King of Beasts Productions Presents:
Fate/Grand Blunder: A Fate Multicrossover
Chapter 17: Where the Wind May Lead
"So you're saying he's been here since last night?"
"Yeah! That's what Tifa told me! And he was drinking a lot of wine too! How crazy is that?!"
"Grrgh..." One would be forgiven for thinking that Barbatos, the God of Freedom and Wind Archon who safeguards the City of Mondstadt, would not be so undignified to wake up in a tavern, nursing a hangover after getting wasted the night before. But here he was, doing just that. Though perhaps it might be apropos, considering his title.
Despite his throbbing head, he looked from the counter to see two faces starting at him from behind it; One was a girl, her ginger-tinted hair long and wellkept, with a crown upon her head, her round face beaming with radiance as she smiled at the bard. The other was one he was more familiar with; a handsome young man, his long, wavy red locks tied in a ponytail and dressed in bartender's garb, had a more surly expression on his face as he crossed his arms. A sight he had seen many times before back in their old world.
"Ehehe..." Barbatos, known to many people as Venti, chuckled sheepishly like a child with his hand caught in a cookie jar. "A good morning to you, Master Diluc. And to you too, Miss Pecorine."
"Hehe, nice to see you up and about~!" Pecorine giggled before skipping to the back of the house. "I'll whip up a little something. If you got a hangover, I know a just the thing to fix you up~!"
"I'd appreciate it, thank you." Venti smiled sheepishly. The hangover wasn't that painful, but he felt bad at refusing the female Saber's generosity.
"You'd think that being in battle to preserve human history would've made you a little less quick to drink." Diluc rolled his eyes as he pulled out a hand-towel wipe the counter.
"I'll have you know that I'm taking my duties as Servant seriously, thank you very much." The bard said with mock indignation. "In fact, one could say that it's because our world hangs in the balance that I'm more open to a good glass of wine in hand! Each day here could be our very last, after all. It would be a shame if we met our end before I could taste all the fine drinks the world has to offer, no?"
"You have a point. Not the best of them, but one nonetheless.* Diluc sighed as he kept at his task. "So, what is it that you plan to do today other than lay about and drink alcohol again?"
"Ah, an excellent question, Master Diluc!" Venti giggled. "As I am the Anemo Archon, I'll just see where the wind takes me today. Who knows? Maybe I'll find some fresh inspiration for my next performance!"
"One that doesn't end up back here, I hope." The red-head sighed. "Still, it is reassuring to have you with us, bard. Just try not to let your eccentricities trouble the Masters."
"Master Diluc, I'm the perfect portrait of responsible behavior!" Just as Venti said this, both Ritsuka and Rachelle sauntered inside the bar with smiles on their faces.
"Figured we'd find you here." Ritsuka would be the first to speak of the two.
"Ah, if it isn't our two Masters of Chaldea!" Venti greeted them. "We were just talking about you!"
"More of me telling him not to add to your burdens." Diluc groaned while the two chuckled. "But seeing as you're both here, I take it you're here to talk with him about something?"
"As a matter of fact, we are." Rachelle nodded to affirm his query.
"Well, you can talk while he eats!" Pecorine marched out of the kitchen while she proudly held a platter containing the biggest slab of meat Venti had seen in his long life, as well as a pair of sunny side up eggs with yolks far bigger than a normal egg's. "Tadaah! I managed to rustle up some steak and eggs for you! The twist, of course, that this is a Chimera Steak and the eggs are from harpies!"
"Oh...neat." Venti chuckled sheepishly, being reminded that the Saber's cooking specialty lay in using monsters as ingredients.
"Now don't be shy! Eat up!" She slammed the plate onto the counter. "You wanna cure that hangover, don't you?"
"S-Sure..." The Anemo Archon looked to the two Masters pleadingly. Both of them sighing with smiles on their faces.
"Don't worry. We'll help you finish this."
"I didn't have breakfast yet, anyway. So that's looking pretty appetizing!"
"Thank you both." Venti sighed in relief, picking up his utensils as Diluc produced two more pairs for the Masters. That steak wasn't going to eat itself, after all.
Much later on...
"The monstrous serving aside, the steak was actually pretty good." Venti sighed as he patted his belly. "Amazing what a little salt and pepper can do. I can think of a few fine spirits that would pair perfectly."
"Before you go on a tangent," Diluc thankfully interjected. "How about you hear the Masters out? They came here to see you after all."
