Diluc was once again wondering if their god was actually just a kid,
Some of the things he did in his story were way too childish…
...
Like his opinions on Barka Lawrence…
*Diluc understood that the Archon must have been annoyed with him,
But those insults sounded so petty and stupid...
…
"Fat thick sausage stuffing"...?
"Mighty gaze of ignore"...?
"Porkling"...?
…
...
REALLY…?!
…
And it didn't help that the children around them were playing "make believe" right now,
As they were happily mimicking his childish behavior in their game…
…
And Kaeya was laughing at him,
That insufferable…!
…
At the same time Venti was hoping that no one would ask him about "that"...
"I am back~" , Vennessa's voice was suddenly heard, before there was a pause, "...What do you mean by "that"...?"
-There's one thing that I wonder. -Kaeya suddenly said in a very serious voice, as he finally stopped laughing. -Why didn't you want to tell Vennessa about Celestia when asked about it...?
"Hope is dead", that's all Venti could think of when he heard that question…
…
How could he reveal it to them…?
There was a reason why no immortal ever talked about it…
"Venti, I know it's not your fault, but those...Guys' at Celestia." , Vennessa tried to reassure him, "And I am sure everyone else will understand it when you tell them."
"That's right, Barbatos." , the winds agreed with her, also trying to sound reassuring, "...There is no reason for you to feel guilty for something you never had any power over!"
...
That was true…
…
...
Still...
…
-Venti…? Can you tell us about Celestia…? -Jean asked him in growing worry and Venti noticed that she wasn't the only one who looked concerned for him. -...From what you mumbled before, it's the "those guys from Celestia"s fault...So why do you look so ashamed…?
Venti could only sigh deeply...
…
Everyone really wanted to know, huh…?
…
...
Maybe it was time to start being truthful with his people…
…
But, it wasn't something everyone should be hearing...
-...It must be quite late right now. -He finally said, with a fake smile plastered on his face. -About time for children to retire to the land of nod, don't you think so?
But before anyone could even register what he meant by his words...
-AAAAGGH! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE! (ʘᗩʘ') -A panicky voice was suddenly heard and Venti wondered what he did now.
Did he say something strange or insensitive, again?
…
It turned out to have been Diona,
Who looked like she had an existential crisis…
…
And who kept panicky mumbling to herself...
-I thought I hated him because he entertains drunkards, but then I realized how nice he smells and wanted to take him home(人)But, then he drank four bottles of wine!≧ _ ≦ But, it doesn't look like he got stupid after drinking all of themƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃBut he's a drunkard himself!(ಥ﹏ಥ)But he smells nice, looks cute and my friends seem to like him(─‿‿─)But, he drinks alcohol which is my enemy(ಥ﹏ಥ)But, if he drinks all the wine, the wine industry will go down faster ‿ But, then he will get stupid(ಥ﹏ಥ)But he also looks fun to be around(◕ヮ◕ヽ)WhatshouldIdoWhatshouldIdoWhatshouldIdo!(ʘᗩʘ')(ʘᗩʘ')(ʘᗩʘ')
After Diona's panic attack and the sudden face emoji invasion, the edults put all the kids to sleep and were waiting for Venti to tell them the truth. Which he found really hard to do, as he was just quietly sitting by the tree and looking at the ground with an anguished expression on his face.
…
-Cutie, it's okay to tell us about Celestia. No one will blame you if it's something bad. -Lisa tried to reassure him, unknowingly sounding flirtuous as well. -You weren't the one who made things that way, right...? So, there is no reason for you to feel guilty about it.
...
"...Why did she call you "cutie"...?" , Vennessa asks in apparent confusion.
"That's just how she is." , the winds decided to tell her, "She likes to call others either a "cutie", "sweetie", "honey" and/or "darling"."
...
-...Okay, I will tell you the truth...- Venti finally says, exhaling deeply. -But, promise me that you won't tell anyone about what you are about to hear!
The people around him are shocked at his sudden request…
…
Venti couldn't really blame them,
This secrecy was very unusual…
…
-I promise as the acting grandmaster and a part of the Gunnhildr family...-Jean suddenly tells him in determination, a hand on her chest. -That I, as well as everyone else here, will not tell a soul of what you are about to share with us, in any form or shape.
Venti was sure that she was going to keep that promise and a look around revealed that the others were too.
*He also saw them put down the notebooks they were writing in before…
...
