It was finally time!
...
After almost three weeks of hard work,
At long last, they could finally save their god.
-...The extracted Anemo energy is ready, Acting Grandmaster. -Albedo reported, Sucrose standing by his side and a strangely gleaming teal colored ball floating before the two, which felt like it was made from wind itself. -Thanks to the Honorary Knight, the purification process went without any issues.
The person in question was standing by a nearby pillar, leaning on it and looking like they could fall unconscious any moment. Their "companion" floating at their side and occasionally giving them concerned glances.
...
In truth they were exhausted,
The purification took a lot out of them.
*Even more than all that rushing-all-over-the-place did.
...
But they couldn't relax until they see their friend awake again,
They didn't want to lose anyone else they cared about...
*So, they will persevere, until they are sure he is alive and well.
-The grave matter transpiring at the renewed abode of the...-Fischl started in a dramatic voice, before suddenly pausing as she noticed that her "translator"/familiar wasn't around. -...Ahem! Just when the preparations finished, the temple was suddenly attacked by Abyss Order members. -She continued, making everyone around her pause. -...The matter is being taken care of, so there shouldn't be any problems.
That report made everyone look towards her in shock,
Wondering if they heard her right or it was just their imagination...
...
Did she just...
...
Talk normally...?
...
...
WHAT WAS THIS SORCERY?!
-...Good, we can start now. -Jean finally said as she got out of her shock, her expression turning serious and hopeful, as she looked towards the person lying on top of the makeshift bed. -...Now, we can finally...
They were currently in the middle of the Cathedral, where Lord Barbatos,
"Venti", Jean had to remind herself, as she looked at his strangely relaxed expression.
*If she didn't know better, she would have thought he was just sleeping,
A condition she wished he was in, instead of this...
...
They decided that in order for his "awakening" to have a higher chance of success,
To put him on the altar, which already had a lot of Faith power imbued into it.
*For better comfort they added a blanket and a few pillows to it as well,
Actually making it look even more like he was just sleeping rather than "dead".
...
After a while, to everyone's shock, Anemo Crystalflies started appearing in the area,
And now the whole Cathedral was full of them, slowly fluttering around and giving the place an ethereal feel.
*And they were not flying away from humans, either, which shocked everyone even more.
...
Now, she, the already aforementioned people, the nuns and guards, some Mondstadt citizens,
And the ambassadors, who were required to promise on their god's/goddess' names that they won't do anything shady,
Were all gathered here, waiting for their "Anemo Archon Awakening" project to finally begin...
...
Which soon did, as Albedo just used a strange device to fuse the teal ball from before with the "Blessing" and all the Anemoculus they had, making it enlarge and the wind to blow hard from it. Then, the Chief Alchemist used the device to move the now thrice bigger ball of pure Anemo energy right inside of the still form on the "bed". There was soon a bright teal light spreading through the area, which continued to shine as time went by.
-...Something is wrong. -Albedo voiced out, looking both dead serious and increasingly concerned, as he watched the "scene" with narrowed eyes. -...There is no change. At all.
It was the truth, one many didn't want to accept...
...
The person they tried to save wasn't waking up at all. He wasn't even stirring.
He just continued to limply lay on the makeshift bed they made for him,
As the light continued to shine, just as it did minutes before.
...
The people around understandably started to get increasingly worried,
After having gone through so much hardships in order to "revive" him...
...
In order to finally bring their (Adorable, yet sometime mischievous/impish) God of Wind/Bard/Child/Sibling/Friend back...
...
...
And yet, he just continued to lay there, still as a statue...
-...From what Andrius told me, the three conditions in order to come back from "Limbo" are: The link connecting to life, a huge power source to work as a stimulant and the will of the person himself to...-Rosaria thoughtfully said, before her eyes suddenly widened in shock. -...His will to live again...It's lacking!
If some people were just worried before, they are surely horrified now.
