Xiao was currently trying to think of Barbatos in such a way that it wouldn't make him irrationally angry. Whenever the bard came to mind, he couldn't help but think about how he had betrayed Rex Lapis, betrayed him. He also felt a tinge of regret. Why couldn't things have gone better between them? They'd been such good friends before, why couldn't they stay that way? He found himself absently tracing the outline of his vision, a reminder that no matter what, the wind god's grace would always stay with him. He scowled and yanked on it. Instead, Xiao tried to focus on the almond tofu he had just finished preparing. He had made enough for two servings so he could control his emotions during a longer telling of history. Unfortunately for him, this meant he had to save it for when Aether arrived and that he couldn't eat it at the moment. He sadly eyed the delectable while a little saliva dripped from his mouth.

Aether bursts in through the door a few minutes later, not even bothering to knock. Xiao doesn't bother to look at him, instead grabbing the almond tofu platter and making himself comfortable on one of the chairs. "Take a seat," he instructs the blond boy. Aether notices the large plate of almond tofu in Xiao's hands at the same time Xiao notices the bowl of almond tofu in Aether's. Without saying a word the conqueror of demons reaches out and takes Aether's bowl from him.

"B-but that's too much almond tofu for one man!" Aether exlclaims. Xiao nonchalantly dumps Aether's almond tofu onto his own plate. "I'm an adeptus," he remarks.

Aether huffs and settles down in his chair. Xiao remains in the same position. He looks pensive and takes a small bite from his almond tofu once every minute. "Well?" Aether asks.

Xiao suddenly blinks as if he remembers he had company. "Give me a second. I'm thinking."

The Yaksha continues to think for a few minutes, before he clears his throat and starts.

Back in the day, Barbatos refused to shoulder his duties. Quite similar to today, in fact. That was why he was traversing hundreds of miles southwest of where his nation was.

In hindsight, I realize that Barbatos had been watching me for several months before that day I almost died. It was too coincidental for him to arrive at that very moment. There were too many unexplained incidents before then as well. My master would punish me less often since he was apparently engaged with fighting another god in territory disputes. I would also randomly find food lying around the places I most frequently slept, which at first I thought was poisoned, but after cautiously trying it, tasted sweet and light.

I assume the reason why he did this was to groom me into thinking he was a good person. The purpose of this was to eventually turn me from Rex Lapis and keep me loyal to him. He wished for me to laze around the same as he did and not perform my responsibilities to Liyue.

Aether interrupted. "How can you be sure of any of this?" he asked. Xiao didn't respond. He took another bite of his almond tofu, taking the time to ponder his answer while chewing. When he swallowed, he responded. "Every single one of his actions were tailored against Rex Lapis. I know that now. He simply used me as a pawn against him. And before you say anything more," he said, looking at Aether who looked ready to speak up again, "I'll tell you how I was sure of this. I haven't gotten there yet. Be patient boy."

I went up to Barbatos when I saw him in the distance. I wanted to know who he was and why he saved me.

"Hi Xiao!" he said, in that cheery tone of his. It felt as though he was mocking me.

"I am eternally grateful towards you for saving my life. Please tell me your name so I can thank my savior more clearly." I stated while prostrating myself before him.

"Ah, no need to be so formal!" he remarked while waving his hand at me. I noticed he was strumming a lyre, I assume to put my guard down.

"Anyway, my name is Barbatos, but you can call me Venti!"

"Thank you Venti," I respond. "I would've met my end here if it wasn't for you."

"Heh, no problem." He responded nonchalantly. He pulled a bottle from seemingly nowhere. "Want a drink?"

I found myself headed towards Mount Tianheng with Barbatos. He seemed to be leading the conversation as well as the group in most ways, continually chattering on and on. I found it pleasant after a while however; listening to his blithe and carefree talk was a pleasant escape from what I faced back in "Liyue"

When we got a reasonable distance up the mountain, the bard was certainly drunk. I had refused alcohol up to that point since it smelled awful, but eventually I took pity on him and decided to take a sip myself. That lead to another sip a few minutes later, and eventually I drank half of the bottle.

I was silent for a while, although Barbatos was rambling cheerfully. Eventually, I decided to ask him something that was on my mind for a while. "Why did you save me?"

"Because you were there, stuuuupid!" he responded, poking my face with his finger. The effort almost made him collapse into my lap.

"But why?" I continued to prod. "Why would you save someone and not attempt to enslave them? Especially for a powerful god who managed to kill someone like Decarabian."

Barbatos looked at me a bit more seriously, although he was still not quite in his right mind thanks to the alcohol. "I don't want to enslave people. I don't have any need for a slave. Everything I need I can harvest from the Earth, or work a little for and buy. Plus, if I don't want to be a slave, that must mean others don't want to be slaves either! As for why I saved you, well…I just like preventing people from coming to harm! It gives me a good feeling inside!" Barbatos attempted to gesture to his heart, although in reality he was pointing at his left shoulder. "It makes me feel good here! It makes everyone feel good!" I was still a little confused, but I understood his basic idea. I disliked killing people. Maybe that meant I would feel the opposite if I helped them. Therefore it would be good for everyone if I helped people!

