Genshin Impact

The Messenger of the Seven

Chapter 3

The Holy Lyre

The door of the tavern opened and the traveller and his flying companion entered. The tavern had been closed for about an hour now and all its patrons had already left. Celia stood in front of her usual stool and Diluc stood next to her. Venti stood on the other side of Celia and Jean stood next to Diluc.

Venti smiled as he saw the traveller, "You're here."

Jean's eyes widened as she placed her hand on her chest, "Wait, you're... Sora?"

He frowned when he saw Jean, "Why is the Acting Grand Master here?"

Celia looked over at Jean, then at Diluc.

Diluc looked at him, holding his hand out, "Well, first of all, I contacted more than one person. Secondly, she came here as "Jean" herself, not as the Acting Grand Master." He folded his arms, "A Jean you would never see, even as an Honorary Knight."

Jean folded her arms as she smiled, "What a surprise. I heard about the Holy Lyre, but I never suspected it was you." She turned to Venti, "So, the sound of the Holy Lyre can purify Stormterror and return it to normal... Is that true?"

Venti nodded, holding his hands out, "That's right! Sora is putting himself on the front line to resolve this Stormterror issue." He looked at him, "Now that's the hotshot of the Knights of Favonius I'm talking about."

Paimon shrugged her shoulders, "Feel's like we're breaking the law though..."

Diluc bowed his head, closing his eyes as he folded his arms, "I understand this kind of absurd explanation is hard to believe." He opened his eyes, "But, we can ask the bard to play the song again to try and persuade-"

Jean looked at the others, "I believe you."

Celia smiled.

"To persuade our stubborn comman- Wait, what?" He looked at Jean in bewilderment.

"I can't think of any reason for Dvalin's betrayal, given it was once one of The Four Winds. However, if it was poisoned in the battle over Mondstadt all those years ago... And then corrupted by the Abyss Mage after it woke up - We can't blame it." She folded her arms, closing her eyes, "But as the Acting Grand Master I obviously cannot make such a statement publicly." She opened her eyes, "Diplomatic pressure from the Fatui makes it hard for us to seek a peaceful resolution to the Stormterror issues. People would think I've lost grip on the gravity of the situation. That's why I can only do this in private."

Diluc scowled, "Hmph. That's one of the reasons I don't like the Knights of Favonius." He looked at Jean, "What surprises me is that you would believe an outlander so easily..."

She folded her arms and smiled at Diluc, "My cautious and meticulous superior, even you trust him. Don't you, Sir?"

Diluc sighed, looking away, "I already told you not to call me sir... Never mind. We don't often get to work together after all."

Celia cleared her throat as if to stop herself from laughing, her head turned so she wasn't able to look at Diluc who was throwing a scowl her way.

Sora frowned, looking at them, "Sir?"

Jean looked at him, "..."

Diluc cleared his throat, folding his arms and looked away.

Paimon looked at Sora, "Wow! Um... This is awkward..."

Jean stepped forward, placing her hand on her chest once more, "I have a rough idea of where the Holy Lyre der Himmel is."

Venti looked at Jean in awe of her talent for changing the subject.

"The conflict between Mondstadt and Snezhnaya stems from the conflict between the seven nations and their respective gods."

Celia bowed her head, frowning heavily to herself.

Venti watched her reaction to the conversation.

Diluc noticed his sister's reaction and how Venti watched her, he went to say something but shook his head, looking back at Jean.

"The Cryo God's Fatui seem to be after the Anemo God's power."

Venti bowed his head, placing his hand to his mouth, "..."

Celia looked at Venti, concern in her eyes.

Sora frowned, "So they want to kill Dvalin?"

Jean nodded, "Right. If the Knights of Favonius publicly prevented an attempt on Dvalin's head, then..." She narrowed her eyes slightly, "The only way to affect the Anemo God's power is to take the Holy Lyre."

"The number of Fatui that have come to Mondstadt is far from limited. I've already managed to... coerce a few reports out of them." Diluc spoke up as he folded his arms.

"Diluc has determined that the Holy Lyre is not being held in the Goth Grand Hotel. I imagine they don't want to leave something stolen in a place where it could be so easily found."

"Paimon gets it! If too much of a scene gets made then it becomes a big diplomatic issue."

Diluc scoffed, "Hmph, such is the diplomacy between the seven nations."

