Vennessa was currently flying back to Mondstadt,
As she tried really hard not to blow up something in her annoyance...
...
That Alice, she literally and figuratively ruffled her feathers!
The nerve of that woman to turn her into an errand girl!
*The Falcon of the West soon realized that she already was one and has been for a while now,
But since it was to help Venti, that reckless Archon and friend of hers, it was different...!
...
Unlike him, Alice...
"Hey, Vennessa, mind going back to Mondstadt for a few more of these Sigils...? We seem to be out. ", the arrogant woman suddenly said, right in the middle of her and Skirk's 1003(?) round of "Getting rid of the Abyss Monsters LOLs", "Checking out my damage on those monsters is pretty fun, but with them regenerating so much, it's going to get stale, you know...", she added with a small sigh, just as some monsters "revived", before they were blown up by her again, "...It's already starting to get boring, it's like trying to kill cockroaches. So annoying...!", she added with a pout before proceeding to use an aoe attack to blow up the area around them, Skirk managing to get out of the way in time, the ground around them now looking blackened, "...This should stop these pests for a while. Now, where were we...? Oh, right! The sigils! You have to fly back to Mondstadt and get them, Vennessa! The faster, the better! Make sure to say hello to my daughter and the rest of the family while you are there!", the overly obnoxious woman continued, as she soon proceeded to take a folded paper from out of her "bosom pocket", an act that was completely normal for her, "Here is a list with the names of all the current family members! I am going to tie it to your leg this once, but be sure to learn all the names for later!", she added in a voice that was very serious for her, proceeding to do just as she said, "Oh, before I forgot, if anyone in the family wants to go on Vacation, I know of a nice place. Just ask Venti about the "Haar Islands", he should know~"
...
She was just obnoxious, that woman,
So overconfident that she got on Vennessa's nerves...
*Seriously, how did that woman and Venti even meet and why did he let her...?!
- North Land, wind feel weird. Cold. Not welcome.
-The wind not warm. Wind cold. Very cold. Worrying.
-Territory owner okay? He is not hurt?
-Territory owner really nice. Voice also nice. Feel in love.
-If he continue hurt, no more song. Wind forever cold. Feels sad.
-What happen to territory owner...? Would it be forever cold...?
-Don't know. Better ask mate and friends. Need to check.
-If this continue, we should help. Territory owner is a friend.
-Not only friend. Alpha too. Has big pretty wings. Sad usually hide them.
-Want to play with humans. Even if more like us. He still nice.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the birds talking nearby, a discussion which continued for quite a while,
And once again, she felt glad to be able to understand them thanks to her (spirit) bird form...
*Though the matter of their discussion, as primitive as it sounded, was still worrying...
…
…
What exactly happened to Venti, for him to become this depressed...?
And since she "sent her back", could it be that Alice somehow knew of this...?
...
...
Simply thinking about this was meaningless,
It would be for the best to find out the situation for herself...
*To find out what was going on with Venti to make him so miserable...
...
Hopefully, as one of his oldest friends, she would be able to find a way to help...
-Auntie Barbara, is Venti okay...? Klee didn't see him in almost a week!
-Venti didn't play or fly with me either and he promised to! When will Venti come out?!
-Father must be so sad since his friend left. My friends are also very worried!
-Hey, Barbara, how's Venti feeling now...? I haven't seen him in days.
-The atmosphere of the city itself became gloomy and colder, is Lord Barbatos truly so depressed right now...? He's going to be alright, right...?
-"Venti", he likes to be called "Venti". Or rather, liked to, after what happened...He is not planning to ascend back to Celestia, is he...?
-The Lord of the Wind's heart was shattered due to his dearest friend's tragic departure. I, Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung pray for his spirits to brighten anew!
-What mein Fräulein means is that he is hurting due to his friend dying again and wishes for him to get better. A short answer for once, mein Fräulein must be really worried.
And more inquiries were heard as Barbara was walking through the streets of Mondstadt,
As she tried to do her Deaconess and healer duties, yet was constantly stopped by worried people...
*All of them, in one way or another, asking her how Venti was and wishing for his condition to improve,
Upon noticing the apparent change in the wind and even sky itself, the former colder and the latter dimmer...
...
...
