It was late morning, two days after his "awakening",
And was it just him or everyone he met was looking a little troubled...?
...
And did they also look more troubled when they noticed him...?
Did something happen again...?
"...The Windblume festival is in a day and a few hours.", the winds explained, sounding thoughtful, "It seems that everyone is discussing how they should hold it this year. Which traditions to follow and which ones should be changed."
...
Huh...?
Why would they be troubled about that...?
...
Oh...!
...
It was because he was here now and they knew he was Barbatos,
Some of the festival's traditions would be really weird to do, in that case...
*Like saying thanks to him while offering the Windblume to his statue.
...
That is, unless...
...
It was some time since he was last in Celestia,
Maybe he should visit it again...?
*Even though he didn't really like the place,
But, it seems that he was inconveniencing his people...
...
-...I can just return to Celestia for the duration of the festival…? -He finally said, trying to sound reassuring, as he appeared before the nearby arguing people. -Just for the duration of the festival, not a thousand years! I won't just randomly fall asleep this time! -He sheepishly amended, upon noticing their suddenly worried expressions and misinterpreting their reason. -That way, you won't need to...!
-DON'T! -He was interrupted by a bunch of simultaneously yelled out voices, confusing him by their urgency. -WE WILL THINK OF SOMETHING, SO THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO LEAVE!
...
Okay,
He won't do that...
...
...
Their reaction was a little over the top,
Did they really think he would fall asleep for years...?
*Especially now, when he wanted to be with them for as long as he can...?
When he wanted to stay with them for as long as they are still alive…?
It was two in the afternoon,
When Eula was marching towards Mondstadt!
...
She was very mad and annoyed right now!
*She was actually amused, but if she showed that emotion then people won't take her seriously.
...
On one of her longer expeditions, which took her almost two months,
She found out about a very "insulting" book depicting her clan in a "revolting light"!
*It actually made her day, but no one should know about that!
...
It was called "Hero Vanessa: Documentation",
And it depicted the Lawrence clan as complete morons!
*Which wasn't that surprising, now that she thought about it,
It was a miracle how they were still alive with their "Etiquette knowledge=Trustworthy" mentality...
...
She wanted to find out who made up it's story and make them pay!
*She actually wanted to ask how they came with this amusing information,
And it also said "As told by Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon". Could it really be that...?
...
What happened in Mondstadt for almost two months that she was away...?!
Was the strange weather a few days ago because of that...?
*It felt like something was wrong, though,
Was everything alright now...?
...
No, she should keep calm and composed,
There was no reason for her to overthink this...
*He won't kick her from the city because she is a "Lawrence", would he...?
Even though she actually hated her so called "clan" overrun with vengeful morons...
...
...
They were almost at the city gates now,
It was time for her to use her "Cold persona" and "make them pay',
To show everyone how much she wanted to exact her "Vengeance" on everyone.
*It was a lot easier to appear as a villain than to have to explain to everyone the truth,
Whatever it was in the past or now, this way was still the least headache and heartache inducing one.
...
...
Whatever happens, she was the Spindrift Knight,
As well as the Captain of the Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company.
...
She, the Lawrence villain, could easily show everyone who is "superior"!
-Welcome back, Captain Eula! -Lawrence said as soon as he saw her, he and Swan saluting. -A lot happened while you were away...-He awkwardly continued, looking unsure. -The Acting Grandmaster would probably be the best person to tell you of these matters.
He added in a thoughtful and slightly concerned voice,
And she had to stop herself from laughing at his reply.
...
If the rumors about the Anemo Archon being here were true,
Was he perhaps worried that as a "Lawrence" she would start a commotion…?
*Even now, people still treated her with some hostility and suspicion,
It seems that she still has a long way to go before she can redeem herself...
...
She also found it quite ironic, how the guy who is named "Lawrence" is welcomed in the city with open arms,
While she, as a Lawrence, couldn't even buy groceries from the locals before joining the knights!
*Seriously, they wouldn't even take her darn money for a loaf of bread! It was so infuriating that...!
...
Nevermind that, those days are long gone now,
Currently she has more important matters to take care of and ascertain.
