"Thanks for the help, Erlund. Schulz, you should learn better from the way he forges those tools. Make it precise, and do not hurry. Take time with steel, and it will become as sharp as a razor." Wagner waved at Erlund, who had left after helping out the blacksmith.
Erlund, strolling across the city of Mondstadt, bought some of Mondstadt's Chicken-Mushroom Skewer from the nearby vendor.
"That would be 450 Mora, Honorary Knight." The vendor smiled as he received the 450 coins from the Dragonborn.
Looking at the remaining Mora, he wandered what came of the origin for this to be called Mora, since a septim in Skyrim originated the Septim Empire founded by Tiber Septim himself. Looking carefully at the details of the gold coin, it had an odd shape, which shows a figure with three different points and a triangle behind it.
As he chews on the chicken skewered on a stick, the Dragonborn noticed a familiar-looking person in a green outfit in the corner of his eye. The green cape that flaps along the wind made Erlund look towards where the person was heading.
I think I have seen that person before. Erlund thought as he tried to follow the direction of the mysterious person in a green outfit.
As he walked briskly behind the green-caped bard, he watched the surroundings as it seemed that no crowds appeared to bat an eye to this person except for one.
Erlund immediately realized that he was not the only one following this person as he looked in the direction where the Traveler and his tiny companion followed this Green Fellow.
Surprisingly, the Traveler didn't notice who was behind this green bard as he seemed too focused on following the person who appeared to be way similar to the person who was talking to the dragon.
Erlund then witnessed how the seemingly way too feminine person used the wind to relocate on the wall. Dumbfounded that this person can manipulate the winds means that this might be a thief or just a show-off.
When the Traveler arrived on that same wall, he became confused about how that person had disappeared.
"Paimon thinks that guy must have climbed the wall. Let's get up there. He might be above." Paimon suggested.
Aether then jumped as he hooked his fingers on the uneven surfaces of the wall. He then climbed up on the wall in a matter of twenty seconds.
Erlund used the stairs just a few meters ahead of him, wondering if Aether must have been stupid or too tunnel-visioned to look at the stairs that are literally just beside them.
Either that tiny atronach and that boy are too dense, or both of them are too focused on following that guy. Erlund thought as he climbed up the stairs, which revealed that the person in the green outfit held a lyre.
The crowd gathers around the bard as it seems that he might start his little songs to play.
What a strange fellow. Are bards like that here in Teyvat? He thought as if maybe he might just be a particular case.
The Dragonborn then leaned his body on the pillars as he seemed interested on what song this bard might sing.
The bard plays the lyre as he tells the story of the time when Archons still walked on earth—a story of how an Anemo plays his lyre while the dragon sings along with him. The two became close friends as it seems as they play along like a dancer dancing to the lyre's tunes. However, a rogue dragon flew over Mondstadt that brought death over the town's citizens. This brought the two dragons to a brutal war. Over time the war has ended, leaving wounds on the dragon who was once the Archon's friend. For centuries it suffered from its injuries, and its infection has spread. No longer did the tunes reach out to him—no one to soothe his pain. The dragon is abandoned. Betrayal has been felt on its tears as red tear crystals are dropped.
Erlund, hearing such a tragic story of a dragon that its people have long abandoned, believed that this might be one of the leads for this dragon.
Though he thought of this as a metaphor, maybe a dragon in this world would seem way too relatable, or rather, the bard must have twisted the story to fit in with the human emotion.
It still sounds way too off-putting for him for a dragon to become in such a state. A dragon for him is nothing other than a lizard that wreaks havoc across the lands of Tamriel. Though he made some exceptions with some, he knew some of them were friendlier than he thought.
Perhaps this dragon is misunderstood, Erlund thought.
He watched from afar as the Traveler, Paimon and this Green Fellow chatted.
"You must be the one that scared Dvalin away." The bard said.
"Dvalin? Who's that?" Paimon asked.