"It has always been an issue with this world. It will probably be an issue for a very long time to come. If too much of a scene becomes public, then we will have more of a problem than we have now." Celia sighed, sitting on her stool, "But that's why working in the shadows helps. If the Fatui caught wind of the Knights of Favonius trying to solve this Stormterror issue by not shedding Dvalin's blood, they will take over and then we will be in more of a mess."

Diluc looked at her, frowning, "I didn't know you had been paying attention to the lessons in politics which I had you going to."

She looked at him, "Honestly, I never expected those lessons to be useful, but here we are."

Diluc gave a slight smile, then turned back to the others.

Once the initial plan had been discussed, Diluc turned to Sora, "Outlander, ready to go?"

He nodded, "Let's go!"

Jean smiled and wished them luck, leaving the tavern.

Venti sat next to Celia, "Jean just said the Fatui are trying to take Dvalin's power for the Cryo God... I fear this might fall short of their true intentions. I think they intend to use Barbatos' connection to the wind to draw him out. Just like how Lisa traced the source of the storm to the temples."

Diluc looked at him with slightly wider eyes, "The God of Anemo? ...Hasn't been seen for more than a thousand years. What makes you think that's their intention?"

Venti looked away nervously, "Oh... Ah..."

Diluc frowned, "... Forget it. I don't like having to pry. Sora, here. Take this." He stepped forward and handed him a black mask.

He looked at it.

Paimon tilted her head, looking at the mask, "What is it?"

Diluc looked at him, "A disguise, to protect your identity. Put it on before you run into the Fatui." He sighed, "Unfortunately, they are still one of Mondstadt's allies. At least that's the facade we're maintaining..." He folded his arms, "Our actions are going to get them stirred up. Better to not implicate yourself on a personal level." He turned to look at Celia, "We will be heading out now, I want you to stay here and keep an eye on the bard for me." He glanced at Venti, then back at her.

Celia nodded, smiling slightly, "Don't worry, I won't let him drink too much." She giggled slightly, then looked at him with concern in her eyes, "Be careful, both of you."

Diluc scowled slightly, "So I am not allowed to tell you to be careful, but you can tell me? That doesn't seem right."

Celia exhaled deeply, her rolling her eyes, "But I wasn't doing anything dangerous, you two are heading out to fight the Fatui, a little bit different."

Diluc sighed and placed his hand on her head, nodding slightly, "We will be back." He smiled at her then turned and walked out of the door.

Sora and Paimon both waved and left also, leaving Venti and Celia as the last people in the tavern.

Celia had a smile on her face as they left, but when the door closed, her smile disappeared and her eyes rested on the floor.

Venti turned to face the bar, taking hold of a bottle of wine and pulled the cork, "Well, seeing as we are going to be here for a bit of time... Might as well have a drink." He lifted the wine to his lips, taking a swig, "That is some good Dandelion Wine!" He glanced at Celia, placing the bottle down on the bar and turned to look at her, "You know Master Diluc will be fine."

She looked at him, nodding slowly, "I know. I just wish I was able to help. All I can do is sit here." She held her hand out, her Favonius Sword appeared in her hands, "If only I was stronger. I would do anything to be strong enough to fight alongside him, maybe even be able to protect him and everyone else."

Venti looked at the sword, "Is that what you want?"

She looked at him, "I have spent my whole life watching others fight for me. I want to be able to fight for them."

"If you know what you want to do, then the first thing you have to do is leap." He brought out his lyre and started playing it.

She closed her eyes and smiled, listening to him play.

After some time, Jean walked back into the tavern, she smiled at Celia, "I hope you haven't been too bored with staying here by yourself."

Celia smiled as she shook her head, "No, I was here with Venti. He played his lyre for me, he is talented."

Venti laughed in a bashful manner, "I love the sound that my lyre makes in this tavern, so it was no problem whatsoever!"

Celia stood up and stepped towards Jean, "Did you manage to keep our so-called allies off your back for now?"

Jean nodded, "At least for now that is."

The door opened, causing everyone to turn to look, seeing Diluc, Sora and Paimon enter.

Venti smiled, "Welcome back!" His eyes widened, "Ah, this is the Holy Lyre! You managed to retrieve it!" He looked at the lyre before him, "The pattern of flowing wind carved on the rosewood... and the strings still feel cool to the touch too. Oh, the memories..."

Jean folded her arms, looking at him, "What do you think, Venti? Can you summon Dvalin?"

Venti shrugged, "Although this lyre is the real thing, I doubt that it's going to work. As you can see, the lyre had been through a thousand years of history. Its Anemo power has run dry." He looked at Diluc, "In this condition, you couldn't play music fit for even Diluc's tavern with it..."

