Venti was really confused by everyone's reactions,
They were panicking so much only from him doing a simple bow.
...
How would they have reacted if he did a deep bow instead...?
...
Humans were really strange...
"If we were to compare it to a situation in other worlds, it would be the same as a king bowing to a farmhand.", the winds supplied, "...It's no wonder your people suddenly started panicking like that..."
...
Is that so...?
...
He didn't think they would see it that way...
*That also explained why some people, like Rosaria and master Diluc, looked at him disapprovingly...
...
He really needed to set a few rules for his stay in the city...
...
*Even though he didn't really like it,
Wasn't it clashing with his ideology of freedom...?
...
-...As I have already promised, I will be staying in the city for however long the danger persisted. -Venti finally said, as he looked between everyone around him, before sighing deeply. He didn't really want to do this. But if he didn't, it would get harder later. -... But before that, some ground rules need to be established. -He continued, looking so serious that it quieted the whole area instantly. - First, while I am staying here you are to call me "Venti", for I came to really like the name and... -He was interrupted by some very loud protests. Venti felt himself sigh in exasperation. Why were they protesting this so much...? -. ..Fine. As long as I am in this form, you are to call me "Venti". And when I am back in my Archon form (Whichever that may be), then you may call me "Barbatos" or "Lord Barbatos". -He finally said, before sighing again. -...Even though the latter is such a mouthful. Don't you ever get tired of saying it all the time...? Especially in those very long prayers, which you sometimes carry on for hours...- He was met with silence, the people looking at him in confusion. Right, for them it was a way of respectfully addressing him. That's why they were protesting so much before. He sighed again. -... Second: since it was decided that I will be staying in the Cathedral, where everything is already going to be accommodated, I don't have a need for Mora anymore. -He decided to continue. - As such, wherever I am going to sing, which I grew to like doing a lot, you don't have to give me anything in return. But if you really want to, I will accept any of your gifts...! -He amended, when he saw that some people looked very disappointed. Right, giving offerings was also something humans liked to do. Some liked doing it a lot and in a very excessive way, as well. Didn't Rex have a whole "palace" full of offerings...? He won't be getting that many "gifts" himself, right…? He didn't need that many gifts/offerings. Hopefully, they never find out about his "birthday"... -...I also love sharing stories long gone, memories and feelings long forgotten...So you are free to make requests! There's not a single song I don't know, be it from the past, present or future!
Venti had to admit that he even knew some very...Unique songs,
Like that "Gentleman" song by "Psy"...
...
He wondered if he could "Ask"(Coerce) some people to dance it with him.
It would have been so fun and amusing to do~ Hehe~
...
*For some reason he felt like he already did that,
This feeling was really strange to say the least...
...
But, there was no time for that right now!
*Especially since some people started looking at him in concern...
-... Third: since I will be walking the city a lot and you know my real identity now, you don't have to drop everything you are doing in order to approach me on the street. I know you are busy with your own lives, so just a simple greeting is enough for me. I won't take offence to it. I never took offence to something like this. I am not a tyrant like Decarabian was and value your freedom. -He continued before sighing deeply, as he remembered that some people really thought he would get mad at them for not rushing up and prostrating before him. Really, some people made everything so exhausting... -...You can also ask me for help if you wish to. I will help as long as I have time and as long as it's something I have knowledge of or can do with the help of my winds. Or if you want me to help take care of children, I will gladly help. I am good with children~ And they are so cute and adorable and...
Some people looked at him strangely at that...
...
Mainly Paimon, whom he tried to ignore until now, since she often offended him with her words.
*Which was usually quite amusing, as they had a kind of "rivalry" going on, but not right now...
...
-Yes, what is it, Paimon...? -Venti finally asked her, as he sent her a slight glare. He really wasn't in the mood for that right now.
-...Paimon wonders why you suddenly want to help. -Paimon answered in complete confusion, as she glared back at him. -Paimon remembers you being too lazy to do any kind of "work".
- I may not like doing "work", but it doesn't mean that I don't care about my own people! -Venti rebutted, insulted. - Some of them overwork themselves so much, I fear that one day they may collapse and die! -He then looked in Jean's direction. - Like Jean, who works so hard for Mondstadt (Which I really appreciate), that she already collapsed before! -Jean looked a little offended at his words. But, he chose to ignore that as he looked in Grace's direction this time. - Or Grace, who not only diligently does her job as a nun (Which I also really appreciate), but also takes care of children and helps others where she can! -Grace looked at him strangely to that, as if saying "Isn't this supposed to be a nun's duty?". Really, those people...! - When do you people even sleep? Do you even realize that humans can die from a lack of sleep? You need to take a vacation, at least for a day! Better a few weeks or even a month or more! I can even show you some nice locations you can relax at! It's supposed to be "The city of freedom"! Not a "City of work yourself to death"! Really, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! ARE YOU INSANE OR WHAT?! YOU SAY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME DIE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU DIE EITHER! ESPECIALLY NOT FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHICH COULD BE EASILY AVOIDED IF ONLY YOU STOPPED PUSHING YOURSELVES AND TOOK A BREAK ALREADY FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE! AND YOU CALL ME STUBBORN AND SUICIDAL?! AT LEAST THERE WAS A REASON FOR ME ACTING LIKE THAT, SINCE PEOPLE WERE IN DANGER! WHILE YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING BY YOURSELVES, WITHOUT EVEN TRYING TO ASK OTHER PEOPLE FOR HELP! ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU ARE GOING TO FIND YOURSELF...!