It seems like they decided to record what he told them about the original Venti and Vennessa…
…
And the traveler was giving him a sympathetic look…
…
...
He should probably start with "that", again...
-...In other, distant words...-Venti finally said while closing his eyes, deciding to tell what he told the traveler. -...Pangu gave his blood to form the rivers and seas...The gods sacrificed purusha and cut his body to pieces and then fashioned all living beings with those parts. The brain of the giant Ymir became clouds. -No matter how many times he talked about this, it felt so very wrong. -...Their sacrifices seeded life in the unliving cosmos. These songs sing of the primeval ones.
…
There was an expected silence after that, as people were processing what he just told them…
…
It was understandable,
A universe built on others' sacrifices,
Who would be able to easily accept something like that?
*He knew of it for a long time and even he still had a hard time accepting it...
…
And it wasn't just the universe itself,
But their world and Teyvat as well…
…
-...Lo...Venti, do people with Visions become gods when they go to Celestia…? -Someone asks him in a slightly shaky and hopeful voice. Venti feels that he doesn't want to check who it was, as everyone were probably wondering the same thing right now.
-...No, they don't really become gods. They actually reincarnate. -Venti answers while opening his eyes, looking sad. -Thought, they don't have much of a choice over who they would reincarnate as.
-Then, as an Archon...? Can you…?
-I wish we could...-Venti says with a deep sigh before looking hopeful. -The good thing is, that with having a Vision, no matter what form they take they retain their memories and/or personality. -And appearance, as was in master Diluc's case. -...And they also reincarnate either as animals or elementals. -He explains in relief. -Which is a good thing, since if they became a plant while still retaining their memories...
It would be a truly horrifying existence...
-So humans with Visions reincarnate. -Lisa asked in interest. -Do elementals reincarnate as well?
-...Yes...We probably reincarnate as well. -He answered, not sure of it himself.
-...As Vision holders...? -She suddenly asked, making him pause.
...
He thought about it before…
...
What if elementals were people once...?
*Could he also have been one of them...?
"...Wait, what...?!", Vennessa said in growing confusion, "...Venti…?"
-...We might be…-He finally says, looking thoughtful. -...The same way that a human can reincarnate as an elemental, the other way around should also be possible…
…
Was he once a human himself,
But got his memory erased after reincarnating?
…
Was that why he was so drawn to humans?
...
"Venti, wait!", Vennessa suddenly said, "...You think you were human once…?"
-...So, it's a cycle of reincarnation…-Lisa suddenly said, also looking thoughtful. -...And the Vision is the key…-Her face suddenly darkened. -...But, if the key is gone...
…
Venti didn't want to think about it..
*It was one of the main reasons no one wanted to talk about Celestia...
-...So, who was Vennessa reincarnated as? asked him in interest and Venti had a feeling it's also her way to change the painful subject.
-She became the Falcon of the West. -He answers, glancing gratefully at the part of the tree she was perched on. -Who watches over Mondstadt, even after all those years...
" Of course I would.", Venessa says, sounding teasing and a little annoyed, "Someone has to check how everyone is doing, when a certain Anemo Archon is either lazing around or sleeping for years!"
-...Venessa reincarnated as one of the four winds? -Dr. Edith said in happiness, before Venti could react to what his old friend just said. -I should have expected no less from such a...!
-And her body became this tree. -Venti interrupted, surprising everyone around with his words.
-...This Windrise tree...-Someone said in shock. -Which is the only thing that can heal you...?
-One of the only things that can heal me, but yes...- Venti says in gratefulness as he looks at the tree. -Even thought we had our disagreements over the years, after all this time, we are still best friends.
-...You two had disagreements...? -Dr. Edith asks, sounding really confused and slightly disbelieving. -...The Anemo Archon and the hero of Mondstadt…?
-Yes. Vennessa, she...-Venti answered in a weary voice. -...She was a complete workaholic. -He continues without missing a beat and ignoring the offended yell from Venessa. -Just like our acting grandmaster is now. -At this Jean looked at him in surprise. -Yes, you are practically the same in this regard, Jean.
"...Someone had to care for the city, or it would have ran to the ground!" , Venessa said in annoyance, "That's not being a "workaholic", that's being responsible! Something you refuse to even...!"
-Just like Venessa. Conscientious, courageous...Kind and considerate. -Venti continued in gratefulness and slight amusement, especially when he noticed that Vennesa paused in shock at his words. -A good friend of mine, the best I could ever ask for.