Dvalin? Stormterror's real name? The Dragonborn thought as he raised his head.
Aether shrugged, wondering who that was.
"Should I keep my mouth shut, or should I interfere?" Erlund thought as maybe it might be a better outcome.
"It's Stormterror's real name, isn't it?" Erlund approached the three from behind, scaring Paimon.
"Eeek! It's the Shouting Barbarian. Where are my earplugs? Paimon doesn't want her ears ruptured." Paimon levitates towards Aether as she hides behind his back.
"You're certainly right, mister." The mysterious Green Fellow said.
"So, Uhm, you are..." The Traveler asked who he was.
"I'm Venti the Bard. The three-time winner of the "Most Popular Bard in Mondstadt," the bard introduced himself.
"I see... A self-proclaimed bard of Mondstadt. You must have been famous in this city with that confidence." Erlund sarcastically said as he had not even heard about him.
The bard then made a smiling charm as he thought that the Dragonborn complimented him.
"Since you know us already, Paimon wants an explanation." Paimon requested, yet hesitant in the presence of the Dragonborn.
"Explanation for what?" The bard asked.
"It's the Stormterror business!" Paimon shouted.
"Storm... what?"
"Cut the act, you dense self-proclaimed bard!" Paimon slowly has the urge to slap this bard.
"Show it to him, Aether!" She looked at Aether, waiting for him to show him something that they'd been hiding.
Aether pulled out the floating tear-shaped gem, which was revealed to be a different color than what he previously remembered.
"Isn't that..." Venti says, only to get interrupted by Paimon's shock.
"What? It's in a different color!" Paimon said as she looked at the now, purified gem.
"There were impurities, as red as blood from what I remembered," Erlund explained.
"How did it become purified?" Paimon asked.
Aether shrugged afterward, not even bothering how it got there in the first place.
"Dvalin must have been in pain... The anguish has brought him to tears."
"Tears, you say?" Erlund asked.
"I came across him as well..." Venti said as he brought him the tear that is filled with impurities.
"He was as gentle as a child... Can you purify it?" Venti gave the tear with impurities to Aether.
Holding the tear by the palm, Aether turned the red-blood tear into a purified crystal clear gem.
The three watched in awe at how it became purified while Erlund crossed his arms and moved his eyes in a circular motion as if he was trying to say, 'let's get this over with, shall we?'
I would have called J'zargo if he was here. Erlund thought of J'zargo, a student of Winterhold, who was one of his close friends as he learned through the elemental magics he was taught in that college.
"You really do have an amazing elemental ability, Aether. You might end up in one of the bard's songs." Venti said as he started thinking of a poem for this Traveler.
"Anyways, thank you so much for purifying that tear. Though Dvalin may not have been taken down, his life might still wither away." Venti said as he looked downwards with a sour expression.
"I do feel sorry for Dvalin as well..." Aether said as he placed his hand on the shoulder of Venti.
"Well... I have to go, it seems. I have a plan in mind." Venti said as he slowly distances away from Aether and Paimon.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"To the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero. Goodbye!" Venti swiftly leaves the vicinity leaving Aether, Paimon, and Erlund in the area.
"Aether... What do you make of that?"
"I guess we have to keep watch on that 'weirdo,'" Aether said.
"You're a weirdo, too, you know..." Paimon said.
"Says the tiny floating atronach. I've never seen your kind at all in these places," The Dragonborn said as he tried to call out Paimon.
"Hey! That's uncalled for, you Shouting Barbarian! And stop calling Paimon weird names. You keep saying things that even Paimon has never heard of!" Paimon stomped her feet mid-air like a child who did not get her candy.
"Speak for yourself for calling me a 'Shouting Barbarian,'"
"But you really are a shouting barbarian!"
"Do you want me to shout at you with my Thu'um? I'll blow you away from where you're floating."
