One could say that the Traveller is a strange person. One could also say that his companion is even stranger. Venti would disagree and say that his friend is not strange and that they should get their eyes checked for they had to be blinder than his friend (not that he would say that in Aether's presence).

What Venti could agree was that meeting the Traveller was certainly an experience.

The first time he had 'met' the Traveller, he had not actually met Aether physically. He had heard his prayers whispered occasionally in the wind. He had heard his cries of sorrow and his roars of anger. But the prayers were what had drawn Venti to the Traveller. Venti willed the wind to keep watch on the Traveller and the wind would carry news to his ears. However, his friend Dvalin was suffering and Venti needed to help his friend. So he moved, traversing through various places, searching for a way to end his friend's suffering.

When he heard the wind whispered news of the Traveller moving towards the Statue of the Seven, Venti was prepared. He was less prepared when he felt the power of vision he bestowed get absorbed into the Traveller and not actually create a vision.

He was also very unprepared to meet the Traveller in the forest while trying to help Dvalin. That meeting certainly could have been in better circumstances.

When Dvalin had left, Venti stayed behind, hidden behind the trees. The wind took away his presence, allowing him to remain silent as he watched the Traveller. When he saw the Traveller claim a fragment of Dvalin's corruption with no ill effects and leave the forest, Venti wondered if there was more to the Traveller than what meets the eye.

He was quite worried when he watched the Traveller tumble off the ledge to the worried cries of his companion after collecting the crystal, as if he never saw the edge. When Venti felt the winds change to something foul, he left quickly. His worries for the Traveller were pushed aside as his mind shifted back to his friend, Dvalin.

The next time he met the Traveller, Dvalin had taken control of the raging storm to ravage Mondstadt and Aether had been caught up in it (literally). Venti lent his powers to the Traveller, allowing him to chase Dvalin away from his beloved city. And as he guided the wind to the Traveller's wings to set him down on the grounds of Mondstadt, he did not know why Aether was crying.

"Paimon, I could see everything. For a moment, I could see everything. It's not fair."

(It was only much later, after he had lost his gnosis, that he realised why Aether had been so sad.)

On his next encounter with the Traveller, it was when the both of them had finally met face-to-face. Venti sang a song of his friend Dvalin and Aether listened. It was then Venti had noticed how strange Aether eyes were, the way how Aether was not looking at him. When the song ended and Venti lured the Traveller away from prying eyes and curious ears, Venti introduced himself as a common bard of Mondstadt.

The Traveller did not believe him and that in itself, was most intriguing indeed.

"You're not just a bard," the Traveller had said. Venti slyly smiled while the Traveller's companion made a confused face.

"What makes you say that, my dear Traveller?"

"Your voice, I recognise it. I also recognise your wind. You're not just a bard."

When the Traveller showed him the purified Teardrop crystal and purified the one Venti had carried on his person, he knew that he had finally found a way to save his friend.

They meet up again later under the tree known as the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero. Aether asked Venti about Barbatos, the God of Anemo as well as Dvalin, the Stormterror. When Venti answered all his questions, Aether asked him a different question that had him pause.

"I know that people need a Vision to use an element of one of the Seven. Then tell me, why can I see your wind? Are you like me?"

Aether told Venti that he could see his Anemo power encompassing his entire body unlike other Vision holders whose elemental powers can only be seen from the Vision they wield. He listened as Aether desperately asked if they were alike, if he was from another world. And Venti knew, he could no longer keep his secret.

"I'm sorry, I'm not like you. Truth be told, I did not want anyone to find out but I will tell you. But first, I wish to ask you for a favour in exchange for the truth. Will you help me?"

When Venti explained of a Holy Lyre that rests in the depths of the Mondstadt Cathedral, the Holy Lyre der Himmel. He needed the lyre to calm Dvalin to stop his rampage. However, when he had attempted to borrow the lyre, he had been unceremoniously kicked out. And so he needed someone who could go into the depths of the cathedral to obtain the lyre. The Traveller could do it, Aether can do it. However, when he heard the Traveller's next words, he had to reconsider his plan.

"I'm sorry Venti, I can't...I'm blind."

Aether explained how he came to this world, how he was blinded by a goddess, how he woke up alone and his sister missing. He then explained how he got the power of Anemo from one of the Statue of the Seven and how he used elemental sight to 'see'.