"...W-well, if you put it that way...", Vennessa quietly said, sounding a little embarrassed, "...I-I will forgive you for calling me a "workaholic" just this once..."
That was good to know…
...
-And your friend...? The original Venti…? What happened to him…? -Someone suddenly asks and Venti feels himself pause.
…
What actually happened to his first friend…?
-...Actually, I am not really sure of it myself...-He finally says, sounding very sad. -...I think I never really got over it, he was my first friend, after all...And he was also a normal human, so...-He added while looking down on the ground. -...I-I may have his soul with me still...O-or he was reincarnated after all and without knowing I...
He suddenly paused in shock,
The Cecillia in his hair...!
...
After they buried his friend's body,
A lone Cecilia grew up on the grave,
Which he then plucked and preserved as a part of his "hair"...
*Which was then in his (Anemo infused) "hair" for so long, that it became a part of himself...
...
Could it be that his friend reincarnated as this same Cecilia...?
...
...
Even if he had, it wasn't really his friend anymore,
But a hollow shell of what he once was…
"...Venti…" , Vennessa said in a sad voice.
-...He wanted to see the birds freely flying through the blue sky...-Venti sadly said, finding it hard not to get depressed. -...That was the main reason for rebelling against Decarabian, god of storms...To be able to freely experience the...-He reminisced, his voice breaking. -...We won and yet...He...-Why did he have to die…? -...Sometimes I wonder, if rather than becoming the god of wind, it would have been better if he survived, Boreas would have become the Anemo archon, while me and Venti would have traveled Teyvat together...-How he wished that happened instead. -...All I could do was take his form, so "he" would "see" the world through my "eyes" and for him to be remembered as the hero who led the rebellion against Decarabian, god of storms…
…
In the end his friend was "remembered",
But not for the reason he wished him to…
…
*Hopefully, not that Venti told his story, he would be remembered for his deeds, like he should have been remembered from the very start.
...
-..."Fly, fly away. Like a bird in the sky. See the world on my behalf...To the heavens may you fly..." -Venti sadly sang, while moving his head to look up at the sky. -..."Should you be trapped in a windless land"...- He suddenly sadly sighed, before looking at those around him. -...Sorry, I...It seems that I still take it hard...Give me a few moments to compose myself...
He says while closing his eyes, deciding to stay like that for some time…
-...People who don't have a Vision, what happens to them...? -Someone suddenly asks, making Venti freeze up for a few seconds.
*This was the part he didn't want to talk about the most...
...
Then, to the confusion of everyone, he materializes his wood lyre and starts playing a very beautiful but very sad melody.
-...I remember them. I will always remember them...-He says in an unreadable voice. -...Even if anyone forgets. Even if they themselves forget. -He continues, looking determined. -I will remember them. Always.
...
People were looking at him in confusion,
Were they waiting for an explanation…?
…
He already decided to be truthful with them...
-...What actually happens to those without a Vision...I am actually not sure of it myself. -He finally said, looking and sounding somber. -...Do they reincarnate, but without their memories and personality...? Do they become a part of the world, just like the primeval ones...? Or do they just disappear, like they never existed to begin with...?- He sadly continued, looking up at the sky. -...I would rather have the former. Maybe, with great reluctance, the middle if the former cannot be. B-but, not the latter…N-never the latter...-He realized in complete horror. If he could cry, he would have by now...So many people...A-and just like that...-CELESTIA, NO!
"Venti/Barbatos! Are you okay…?" , Vennessa and the winds simulately asked him in growing concern. If Venti was to look around, he would have noticed that they weren't the only ones concerned.
...
-...When I am feeling better, I should give more people Anemo Visions…-He mumbled instead of answering them, unknowingly making everyone even more worried. -...But those who receive the Vision should have the "right" personality to be able to wield the element without any risks...
-...Then, how am I able to wield the Anemo Vision without any complications…? Our personalities are almost the opposite...-Jean suddenly asks in confusion and Venti turns to her to see that she also looks worried. -...Venti…?
-It's because of a loophole. If someone already has a deep connection to us, like being a part of a family that passed our will generation through generation, they will also be safe to receive our element. -He tells her, as he finally notices that everyone looks at him in worry, which he tries hard to ignore. -There's a restriction to that loophole, though, as two people from the same generation can't be given the same Vision.
…
If only there was another loophole,
Even a different one...
…
Oh, right...