"Oh right, sorry." Venti giggled. "Considering they helped me out with that steak, it's the least I can do." He then turned to the two, they themselves relaxing after that large meal. "So, how can I help you two on this fine day?"
"Well, as I'm sure you can already tell, we could use a little lifting of spirits right now, seeing as we've been pretty busy dealing with minor Singularities in preparation for the next big one." Rachelle began.
"So we were thinking of holding a concert night for everyone to enjoy." Ritsuka continued. "And when thinking of performers, you're one of the people who came to mind."
"Ah, I see where you're going here." Venti nodded. "You're asking me if I can lend my musical talents for your concert. Am I wrong?"
"You got that right." Ritsuka nodded. "And don't worry. I know just how to compensate you for your time."
"Do you now?" Venti smirked as the male Master grinned back at him.
"I can get Oberyn to give you some bottles of Dornish Red. You've made it no secret that you wanted to try some for yourself, after all."
Diluc could have sworn that the Archon's eyes sparkled brightly at the mention of Dornish Red.
"You really are a man after my heart, Ritsuka." Venti offered his hand with no hint of hesitation. "Get me those wines, and I'll do my part in that concert of yours!"
"Thank you, Venti." Ritsuka nodded in relief. "Well, the concert is in a few days, so that should give you more than enough time to prepare your number."
"Well, it just so happens that there is a song I've been wanting to sing in my next performance, so now I have my chance to." The bard grinned. "All I'll need to do now is to gather myself a back-up band."
"A back-up band?" Diluc asked out of curiosity.
"As delightful as I think giving a solo performance would be, this particular song will have more impact if I had a full band accompanying me." Venti explained as he got off his stool with a hop in his step.
"That sounds like a good idea." Ritsuka replied. "Who do you have in mind?"
"I have a few names on the top of my head." Venti grinned.
"Ooh! I can ask my friends and see if they can help!" Pecorine added, her voice full of her signature cheer.
"I'd appreciate that, thanks!" Venti giggled as he began walking out of the bar. "Well, off to find willing volunteers!"
"Hey, if it ain't 'Tone Deaf Bard'!"
No sooner did he step outside Seventh Heaven did Venti was greeted by yet another Teyvat resident, Xinyan. The hair she usually kept in pigtails was let down, and she wore a black halter top and torn jeans to give her a punk rock aesthetic. Strapped to her back was the "axe" she carried around proudly. Like Venti, she was a musician, though her talents lay more in rock and roll rather than ballads.
"Nice to see you too, Miss Xinyan." The bard giggled as she greeted the rock and roll artist from the nation of Liyue. "How's life in Chaldea treating you?"
"I gotta say, it's nice to be around people who appreciate rock and roll like I do!" Xinyan grinned. "Got in a couple jam sessions with them too! They really know their stuff!"
"Well, that's great to hear!" Venti smiled as he segued into his main talking point. "Since we're talking shop, how would you like to take the stage in one of Chaldea's upcoming concerts?"
"You don't say?" He saw from the way that her eyes sparkled that Xinyan's interest was piqued. "How about you tell me more about it?"
"Certainly!" Venti proceeded to give her the low down of the current situation. She nodded as she heard the details, listening intently to his summary.
"So the Masters wanna hold a concert to lift everyone's spirits? Well why didn't cha say so?!" The tan-skinned rocker grinned as she slapped the Archon's back, causing him to lurch forward with a surprised look on his face. "I'll gladly rock out with ya on stage! Shame the Traveler's not here, 'cause it'd be cool to see them rock out with us!"
"You're right about that." Venti smiled fondly at the mention of the Traveler; he was blessed with having memories of meeting both star-faring siblings in their first leg of their Teyvat journey. He considered them fond friends and, as such, he hoped at least one of them would answer the Masters' summons soon.
For now, he'll have to make do with seeing fellow Teyvatians in Chaldea.
"We'll just have to make do without them for now." Venti brought himself out of his thoughts to continue his conversation with Xinyan. "Again, thanks for helping me out!"
"No problem!" Xinyan grinned as she gave him a v-sign. "I'll ask around and see if we can rope some of my new buddies in to help!"
"That'd help a lot, actually!" Venti nodded gratefully. Having Xinyan fish around for some other band members made things easier for him. "With how well my first stop went, the rest should be a breeze!"
Looking back, Venti felt he might have tempted fate. A lot of the people he had in mind were either going to be out on supply runs that day, didn't have time in their schedule for rehearsals, or just weren't interested. Which is why he was back at Seventh Heaven with a wine in hand and a most unlikely companion.
