!I've changed the rating from K to T(Ratings will not change anymore)!


There was a coherent reason why Keqing had chosen to start things with the bard. No, it was not because of his song. She couldn't care less about Rex Lapis's reputation in Mondstadt–well, maybe only a tiny little bit, and that was because the bard's song had been a disgrace. Just how drunk would he have to be to–

Ahem, anyway, the bard, Venti, was still young. And being young means that he can be changed, at least easier than an adult.

As to what he should change into, Keqing was not so sure herself.

'But he's definitely not going be drinking underage and playing tunes no better than mockery while holding a cup in his mouth."

With burning ambition, she made her decision:

'I will make an example of diligence out of him.'

"Is something the matter?" Venti asked. His hand was still holding his half-eaten apple.

Keqing snapped back to reality. "I was thinking."

"Oh," Venti didn't inquire more. "Would you like an apple?" he asked.

Keqing shook her head. "I've already eaten. But thanks anyway–" she reached out her hand.

"Great! Because I'm already eating the last one." Venti bit his apple with a loud crunch and grinned.

"…"

"Don't tell me you actually want it~"

'Deep breaths, calm yourself Keqing.'

"So you do–"

"No."

"There's no need to be shy. If you want one, we can always buy more~"

"…Please stop speaking like you're the one who paid."

"Ehe~"

"…Is it just you or is this a popular thing in Mondstadt?"

"Ehe?"

"I should've known…"

Venti laughed. "No, it's probably just me."

Keqing pinched the bridge of her nose. At this point, the pressure felt soothing.

'That sounded relieving…somehow.'

They started by registering Venti into the adventurer's guild.

It turned out that Katheryne worked at Mondstadt as well. And Keqing wasn't even going to question it.

"…and now you're officially registered into the system. Here, take a guidebook." Katheryne handed Venti a thin booklet. "You can also take a uniform as well."

"That would be my pleasure, Miss Katheryne; but no thanks, I still prefer my current outfit."

Keqing could've sworn that she saw the twinkle in Katheryne's eyes fade. Nevertheless, the receptionist held her smile. "Do tell me when you need one. The adventurer's guild is honored to have someone like you."

"The three-time winner of the "most popular bard of Mondstadt"? It is my pleasure to bestow that honor." Venti took off his hat and bowed. He too had a similar glint in his eyes.

And the more it lasted, the more uncanny the situation felt to Keqing. "Are you finished with the small talk?" she asked.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing," Katheryne greeted. Did she not see Keqing standing there for the whole time? "Are you here to register as well?"

"Greetings, Miss Katheryne. No, I am only here to give supervision."

Katheryne sighed. "Such a shame," she mumbled.

"I beg your pardon?"

"It's nothing of importance. Now, you'd like to take a few commissions, do you not?" Katheryne took out a few pieces of paper. "I've chosen the ones that will suit your abilities the most."

"Thank you." Keqing flipped through the sheets; after a few glances, she frowned. "Excuse me miss Katheryne," she said. "Are you certain that you chose with his capabilities in mind?"

"Hmmm…" Venti read one of the commissions. "Acquiring a lightning prism for an alchemist's studies. Fighting Electro Hypostasis suggested…Three Ruin Guards had gathered in the northeast of Cider Lake…Looking for a way to obtain dragon meat, if found, contact Wanmin restaurant at Liyue–this one seems pretty doable." He looked at Keqing. "Can we take it?"

Keqing's head throbbed, either by the bard's smile or the sheer amount of absurdity, or both. "No, what are you thinking? Even I can't be confident handling these on my own."

Venti grinned. "Well, you still don't know about me."

"You?"

Keqing thought about it.

True, she didn't know the bard, and it was she who had been dragging him around without much thought–a rather childish act now that she reflected upon it. Katheryne had said that they were honored to have someone like him, and he did have a vision.

'What if…?'

Keqing looked at Venti, who was then making a serious expression. "I apologize for assuming about your abilities and identity. Now if I may ask, who are you then?"

Venti beamed. "I'm glad you asked! I've been trying to say this for a while, but you never gave me the chance." He cleared his throat.

Keqing swallowed and pursed her lips.

"I, Venti, am the best Bard there is in all of Teyvat!"

The bard bowed.

And Keqing felt her vision swirl as she tried to withhold an internal scream.

She.

Should.

Have.

Known.

After mentally meditating and going through all the exercises she had been taught to manage stress, Yuheng smiled. She turned to Katheryne. "Please give us something easier to complete."

"Yes, if you may wait."

Then, she gave Venti a harsh glare.

The bard laughed, nervously. "H-Hold on, what should have happened?"

Keqing crossed her arms. "From decreasing your debt to erasing it entirely, you chose to simply waste–"

"I'm Barbatos."

"–Your time." Keqing huffed. "Are you done, Miss Katheryne?"

"But I'm actually–"

"The best bard there is in Teyvat, I know. Now if you can stay quiet for a moment and let me choose a commission."

Venti sighed. "See, you won't even listen…"

"I heard you."


Working and working efficiently is a habit. And when one gets into the habit, it becomes hard not to, to Keqing, at least.

The plan had been simple: First, she would get the bard working on a proper job; then, once he gets the appeal of a regular income, he'd begin working like a normal, productive citizen.

The plan was foolproof. Not because of the context of the plan itself, but because the one executing it was Keqing. Yuheng had all sorts of devices up her sleeve to make the people around her put in a little more effort–of course, taking away their weekends wasn't that easy, but their efficiency was overall improved.

