Genshin Impact

The Messenger of the Seven

Chapter 4

The Music of the Wind

Walking up the steps to the Thousand Winds Temple, Celia turned to look at the others behind her, Diluc, Sora, Paimon and Jean. She smiled and then turned, continuing to climb the stairs happily.

"Celia! Don't run off please." Diluc called, sighing as he held his hand out, "Honestly, if I knew that she was going to act like this, then I probably would have told her to stay at home..."

Jean looked at him as she walked alongside him, "You need to understand where she is coming from. She is normally allowed out in the wilderness all by herself with very little in the way of restrictions, however, in the last so many days, she hasn't been allowed to leave the City apart from going home. Also, how long do you think it would have taken her to sneak out without being noticed if she had stayed at home? She is much safer with us than out there alone."

Paimon looked at them, "Paimon has been wondering, is it okay for her to be out here without the means to fight?"

Diluc looked at Paimon, "She may not carry a vision yet, but she can fight and is very talented when it comes to fighting with a sword. She is also very good at knowing if the enemy ahead of her is too strong for her or not. And as long as there is no one in immediate danger, she won't try and fight anything too strong for her..."

Sora frowned, turning his head to look at Diluc as if he wanted to ask a question, but instead watched Celia with curiosity.

Celia continued to walk, smiling as she looked up at the sky. The ground shook beneath her slightly, causing her to stop for a moment, she glanced down at the ground, then looked at Diluc.

Diluc stopped walking when he noticed her look at him, and he frowned.

She went to take a step towards him, opening her mouth to say something, but the ground shook again. Her eyes widened as she turned, seeing a Ruin Guard heading towards her, "Diluc...?"

Diluc had already started running towards her, holding his claymore in his right hand, he grabbed her shoulder with his left, pulling her behind him, "Stay behind me!" His expression was serious but also gave off a protective big brother aura.

A memory flashed before her eyes as he pulled her back, a man with red hair tied back and a red square-cut beard holding her shoulder, pulling her behind him, "Stay behind me!" Celia closed her eyes tightly, pressing her back against Diluc's, her breathing rapid and unsteady. She shook her head as if trying to remove the memory from her mind.

Diluc watched as Sora and Jean ran ahead of him, then turned his head slightly, "Stay calm, Celia."

"Not again..."

His eyes widened as realisation hit him, he exhaled deeply as he watched Sora and Jean fight the Ruin Guard, "I am sorry, Ceci... I didn't mean to do that... Everyone, stand back!" He brought his claymore up and flames engulfed the blade, "Burn!" He swung his claymore forward, the flames flew off it towards the Ruin Guard in the shape of an eagle. It hit the mechanical monster, applying enough more than enough damage to cause it to stop moving and hit the ground.

As the Ruin Guard disappeared, a red teardrop crystal floated in its place. Diluc stabbed his claymore into the ground, it appeared on his back, flames still around it until it disappeared out of sight. He then took hold of Celia by the shoulders and walked over to the rest of the group.

Celia looked up at him, nodding to him as they walked.

Paimon looked at the teardrop as everyone gathered around it, "Paimon didn't think we'd find Dvalin's tears in a place like this."

Jean placed her hand on her chest, "As knights, we are taught to hone our investigative skills."

Paimon clapped, "Wow! Very impressive!"

Jean smiled, "In my experience, the secret to finding what you are looking for is to never look for it in the first place. Don't think too much about it and don't search too hard... and before you know it, what you are looking for will appear right before your very eyes."

Paimon tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face, "What?"

Jean sighed, "Don't worry about it too much. The more flustered you become, the less likely you are to find it. Pay attention to what you see in your peripheral vision and you might just stumble upon what you're looking for."

Paimon shrugged, looking at Sora, "I don't know... It doesn't sound like that would work..."

He shrugged.

"No, seriously, it does though. It's how I used to find my tortoise whenever he went missing."

Paimon gasped, "...Wait- You had a pet tortoise!?"

Jean looked at her, "Yes, why? Something wrong, Paimon?"

Paimon shook her head, waving her hands in front of her, "No, it's... uh, well, just surprising is all."

Jean looked at her in confusion as they all began to exit the ruins, "Why?"

"Paimon can't imagine Jean having a pet tortoise. Surely you find it hard to imagine too, Master Diluc and Celia?"

Diluc shook his head as he looked at her, "No, I don't I had one too when I was a kid. So did Celia here. What's so strange about it?"

Celia frowned as she nodded, "Yeah, I did."

"What? You too!?"

Celia chuckled slightly, shaking her head, "It's not that weird, Paimon!"

Diluc shook his head and looked at his sister, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, looking up at him, "Yeah, I am good. I am sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you worry about me. I just remembered..." She shook her head, "Maybe I should have just stayed at home-"

Diluc stopped walking, "No."

Celia turned to look at him, "What?"