"What?! They all snubbed that pretty femboy face of yours?!" Wade Wilson, known all over as the "Merc with a Mouth" Deadpool, had a beer in hand as he conversed with the bard. "A travesty, I say! A travesty!"
"Ah, I wish I never learned the meaning of that word." Venti chuckled sheepishly as he helped himself to another glass of Dornish Red. "Still, it's a little discouraging that most of the people I had in mind said no."
"Hey, I wouldn't worry about that!" The Merc with a Mouth reassured the bard. "Nothing a little kidnapping and extortion won't fix! How about you wait here while I go get some duct tape, some rope and- GUAGGH!"
"How about we DON'T do that?!" Tifa, who was the one behind the counter this time, over heard their entire conversation and gave him a swift uppercut for his troubles. Venti couldn't help but chuckle as Wade's entire upper body was lodged onto the ceiling while his legs dangled helplessly.
"Okay, I deserve that." Wade whimpered as he struggled to break free.
"Damn right you do." Tifa let out an exasperated sigh before turning to Venti. "Still, sorry to hear that your recruitment drive isn't going so well."
"It's fine." Venti reassured her. "I should've known it wasn't going to be that easy."
"Well, I wouldn't give up hope yet." Tifa remarked as she wiped the counter with a rag. "Didn't Pecorine say she'd ask her friends for help?"
"And ask I did!"
They all turned to see the ginger-haired Saber, wearing a white sundress that hugged her curves, walk in with her friends in tow. Behind her was Kokkoro, wearing a white dress with the skirt hem stopping at her knees, as well as Yuuki, who had a white t-shirt and jeans on.
"Greetings, Venti-sama." The elf Lancer greeted politely. "I understand that you need help in your upcoming performance?"
"As a matter of fact, I do!" Venti smiled as he greeted them warmly. "But first, you guys should join me for drinks. The non-alcoholic kind, of course." He quickly added that last part when he spotted Tifa giving him a raised brow at the corner of his eye.
"Well, that can be arranged." Tifa said after letting out a sigh of relief. As she got to work making those drinks, Venti, Pecorine and Kokkoro made some small talk while Yuuki kept poking and prodding Wade's leg while he was still stuck in the ceiling.
"So, what is it you wish for me to help with in your performance, Venti-sama?" Kokkoro asked after she took a sip of her drink.
"Well, with what I have in mind, your ability to summon wind spirits will be helpful." Venti took a sip of his drink before he got started. "So here's what I'll be needing from you..."
And so the Anemo Archon explained what he needed Kokkoro's help with in his performance, leaving no detail out as she listened to his proposal intently.
"I see..." Kokkoro nodded in understanding after he finished his explanation, her lips curling into a small smile. "Yes, I believe that it's within my abilities."
"So you'll do it?" Venti asked hopefully.
"Of course. Pecorine-sama thought that I could provide assistance, and it turns out that she had reason to believe so." Kokkoro took a sip of her own drink. "As such, it would be unbecoming of me to refuse your help."
"Alright!" Pecorine cheered while Yuuki gave a thumbs up.
"I believe we should seal this deal appropriately!" Venti chuckled as he raised his glass. "A toast to a successful performance!"
"Yeah!"
"Woohoo! Things are going great! Now, before you continue cheering," Wade's legs flailed as he struggled to free himself as they celebrated. "HOWABOUT Y'ALL GET ME OUTTA HERE BEFORE THE NEXT SCENE CHANGE-!"
After that bit of success, Venti decided to take some time wander around Chaldea's halls. While he had mostly decided to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon, the bard wasn't opposed to getting a flash of inspiration. As the God of Wind in his world, he of all people knew that it was fickle; it can come from any direction, ranging from the calmest breeze to the fiercest storm. That was what it meant to be free, after all.
"Hm?" He stopped in his tracks as he was just about the pass the concert hall, the sound of a duet between a violin and a piano filling his ears. His curiosity urged him to step inside and see the performance for himself. Playing on the piano on-stage was Amadeus Mozart, Servant Caster and one of Classical Music's greatest composers. Opposite of him was a young girl Venti had seen around Chaldea before; she had long blonde hair that flowed like a golden river, gray eyes that sparkled with life, and a slender, almost skinny frame beneath that snow white dress she wore.
As he took his seat and listened, Venti noted that the piece they were playing was Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 9 "Kreutzer". Not that he was an avid listener of Classical Music, but he recognized it thanks to the knowledge he was imparted with upon summoning.