Therefore, Keqing's plan had guaranteed success.

"So~" Venti hummed. "I've been meaning to ask for a while."

They were treading the paths to the eastern side of Cider Lake, where some Cryo slimes had been spotted.

The sky was clear, with only tinny fluffs of white clouds scattered across; and as the wind blew, the sweet scent of apples, grapes, and wine traveled far from the Dawn Winery. At Mondstadt, the scenery seemed to carry a certain melody, calm, soothing, and most of all, free. At Mondstadt, no matter who, one could find a sense of belonging and relaxation–

"You do know that if you find my presence disturbing, we can part ways and forget about my debt? It'd make you and me much happier. Hmmm, how about I make it a bet?"

"I am very satisfied with our current situation," Keqing emphasized. "What about you? I believe that Mr. Ragnvindr made things very clear–"

"Fine fine–the bet is your win; I'd much rather have my wine." Venti's shoulders slumped, only briefly, before returning to his lighthearted self, humming jolly tunes, and poking a few crystalflies that were drifting in the air–those glistening creatures seemed to gravitate towards him naturally.

The ones that Keqing had gotten near to flew into the air and disappeared with a ribbon of sparkles. She tried reaching for one and succeeded; only for the delicate thing to shatter to dust in her palm, leaving only a hard crystal, cold and rigid like a rock.

Venti chuckled, "You cannot confine them within your hand. Their beauty comes from the wind of this land." He gently flicked his index finger, and the creature launched into the air, fluttering into a mystical place that cannot be seen. "Arise their curiosity and they'd come to you themselves. All you need is a little bit of Anemo energy."

"I-I did…" Keqing stumbled on her words.

She did want to touch them

-But not that much, not at all.

"Come on, we're slowing down. At this rate, it's going to take the whole morning to get things done. Time is one's most valuable resource after all."

She picked up her pace, without looking back. The bard was clearly following her, as the rustling sound of grass was evident and trailed behind her.

"Now did I think about it," she heard Venti mumble. "Were there crystalflies in this area?"

Keqing didn't pay much attention. It's not like crystalflies mattered much to the task at hand anyways.


There were Anemo slimes.

Well, why did Anemo slimes matter? They were clearing up slimes anyway so why should the difference in element be a problem?

To start, Anemo slimes meant that Venti, who had the Anemo vision, gets to sing and cheer on the sidelines while Keqing gets all the fighting.

Of course, slimes were never hard to fight; they were simply annoying. Immune to certain elements, harder to aim as they are bouncing around…etc.

"Ha!" Charging electro into her sword, Keqing slashed forward, cutting a slime into pieces of what seemed to be a deflated balloon. Electricity leaped from the tip of her sword, creating a purple blade that soared forward, shattering the enemies that were in its path.

Keqing was a skilled fighter, adapted in utilizing her vision into practical combat.

Swift and precise, that was her style.

And from the start of the battle till then, she was not hit a single time.

But it was not enough.

'They keep coming!'

Her vision felt hot against her back, channeling electro into her body, her attacks.

She made several quick slices, throwing her enemy backward.

Her electro vision gave her speed and power, making her navigations fluent and rapid.

She lowered her body bending her knees; elemental energy concentrated into her legs.

The slimes closed in on her, but she did not even flinch.

Keqing waited

–And waited.

And then…

"HAH–!"

She zapped into a bolt of lightning, a flash of purple that zipped through the battlefield.

The slimes exploded. When Keqing reappeared, there was not even one to be seen in sight.

Keqing sighed and waved her sword clean of the possible gunk that had gathered.

Venti sang her a song:

"Oh–mighty warrior with the nimble of lighting; thy ferocity shines–one of the swiftest I've met; heed my words: thou cannot rest yet; turn, the situation is tightening!"

"All right, just get to the point already!"

"Enemy attack, incoming behind––"

Keqing turned, and narrowly dodged a puff of Anemo energy.

'Of course there's more of them–!'

She swung her sword, slaughtering five of them in a single swing.

There were still at least twenty of them, where did they all come from?

"Go go! Annihilate our foul!"

Keqing turned to see Venti sitting in a tree, a lyre in his hand.

"If you have the time to make up new songs–!" She threw her stiletto at one of the floating slimes, making it deflate like a balloon. "–Pick up your weapon and ACTUALLY HELP!"

"Hmmm…but you do know that they're immune to Anemo attacks, don't you?"

"Then thrust them into the water!"

A strong gust of wind whooshed past Keqing, picking up the Anemo slimes and hurling them into the water.

Venti hopped down from his tree. "Can I get a treat for that?"

Keqing huffed. "It depends on your contribution–There's more coming!"

Things became easier when Venti joined the battle. He would use the wind to gather most of the slimes and hurl them into the water; then, Keqing would finish the rest off in a single "electrical" charge.

It was simple and efficient.

Even Keqing had to admit they made a good team.

"But why won't they stop coming!"

The Anemo slimes seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. When one batch was killed, another would be fresh and ready to attack.

"They're appearing because of the concentrated Anemo energy of this area," Venti answered, charging another attack.

"And how do we stop it!?"

Venti shot his arrow, creating a gust of wind. "You don't. The only way is to keep fighting until the Anemo balances with other elements."

Keqing sprang forward, killing the leftover slimes. "And how long is that going to take!"

Venti hummed. "Who knows? It could be the whole morning; it could also be the whole day!"

"Isn't there an easier way!?"

The bard tilted his head. "Well, we can try destroying the underground Ley Lines. If only there were an explo––"

BOOM!

The beach exploded.