-...L-Lord Barbatos...D-doesn't want to live anymore...?! -Barbara was one of them, as she couldn't stop herself from yelling out, her eyes wide and tears starting to form on them. -...I-I know that his life as an Archon...F-filled with so much anguish and loss...I-I couldn't even imagine how it must feel…B-but...! B-but still...! -She started crying now. -...H-he is...! H-he can't just...! H-he can't just leave like this...! N-not when, we could finally...W-when everyone…! -She shakily continued, as she dropped on the ground in a sitting position. -...W-what should we do now...?!
No one could give her a reply,
They, too, didn't know what to do...
*And were too worried and/or horrified to think straight...
...
Not until Jean suddenly got on her knees.
-We pray. Lord Barbatos...Venti. He should know that he does have something to return to...-She quietly and determinedly said, as she started getting into position. -...All of us. -She slowly closed her eyes. -...All of us eagerly waiting for him to come back.
He awoke in a dark space, devoid of any light...
...
It was also quiet,
Oh so quiet...
...
Why was he here...?
For how long...?
...
He didn't know...
...
Nor did it really matter...
...
He felt so light...
...
Weightless...
...
As if a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders,
Decades of memories full of sadness and loss,
So many things he blamed himself for...
…
They were finally gone…
…
And...
…
He felt truly free.
...
He felt tranquil.
...
...
And yet, something felt wrong,
It felt like something was missing...
...
Something very important.
...
Something that was holding him here,
In this strange limbo-like place.
...
Something that was stopping him from moving on.
...
...
What was it...?
And why won't it let him go...?
...
...
There was suddenly a light...
...
A second one...
...
A third...
...
Soon more and more lights appeared...
...
Millions of warm lights, all around him...
...
...
Those lights...
...
They were the ones who were holding him here...!
...
They were saying something,
Yet he couldn't pick up the words...
...
He wanted to hear them,
Wanted to know why they were keeping him here...
...
"...Please, don't go!"
"...Don't go, I beg of you!"
"...Don't go!"
"...Don't go!"
"...Don't go!"
"...Don't leave us alone!"
"...You can't just leave! Not like this!"
"...Please...Don't leave...Please…!"
...
He felt himself flinch.
...
T-they all...!
...
A-and so desperately...!
...
...
T-they...!
W-why would they...?!
...
W-why,
For him,
They...?
...
"They are very persistent, even though youẅ̴̭͕̮̻̬̲̻̩̠́͋̀͌̊̂̀͋͝e̸̡̖͙̩̫̋̅̇̄̽͘̚͘͜͝ can only partly hear them...", a female voice was suddenly heard, "...To think that they would miss youu̸͚͉͙̥̜̞͕͙͑͑̀͐̄̀̓̔̌́̂͐͒̚͠š̶͇̺̠̿̄̀̈́ so much..."
...
This voice sounded so familiar,
Did he hear it after "Mondstadt's invasion"...?
...
"...Yes, you did.", the voice quietly admitted, yet he couldn't quite place it's tone, "...You may call me Wendy."
...
"Wendy"...?
...
That name...
...
Somehow, it sounded so familiar,
As if he heard it a hundred times...
...
"Of course it does! It would be weird if it didn't! Even if you can't remember anything else..." , Wendy admitted in a slightly amused voice, before there was suddenly a pause, "...So, what do you want to do...? Go back, stay here or move on...?", she asked in a dead serious voice, "I will agree to whatever you choose. This time youẅ̴̭͕̮̻̬̲̻̩̠́͋̀͌̊̂̀͋͝e̸̡̖͙̩̫̋̅̇̄̽͘̚͘͜͝ lived long enough..."
...
He wasn't sure what to do...
...
He was lazy,
A huge drunkard,
An absentee Archon...
...
Who always seems to get into some kind of trouble,
Especially based on recent events...
*Was he a "trouble magnet" now...?
Wasn't he too much of a bother...?
