ASM769476: Well thanks! I hope to not disappoint you when it's time to go there.

So I know what I said last time, but the 1.4 quest is taking a while to arrive. On the bright side, we have a date for it now (4/12). So enjoy another fluff chapter while we wait featuring other characters.

What a beautiful day, an absolute treat for the eyes. Not a rain cloud in sight… A young boy titled his head back and took in the sun's rays. On days like today, he felt absolutely perfect, as if there wasn't anything to worry about in the entire world. And with that feeling brought a strong urge to whip out a certain musical instrument and play to his heart's content, allowing the notes to soar across the winds of Mondstadt.

Sadly, although he felt up to playing, his stomach had other ideas if it's rumbling was any indication. Chuckling, the boy stood up on the hands of the God Statue and leaped off, activating his glider a moment later. Ah, these are some good winds. I can just feel today is going to be a special day. But first, let's get a bite…

As he landed next to the center fountain, he began making his way to Good Hunter. Although normally he preferred to dine at Dawn Winery despite his…unique relationship with the owner, he enjoyed every dish that the city of Mondstadt had to offer. But as he was about to take the first step to the restaurant, he heard something VERY interesting coming from the plaza's other side.

"Didn't you see them earlier? They were practically in each other's lap."

"I did Blanche…and they weren't. They MIGHT be a couple, but it's not our place to push these things, even if it is Windbloom."

A new couple? This pleased the boy, making him feel almost prideful in a strange way, as if he had personally gotten them together. This was definitely because it was occurring during said festival, which was all about freedom and love as to be expected from a tradition unique to Mondstadt.

Normally, he would just leave here, get some food and be done thinking about this couple as the day progressed. But not this time.

"Good afternoon ladies!" The bard confidently walked up to them. "Forgive my rudeness, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You say a new couple might've gotten together?"

At this interruption, the woman behind the counter- she was the one called Blanche- stared at the newcomer blankly. "Sorry, who are you again?"

"My name is Venti, lover of wind, wine, and song~"

"Oh right! You're the drunk bard who often hangs around Dawn Winery."

"A-ahaha, my reputation precedes me." He shook off what she had just said and cleared his throat, like he was about to sing a tune. "I'm curious about this couple you two were talking about, seem like they like each other very much if they confessed during the Windbloom Festival."

"Well, far be it from me to spread rumors like this, since I haven't heard they "confessed" yet per se. But I know they will soon, they just seem so perfect for each other!"

"Blanche….not again…" The other woman put her fingers on her forehead.

"Ah ha! Let me guess: They're childhood friends! People who spent their whole lives together and know each other the best after years of hardship and struggle, finally ready to move to the next step-"

The shopkeeper interrupted, "Bzzzt, wrong. Actually, the girl is a local resident right here in Mondstadt, but the boy came from- far away I think? Oh right, nobody knows where he came from, how mysterious…" After giving it some thought, she continued. "I wonder if that backstory is what attracted Amber to him in the first place, heh."

"Seriously Blanche," her friend spoke up with just a hint of annoyance in her voice. "We all know that Aether isn't the kind of person to make something up like that just for impression's sake. Ok yes, we don't know where he's from, but he's clearly good friends with her. Besides, does Amber really seem like the type of person who falls for somebody thanks to their "mysterious" past? I could see that for a person like Fischl, but not her."

"Indeed." Venti chimed in, nodding his head. "I know Aether and Amber very well and if a relationship did start between them, it would no doubt be for the right reasons."

The bard paused for a moment, his mind was busy processing what had just been said. "….Wait. So the couple you mentioned-"

"Yup, it's Aether and Amber!"

Venti excused himself.

-0-

Is there any instrument more beautiful than the lyre? The music that comes from it is always divine. Thought the bard as he strummed his own. After getting something to eat with the few Mora he had, Venti was sitting right on the stone gate of Mondstadt next to a wind sail. As for how he arrived to such a place so quickly? Well, a couple of 'convenient updrafts' was always his preferred method of travel. After leaving the two women behind to continue their talk, he thought back to what he had just been told.

"Amber and Aether, huh?" he contemplated. It did make a lot of sense, Amber had been the first person to befriend the traveler. Oh right, technically Paimon knew him before she did, but still.

"Hmm, you know, should I take the opinions of just two people at face value? I don't think so." A gleeful smile appeared on his face. "I think this calls for a bit of investigation!" Venti jumped off the gate and glided through the Mondstadt sky. "And the first place I'll visit is the Dawn Winery!"