I needed to ask one more question though. "Why me though? I hurt people. I am no more than a common executioner, a devil taken human form."

Barbatos just smiled at me. "Everyone deserves a second chance! The world isn't truly free unless people are allowed to change and make the world a better place!"

I thought for a second. "D-do you think I d-d-deserve a s-second chance? A-a-after what I've d-done?"

"Offf course you do!" Barbatos said. "Everyone includes you! Care for another drink?"

I tried to say something else, but at that moment, I started to cry. I didn't say anything so I could attempt to hide my tears. Barbatos pretended not to notice and gave me another drink. I took a long swig and rested my head on his shoulder and cried for a long time. He held my head and patted it and whispered sweet nothings into my ear. After that, we just remained there for a few hours, sitting in peace.

"Of course, after I got back to "Liyue" I vomited for two hours straight. That was the first time I ever had alcohol and I drank almost a full bottle of strong stuff. Everything in my system had to go. In fact, I'm pretty sure I expelled a few hopes and dreams I ate several months ago. I had to stay clear of that space for a solid two weeks."

Aether made a face. "Thanks for that…" he said.

"I'm just warning you about the mistakes of underage drinking." Xiao retorts. "The reason why I told you that entire story was so it would thoroughly get imprinted into your mind: don't drink."

Aether huffed. "Whatever old man. Get back to the story!"

Xiao felt surprisingly calm. In fact, some of his karmic debt had died down and he didn't feel as the pain he usually did. He expected talking about Barbatos would bring up unpleasant memories, but since he hadn't bothered digging through some of his first memories, he found to his surprise most of them conjured pleasant emotions. In fact, he didn't even feel embarrassed about sharing several with the traveler since he enjoyed the feeling of knowing Venti again. He knew that would soon change though…

After that fateful day, Barbatos suddenly disappeared from the town. He would eventually return, but I didn't know it at the time. I despaired the loss of my first real companion in years for a week. I continued to perform my master's duties as per usual, but whenever I had free time, I would just imagine drinking with him, stroking my fingers through his hair. I wanted to do what he had preached, but I couldn't. I couldn't stand up against my master.

My karmic debt continued to accumulate. I didn't know what it was at the time. I just knew whenever I killed someone, more of it pooled in my body. I wanted to make it stop.

I hated myself. I hated my cowardice. I hated the way I killed people just because my master commanded. I decided I would end this, one way or another. Either I would die or my master would. This was done almost a week from when Barbatos left me.

I drank a glass of wine. This was done to both remind me of the god and to make me more reckless.

My master asked me to slaughter a particular person, one who conspired against him. I knew this person from seeing her around town. She, like many others, had their loyalty to a foreign god. Unlike the other humans, she assembled believers to hold mass for that god in private.

It happened so quickly. I stabbed my master through the heart. He turned at the last second, it only punctured his lung. He glared at me with hatred and attempted to grab my spear from me. I spun around and pierced him again. At that point, he turned into a wind and fled.

I tried to chase him, but he was much faster than me. I ran for miles upon miles, all the way to Tianheng. At that point, I stopped. I knew he'd be back eventually. I'd have to take precautions when that day arrived. At the moment, though, I was tired. I let myself sit down on the mountain. I felt proud of myself for the first time since I was a wind. I looked to my left and saw Barbatos. "Care for a drink?" he asked.

Aether stretches. "You've been going on with this story long today Xiao. Is it ok if I come back tomorrow?"

"I barely even started." Xiao responded. "Look at how little I've eaten of my almond tofu," he gestures to his plate, still brimming with the dessert.

"I'm sorry Xiao. I promised Xinyan I'd help her with something. Can you continue telling me tomorrow?" he looks at the yaksha with puppy dog eyes.

Xiao groans, but agrees. Aether leaves, apparently in a rush. Xiao waves to him on his way out.

While nibbling at a little of the almond tofu, Xiao realizes he's become more emotional than before. He thought all of his early memories of the bard were pleasant, but he forgot how much it stung that he left like that. Xiao stews over Barbatos a while longer. Why couldn't he have stayed just one more day? Why couldn't he have helped me kill my master? Xiao spears his almond tofu as if it was an enemy to defeat.

Of course, Xiao thought to himself, Barbatos couldn't compare to a real god such as Rex Lapis. All his silly talk of freedom and doing the right thing didn't mean shit if he wasn't able to carry it out. He didn't tell me at the time, but he wasn't even primarily responsible for defeating Decarabian, it was the people of Mondstadt. What a buffoon, not protecting his people and allowing them to go head to head with a god. Someone could've gotten hurt.