But there was only one reply she could give them, albeit slightly differently worded each time,
One that she couldn't help repeating over and over, not sure what else to say...
-Lord Barbatos, Venti...I am sorry to tell you, but there isn't much change to his condition. But there is no need to worry since all of us, members of the Church of Favonius, are making sure he is okay!
She tried to make these words sound as reassuring as possible, she really did,
Even though she wasn't sure how true they sounded even to her own ears...
*All of them wished for him to get better and strived to make it into reality,
And yet, after what happened just a few days ago, when would his condition get better...?
...
Even if it will,
He lost his first friend again, after all...
*His friend, who he lost 2600 years ago and just recently got back,
One he was so close to, as they all saw with their own eyes...
...
...
-...I shouldn't think like this. He is going to get better, I will make sure of it...-Barbara soon mumbled to herself, as she continued her walk towards the Cathedral, already noticing the numerous pigeons that were quietly gathered on top of the building. -...I promised to stay by his side no matter what, after all.
She reminded herself, determinedly continuing her stride,
Soon reaching the Cathedral's entrance, as Otto opened the door to her...
*He also looked worried, they all were, but he already knew there was no use in asking...
...
Those associated with the Cathedral already knew that Venti was staying in their shared room,
As their Archon, their family and friend, was so anguished he even refused to eat apple dishes or drink Dandelion Wine...
...
...
"I prepared him some fresh food and Master Diluc brought a few bottles of wine, but even now, he didn't even touch any...This is even worse than when Timmie was sick and had to be spoon-fed."
Was what sister Grace kept telling her, in slightly different words each time, for the last few days,
And she wouldn't be surprised if today she was told the same...
...
By this point, she would rather check it for herself that be told about it,
So with this thought in mind and foregoing taking a break for herself, Barbara decided to go there right now...
*Hopefully, this time her reassuring words would reach him, even if a little...
...
...
He couldn't continue like this, so deep in his grief, he ignored his own life,
And neither could they see him in this condition anymore, so broken it was hard to watch...
*The Venti that they all knew should freely walk, run and fly through the city and nation,
Sharing his stories, songs, a love for apples and wine, for Mondstadt itself and those he loved,
Showing a wide array of emotions, from serious to silly, as his words were sometimes teasing, while other times so warm and gentle...
...
...
Venti, he shouldn't be shutting himself from the world like this,
He shouldn't be...
- "...ovico Einaudi - Experience", "Evanescence - Field of Innocence", "Linkin Park - In My Remains" and "Two Steps From Hell - Eternal Sorrow", "Audiomachine - The second hand ticks", "Kkev - The Final Sacrifice"...There's a lot of sad songs to listen to, maybe I should make a playlist... -Was heard as soon as she opened the door to their room, slowly walking inside and closing the door behind her, noticing that the curtains were still closed, yet the Archon's beautiful eyes were still shining in the dark. - ...Yeah, a playlist would be good, I can put it on repeat...Maybe even added some more known songs too...Depressing, just like my life...One I ignored for so long...
He continued mumbling from his place sitting on their shared bed, seemingly oblivious to her recent entrance into the room,
Which made the Deaconess that much more worried, as he kept mumbling weird things...
*If the citizens knew of this, they would be that much more worried for his emotional wellbeing...
...
...
Seeing Venti like this, so sad and broken,
She couldn't help feeling her heart clench...
*But she promised to be there for him, to be strong for him, didn't she...?
...
...
-Ven...Barbatos, it's okay. It's going to be okay. -Barbara said in as much reassurance as she could muster, soon enveloping him in a warm and tight hug. -...We are still here...Everyone is still here with you...We are going to make sure you are okay...So please, don't shut yourself from the world...Don't shut yourself from us...
She kept mumbling into his ear, hoping that this will help, even a little,
Hoping that there was still a chance he would open himself to the world and them all again...
*Hoping that he would be able to heal from this and resume his life in Mondstadt...
...
...
But was this really enough...?
*Maybe she should do more so that...?
...
...
The song that the Winds recently taught her,
Maybe it would help in showing him her care...?
*She soon noticed the curtains slightly shift, showing that the Winds agreed,
Yet decided not to interrupt their moment, else it might not work...
...
...
Right, "Taylor Swift - Safe and Sound",
She was going to put as much emotion into it as she possibly could!