-0-

"Master Diluc is a very busy person, I may have to ask you to leave if you're staying too long."

"It's alright Elzer." The redhead held up a hand, but didn't take his eyes of a document that was on the desk. "Alright bard, what is it? I trust the wine at Angel's Share is still meeting your….high standards."

"Oh yes it does!" Venti confirmed with a goofy grin plastered on before snapping back to reality. "Ah, but I sidetrack myself. Tell me Diluc, have you heard anything about Aether or Amber lately?"

"Those two huh? No I haven't. Why do you ask?"

To the point as always, Venti thought. "I caught a rumor that the two of them have starting dating. Naturally I am not one to believe such things without due diligence. Hence, our conversation."

"Hmph." The swordsman clearly didn't think much of the topic. "I don't tend to involve myself in the lives of others. However Amber did stop by Angel's Share a while back, looking for Aether."

"Oh? Amber at Angel's Share? That is a rare sight to be sure."

"I said she was looking for Aether. After I pointed her in the right direction, he left by way of the balcony door as she chased after."

"Doesn't sound like any kind of romance was happening there….perhaps some kind of lover's quarrel?"

"Whatever it was, they forgot to close the door when they left. Be sure to let them know that. Speaking of…" He put the paper in his hands down and faced Venti. "Why don't you just ask them directly?"

The bard stood up and smiled. "Ah, but where's the fun in that? There's a story here, and I want to unravel it piece by piece."

He was nearly out the door when he stopped and looked back. "Hey Diluc? I thought you said the balcony was off-limits."

Without missing a beat Diluc responded, "No I said 'You're not allowed up there.' As in, you specifically Venti. Aether actually pays his bills on time."

-0-

Back in Mondstadt, Venti decided who his second interviewee would be. He was aware of the fact that going to Diluc first wasn't the most efficient, but it gave him more time to enjoy the beautiful weather Mondstadt was experiencing today. With that behind him, he headed up to the cathedral looking for a particular somebody. If there's gossip to be talked about, I think the people of the church will know about it. And that probably means Barbara would've heard something too. …Oh dear…

indeed Barbara was at the church. So too were her crazed fans, none more into the idol than a man named Albert, They were cheering her name, getting uncomfortably close, and just overall causing a ruckus.

Sigh….Albert, Albert, Albert…clearly I can't rely on Aether to tell you off. I'll figure something else out later, but for now… The bard had an idea. He took off his cap and threw it to the crowd like a disc, but not before crying out to the fan club, "Look out!"

Hearing this, the crowd of fans turned around to see the object land on the shiny floor harmlessly. As they looked up and saw just who threw it, their reaction changed from curiosity to annoyance. Well, that didn't help my approval…

"V-Venti!?" Barbara exclaimed in surprise as she picked up the cap and patted the nonexistent dust off it. "Why did you do that?"

"Ehe, sorry, sorry." He grabbed it back from her and stuck it on his head again. "Sorry for this too."

"What-"

In one swift motion, Venti grabbed Barbara's wrist and proceeded to run to the door. Naturally, this sent the idol's fans into an uproar as they started giving chase. But the bard was quick on his feet and had a head start. Even with taking a confused Barbara into account, the two were able to sneak outside to the back of the cathedral without anyone noticing.

"Venti, what's got into you? Is everything okay?"

Releasing her hand, Venti explained himself. "I just need to ask you a question, but I didn't want anyone to overhear and start a rumor. Especially not Albert…" He shook his head at that thought.

"Oh you don't have to worry about Albert. He may be a little intense, but he's not a bad person." Barbara let out a bit of a laugh.

"A little might be a bit generous…but anyway! Have you seen Amber or Aether?"

"Aether or Amber?" The idol gave it some thought, only to shake her head. "Why no, I've been so busy with cleaning the church and practicing my singing. There's barely been any time for me to go to the shops as is."

"I see…then have you heard anything about them? Maybe a rumor of sorts?"

"No I haven't…what are you getting at?" She suddenly gasped. "Are they okay? Nothing bad has happened to them right?"

Venti was taken a bit aback. "N-no, nothing at all. I swear upon Barbatos that they're perfectly fine. I'll even tell them to visit you when I see them next."

Calming down, Barbara tired to back out. "Oh, you don't have to do that, I'm sure those two have very busy schedules, even now during the festival. I would hate to impose…"

"It will be fine! I'm sure they'll be glad to talk to you Barbara!"

"Well in that case…" she smiled. "I'm going to practice my singing twice as hard now for them! Bye Venti!" With that, she ran around the corner out of his sight, presumably back inside the cathedral.

