It was with a small amount of trepidation that Zhongli seated himself at a table outside of the Good Hunter, one of Mondstadt's better-known eateries. Of all the nations outside of Liyue, only on the soil of Mondstadt did he feel he could tread unchallenged. Even so… the breezes that had caressed him during his journey left little doubt in his mind that his arrival had not gone unnoticed.

Given that his previous intrusions had not prompted Barbatos's personal attention, it was somewhat surprising that this time a familiar green-clad bard approached the table to rest a hand on the seat across from him. Zhongli was pleased to note that not a trace of the stormy expression that had adorned the Archon's boyish face so many years ago remained. The two of them had had hard words to share the last time they had spoken, and Zhongli was relieved to see that the Anemo Archon did not seem inclined to revisit that disagreement.

"It is wonderful to see you, my beloved old friend!" the bard enthused. "The Traveler hath bade me hither, yet I know not to what end!"

"It is good to see you, as well," Zhongli replied, a slight smile gracing his features. It should have been no surprise to learn that Lumine had arranged this encounter. "If you don't mind my asking, how would you like to be addressed?"

"The name I perform under these days is Venti, thank you for asking!" the bard replied with a theatrical bow. "And I would ask the same…?"

"Zhongli, consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," Zhongli replied, returning a bow of his own.

Venti barked back a startled laugh, "Wangsheng FUNERAL Parlor?" He shook his head in amusement. "I suppose it fits, in a strange way. I'd offer a song – a Liyuean ballad in honor of Rex Lapis, perhaps, to commemorate his passing. It would seem that such a tune would be inappropriate?"

Venti pulled out the chair spun it around and straddled it, draping his arms across the chair's back and resting his chin upon them. He was still smiling, but the smile had become melancholy. He sighed, deeply. "T'was painful, you know. To hear of the Geo Archon's death. To learn that I was now the eldest of us. What happened?"

Zhongli shook his head, sadly. "I'm sorry. It was not my intention to cause you pain, my friend. I simply felt that it was… time to move on." Zhongli hesitated a moment. "I… was also unsure whether the news would be unwelcome. As you recall, we did not part on the best of terms."

Venti looked pained at that. "I suppose I can't fault you for that," he admitted. "Khaenri'ah… They were trying times, to say the least. You did what you had to do. As did I. You were so stoic about it, though! It grated on me. Angered me." Venti sighed again. "I've had a lot of time to reflect, though. The anger… it was more at myself, than anyone. There were no good choices to be made, in those dark days, and the repercussions of the choices we did make still linger, to the detriment of all."

"But enough maudlin reminiscing! It has been centuries since your last visit to this fine city! To what do we owe the occasion? As much as I might like to wish otherwise, surely it can't be to see little old me?"

"Well," Zhongli began, coughing delicately into his fist, "Actually, I'm here on a date."

Venti froze, eyes fixed on his companion. "…a date?"

"Yes, a date. With Lumine." Zhongli wasn't quite sure how Venti would take the news, but he couldn't imagine it would be anything he'd like to be a part of. Nonetheless, it was going to come out eventually. Might as well get it over with.

The two of them sat in uncomfortable silence for several agonizing seconds.

"A jest?" Venti finally offered. "Has stony-faced Rex Lapis finally found a sense of humor after six thousand years bereft?"

"It is not a joke," Zhongli sighed. "While the reasons are complicated, she and I are," Zhongli paused, recalling the words Paimon and Xinyan had used, "an item."

After another moment of silence, Venti declared, "Yes, I believe I am far too sober to properly process this. Fortunately, I came prepared!" The bard produced a slender bottle – from where, Zhongli could not discern.

Upon seeing the label, Zhongli's eyes widened in surprise. "Osmanthus. And a decent vintage at that."

"I thought you'd approve," Venti smiled as he filled his companion's glass. "In my profession, coin seldom lingers long in my pocket. But I always made sure to save enough to keep a bottle of this on hand, for the day we might share it once again. It gladdens my heart to see that day finally come!"

