to rest. There were still some individuals on the streets, the prominence of their shadows varying under the flickering lanterns already lit, even though there were still vestiges of sun in the pink horizon.

Night was the period when the energy of Mondstadt diffused, except for the taverns. That was where Venti was heading to, before Amber found him - now that they thought about it, it was surprising that she had a patrol at night. He had been preparing to meet with their drinking buddies, since Kaeya and Rosaria had increasingly proved to be great company, and Diluc a great listener. Only in the tavern did the lively chatter prevailed. Only in the tavern were drinks shared throughout the night, along with music, and stories told in a boisterous manner. Only in the tavern did wine flow, and carried a fragment of what the city of the moon was during the day.

The rest of the city transformed into a landscape of quiet serenity, as if life itself was fading, for the moon put it under the spell of a dream. And yet, nature prevailed, with flowers swaying gently, crickets singing in the bards’ stead, the faraway waves crashing slowly on the shore.

Seeing the dandelions carried by the breeze, Venti almost gave in to the urge of taking out their lyre and plucking the strings, touched by inspiration. But not yet. They had a letter to read.

Getting comfortable on the bench, adjusting the wings at their side, they finally broke the seal. They recognized that calligraphy, perhaps more than they should - after all, knowing how to forge it had served them well once upon a time.

With a smile, they registered the polite but passive-aggressive worry in the initial paragraphs.

To the Anemo Archon Barbatos,

I hope this letter finds you well.

As you have neglected to keep me apprised of your recovery, I found myself uncertain of your present state, and hesitant about making assumptions. I have, of course, read of your proclamation in the newspapers, yet little else has reached my ears.

Fortunately, while attending one of Master Yun’s opera performances, I had the occasion to share tea with a certain Knight of Favonius - Sir Kaeya, if my recollection serves me correctly. He spoke of having been in your company following the announcement, and assured me that you are well, surrounded by friends who see to your care.

This is heartening news, old friend. If you are so inclined, I would welcome word of how my counsel has fared, or whether your plans have changed since last we spoke. Should you wish, you may even recount such things over tea. My offer to aid in easing the burden of your affliction still stands, although I suspect that with the company you now keep, such assistance is no longer of great necessity. Regardless, your presence will always be welcomed, and I have tales of my own to share: stories far too lengthy to confine to mere ink and parchment.

One final matter: Adeptus Xiao has learned of your proclamation, and sought answers. As you wished to keep the state of your wings and curse from him, he did not find about it through me. However, it seems that Xianyun, as per usual, has spoken of what was not hers to share. Xiao has since requested leave to visit you. Such permission was unnecessary, but I granted my blessing nonetheless, and encouraged him to seek you out. You can expect to see Alatus soon.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Zhongli.

Venti lowered the letter, letting the parchment rest lightly between his fingers. A familiar warmth pulsed in his chest at Zhongli’s calculated words, endearingly archaic and formal, yet so kind and concerned in a non-pressing way. It was hilarious, even, how he had signed such an eloquent letter with a simple name, no titles or more important names attached.

Yet beneath that warmth, a pang of guilt surfaced.

He had meant to write sooner, truly. After all, Zhongli had been the first he confided in, the first to see the weight of his soul beyond the carefree mask. He had clung to his advice like a lifeline - well, to more than that, really - grasping at steadiness when the curse had left him shaken. However, weeks had passed, and he had failed to reach out. Barbatos wasn’t particularly gifted with time awareness, for a myriad of reasons he didn’t reject , but that distanced him from mortals and immortals alike.

How strange it was to look back now, to recall the unease that had then sipped into his bones and made in his mind a nest. The fear that had curled around his ribs, the weight of the unknown competing with the weight of useless ugly wings. It all felt distant, almost foreign.

So much had changed. Mondstadt had neither cast him aside, nor started to worship him. His wings were slowly but surely regaining mobility. The need for affection meant to shame him had resulted in stronger bonds. The curse, once an unbearable burden, had lost its hold over him, and it was all thanks to the support he got.

