"Venti? Not again" Amber sighed, eyeing him at the base of the tree from afar. It was before dawn, why would he be out here? Unless he slept there. She walked over to the tree continuing to call his name. But Venti did not respond. In fact he wasn't moving at all.

"Venti?" Amber paused for a moment as a horrible worry filled her chest. "Venti!" She ran over to his collapsed body and her fears seemed to be true. She flipped him onto his back and moved her head to his chest.

"Okay, it's really, really, shallow, but he is breathing." She lifted her head and looked over his body. "He doesn't appear to have any injuries, but he looks way worse than when I saw him yesterday and he won't wake up. I'd better bring him to Master Jean." Amber hoisted him onto her back and carried him to the grand master.

Lumine woke up in the glow of sunrise over Liyue. She and Paimon had been out adventuring late into the night and the pair agreed they were too tired to head into town when they were done. So instead they camped out near the cliffside overlooking the sea and the harbor. The sun had just begun poking out from behind Guyun Stone Forest when the light woke the two up.

Paimon yawned and stretched her arms above her head before flying over to Lumine who was now watching the sky change colors by the cliff. "Ahhhhh, Good morning Lumine. What do you say we head into town and get some breakfast? I'm starving!"

"Same old Paimon. Sounds good to me, let's go!"

Lumine and Paimon got to taking down their mini camp and began down the path towards the main gate and bridge into the harbor.

"So early and already the harbor is already bustling," Paimon noted.

"Business starts early," Lumine responded.

"Huh, what's with those Millelith guards near the gateway?" Paimon pointed out the group of guards at the gate who seemed to be frantically talking about something.

The two made it down to the entrance when one of the guards turned to them and suddenly ran over.

"Excuse me! Are you Lumine?!" He exclaimed.

She took a cautious step back in surprise. "Y-yes. Do you need something?"

"I have a letter for you...It-It's from the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. It's apparently very,

very important." He spoke between breaths. He pulled an envelope from a pocket and handed it to the traveler who took and began opening it.

"It was sent this morning, extremely fast rush delivery. Directions were for a traveler in a white dress with blonde hair."

Lumine unfurled the letter while Paimon put her hands on the girl's shoulder from behind and began to read aloud:

"Dear Honorary Kight,

Early this morning, Outrider Amber found Venti collapsed in Windrise. She brought him to me and I took him to Barbara, but as of the time of sending this letter, her healing is having no effect. He's breathing but won't wake up?!" Paimon paused and gasped. "I request your assistance if you are willing, I believe you know him better than I, and would be able to offer better help. I know this is an odd request but I hope my distress comes across. Please come to the church if you have the time. You have my thanks.

Sincerely, Acting Grand Master Jean Gunnhildr."

"Oh noooo. Tone deaf bard…" Paimon floated away from her.

Lumine just stood in shock clutching the paper but began to shake.

"Lumine?"

"We have to go!" Lumine turned to her and shouted. "Thank you for delivering this to me!" She said to the millelith guard and darted off.

"Lumine wait!" Paimon yelled. "What will you be able to do?!" That stopped Lumine in her tracks. What could she do? Venti was a god and she was no healer. There wasn't anything she could do last time. The memory of Signora attacking Venti made her shudder. She never wanted to feel helpless like that again. That's why she had to do something this time. But how could she help him?! Wait...maybe she couldn't do anything, but she knew someone who could.

She spun on her heels and sprinted into town.

"Lumine, wait for me!" Paimon yelled and flew after her.

"I have to get to Wangsheng" was the only thought on her mind. She rounded the corner by the bridge and ran up the steps to the funeral parlor. She stopped herself right at the door, remembering that this was a funeral parlor and she couldn't go alarmingly banging on the door. She drew in and let out a breath to calm herself and knocked on the doors, not too loud but still with purpose.

"Welcome to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor- oh it's you Lumine!" Hu Tao greeted with her signature sweet yet creepy smile. "Are you finally here to schedule your date with us?"

"Hu Tao, I need to speak to Zhongli, please it's urgent."

"That old man? Alright I'll fetch him one moment please." She softly closed the door and went back to Zhongli's office.

"Zhong~Li, you have visitors."

"Visitors?" He looked up from the pile of forms he was organizing to meet Hu Tao's flower irises.