Diluc looked at her, "It was my fault, I said the same thing he had said that day... I didn't mean to remind you of that. Nothing is going to happen to you, me or the others." He sighed, "Even Kaeya..." He scowled slightly, "If you want to go home, then sure, I will take you home. But I think you are ready to be more involved in things that could be considered as dangerous. Just promise me that you will try and be careful."

She smiled, "I promise that I will try."

He nodded, "Let's go and find the other tears then." He continued to walk.

She smiled a little more and walked alongside him.

...

After all the tears had been located, the party of five headed to Dawn Winery, where Venti was waiting for them. Venti smiled as they approached.

Paimon bounced around happily, "Woohoo! Dvalin Protection Squad! Assemble!" Clapping as she cheered.

Venti looked at Sora, "Let's put our crystals together."

Sora brought the crystals out.

Venti examined them, "Oh... The colour of these crystals looks... muddy." He sighed, his eyes showing concern, "Dvalin... You're going through so much pain..." He looked at Sora, "...Let's start purifying these crystals first. Please, Sora."

Sora nodded and put his hand underneath the crystals, they glowed a brilliant blue, and once he let go, the crystals were glowing brightly with the colour of the sky.

Celia's eyes widened at what she had just seen.

Jean folded her arms, "It is hard to believe such a thing is possible until you've seen it with your own eyes."

Diluc watched with intent, "Interesting. It's like filtering wine. The process is... refreshing."

Venti smiled, holding his hand out, "I think we should have enough tears now. So next we... Use the crystals on the Holy Lyre like next time."

He nodded, "Let me give it a try..." He took hold of the crystals in one hand, the lyre in the other, he held the crystals over the lyre. Drops of light fell from the crystals and landed on the strings, the lyre glowed even brighter than last time, the strings full of anemo power now.

Paimon clapped her hands, "It worked!"

Jean placed her hand on her chest, "It seems completely different from before."

"And so much more familiar..." Celia muttered her eyes on the lyre.

Venti and Diluc both looked at her. Diluc was frowning, however, Venti was smiling.

"The Lyre's Anemo power seems fully restored. We should be able to use it now." Venti held his hand out to it, taking hold of it. He smiled at Sora, "It's all thanks to you, Aether."

"Now, where should we summon Stormterror?" Jean looked at Venti, "It must be away from the city, or else there will be casualties should we fail." She looked at Diluc, "Perhaps here at the winery..."

Diluc folded his arms, "If the winery was destroyed, it's not something I couldn't eventually fix, but... I'd still rather not go through the hassle."

Celia looked up at the building frowning, "Yeah, it would take a lot of work to fix..."

Jean lowered her gaze, "..."

"The wind that blows at sea or in high places should be able to carry a bard's words far away." Venti shrugged slightly, "It's never going to work if the air is too dry or suffocating."

Paimon nodded, placing her hands behind her back, "Paimon understand. Sea or high places, right? Then the best location to play the lyre would be..."

"A cliff?" Aether tilted his head.

Diluc looked at him, "If you go east from Starfell Lake, there are mountains south of the beach."

Paimon gasped, "...Oh! You mean that beach we were on when you told Paimon about your sister?"

Celia looked at them, "That was the day you came to the City, I saw you down on the beach path."

Sora looked at her, "You did?"

She nodded, smiling.

Diluc looked at Celia, then back at Sora, "If you head to where the cliff juts out - that place is known as Starsnatch Cliff." He looked at Venti, "What do you think, bard? Meets the requirements, no?"

Venti closed his eyes, "Lemme think... Starsnatch Cliff... Alright, let's do it there."

Jean nodded, "Very well. Then let's meet at Starsnatch Cliff when we are ready." She turned to Sora and Paimon, "Please don't be late."

Paimon giggled, "Hee-hee! Yes Ma'am!"

Jean gasped, "Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to..."

Sora looked at Celia, "You saw me the day I came to Mondstadt?"

She nodded, "Yeah, I was working up near Stormbearers mountain, which is the mountain opposite Starsnatch Cliff. I saw you walking up the beach path with Paimon." She lowered her gaze to the floor, "I also saw you at the Statue of the Seven at Starfell Lake..."

He lifted his hand to his mouth, "Does that mean you saw what happened there?"

She nodded, "Yes, the fact that you can touch a Statue of the Seven and gain the powers of that statue makes you very unique and unlike anyone I have ever met before. How did you do it?"

"..." He looked at Paimon.

Paimon floated towards her, "Paimon is not sure how it happened, but all he had to do was touch the statue."

Celia nodded, "I understand, I won't pry any further, sorry."

...

Celia walked over to the edge of the Starsnatch Cliff, peering down at the water below, "Is this going to work?"

Venti stepped towards her, "Hehe- Do you doubt my abilities, Celia?"

She gasped and turned to look at him, waving her hands frantically in front of her, "No! I just..." She sighed, "I am just worried, that's all."

Venti smiled, "No need to be worried, everything will be fine!"

She smiled slightly, but then looked towards where Diluc and Jean stood, seeing Sora run towards them. She exhaled and walked towards Diluc and the others, Venti walked with her. She looked at the Cecilia flowers near them with a smile on her face.

