Sailing was actually quite fun,
A lot more enjoyable that she thought it would be~
*And she was sharing this new experience with Amber!
...
...
"I just had a small "discussion" with the Winds' right now, you see. And they agreed to "help" you in the next activity: Sailing at Sea!"
Shatter!
As if on cue, what looked like glass suddenly shattered from the direction of the sea,
And as the "shards" fell down, breaking the previous illusion, the real scene was soon revealed:
Many sailing boats already anchored by the docks, with a Waverider and a group of dolphins waiting nearby.'
...
...
"W-what now?!
...A-a cruise...?! W-with dolphins...?! A-and why are there so many boats...?!"
...
Back then, she was truly shocked by what she saw and heard...
*Who thought they would be sailing and accompanied by dolphins at that...?
She couldn't help but wonder how they were even able to make those dolphins accompany them...
...
But after enjoying the Berry & Mint Burst drink together with Amber,
It was finally time to join their next "event" for today...
...
"But did she ever sail on a boat before...?"
"How do you even sail a boat to begin with...?"
"What if she makes a mistake somewhere and disrupts the whole event...?"
Those were the questions she couldn't help asking herself at the time...
*She was so worried that that this whole event that everyone prepared will go to waste,
Even though they were doing this in order to lift her spirits...
...
...
Thankfully, the boat had enough space for 3 people at most,
With Amber soon joining her, as her friend promised to help her during the sail...
*Since her friend was accompanying her, she was reassured that everything would be fine...
...
And as she boarded the boat together with her friend,
She soon noticed that the children weren't the only ones who were also sailing...
*Of course, there were some adults on each boat with them, just to be safe,
But she also noticed Bennet, Razor and Fischl sharing a boat, with Caleb and Sophia sharing another...
...
With the dolphins swimming before and between the sailing boats,
As if both showing them the way and also playing with them...
*Those dolphins were swimming so well, elegantly and neatly between the waves...
...
They also occasionally jumped out of the water,
Leaping into the air with happy squeals...
*They were so cute, that she really wanted to pet one~
...
...
But there was also something weird going on,
A..."Creature" of sorts that was accompanying them,
And one that she didn't notice until just recently...
*It was really small and they were sailing quite fast, after all...
...
But after a while...
"It was finally time to set sail,
Into the beautiful vast sea~
...
The water glistering in the sun~
The wind blowing on the sails~
The boats riding the wa...~"
She heard a melodious voice,
Singing a sea shanty, if she understood it correctly...?
...
Collei soon tried to find the source of the voice,
But when she finally found it...
...
...
She wasn't sure what it was,
But it was carrying a Kamera,
And taking photos of everyone...?
*It actually looked very adorable,
Even if she had no idea what it was...
...
But if anyone saw it too, now one seemed to care much...?
*Wait, did she just see some children happily wave to it...?
...
Why would they do that...?
*Was it some friend or...?
...
-Amber, I am not sure how to ask this. And I know it's sudden, but...-She couldn't help but soon tell her friend, as she pointed in the direction of the "weird-yet-adorable creature, how is it even holding that Kamera?". -...What is that...? And is it(?) really taking photos with a Kamera...? -She asked, starting to feel stupid about the sudden questions soon enough. Everyone was trying to help her feel better and here she was asking weird things...Wait...-...I think I saw a plushie stall with plushies that looked just like that(but without the Kamera) the last time I went to Sumeru city...All the plushies sold out so fast, I thought it was a part of some secret festival Master Tighnari forgot to tell me about…
-...Oh, that? That's just Venti in his Wind Spirit form! -Amber soon answered, looking and sounding both happy and nonchalant, before she paused in thought. -...Oh, right, I didn't have the chance to tell you about this before. I can explain to you the full story, if you want! -She added, before pausing for a few seconds. She just remembered, during the last Ludi Harpastum, that Collei wasn't able to attend due to the crisis in Sumeru…Or was it during Weinlesefest or the returning Weinlesefest instead…? Honestly, so much happened recently that she wasn't quite sure…Which is why she had to be strong for her friend! -...Actually, I bought you one of those plushies, Collei! I promise to give it to you as soon as we finish sailing! So let's enjoy that first, alright…?~
-This is really...A Lagoon...? -Collei couldn't help but ask in confusion and some surprise, as she looked around the area in question, one everyone just recently arrived at. -I heard before that Lagoons are known to have different types of fish than the rest of the region, but the fish swimming inside this one...
Collei could tell right away that they were extremely rare,
She was pretty sure of it, especially after recognizing one type of it...
...
"Peach of the Deep Waves:
Medium-sized, round fish with horn-like cartilage that is used to dig underwater burrows, build shelters and drive away creatures that try to harm them.
This species' whole body is pink and the tail fin is green, colors that are associated with the Zaytun Peach. These fish are, as their name suggests, so sweet that they are considered "ideal for dessert."
Doubtless, owing to various factors, the fish dessert that the fish chefs were hoping to create did not pan out. Because this type of fish is rare and expensive, it is often farmed as an ornamental fish.
There is a large customer base that doesn't want to spend too much Mora on this kind of pufferfish, but nevertheless can't get enough of its bright colors. There are even enterprising businessmen who have managed to reverse this phenomenon, modeling their Zaytun Peaches after these pufferfish. The sales of those are pretty good."
...
This description also reminded her of something else...
"Two types of puffy fish, one orange and one green, which looked like they were shocked about something...?"
Those types of fish she saw before were also a type of pufferfish, right...?
...
...
Still, why was such a rare Sumerian type of fish here…?
*One she only saw with Master Tighnari after the Traveler helped the Aranara...
...
It was really weird, this Lagoon...
*And Amber still didn't answer her question,
Did her friend not know about this either...?
...
...
