The island was infested by slimes, ones which he was about to kill as soon as he noticed them,
But then they offered him some slime condense in return for keeping their lives...
...
It wasn't that big of an offering, considering how little Anemo energy was inside of those,
But he understood their will to live and realized that a cool snack like that will suffice, so he agreed to the exchange...
...
And then Albedo just had to ruin things by studying him while he ate the condense and was constantly writing something in his notebook...
*Seriously, all he did was eat some slime condense, which for sure might have been weird to do if he was human, but he certainly wasn't one and...!
-Venti, can you make your braids glow, please? -His thoughts were soon interrupted by the familiar voice of Klee, who he noticed was now standing before him with stars in her eyes, both Barbara and Amber quietly watching from nearby. -Klee wants to continue fish blasting, but it's getting dark!
She added with a small pout, her eyes still shining with anticipation,
As the small pyromaniac looked so enthusiastic Venti was taken aback...
*As he was now also being reminded, again, why she even asked him of this...
...
...
It was his fault, since he was too annoyed to sail back to Pudding Isle or anywhere else for that matter,
So instead they stayed at Minacious Isle for the night, a place mostly consisting of grass...
*There was a Waypoint by the North side of the isle, giving of a soft light,
Which was also the place they decided to make camp for the night, so it was already "packed"...
...
So for fish blasting they had to move South East, where there was no artificial light,
Yet the area was closer to the sea water, so it would be easier to collect the grilled fish later...
...
...
Right, he should probably answer Klee's request now, seeing how eager she is currently looking...
*He already gave enough summary for the readers to understand what happened, after all...
-Sorry for the wait Klee. I will be glad to fulfill your request. -Venti finally said, making the child jump in happiness, as he now wondered what he should use his power for. Of course he wasn't going to use a lot of it and for something hard. That would just make him increasingly annoyed again and he was tired of being annoyed. So the best thing to do was...-...I should use my Anemo powers to spy on people and see what they are currently doing...~ -He soon mumbled in great intrigue and some teasing, before activating his power, making sure to close his eyes as he did so. -Here, Klee, some light from yours truly. I am going to stay with my eyes closed for a while, so don't mind it.
He informed her and in a way, the others as well,
Soon deciding to focus on the task at hand:
Spying on the rest of their large group!
...
Surely this will make his mood better, right...?
He needs to have some fun after working so hard because of that stupid Alice, who just had to turn everything into a long and stupid adventure and...!
...
...
He should probably just check what everyone else is currently doing...
-This water, surprisingly enough, seems to be adequate for consumption. -Albedo was thoughtfully saying, as he and Emilia now stood before a container half full with water, three slimes sitting on it's other side. -You wouldn't mind producing more of it, would you...?
The Chief Alchemist soon asked them, which sounded more like a demand,
As the three Hydro Slimes must have realized, if their eagerness to do as asked was anything to go by...
*While watching things unfold, for some reason Venti felt like those were supposed to be Anemo Slimes instead...
...
...
Oh well, even if this is somehow "wrong", it's more helpful to them,
Unlike himself, Dvalin and Vennessa, the other members of their group constantly needed to drink water...
...
And speaking of his old friends...
-So this is what grooming is, interesting. -Dvalin was saying in thought and some intrigue, as he was currently grooming one of Vennessa's(in her "Falcon of the West" form) wings. -To think I would be able to do this for others...I didn't think that it was even possible.
-...Yes, this is...I also thought it's impossible...-Jean soon mumbled in barely hidden embarrassment, carefully grooming the other wing. -...To think that to my hero, I...
She continued mumbling in even more embarrassment, her words soon getting too quiet to hear,
As Lisa was quietly standing nearby, looking towards the trio with an amused expression on her face...
*Venti realized that what was happening here was self explanatory, as amusing as it might be, so he should probably move to...
