"Uh, should Paimon continue it now...? Paimon doesn't remember that much, so it would go fast...!

...Or should we take a small break...? What do you think, Tone-deaf bard...?"

...

"I don't mind taking a small break, flying pancake~

And while we do that, make sure to eat something nice and relax! Food is your greatest obsession, right, Paimon...?~"

...

Their break was taking some time,

Yet, Venti didn't mind it in the least...

...

He was currently at the Gunnhildr Estate,

Spending time with Barbara, Jean, Seamus and Frederica...

...

"Wait, Venti! Don't go!

I-I mean, you should stay and celebrate the festival together with us!"

...

"You never intruded on our family time or inconvenienced us in any way, Venti.

It was our joint decision to have you and Xiao join us in our family gathering and festival celebration."

"We are glad to have you here, Venti.

...Both as our Archon and a friend/family member."

"...I still can't fully express my gratitude to you, but know this: my home is also yours, its doors are always open to you and I gladly accept you as a part of our family."

...

"...I...I understand...

I accept your gratitude and generous offer, Seamus.

I will be glad to be a part of your family."

...

He did accept their invite back then, after all...~

*Yet, due to all the crises that happened ever since Ludi Harpastum,

It was rare that he could actually accept the invitation...

RING!

...

Welcoming him to their home, as their family...

*The same invite that Xiao got back then,

A shame he was currently too busy to join them...

...

...

-Venti, Venti! Look what finally arrived from Good Hunter! -Barbara almost ran into the room, a plate with spicy squid in her hands, as the Deaconess had starry eyes. -...I wanted to eat it for so long, but was worried about ruining my figure since I am still an idol, but now I can finally...! -She cried out from happiness, upon twirling in place, before she suddenly froze. Venti was already like family...No, he was family! Even so, for her to act so childishly...-...Uh, sorry, Venti. I was so happy about finally being able to eat the spicy squid...

-It's okay, Barbara, I understand. -Venti interrupted her, trying to look and sound as reassuring as possible, before his expression turned a little sheepish. -But is it really okay for me not to help in the lunch preparations, at all...? Since I have been staying at your house for days now, invited here as part of the family, I could at least prepare some of my specialty dishes...-He suddenly paused in his words, his eyes widening in surprise, as well as some horror -...When was the last time I prepared "A Buoyant Breeze"...? Even baking a small cupcake is hard, if I even forget how to prepare my own specialty dish...!

"Dodododododo~ You got a call! Dodododododo~ Pick up now! Dododododododododododo~"

A familiar ringing was suddenly heard,

Interrupting his horrified words and Barbara's rising shock to them...

...

Ringing that happened at the exact moment when he started panicking,

As if someone or something was watching him intently,

Deciding to interrupt just at the right...

"Dodododododo~ You got a call! Dodododododo~ Pick up now! Dododododododododododo~"

...

-...I should definitely answer that. -Venti soon commented, looking and sounding thoughtful, as well as slightly regretful. -Sorry for my sudden outburst, Barbara. I was worried about my cooking skills turning nonexistent, just like Ei's…-He explained, his expression turning horrified, once again. -...She can blow up a whole building just by boiling water!


"Oh, you finally picked up, Tone-deaf bard!", Paimon's voice was heard as soon as he took the call, before there were a few seconds of silence, "So, Samir is feeling better now...Kind of...? Paimon is honestly not sure. But Cyno is also here now and Traveler told Paimon that Paimon can continue the retelling, after all!", she admitted, sounding a little conflicted, "So, this is what happened next: We all went to this "Khaj-Nisut" place with the insane guy and his lackeys, Traveler and the rest cleared the fog over the area by passing three special trials and then, after leaving Nachtigal and the Sumpter beasts outside the building with some of the insane guy's lackeys, we did a bunch of puzzles to get to the highest level, which was the throne room! And it was so huge and grand and...!", the Pixie enthusiastically explained, before suddenly pausing, as an annoyed huff was soon heard, "And then that stupid Smali or whatever demanded Jebrael tell him how to do the "special prayer" in order to enter the "Golden Slumber". And it turned out to be that song that Candace heard Jebrael sing that time!", she ended in dramatism, before there was a short pause, "...Uh, Paimon doesn't remember how it goes..."

"O stars high above the wasteland;

O nightingales weary from the day;
It's time to take off the crown of roses;
Cleanse yourself with wine made from grapes.
Sleep, close your eyes;
Yon golden slumber summons thee, wandering sand;
Drink not that bitter salt water;
For the sorrows of tomorrow have gone away."

Samir's voice was suddenly heard coming from the Dodocommunication Device,

Sounding mostly calm, yet also melancholic...

...

"Yeah, that song. Thanks Samir!", the Pixie said moments later, before there was a three second pause, "After hearing the song, the crazy Somali dude told one of his lackeys to give us a map showing where the hostages are held if the prayer succeeded. And it did! The crazie sat on the throne and repeated the prayer and then he "fell asleep", so we got the map!", she happily said, before there was another short pause, "And then apparently Simli gained control over the "Golden Slumber" and tried to draw everyone else into it, that backstabber!"

"...Well, Samail was just the worst, so his actions weren't that surprising, honestly. What was surprising is that the Thuthmouse members that were with us at the time didn't expect him to backstab them, too.", the Traveler commented, sounding a little weary, "But that creepy dark blue cloud that was quickly enveloping the room and then the whole building at the time...It was similar to..."