*It was time for the "big bad Lawrence" act again. This time with a threatening undertone!
-Speaking of certain "matters", while I was away I found out about some interesting rumors. -She suddenly said, looking annoyed and slightly mad now, as she took out a certain book out of her Vision's "Hammerspace". -Like the second title here which says: "As told by Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon". Even though the Anemo Archon was absent from Mondstadt for such a long time, it would be very convenient for him to return now. -She then glared between the two guards before her, seemingly getting even madder. -...Is this perhaps a ploy to make the Lawrence clan look bad...? -And now for the threat itself. She had to meet this person, whoever they actually were. The story in the book was just too good! -The person responsible for this despicable story, bring them here right now! I shall exact my vengeance on them!
She declared in the most threatening voice she could muster,
Hoping to get as much attention as she can and draw the person responsible for the book's story out.
*And if it's really the Anemo Archon, she should also greet him,
But in a way that won't break her "evil noblewoman" persona.
...
Thankfully, her subordinates knew her well and had already realized her intention.
Minutes later a lot of people gathered due to the commotion at the gates.
Eula tried not to look pleased at the fact that her plan succeeded so well.
*And at the same time she felt hurt that only her subordinated and a few more people realized her real intention,
She truly still had a long way to go for people to judge her based on who she is and not just as a "Descendant of a depraved dynasty".
...
And even a longer time before she could change her family name...
-So, I heard you are searching for the person responsible for the story in the "Hero Vanessa: Documentation" book...? -A mischievous voice was suddenly heard, making everyone quiet down, before Venti appeared right before Eula in a gust of wind, shocking her and everyone else around them. -That person would be me~
Eula in fact, was the most shocked person around,
Even though she tried very hard not to show it.
*And with her usual fake act, it wasn't that hard.
...
The person who suddenly appeared before her,
A bard known as Venti, whose songs about her clan she found amusing…
*She should have expected that it was him who was responsible for this story.
...
Was it just her imagination or did he just teleport in...?
*And not short distance teleportation like Rosaria and Kaeya could do, either.
...
His appearance and unusually vast knowledge as well,
She should have expected this, didn't she...?
*He wasn't going to exile her from Mondstadt now, right...?
...
It would be best to toughen her act now,
To show everyone how much of a "Lawrence" she is.
*Hopefully, no one realizes that she was actually worried.
...
-So, you are the Anemo Archon. Not that surprising considering your physical appearance, the fact you arrived in Mondstadt out of nowhere and with no apparent background, as well as the high amount of knowledge you seem to possess. Only a fool won't realize who you are by now. -She said in an annoyed voice, looking towards him with a seemingly mad expression on her face. -...But the tale of the past and this book, my clan's wrongful depiction and banishment from Mondstadt, I will make you pay for it! Mark my words, I shall have my vengeance!
At her sudden declaration, most people around them started to look alarmed,
They were worried about what the Spindrift Knight just said and how the archon would react to it.
...
But his reaction was not what they expected,
As he was deadly quiet for a few minutes, before suddenly starting to laugh.
-...Eula, didn't you say that you are going to make me pay...? I am still waiting~ -Venti then said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, making everyone around them look towards him in surprise and concern. As an Archon and especially as a bard, her acting skills weren't working on him. At all. -...Unless you weren't actually serious with your threat and were just being sarcastic. Which you actually were, weren't you...? Just as you usually are, in fact. -He suddenly said, as if looking right through her, before sighing deeply. -...To think that you would need to develop this kind of coping mechanism in order for people to leave you be, instead of judging you for being a descendant of the Lawrence clan...-He sadly explained, thinking about how utterly unfair this was. -...Even though you have nothing to do with your ancestors' actions (You weren't even born back then!) and are just trying to do what you can for Mondstadt and its people.
Truthfully, he didn't have any reason to hate Eula,
She was nothing like the rest of her clan and worked hard for Mondstadt!
*And she would surely stop her own clan in case something happens,
She was such a "Tsundere" it was sometimes endearing to watch...
...
In fact, the only thing he didn't like about Eula was her name!