...
Yet, everyone were trying so hard to save him, again,
Even though it would be a lot easier to just let him go...
...
...
Why...?
...
"Tell me, Barbatos...", a different, yet familiar female voice was suddenly heard, "...What is your Windblume...?"
...
He couldn't remember whose voice that was,
And neither where he heard it from...
...
"...I also don't remember it.", Wendy sadly admitted, sounding confused, "...Yet, it sounds so familiar, like an old friend.", there was suddenly a pause and then a chuckle, "...But, are you going to give an answer...? Your Windblume, it's not even a flower like the Cecilias you like so much, right...?"
...
No, it isn't...
...
It never was...
...
...
It was the people's freedom.
...
The freedom to express themselves,
To share their feelings with others...
...
It didn't matter which way they decided to do it in,
As long as they could share fond memories together...
...
...
They were Mondstadt's citizens,
But to him, they were more than that...
*If he were to listen to the voices again,
What would he hear them say now…?
Do they know of his…?
...
"...Come back!"
"...Come back!"
"...We need you!"
"...You gave us freedom!"
"...You care for our choices and opinions!"
"...You don't see us as subjects, but as friends and family!"
"...Now you are our friend and family member too!"
...
...
T-they...
...
T-they...!
...
"...So, they know of this as well and really appreciate it. To think that this was their reason. Huh, yourơ̴̬̒̇̀͐̆̉̄̃͝ù̷̡̫̥̙͇̺͖̖̮̼̥̳͎̞͜͝ȓ̵̦́̌̂͒̿̉͗͐ people are really...", Wendy said in a warm sounding and grateful voice, "...Cute and adorable, indeed..." , she continued with a chuckle, "...Decided to go back now, aren't you...?"
...
Yes.
...
He couldn't stay here!
He had to come back!
...
...
He had to...
...
For them.
...
...
…
He worried them all enough already.
When he opened his eyes, he could see a familiar ceiling.
*The Cathedral...? Did they bring him here...? Why...?
...
The Anemo element in the air looked thicker and greener than normal.
*It looked like there was a lot of Faith energy in the air. Why would it...?
…
There were also Anemo Crystalflies fluttering everywhere.
*How long was he unconscious for so many of them to gather...?
-Lord Barbatos, you are awake! Thank Celestia! -He heard a familiar voice to his right and noticed Barbara, whose face was red with tears. -You were dead, yet you didn't disappear. Then, we found out that you were in "Limbo" and we had to bring you back. But, even with all of our efforts...-She explained, looking sadder and sadder with each word. -...You won't come back and everyone started losing hope...! I-it looked like you gave up on life...-She suddenly paused, before her expression was suddenly full of determination. -...But how could we just give up on you like that...?! There is no way we would do that! And thanks to my sister's idea, we pushed harder and now you are finally back with us!
...
What in Teyvat's name happened to him, for her to...?!
-Lord Barbatos, I am glad that you are finally awake! -Jean said in a voice full of relief, as she appeared in his line of sight, bags visible under her eyes. -...We were afraid that even with all our effort, you were going to...
...
Huh...?
Didn't he ask them not to call him by his...?
...
He was in his Archon form now,
Probably due to all the Faith energy in the air...
...
...
And why did it sound like he was on the brink of death...?
What could have happened for him to...?
-Honorary Knight...? A-are you alright...?! -A frightened voice interrupted his thoughts and he moved his head to look at it's source, just as a loud thud was heard. -HONORARY KNIGHT!
He was shocked to see the traveler collapsed on the floor, Paimon worryingly hovering over them and some other people looking towards the collapsed figure in concern. Barbara tried to heal them but was not succeeding much, as she looked worn out herself.
…
The traveler wasn't from this world,
They were more resilient that humans,
And could go without food or sleep for days.
*Did they even need to eat and sleep at all...?
...
So then,
Why did they suddenly collapse...?
...
