Jean was walking through the city of Mondstadt. Somehow she found herself by the statue of...
-...Barbatos...Venti...-Jean felt herself say in sadness, before sighing deeply.
It has been 10 years already...
...
After he...
...
Even though ten years have already passed, it felt like it happened just yesterday...
...
Just thinking about it made her feel depressed once again...
...
To think that their own Archon,
Who they knew as "Venti" for 3 whole years,
Would die right before their eyes and in such a horrible way...
...
If only there was a way to go back in time…
…
They sent Hopkinks and Jotun to Andrius, told him what happened and decided to leave them there and run away from the place, when they saw how dark his face suddenly got. The two men were never seen or heard from again.
Dvalin reluctantly became the new Anemo Archon, in order to try bringing him back, after hearing of how he once brought Boreas back together. But, Barbatos was originally a wind spirit, not a collective will taken form like Boreas, so it didn't work. So, Dvalin made it his life's purpose to look over and protect Mondstadt in remembrance of his friend.
The hill they saw him off was now a field of Cecilias that Flora fondly took care of. Especially on this day, which they made as the yearly day of mourning for their dead Archon.
…
And today was the first anniversary...
...
That must have been why she was feeling so down,
Just like she expected, they never fully got over it...
*Even on normal days, it felt gloomier that it was 10 years ago...Before he...
...
It also seemed like people were still praying to their "Lord Barbatos",
Though now it was either apologies or wishes that wherever he is, he found peace.
…
To keep his memory alive, they also wrote a book about him,
With all the info of him as both "Barbatos" and "Venti" inside, with drawings of him in both of those forms…
…
…
It would have been better if he was still alive,
Him dying back then and in such a heartbreaking way…
*Why did he think so little of himself…?
…
Why did he,
Back then…?
…
…
…
Why did he do it…?
…
"...You all died...Because I...Wasn't around...When it really mattered…"
".. .I just paid...For this...Grave mistake…"
".. .I am...Sorry...For...Every...Thing…"
…
…
Why did he keep blaming himself…?
Why did he apologize for something that wasn't his fault…?
…
Why did he have to sacrifice himself…?
…
...
Why did he, someone so selfless,
Had to die…?
…
…
…
Why…?
…
…
Just…
…
Why…?
What happened afterwards felt like a blur to Jean,
People meeting up, talking about something and then going somewhere...
...
It felt familiar,
Just like that time when...
...
...
" The rest of the walk goes in complete, somber silence, everyone quietly following Kaeya and not knowing what to say or even think anymore. Jean notices that more of the "revived" join them as they pass by, first looking shocked, then horrified and then resolute, as if accepting the situation, even if reluctantly. They soon arrive at the waterfall of the Windwail Highland, and even though the view is nice and the water is clear, they continue walking. They turn right, passing the lone house, walking by the trail for some time, until they turn right again and up the hill. Upon reaching the hill…"
…
Everyone were gathered at the hill near Springvale,
The place which was now a beautiful Cecilia field…
…
And the parting place of their old Archon,
Where they were now giving their respects…
- To Barbatos, my friend and the first person who accepted me, when everyone else either ran away or attacked me. The first person who showed me what a home, friendship and family are. -Dvalin, as the current Anemo Archon, solemnly said. - A wild, mischievous and often lazy Wind Spirit, yet so caring, selfless and accepting. The best friend I could ever have. -He truthfully admitted while looking up at the sky, his expression both sad and grateful. - I hope that wherever you currently are, Barbatos, you are doing alright.
…
-Hi, Venti! Or should I call you Barbatos…? You know, ever since you arrived in Mondstadt, I always found your ballads beautiful and strangely refreshing, liked your calming and mischievous presence and admired your free spirit. Yet, you weren't truly free, were you…? -Amber started in some sheepishness that soon turned to sadness. -In truth, you were chained down by your own self hate and guilt, thinking that you were useless and a failure…-She then sighed, as her expression became warmer. -But you were wrong, you weren't useless or a disappointment. In fact, you did a lot for Mondstadt and us, giving everyone the freedom to choose their own way of life. And you were ready to save all of our lives, even at the cost of your own. I wouldn't be here now if not for your sacrifice. -Her expression soon became sad again. -I just wish you didn't have to die like that, to leave so suddenly and with so many regrets. If you were still here, I wish that I could have been your friend…
…
-Hello, Bard. It's been a while now since you last visited my bar, isn't it…? It's been ten years. -Diluc said next, an unreadable expression on his face, before he deeply sighed. -Truthfully, even since you started visiting Angel's Share, I often found myself annoyed by your wild personality and complete disregard of the rules. -His expression soon turned both sad and warm, as he looked towards his brother standing nearby and then the sky above. -But even with all your faults, I wouldn't have asked for a different Archon. Your love for Mondstadt, no one can deny how great it is. You wouldn't have done what you did otherwise.
