It was a few minutes since Calvin ended his prayer and had to leave in order to go back to work. Yet, Barbatos was still blushing madly, his face as red as a tomato, while he was frozen in place akin to one of his statues.
Jean had to admit that he looked extremely cute like this...!
...
But it was also concerning how dazed he looked,
And made her worry that there was something wrong with the "awakening".
*Even though she knew there wasn't, she couldn't help but think that there was,
So many horrible things happened to him this month and a week that she was worried he was going to...
...
No! he was just extremely embarrassed by whatever Cardinal Calvin told him in his prayer,
He wasn't hurt, unconscious, in "Limbo" and even dead and starting to disappear...
*She wondered how Barbara is doing and if she would be able to go through it this time,
Jean decided that she should check on her occasionally to make sure she is doing alright...
…
It was still very concerning,
Was he truly just embarrassed and not...?
-Lord Barbatos, are you alright...? -She suddenly asked, the words themselves and the worried tone flowing out like water. -...The Seneschal left a few minutes ago and yet you are still...
She waited for a reaction, but the Archon just blinked, as if waking up from a dream.
*Telling herself over and over that he was just "daydreaming", nothing more,
Especially not something like...
- Calvin already left...? -Barbatos slowly asked, seemingly having a hard time getting out of his daze and not really registering the Acting Grandmaster's and some other people's concerned looks sent his way. -...That doesn't really sound like something he would...- Then his eyes widened in realization. - Oh, right. He is overworked. He would have stayed otherwise and then...
He suddenly paused, as he imagined how overwhelming the Cardinal would act, which made him blush again.
…
Even if Celestia is actually manipulative and shady,
He had to thank them for Calvin leaving when he did...
*Hearing that kind of "prayer" was already more than enough for one day,
Any more of this kind of embarrassment and he might actually ask someone to bury him...
...
...
Why did it feel like a spoi…?
-Here we are my...Zhongli. -A familiar voice was heard, as Xiao and the aforementioned person appeared before the Cathedral entrance in a gust of wind. -...I can feel a strange energy coming from the...-He started in a thoughtful and completely serious voice, before pausing in shock, as the other was already walking towards the open doors. -My lord, wait! The energy inside appears to be...!
-Barbatos, after taking care of some nuisances attacking the temple, I came to hear of your "awakening" and...-Zhongli said while entering the Cathedral, but the second his foot touched the floor, he shifted into his "godly form", making most of those in the area to look towards him in shock, embarrassment and/or rising horror, while Xiao was fighting an urge to smack himself in the face. -... Hum, it seems that the high concentration of Faith energy in the area unconsciously made me shift to my Archon form. -He continued in a thoughtful voice, shocking people even more and making some of them (Mostly from Liyue, those poor people!) fall unconscious. -...This strange reaction is also unusual...
He continued in slight worry, as he looked at the fallen forms in concern.
...
For those people to suddenly collapse like that,
Did they have some type of a medical condition...?
...
If so, they had to seek medical attention post ha...
- Morax, whatever you are thinking, you are wrong. -Barbatos told him in a weary voice. -... They thought you were "dead", remember...? You even had a Rite of Passing held for you! -He continued, motioning to the poor humans laying on the floor. -... You just broke them! Or rather, you broke their sanity...?
...
"Sanity is the requirement for our kind."
...
...
Did humans actually need sanity...?
...
Some things they did without it,
And it still turned out okay...
*"How?" was everyone's guess,
Luck was extra strong with humans!
...
While some times it didn't,
And things became even worse...
*And everything went to the Abyss,
Sometimes in the most literal sense possible...
...
...
Maybe they did need it after all...
...
They weren't bulls, right...?
-...I seem to have forgotten about that specific bit of information . -Morax finally said, sounding a little abashed. -...I would have promised that it wouldn't happen again, but it seems like it's too late for this now.
At his words, Xiao decided that he should smack himself in the face anyway, even if it might be seen as disrespectful.
...
Barbatos couldn't really blame him for it,
As the blockhead was sometimes a real brick wall, both literally and figuratively.
"We would have smacked ourselves too...", the winds started in an unreadable voice, "...If we had hands and a face..."
...
He had to agree with the notion,
But weren't they all forgetting something important right now...?
...
...
For the love of...!
How did they already forget something like that?!
*Yes, there were two Archons in the area,
One of them until now considered dead,
And the other in a coma until recently...
...
But, still...
- Someone, help those poor people! -He couldn't stop himself from yelling out, as he motioned to the people still lying on the floor, almost entirely forgotten. - They might have a concussion!
- Oh, yes. A concussion. -The other thoughtfully said, as he folded his arms. - A type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth and affect the brain function. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordina...