Zhongli felt a twinge of guilt at that. Venti caught the pained expression and hastened, "No need for regrets. Five centuries are not that great a span, and truthfully I've spent much of that time in slumber. Let us simply appreciate that our long-abandoned table of seven is finally back up to two! That's fine progress, in my estimation, and we have our beloved Traveler to thank for it."

"Indeed," Zhongli, agreed. He sipped his wine. It was exquisite. "Perhaps we'll be joined by the others in due time. The Traveler has a unique way of drawing others to her side."

"True enough. If she could get your petrified heart pumping, I'd wager even frigid Beleth will be no match for her charms! And on that topic…" he urged, expectantly. Zhongli noted that Venti's cheeks were already flushed. The fellow certainly had a talent for inebriation. Zhongli himself was barely buzzed.

"Very well," Zhongli sighed, resigned. "It began with the Memory of Dust…"

Venti listened, rapt, while Zhongli related the tale, imbibing no small quantity of drink while his companion spoke.

"The Great Tinker reborn in the flesh of our own Traveler," Venti murmured once Zhongli had finished. "Inspiring! I may just write a ballad about it, once your adventure has ended. Withholding the bits linking Rex Lapis to Zhongli, naturally."

"I do appreciate your discretion," Zhongli replied.

"I must say, though," Venti's voice took on a teasing lilt. "'tis a most dangerous game you are playing! Our dear Lumine is an exceptionally charming woman. To be the center of her attention so, even in a play-acted relationship…"

"Dangerous, indeed," Zhongli sighed. The bard was damnably perceptive.

"I thought as much," Venti said, his eyes softening. "Does she know?"

"I am inclined to think otherwise," the taller man responded. "She knows as well as you and I that there is no possible future for us together. If she was aware of my developing feelings, surely she would not risk taking this any further."

"I would not be so certain," Venti chuckled. "Love has an odd way of making the impossible possible – or so a great number of my ballads would claim. Still, you are likely correct. Any affection she sees growing in you, she would likely attribute to Guizhong. It WAS her stated goal, after all!" Then, pointedly, "But YOU know. Should YOU risk taking this further?"

Zhongli was silent at that. Then, reluctantly, "I suppose I should not. And yet…"

"Hey, guys!" Zhongli was interrupted by Lumine's voice, calling from across the courtyard. The Traveler trotted up to the table and took a seat, Paimon hovering just over her shoulder. "Have you been enjoying catching up?"

"Very much so!" Venti crowed, standing from his chair and drunkenly throwing an arm around Zhongli's shoulder. "A reunion with a dear comrade! You've brought no end of joy to this humble minstrel's heart."

"Ugh, you're sloshed already, you tone-deaf bard?" Paimon asked, disgusted. "It's barely been a half hour!" Venti flashed her a cheeky grin and raised his glass to her in response.

"We should get moving," Lumine interjected. "I've heard that Barbara's performances tend to draw a crowd. If we want to find a good place to watch the show, it'd be best to get started now!"

"Performance?" Zhongli asked. "Am I to understand that we are going to be attending a production by the 'Idol of Mondstadt' you've mentioned?"

"Yes!" the Traveler answered, excitedly. "I've heard Barbara sing before, but I've never actually seen one of her concerts. I'm sure it'll be fantastic!"


"Please, kill me now. That was mortifying," Lumine mumbled, the hands on her face failing to conceal the scarlet tinge in her cheeks.

"Oh, come, now. It wasn't that bad," teased Venti, patting Lumine on the back as the four of them departed the venue. "And you must admit, it was a catchy tune: 'A star from heaven, Descends from above, By grace of the Seven, Please accept my love! Save me, Traveler! Save me, Traveler! Save me from the darkness in my heart!' La lala lala la la la!" Venti produced his lyre and expertly strummed a few bars of the theme as he sang.

"Stop, please stop!" Lumine begged.

"Paimon was jealous when she pulled you up on stage," Paimon enthused. "You looked so cool up there, dancing with Barbara! It looked so fun!"

"I had no idea what I was doing!" Lumine wailed. "And the whole city was watching me flail around!"

"You comported yourself admirably," Zhongli tried to reassure her.

"Yeah, you were great!" Paimon added, encouragingly. "The crowd loved it!"