-...I tried reviving dead people before…-He suddenly said, to everyone's growing concern and confusion. -...I succeeded when their souls were still in their bodies. But if the soul and/or body was already gone, there was nothing I could do…
…
Meaning that he could revive people only when they just died,
Or if he made their souls stay in their bodies…
*Only if he knew of their fate and reached them in time…
…
…
People without Visions…
...
Actually, for a while now he had an idea of what might have happened to them…
...
Since people without visions reincarnated without their memories,
And the citizens of Mondstadt were known as people blessed with "freedom, courage, vitality and fierce willpower"...
...
Rather than disappearing, what if they became a part of the world…
"...Wait, Venti…" , Vennessa suddenly said in shock, "...You don't mean that…?!"
...
He wasn't entirely sure, but…
...
They might actually be the winds who always talk to him…
"...Us…?" , the winds asked him in growing surprise.
...
He always tried to deny it...
...
Even when he was absent for so long, his faith remained as people continued believing and praying to him…
*And he always thought it was only because of the blessings he gave them...
...
But, now he knows that he was wrong…
...
...
If the winds were actually his people once...
...
It seems that he really didn't realize how deep their concern, faith and love for him always was and still is, did he…?
…
*He was truly blind...
...
"...We don't know how we came to be...", the winds quietly tell him, sounding confused, "But, we don't mind it, if we were originally your people."
There was so much sincerity in that one sentence,
That it made Venti gasp in shock...
"...When asked what you will do if Dvalin of the four winds was killed, the reply you gave...", the winds sadly explained, "...You were going to do that, didn't you, Barbatos...?", it was a rhetorical question, "It's not something anyone would do and shows just how much you love your people.", they continued in a grateful voice, "So, if we were your people once, it is our duty to help you now. A duty that we will gladly follow."
...
That was a declaration of unwavering faith if he ever heard one,
Which made Venti feel very embarrassed...
...
...
But if the winds were his people once,
And they are a type of lesser elementals...
...
...
What happened before the Archon wars?
Was there a beginning for their world before those times?
...
And what about the constellations which suddenly appeared in the sky millenniums ago...?
...
Were they remains of long dead people from other worlds in the vast universe, those who were unable to reincarnate due to some instability...?
*Were the stars actually dead people and the sky their grave...?
...
Or were they connected to people who were reincarnating over and over, as those in Teyvat had a constellation of their own, yet the quantity of the constellations themselves never changed...?
...
Could it have been both...?
"...Venti…? What are you even thinking about…?" , Vennessa asked in concern.
...
If that was true, then what could have possibly happened to change the rules of the universe itself...?
Was there some kind of intergalactic war that shifted the fabric of space and time...?
"...We also have no idea…" , the winds said in equal concern.
...
...
But, he remembered what the traveler told him after the meteors situation, as they heard it from the sixth Fatui Harbringer:
"The sky and the stars are a lie"
...
Normally, since the one who said it was a Fatui they wouldn't be believed,
But it still felt like those words were true and that there was something terribly wrong...
...
The traveler also told him the case for the meteors falling was Leonard, an adventurer who lived two thousand years ago, with a lifelong dream to reach the hill once known as "Pilos Peak". The meteorites that fell from the sky were from his constellation, held elemental energy within them and one core meteorite among the bunch harbored Leonard's spirit (Or a part of it that remained) and showed his last memories. He also left designs for the "Wings of Incompletion", as a means to help humans reach all corners of the world. To be able to freely explore them…
...
Venti suddenly felt himself wonder who Leonard could have reincarnated as…
*Was it someone he knew...?
...
Could it have been that now that his "constellation" dropped down,
He could reincarnate no more?
...
"...V-Venti…?!" , Vennessa asked, sounding really concerned and almost panicky now, "...Barbatos…?!"
…
But, Visions were the key to reincarnation…
...
Did it mean that a person's Vision was somehow connected to the "constellation",
And only thanks to this connection was reincarnation possible to begin with…?
…
*But they, as Archons, were the ones to give people their Visions,
To unknowingly give the Visions to the right people,
Were they actually following someone's script…?
…
Was it the same as an Archon's connection to Celesia with a Gnosis...?
Were they all actually some kind of a mirage and those "meteors" their true forms?
…
...
Those guys at Celestia…
...
Just what…?!
…
JUST WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?!
…
…
...
No…
...
Those were just speculations at this point...
...
Those may be false and he was just overthinking things…
…
…
But…
…
What if…