I worked on this chapter full of energy only to have people around me kill my motivation and thought process. It's very late at the time I am uploading this, and I am deeply sorry that the chapter is not up to standard as usual.
Chapter 3:
"Venti! Over here!"
Venti turned his head and spotted an unfamiliar amber blond teen seated by a table outside Angel's Share. The table the stranger was sitting at had two unopened bottles of wine and two glasses flipped upside onto napkins.
"Oh, hello. I don't believe we've met before."
Venti will admit. He can be forgetful at times, especially when drinking too much wine. However, he's certain he had never met or seen this amber blond teen before. He stands out a bit compared to the regular townsfolk, not to mention has an indiscernible air surrounding him.
"Call me Seth, and you'll be correct. This is the first time we've met." Brown eyes twinkling, the amber blond teen motioned at the seat across from him. "Care to have a seat? Rest assured; I mean you no harm. Let's chat over some fine wine that I've brought from distant realms while the night is still young."
Now, how can Venti not resist when it comes to fine wine? Even though common sense would dictate otherwise, they are in public. There are even two Knights of Favonius nearby if anything were to happen, and Venti is far from defenseless.
"Don't mind if I do." Venti quickly took his seat and turned over his glass cup for Seth to pour wine in. A rich and sweet fruity scent emitted from the drink. "Hmmm…! This has a lovely aroma. Where did you get this?"
"From several individuals who are masters of their craft in winemaking. So much so that they are considered Gods of Wine where they're known." Seth raised his glass. "Toast."
"Toast!"
They clinked their glass and drank the richly flavored wine. The dark purple liquid seeped into Venti's tastebuds, embedding a tingling sweetness that made his mind buzz euphorically. A mixture of spices rounded out the flavor, making the taste rich and complex. It wasn't overly sweet, nor was the tingly sensation too prickly.
"A wonderful taste, is it not?"
Venti nodded enthusiastically and downed the entire glass.
"Bwah! This is the best wine I've tasted in my life! It feels like the sweetness has become one with my tongue and flowing to my head! Sooo good~!"
Seth smiled and gestured to the opened bottle. "Feel free to help yourself to your heart's content. Though I would suggest keeping a clear mind for our little discussion."
"Sure, sure." He poured himself another full glass. "I'm all ears! You want something from me, don't you?"
"Right on the money. There is something that I want from you." Seth generously allowed Venti to finish his glass before continuing. "To put it lightly, I have some future foresight and I wish to profit from this knowledge. You are the pivotal factor of this venture of mine."
"Oh? What ya scheming~?"
Venti's speech slurred slightly. A sure sign of the alcohol impairing his speech. Despite being the current Anemo Archon and possessing a lot of resistance against things like alcohol, there's a limit to it as he's also the weakest of the seven Archons.
"It concerns the Fatui's scheme in progress." Seth lowered voice his voice. "They want your Gnosis, Barbatos. Quite a hassle. Would it not be entertaining to profit from this knowledge and be free of your shackles?"
The bard briefly paused when reaching for the bottle of wine, then poured himself another.
"That sounds interesting." Venti slowly took a sip and looked Seth in the eyes. "And how do you know that?"
"A merchant will use his assets to gain some insight. Besides, the privilege you currently hold is minuscule as you do not wish to impose it upon others. I too have no use for it outside of its specific demand and profitability. You will take a share of the profit and be compensated with, let's say a magical bottle of never-ending wine?"
Venti laughed. "That sounds too good to be true! I may be slightly drunk right now, but I'm not that gullible!"
"I hold true to my words. As a free-spirited and carefree fellow much like you, I am inclined to help out like-minded individuals. But that can come at another time. All I ask is that you keep my offer in mind." Seth leaned back and opened another wine bottle. "Let's enjoy ourselves for the night, yes? Drink to your heart's content."
"Hehe. You know, if you keep this up, I might just take you up on that offer. But you're right! The night is to be enjoyed with fine wine! Cheers~!"
/-/
After dumping Venti into an inn, and paying the expenses, I went out of the city to set up camp by my wagon not far from the city's front gate. Night has fallen and the stars above are really eye-catching out here. I can stargaze for hours until the sunrises, slowly watching the starry skies move ever so slowly. Beautiful as the stars are, I am not here to mindlessly stargaze.
The system suggested that I move out here, and I can make an educated guess as to why. It wasn't long before I sense someone coming up to me from the darkness.
"Hello, Darknight Hero. Or should I call you Master Diluc?"
A red-haired young man donning a mask that only covered his eyes stepped out from the shadows of the nearby tree. He removed his mask and stepped into the illuminated grounds of my lamps.
"Kaeya was right. You know things no ordinary person would know."
"I know more, yet I know less. How do you like the Delusion Mr. Alberich has shown you?"
"Who are you and how did you acquire it?" Diluc asked straightforwardly, showing me the Cryo Delusion that I sold to Kaeya earlier today.
I hopped down from the top of my wagon and put a hand over my heart to show my sincerity.
"Call me Seth. A traveling merchant and occasional storyteller. As for your second question, I'm afraid that's a trade secret. All I can say is that I have no connections with the Fatui as of now." I gestured to the window of my shop. "You may have no interest, but my shop is open for you to browse if you need it."