"Eeek! Aether! Paimon needs help. He's going to blow Paimon away." Paimon hides behind Aether again.
"Sigh... Calm down, you two. Let's find Venti. He said the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero, right? I think I know where that is," Aether said as he tried to calm down the two.
"I need some answers from that bard. He seems to be avoiding the subject regarding that dragon. Besides, I've seen him when he interacted with that dragon." Erlund crossed his arms as he said that.
"Huh... You were there as well when he was talking to that dragon. Where were you when that happened." Aether placed his hand on his chin.
"Left side of the cliff."
"Two witnesses, huh. Come on, let's go. Time's wasting." Aether nodded.
"What? Paimon doesn't want to be together with that barbarian. Paimon might lose her hearing if he's here," Paimon said as she floated behind Aether.
"Come on. You're just getting ridiculous." The three then headed to a place which is called The Symbol of Mondstadt.
As they reached an open field, they came across a huge tree in the middle of a river. There they saw the Green Fellow looking at the tree as if he seemed to be contemplating on something.
"Hey, Venti!" Paimon called as they arrived.
"Oh. What are you guys doing around here?" The bard turned around.
"Well... Do you happen to know something about the Anemo God?" Aether asked.
"Why do you wish to know about the Anemo God, Barbatos. Does this have something to do with Dvalin?" Venti crossed his arms as he asked.
"Someone told me about Dvalin's past," Erlund recalled when he was at the temple with Lisa
"Just how is it that everyone sees Stormterror? I'm just curious." Venti thought.
"I have another question as well. Why were you talking with that dragon? From the way you told that story, something doesn't add up."
There's no need to rush, though. I've not been back in a while. It seems that there are few who are not happy with my arrival." Venti looks far ahead as if he is pointing at something.
Aether then looked in Venti's direction to see a glowing green ball that floats mid-air.
"These new creatures are starting to annoy me," said the Dragonborn as he unsheathes the newly-made steel battleaxe he recently forged.
The Traveler and the Dragonborn approach the green floating ball of light but are greeted by a large gust of wind blowing in their direction. They covered their eyes from the strong winds coming from the Eye of the Storm.
"Aahh! My eyes... I can't see!" Paimon covers her eyes with her right arm and hangs on the hair of Aether as if she is being blown away.
The Eye of the Storm then tried to attack head-on by blowing its wind in a circular motion as if it was preparing its attack. It charges ahead on Erlund's direction sweeping him away.
"Aaahh!" Erlund flew a few meters from where he stood but then landed on his feet as soon as he hit the ground.
"I did not expect that being could lift me that easily," Erlund said as he placed the handle of his battleaxe on the ground as if he is holding his ground.
Aether then tried to use his wind to lift himself to attack the flying being. However, the Eye of the Storm used its wind to stop the momentum of the Traveler, making him fall, but Aether tumbled on the ground, reducing the severity of the fall that would have occurred.
He looked above as the Eye of the Storm blocked the sunlight with its whole body. Noticing the intention, Aether then braces for impact as the Eye of the Storm drops itself as if it is using its body to smash him.
As he tightens his grip with the sword he held, a large clang is heard from the front of him. He looked in front to see Erlund block him using his battleaxe as his support. With his whole body, he pushed the orb forward, trying to mitigate the damage it had done to him.
The Eye of the Storm, now on the ground, hinted both Aether and Erlund were to attack. They simultaneously rushed to the monster and swung their specific weapon on it.
The Dragonborn held his two-handed battleaxe up high and, in a swift motion, penetrated the orb's shards while Aether thrusts his sword on the Eye of the Storm's exposed area.
The orb then started to weaken as if it was dying, losing the light that it had, and in a few seconds, it lost its life.
The two sheathed their weapon and walked back to where Venti was.
"Seems that dragon isn't the only thing affected by the change of wind..." Venti said as he placed his hands on his hips.
"Now then, you were saying?" Venti asked.