Before he could dwell further, a shift in the air pulled him from his reverie. A breeze stirring from behind, sharp yet familiar, carrying with it a presence he had not expected so soon.

Alatus had arrived.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The bushes behind rustled as the figure materialized, his fragrance mingling with Venti’s senses. With a slight gasp, they twirled around, facing their visitor.

Like a cat caught in a night escapade, Xiao stood frozen for a moment, tension coiled in his frame. Their eyes met, and, after a moment,
he sighed, forcing his posture to relax. He had arrived at the garden behind Venti's bench and, after a moment of internal debate, he finally decided to close the distance between them. The lightness of his steps contrasted with the dark wisps floating around him, just like his hands were far too gentle for a killer.

One of those hands reached out, timid and awkwardly at first, not sure what to do once it hovered above Venti’s own hand resting on the back of the bench. Glancing briefly to their face, Xiao looked away, yet he mustered the bravery for placing his hand on top of the angel's. Melting at the tender gesture, Venti smiled, covering it with their free palm.

“Hello, Xiao”, they whispered softly. “I confess I didn't expect you so soon, since I just read Morax's letter. It's a surprise to be visited in the city.” Their smile grew. “A

nice

surprise.”

Xiao simply hummed, offering no remark about the last part. Aloof, he took in the sights of the city of the wind but not of the moon yet, blanketed in the golden hues of dusk, right on the cusp of kissing goodnight to the last rays of sun. The city was deserted at this point, and the small god had chosen a particular serene spot, which seemed to please the yaksha.

His gaze wandered to the gurgling fountain, to the slow-turning mills, to the leaves dancing on the breeze. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Venti felt compelled to do the same, delivering themselves to the rhythm of nature and letting it calm their nervous hearts.

At last, Xiao deigned to speak. “I wanted to avoid crowds, and I figured you would be in the city. So I opted to visit at night”, he explained. This time, when his eyes flickered to Venti’s, he held them there. “It’s peaceful.”

“It is. Even I, who delight inthe high energy of the day so much, find myself torn between deciding if I prefer the nights more”, Venti confessed. “But frankly, much of myself has been in conflict and going through changes lately. That's why you are here, isn't it?” They asked while pointing with their head to their appendices in their back.

Xiao tsked fondly, looking typically adorable in a way he would never admit to. “I don't need extra reasons to visit.”

Without words, Venti turned again to sit properly on the bench, using their still-entwined hands to guide Xiao to join at their side.

“Well, General Xiao, I appreciate the visit”, they teased, a lilt to their voice. “But I'm afraid you didn't give me enough time to even get drinks for us.”

“That's unnecessary. I just… wanted to check on you. Especially since you haven’t visited Liyue in some time.”

Bumping against his side, there was more sincerity to the playful question than Venti cared to admit. “Did you miss me?”

Xiao hesitated. “Yes.”

Venti blinked. The answer caught them by surprise, but not because Xiao was honest - he didn't know how to lie. The surprise resided in the revelation that he visited not because of what he learned, but primarily because he missed their company.

A chuckle bubbled up, and they squeezed his hand. “For some reason, that makes me quite happy to hear.” They could see the slightest smile on the yaksha’s lips. “But if you want to learn more about my wings, and what happened, I don’t mind sharing. I’m sure Xianyun already shared everything she could, but she doesn’t know everything, nor how my recovery is faring.”

“Did Rex Lapis tell you about that?”

“Eh-he, of course! We are good friends, after all.”

Some centuries ago, Venti might have expected Xiao to scoff at the idea, or at least make a scandalized face, even if he didn’t protest aloud. He had been too reverent of Morax back then, and Venti and Zhongli’s friendship was tentative at best, going back and forth between friendly teasing and genuine loyalty to the occasional conflict. Now, however, the Yaksha had nothing to protest against.

The winds whispered to Barbatos, telling him what he already knew: he was stalling, tiptoeing around the conversation that mattered most with jokes and easy topics - like a coward.