That being said, he didn't remember the piece being this tempestuous. To describe the performance, it was as if he was watching a symphonic brawl between the violinist and the pianist. What he found even more surprising that it was the blonde instigating it, playing with such zeal that novice pianists wouldn't be able to keep up with her tempo.
Of course, Mozart was no novice. With a smile on his face, his hands tickled those ivories and kept pace with this young lass. As the performance went on, Venti noted that while it was indeed the Kreutzer, it was unrecognizable from the one Beethoven had composed. If anything, it became a different one altogether with how frenetic the pace was. For Venti, it was as if watching storm brew before his eyes, the two fighting for command of the set as they exchanged notes in the place of blows.
As with all storms, the performance eventually ended with the last note.
"I must say," Mozart sighed, a tone of satisfaction laced in it. "Playing this duet with you has been rather delightful, Miss Miyazono. However, I'm not sure if Beethoven would appreciate the changes you've made."
"He'll just have to deal with it!" The girl giggled as she put down her violin on the piano. "If anything, I'm sure he'll appreciate the changes I've made!"
"I suppose, if our artistic spirits are anything to go by." It was at that moment that they finally noticed the Anemo Archon sitting in their session. "Ah, it seems we have a guest! Venti, my friend, you should've told us you were here!"
"I didn't want to disturb you guys. You were really getting into it, and I didn't want to disturb." Venti chuckled before turning his attention to the young girl. "Hi there! I'm Venti, a humble bard who had been summoned as an Archer. I've seen you around, but I believe we haven't met."
"Nice to meet you!" The blonde replied with an equally sunny smile. "I'm Kaori Miyazono, Servant Caster." She followed it up with a sheepish laugh. "I dunno why the Throne selected in all it's wisdom, especially since I don't believe I've done anything special."
"The fact that you're here, young miss, tells us otherwise." Venti remarked with an agreeing nod from Mozart. "Your skill with violin can be compared to many a master of the musical arts, I believe."
"You're too kind. Really." The bard noted that Kaori's smile had hints of both tenderness and morose. "I still think I have work to do. At least, I want to be at a level where I can perform alongside someone dear to me again."
"Oh, so that's your motivation." Mozart asked with an amused tone. "So tell me, what is this young man like?"
"He was a bit of a grouch at first, not that I blame him. I did make his life difficult." She giggled as she dropped some details. "But he's a kind man who's just AMAZING at playing the piano. So much that it's part of the reason why I picked the violin in the first place!" As she paused to add more to her tale, the melancholic tone in her smile returned. "Sadly, things happened to him that made him give up the piano for a while. So I concocted a little scheme that ultimately resulted in him playing again."
"You don't say." Venti nodded as he listened.
"I was so happy to see him slowly heal. I even got to perform with him at least once and promised to again after a major recital of his." The tone of her voice turned somber. "Sadly, I never got to keep that promise. At the day of his recital, I died on the operating table."
"'Tis unfortunate, how the brightest flame flickers out the fastest." Mozart commented.
"Indeed." Venti nodded in agreement. "Judging from the story you just told us, your wish on the Grail is to perform with him again, no?"
"More than anything." Kaori nodded fervently. "That, and to be able to tell him my feelings in person, not in a letter after I had passed."
Hearing such sincerity touched both musicians. Venti, for his part, hummed softly as a sudden breeze filled the room.
"Hmm..." He smiled as his eyes closed, a warmth filling his chest as the wind brought forth old memories. "In some ways, this feels familiar. Similar situations, but different perspectives. Funny how fate works..." He saw the other two staring at him, so he responded with signature giggle. "Ehe, sorry. Just reminiscing is all. Anyway," he turned to Kaori with a smile. "I have to say, you're definitely a one of a kind performer, Miss Kaori. As many people believe, music can tell a story, and yours is quite the tale indeed."
"Uhm, thanks." Hearing such praise made the usually brash violinist timid, prompting a chuckle from the bard.
"In fact, meeting you here might be fate." Seeing her puzzled expression, he continued. "As I'm sure you're aware, we'll be having a concert night soon. I was thinking if you'd like to join me and a few others on stage for a performance. I could certainly use your talents for what I have in mind."
"Why, I'd be honored!" Kaori nodded enthusiastically. "So when's rehearsal?"
"I'll get back to you on that once I iron out the details." Venti giggled before turning to Mozart. "And you, Maestro?"
