-Thank you for teaching me how to make all those dishes, Grace. Thanks to your instructions, they turned out quite nice. -Venti couldn't help but gratefully say, as he finished eating the last of the food and soon turned to look around himself. -And thank you for being with me, everyone, even after I hurt you so much. -His voice got sad by the last few words, as he looked down on his hands. -...Just a little less than a year ago, I would have never imagined something like this to actually happen: To be loved for who I am, with all my strengths and weaknesses...Even when I am acting quite childish, unlike how an Archon should...-He quietly mumbled, his voice reverberating around the currently quiet room, before he slightly chucked upon raising his head. -...You all are really adorable children, you know that...?~ So cute and precious that...~ -He teasingly said, before suddenly pausing in his words as he saw some people's reactions. -...My, I thought you already knew my thoughts on the matter...?~ I remember saying something similar a while ago, though it was quite embarrassing for me at the time...~ Now, what was it, I wonder...?~ -He couldn't help saying in more teasing, making an expression of fake wonder. -...Oh, right, now I remember! "They already know me and what I love so well~ Such adorable children they all are~ I wish I could kiss them all a hundred times~" was what I mistakenly said aloud~ I still think this way, by the way, even now~ -He slightly chuckled after these words and especially at how embarrassed some people around him now looked. And since they were part of the Favonius Clergy, basically his devout believers...~ -...You must be so touched by my words right now, especially since I am currently using my "Archon voice" for this, aren't you...?~ You must be feeling so happy right now, isn't that right?~ My, how utterly adorable of you all~ -He admitted, soon proceeding to rest his chin on his folded hands, his expression smug. -...You know, I am currently having so much fun~ Since you like to quite often make me redden in embarrassment, I decided it would be only fair that I do the same~ You don't mind it, right, my "most beloved" devotees…?~
He couldn't help adding, upon glancing between them with an amused expression,
They all, without question, currently in different states of embarrassment...
*It was really cute and made him wonder if they were just like the adorable children~
...
Speaking of said adorable children, they must still be playing now,
They were the first to eat and allowed to leave, after all~
*They are probably still playing with Diona and the cats~
...
...
But what if they are not anymore, since they got bored...?
In that case they might want to spend time with him instead, right...?
...
But his "Devout followers" looked so adorable right now,
Their embarrassed and shocked faces looked so nice~
*He wanted to etch this amusing scene into his mind,
So even if another 2600 years have passed, he would remember it clearly~
...
...
He could probably take a few photos with a Kamera,
But they probably wouldn't agree to it, would they...?
*Though, if he "asked" them to...
...
But going against their freedom...
...
...
My, it was quite the dilemma~
But he probably should just "ask", right~
*After all, they did similar things to him before,
Like those plushies they so...
"Barbatos, we apologize for interrupting your fun, but we think it's time for you to go to Windrise.", the Winds suddenly said, sounding apologetic and also slightly concerned, "...The preparations for the returning Weinlesefest are almost complete, but there is a certain..."Problem" that might require your intervention."
Venti was feeling annoyed,
Really really annoyed...
...
The preparations for the festival were not even complete yet,
Yet, he still had to go to Windrise to take care of an issue that just arose,
And it was during his "fun time" no less, him enjoying seeing his adorably embarrassed people!
*It was so funny basically taking revenge on them for all the times they embarrassed him with their actions~
...
And now he suddenly has to go to Windrise in order to intervene in some issue!
...
Well, since he was so rudely interrupted, he was going to take his time!
*It's not like his people are not responsible enough to take care of things until he arrives!
...
-Venti, since we are going to Windrise, how about we fly?
-That's right! We didn't fly in so long!
-Flying together with father and my friends, yes, it would be nice!
-F-flying?! I-I am not sure if I...I-I mean, my friends might not like it and...!
The children soon started to discuss between themselves,
With Diona looking unsure about the whole thing and the cats confused too...