Taking a steadying breath, Venti turned to his dear friend.

“Xiao?” The somberness caught his attention, and Xiao straightened. “Do you want to see my wings?”

The Yaksha nodded, so Venti acquiesced. Slowly, he opted to sit sideways on the bench, turning his open back from where the wings sprouted to the yaksha. He had made sure to always cover them with his body until now, so it was the first time that Xiao was actually seeing them.

A sharp inhale - subtle, barely perceptible. Venti wouldn’t have caught it if not for how attuned he was to sound and the whispers of the wind. The reaction made his heart recoil.

Barbatos felt a very light touch poking against some feathers, but the hand retreated almost instantly, making him laugh. “You can touch them”, he reassured gently. “They look miserable, don’t they? But already much better than when I was first cursed to have them out.”

“Cloud Retainer had mentioned the curse, but I still hoped it was an exaggeration”, Xiao commented, ignoring the question about the wings. Venti could feel his fingers graze across the uneven feathers, both old and growing. “I, hum, am aware this isn’t much for Celestia, but still feels unfair to burden you with useless wings while they are more weight than function. Although I suppose it will be better for you long-term.”

Venti’s heart skipped a beat. “Don’t they bother you?”, he blurted, unable to contain the question any longer.

Xiao’s hand slowed.

The angel swallowed, before continuing. “Since, well… you lost your own wings and all. Even though it was a long time ago, I didn’t want to bring any unwanted memories or traumatic events, so… I avoided you.”

In the silence, he realized that Xiao’s hand had stilled completely, and he didn’t reply immediately. Uncomfortable, and not knowing what he was thinking, Venti shifted in his position.

His friend finally resumed the movements, sliding his hand closer to the base, where frail new plumes were just beginning to peek through the skin. When they brushed against the sensitive area, an involuntary shiver ran down Venti’s spine. It tickled, and heat crept to his face - he had the night to thank for privacy, at least.

The question that followed wasn’t judgemental - not exactly - but it still carried a trace of disappointment.

“Were you trying to spare me?”

Venti pursed his lips, not replying.

The Yaksha continued in his stead. “You didn’t have to. Besides, like you said, it was too long ago. I have made peace with what happened, and my abilities still allow me to taste the skies for brief moments. You, on the other hand, have wings that can be healed, even if it takes many years for you to fly again. It was… unwise to keep them concealed for so long. That was what caused this damage, wasn’t it?”

He wasn’t sure why, but hearing that from Xiao hurt in a very specific way. Those words, though spoken with care and not reproach, pierced something deep inside of him. His chest tightened, and before he knew it, tears prickled at his eyes. He ignored them with a dramatic sigh.

“Aaaah, have some mercy, will you?”, he attempted to joke, but the plea once again came out more genuine than he intended.

Xiao tensed. “I- I apologize. I didn’t mean to judge”, he said with a semblance of guilt, making Venti roll his eyes while looking back.

“It’s okay, Xiao, really.” He exhaled a quiet chuckle. “I suppose you just touched on some things I can’t deny. Seems like the one I was trying to spare was myself, uhm?”

The small god slid back, drawing closer to Xiao. In the movement, Xiao’s hands - steadying him instinctively - brushed against his bare skin. His gloves were thick, blocking out the warmth of his touch, and for some reason, all that Venti’s mind was able to supply was that he wished he didn’t wear them.

Actually… was there any harm in just saying that?

“Tell you what”, he started, glancing back with a sheepish expression that made Xiao frown. “If you feel bad and want to make it up for me, I accept compensation~ You could just remove your gloves while feeling my wings, since it would help me with the rest of the curse. Do you know about that?”

Xiao scoffed. “First of all, I am not ‘feeling’ your wings. I am grooming and making sure they are cared for”, he said as he plucked out a brittle old feather, making Venti whine pitifully. “Second, Xianyun told me the little she knew about it, but… is it really true that you need physical contact with people?”