"Yeah, it's Lumine and Paimon. I think it's something important."

"Hmm? How do you know those two?" Zhongli asked.

"Oh we met at Wuwang Hill. She assisted me with a funeral."

"Wonderful." Zhongli responded unamused. "I'll go see them then." He made his way to the door and opened it to find Lumine and Paimon waiting on the bench outside. Worry was painted all over Lumine's face while Paimon was trying to calm her down. At the sound of the door opening, the traveler stood up and ran over.

"Zhongli!"

"Lumine, what's wrong?"

"It's Venti- Barbatos," She pulled out Jean's letter and handed it to him. "I don't know what to do. I came to you because I thought you would." She continued as he read.

When he finished reading the letter he finally spoke "Calm down, Lumine."

"I can't, I- I just watched last time. I couldn't do anything when… Please Zhongli, please help him."

Despite not knowing what 'last time' meant he figured the Fatui had not been so kind with his fellow archon as they were with him. Lumine must have been there.

Zhongli placed a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to see a warm smile on his face. "Since you've come all the way here, I suppose I will accompany you to Mondstadt and see if I can help him. Though I'm not exactly sure what that bard has done to himself now."

Lumine smiled in return. "Who knows? He's always getting up to trouble." Paimon smiled too, relieved to see Lumine brightening up.

"Oh? Are you off somewhere?" Hu Tao's sugary sweet voice asked from the door.

"My apologies, Director. It appears an urgent matter has arisen that needs my attention."

Hu Tao frowned and placed a hand on her hip with a "hmph, fine I suppose you can have the day off."

"Thank you," Zhongli turned back to Lumine, "let us be off then."

"How's he doing?" Jean asked as she entered the room in the Cathedral where Barbara was tending to Venti. The deaconess just shook her head.

"It doesn't look like he's getting any worse, but his breathing is still as shallow as it was when Amber brought him in. I've treated the few cuts and wounds he has, but my regenerative powers are having no effect...just like last time." She turned back to Venti sleeping on a bed. "Stupid Venti, please wake up."

When Signora stole Venti's gnosis, Barbara had found him and Lumine collapsed back behind the church. Barbara was able to completely heal Lumine through her melody loop, but it had no effect on Venti. While she had been busy helping Lumine, Venti woke up and stumbled to his feet. In shock, Barbara tried to question him about what happened and why her powers had no effect on him. He just laughed weakly and said that it was normal. She tried to stop him but he just left. "Where are you going?" She called after him.

"To the symbol of Mondstadt's Hero."

Jean approached the bed Venti was lying on and her vision glowed faintly in response to her proximity to the anemo archon. He looked peaceful just lying there but there was a tenseness to his expression. Jean looked over at Barbara whose gaze was fixed on Venti as well. She was friends with Venti, but she had no idea the person she was caring for was the very god she worshipped.

With Zhongli by their side, the group reached Mondstadt much faster than Lumine and Paimon would have on their own. For one, monsters along the path were not even an afterthought. Zhongli petrified all of them with his full strength and the group moved on. He also not only pointed them along the quickest path to Mondstadt, but their pace seemed to quicken with him in the party.

"Does Zhongli have super speed or something?" Paimon whispered to Lumine.

"Well, he is a dragon right?" Lumine whispered back.

The group reached the city by mid-afternoon. Lumine wanted to sprint up to the Cathedral, but she remembered how many stairs there were leading up to the top of the city. Zhongli would have loved to look around the city as it had been a hundred years at least since he'd been there, but in truth, he was just as worried about Venti as the traveler.

They headed straight for the cathedral. Lumine was a few steps ahead of Zhongli who had been in front the whole way to Mondstadt. The proximity to their goal just made Lumine want to get there faster and the pit in her stomach returned. She was out of breath by the time she reached the top. Zhongli hadn't stopped her, but his stoic, steady pace was a quiet way to make her pace herself.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yes." She said confidently, "Let's head in."

They opened the doors and saw Jean talking with one of the sisters. Jean turned towards the sound of the opening door and was relieved seeing who came through. Paimon floated behind Lumine and there was someone else, a tall man dressed in what looked like a business suit.

"Honorary knight! I'm so glad you came!"

"We got your letter," Paimon said delicately.

Jean looked up at the man behind them.