...
He understood that she was from the Lawrence clan,
Which was mostly filled with people who only thought about revenge...
*But, was it revenge against him specifically or against Mondstadt as a whole...?
Though, even if it wasn't for him specifically, if they were going against Mondstadt...
...
Either way, wasn't naming your own daughter "End User License Agreement" excessively cruel...?
Were they really so rotten they saw their own daughter as some contract papers...?!
Were they just going to use her as a tool for revenge?!
*Okay, maybe it was usually a short form of a different name,
But it was actually her full name and reminded him of THAT.
...
Seriously, what was wrong with some people...?!
It was as if they could only think abo...!
-Captain...? Captain Eula...?! -There was suddenly shocked and slightly panicked yelling, interrupting his thoughts. -Where are you going, Captain?!
He was shocked to see that those were actually Eula's subordinates...
...
And they were holding her back from running away...?!
-...I-I have to go to Starnatch Cliff...T-to get those Cecilias…A-all 37 of them...! -Eula mumbled in reply, too quiet for most people to hear, her face now red in embarrassment. -...A-as an apology for being disrespectful...A-and also as repayment...F-for showing me kindness…-She explained while glancing towards him before turning her gaze to the cliff in the distance. -...W-which is perfectly fair...!
...
She was about to run to Starnatch Cliff,
To get him all the Cecilias growing there...
...
And all of this only because he was nice to her...?
...
...
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER IN THE PAST?!
-Captain, wait! We just returned! -Eula's subordinates still tried to talk some sense into her, as they had a hard time holding her back. -Going back to the wild so soon, without a proper rest, would be...!
-I don't care! As a noblewoman, as well as the Captain of the Reconnaissance Company of the Knights of Favonius, I have to pay my dues no matter what! -She interrupted them, trying to break free from her restraints. -My honor should come first and everything else second! It would be disgraceful to...!
-Eula, it's fine, there is no need for that. I am not mad, I knew you weren't serious about your threat from the start! -Venti interrupted her, pouring as much reassurance into his "Archon voice" as he could. -...But if you still wish to apologize and to show your gratitude, then there's a much better way to do that! You can just groom my wings instead! -He enthusiastically continued, making said wings appear, completely unaware that she suddenly stopped struggling in his happiness. He was going to get his wings groomed again~ It would be so nice~ But, it also felt like he was forgetting something...? Oh, right! -You just came back to the city and still didn't hear about some recent changes. In truth, after some consideration I decided to give people a kind of a "reward", though I had to compromise a lot or no one would have accepted it...-He mumbled, suddenly starting to pout. Seriously, why were everyone so stubborn in declining his "favor"...? Even though it was him repaying them for everything they did for him! As if saving someone's life numerous times is completely normal! Like, really...-...Due to that, I still have to link some of my winds to you and your subordinates and infuse your Claymore with a "blessing"~ How about we start with it now...?
He then decided and without waiting for a reply shifted into his Archon form and started linking the winds to them, too busy to notice Eula's and her subordinates' reactions to his words. After he was done with that, he proceeded to create a "blessing" and infuse it with his cute Spindrift Knight's Claymore.
When he was done, he finally noticed that she became really quiet,
As she was also kind of completely frozen in place, as well...?
...
...
Did he actually break her...?
...
"You did, Barbatos.", the winds admitted, sounding a little concerned, "The poor girl was actually worried that you were going to banish her for being a part of the Lawrence clan.", they sadly explained, before there was a pause, "...And instead you were very accepting of her: Not only didn't you exile her like she expected, but you also linked some of us to her and even infused her with a "blessing". And all of that in return of grooming your wings.", the winds explained, sounding slightly concerned now and a little amused, "To say she is overwhelmed is taking it lightly. This was so unexpected to her, that she just shut down after having an internal conflict."
...
So, that's what happened,
She actually thought he was going to exile her,
She thought he hated everyone from the Lawrence clan.
*And while he understood why she thought like that,
Knowing about it still left a bad taste in his mouth...
...
And then he just broke her...?
...
...
What was with him and unintentionally breaking people...?