“Some weeks ago, I went two days without contact, and I was doing fine. Then a deep itching started suddenly, and in a matter of hours, it had already grown into pain and I was getting desperate”, he shared with a sigh, slouching. “Needless to say, it’s not an experience I want to repeat. But I don’t want to pressure you to touch me in any way, for the record - I was just teasing. It’s appreciated, but I have enough friends who can take care of me.”

He knew Xiao well enough to be certain that no amount of pressure could make him do something he didn’t want to - just like he never showed up to events unless he chose to. It was something Venti had always admired about him, thus, he wasn’t worried about swaying his desires. Still, it felt right to say it out loud, to remind him that his choices mattered.

The yaksha pondered for a moment. “I… would like to care for you as well”, he said calmly, as if lost in thought. “But I would prefer if we went somewhere more private. There are still houses around, after all.”

Venti couldn’t resist teasing him more, leaning against him and tilting his head mischievously. “Oh? Even more private than this? What are you planning to do with me, General Xiao?”

Xiao choked on what he was about to say, the tips of his ears red.

Feeling immensely rewarded, the small god debated continuing the attack, but in the end, he took pity and opted to let it go, just responding in earnest. “I know just the perfect place, actually. It will even help relieve some of your karmic debt, if that’s something you would like.”

Xiao’s eyes widened slightly. “I wasn’t aware that there was a place like that here in Mondstadt.”

Venti hummed. “It’s one of my favorite places, where I always go to recharge. Here, let me show you.”

His gaze softened, and he turned to Xiao fully, extending a hand. His dear yaksha took it, this time without much hesitation, and Venti pulled him along toward the nearby Waypoint.

Nudging Xiao closer, the god of wind paused briefly before wrapping one arm around Xiao’s waist, securing him to make sure he wouldn’t get lost in the ethereal matter. Xiao tensed briefly, before relaxing and holding onto him.

Willing his mind to change focus from their proximity to the ancient magic, Barbatos reached out to the Ley Lines. A familiar humming echoed through their core, and in the next breath, their forms fused into one - vanishing into thin air.

The pair materialized in the plains of Windrise, in front of Venessa’s tree.

Xiao inhaled, taking in the crisp night air and the purity radiating from the natural being ahead. Venti felt him tremble against them, as they were wrapped in a powerful aura, connected to the world, to the memories, to the elements. The Anemo Archon was well aware of how the overwhelming presence always ridded them of both worries and any hint of corruption - and every sign pointed to the Yaksha being impacted in the exact same way.

In the stillness, Barbatos realized his friend was entranced by the tree, himself a statuette of beauty mesmerizing to the god in turn. From up close, they could almost count his eyelashes.

Shaking their head, they focused on the present, noticing Xiao stir as they left his embrace.

By impulse, Venti grinned and kicked off his shoes. Thankful that the outfit that he picked for the day didn’t include pantyhose, he trekked lightly toward the meandering stream nearby. Stepping into the water, he couldn’t contain a laugh when the coolness made him shiver. The currents curled around his ankles like a welcoming embrace, the freshness invigorating.

He took a few playful steps before glancing back. Xiao was staring.

Venti chuckled. And because he couldn’t help himself, he bent suddenly, and flicked a small splash of water in the yaksha’s direction.

Xiao scoffed, barely dodging, but the corner of his lips were curled up. It made sense that he had visited when he was faring well, in a good stage of his cycles of karmic debt, but seeing him smile and entertain the idea of fun would never fail to move Venti. How he wished the Adeptus never struggled with pain and with his karma…

The moon had taken over the sky now, casting everything in a silver glow. Under the rim light, Xiao looked particularly striking, with his toned yet lean body denoting both sharp and soft angles, an androgynous display of traits that Venti could only partially aspire to.

Following Venti’s cues, he removed his boots first, feeling the earth under his feet. Then, he pulled out his gloves, the gesture elegant in a way only an experienced warrior could pull. He stood still, contemplative. His presence was always one of quiet intensity, but here, in the gentle hush of Windrise, something about him felt… lighter.

