Aether was someone that Venti could call a friend, something that Dvalin would always say when Venti met up with him. The constant reminder that Venti now had another friend would sometimes take him off-guard, like a sudden gust of wind pushing objects off the shelf. How long ago had he befriended another? For a being who embraced freedom, his freedom had been a mostly lonely one.
"You forget about the humans who helped you save me. Are they not 'friends' as well?" Dvalin asked, his eyes gazing down at the green bard.
"Hmm, I wonder…" Venti's voice trailed off as Dvalin closed his eyes and sighed.
"It's been a long time since then, so why do you remain closed-off to humans?"
In his long years of living on Teyvat, Venti never forgot the first friend he made. It had been a time before he ascended to his place as an Archon. He had been a mere wisp, born from Anemo, drifting upon the wind and wandering from places to places. The nameless wisp of the wind enjoyed the freedom of travel. Where would he go this time? Only the wind that carried his wings know.
One day, the wisp accidentally wandered into the city behind Decarabian's wall. The howling storm that protects the city did not stop the wind from blowing the drifting wisp into the city. Why would it? A mere wisp could not do anything to the God of Storms or his people, and one born to the wind would die eventually without the wind. Venti was trapped behind the storm wall, left to wander within its confines until eventually, he stumbled upon a bard who wished to see the world beyond the storm.
The bard sang to the wisp of tales from the lands beyond. He sang of dragons who soar the sky, serpents who slither within the depths of the sea, and immortal beasts who prowl on mortal land. He sang of heroes who rose in times of need, kings who ruled with justice and equality, and knights who triumphed in war. He sang of battles, war, and bloodshed. He sang of life and death. The wisp listened, each note and line captured in his memory.
(Venti learned many songs over the years but the ones he preferred to sing were his songs.)
The bard's dreams fueled the flames of rebellion and his blood soaked the fallen rubble of Decarabian's tower. His dead eyes looked up upon the great blue sky, no longer consumed by a raging storm, as the voice of his comrades cried in joy of their newfound freedom and grief of the lives lost. And Venti bore witness to it all.
Thus, the tale of the nameless bard came to an end, with a country of freedom soaked in blood and the ascension of a new Anemo Archon.
"What would you do if you could have gone back in time? Would you have tried to save him even if it meant that Mondstadt would have lost its freedom?" Aether asked once Venti had finished reciting the tale.
"If I was what I was before, then his life I would restore. But what I am now, that is something I cannot allow."
After the bard, the number of people whom Venti could count as friends were few and far between. He had befriended a slave who later ascended to Celestia. He tried to befriend Boreas but the latter would always scoff at his attempts. Though he could call Dvalin his friend, the latter would be hesitant to do the same.
"The Four Winds was created to serve the Anemo Archon and to protect his land. Their relationship with the Archon cannot be personal," Dvalin explained to Aether. The latter had originally come to Stormterror's Lair to collect windwheel asters with his companion until Dvalin had shown up.
"But you are no longer one of the Four Winds right?" Paimon asked.
"Indeed. I do not yet see myself fit to reclaim the title."
"Then why won't you call Venti your friend?"
"Because even if I no longer bound myself to the duties of my previous title, I have still sworn myself to him."
The world of gods was a very lonely place. However, in the land of mortals, Venti never found himself alone.
(Even when it hurt every time he bore witness to their deaths.)
"What does it mean for a god to befriend a human?" Aether asked as he leaned against the Statue of the Seven.
Venti strummed his lyre but gave no answer. Instead, his fingers tracing the strings of his instruments before the silence gave way to a sad melody.
However, even with the grief he had experienced from the deaths of the few friends he had, Venti cherished each and every bond of friendship that he had received. The one bond he cherished the most, after his first friend, was his friendship with Aether. Aether was someone special, not in a romantic way but something that his gut feeling would say. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he came from a different world or that he was not exactly human.
(Perhaps it was because Aether looked lonely at times.)
Venti had sought out the young man as soon as the wind told him of his return to Mondstadt. However, despite searching high and low, even with the help of the wind, he was unable to find Aether or Paimon until the very next day. The two entered the city covered in leaves and dirt, looking exhausted. Venti walked up to them, Paimon immediately noticing him and calling out to him. Aether perked up visibly at that, making Venti smile. Venti was worried however, what had made Aether look so tired?
He guided the two away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into a quiet cozy location at the corner of Mondstadt, where few frequent the place. He sat Aether down on the bench, beneath the shade of a large ancient tree, and Paimon was quick to settle herself on Aether's lap. Venti sat down beside them, pulling out his lyre and strumming a few melodies. Aether was silent throughout and Venti had no desire to sate his curiosity just yet. As he continued to play a few random tunes, he felt a weight leaning against him, disrupting the song he was playing. He looked to the side, only to find Aether sleeping upon his shoulder.
"I guess I find it safe to be in your presence," Aether said as he leaned against Venti, the latter strumming a few notes on his favorite lyre.
"Would that change if you knew what I have done?"
"You're my friend, I doubt that would change."
As he turned back to his lyre, Venti wondered what made Aether different from the other friends he had. His first friend showed him a world of songs, born from his desire for freedom. Vanessa showed him the will of humans, the desire to walk free. What had Aether shown him? Rather, what had he seen in Aether? Was it his honesty or empathy? Or was it his willingness to help anyone who asked?
"Venti," Aether called out, his hand resting on his face as he continued to lay upon the grassy field. The grass crunched beneath the bard's feet as he approached the man. "Venti, I'm tired."
Venti sat down beside Aether before he asked, "Why are you tired?"
"I'm tired of being used. I want to help but it feels like I have gone nowhere with my own quest. I'm just so tired…"
As Aether continued to sleep, time moved on. A few curious passersby would glance at them but none would approach. Aether continued to sleep and Venti continued to wait patiently. It was only when the sky turned orange from the glow of the setting sun that the man stirred from his nap.
"Venti? Oh! I'm sorry for sleeping on you. Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I thought you could use the rest."
They departed after dinner, leaving Venti alone to walk back to Windrise. And throughout the entire journey, his thoughts remained centered on Aether. Venti was worried despite the man's reassurance, something that he had not felt in a long time. Perhaps it was time to shed away the last chain that binds him to his land. Mondstadt had survived without him for a long time and for that, he was proud of his people. He no longer held the bond that bound him to Celestia, so why must he keep himself here if he is freed of his duty to that place?
(After all, the only thing he desires the most is freedom.)
Perhaps it was finally time to ask the question, what did he want? Does he want to travel with the wind beyond the lands he was bound to? Does he want to sing the tales of his friend? Does he want to bear witness to what was to come, even if the tale ends in tragedy?
(The answer is yes. It had always been yes.)
"Aether, if you would allow me to, will you let me join you on your quest?"