"Whew…" Venti leaned against the building. "How did that happen? That girl somehow got what she wanted and she didn't even have to really try…meanwhile I got nothing." He made a mental note that he would have to ask Aether to visit Barbara later.

Venti sighed. That whole episode was draining and ultimately fruitless, but he still had people he wanted to talk to. With a weary smile, he took off and headed to the Knights of Favonious Headquarters.

-0-

There were actually two individuals who he hoped to speak with that might be in the building currently. Venti thought about talking with Jean, but that idea was swiftly rejected. He had no problem talking with Diluc or Barbara about this kind of fun topic (to him), but interrupting the Dandelion's Knight busy day just to chat about Amber and Aether's potential relationship? Yeah, probably better not to go that route…for now anyway.

With that thought in his mind, he ignored the two guards' questioning stares at him and threw open the front doors. Turning to his right, he knocked on the wooden door and opened it…while the nearby Favonious guard sighed. Venti did seem to have that affect on a lot of people.

"Why hello Venti~ What can I do you for?" A mature voice was heard the instant he arrived with no hint of being surprised at the visit.

"Hello Lisa!" He took this in stride. "I want to ask you something."

"Sure. If I may be so bold, do you want a cup of tea while we chat? I just finished making it."

"Why, tea sounds lovely! Thank you." As much as Venti's did enjoy a good bottle of wine, there was nothing wrong with tea, especially if it came from Lisa herself.

"Right this way then." She smiled and proceeded to walk to the steps leading to the lower level. Didn't she say she just finished making it? Venti thought, did she really plan for my arrival? Heh, better not disappoint then. As the two engaged in small talk, Venti couldn't help but notice how bizarre this pairing would look to the citizens of Mondstadt. Lisa the responsible mature librarian who was always happy to lend an ear versus him, the drunk reckless bard that gave most people a headache. He ned at this, Oh well, what can you do?

Sitting down at the table, there was a teapot and two coasters with cups on them. Lisa poured the tea into each of their glasses, producing a satisfying sound to Venti's ears. But he didn't come to just relax, it was questioning time.

She grabbed the cup and held it to her lips. "Ask away."

"Lisa have you seen Amber or Aether recently?" He took a drink of the green tea, causing him to slightly wince. Wow, that was hot.

"Oh yes I have. As a matter of fact, they came to me just a few days ago." On the other hand, Lisa had no problem taking a quick sip. She was probably used to just how hot her creation was after all.

"Together?"

"Hmm, in a manner of speaking, yes." Lisa let out a tiny smile Venti would call 'teasing', as if she was having a great deal of entertainment watching him ask these questions. Of course, being who he was, he didn't mind this.

"Was Paimon with them?"

"She actually came by first to let me know they were arriving shortly. After the two of them got here and went to that corner," She extended a finger, pointing to the area right underneath where Venti just came from. "She flew up back here by herself."

Venti felt like he had hit the jackpot and was about to be given five bottles of wine for free. "And what about you? What did you do?"

"Me? Well, I finished my book then stepped out for a few minutes…oh, but not before telling the guard what would happen if he let anyone in the library while I was away." She maintained her smiling expression throughout this part of the story.

"A-ahaha." Venti felt something odd, so he decided to ignore it and press on. "So that means…"

"Hm. Aether and Amber were here together…all alone~"

"Thank you Lisa. You have been most helpful today." Venti stood up, finishing his cooler tea with a gulp. "Oh, and thanks for the drink, it was brewed to perfection."

"I'm thrilled you like it." The librarian remained seated, but she did throw one final thing at Venti. "By the way…"

"Yes?"

"Kaeya is currently filling in for Jean. After all, it's still Windbloom."

Venti winked at her. "It's like you read my mind."

-0-

When did Venti make the change from just being curious about Aether's and Amber's relationship to kind of supporting it? He didn't really know, but it just felt right to do. Actually, maybe it was only thanks to how good Lisa's tea was…hm. Without waiting around or knocking, he swung open the door to Jean's office. Except just like the librarian had said, Jean wasn't there. Instead a tall dark-skinned man with an eyepatch sat at one of the desks in the room.

"I don't know how I feel about my teacher playing hooky so early in the semester. I may have graduated, but your new students need guidance, do they not?" he quipped with a smirk.

"Ehe, I'll apologize to my class later, I'm on a special assignment. One that you can actually help with."

"Oh? What is this 'special assignment' you speak of?"

Venti stepped close to the desk and asked the same question for the fourth time. "I don't suppose you've heard anything about Aether or Amber, have you?"