-Oh, sorry, Collei. I thought about your question and...-Amber said moments later, looking and sounding a little unsure. -...I also don't know why the Lagoon is like this. And I don't think any other Mondstadter will know either. I could ask either the Winds or Venti, since I am pretty sure they know, but well...-She wanted to give the Winds a break since they were overworked and Venti was busy at the moment, talking to the dolphins...-...I think they are having an important discussion...?
She wondered aloud, upon looking at the scene a few feet away,
One of a familiar Wind Spirit and a bunch of Dolphins squeaking about something...
*She didn't understand Dolphinian(?), so she decided that it's better to leave this to Venti...
...
Though she couldn't help but wonder what in Teyvat's name they were discussing there...
...
-Good news, everyone! The Dolphins agreed to show us around this beautiful Lagoon! -Venti soon said in enthusiasm and amusement, his eyes turning into half crescents, which made his current form look even cuter. -And not only that, they also agreed to be petted! In moderation, of course~
He made sure to add, noticing the Dolphin's sudden annoyance...
*It was already nice enough of them to escort everyone here,
To this nice Lagoon that has all the "Exclusive" types of fish swimming in it,
Two of which he soon recognized, Dragonspine's Snowstrider and Mt. Aocang's Abiding Angelfish~
...
"Snowstrider:
A rare stickleback that only dwells in snowy, mountainous regions. It is quite possibly due to this that it has a much cooler temperament as compared to other sticklebacks. This species has a unusually great love for the bitter cold, almost as if they were parent and child. Though they can live in warmer waters, but any removal from such conditions is like striking a spiritual blow to them, and they will become depressed and refuse to multiply.
"Not a recommended catch." — Angler's Atlas, Snowstrider Chapter"
...
"Abiding Angelfish:
A rare and valuable butterflyfish variant from Liyue. At present, it can only be found near water bodies around the abodes of the Adepti. Its pale white lines are very striking, and it has greater longevity than other members of the species and is thus regarded to be a lucky fish blessed by the Adepti.
Most people from Liyue will refuse to eat this fish on principle, given the common respect for the Adepti, but some fear no such superstition and claim that eating these fish can help one extend one's years."
...
He himself wasn't certain why the fish population was like this,
But as weird as the Lagoon was, it was still a nice place to...~
-WE CAN PET THE DOLPHINS! THANK YOU SO MUCH, VENTI!
-Father, can you teach me how to talk to dolphins? I want to speak to them, too!
-I also want to talk to them and to pet them and play with them and...!
-Lily would like to pet Papa Venti too...! Can I...?
The child suddenly asked, stars soon appearing in her eyes,
With the question itself pretty much catching Venti off guard...
*What was worse is that soon, the other children seemed to be agreeing to her words,
Yet by this point, he was no longer listening, but instead started going through the "memory lane"...
"KYAAAAAAH! YOU ARE SO CUUUUUUTE!
I have to take you home with me!"
"NOT FAIR! WHY WOULD HE EVEN WANT TO GO HOME WITH YOU?!
He should go home with me instead!"
"NOOOOO! HE SHOULD GO HOME WITH ME!
Unlike you, I am going to hug him and play with him and pamper him and...!"
...
Those were enough embarrassing flashbacks for one day!
*If he remembers about Xiao's reaction and later on...!
...
It was best to forget about this now!
Before it becomes too late for him to turn back!
...
…
…
He should have expected this, didn't he...?
*His "Wind Spirit" form was just too hard for the children to resi...
-Um, Venti, yes...? -A nervous voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts, as a conflicted looking Collei went to stand right before him, looking right into his eyes. -Can I also pet you...? -She blurted out, sounding dead serious, before she suddenly gasped. -...I-I am sorry, that came out a little weird...! Y-your current form is just really cute, with that melodious voice...! A-and especially with the Kamera...! S-so after hearing about being able to pet the Dolphins and the children suggesting that...! -She tried to explain, her face rapidly getting more and more red in embarrassment, as she soon started nervously playing with her hands. -...E-even in this utterly adorable form, you are still an Archon...A-and yet I went and asked something so utterly embarra...!
-Since today is "your day", I permit you to pet me. -Venti interrupted her, sounding slightly reluctant, but otherwise determined. -...But only a little, okay...? That goes for everyone else too. -He added while glancing between the children, before proceeding to float down to Collei's belly level. -...But after this..."Petting session" and everyone hopefully enjoying the Lagoon itself, we are sailing back to Dornman Port in order to continue our "trip" towards the Lawrence Estate.
Hours later, after the small cruise was finally over,
And with Venti back in his usual bard form…
*As he was trying not to think about what happened earlier…
…
It was finally time to leave for the Lawrence Estate!
-Eula made sure to prepare a whole welcome for you~ You are going to love it so much, Collei~ -Venti couldn't help but happily say, as he was showing everyone the way, before he suddenly stopped in his tracks. -Which reminds me, we have to go first~ -He said upon looking back between the children, who moments later enthusiastically bounced to his side, as a wind current suddenly appeared nearby. -Amber, I will leave showing the way to you! It's time to leave, everyone~
And with those words, he summoned a bunch of Windgliders from seemingly nowhere,
Soon proceeding to distribute them between the awaiting children...
-We are going to meet you later, Sister Collei~ Klee hopes you like everyone's gift! -The small pyromaniac soon said, as she and the rest of the children put on the Windgliders and walked into the wind current. -As the Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonius, Klee promises she will do her very best!
-Lily will also try my best!
-Nora too!
-Me and my friends, as well!
-We prepared so hard for this, big sister!
-Don't let us wait long!
-Yeah, or it would get boring!
-It's gonna be so fun, I can't wait!~
The children enthusiastically commented, as they soon all flew away,
Following their Small Leader and Adoptive Father(?) towards the Lawrence Estate...