Venti woke up with a sudden start,
Almost falling from the tree branch he was just napping on…
-... T-that nightmare…! W-why did it feel so real…?! -He couldn't help but say aloud, shuddering uncontrollably now. -.. .F-first everyone dying…T-then my own death…A-and then everyone's severe reactions to it…!
…
Why did the nightmare feel so real to him…?!
…
…
And why…?
…
Why was he so shaken by it…?
…
…
He lived through the Archon war, for Celestia's sake!
So then why, just from this, he was feeling so heartbroken…?!
*Why was he feeling so bad after seeing everyone's reactions in this…?!
…
…
…
He should talk to someone about it…!
It didn't take long before Venti teleported right into the Grandmaster's office,
Startling the tired-yet-stubbornly-workaholic Jean with his sudden appearance…
…
…
Okay, maybe he should have taken the door instead…
*But, that nightmare he just had,
It felt so real and…!
-Venti, what is it…? Is there something wrong…? -He was interrupted from his thoughts by a worried sounding Jean, who paused in her document signing and was now looking towards him in rising concern. -...It couldn't be that, there are problems due to your Gnosis…?!
-No! It's okay, Jean. It has nothing to do with my Gnosis getting stolen, so don't worry! -Venti reassured her, not wanting to see her feel guilty for "failing him" again. Not like she was when she found out about their little "scuffle" by the Cathedral and what it led to…-...The reason why I am here right now, well…-He then sighed. -In hindsight, it's kind of silly…But I thought I could share it with you, since you are one of the few people who knows about THAT and…
-What is it, Venti…? You know that I will gladly listen to your concerns. -The Acting Grandmaster asked him in both seriousness and concern, a warm and inviting smile appearing on her face soon afterwards. -Even if it's "silly", both as the Acting Grandmaster and as a friend, I am here for you wherever you need me.
She said in so much reassurance and warmth,
That the Archon found himself speechless for a few moments…
…
To think that Jean cares for him this much,
To the extent of dropping all of her work to hear his silly concern…
*For someone like him who failed his people and nation,
A weak Archon who even got his Gnosis easily stolen…
…
He didn't deserve such love and care,
Not from Jean or anyone else…
…
…
But Jean, his overly dutiful Dandelion Knight, already agreed to listen to his silly worry,
So, it's best to just come out with it and let her return to doing actual work…
*And hopefully she would have time to finish it all and finally take a well deserved break.
It was eerily silent when Venti finished telling Jean of his nightmare,
The Acting Grandmaster soon looking towards him with an unreadable expression…
…
It felt really weird seeing her react in such an unnatural way,
Especially when he didn't know why she was reacting this way to begin with…
*Was she disappointed in him for overreacting to such a silly matter,
But was just too prim and proper to tell him of it outright…?
…
That must be it, right…?
*She must be so mad at him now,
For him to interrupt her work just for that…
…
…
Why did that nightmare unnerve him so much…?
…
-I-it's a really silly matter, isn't it, Jean…? It was just a bad dream and yet I practically "ran to you crying" about it! -Venti sheepishly said moments later, trying to act as if it's just a silly joke. -Sorry, sorry! -He slightly laughed before suddenly pausing, his expression turning a little serious. -...It was just a bad dream and yet I…Wondered if you would really react like that if I were to die and then disappear. As if anyone would react that drastically to something like that…-He sadly added, starting to feel himself a failure again. -...All these years ever since I became the Anemo Archon, I barely did anything for Mondstadt and its people…Which made me the weakest of the Seven and then I even got my Gnosis stolen…-He then mumbled, losing himself in his rising guilt and self-hate. -...If Mondstadt would ever be attacked, instead of having such a useless Archon who can't even protect himself, not to mention other people(Like Dvalin, whom I couldn't save alone)…Wouldn't it be better if I sac...?
-If you are too weakened, then we just have to make you stronger. -Jean suddenly interrupted him, before walking up to and taking him into her arms bridal style. -You are not sacrificing yourself, especially not on my watch!