Erlund then explained the situation regarding the dragon's past, while Aether added up some of the gaps when he researched it in Lisa's library.
"Hmmm... Lisa sure has done her research. You as well, Aether, and Erlund. She's not wrong, though. It didn't come from the fact that it is his nature or that people didn't pay tribute in the Four Winds' Temple. It's more on the fact that it came from his own degradation." Venti explained as well.
"Really... Degradation..." Erlund thought.
"That black blood flowing through his heart had been torturing him for years. That is one of the reasons why he has been led astray by the Abyss Mage."
"Abyss Mage? I never heard of that," Aether exclaimed.
"They are an organization comprised of non-humans beings. They are made for the sole being of hating humanity" Venti explained
"Non-human? Like they're not man, or are they mer? Or are they beasts?" Erlund asked.
"Mer? I've never heard of that. I do not know if they are beasts if I remember," Venti scratched his head with his finger.
"Huh... Reminds me of 'those' bastards," Erlund recalled about them back in Skyrim.
"Anyway, I don't know where they came from, and hilichurls take orders from them and act as their weapon. Before I arrived here, I was cursed just like Dvalin. But now, I stand against the symbols of Monstadt's hero. Being here with the two of you feels like the poison is leaving my body..."
"How exactly did you get poisoned?" Paimon asked.
"Uhm.. that was because I was interrupted while I tried to communicate with Dvalin. Not only that, I was not able to break his curse, but I was infected as well..." Venti crossed his arms.
"Was... that my fault?" Aether asked, feeling a bit of guilt when he witnessed that event.
"Yes! It was you." Venti pointed out.
"To make up for it. You're coming with me to the Cathedral." Venti said as he pointed his finger on Aether.
"Hmph... I'll be going then. This is not my business, anyway." Erlund tries to leave, knowing that his presence in the conversation seems non-existent.
"Oh, you too, Erlund. You were there as well! Don't try to hide it. A sudden change of wind was felt when I was talking to Dvalin," Venti exclaimed.
"What? I haven't done anything to you, though," The Dragonborn said as he raised his arms.
"You saw what happened, and you're coming with us."
"To do what?" Erlund asked.
"To claim a certain "Holy lyre Der Himmel,""
"A what?'
"It's a certain lyre that the Anemo God, Barbatos, used to tame Dvalin. It is one of the most valuable items and has been held in high security under the Cathedral."
"You mean to say that we're going to use an important item that may be able to take out the dragon?" Erlund asked
"Exactly, Erlund!"
"What?" Erlund, shocked at what he heard.
"Uh... Nevermind! Just come with me," Venti said as he ran back to the direction heading to Mondstadt.
Aether and Paimon followed as well, leaving Erlund behind.
"Hey! Wait up!" Paimon said as she grabbed Aether's hair by the end.
He followed the three as they headed back in the direction towards Mondstadt.
The four had arrived back in Mondstadt where Venti sits on the ledge near the stairs which is a few meters near the Cathedral.
Aether caught up as he catches his breath, placing both his hands on his knees, as his sweat drops from all the running he had all the way back to the city.
"Uwah... Paimon is really tired from all that running...!" Paimon wipes the sweat on her forehead.
"You weren't even running in the first place. How are you sweating when you can float!" Aether snorted as he takes in all the oxygen while Venti smiles as he playfully swings his legs across the ledge.
Erlund, watches Aether with confusion, as he did not even break a sweat from all that running. In the first place, he was already ahead of Aether while they were in the middle of chasing Venti.
"Well... We're here now. If you already had catch your breathe. Hehe~!" Venti giggled.
"So... This 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' is..." Paimon says
"One of the most treasured items in Mondstadt. It's the lyre that Barbatos used to play. I can help Dvalin draw his gentle nature back from his night he has gone through." Venti explained.
"Of course! I'm the best bard in the world! There's not a single song I do not know. no matter if it's from the past, present, or future." Venti placed his hands on his hips proudly.
