Author Notes: Nameless Bard is named Himmel in this fic

The young bard groggily wakes from his dream of familiar storms, a large imposing tower and harsh unrelenting winds. He twitches his fingers and is alarmed by the pain that follows. A little panicked, he forces his eyes open.

"...Venti?"

It's a habit for him to call out to the small wind sprite who had always remained at his side during the days of Mondstadt's rebellion. Upon squinting in the dark, he is greeted by the walls of a tent, colored a shade of blue thanks to the moonlight outside.

Moonlight...?

The events of days prior come back to him then, and he almost wonders if maybe the reality before him was somehow it's own dream. He sits up, ignoring the way his bandaged arm burns in protest.

Using his good arm, he moves his blankets aside and crawls towards the tent entrance. He finds his cloak discarded on the floor, quickly throws it over his shoulder and pushes the tent flap aside.

The light from the sky is nothing short of amazing as it spreads across the landscape, causing it to gleam a soft silver.

He goes still as he climbs to his feet, taking it all in. The moon and the stars twinkle to greet him, mountains and cliffs are unshrouded in the distance, and the wind is ever so gentle as it sways the grass and trees. His breath leaves him, just as it had the day he'd woken from his near death to finally see the blue sky above, not a storm in sight.

How funny that he once dreamed of the world before him, when now those very same dreams contained the storm-walls.

Himmel mindlessly strolls in the direction of the lake, not daring to fall asleep again when the reality before him was so beautiful and enticing. He spots Venti then, sitting under a tree and looking towards the small island settled within the lake.

It's admittedly strange seeing Venti in a form that mimics himself. He didn't mind, but it was taking plenty of getting used to.

As he approaches, the newly dubbed Anemo Archon hears his footsteps and turns his head to look behind him with bright green eyes. When he sees Himmel, his eyes soften considerably.

"The lake's nice, isn't it?" He doesn't hesitate to ask, patting the ground next to him. "So, do you like it?"

A natural smile tugs at Himmel's lips.

"Everyone's already agreed it's a perfect spot to build New Mondstadt." He takes Venti's cue and sits down beside him. "We'll have the freedom to roam, easy access to water, a scenic view."

"But do you like it?" Venti insists.

"I like the trees, the sky and the birds in flight. From here I can gaze upon them all freely."

Venti nods a little to himself, then looks back towards the lake. If it were anyone else, they'd probably assume he was fine and that was the end of it. But after spending so much time together Himmel can tell something is still troubling him.

"Is something the matter?" He asks. "You're awfully concerned about what I think."

Venti shifts. "Hm, well… Gunnhildr asked me to review the plans for the city with her. She talked about stores, bath houses, a blacksmith. Mortals require so many things! And then I thought, maybe I'm forgetting something you'd wish for."

Himmel laughs a little. "Don't be silly, friend. City walls and extravagant buildings mean little to me, so long as the sky is unobscured for all to see."

He glances up at the heavens only briefly, but regardless his expression seems to brighten Venti's mood.

"Eh-he ~ it's wonderful to see how happy the sky makes you… Oh!"

The god startles suddenly, rummaging through the pocket of his current garments. Himmel watches him curiously, until Venti holds an object up to his face.

"Ta-dah! Ahaha, I found this a long time ago and wanted to give it to you. It's an eagle feather!"

Himmel takes it from him, turning it over in his hands with wide curious eyes.

"I know how much you wished to see the birds in flight. Then again, you don't really need it anymore, huh?"

It was true that he could finally see the birds for himself, but the feather in his hands was still an object to be treasured; he'd never seen an eagle before, after all. The feather is quite big for a bird, but still so soft and light.

He smiles. "It's lovely, Venti! Where did you find it?"

"Mmm…" Venti hums and closes his eyes as he thinks, something he'd often done in his previous form. He reopens them soon enough and nudges his head towards the southeast.

"Somewhere over there, when there were still tall mountain peaks."

Himmel looks off in that direction, eyes filled with light. "We should explore there then! I mean, once the city's built of course."

"Eh?" Venti blinks. "You'd want me to come with you?"

The boy laughs and reaches out to poke him on the nose. "Certainly. I always hoped we'd be able to travel together once the people's freedom was won. Although, I did imagine you'd still look as you did before."

Venti tilts his head. "Would you want me to change my form to something else?"

Himmel's surprised to learn Venti can change it whenever he likes. It really doesn't bother him that much though, so he quickly shakes his head.

"No, it's alright with me if you'd like to keep it. I do wonder why you chose to take on my appearance though."

Himmel had been bedridden and fighting for his life when Venti had taken on his appearance. So, he wasn't exactly sure of his reasoning.

"Ah, heh, that. Well… I took your form because… because I didn't want your memory to be forgotten. Without you who would play the lyre you loved so much? Who would sing for the people and spread teachings of freedom? I hoped to live for your sake… You know, i-if you… you didn't…"

Venti's voice waivers off, shaky with emotion. Himmel's chest tightens painfully. He's genuinely touched that Venti had wished to keep his memory alive, and yet… also terribly sad.

When he'd first met the little wisp he'd been so free and playful, without a care in the world. To some his affinity for leisure and play could be troublesome but Himmel had always thought it endearing. Should the wind not be without burden?

In the city of control and storm, Venti was like a glimmer of hope bearing tidings from a world untainted and unrestrained. Himmel knew it wasn't his fault, but still, he had never intended to leave his friend with such a heavy burden…

"Venti… Come here please."

Himmel opens his good arm and Venti practically falls on top of him in his eagerness to accept the hug. He nuzzles his face in the crook of Himmel's neck and the bard wraps his arm around his frame, rather grateful for the warmth. This wasn't all that foreign to him really, considering Venti had always been fond of affection in his previous form.

The Anemo Archon sighs happily and then everything is nice and warm and quiet. Without the ceaseless storm's constant roar, Himmel can hear the crickets chirp, the short coo of an owl and the wind as it softly lifts at his hair.

"Your arm doesn't hurt still, does it?" Venti asks in due time.

"Only sometimes." He admits. "If I have no other choice, I'll simply reteach myself to play the lyre with my left."

A cheerful smile finds its place across Venti's features. "Humans are so resilient."

Himmel drops his chin against the top of Venti's head and looks up to the sky. He is momentarily captivated by the light of the stars, at least until his eyes land on the single floating island.

Celestia…

There had been rumors of it in Decarabian's city, but amidst the storm-walls and blizzards alike no one had ever truly seen it.

Upon waking from his unconsciousness, the priestess of the Gunnhildr clan had done her best to catch him up on the current situation and had vaguely mentioned the floating island.

He was informed Amos had perished in the fight… her final breath drawn at the same time as her lovers…

Himmel had fallen in the madness as well, an arrow to the arm, his shoulder and one narrowly scraping his side. It was the blood loss and injury to his shoulder that had inevitably rendered him unconscious.

"We are fortunate." Gunnhildr had told him. "The Elf altered the course of the arrows with the wind at the very last second. If not for that, you…"

She had moved on to a different topic then, instead informing him that Ragnvindr was alive, although in her words he was currently being uncooperative and keeping his distance. She'd also told him the Elf, or Venti as Himmel liked to call him, had been acknowledged as a new god by Celestia.

"He is to be called Lord Barbatos and will serve as the first Anemo Archon."

Gunnhildr had said it with pride lacing her voice, a testament to the faith her clan had placed in Venti after he had given them shelter from the endless blizzards.

Himmel… wasn't too sure how to feel about it himself…

Observing the island hovering in the sky now, he can't help but wonder about the true nature of Celestia. For even when the people rebelled and cried out for freedom, Celestia had never intervened…