"Dodododododo~ You got a call! Dodododododo~ Pick up now! Dododododododododododo~"
-Good day to you, Traveler! It has been around a week and a half since we last talked! -Venti said as soon as he answered the call, looking and sounding glad, yet slightly worried. -How are things going in Sumeru...? Since you have finally called, it should be a little better now, right...?
The Archon couldn't help but soon ask,
Hoping that this was really the case...
*Even though he knew that the current crisis was still ongoing, perhaps worsening by the minute,
After all, the Winds were reluctant to tell him anything, insisting he ask the Traveler for...
"...It's evil, this punishment...! It's utterly evil...!
...And to think you will do this to us, Barbatos...! Why would you agree to this one from all the suggestions...?! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...?!"
...
...
Or maybe he was just overthinking it and things weren't truly getting worse,
And the real reason for the Winds' silence was them still being hurt for the punishment he gave them...?
*Surely, this was the case and...?
"The current situation in Sumeru...How should I put it...It's not really getting any better.", the Traveler's tired voice interrupted his hopeful thoughts, "To summarize: Everyone is preparing for when all hell breaks loose, which would surely happen when Nahida is freed.", they soon explained, before a loud sigh was heard, followed by a few seconds of silence, "...How is the situation in Mondstadt at the moment...? Everyone is doing well, right...? After that situation a week and a half ago, which I couldn't really help with..."
-Collei is doing just fine, so there is no need to worry, Traveler! -Venti soon interrupted them, trying to sound as reassuring as possible, before he paused in thought. That wasn't entirely true...-...Actually, I should be truthful. Collei's life is still in danger and she is still traumatized after what happened to her. But thanks to everyone's help, she is doing much better now. Two days after our last talk, we prepared a "Welcoming party" for her!~ -He started retelling about the events of that day, from the moment Amber took Collei to have late breakfast at Good Hunter and to the end of their party at the Lawrence Estate, the whole recount taking a few minutes. -...Everyone was having a great time and Collei looked so much better by the end of it~ -He couldn't help but happily add by the end of the retelling. -...Which reminds me, please, give my thanks to Tighnari. That list he gave of the Sumerian dishes Collei tasted before and enjoyed, the suggestion for the Sumerian furniture, as well as all the Rukkhashava Mushrooms he collected were a great help in making the day unforgettable for my Cute Adopted Little Wind Child~
"...Your "Cute Adopted Little Wind Child", so you officially accepted her as part of your people, Venti. I suppose this is for the best. ", the Traveler soon commented, sounding thoughtful, "...Firstly, neither Nahida or Samir would mind. Secondly, by claiming Collei, next time someone bothers her those people would not only need to deal with the Sumerians, including the Forest Rangers and Cyno, but also with you and the people of Mondstadt. And thirdly, since Collei is "a child of Mondstadt" now and is staying there at the moment, neither the Sages nor that..."Mad Doctor" can easily get to her even if they tried.", they mumbled in thought, as well as some reassurance, "...Cyno and Tighnari would be glad to hear about this. And so would Nahida, Jeht, Dehya...", their voice suddenly trailed off, before there were a few seconds of silence, "...Before, Collei told me that Cyno and Tighnari are the ones who care for her the most from Sumeru, but in truth there are a lot more people now. Both in Sumeru and Mondstadt, right...? You could even say that she has two homes, one in each nation now. So, for her Forest Ranger Trainee work..."
-I can teleport her to and from Sumeru, if she asks~ She is my adopted child now, after all~ -The Archon interrupted them again, looking and sounding reassuring, as well as amused. -Which reminds me, I heard that she, Eula and Amber have truly become a family now! Apparently, Eula is the big sister, Amber is the middle sister and Collei the youngest sister and they even starting calling each other appropriately! -He soon told a summary of a certain "situation" he heard about, one that happened after the party. -...The three of them are just so adorable, right...?!~ And ever since that night, Collei started helping her "Big Sister Eula" with the Estate matters, while Eula is watching over her "Little Sister Collei" and Amber is staying at the Estate as well, helping her "Little Sister Collei" and "Big Sister Eula"~ Last time I visited them in the Lawrence Estate...~
He soon went on a whole story about how he caught them in the most adorable situation:
Eula carefully and gently teaching Collei how to dance, as she led her through the motions,
Reassuring the nervous teen that with time, she too would be able to dance beautifully,
All the while Amber was cheering her friend on, together with two of her "Dancing Baron Bunnies"...
...