-To think that such a thing would happen, I can't help feeling worried about how this "Vacation" might go. -Seamus was worryingly saying, looking conflicted, as he and Frederica were now making the last camp preparations. -I am grateful to be able to spend time with our daughters and you too, Frederica, but considering the main reason we are now here...
-Lord Barbatos', "Venti's" worrying situation, I know. His friend's return(and in such a dangerous way), his second death and what followed after. -Frederica soon admitted, looking and sounding serious, with a slight tint of worry in her voice. -Just like during that prolonged day almost a week ago, there's not much we can actually do about it, surely you realize it too. So instead...
The Alder Knight soon started explaining, before long the two of them going into a full blown discussion about the matter,
Which was something Venti chose to ignore, deciding not to listen to it any longer...
...
...
He didn't even want to think about this right now...
He was now in the "Dreamscape",
And it felt really really awkward...
*Secretly, embarrassing as well...
...
Why was this overly dutiful Knight fussing over him again...?
Why would Rostam, while already knowing how he truly was...?
"There doesn't seem to be anything wrong, thankfully.", his thoughts were interrupted by the reassured voice of the aforementioned Knight, who was looking at him with that usually warm expression, one which currently made him feel so much guilt, "...I was so worried when you kept staying awake for the last few days, probably having self-destructive thoughts again, that...", he sadly mumbled, before pausing in his words and making a small sigh, his expression turning warm again, "I am truly grateful that you seem to be feeling better now, Lord Barbatos.", he soon admitted, hoping that the Archon takes his words to heart. Especially the next ones he was about to say, "If you ever need to talk with someone, my Archon, know that I will be right here. I will attentively listen to anything you say, even if it's an annoyed rant. I would rather have you throw all your rage at me, then keep your emotions in and continue being depressed."
The Knight wholeheartedly promised, meaning every word,
As he was soon patiently waiting for the other's reply...
...
Yet, the Archon only looked sad at his words...
-I can't really get mad at you, or even annoyed. Especially when you decided to stay here, even though you could have joined with Rosalyne already! -Barbatos couldn't help admitting, getting emotional at the last sentence, before he deeply sighed. -...Seriously, everyone is always just so...Why is everyone still dealing with me? I usually act so childish and keep getting into trouble...-He soon mumbled, weakly sitting down with his legs close to his chest, as he pushed them even closer to himself with his hands. -...I just don't understand this...I can't understand it...Why would anyone...?
He couldn't help sadly and guilt strikingly adding, feeling that this was just wrong,
As he subconsciously put his head down on his legs and enclosed the wings around himself...
-...What is going on here...? -Was the first thing Venti said upon waking up the next day and looking around, as he couldn't help getting more and more confused at what he saw. -...Am I still sleeping or did I wake up to a really weird situation...? -...If it was even fair to call it a "weird situation", considering how insane it was...-...Did half of the group really change age overnight or am I just imagining things because I drank too much last evening...?
He couldn't help adding in even more confusion, now looking between the people gathered:
Frederica and Seamus taking care of two familiar looking blonde babies, with Amber standing nearby and trying to help out,
Two equally familiar toddlers looking towards him with a weary expression on their faces, as Emilia and Albedo were studying them,
And a blonde haired, red eyed woman happily waving towards him, with Lisa standing nearby and looking overly amused about the whole situation...
...
Just what kind of situation did he stumble upon...?
And more importantly, what actually happened to them all...?
...
Why were Jean and Barbara babies, Dvalin and Vennessa toddlers and Klee a grown up woman...?!
WHAT IN TEYVAT'S NAME HAPPENED TO THEM ALL TO...?!
-Oh, hello there Venti! A weird situation to wake up to, isn't it...? -Amber interrupted his shocked thoughts, as she was currently looking a little sheepish, similar to most others who were also looking towards him now. -...You usually wake up way later, so no one expected you to see this...Uh, "situation". Honestly we are also still not sure what exactly happened ourselves.
She soon explained as much as she could, which was pretty little,
As she then turned to look towards the two Alchemists, as if nonverbally asking them for an answer...