"I have a favor then, young bard." Erlund suggested.
"What is it?"
"I would like to request a song when this... 'Lyre heist' will be done." Erlundsaid.
"Of course! I know many songs. A song that you would request will be granted after this... So... Look me in the eyes. Do you not find me trustworthy?" Venti asked Aether after he granted Erlund's wish.
"What exactly are you hiding?" Aether asked.
"Uhmm..."
"How do we get the lyre?"
"I'll take a look around then.. You can come with me if you want," Venti said as he walked towards the door of the Cathedral.
Aether followed Venti's back while Erlund followed last.
As they entered the Cathedral, they were greeted by such an elegant sight as the interior design of the entire temple is such a sight.
Erlund stayed behind the door to check if anyone outside the door may be tailing them. He glanced to the right to see three people dressed in strange coats with masks, two males and one female wearing a purple robe, chatting to each other as if they seemed to be plotting something.
The Dragonborn raised his eyebrow as if he suspected that they may be planning something obnoxious that he may have thought.
Closing the door of the Cathedral, he watched as the young bard seemed to be chatting with the priestess while Aether slowly looked down in embarrassment.
He tried to talk to the priestess as well but it seems to no avail as if they both sighed and looked down.
Erlund, looking afar approached the two as they seem to be a bit down.
"What seems to be of a problem?" Erlund asked as he looked at the two.
"Ah..! Erlund, you have any suggestions to steal the lyre?"
"Y-you're joking, aren't you?" Erlund asked as if he seemed to be skeptical at the bard.
"Hahaha... No...! It seems Aether disagrees. Maybe you would sneak up and steal the lyre." Venti added.
"Hold on there... You're saying that we are going to steal this valuable item? I do not wish to take it and spend the rest of my days in another cage. You should ask someone else,"
"Well.. There are only two of you who can steal it. Aside from singing, that's the only talent I ever had. But both of you are incredible warriors. Yet, Mondstadt seems to shrug it off as if you are just another guard of this castle. Speaking of guard, they seemed to be a little off-duty at night."
"You're saying as if I am taking this job," Erlund retorted.
"Yeah...! Erlund's right. We're not taking stealing one of Mondstadt's treasure!"
"Wa-wait... Didn't you say that you're Barbatos, Venti?" Aether asked.
"Barbatos... you mean the Anemo god...?" Erlund raised his eyebrows.
"Ohh ah, yes. What's your point?" Venti asked.
"If you're a god, then I simply can't leave you." Aether said, realizing how much of an importance it is that he admitted that he's a god standing before him.
"But why does your decision is between the point that I am a god or not?" Venti crossed his arms.
"A god? Do you believe such bigotry coming from a bard? You must be really out of your head, Aether," Erlund snorted,
"And if you're not a god, I will still help Dvalin anyway." Aether finally determined to plan ahead as he looked at the door that leads to the place where the lyre is located.
"Oh, for the love of Mara, and the other nine divines, you really are stealing such an item just for a god that stands in front of his own temple. Worse, a boy that only does nothing but sings and ask favors with vague explanations. If you need me, I will simply be waiting outside this... katidral." The Dragonborn walked outside while Aether slowly crept in the door and Venti watched as both simply left the Cathedral.
Erlund stepped out of the Cathedral's door and walked behind the structure. He noticed that one of the three people with masks dressed in coats had gone missing. The robed female had not been present while the two men looked like they were waiting for her to arrive.
"Man, she's been taking quite a while! Any more minute and the guards would be suspicious of us," The blonde, masked man said as he leaned his back at the wall of the Cathedral.
"Just shut your mouth. Any more sound you make, and you'll draw in more attention. Say, there's that weird guy that keeps looking at us lately. Do you know that guy?" The other masked man, with brown hair, and a darker coat pointed at the Dragonborn.
"I... Don't know, but he seems familiar." He thought as he looked at Erlund suspiciously.