*The adults said they would join the group later, saying they still had things to take care of,
Though Venti couldn't help wondering if this was really the case or if they were still embarrassed due to his...
...
...
The children wanted to go flying,
To fly with him to Windrise...
...
For all of them together,
To fly to...
...
...
The last time he flew with them all...
...
The last time they flew was...
"They were all flying over Mondstadt, him and the adorable children...
"Venti, Venti! Let's go to the "Fun Place"!"
"The "Water Park", yes! Let's go play there!"
"You might not remember this Venti, but it's okay!"
"Klee will explain everything to you again!"
The children started enthusiastically yelling,
Their adorable expressions making him unable to deny their wish...
...
"...I-I would be glad to...
...Just remind me where this "Water Park" is, alright...?"
Was all he could answer them and with their agreement they all soon started flying towards the nearby island,
Their Wind Gliders, thanks to the "Power of the Thousand Winds", keeping them firmly in the air...
...
Until almost halfway through, his power suddenly started to fail him,
The Anemo symbol was constantly flickering in and out, as if unable to hold on...
"VENTI?!"
"Father, is there something wrong?!"
"Klee thinks it would be best to land! That's what Master Jean would have done!"
"But there's so much water! I heard from my friends that wet wings are bad news!"
The children were understandably worried,
While he himself...
"WE HAVE TO GET TO SHORE! I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I...I CAN'T KEEP EVERYONE UP ANYMORE!
...I-I am sorry, everyone...
...I felt like there was something wrong with the way I activated the "spell", but I still...! NO!"
No matter how hard he tried to, he couldn't keep control of the spell,
And soon enough, even with everyone's efforts to reach the docks, they fell into the water...
*Thankfully there were people around to save them and he counted the children that were saved...
...
...
All but Lily, who he lost track of, unable to see her anywhere through the water,
Unable to find her no matter how much he searched with his eyes…
…
Then, when the child was finally found, getting carried out the water by Mona…
…
The unconscious and completely limp body in the Astrologist's arms…
…
…
She looked as if she was actually dead!"
...
...
He couldn't fly, he was scared to drop the children again...
*Last time Lily almost drowned, but what if this time she would actually...!
...
N-no...!
...
N-no!
...
...
T-they shouldn't go flying...!
They shouldn't go flying!
...
He couldn't do this...
...
Not now,
Not again…!
...
-...I-I understand it if you want to go flying with me, but wouldn't walking be better...? You know "walk around, see the sights" and all that...? -He couldn't help suggesting in slight anxiety, turning everyone's attention to himself. -...T-today the weather is really nice! A-and the sights of our beautiful city, so utterly marvelous!
And with these words, without even waiting for anyone's reaction,
He proceeded to walk towards the Marketplace, everyone having no choice but to follow him along...
*The whole time, he was trying hard not to remember what happened only days ago and keep calm,
He already worried everyone enough, after all...
...
Besides, those accompanying him now were still so young,
The children, Diona and even the cats...
...
There was no need for them to...
...
...
Oh, this was fast,
He already reached the bridge...
*Did he truly rush so much...?
...
-Sorry for rushing, everyone. My mind was so preoccupied I lost track of where I was. -He couldn't help apologizing after a few minutes, when the others finally reached him, running to his side. -Let's walk the bridge down slowly this time and look up the sights, how does that sound?
He soon suggested, hoping that this would be enough for an apology,
And if it wasn't, well, he would be delighted to sing to them all later~
...
-Alright, Venti! Lead the way!
-I am really glad to spend time with you Venti!
-Can Klee bomb some fish on the way...?
-Oh, this is where my friends love to gather!
-...I would need to ask my friends not to attack them...
-But I won't, Miona!
-You are so mean, Tiona!
The children, Diona and the cats soon started discussing between themselves,
With Venti feeling glad that they agreed to his suggestion...
...
So much so that he didn't notice that not everyone was happy with it,
With Lily feeling weird as soon as she saw the lake itself...
...
The water,
It made her feel weird...