Diluc folded his arms and scowled at Venti, "Bards fight to get on the stage of my tavern. Don't make assumptions!"

Paimon sighed, "Is that important right now, Master Diluc!?" She turned and put her hands on her hips, with an angry expression to match, "And you- did you just borrow the Holy Lyre to play music for drunkards to hear?"

"Hehe."

Celia's eyes widened, slowly sat down on the stool behind her.

Diluc looked at her, frowning.

Paimon leaned forward, even more, angry that she had been, "What do you mean "hehe"!?"

Venti turned away from her, "Anyway, we won't be able to call Dvalin with it. The lyre itself is fine, but the strings..." he turned to Aether, "You're up, outlander!"

Sora's eyes widened, "I don't know how to fix instruments."

Paimon folded her arms.

"Relax! It's not broken." He placed a hand on the Lyre, "It's just that the intensity of its Anemo power has greatly diminished." He looked at him again, "Sora, do you still have Dvalin's Teardrop Crystal with you?"

He nodded slowly, seemingly puzzled.

Venti smiled, "Great! Try and use it on the Holy Lyre."

He nodded and stepped forward, "Let me give it a try." he brought out the blue teardrop crystal and held it over the Lyre. Drops of light fell from the crystal and landed on the Lyres strings. It glowered and the Lyre turned white and gold, and the strings turned blue.

Venti smiled, "It worked, as expected."

"This youthful glow..." Jean admired the Lyre.

Paimon looked at her, "Praising yourself? Really?"

Jean shot a look at her, "...I was talking about the Holy Lyre."

Celia let out a slight giggle.

Venti turned to Aether, "Thanks to Sora having purified the crystal, the Holy Lyre won't continue to lose power. That said, its power is far from replenished. It'd be great if we could get more tears."

"Right. How do we do that?"

Venti lowered his gaze, "I can surmise that Dvalin will already be crying... Suffering alone in some deserted place..."

Jean sighed, "Dvalin..."

Paimon's expression grew worried, "Poor baby..."

"We have to help him." Celia stood up.

"This is not something that an Honorary Knight can accomplish alone. I will mobilize the rest of the Knight to assist. When you get the Teardrop Crystal, please let Sora perform the purification process." Jean placed her hand on her chest.

He nodded, "Leave it to me."

Venti smiled, "Heroes supporting each other and setting out on a journey together... How exciting! Lemme come up with a song for you..."

Paimon placed her hands on her hips once more, "Is that all you're going to do? Just sing?"

"Wouldn't be much of a bard if I didn't now would I?"

Paimon huffed and stamped her foot in the air, "Hmph. You're so cheeky... You deserve an ugly nickname." She folded her arms, "Oh, Paimon knows! From now on, you'll be known as "Tone-Deaf Bard"!"

Diluc stepped forward, "This search reminds me of a feud I once had with the Fatui." He looked at Celia, "Six months ago, a thief stole treasure from the East Temple of the Four Winds."

Celia nodded, "I remember that."

Paimon looked at him, "Whoa. What was it? A cup used by Barbatos?"

He shook his head, "No. Although if such a thing existed, it would be very valuable. Among all the relics they managed to dig up, one particular object was very rare... It was a vial which contained the Anemo God's breath."

Paimon shrugged, "Relics come in every shape and form huh..."

Diluc nodded, "Anyone with an eye for fine art would like to add this relic to their collection. Once word got out, the Fatui started trying to seek it out as well. They've made tons of counterfeits that can be found everywhere. In response, I just bought everyone one I could find, irrespective of its authenticity. We're still at it now." He folded his arms, "I've bought more than two thousand fakes to date, and the Fatui are yet to find the real one."

Paimon looked at him in bewilderment, "Whoa. You guys are insane... So, it means that the real one must be out there somewhere on the black market, right?" She put her hand to her chin, "Hmmm... Paimon'll give you a discount on them if she finds any- cause Paimon's just great like that!"

He laughed slightly, "Sure, you can try to find the real one. I'll take what you find, even if they're fake. Once you're done, find me at the winery. I'll trade you a beer for every 20 you find."

Celia chuckled, walking towards the door.

Diluc frowned, "Where are you going?"

She turned to look at him, "I am going out to help find the Tears. If I don't leap, then I will never know if I can do it." She smiled at Venti.

Venti smiled back, "So the winds are changing..."