"Ugh. Ugh!" The Traveler lowered her hands and looked imploringly at Zhongli. "I promise you, when I planned this date I had no idea that half the songs were going to be… about me. I really didn't!"

"Two thirds, actually," Venti supplied, helpfully. "Four of the six – and that's if you exclude the encore. You certainly seem to have made quite an impression on our talented young idol!"

"You've made an impression on us all," Zhongli amended. "Do not sell short your contributions to both of our nations. You are nothing less than a hero, both here and in Liyue. And as I'm certain our friend here can confirm, the bards do love to sing of heroes and their deeds."

"Indeed they do! Shall I recite for you 'The Trial of the Stormqueller'?" Venti asked, hand poised to strum.

"I don't think I could take it right now." Lumine moaned.

"'The Traveler and the Enamored Harbinger?'"

"'Enamoured Harbinger'? You don't mean Childe, do you? I… don't even know where to start about how wrong that is..."

"Perhaps something more lighthearted? Like, 'Lumine Can't Hold Her Liquor'?"

"You wrote a song about that?" Lumine asked, horrified and chagrinned. "I thought it was cider! It wasn't my fault!"

"Paimon guesses this is the price of fame!" Paimon said, looking a bit awed. "Ooh, ooh, are there any songs about Paimon?"

"Certainly! Would you like to hear 'Lumine's Reluctant Repast'? Or how about, 'While the Traveler Faced the Dragon Beneath, I Bravely Hid Beneath this Rock!'"

"Those both sound awful!" Paimon protested. "They can't be real! You made them up, right? Right?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Venti smirked.

"Grr… Either way, you'd better come up with a REAL heroic ballad for Paimon, or Paimon will come up with an even worse nickname for you than 'tone-deaf bard', you tone-deaf bard!"

As endearing as he found his companions' banter to be, Zhongli decided to change the subject. "Lumine as trying as this ordeal may have been, I recall you had another purpose in coming here, apart from our get-together…?"

Relieved to be talking about literally anything else, Lumine gratefully accepted the lifeline Zhongli was offering. "That's right! Venti, I'd like to invite you to a show we're putting on in Liyue a week from tomorrow! It's a concert being put on by a local artist, and Zhongli and I will be performing."

"Oh?" Venti perked up. "Zhongli! It's been ages since I last heard you play! What instrument will you be playing this time? The guzheng? Bamboo flute, perhaps?"

"Nothing you've heard before, my friend," Zhongli answered with a half-smile. "To say more would spoil the surprise."

"Oh, ho! Something I've never heard? A bold claim! Well, now you have me intrigued. Naturally, I shall attend! No storm nor catastrophe shall keep me away!"

"There IS a surcharge, I'm afraid…"

"Urk," Venti urked. "Well… as you know, my budget tends to be on the strict side…"

"Can't you just go without liquor for a day or two, you drunkard?" Paimon exploded.

Venti recoiled in horror at the suggestion, mouth agape.

"Stop teasing him, you two," Lumine was laughing, now. "Don't worry, Venti. We're allowed to invite a few guests, free of charge." Then she tapped her lip thoughtfully, "If you COULD spare a few mora, though, I promise you it would be for a good cause…"

Venti had the grace to look a bit guilty, "If the Traveler asks it, how can I say no? I suppose there ARE a few expenses I could afford to trim for a while…"

"Is there anyone else you were planning to invite?" Zhongli inquired.

"Oh, I've invited nearly everyone I know in Mondstadt!" Lumine answered enthusiastically. "Most of them are too busy to attend, but Barbara promised she'd be there. Fischl and Bennett, too. Jean and most of the other Knights have too much on their plate, but I haven't talked to Amber or Eula yet. I'm hoping to catch Amber when she gets back from patrol."

"Did I hear my name?" a perky voice called out. The owner of the voice leapt up the stairs two at a time to where the group had gathered. "Outrider Amber reporting!" she announced with a smart salute. Then, shedding any semblance of formality, she grabbed Lumine's hands and pulled her into a hug. "It's great to see you again! How have you been?"

"Could be better," Lumine responded, wryly. "I just finished watching Barbara's concert. It was a bit more… personal than I was expecting…"

"Oh? Did she sing 'Save Me, Traveler'? That's one of my favorites!"