Then, before he could say anything or even react,
She ran out of the office and then the building,
Going towards the Cathedral with the now squirming Archon in her arms.
-J-Jean, wait! W-what are you doing?! W-where are you suddenly taking me?! -He soon started to protest, his words being completely ignored by the now deadly serious and determined looking Jean. -LET ME GO!
He continued loudly yelling, yet his protests were completely ignored,
As the Acting Grandmaster continued her walk with a purpose.
*To the confusion of the people gathering around them,
Who just woke up from Venti's sudden yelling…
-Someone, get Albedo to come to the Cathedral post haste! Have him bring as many Anemo infused items as he can with him! -Jean told the rapidly gathering crowd, as she continued her stride, soon enough reaching the Cathedral doors and was let inside by a confused and concerned looking Otto. -Victoria, Jillianna, I want you to gather every single Clergy member for prayer as soon as possible! There is a really important matter that requires all of our attention! -She yelled out before anyone could say a word in, before proceeding to walk to the end of the hall and put Venti in the middle of the circle, soon holding him down. -You are staying right here. I won't let you run away from this!
-...Jean, please, there is no need for this…! -Venti almost pleaded, already starting to feel uneasy by the idea of being found out. -...There is no need for everyone to know and…!
-And let you sacrifice yourself just because you are weakened and think that everyone would be fine if you die?! -Jean interrupted him again, both her expression and voice extremely emotional. -THERE IS NO WAY I AM LETTING THAT HAPPEN!
The Acting Grandmaster's sudden yell startled him,
The Archon not expecting her to react so harshly.
…
And neither knowing the reason why…
…
…
Why was she acting like this…?!
Why was she so adamant on him living?!
-JEAN, WOULD YOU STOP THIS ALREADY?! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE ACTING TOO RASHLY?! -He couldn't help but yell out emotionally, wind starting to appear around him to the shock of the people gathering around. -I HAVE ALREADY LIVED LONG ENOUGH, BARELY DID ANYTHING ALL THESE YEARS AND EVERYONE WILL BE JUST FINE EVEN IF I AM NOT HERE, JUST AS YOU ALL DID UNTIL NOW!
He then abruptly paused, his eyes widening as he realized what he just yelled out,
The wind dying out soon enough, everyone around him and Jean now having a lot of questions…
…
But before anyone could say anything, the Cathedral door opened with a bang,
As Albedo ran inside, the tired looking Sucrose and Timaeus running after him.
-Acting Grandmaster, I have arrived just as you asked. -The Alchemist said as he stopped and then crouched by Jean, looking at the current situation in some confusion, before straightening himself and taking out some Anemoculus from his Vision's "Hammerspace". -As instructed, I bought all the Anemo…-He paused upon seeing Jean practically take one of them and shove it into Venti's chest, the Anemoculus entering it without any problem. -...Huh, it went inside…? But it shouldn't be possible for a human body to…! Wait…
Albedo thoughtfully said, his eyes soon starting to widen at the sudden realization,
His assistants, Sucrose and Timaeus now standing by his side, their eyes widening too.
*As did some other people's eyes around the area,
While some still looked confused and now also shocked.
-No, you can't hide, not any longer. And especially not when you think such suicidal thoughts! -Jean said as she continued to rapidly push Anemoculus after Anemoculus into Venti's body, not giving him any time to say anything or even react. -No matter what you think, I am not going to leave it as is, "Venti"! I am not going to leave you alone with your self-guilt and self-hate!
She declared in all seriousness and determination,
So much that the Archon was at a loss for words.
*As he realized that no matter how much he tried to,
He could do nothing to stop her…
…
She was very stubborn,
Determined to do this no matter what…
*As he felt more and more Anemo energy entering his body,
The influx of such a huge amount of it would soon surely…
…
Surely, without fail…
…
…
Make him shift into his Archon form,
Before everyone who was now gathered in the Cathedral…
…
…
…
Like it just did…
…
…
N-no…!