"I can't use it for too long but it's better than nothing. I'm sorry Venti, I can't help you."

And was that not a shock, Venti realised. Aether was blind the entire time and somehow, Venti had not noticed. All the signs were there. The way Aether would sometimes angle his ear at people when they were talking, the way Aether would almost always trip at the start of the slope in Mondstadt. All the signs were there and Venti never noticed.

Venti realised later, when the shock of the discovery had worn off, that Aether really is stronger than he looks.

"You don't have to do it alone, Traveller. There is nowhere my wind won't reach, so use that to help find your way."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means that you have earned the favour of Barbatos himself."

The plan was not really a plan. It was more of a go-with-the-flow kind of plan. Venti did not mind it so much, it does embody what he represents. Paimon however, disagrees and likes to make her disagreement known. The important thing to note is that they had obtained the Holy Lyre they needed. Another important thing to note is that they are now being chased down by the Knights of Favonius. The three of them ducked into the dark alleyways, turning at junctions and leaping and gliding across rooftops to avoid the knights. But when Venti heard a loud 'oof' from Aether behind him, he stopped and turned around. He saw Aether on the ground with Paimon shaking him and a Fatui soldier running away with the Holy Lyre. Venti may have needed the lyre but Aether was hurt and that took priority.

Venti and Paimon pulled Aether up and the both of them carried him to the nearby tavern. Diluc had glared at Venti the moment he popped his face into the tavern but when he saw Aether dazed and leaning against Venti as Venti pulled him in while explaining that they were being chased, he helped bring them up to the second floor without a single word. When the knights busted the tavern door open, Venti kept an ear out to listen to the commotion below as he tried to treat Aether's injury with Paimon. He must have lost focus as he tried to use his Anemo power to heal the bruise on Aether's stomach and the bump on Aether's head when he heard the tavern door slam shut and the sound of footsteps climbing up the stairs. He turned, his wind ready at his beck and call, only to see Diluc climbing up the stairs with a roll of bandages in his hand. After Paimon had regaled the story of their daring adventure through Mondstadt to Diluc, Venti had finished treating Aether.

At first, Venti was thrilled when Diluc promised to help find the Fatui who stole the lyre. He was less thrilled when Diluc caught him stealing a bottle of wine and promising to ban him if he stole again. It was just a bottle of wine!

During the meeting with Diluc, Jean and the Traveller, Venti wondered offhandedly if any of them noticed Aether's disability at all. And if they did, do they have so much faith in the Traveller's skill to send him to attack a Fatui hideout? Well, it would not be for a god to let someone who carries his favour to walk to his death. And so, Venti decided to accompany Aether.

The Fatui never saw it coming.

With the Holy Lyre retrieved, the ragtag group made their way back to the tavern (which has now been turned into their base of operations much to Diluc's displeasure). Of course, there was a slight problem with the lyre.

"As you can see, the lyre has been through a thousand years of history. Its Anemo power has run dry. In this condition, you couldn't play music fit for even Diluc's tavern with it…"

"Did you just borrow the Holy Lyre to play music for drunkards to hear?"

"Hehe."

"What do you mean 'hehe'!?"

A little detour, collecting crystals and purifying them, the lyre was finally restored to its former glory.

"The lyre…"

"What is it, Aether?"

"It's beautiful."

They gathered at Starsnatch Cliff, Venti never leaving Aether's side (the latter had yet to notice). Venti took out the lyre, feeling the anemo power swirling within the strings. He strummed the strings, letting the notes settle in the wind. The wind settled down and Venti began to play. He played a song long forgotten by mortals but one his old friend loved so much. The wind carried the notes throughout the entirety of his domain and when Venti felt the storm clouds gather, he was sure that Dvalin had heard it.

Dvalin appeared before them, soaring above, followed by the howling storm. Venti tried to talk to him, he could see how much his friend is in pain and how much sadness is in him, only to be interrupted by an Abyss Mage. Venti felt the lyre in his hands crack as he was thrown back by the attack and, bless Aether, he stood in between him and the Abyss Mage with his sword raised to protect him. Unfortunately, Dvalin, convinced that the people he had sworn to protect had turned on him, left with a mighty roar, the howling wind following in his wake. The Abyss Mage had taken the opportunity of the chaos to flee. And now Venti is left behind with a sore butt, a broken lyre and his friend gone.