"Not you, too!" the Traveler groaned.

"And you must be Zhongli!" Amber turned her attention to the Traveler's companions. "Lumine's told me all about you!"

"A pleasure," Zhongli bowed.

When he straightened again, he found the outrider studying him from head to toe with rather brazen directness, humming to herself periodically. "Hmm… Nice, nice… Yes. Very handsome." She turned back to Lumine, and gave her a broad wink and a thumbs up. "Nice catch, Lumine! Amber Approved!"

In spite of the fact that Zhongli was certain that this was their first meeting, there was something about Amber that seemed oddly familiar. Her exuberant and outgoing personality was similar to that of the Wangsheng Director, but that wasn't it. Something about her eyes…

"…so we were hoping you two could come!" Lumine was finishing.

"Hmm… I'd like to. Quite a trip, though; I'd need to request a few days of leave…" Amber was thoughtfully considering Lumine's proposal. "You know what? I'll do it! The Hillichurls have been pretty quiet lately, and it's been forever since I last took a vacation! And it's kinda funny, but I've never actually been to Liyue, even though my Grandpa's from there."

There. That was the piece Zhongli was missing. "Your Grandfather… His name wouldn't be Qin Sung, by chance?"

Amber froze, eyes wide. "You… know my Grandpa?" she asked in a small voice.

Zhongli shook his head. "Not personally. But the Dragon's Horns are well-known in Liyue, possibly the greatest band of mercenaries the nation has ever seen. Qin Sung was their leader. The Dragon's Horns vanished without a trace many years ago, and Qin Sung along with them, but the storytellers still recite the tales of their valor. I know a few such tales, myself."

"I want to hear them all!" Amber burst out. "Okay, I'm definitely coming." Then she remembered Lumine's other request. "Ah, and Eula. She won't be back for a few days, but I'm sure I can convince her to come, too. I think it'll do her good." She frowned. "She tries to hide it, but I can tell that she's been down lately. Getting away from the hecklers in Mondstadt for a while should be just what she needs."

After bidding farewell to their friends, Lumine, Zhongli, and Paimon descended Monstadt's main thoroughfare toward the front gates of the city. "Wow, what a day!" Lumine exclaimed with a stretch and a yawn.

"One with more than its share of surprises," Zhongli agreed.

"I'll say," Lumine answered with a sour look. "I guess they weren't all bad, though. And as embarrassing as that concert turned out to be, I'd be lying if I were to say I didn't enjoy it. At least a little."

Paimon spoke up at that point. "Speaking of lying, Paimon wants to know: were you being totally honest with Amber when you told her you didn't know her Grandpa? Or were you just trying to hide the fact that you're older than dirt?"

Zhongli chuckled. "It wasn't a lie. I never knew Qin Sung on a personal level. I have met the man, admittedly, in a professional capacity. More than once, Liyue has called upon the services of the Dragon's Horns in defense of the nation, and the day they disappeared was one of great loss to us all. Their ultimate fate was a mystery, even to myself. I must admit that I was surprised to learn that Qin Sung found his way to Mondstadt and found a family here. I look forward to conversing with the Outrider again; she may have stories of as great interest to me as mine are to her."

The trio walked onwards beneath the darkening sky, with unspoken mutual reluctance to part ways now that the day was done. Eventually, though, Lumine broke the silence. "Would you like me to transport you home?"

"That won't be necessary," Zhongli answered. "I think I will walk the rest of the way."

"Eh?" Paimon said incredulously. "That's not exactly a short hike! Are you sure?"

"I do not need to sleep unless I desire it," Zhongli explained. "I should be home by tomorrow evening, never fear. I have much to think about – and it has been far too long since I properly enjoyed the scenery of Mondstadt. The landscape is quite unlike that of Liyue, but it has its own unmistakable charm."

"If you say so," Paimon answered doubtfully.

"In that case, can we bring tonight's date to an end, just as we did the last?" Lumine asked, a noticeably eager tone in her voice. Then, sharply, to her other companion, "And not a word out of you, Paimon!"

Paimon rolled her eyes. "Ugh, fine. Go ahead and get your smooching over with," she pouted, crossing her arms.