"Thank you, but seeing as I have my own slot in that concert, I'll have to politely decline." Mozart answered with a smile. "Though I do wish you luck on your own performance, from musician to another."
"Likewise." Venti nodded back before turning to leave. "As they say in theatre, break a leg!"
And so the days have passed leading to the concert. In between supply runs and minute Singularities, Venti and his selected band made time to practice the song he selected. As Xinyan promised, she brought some help in the form of Bakugo, who was surprisingly good with the drums, and a newcomer with a most unusual appearance named Brook who chose to play bass. And by "unusual", it was that he was a skeleton reanimated and brimming with life. They even managed to recruit a dancer in the form of Nilou, a young girl from Sumeru who knew the Traveler as well.
Soon enough, the days passed by quickly and the night of the concert had arrived.
"Ah, what a crowd!" The skeleton stared in awe as he peered from backstage. "Surely some of us here must be dying from the nervousness! Not me though, for I'm already dead! Yohohoho!"
"Damn that laugh is obnoxious!" Bakugo growled in his usual surly attitude.
"He's a little on the strange side, but Brook 'ere's pretty rock and roll!" Xinyan chuckled as she finished some last minute tuning of her guitar. "After hearing 'im play for the first time, I knew he'd be the perfect fit!"
"And your instincts were certainly right on the money, Xinyan." Venti nodded in agreement as he walked in their midst in his bard attire. In lieu of his harp, however, he opted to use a acoustic guitar with a couple of white flowers adorning it near the shaft.
"It's so pretty..."
He turned to see Nilou, clad in her dancer's garb, as well as Kaori in her white dress, admiring the flowers on his guitar.
"Hehe, thanks." He giggled. "They aren't Cecilias, but they achieve the same effect I want."
"Oh, those are flowers from Mondstadt, right?" Nilou asked.
"Indeed they are, Miss Nilou." He answered with a smile. "I take it the Traveler has talked about that leg of their journey with you?"
"Yes." Nilou nodded with a smile. "After everything they told me, I want to visit someday!"
"You never know where the wind may lead you, Miss Nilou. You might get your chance someday." Just as Venti said this, he was approached by Kokkoro, the young elf Lancer's hand folded in front of her as she spoke.
"I'll be able to call them forth as you requested, Venti-sama." The taciturn elf said. "All you need is to say the word."
"Thank you, Miss Kokkoro!" The green-eyed bard giggled just as the audience erupted into applause. "And not a moment to soon." As Ritsuka and Rachelle, the MCs of the evening, delivered their spiels, he turned to his band as they got ready to go on. "Listen, gang. We've rehearsed this number the very best we can. You all should know each note by heart by now, and with the talent you guys have, I'm confident that you guys will do well. So that means there's one last thing to do: Play your hearts out!"
"Right!"
"Perfect! Now let's break a leg out there, guys!"
The band stepped onto the stage the moment their names were called. Most musicians would be nervous performing in front of such a large crowd, among them their peers in the craft.
Venti, however, only felt as flightless as the wind. With a smile, he started by strumming an uplifting tune on the guitar he carried on his shoulder. Seeing this as her cue, Nilou began dancing to the rhythm, her movements graceful like a gentle stream stirred by the breeze. With the audience's attention both capture by rhythm and song, Venti began to sing:
There will come a soldier
Who carries a mighty sword
He will tear your city down
Oh lei, oh lai, oh, Lord
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
He will tear your city down
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
The band joined in after the first stanza, Kaori playing her violin and Bakugo drumming to the beat as the song began to pick up the tempo. Xinyan and Brook took their chance to join in the second stanza, lead guitar and bass joining the bard as the song went in full swing.
There will come a poet
Whose weapon is His word
He will slay you with His tongue
Oh lei, oh lai, oh, Lord
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
He will slay you with His tongue
Oh lei, oh lai, oh, Lord
By this point, the audience had been clapping along to the music, Venti's giggle a sign of how infectious the jolly atmosphere was. He looked to Nilou, then to his band. From Xinyan, to Brook, to Kaori, and even Bakugo, he saw that each of them had smiles on their faces as they continued to pour their all into the performance. With how festive the atmosphere was becoming, how could he as a bard not keep up?
There will come a ruler
Whose brow is laid in thorn
Smeared with oil like David's boy
Oh lei, oh lai, oh, Lord
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
Smeared with oil like David's boy
Oh lei, oh lai, oh, Lord
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
He will tear your city down, oh lei, oh lai
Ohh!
