happens when barbatos fell into slumber,
with what if rex lapis didn't know.
Rex Lapis never counted the day when Barbatos will come to Liyue. While the Anemo archon arguably was like a gentle breeze, his visit had always been an unpredictable storm. Just like the first time when he brought his proudest country's wine to share, without anyone to bring news of his arrival, he would manifest in gust of feathers in front of him.
The wind traveled a lot, to not only his place. Across the mountain, crossing the sea, tredging through the snow, toiling on the magma. Folk stories, memories, and emotion from all over the continent were carried in the songs he learnt and strummed from his lyre.
Compared to his structurized schedule, no one ever knows when and where the wind will land.
Yet, Rex Lapis found himself looking at the calendar which was supposedly hidden among his tower of paperworks. He found himself counting and remembering that it has been more than 120 springs since Barbatos last visited him.
What was the last wine his friend brought for him?
What was the last story his friend sang to him?
What was the last music instrument his friend showed off to him which he learnt from his journey?
There was a lot of contracts awaiting his attention, things he had to prepare before this year's rite of descension. The brush in his hand was already put away as he stared at the window where the flowers scattered by the wind. In his mind, he recalled the figure of a certain bard sitting by the window while playing the flute he received, the melody was still clear in his ears just like that day.
In the summer, they would be at Mt. Aozhang, much to cloud retainer's displeasure, and yet sometimes she and the other adepti would join their drinking.
In autumn, they would visit Wangshuu Inn, watching the Red Trees falling contrast to the dragonspine in far back and made a tour around Guili Plains.
Winter is cold, so the visit would mostly spent inside his chamber, seeking for warmth.
Right now is Spring.
Barbatos would always nag him to have a picnic under the planted tree Inazuma once gave him, just like an Inazuma tradition they learnt, a picnic which is more like a drinking party. They would invite everyone and he would be the one preparing food.
Rex Lapis smiled fondly at the memory.
Right now is Spring. Maybe this year, Barbatos would come in a gust of flowers. No one knows, not even Rex Lapis and he hoped the answer would come before the flowers have all fallen.