And now that he looked more around him,
Barbatos also noticed that a lot of people had bags under their eyes.
*So, it wasn't just Jean that was overworking herself. Others were as well.
Realizing that it may be because of him, made him feel very bad...
...
And were there a lot of people inside the Cathedral...?
...
Both from Mondstadt and other nations, as well...
*It was a miracle that all those Anemo Crystallflies didn't fly away.
...
...
Just what happened while he was unconscious...?
...
-... What...What happened...? Why did the traveler suddenly collapse...? -He slowly asked, getting more and more confused and concerned with each word. -...Why am I here...? How long was I here...? And why does everyone look so exhausted...?
There was silence after his words, as people started looking at him in different states of sadness and concern.
-...Paimon will tell you about the traveler...Venti. -Paimon suddenly said, looking and sounding unusually sad and not even thinking of using the usual nickname. -Usually the traveler can be fine even when barely taking care of themselves. But, since the traveler and Paimon noticed that there was something wrong with you and were told that you were in "Limbo"...-She suddenly paused, glancing at the traveler, before looking towards Barbatos again. -...The traveler and Paimon were rushing everywhere, barely getting any break. The traveler even helped Albedo purify all your "Power Wisps" that we found in Dragonspine and pushed themselves to come here and help with your "awakening" instead of resting and restoring their energy.
That made Barbatos even more confused and concerned,
To think that the traveler collapsed because they pushed themselves...
...
In order to save him...
...
...
JUST WHAT HAPPENED?!
-...Lord Barbatos, what is the last thing that you remember...? -Jean asked him in concern, worry written all over her face.
There was silence for a while,
As Barbatos moved his head to look at the ceiling again...
-... I remember playing with the children and then going to Albedo's and Sucrose's lab. I remember discussing different matters and answering Albedo's questions . -He started retelling before suddenly pausing, a confused expression on his face. -...Then my memory is blank, as if it was erased or sealed...- Which was really strange. Did it have something to do with his current "condition"...? -... The next thing I know is that I am in a dark, limbo-like place, which is completely quiet. Can't return, but also can't move on...With something holding me back. -So that was this "Limbo", right...? -...Then there were millions of warm lights...- So warm and loving...A-and all for him...-... A-all of them...! A-all of them desperately pleading for me to not go and to come back...! -He shakily continued, feeling emotional just remembering it. -...T-they sounded so anguished...T-that I...T-that I couldn't just ignore them...! -How could he, knowing just how much he would have hurt them if he did …? -...I-it was all of you, wasn't it...? Y-you saved my life again...! -He put his arm on his eyes, feeling grateful that he couldn't physically cry or his face would be red in tears by now. -...What time is it now...? -He suddenly asked, his voice going quiet and his wings shaking uncontrollably. -... That you continue to save me again and again...?
They saved him so many times already,
And still continue doing it even now...
*Even though so many of them looked so tired they might collapse...
...
To go so far for his sake...
...
He knew why they did it,
He knew that now...
*How could he not after all that...?
...
Yet, it still seemed like too much.
...
...
He wasn't sure what to think anymore,
Other than continuously ask himself "Why...?".
...
Why go that far...?
Why try so hard...?
...
Why, when until recently, all he did was...?
-We will save you for as long as you need saving, Lord Barbatos. -Someone said, but he was still too embarrassed and shocked to check who it was.
...
The voice sounded so earnest, so determined, that he could do nothing but lay there,
Feeling so conflicted by the declaration that he was at a loss for words...
...
What he heard just now was too much...
*How could they say this with so much sincerity...?
How could they, so determinedly, decide on that…?
…
Why…?
...
...
One thing was certain now,
This life wasn't just his own anymore...
...
He had to cherish it...
...
He couldn't have them cry for him again,
He couldn't have them push themselves this much again…
…
He couldn't do this to them, never again.
*Not even accidentally...
...
...
...
He made them sorrowful too many times already.