- Yes, yes. We get it, grandpa! No need to go into a long explanation! Sheesh...- Barbatos interrupted his speech, sounding exasperated, as he finally left his makeshift bed, flew up to his friend and started poking him in the cheek. - As you can all see, when it comes to information about different matters and hard facts, Morax is a walking encyclopedia. -He started explaining to the confused, still shocked and now even more embarrassed audience. -... But, when it comes to human emotions...He is a literal living rock, this blockhead! - He then floated in circles around the other, occasionally poking him on one cheek, then the other, then poking both cheeks and even stretching them, making the other have a silly face. -...A literal living rock. Doesn't even react to my random poking or stretching.
Morax in fact, was standing completely still, akin to a statue. He was the very definition of "an unmoving rock".
...
The people around them could only watch the strange "scene" in shock and embarrassment,
The poor unconscious people lying on the floor, forgotten yet again.
*Was someone going to help them today...?
- You are such a menace. -The rock statue suddenly said, making the aforementioned winged "menace" pause in his floating, a pout appearing on his face. - An adorable menace. -The rock continued, a small and fond smile on his face now. -It's good to have you back, Barbatos.
There was silence for a while,
Before Barbatos smiled widely at the other.
- I am glad to see you too, Morax! -He finally said, as he hugged the other by his neck, hanging from it. - You are the best rock wall I know!
He happily said while giggling into the other's neck,
Making most of the audience look at them with even more shock...
*They had no idea that the two Archons were so close.
...
As Xiao was now looking towards them,
Wondering why he had an urge to join the hugging...
*It felt very weird to the Yaksha, yet he didn't know why,
And those Anemo Crystalflies fluttering around the two didn't help matters either...
...
What was wrong with him, anyway...?
Was he now cursed, per chan...?
-Vennessa…? -Barbatos suddenly said, interrupting the other's confused thoughts, as he noticed a familiar presence getting near and let go of Morax's neck. - Oh, Vennessa! You are back~ -He welcomed, as he saw her flaying inside the Cathedral, before she suddenly enlarged her body to thrice it's usual size. -...Vennessa…? What is...? Ouch! -He yelled out as she flew towards him like a rocket and started pecking him on the head. -...Vennessa, why are you...? Ouch! -She pecked him harder, as if to say "Are you stupid or what?", making his realize that "Yes, he is stupid for asking that question". -...I get it! I get it! I deserve this by worrying everyone! -Once they noticed their Anemo Visions graying out...-... Can you stop pecking me already...?!
She pecked him some more, to the confusion of most everyone (Conscious) around them, before Vennessa finally stopped her terrorization of his poor head.
"Don't worry me again, you idiot!", Vennessa yelled out at him, sounding very mad, "WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THAT FELT?!"
...
He knew...
...
Celestia, he knew that full well now,
And was going to be more careful from now on...
"...Good.", she said in an unreadable voice, "...You stupid Archon..."
...
Yes, yes, he was stupid,
Since he was very reckless until now...
*Was she going to keep calling him that...?
"Until you show me that you are not a reckless idiot who throws himself into danger, yes.", she answered, sounding dead serious, as she was now flying right before his face, looking him right in the eyes, "...During this month and a half alone, do you know just how much you worried everyone and almost gave people a heart attack...?!"
...
Yes, he knew...
...
He knew that now...
...
"...Here, they wrote a letter .", she quietly said, while flying slightly higher now, her talons and the letter attached to one of them before his face now, "...They were very frantic while they wrote it, so it must be for you, Venti."
...
He understood, so he untied it from her talon right away,
Took it out of the envelope it was in and then unfolded the paper...
*Noting that there was a lot of Faith energy coming out of it.
Did they pray as they were writing it...?
-... They really noticed that I was...- He suddenly paused as his eyes widened and his face started heating up. -...This is...A-a little...! - Then, before anyone could react, he flew towards Jean, almost dropped the letter on her head and dramatically flopped down on the makeshift bed. -... A-and I am not embarrassed! I-it's just nice to lie down here...! -He finally said, burying his face in the pillow from embarrassment. -...Y-you did a splendid job in making it comfortable...! Y-yes...- There was suddenly a long suffering sigh. -...Someone...Bury me already...!
Minutes passed since then, or was it actually hours…?
Most people inside the Cathedral weren't sure...
...
They were currently watching in shock as the very embarrassed Anemo Archon was burying himself in pillows,
Wondering what in Celestia's name was written in that letter to make him react like this...
*As he levitated a bunch of pillows from Celestia-knows-where, making a pillow fort.
...
The shock would have continued, if not for a sudden intrusion...
-There you are! -A hurt voice was suddenly heard, as Childe almost barreled inside the Cathedral like a bull, Bennet riding on his shoulders. -You, Yaksha! Xionu, Xiayo or whatever! -He suddenly yelled out, as he pointed at the aforementioned Yaksha, his expression in a pout. -Why didn't you take me along when you were teleporting and running ahead...?! Did you know how much time it took me to get here?! -He then finally realized where he was and looked around, getting visibly confused. -...Why are those Liyue ambassadors lying unconsciously on the floor and why is there a pillow fort at the end of the hall...?
There was silence for a few seconds after his words,
As people started realizing that, gasp, they forgot about the Liyue ambassadors!