"Oh, this is Mr. Zhongli." Paimon introduced the man then floated to whisper in Jean's ear, "We brought him because he's um, better equipped to help an archon."

Jean wasn't quite sure what to make of that but, "Oh, I-I see," she knew this man was not your average businessman from Liyue.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Zhongli, a consultant for Wengsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue." He introduced himself with a slight bow.

"I'm Jean, acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Thank you so much for coming Mr. Zhongli. Please, follow me." Jean replied respectfully. Shd led them to the room where Venti lay asleep. Barbara had since left to attend to other matters.

"He's been in this state since Amber found him this morning."

Zhongli walked over to the bard's sleeping form and leaned down to inspect him. "I see…"

"Do you know what happened? Can you do anything?" Lumine asked desperately.

"Not on my own, though I believe I know of a way to help him." Hopeful smiles appeared on the girls' faces.

"What should we do?" Jean asked.

"First, we will need to take him to a Statue of the Seven. It's healing properties alone won't be enough but I have an idea that might work to at least wake him up." Zhongli responded. "I can carry him. Lumine will you accompany me please?"

Lumine nodded. "I know he likes the tree at Windrise, there's a statue there too."

"Perfect. Is it alright if I take him, Acting Grand Master?"

"Of course, I trust him to you Mr. Zhongli. I'm grateful for your help."

"It's nothing," and he carefully lifted the sleeping bard off the bed into his arms. "Venti and I are...old friends, you could say."

As Zhongli turned and headed out the door with Lumine and Paimon, Jean caught a glimpse of the geo vision attached to his coat, and she realized exactly who Zhongli must be. But isn't he dead? Despite the intel she had that the Geo Archon had died, he had appeared before her to help her archon. No wonder Paimon said he was best suited to help Venti.

If Zhongli felt self-conscious about carrying Venti through the crowded streets of Mondstadt, he didn't show it. He and Lumine walked calmly through the town gathering a few looks, but they kept their gazes forward. No one came up to them, and those who looked likely just thought the bard was drunk despite how early in the evening it was. A kidnapping in broad daylight wasn't exactly feasible with the Knights on watch.

Finally, they reached Windrise and Venti's statue, but there was still no change with him. Zhongli laid him down at the base of the statue and looked around.

"This is where he was found?"

"That's what Jean said. Amber found him here early this morning in this state." Paimon answered.

"I see." Zhongli slowly paced around the statue looking at the ground. "Aha." He said plainly and picked up something from the ground.

Lumine walked towards Zhongli and examined the object he was holding. "Is that a ley line branch?"

"Indeed, the telltale sign of a fight."

"An abyss mage…"

"A defeated abyss mage." Zhongli corrected.

Paimon gasped. "Do you think Venti fought an abyss mage and they wiped each other out?"

"That is one possibility. Now then," Zhongli put the branch away and changed the subject. "Do you know what an anemoculus is?"

"Yeah, we've found a few on our travels!" Paimon exclaimed.

"Good, do you have any on you now?"

Lumine pulled one out of her bag. "I have one."

"Okay, please offer it to the statue."

Lumine had done this a few times. The first time she found an anemoculus she thought nothing of it. It was just some strange anemo treasure. But the next time she approached one of the statues, it seemed to resonate with the treasure. She kneeled down and offered it up like she was making a tribute to the god of anemo- before she knew who Venti really was.

Lumine did the same now. She kneeled in front of the statue- in front of Venti's limp body, and offered the anemoculus. It's form dissipated into the air becoming a visible current that swirled up the statue then back down, flowing into Venti's body.

A weak groan came from the bard. He was finally waking up.

"I'll go find some more!" Lumine exclaimed in a heart-pounding moment of excitement and relief. "Come on Paimon!"

"I'm right behind you!" And the two ran off in search of more anemoculi.

Zhongli lowered himself down on one knee examining Venti as he slowly stirred, and finally opened his eyes.

Venti's vision was blurry, but the first sight he could make out was a pair of amber eyes looking down at him. Eyes that he would know anywhere.

"Morax…" Venti called his name in a haze…

"Morax!" Venti's eyesight cleared along with his head and he quickly sat up so he could embrace his fellow god. Venti's vision blurred again as tears streamed down his face while he sobbed into Zhongli's shoulder. Zhongli wrapped his arms around Venti in kind.