He crouched, dipping one hand in the water, letting it run freely in-between his fingers.

Venti gave in to his excitement and simply approached Xiao, bending as well to imitate what he was doing. When he spotted Xiao glance at him - one time, two - he didn’t think much of it.

The yaksha’s hand moved before he could react, striking him with a wave

“Hey!”, he yelped, drenched. No way he just- “Even my hair is dropping with water!”, he protested between giggles.

There was no way he could get mad seeing how Xiao’s lips quivered in amusement.

I want to kiss that smile

, he found himself thinking, the intensity of the feeling so strong that it scared him. He halted for a moment, taken aback. Surely, that was just the effect of what the curse made to him, and having him indulge in affections so frequently.

“Venti?”, the calling took him back to the present. “Are you alright? You stopped laughing suddenly.”

Semi-closing his eyes, the bard stared unimpressed, grateful for his quick thinking. “Well, it just occurred to me I am going to spend the rest of the night soaked, and that’s not very funny.”

Xiao cleared his throat, not fully admitting to a guilty conscience. “It was only fair that I got a chance for revenge. Although I concede I overdid it.”

“Well, it’s alright. The wetness will pass to you when we cuddle anyway”, he pointed out while squeezing his clothes, both to annoy the yaksha and to see if he protested the idea of cuddling. He did not, although a vein popped momentarily in his head. Resigning to the fact that he wasn’t getting any dryer, Venti extended one hand. “Come on.”

Hand in hand, they headed towards the base of the tree, finding a nice spot to rest on. The surrounding roots almost felt like a protective nest, while the soft grass beneath made for a comfortable bed. With the moon visible to one side, the sky painted by the stars, and the canopy of the tree as their rooftop, they settled into the embrace of something timeless. The land itself seemed to breathe with each whisper of the wind…

They sat close, their sides pressed against each other. Venti shifted to the side of the moon, partially laying down, simultaneously hearing and feeling Xiao shift as well to accommodate him. He was practically spooning Venti now, his warmth a stark contrast against the cool night, and their bodies fit together in a way that was strangely natural.

There was hardly enough space for proper wing care like this, and Venti was curious to see what Xiao would do. The yaksha hesitated only briefly before his fingers, now bare, traced lightly along the uneven plumes he could reach, skimming, and moving towards the god’s exposed back. The ghostly touch hovered above the naked skin, before bridging the distance. The touch was careful, reverent. It was so delicate that Venti barely suppressed a tremor. He exhaled, relaxing under the wholly welcome sensation, humming contently to let Xiao know he appreciated it.

A few heartbeats passed before Xiao spoke. “Do you… hum, enjoy this?”

Venti let out a pleased sigh. “It’s gentler than I’m used to, but… I like it quite a lot”, he admitted, voice laced with emotions. He huffed a soft laugh. “Though I suspect this position isn’t very conducive to actually taking care of my wings, is it?”

Xiao made a small noise, something between a scoff and a breath. “I was taking care of your other needs first.” There was a pause. When he continued, his voice was steady but quiet, a murmur entrusted to the night. “You are constantly doing that for me, even when you know I might not be able to correspond, and will just wish to retire.”

Well familiar with the assertive way he spoke, Venti was nonetheless hit by his endearing stubbornness. The words struck a cord, and he reminisced of the countless times he visited Wangshuu Inn, patiently waiting with a drink in hand for Xiao to return - to either join him, or crash out in pain. In the former, they would share conversations that extended throughout the night, while in the later, Venti would remain outside of his room, playing quiet songs on the flute, hoping to help him relax and alleviate some of his burden.

Ever since Barbatos awakened in the present, and saved the Yaksha’s soul by piercing it with a very particular melody, he had committed to help. So they got reacquainted over time, and their meeting led to… this. Whatever they had right now. A closeness without few secrets between them, and an admission of vulnerability.