As the song was about to transition to it's next part, Venti took this time to make a small spiel, speaking from the heart with his usual cheer.
Right now, I wish I was sitting at the top of the tree, looking out over a meadow, cider in hand...
Come on everyone, let's go!
As the music began to pick up again, the audience began to notice that small, green wisps began to manifest and circle around the audience. Of course, this was the doing of Kokkoro, as this was her contribution to the performance. With a small smile on her face, she used her hands to direct where the wisps were going, dazzling the audiences with a light show.
And of course, the rest of the band weren't falling behind; Nilou's dance did not lost any of it's grace as the Saber's movements were quicker to match the tempo. Bakugo was beating the drums with gusto, Kaori's bow was strumming the violin with her usual vigor, and Xinyan and Brook were rocking it out as they were shredding their instruments. The bard smiled as he couldn't have asked for a better band.
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh lai!
To his surprise, someone in the audience tossed Venti a bottle of wine to catch. His reaction time proved true as he caught it in his hand, then giggled as he raised it triumphantly.
Here's the good wine!
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh lai!
The audience cheered with him as he raised the bottle, the joyous atmosphere filling up the auditorium. It was a moment many wished lasted forever. Alas, all songs have to come to an end, and everyone has to wake from their dreams sometime. Knowing this, Venti resolved to end this with a bang using his powers to call forth a gentle breeze.
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh lai
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh lai!
Many joined Xinyan and Brook as they headbanged while shredding their instruments, playing a few good last notes to bring the song to a close. The moment the last note finished, the audience erupted in applause. He turned back to see his bandmates save for Brook sweating, but with smiles on their faces as they knew that they did well. As Venti and the others stepped forward to take their bows, he thought of an old friend of his that he hadn't thought of in a while.
"Perhaps he'd have loved performing like this." He mused to himself with a smile on his face.
"Good job, guys!"
When Venti and the others got backstage, they were greeted by Ritsuka, Rachelle, and Diluc. The very latter had in his hand the bottle of Dornish Red the bard was promised.
"Another wine for your collection, huh?" Ritsuka joked with a grin, pointing to the bottle Venti still had in his hand.
"I suppose you can say that. The more, the merrier, I say!" Venti chuckled as he gracefully accepted the wine from the red-headed former Knight of Favonius.
"I hope you don't mind that Mondstadt's Archon can be a bit...eccentric." Diluc sighed good-naturedly, turning his attention to the dancer from Sumeru in particular.
"It's no problem." Nilou shook her head with a smile. From what I've learned, each one of them is a bit odd, but endearing in their own ways."
"That's one way to see things." Ritsuka chuckled before turning to Venti as the next performers got on stage, their own music playing in the background. "You really set the tone for the concert, despite not going first."
"What can I say? Nothing rouses spirits than a merry tune that can get one dancing!" Venti said with a fond giggle. "Though this may not be Mondstadt, the power music holds remains the same." He smiled as he popped open his newly acquired Dornish Red. "Though the path before you will be filled with storm after storm, you can always count on a gentle breeze to guide you, dear Masters." He gave the two a fond smile. "After all, the wind hasn't led you wrong so far, right?"
End Chapter 17
A/N: This took a lot longer than this should've. That's all I'm gonna say on the matter since this is the norm for me by now.
Nonetheless, good to be back with this new chapter of Fate Grand Blunder! I don't really got much to say this time around, so I'll just quickly go through what I wanna talk about.
- This chapter is about Genshin Impact's favorite drunk bard, Venti. I'll admit, I was kind of in a rut while slowly writing this chapter, but the recent event in Mondstadt gave me some fresh inspiration to help me finish this. I hope I did this bard justice. Also, the song I used was "Soldier, Poet, King" covered by, amusingly enough, Venti's English VA Erika Harlacher. Be sure to give that a listen while reading the performance!
- And yes, if you're familiar with Your Lie in April, Kaori's here as a Servant too. Yes, she has no combat skills, but neither do Servants like Mata Hari, Hans Christian Andersen, and many others. As for her own wish...who knows? It might get fulfilled one day.
- One last thing: I'm thinking of expanding my horizons to Archive of Our Own. Now, I'm not abandoning , but I want to see how I fare in that site. So I'll be posting chapters of my works both here and AO3 once my works there are up to date. So look forward to it!
That's really all I wanted to say for now! If you liked this chapter, please leave a review and let me know your thoughts! Until next chapter, this is the King of Beasts signing off!
P.S I'll update this with Venti's stat sheet at a later date!