*And had to be told about it by a Fatui of all people,
They really had to take care of these poor people now...
- It's good to see you too, Childe. -Morax warmly said, shocking some people and making those who were finally hoisting the Liyue ambassadors up almost drop them back on the floor. - I am sorry we couldn't take you with us. I was...Preoccupied with Barbatos' well being and...- He suddenly paused when he saw the Harbringer's confused expression, as the other was now moving his head left and right, probably searching for said Archon. - The "Pillow fort" you asked about before, that's Barbatos burying himself in pillows.
He explained, looking and sounding completely serious,
Which only confused Childe even more...
*Yeah, he knew he was far from what you would call "normal",
But the scene before him was pretty bizarre...
...
-...Why is the Anemo Archon, who you said called himself "Venti", right...? -He slowly started, looking more and more confused by the second, as he glanced towards the pillow fort again. -...Why is he burying himself in pillows...?
- Because he is embarrassed. -Morax answered him in a dead serious voice, looking and sounding as if this was completely normal. - He read a highly embarrassing letter a few minutes ago.
The other looked towards the Archon strangely for a few moments,
Before looking towards the pillow fort and then looking towards the other again.
*Realizing that he still had a lot to learn about Archons, their logic and...
...
He completely forgot about his planned drinking competition!
-Yo! Barbatos or Venti or whatever you are comfortable with (I won't judge as I have three names myself)! -Childe started, sounding extremely cheery and making some people look at him in confusion and/or weirdness. -Zhongli here mentioned that you have a very high alcohol tolerance, and can chug it down like water! And you know what, I do too! -He explained, looking slightly unhinged now. -So, I thought, how about we have a drinking competition and see who stays awake longer! How does that sound...? Great, right...? -He suddenly paused, as he glanced in Morax' direction. -But, knowing how broke Mr. Zhongli is, you must be too, right? Не проблема! I brought some Snezhnaya fire-water with me and would have no trouble paying for any more alcohol we might need! I heard Dandelion wine tasted great, even if it's weaker than the fire-water, so let's buy that! -He then smiled widely, already imagining how fun it would be. -So, what do you say...? Are you up for the challenge...?
There was some silence, as Barbatos was thinking of what he just heard.
The idea of a drinking competition would have sounded great either way,
But right now, it sounded more like a safe haven than anything else...
...
And the reason for that was the highly embarrassing letter!
...
He knew that the people in Varka's expedition wrote that because they were thankful,
Thankful for being saved when things started looking grim and by their Archon as well...
*Which they insisted he knew about, getting really overwhelming while they were at it.
...
It was as if ten Calvins gathered together in order to write a letter to him,
An EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING letter the contents of which he wished he could forget now!
...
- I accept your challenge! -He said before the pillow fort suddenly exploded, the pillows flying in all directions, as he flew towards Childe with the speed of light. - Let's go! - He then crashed into him, tumbling them both to the floor and making Bennet, who was on the Harbringer's shoulders all this time, fall down on his head. -... Haha! Sorry about that! I just really need a drink right now...Or a few. - He apologized seconds later, as he floated up and a few feet away from the other. -... Can we go now...?
The Harbringer was looking at him up and down as he sat up, suddenly getting very quiet.
-...It's no wonder I was sent to Liyue and not here, I have a soft spot for children and you surely look like one. -Childe finally said, before thoughtfully glancing between Barbatos and Morax, wondering if it was an Archon thing or the "Original Seven" one. -...Those revealing clothes, were they a part of the condition of becoming one of "The Seven", after the Archon war...?
Mr. Zhongli had his abs completely bare and looked even hotter than his statues,
While the boy (He is not actually a child, Ajax!)...Archon before him looked quite...
...
Was this how they gathered followers during the Archon war...?
- What is wrong with my clothes...? -Barbatos asked aloud as he was twirling in place, looking and sounding confused and making some people look at him strangely. - It's easy to move in and I can feel the wind on my skin~ - He recalled, an amused smile on his face now, before making a dead serious face expression. - But, enough about that for now. You promised me a drinking competition, one you are going to pay for. -He said, while floating down to the still sitting Harbringer and taking the other's arm in his. - You said you brought some Snezhnaya fire-water, right...? Then we should go to the Grand Goth Hotel first, in order to get them all!
Then, without waiting for a reply or any kind of reaction, he teleported them both away.
There was awkward silence after they disappeared, as the people still looked at the spot they were at moments before in confusion.
...
The Anemo Archon really wanted to leave the place and fast, didn't he...?
That made them wonder what exactly was in that letter, again...
...
But, first, they needed some answers (Especially about the familiarity with a certain Fatui), so they looked towards the Geo Archon, waiting for some sort of explanation. Xiao standing by his side now, making a poker face and Bennet lying unconscious on the floor, a few feet away.
-...I suppose that you require an explanation . -Morax finally said, before making a dead serious face expression. - Very well, then. I shall disclose this with you.