Taking out the Abyss Mage who interrupted them made the day slightly better.

With the Abyss Mage gone, Venti could feel the link between him and Dvalin returning. The connection was weak however, Venti could not use it to bring his friend back to his senses. It was enough however, for Venti to go to where his friend currently resided in.

"Traveller, do you know of Stormterror's Lair?"

"Venti, whatever it is you're thinking of, I have a feeling that I'm not going to like it."

Venti could not fault Aether. No one really likes his plans.

Stormterror's Lair, once known as the capital of old Mondstadt, now laid in ruins where Dvalin currently dwells. An impassable storm barrier was erected around the ruins by Dvalin's powers, preventing friend or foe from entering. But in the midst of the howling storm, the stage is set for the barrier to be opened and for Barbatos to walk upon that land once more. Not to take down a dictator that once stood against freedom but to save a friend of old.

(That was until some hilichurls attacked. Venti is starting to hate being constantly interrupted.)

When the path to Stormterror's Lair opened, the group ventured towards the tower in the center. They went around the tower to avoid the wind barrier, taking down every enemy along the way and Venti took the opportunity to observe Aether up close.

The way Aether fought, you could not tell that he is blind. His form oozed confidence as he dash forward to attack with both his blade and the elemental power Venti had gifted to him. He showed experience in battle, as if he had fought many battles for a long time. It was strange, if Aether had not told Venti he is blind, Venti truly would never have noticed. But in a way, the signs are obvious once you start looking for them. Aether would trip at the smallest of inclines, even as he always corrected his broken stance in a split second. The way he always knew where the enemy was, even if they were behind him. The times Paimon would shout a warning when any projectiles were thrown his way. The signs were so obvious and at the same time, not.

By the time the group had reached the top, almost everyone was showing signs of fatigue. Almost everyone but Venti of course.

Diluc explained how a light actuator worked, Jean was ready to finish the mission to protect Mondstadt, Venti was ready to save his friend and Aether just wanted to get this over and done with. The light actuator was activated and along came another problem.

"Looks like we're right. There are three more halos circling the tower…"

"Don't say it."

"Which means, there are three more corresponding light actuators to activate. The rest must be scattered within the ruins around here."

"I told you not to say it!"

"It'll be faster if we split up. Me and Aether will take that one there."

Venti hoped that no one had noticed that he assigned the closest actuator to Aether. And if they did, no one commented on it.

The Pyro Abyss Mage that ambushed them never saw it coming.

"I'm thinking about turning these adventures into songs after we're done…"

"Well, we certainly have gone through quite a lot recently."

With all the actuators activated, the path to Dvalin is now opened and everyone regrouped back at the top of the tower.

(Jean and Diluc remembered that the Traveller could use the teleporter when they returned to the top of the tower to the sight of Venti, Aether and Paimon eating lunch.)

"Venti, what drives you?" Aether had asked as Jean and Diluc were discussing the final preparations for the battle ahead.

"What do you mean?"

"Diluc is driven by trust, in that he trusts us for the secret we shared with him. Jean is driven by responsibility, in that she feels responsible for protecting Mondstadt. Venti, what drives you? Why are you going so far?"

Venti smiled, even if he knew full well that Aether would never see it, he smiled and answered, "Freedom. I want to free him, I want to free my friend."

"Well, you are the god of freedom."

With the preparations done, weapons at the ready, Venti could feel the tense atmosphere deep in the air.

"Just like the last time, I shall channel Anemo energy for you. Have faith in me."

Aether snorted a laugh, "Have faith...Paimon told me to have faith in her and that's how I got my elemental sight."

"Perhaps, once all of this is over, I shall have you regale that tale to me. I might even turn it into a song!"

Aether laughed out loud this time, his tensed shoulders loosened in the laughter. "It's not that interesting, but sure."