What followed was a long rant, as everyone looked at him in different states of shock,
Which only grew when the winds inside the city suddenly started to gather up at a rapid speed...
One long lecture and an almost-storm later, as Venti felt himself a living natural disaster...
...
He really was a living natural disaster, wasn't he...?
He almost brought a storm upon his beautiful city!
...
*Well, at least his winds came from somewhere,
Unlike those spears and meteors Rex seemed to be able to summon out of nowhere...
"We are also not sure how he does that... ", the winds admitted, sounding slightly confused, before there was a slight pause, "...But, we already know that logic doesn't work that well with Archons, so this must be normal."
...
Venti had to admit that their situation was similar to that of the traveler,
And it was probably one of the reasons why he came to trust them so fast...
...
...
But, now was not the time to think about that,
As Venti was brought back to the current situation...
-...I am calm. I am calm now. I am sorry that I lost my cool like that. -He tried to reassure everyone, looking a little sheepish. - I am not going to bring a storm on the city. Believe me.
He noticed that some people couldn't quite believe him and some still looked scared...
*He couldn't really blame them, as he usually didn't get mad and especially not so much as to snap and almost cause a storm...!
...
-...I will try to take more breaks and distribute the workload between the other knights. The other "workaholics" will probably take similar actions. So...-Jean finally said, still looking at him with some disbelief, as if saying "You are definitely not going to cause a storm, truly?". -...Have you finished setting the rules you want us to follow or is there anything else you wish to add...?
- Other than reminding you of my agreement with master Diluc, as well as the promise to help in Albedo's, Sucrose's and Edith's researches, no. -Venti truthfully answered. - I think I already said all I planned to.
There were a few moments of silence...
-Is that so...? Then, it's time to assign some rules for you to follow. -Jean suddenly said, looking dead serious. -As long as you are not inside the Cathedral and for your own safety, you are going to be assigned a few guards who will be escorting you through the day.
Venti could only blink to that...
-...Isn't this too excessive? Shouldn't the safety of the city be enough? Don't you have your own lives to live instead of guarding me all day? -Venti said in apparent shock, as he looked at those around him. Why did they look like they were agreeing with Jean...? -...And Dvalin is also here, so if anything happens...
-May I remind you that the attack near the Cathedral, the same one that led to your Gnosis being stolen and ultimately to yesterday's situation, was also inside the city walls? -Jean interrupted him, sounding equally stern, worried and disapproving. -We are not taking any risks after what happened. -"When you died and almost disappeared!" was left unsaid. -...And Dvalin is too big to follow you everywhere!
…
Venti had to reluctantly admit that she had a point,
Even inside the city there were still areas for his enemies to exploit...
...
And he already promised his people to be careful,
So he had to stick to that promise now...
...
- I understand. I will accept this. -He finally said in resignation, before looking at Jean with a slight glare. -...But, how many guards are we speaking of...?
There's silence for a while, as Jean looks thoughtful...
-...I think four guards should do it. -She finally says, looking like she thought it was still not enough. -...Not too many or too little, just the…"Right amount".
-... Four guards ...? -Venti asks in apparent shock, deciding to ignore her slightly disapproving expression. -... For the duration of the whole morning, afternoon and evening...?!
...
Were they going to shield him with their bodies,
From all sides if something happens...?
...
...
Did he really want to know the answer to that...?
-...And another thing, more of a request. It's about Barbara. -Jean started, looking a little uncomfortable, as if unsure how to say it. Venti had an idea of what she was about to ask him. -...Bar...Venti, can you...?
-Let Barbara sleep in the same room as me until her nightmares are over? -Venti ended for her, looking sad again as he remembered that it was his fault Barbara needed this in the first place. -...I am the one who caused those nightmares to invade her dreams, so it's only fair for me to help her heal.
...
He wondered if anyone else also had nightmares,
Just like Barbara now did...
...
Based on the "horrible scenarios" he saw people have, back then...
...
They probably did, didn't they...?
Did he want to know how many people that was...?
...
How many of his citizens, which he was supposed to watch over, he hurt so much...?
...
And it was only yesterday that...
...
...
He really messed it up very badly, didn't he...?
-Venti, how about going to my tavern now...? -A familiar voice was suddenly heard, as Venti saw Diluc crouch down before him. -I still have your promised share of Dandelion wine and can even prepare something tasty to go with it.
...
Huh?
...
Why did master Diluc suddenly propose that...?
Was this his way of comforting him...?
...
*And he also looked concerned...
...
Was master Diluc what you would call a "tsundere"...?
He was acting very cute, to say the least...
...
*Actually, Venti found most of his citizens either charming, cute and/or adorable,
Since he couldn't really hug them all at once, maybe he could ask his winds to so in his stead...?
Or even better, maybe he could temporarily fuse together with them and hug all of his people instead...?
"That's an interesting idea.", the winds admitted, "...But, we better do it when you get stronger, Barbatos." , they suddenly added, sounding dead serious, "We can't have you push yourself, especially after what happened yesterday.", there was a pause , "...And your people may find themselves overwhelmed with the sudden gesture."
...
Those were pretty good points, Venti had to admit.
...
...
It seemed like master Diluc was still waiting for his reply,
As he looked at him with poorly hidden concern...
...
Venti was really touched by the gesture,
So he couldn't decline the proposal, now could he...?
-Sure, master Diluc~ -Venti finally said, as he lightened up, which grew as he noticed some people exhale in relief. They were really so cute~ -...I would love to keep you company!
He found that he could live with this change...