…
-Hello to you Venti, it's the first time that I finally found the courage to speak to you, ten years after…-Diona quietly said, as she was standing by her father's side. -I always hated drunks, thinking that they were a bad influence on my dad. I also found you and your pranks annoying many times and mad at the amount of alcohol you always seemed to drink. -She truthfully continued, her ears and tail lowering soon afterwards. -But then, I heard the news of what you did, saving my father's and everyone else's lives…Even at the price of your own. -She then paused, her expression rapidly turning sad and dejected. -I should have been nicer to you when you were still alive. I should have been less childish and realized what a good person you actually were. And I should have realized that the excessive drinking, those pranks of yours and the childish acting were a way for you to forget about the pain, even if only for a while. -She looked on the verge of tears now. -I should have realized all of this sooner, not now, when you are already long dead and gone…
…
-Hello to you Venti or should I say Lord Barbatos…? I am also one of the people who is finally speaking to you now, even though it was 10 years. -Rosaria calmly said, before slightly chuckling. -Yes, I actually know how to spell your name, I just never bothered to do so before. In my blindness, I didn't realize your love for Mondstadt. I apologize for that. -She continued in a slightly sad and now also apologetic voice. -You know, all the times we went drinking I felt like there was something more to you, other than being a normal bard. I just didn't know what it was. And then I found out about what happened in Springvale. -She then deeply sighed. -It came as a great shock to me: not only was one of my drinking buddies the Archon of this land. Against all logic(Or was it just what I believed?), for you to care for Mondstadt and its people to this extent…-She quietly looked up at the sky, seemingly searching for something or someone there. -...You know, I am someone who judges people based on their actions, rather than hollow words. If you were still alive, I wouldn't have minded believing in and following you fully, because now I know how much you love the people of this land. -She then sighed sadly and slightly annoyingly. -...But this self-guilt and self-hate of yours I heard about and them being the "catalyst" of your self sacrifice. I can't understand this even now!
…
-...L-lord Barbatos…V-Venti…I…-Barbara slightly shakily started, before sighing to calm herself down. -...Another year has passed, hasn't it…? Are you doing well now, wherever you are…? -She quietly asked, trying hard to keep calm. -Things are pretty much the same here, sister…I mean Grandmaster Jean is taking good care of the city, under Lord Dvalin's blessing…-She then continued telling in small details how everyone were doing, her expression wishful, yet slightly sad. -...And as for me, I am doing better now, I have fewer nightmares of you…B-back then…I-I…I-it's already been ten years, yet I still…-She shakilly continued, soon looking like she was about to cry. -...I-I still can't take that picture out of my mind…! I-I knew, both as "Venti" and as "Lord Barbatos", but separately…A-and then…! A-and then you, just like that…! A-and then it was all a blur…-Her voice suddenly became anguished, yet also strangely hollow. -...My sister, Lord Durin, Cavalry Captain Kaeya, that horrible scene I can never forget no matter how much I try to…Everyone joined soon enough…We walked and walked for so long…Then the hill…The scene was usually so beautiful…But at the time it felt just so cold and hollow…So meaningless…-She sadly reminisced, unaware of the tear that just escaped her eye, before starting to look around her. -...There's Cecilias here now. Many of them. They are beautiful and smell so nice. But I…I still can't forget that sight…And I am not sure if I could ever forget it. No matter how much time passes…
…
And as more and more people were giving their respects,
Sending their wishes via Dandelion seeds floating through the wind…
…
Jean couldn't help but feel guilty about what happened…
…
She was the Acting Grandmaster at the time,
Responsible for Mondstadt and everyone in it during Grandmaster Varka's absence…
…
She was responsible for everyone in the nation,
Yet, she failed to save their Archon, who died on her watch…
…
"Everyone is alive now…", She heard Barbatos weakly say, as the Anemo circle and the wind barrier disappeared, and he started to weakly fall down to the ground below, "I am glad…"
"BARBATOS! YOU FOOL!", Dvalin yelled in shock and horror, catching him with his right front paw, at the realization of what just happened, "WHY DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"...You all died...Because I...Wasn't around...When it really mattered…", Barbatos weakly said, sounding so ashamed that it was hard to watch, "...I just paid...For this...Grave mistake…", He smiled lightly, looking at everyone around him, before looking at Dvalin again, "...I am...Sorry...For...Every...Thing…"
Then he suddenly fell limp, eyes still open with their light gone, the teal colored light in his hair tips and body markings dimming as well.
"...BARBATOS...YOU...!", Dvalin slowly said in shock, which then quickly turned to horror, "...Y-you really...! Y-you moron...! Y-you stupid airhead...!", He looked like he was at a loss for words, "...How could you...?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"
…
…
She was the Grandmaster now, the official leader of the knights,
Yet, Jean felt like she didn't deserve to have this position…
…
…
"...This place will do. It's not the highest area, but you can still see a big enough part of Mondstadt from here. Our beautiful city right before us, the way to Wolvedom to the left, Springvale to our right, with the other parts of the land stretching far and wide…", Kaeya quietly said, as he gently put Barbatos down, before moving a few feet back with his head bowed. Jean notices that the Archon looked even more transparent now, almost nonexistent. "...For someone who really loves the land and its people, it would have been a truly breathtaking sight…"
…
…
How could she,
When she let him die…?
…
…
"It seems like it was really "the right place", for not a few moments later, Barbatos disappeared in a small gust of wind...
...
...
The only thing of him remaining,
Being a strange chess piece that appeared where he lay before…
…
Just silently floating above the grass…"
…
How could she ever forgive herself…?
…
-...Barbatos…Venti…
…
When she failed so badly…?
…
-...I am sorry…