The battle against Dvalin was a tough one but they persevered. There were many heart stopping moments when Aether was thrown off the platform by the wind and Venti had to quickly throw an opposing gale to blow Aether back onto the platform or when Dvalin broke the platform with Anemo and Venti had to summon a hurricane to sweep everyone to the next platform. When all the platforms collapsed and Dvalin saved them, Aether had failed to grab hold of Dvalin. Venti felt fear as he watched Aether fall. He heaved a sigh of relief when Aether managed to grab hold of Dvalin's tail as the latter continued to fly until the domain lay far behind them.

No one commented when Venti hugged Aether tightly after he helped Aether onto Dvalin's back.

"You have a good friend," Dvalin told Venti later as the latter was telling him what happened. Venti agreed, Aether is a good friend. He only wished that he could do more for him.

The next time Venti met Aether, they met up at the cathedral. Just because they stole the Holy Lyre does not mean they should keep it forever, even if the condition of the lyre is much to be desired.

"Venti, can we just sneak in and put the lyre back?"

"We could but then they would chase us for breaking it. Easier to apologise than to ask for permission, right?"

Of course, a happy ending was far too easy. Venti wonders if there was some higher entity he had angered because he would like to know who to direct his middle finger to. He wonders if it was because of that one time he pranked the other Archons and now karma is out for his blood.

When La Signora, one of the Fatui Harbingers, froze him to seal his movement, Venti made a mental note to blow away Tsaritsa's wardrobe the next time he visits Snezhnaya. When the Harbinger ripped out his Gnosis however, Venti wondered what happened to the Cryo Archon to have betrayed them like this. When Aether came out of the church and rushed to his aid, only to be frozen by the Harbinger and began screaming, Venti swore to destroy the Cryo Archon with or without his Gnosis. La Signora left laughing, Aether continued screaming and crying in fear, Paimon was blown off to places unknown and Venti felt weak and powerless.

He knew he needed to chase down the Harbinger. He knew he needed to get his Gnosis back. But Aether needed him, his friend needed him. And so Venti crawled up to Aether's side, using what remained of his power to break the ice that held Aether captive, he sang a lullaby. A song that he remembers fondly of, one that his first friend sang to him. Aether stopped screaming but the tears continued to fall and Venti continued to sing as he hugged Aether. He sang long after Aether had finally stopped crying, he sang even after Aether fell unconscious, he sang until his voice had gone hoarse, he sang until help came. And he left before Aether woke.

(Because the Harbinger came for him, not for Aether.)

They met again, under the great tree. Venti sat on the grass under the tree while Aether sat on the steps of the Statue of the Seven, guided by Paimon. For a moment, none of them spoke. Venti hummed a song and Aether listened.

"I'm sorry Venti."

"For what? It was no fault of your own."

"Are you okay?"

"I should be the one asking you that."

Aether went silent and Venti hummed a different song. The leaves in the tree rustled in the gentle breeze. The Anemo power gathered freely under the tree and it was helping to ease the emptiness from losing his Gnosis.

"It felt the same," Aether said after a long while. The sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow upon the plains of Windrise. "It's different but it felt the same. It was like being back there again, being caught by the goddess, losing everything. I could feel it creeping up towards me, engulfing me and I can't do anything. I knew it was different, the attacks are different, everything is different but it felt the same."

Venti stopped humming. He got off the ground and walked towards Aether, ensuring he stepped on the grass so Aether knew where he was by sound. Paimon moved to sit on Aether's lap while Venti sat on the steps beside the latter.

"I will recover, my Gnosis holds most of my power but it alone cannot hold all of it."

"A Gnosis...Is that different from a Vision?"

"It's a secret but I suppose I can tell you…"

After Venti had explained what a Gnosis was, Aether carried a look of contemplation. Paimon had started napping and the sun had almost disappeared from the sky.

"Aether, if you seek the rest of The Seven, many difficulties lie ahead of you still. You should head for Mondstadt's neighboring nation of Liyue. The Geo Archon who reigns there, unlike me, administrates his entire region personally. He only descends once every year to give his divine predictions, which set the direction for Liyue for the rest of that year."

Aether made a hum of agreement. Venti looked up at the starlit sky, the sun had long since gone, replaced by the bright moon.

"Venti?"

"Yeah?"

"I...No, it's nothing. Let's meet up again some day."

"Of course! I'll even buy you a drink!"

One day, when Aether was brave enough to ask, Venti would be ready.

"Venti, won't you join me?"

"Sure!"

And until then, Venti will wait.