"Hey... Isn't that one of the Honorary Knights of Favonius? Why is he here?" The blonde guy finally recalled.
"Well met, fellow citizens. What seems to be the occasion here? And who are you waiting for?" Erlund asked as he casually approaches the two.
"Well... We're waiting for our friend to arrive here. She seemed to be taking a bit too long now." One of the suspicious agents said.
"I see... A while ago she was with the both of you. Where did she tell you guys to go, I might look for her,"
"Uh... You see, she did say that she went to the Cathedral to... worship Barbatos. We just didn't expect her to be so... devoted. Don't you think?" The blondie bumped the other guy's shoulder as he laughed, telling him to laugh as well.
"Shouldn't you guys be waiting inside the temple? It would be more convenient than to stand behind here like a bunch of shady thieves who wants to steal a certain item," Erlund wondered.
"W-what are you saying? Hehehe... We're just waiting for her to arrive here. There's nothing wrong with that, right?" One of the agent nervously sweated, trying to keep his stance but because of the way he has easily been suspected, his body language tells the Dragonborn that he had caught them.
"I see, but why do you seem so nervous when I said that. I was just speculating at first. There's no way that you would be stealing something from a temple, right?" He asked as he slowly approached the two.
The aura of Erlund as he approaches the two slowly breaks the confidence of the two as if they are approached by a wild bear that caught them trapped by an entangled vine.
Suddenly, the robed woman appeared right behind the two Fatui agents, holding what seems to be a lyre.
"Come on, you slowpokes! They might catch us," She pulls in the shoulder of the blonde masked man as they make their way to escape leaving the other guy.
"W-wait! What about me! Hey!" The other agent ran to the ledge only to notice that the two had made it far, while he looked behind to see the man with a horned Nordic helmet stare at his eyes as if his soul is being taken to Oblivion.
"P-please... L-leave me alone..."
"I have a lot of questions with you," Erlund said as he grabbed the Fatui agent by the collar and gave him a good punch on the chin, knocking him out.
As he walked back to the entrance, he saw Venti playfully swinging his legs, but there was a sudden blast of door openings, and Aether appeared hurried as he ran towards Venti.
"We've been caught! Run!" Paimon shouted.
"What? Follow me!" Venti said as he leaps off the ledge, escaping with Aether, leaving the Dragonborn behind.
Erlund, realizing he is in a situation, swiftly runs on the left side and uses the tall pillars on the side, ensuring he would not get caught by the guards.
"Find those thieves! Ask the rest who had seen them, and arrest those who are in the vicinity of the Cathedral!" One of the guards ordered as the rest came out of the Cathedral's door, searching the surrounding area as fast as possible.
"Gods damn it!" Erlund knew that he couldn't leave the Fatui agent behind since he was too important to be in the hands of the Knights of Favonius. And even if he did let them get their hands on him, Aether will still be suspected of it.
It does not matter for now. They ran away on their own and most likely are safe. Aether and Venti had left the scene as fast as possible, but they were too busy to even think about the Dragonborn, who they left him on a whim.
Hiding behind the pillars on the side of the Cathedral, two guards searched around Erlund's area. One searched each pillar, finding if anyone might be around these sides.
Erlund, grabbing the unconscious Fatui by his shoulder, sneaked behind the two as the two had yet caught him in their sights. The two walked past the Dragonborn's vicinity, giving him a small opportunity to escape.
He jumped off the ledge, escaping the area where he used the Wind Glider to glide towards a nearby land he saw, which appeared to be Cider Lake.
Escaping the city as he landed on the other side, he fled through the wilderness and brought the Fatui Agent with him. He made sure that no one was tracking behind him and had to keep himself out of their sights from the city since that place was still crawling with guards.
As he ran away as far as possible, he ended up further in the wilderness. There he made a campfire to stay for the night, together with the unconscious Fatui agent.