Perhaps it had been unfair of Venti to avoid Xiao. He had always encouraged his friend to be open with him, yet failed to return the trust, hiding away once Celestia cursed him.

He was glad that they finally met again. Accepting the sentiment, Venti whispered, “I missed you.” He wasn’t sure if he was heard, and perhaps that was for the better.

Venti let his eyes slip shut, giving in to the warmth behind him, to the careful touch that traced over his back without any expectation. Xiao’s presence was grounding, and the motions comforting. He had gotten used to receiving affection in recent weeks, he realized - wait, had it already been almost a month?

He exhaled softly, letting himself sink into it, the sleepiness stripping him of inhibitions.

Perhaps Xiao was in a similar state, because he pressed his brow against Venti’s nape - so close, that he even felt Xiao’s breath on his skin. Smiling, the angel took one of his hands back, finding Xiao’s arm, and pulling it to rest over his body, stopping the tireless caressing. That put them even closer, basically without any space in between them, and it was simply

wonderful

.

Ever since he shared a bed with Albedo, Venti had occasionally entertained the idea of doing it again with other people, although he feared coming across as pushy and overly needy. But not even in his wildest dreams did he expect to sleep with Xiao.

The slow rhythm of Xiao’s heart mingled with the cadence of nature, like a lullaby. Venti couldn’t help but notice his breathing, and the faint fragrance of Qingxin flowers. In the back of his mind, he was vaguely aware that he missed his plans in the tavern, but he didn’t find the strength to mind.

“Are you comfortable like this?”, he asked, his words dragging and heavy with sleep. Xiao hummed, and Venti felt the deep rumble from his chest. “I’m glad. I always thought you put some distance with other people because of your karma.”

“You’re a god, so I would never harm you like I would to most mortals, but… I still wouldn’t risk this proximity in most places”, he explained with a tone of regret. “The Inn is better, since the tree is also ancient and has cleansing abilities. Even so, it can hardly be compared to this one.”

“Guess I need to bring you here more often, Adeptus Xiao”, Venti tried to joke, but was cut off by a jaw-cracking yawn. Curling further against the hug, the angel stared at the white mirage in the sky through half-lidded eyes. “The moon is beautiful tonight.”

Xiao didn’t respond, but Venti could swear he wrapped him just a little tighter.

The wind stirred lazily around them, carrying the scent of distant flowers, and neither of them felt the need to fill the silence. Dozing off, the god simply surrendered.

When Barbatos' conscience stirred, it was to a low pulsing sound, and a steady movement, rising and falling beneath his head. Lulled by it, their conscience faded and returned multiple times, until they finally recognized what they were hearing as a beating heart.

They noticed other sensations next, before any other senses awakened. One arm was draped around their body still, even if they had been moved to lay down, while another hand carefully pruned their wings. The front of their body was pressed against Xiao’s own, head in the crook of his neck, and arms around his chest, both as a hug and support. Did Xiao do that? Or was it Venti who moved in their sleep, and he simply didn’t oppose?

Regardless, Venti couldn’t quite resist it. Not when Xiao himself, while awake, was so relaxed. Between the faint exhale that rustled their hair, the touches brushing against their wings and skin on occasion, and the gentleness… it would take someone stronger than them to move. They were drier, indicating that some time had passed. Their wings, after being groomed by someone who was winged once upon a time, felt much cleaner too, which filled them with relief. Their body simply wanted to stay put, while their soul soared.

Overwhelmed by love, they tightened the hug.

They felt Xiao shift. Smiling intuitively, Venti propped themself up on their elbows just to get a glimpse of their expression, blinking through the blurriness. They could swear Xiao’s cheeks were dusted in a shade of pink, and their tousled hair was adorable.

Unable to resist it, Venti leaned forward, pecking his chin - just a featherlight kiss. Xiao, after freezing for a moment, exhaled slowly, welcoming Venti in his arms again when they lowered.

Barbatos didn’t know if their yaksha would be around in the morning.

But for now… for now, they could dream, and they could be loved.