[Here and There]
A Store From out of Nowhere
Supplies
Medical, stationery supplies, utility equipment, materials, you name it!
Smithy
Buy, upgrade, or design your own weapon and armor!
Clothes & Accessories
Spare wear while being functionally fashionable!
Food & Drinks
A wide selection of ingredients, meals, and drinks to choose from!
Specialties
From flowers to rare minerals, take a look at the Local and Exotic Specialties!
Sell
'What are ya selling?' Because everything has a price!
Diluc glanced at my signs and plaques, then turned his focus back at me.
"Not interested."
"Not even interested in how Delusions are made?" Sometimes you need something less physical and more abstract to make a profit. Like selling intelligence. "Although I do not know the exact method of the Fatui's production method, I can provide some information about crucial materials that they used for its production."
"Not interested."
I nodded sagely. "I see. Then what are you here for? I don't believe you're here to stargaze or enjoy the nightlife."
"I came here to confirm something. That is all." He began to walk away.
So, he was investigating me? That sounds like a reasonable thing to do. How dull. Let's make things a bit more interesting.
"You know, Delusions can be taxing on the body. Have you ever wondered what will happen if someone were to make a weapon that's powered by the Delusion instead? Far more manageable and unfortunate expense of the weapon's durability if pushed beyond its limits, but at least the Delusion would be left unharmed for reuse. Wouldn't that be useful and less risky?"
Diluc stopped in his tracks and turned his head sideways. I certainly have his interest now. Pyro and Cryo produced an Elemental Reaction: Melt, and it's quite powerful.
"There are already weapons and armors that can be elementally infused."
"That is true, but there's a limitation to those. It lacks the freedom of what a Vision and Delusion wielder can do."
I smiled and gestured at the plaque reading Smithy.
Smithy
Buy, upgrade, or design your own weapon and armor!
It promptly lit up and instead of the usual small window, a claymore of black and blue with a Cryo Delusion implanted at the hilt of the claymore formed in my hand. Diluc's body tensed a bit as he turned to face me out of precaution.
"…"
"No need to be alarmed. I wouldn't dare attack a potential customer. Just a slight demonstration and Miss Lawrence wouldn't be pleased by what she would perceive as my attempt in making her obsolete."
I twirled the massive sword, creating a barrier of icy wind around me and freezing the ground beneath my feet. An icy phoenix formed from the freezing wind and shot into the sky and exploded into a spectacular showcase of sleets underneath the moonlight. The tiny ice particles then reformed into miniature birds and fluttered into the claymore, coating it in a chilling mist.
Diluc's face remained impassive while he studied the elemental-infused claymore.
"A weapon like this would require specialized maintenance."
"My service includes repairs, but the likes of any master blacksmith can repair the blade and an expert alchemist mend the elemental conduits. With your connection and wealth, this sort of inconvenience is hardly noticeable. I can guarantee that my goods are very sturdy and durable, especially the weapons and armors I manufacture."
"A bold claim."
He sure is a tricky customer. Well, time to readjust my selling approach on the pricing aspect.
"Then let's sweeten the deal. You're curious about who I am and what I am capable of. So, let's do it like this. In exchange for me creating a weapon of your choice that can channel a Delusion, you'll provide me the fire from your Vision instead of Mora! How about it?"
"I do not follow."
"I want the fire that's produced from your Pyro Vision. Not the Vision itself, just the fire it makes."
Diluc looked at me like I'm some sort of madman.
"Why?"
"Elements produced from Visions and Delusions have a special property to them that I can make use of." Since the Visions are granted by the gods up in Celestia and allow one to ascend to godhood, their value is quite high to the system. "I have ways of retaining its special property and value. Besides, are you not curious about what I am capable of?"
Again, that look of skeptical look he keeps giving me… I'm beginning to wonder if I'm trying too hard, though it looked like it's working. His curiosity is winning out. Thank you, Kaeya, for relaying whatever you said about me to Diluc.
"Show me."
"With pleasure, Master Diluc. If you would please bring out your weapon and use your Vision on it. Allow me to demonstrate to you my fire-bending skills."
/-/
'Hah… What a tiresome day.'
First, I got interrogated by Eula. Then I was temporarily barred from entering the city; had to entertain and gossip with Kaeya; got told that I am forbidden from selling in the city until the Knights of Favonius approves of it; wrangled a drunk Venti from using his Archon's power and faceplanting; finally, I had to deal with broody moody Diluc and make him a Cryo Delusion infused claymore or whatever.
'Oh well. I got something out of it at least.'
I lift a small round trinket to my face. It resembled much like a Vision, even sporting a Pyro symbol on the crystal, but half its size. It's something I've made today after I took the flame produced by Diluc's Vision.
It's a Glimpse.
Yes, I was the one who named it that. Because it's a Glimpse of what a Vision/Delusion can do. Basically, it's a much weaker version of a Delusion. I plan on selling this in the rural areas since I reckon the people would appreciate some extra firepower or utility against the wildlife and monsters.
[Glimpse added to the store]
"Welp. I'm too tired to check my end-of-sales report." I yawned. "Hmm… I wonder if the traveler has arrived in Teyvat yet…"
[7:21:44 until arrival time]
"Tomorrow it is then. I wonder if it's the sister or the brother."