...
It made her feel scared...
...
She suddenly couldn't move...
...
She just froze in place,
Looking back at everyone's retreating forms...
...
...
B-but why was she...?
...
W-why was she reacting like this...?
"They were flying over the lake and it was so much fun,
But then Papa's power failed and they soon started to fall down...
...
Fall down, into the water below,
And then she was pulled down...
...
She was being pulled down...!
...
She couldn't get up,
No matter how much she struggled...!
...
...
I-it was so cold...!
...
I-it hurt so much...!
…
S-she couldn't breathe…!
...
S-she wanted out...!
...
S-she wanted out!
...
She wanted out!
...
...
...
The water continued pulling her down,
Away from the light...
...
Away from everyone she knew,
From Mommy and Daddy and Venti and...!
...
...
It was getting dark...
...
So dark...
...
And the pain,
Was it gone now...?
...
But it didn't feel right...
...
...
It was scary,
It was so scary...!
...
It was scary,
She wanted out!
...
It was scary!
She wanted out!
...
She wanted out!
She wanted out!
She wanted out!
SHE WANTED OUT!
...
Back to Mommy and Daddy and...!"
"Lily, calm down! It's going to be alright! You are going to be just fine!"
...
Suddenly,
A familiar voice...
...
-...P-papa Venti...? -She soon said upon finally realizing who it was, somehow seeing him through the tears. -...I-I was under the water and...A-and...! -She couldn't help but run up to him, hugging him tightly. -...L-Lily was scared! I-it was so dark! A-and it hurt so much! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
She soon proceeded to cry into his chest, the tears streaming down her face,
Not stopping even when she felt the hand reassuringly patting her head...
...
-...I am sorry, Lily...While walking through the bridge, I didn't think that...-Venti couldn't help but sadly say, before deeply sighing, as he stopped with the patting. -...It's still some way until we finish crossing the bridge, so until then, would it be okay with you if we walk like this...? With you hugging onto me, you no longer remember, right...?
He slowly and carefully asked, making sure he didn't trigger her panic attack,
And seeing as she just continued crying, he thankfully didn't...
*But it didn't look like she was reacting to his words, which was defini...
-L-Lily is okay, Papa. I-I am okay. -His thoughts were soon interrupted by the sad sounding child, who thankfully sounded a little calmer now. -...If we walk like this, I am going to be okay. I can do this, so don't feel bad for me. Lily is going to be okay.
"...Thanks to Barbatos' help, Adorable Child Lily seems to have recovered after her panic attack and is taking things in stride. There is no need to worry about her, sister Jilianna.", the Winds were reassuringly telling the worried mother, before there was a slight pause, "...Due to what happened and the fact the group is walking slower now, they are bound to arrive at Windrise later than expected. Hopefully, a fight wouldn't break out in the meantime..."
They thoughtfully and a little worriedly mumbled,
Before becoming quiet again, leaving the nun to her own thoughts...
*Like the fact that Venti was helping her daughter...
...
As well as the memory of a few minutes ago,
When the Archon was definitely teasing them all...
*He was definitely getting back at them for embarrassing him all those times before,
Apparently wanted to "etch the amusing scene" of their embarrassed faces into his mind",
And would have even "asked" them for a group photo if he wasn't interrupted at the time...?
...
...
Lord Barbatos was just like a small child himself, despite being 26 decades old,
So it was no wonder why her daughter and the rest of the kids liked him so much...
*As well as why he was seemingly already adopted by most of Mondstadt, which he thankfully knew now...
...
And also one of the reasons why everyone was so frantically worried before,
When they thought something happened again, yet he was being scolded by Rostam...
...
...
They should definitely meet up and speak with the knight about this sometime,
So that next time, they would be warned in case this happens again...
*Putting herself and her own feeling on this matter aside,
Her colleagues, Venti, the children and especially her daughter...
...
They shouldn't be suffering just because a certain Knight spirit didn't bother to read the room…!