"Now, why would I know anything about those two?" Kaeya's gaze returned to some paperwork as he put his hand on his cheek.

Yeah, he knows something and isn't even trying to hide it. "C'mon Kaeya, aren't we friends?"

The Captain of the Knights looked back up at the bard. "Friend? I'm your friend?" Kaeya did a good job acting like he was touched, but that's all it was: an act. However, Venti was more than happy to dramatize the scenario along with him.

"Of course, you and me? We're best friends, inseparable if I do say so myself!" Venti flashed a stupidly big and stupidly fake smile.

Both of them were obviously lying, which was even more obvious to each other. Nonetheless, Venti's pleading had the intended effect, as Kaeya clearly got some sense of satisfaction from the bard and decided to cooperate.

"Alright. Normally I would strike a deal, but how could I refuse a request from my…best friend?" With that pause for effect, Kaeya launched into his story.

"This comes from a reliable source within the Knights, but apparently one night they were out on patrol…they saw those two running across the front wall. Amber was behind Aether and looked to be chasing him."

"Huh…" Venti felt the details reminded him of someone else's tale, but he chose to piece it together later. "I have to say Kaeya, your 'source' must have been paying quite a lot of attention to them. Most people would think nothing of the Knights of Favonius being on the city's gate, especially those two. It's almost like….this Knight was slacking on their duties." The bard could barely contain a smug smirk from forming.

But the man behind the desk just smiled and continued on. "I agree. But with it being the dead of night and having no other entertainment to pass the time, is it really so unheard of to watch the only other people outside? And considering what they did next, it's understandable why they would remember. At least, in my opinion."

"So let's hear it: what happened after?"

"They ran across the entirety of the gate, all the way from Angel's Share to where the windmill is. When they reached the end of it, both of them jumped off outside the city."

"How is that suspicious?" Venti wasn't seeing what Kaeya was getting at.

"Because the only interesting areas in that direction are Wolvendom and Stormterror's Lair. However, I can't imagine them doing something as foolish as invading on Andrius' territory. As for Duvalin…well, I imagine you would know that place better than I." The captain grew an 'innocent' grin, which he was all too happy to show to Venti before continuing. "So why would they go there, especially in the middle of the night without any backup?"

Venti ignored his provocation, "So what's your theory?"

Kaeya stood up from up the desk and happily said. "I have no idea. Wherever they went, they both were back the next day. So why not let what happened remain a secret between them, hm?"

With that, he started walking past Venti towards the door, but not before putting his hand on the bard's shoulder. "Don't worry so much. Those two are special, they'll find the right time." He then proceeded to step out of the room, leaving Venti to his thoughts.

Heh, who said anything about being worried?

-0-

"Man, it feels SO good to finally be done!" Aether stretched himself out and let out a big yawn that he'd been keeping in.

"You said it. That stone game was so annoying, how did they even set it up like that?" Amber asked as she jabbed her utensil into her food.

Both of them were sitting outside Angel's Share enjoying a meal. Taking in the twilight sky felt nice to the pair…much like it did for Venti, who was watching them from up on the stone gate next to a wind sail. He had later put together that Diluc and Kaeya's stories were the similar ones, meaning that Amber had chased Aether on the gate after coming from the balcony door in Angel's Share. Why do they do that? And just where did they go once they jumped off? Venti could probably find that out if he really wanted to, but it was like the other lady said at the beginning of his quest. It wasn't anybody's place to force these things.

The bard looked down at the pair once more. He could only see Amber's face from the angle he was at, but she was smiling and clearly having fun, meaning Aether was definitely enjoying his time with her too.

"So Aether, what should we-" Amber was about to ask a question...but she noticed something odd and titled her head upwards. "Huh? What's going on?"

Aether followed her eyes and faced the same direction. To his shock, the wind sail that normally rotated at a steady pace was spinning much faster than usual. This would have set off alarm bells in Aether's mind, but there was something else. Thanks to the new speed of the sail, dozens of flowers and dandelions got caught in the new winds generated and danced in the sky, as if they had been waiting all evening for the opportunity. Thanks to this, it really didn't feel like anything strange was about to occur, so the pair relaxed and took in the colorful spectacle.

As resistance kicked in and the sail went back to normal speed, Aether asked his friend, "What was that?"

"I have no idea….Ooh, maybe it was the Archons blessing Windbloom again!" Amber seemed to like that theory, so he relented and returned to his food.

"Yeah, maybe so."

They couldn't have known, but in that moment, Venti was walking across the gate grinning from ear to ear.