Ah, yes. The moment he'd both anticipated and dreaded since his conversation with Venti. Zhongli came to a halt and turned to address the golden-haired Traveler who'd brought so much light into his life. He gathered her hands and clasped them between his own. His serious expression caused Lumine's expression to darken a bit with worry.

"Lumine, I have a confession to make," Zhongli began. Lumine's expectant eyes beckoned him to continue. "First, though, I wish to thank you for your efforts, these past several weeks. There are few things truly new to a being such as I, but you have somehow managed to open my eyes to thoughts and feelings I never dreamt possible."

"That said, I'm afraid that I must request that we put it to an end."

"What? Why?" Lumine demanded. "We're making great progress!"

There was something oddly intense about Lumine's protests, but Zhongli shelved the concern for the moment. It was important that he communicate what he was about to say clearly. "We were," he agreed. "Perhaps too great. I believe that I am coming to understand Guizhong's feelings toward me, just as you had hoped. Unfortunately, I understand because I am beginning to feel those same feelings toward you. Not Guizhong, please understand, but you, Lumine. My precious friend."

Lumine went quiet at that. Paimon, for her part, was staring with eyes saucer-wide, mercifully too stunned to talk. As much as Zhongli liked Lumine's floating companion, he was grateful for her silence. He preferred to not be interrupted on this occasion.

"I wish to remain ever at your side, Traveler. I wish to comfort you in times of pain. I want to hold you, and to treasure you for the rest of your days. I would kiss you whenever you wished, make love to you, if that is your desire." Then, quietly. "I wish for all of those things and more. But I'm certain that you understand why it can never be."

"I… see…" Lumine responded, slowly and haltingly. She swallowed, throat clearly dry. "I'll admit, that I didn't see this coming. And I should have. I really, really should have. I got caught up in it all, and I took it too far, even after I promised not to. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"Please do not apologize," Zhongli urged. "Even if this journey has reached a bittersweet conclusion, it was one worth traveling. I feel nothing but gratitude toward you for helping me along the path."

Lumine presented him with a wan smile. Then, took a deep breath, and let it out. Composure restored, she said, "Well, all right, then. I guess a kiss is off the table. Would a hug still be appropriate?"

"Whatever the future holds, your embrace will always be welcome, my dearest friend," Zhongli assured her, presenting one of his rare smiles. Lumine practically threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, and he responded in kind.

After they separated, Lumine bid farewell. "I guess I'll see you around?"

"Of course. Have a pleasant evening, Traveler." Zhongli lifted a hand in farewell as his companions vanished. He tried to ignore the look of pity that Paimon was giving him as they departed.

Zhongli walked on alone beneath the dark sky and the brilliant canopy of stars decorating it. The moon was just past full and its soft glow illuminated the lush landscape of the Nation of Freedom. It truly was lovely, and the sight was a welcome balm to the empty ache in his ancient heart.

Time erodes all things, and in time, this pain, too, would fade.


Author's Notes:

Suggesting that Zhongli and Venti haven't interacted since the fall of Khaenri'ah is probably the most risky thing I've done so far in terms of attempting to keep the story future-proofed, in terms of canonicity. That said, it certainly might turn out to be true. Venti likely HAS been asleep most of the time since then, and if some future event or cutscene shows Venti and Zhongli interacting, most likely they'll speak to each other as old comrades would.

The intervening years between the fall of Khaenri'ah and the current day appears to be a time period the game largely ignores. There's the fall, the aftermath, then a few centuries of nothing interesting, and then events leading up to the current day, and then the current day. I might be safe!

If it wasn't clear from context, Beleth is the name I've chosen for the Cryo Archon, the Tsarista. I used the name in another of my works, and chose to recycle it for this one. In the "Ars Goetia" (from which the names of Paimon and the other known Archons are taken), Beleth is a demon summoned to compel others to fall in love – and as the Tsarista is supposedly the Archon of Love, I felt it appropriate.

Amber's grandfather is never named, to my knowledge, and neither is the mercenary company he was once a part of, so those names are my own creations.

I also planned for Venti to rhyme more of his sentences, but gave up on that pretty quickly.