Once Sora approached the group, Diluc folded his arms, "Everyone is finally here."

Paimon gasped, "What a view..."

Celia smiled.

Venti looked at Paimon, "Lovely for a fated reunion, isn't it?" He placed his hand on his chest, "Well, we must be prepared for a fight."

Celia nodded, looking at Diluc.

Jean held her hand out towards Venti, "Regardless of the outcome, things finally seem to be taking a turn for the better. Mondstadt has been going through so much recently..."

Diluc scoffed as he unfolded his arms, "Huh! In the end, the solution to our problem was as simple as a traveller and a song." He shrugged, "I suppose the Knights of Favonius may have played a part in it too..."

Venti sighed, "Oh we get it, Master Diluc... Everyone step aside!" He turned his back slightly, looking at them as he turned, "I, the best wandering bard of the mortal world, shall begin my performance with the Holy Lyre." He brought the Holy Lyre der Hemmel and started walking to the cliff's edge where he and Celia had been standing before. He looked up at the sky and then looked at the Lyre, beginning to pluck at the strings, creating a beautiful sound.

Celia's eyes widened as she stepped forward, "That music... I have heard it before."

"What are your thoughts on freedom?"

Celia narrowed her eyes, looking at Venti.

Diluc and Jean exchanged looks.

The ground started to shake and the wind picked up as the dragon appeared from beneath the cliff's edge and flew up.

You have come... What has been done cannot be undone...

Celia gasped, "That voice..."

"If so, then why do I see the sadness in your eyes?" Venti looked up at Dvalin, he placed his hand on his hip, "Sadness that speaks of your yearning for this song..."

Grr...

Jean folded her arms and placed her hand on her chin, "They are... communicating... Huh?" She gasped as she saw a flash of ice magic being shot at Venti.

Venti was knocked back and the Lyre hit the ground, now broken.

Paimon gasped as the others began to run towards him, "No! Tone-Deaf Bard!"

Jean, Diluc and Sora stood in front of Venti, holding their hands out to shield him.

"Do not be fooled by him, dear dragon... He left you to rot alone... Now he attempts to deceive you once more..."

Barbatos...

Celia ran ahead of the others, standing in front of them all, her eyes trained on the abyss mage.

Dvalin looked at Celia.

Siding with the Gods again, Liuli!? Why am I not surprised?

Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

"Let your wrath fester! Mondstadt has already turned its back on you!"

Dvalin flew up in the air, the wind swirled with rage as he thrashed around.

You! You were planning this all along? To have me slain by them?

He roared at them all, causing them to shield themselves from the gale shot at them.

Venti looked up at him, "It's not like that! Listen to me!"

"The time has come for the dragon to serve its true master..." The abyss mage laughed, "While you bewail your pathetic selves, and watch the world tremble in fear!"

Dvalin and the abyss mage flew off and disappeared without a trace. The wind returning to normal.

Venti watched the sky, then lowered his gaze, "Dvalin..."

Celia stepped towards the edge of the cliff, looking out at the sky.

Jean looked at Venti, "Barbat- Venti, please, be careful..."

Venti gave a small smile, "Hehe... You've known my true identity for some time now, haven't you Jean?" He placed his hand on his chest, "Though, I thank you for continuing to use the name Venti."

Diluc looked at him, "How's the Holy Lyre? Can it still be played? Or does it need to be repaired?"

Venti picked up the Lyre and sighed, "Wow... Unfortunately, I think it's beyond repair..."

"Dvalin is in a lot of danger..." Aether said, lowering his gaze.

Diluc folded his arms, showing anger in his face and voice, "No, we should make that Abyss Mage pay first! If we don't fight the evil at its source, then we can't save Dvalin at all."

Jean nodded, "In which case, I shall call upon Outrider Amber to track it down..."

Diluc unfolded his arms and closed his eyes, "No need."

Jean looked at him, "Why is that?"

He opened his eyes, "I eradicated one not long ago, in one of the Four Winds' temples."

"The Temple of the Wolf." Celia walked over to him.

He nodded.

Paimon gasped, "What!? When...?"

Diluc folded his arms, "If you want to track those monsters down, then I'll seek answers from my contacts. I've got other means of getting the job done."

Paimon sighed, smiling slightly at Diluc, "Diluc... Though he dislikes the Knights of Favonius, he protects Mondstadt in his own way."

Venti raised his eyebrow, "Ooh? Why does our little Paimon sound so doting all of a sudden?"

Diluc unfolded his arms, "Hmph. Wait for my word." He folded his arms again, "I'll be sure to let the Abyss Order know that their blatant disregard for Mondstadt... Will not go unpunished."

Celia looked at him, "Honestly, I agree with Diluc. The Abyss Order needs to pay for what they have done. Dvalin does not deserve to be deceived, by anyone." She bowed her head and walked down the hill, leaving the others to exchange looks and watch her leave.

Siding with the Gods again, Liuli? Why am I not surprised!?

She scowled, "What did you mean by that, Dvalin..."