"I was so worried about you. I thought you were dead!" Venti sobbed.

Zhongli said nothing. He just held Venti close until the bard finally loosened his grip and stopped crying. Venti sat back and opened his mouth to speak-to communicate his grief and frustration and relief- but suddenly he gripped his head and winced in pain. Zhongli showed no surprise and only a hint of worry.

"You understand right?" He spoke. "You used too much power at once, and without your gnosis, you cannot easily replenish it. This is deadly for elemental beings such as us."

Venti removed his hand from his head and nodded slowly.

"It's that form."

Venti shot his head up with a pained but stern look , meeting Zhongli's stoic eyes, "No. I won't give up this form. I refuse."

"I know how important it is to you, but it's taking up too much of your own energy to maintain it. You won't heal unless-"

"I said no!" Venti shouted. But that shout only sapped more of his stamina and he recoiled back. "I don't want to…" Silent tears fell down his face again.

Zhongli sighed. "Barbatos, please. Lumine and Paimon brought me here to help you. Lumine came practically banging on my door and begged me to come to see you. I want to help you, both for your own sake and theirs."

Venti looked back up at Zhongli. Faint turquoise eyes met glowing amber. "Okay."

"You will be okay Venti. I promise." Zhongli smiled and those stone steady amber eyes reassured him. Venti reciprocated with a soft smile and closed his eyes.

There was a glow of anemo teal and Venti felt his physical form dissipate into the wind before reforming into a smaller being. When he opened his eyes, Zhongli was still there though now with a very pleased expression on his face. His head didn't hurt anymore and he felt the energy the wind carried flow more freely into his small body. He was back in his original form. A wisp amongst the winds.

He stayed just like that for a moment floating in place looking between Morax, the statue and the tree. The winds rustling the tree's leaves and flowing down to him felt good, the same healing energy he felt after he had been poisoned. But, it wasn't enough to fully restore his power.

"We're back!" Paimon yelled as she and Lumine appeared in the distance.

"I found more anemoculi!" Lumine yelled as she sprinted. She was still too far away to see Venti or that his body was missing. The wisp quickly darted into Zhongli's coat and tucked himself away into a pocket.

"Hey!" Zhongli exclaimed at the sudden intrusion.

Lumine and Paimon made it to the statue. Lumine was completely out of breath but she still realized Venti's body was missing. "Wait wh-where's Venti?" She panted.

Zhongli opened his coat, "Come out Barbatos" and Venti slowly emerged from his hiding place.

Lumine and Paimon both gasped. "Is that you Venti?" Lumine questioned.

The wisp gave a small nod and slowly fluttered over to the traveler. She put her hands out to give him a surface to land on, but he only cautiously hovered above them.

"Awwww, Venti so this is what you used to look like? You're so cute!" Lumine giggled. "I'm really happy you're awake though."

"Yeah, and now I'm taller than you Tone Deaf Bard!" Paimon added happily. The wisp suddenly flew upwards and stuck out a little tongue at Paimon before flying quickly back over to Zhongli and hiding behind his head.

"Oh, Venti… What happened? How long will he be like this?" Lumine asked.

"Hopefully not too long," Zhongli answered as he pulled Venti off him. "He just needs to recuperate the energy he lost. It is simply more efficient to do in this form. It will likely only be a day at most." A small smile appeared on Venti's face hearing that. "I apologize but, would you mind taking care of him for the time being? I must return to Liyue."

"Of course, you can count on me."

"Thank you Lumine." Zhongli turned to head off, but suddenly Venti flew in front of his face.

"Venti please, I have to go. You'll be fine with the traveler." Zhongli said, slightly annoyed. No sound came from the wisp but Zhongli seemed to understand what Venti said. He sighed in response.

"She can explain it."

"..."

"Barbatos."

"..."

"Of course you can. But for now you need to stay here and heal."

The wisp finally moved out of Zhongli's way and he started to walk off.

"Thank you Zhongli!" Lumine called after him.

He turned back and smiled. "You're very welcome Lumine. While this was not a contract on paper, I ask that in exchange you please look after my friend."

Lumine nodded and Zhongli vanished.

"Sooo, what should we do then?" Paimon asked.

"I'm not sure, but it's getting kind of late," Lumine responded. "Is there anywhere you want to go Venti?"

The little wisp was already off, flying towards the tree.