And in the end it turned out that the reason for Collei wanting to learn to dance was just as adorable, if not more so,
As she couldn't forget her two friends'/Sisters'(~) Partner dance during the welcoming party and wanted to be able to join them next time~
-...Not only is Eula teaching Collei to dance (with Amber cheering her friend on), but those two also became very good friends and are learning important life skills from one another! Collei is learning from Eula how to be more mentally resilient against others' opinions on her, and to trust her own strength and capabilities, while Eula, who is already more open to her friends and others she trusts, is getting even better at it with Collei's help, who is currently just like an adorable little sprout that has to be shown a lot of love and care in order to grow!~ I have to agree with Lisa that she is "Little Collei", because even when she is serious, she is still so cute! -Venti was enthusiastically saying minutes later, after finally recounting the "adorable scene", before he paused in thought for a few seconds. He still haven't told everything! -...Yes, Lisa also sometimes visits "Little Collei" and the two spend quality time together. I am not sure what they are discussing when they are alone, but as long as they are having fun and Collei is feeling better afterwards, I would never spy on them!
He made sure to added in all seriousness,
Admitting to the Traveler that he still took his children's freedom seriously...
*Even when he really really wanted to know what his adorable children were discussing~
...
...
Though it felt like he was forgetting something...
*Something that had to do with Lisa…But what...?
...
...
"You really sound like a proud father now, Venti. Which I suppose you basically are, seeing as you are way older that each one of them and even call them your children...", the Traveler commented, sounding quite amused, as well as thoughtful, "...But you are usually acting quite childishly, so it's easy for you to take the "mischievous child" spot too and..."
-...I am very good with children, right, Traveler...? -Venti continued for them, looking and sounding quite amused, before his expression suddenly shifted into a pouting one. Having himself be called "father" reminded him about a certain "issue"...-...For quite a while now, Timmie, Lily and Nora see me as their parent, calling me "Father", "Papa Venti"/"Papa" and "Daddy Venti"/"Daddy" respectively. Do you remember when that came to be, Traveler...? How about the "promise" that you made me...? You didn't forget, right...?
He asked in slight annoyance, his pout deepening considerably...
"Yes, I remember that "Promise" and am going to keep it, Venti.", the Traveler's amused voice was soon heard from the Dodocommunication Device, followed by a short chuckle, "...Somehow, I can already imagine you pouting hard right now. But you really don't need to "worry", I promise to buy you as much alcohol as I can once the crisis here is resolved.", they continued in the same amount of amusement, before there was a small pause, "...There is still something you didn't tell me, Venti. Collei's..."Physical Condition", she is getting help for that too, right...?"
They asked in a more serious, even slightly grave, voice,
And Venti had to take a few moments to wonder what they were talking about...
...
"Collei's..."Physical Condition",
What did the Traveler mean by it...?
*And why were they being so vague about this...?
...
...
"Thanks to Venti's help, Collei no longer appears to be affected by whatever experimentation she was put through. Yet this is still not the time to celebrate. This "Eleazar" she is afflicted with still remains, akin to a curse of sorts that refuses to go away.
...The earlier effect of the experimentation she was put through, as well as this persisting "Eleazar Curse" appears to have shortened her life span exponentially. I am afraid that if nothing changes, she would meet her death in a month's time, at the maximum. As such..."
...
Right, that was still a grave issue...
*Even if it's to a lesser extent now...
-It took them some time and effort, but Albedo, Emilia and Sucrose managed to find a way to "alleviate" Collei's symptoms. -He finally said, his earlier annoyance now changed to seriousness and some concern. -From what I know, those are some kind of "Special tablets" made of condensed Time power that Collei has to take once a day. It should not only help prolong her life as much as it's genuinely possible, but also take care of any negative effects of her condition. -The Archon sighed, both in slight concern and reassurance. -...And they were just in time, as Collei started getting more tired, almost worn out, recently.
He soon added, upon remembering the occasion,
Of how he visited the trio at the Lawrence Estate again...
...
But this time, instead of Collei helping Eula out, together with Amber,
His adoptive daughter was laying in her bed, looking ill...
"I-I am fine, really! D-don't worry about me…! I am...Just a little tired...Somehow...
...Weird, I already slept for over 12 hours, way more than I usually do...And I still feel like...I didn't sleep at all...Just what is wrong with my body...? Am I really starting to...
...And after everyone here was so good to me...I love being here...I don't want to.."Leave" yet...Not before I repay them…"
...
...
They really made those "Special tablets" just in time,
And he was glad that the Crystaltears he gave them helped…
…
…
Still,
Would she really…
…
Until the crisis in Sumeru is over…
…
…
She will survive, right…?