-.. .I didn't want everyone to know and now they must be so disappointed in me… -Barbatos couldn't help but sadly mumble, as put his face in his hands, choosing to ignore the gasps of shock that followed the sudden reveal. - And why wouldn't they, when I am so weak and useless and even needed Jean's, Diluc's and the traveler's help in order to save Dvalin. Everyone was doing just fine without me…! -They didn't really need him, anyway…-.. .And to begin with, the people who say that Mondstadt was "abandoned" are right. I barely did anything for the nation and citizens, only helping out when things got drastic. -His so called "Freedom" only brought problems for Mondstadt…-... The Lawrence clan took over Mondstadt and formed slavery because I wasn't around! Many died after the Cataclysm because I wasn't around! Even the situation with one of my oldest friends, Dvalin, happened because I wasn't around! -All of this happened because he wasn't around when it really mattered…! -... And now I am the weakest Archon due to this, because I barely did anything for this nation and people. Added to that, I got my Gnosis stolen and now I am even more useless than I was before and it would be way easier and better if I died and someone else took my place as the Anemo Archon and…! -And Jean was still shoving all those Anemoculus into his body, with Albedo, Sucrose and Timaeus helping her out. It was such a waste for someone like him. Why were they doing this…?! Why…?! -...Please, stop…! - He couldn't help but almost plead, starting to feel so tired now. -...I don't…Deserve…This…
He weakly said before suddenly falling unconscious,
Jean carefully holding onto him so he wouldn't fall to the ground.
-He is fine, just too overwhelmed from the sudden energy spur. He should wake up in a few hours, when it finally stabilizes. -Albedo reassured everyone before they could start panicking, soon his expression turning unreadable, as he looked towards the now sleeping Archon. -...To think that he would be so against being found out and the things he said, the "reasons" for this. -He then sadly sighed. -We should do something about it, the sooner, the better. Leaving him this way, with so much self-guilt and self-hate…-He then looked towards Jean, his expression turning deadly serious as he stood up and moved a foot away, his assistants following his lead. -What you tried to prevent just now, Acting Grandmaster, might still come to pass.
"If Mondstadt and everyone in it is in grave danger, he might still try to sacrifice himself.", was left unsaid,
Though it didn't need to, anyway, as everyone in the area already understood…
-...So it's the truth, everything that was said just now…? -Rosaria suddenly asked, as she walked to stand by Jean's side, an unreadable expression on her face. -He truly cares for Mondstadt and everyone in it, even more than himself…? -There was some silence after the nun's words, before Jean sighed deeply, her expression practically miserable. -...I see. So, it's really like that…-The nun said in a quiet and slightly sad sounding voice, as she crouched down and took Barbatos out of the Acting Grandmaster' arms and into her own, soon shifting him into the bridal carry and then standing up. -Acting Grandmaster, while you tell everyone of what happened here, I am going to watch over this stupid Archon of ours. -She promised, with a small smile appearing on her face. -Someone has to make sure Lord Barbatos is okay and won't do anything stupid when he wakes up.
But before Jean could thank her or even wonder about the nun's sudden change,
Loud footsteps were heard in the Cathedral, getting louder and louder with each second that passed,
As Cardinal Calvin practically ran into the area moments later, his face red from exhaustion…
-I was busy taking care of the Seneschal duties when I heard there was a very serious matter that required my attenti…-He suddenly paused in his words upon noticing the sleeping Barbatos, his eyes soon widening to the size of saucers.
There was complete silence afterwards,
As the Cardinal was just stupidly standing in place…
-He was living in Mondstadt for 3 years as "Venti the bard". Myself, sir Diluc and the Honorary Knight found out about it during the "Stormterror Incident". And as for what happened now…-Jean decided to tell the shocked Cardinal, her voice soon getting sad, as she stood up. -...It would be better to tell everyone of what happened at the plaza, it's not something I wish to constantly retell.
…
Everyone must also have woken up from the loud commotion, anyway.