*Venti couldn't help doing the same, already certain that if anyone finds out what is going on, it's them...
...
Honestly, if he knew he would be waking up to such a confusing scene, he would have rather remained asleep,
Even if it meant that he would need to stay in the "Dreamscape", extremely confused about the situation and Rostam's words...
*Yes, he decided to wake up earlier due to what happened at that time, not wanting to stay at that place any longer...
...
...
He basically ran away again, didn't he...?
*Once again, he was worrying his own...
-Whatever you are currently thinking about, Venti, you are certainly wrong. -His thoughts were interrupted by a serious looking Albedo, who together with Emilia, soon walked up to him. -As for what actually happened to make them age and de-age, we have a theory...-He suddenly paused in his words, for a few seconds looking a little conflicted, before his expression turned serious again. -...You remember the situation almost two months ago, when your body de-aged to the state of a toddler due to your Time Power backlash, right...?
-Basically speaking, we are theorizing that this case is similar to what happened that time. -Emilia decided to continue, as she looked between "the affected", before turning back towards the now even more confused Archon. -...Considering how much of your Time powers you were using almost a week ago, it is no surprise there would be a backlash. What no one expected, though, is that it would take so much time to happen and the way it ultimately manifested: Everyone who has a certain link to you having their age shifted, be it due to the Anemo Visions, a "Blessing" or any other similar way.
-The Winds already admitted that all the Anemo users had their age shifted and both Durin and Lupus Boreas are now toddlers as well. -Albedo continued, not letting Venti say a word in, as he tried not to show his concern about the situation. Especially when he realized that Sucrose was now a baby too...-...As for Barbara and Klee, I think I have an idea about what could have happened. Regretfully, I can't share this information with you, due to your own insistence about being content to be kept in the dark.
The Chief Alchemist soon admitted, looking a little repentant now,
As he and everyone else were now waiting for the Archon's reaction to this news...
*Quite a few of them deciding to focus on this, as to not get extremely confused themselves,
This whole situation was already quite chaotic, even for Mondstadt standards...
...
...
-...I...Because I was using that power so much, in order to keep my friend here, all of you are now...-Was the first thing Venti said moments later, as he looked between everyone affected with a conflicted expression, which soon turned guilt-stricken. -...I am so sorry, because of me you are in this kind of situation...
He sadly and remorsefully ended, lowering his head, looking so miserable now that it was hard to watch...
*For anyone but Vennessa, that is, who was feeling annoyed and almost mad instead...
...
Whether it was due to her being fed up with him constantly putting himself down,
Whether it was due to her current condition, which might also be affecting her mental state...
...
Or whether it was both of those combined,
IT DIDN'T F*CKING MATTER RIGHT NOW!
-VENTI, YOU STUPID MORON! -She soon yelled out, upon running up to and kicking him in the legs, looking furious. -FIRST YOU ARE ALL LIKE: "I got depressed because of what happened with my friend, with him dying for the second time and leaving me to grieve, but it's my own fault for being emotional, right…? Of course it is, even when people keep saying it isn't!" AND NOW THIS! STOP BLAMING YOURSELF FOR EVERYTHING, YOU IDIOT! WHY CAN'T YOU F*CKING UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BOTTLE UP YOU EMOTIONS, YOU DUMBASS! IF YOU NEED TO GRIEVE, JUST GRIEVE! POUR ALL YOUR EMOTIONS OUT! KICK THAT STUPID GRANDMASTER IN THE BALLS FOR ALL I CARE! JUST STOP ACTING LIKE THE WORLD HAS ENDED JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE F*CKING EMOTIONS, YOU...!
She was yelling more and more, soon going into a full blown tirade which didn't sound like it would be stopping any time soon,
The enraged toddler now punching the shocked Archon over and over, though not hard due to her current physical state,
As everyone couldn't help watching things unfold, not sure if they should stop this or let things escalate a little more...
...
This might actually help the Archon understand, once and for all, that he has nothing to feel guilty for…