"...Abyss energy? I know.", Samir ended for them, sounding guilt stricken again, "...I really shouldn't have created it...", a sad sigh was soon heard, "...Just continue the retelling, Traveler."

...

"We ran away as fast as we could, with Candace sometimes using the hurricane enchantment to stall the dark cloud, but when we were almost outside the ruins, the entrance door suddenly closed on us.", the Traveler soon continued, sounding a little conflicted, "...I thought about trying to teleport everyone out, but...I only ever teleported myself and Paimon, so I worry about what would happen if I do it with anyone else. Like, what if they get stuck somewhere midway or their limbs get torn off…? And calling Xiao for help, with him then teleporting so many people was bound to take some time. Time that we didn't have back then. And then I heard Jebrael's plan: He decided to enter the "Golden Slumber" and stop Samail from within, giving us a chance to escape. A plan he soon followed, ignoring everyone's protests, saying "There's no time to lose. I promised to keep you safe, until the end... I can't let you all die here!". By the time he disappeared into the "Golden Slumber" Jeht started crying and even Tirzad looked worried. We frantically discussed what to do and I started regretting that we didn't ask Xiao to come with us, since he knows how to enter and exit dreams.", they soon explained, sounding quite sad, before there were a few seconds of silence, "That's when the door to the ruins suddenly opened and we were hurled outside by a mysterious force, right onto some Thuthmouse and Fatui members(apparently they were working together this whole time. Because of course they did, they have to stir trouble everywhere possible), before the door closed shut with a loud bang. Everyone thought Jebrael was dead and being thrown out like that left some people disoriented (and the Thuthmouse and Fatui members squished and unconscious.), so we needed a moment to gather ourselves and decide on what to do next."

"...I probably shouldn't have tossed you all from the ruins that hard, even if seeing those nuisances squished was really funny…", Samir soon commented, sounding a little sheepish, before there was slight pause, "To explain what happened there...I felt the "Golden Slumber" mechanism activating (with stolen "Admin power", no less) and teleported to check what happened. Just in time to see Jebrael disappear into the dreamland. So I made sure to follow suit, unnoticed...", he soon explained, before an annoyed huff was heard moments later, "I heard the two's discussion and Samail was truly...Something. "Obsessed" is not quite what I would call him, since it went deeper than that. As for Jebrael, I stand by my opinion that he would have made a good clan leader.", he admitted, sounding proud by the last sentence, "He took care of those around him and did all he could so that his daughter and companions survive, no matter what. When Samail tried to force him to join together and kill everyone, he resisted it with all his might. He managed to take control from Samail and opened the ruins door for everyone to escape through, holding it open even as he was succumbing to the dream. I should have gotten him out sooner, but seeing his conviction and strong will...", he explained, still sounding proud, yet a little sad and guilt stricken now, "...And so, just when he was about to succumb and hearing that heartfelt "message", I got him out of there. I also made sure to hurl everyone outside before the door to the ruins closed."

He ended with this, before there was uncomfortable silence,

One that continued for quite a while, until...

Click!

"Can you tell me what father's message was, please...? I don't think he would tell me by himself, as stubborn as he is.", Jeht's voice was soon heard, as she sounded a little sad, before there was a short pause, "...I actually finished trying out my newly enchanted daggers a while ago, spoke to father and decided to come here and join the retelling. But when I got near the door, I heard Mister Rhadames recall about what happened after my father decided to sacrifice himself for us and entered that...Place. To think that father fought so much, even then...", she explained, before a sad sigh was heard, "...Mister...Lord Rhadames, not just my father's message, but can you tell me what exactly father and that...Monster were talking about at the time...? I know that you already did more than enough for my father and myself, but if you could..."

"Jeht, this whole situation was partly my fault. So, I will tell you all you want to know about what happened.", Samir interrupted her, sounding mostly calm, yet slightly guilt stricken again, "We can either talk here or go to another room, it's your choice."

"...Another room, please.", Jeht answered moments later, sounding unusually quiet, "The Traveler and everyone else are good friends, but if it's father's most secret thoughts, I..."

"It's alright, Jeht. No one will force you to do or say anything that you don't want to.", the Traveler reassured, to which a small "Thank you." was soon heard, before some footstep sounds were heard, "...The two just left, Venti. I hope that their talk goes well.", they soon added, before there was a small pause, "...I should continue the retelling now."

"Let me join you and Paimon in the retelling, Traveler.", Cyno's voice was soon heard, reminding Venti that he was in the room the last few minutes, "As someone who joined "Samir" for The Temple of Silence base after the "Golden Slumber" situation was resolved, I should be able to share information that you don't know about.", he soon explained, before there was a short pause, "...After bringing Jebrael to the group outside, Jeht thanking him and the "situation" with the enchantment of her daggers, "Samir" heard about the hostage situation from the Traveler and asked for the map. I joined him and soon got teleported to the location in question. The kidnapped merchants and researchers looked at him both with and without their Akasha Terminals, soon realizing who he is and getting shocked into Silence. It didn't take long to get them to the base of the Temple of Silence, as shocked into Silence as they were the whole way, remaining in deep Silence even after the members of the Temple of Silence explained to them about what was going on~"

He ended the explanation with some amusement,

Interestingly enough saying the word "Silence" 4 times in one sentence...

*Venti was a little confused about what this was all about,

Pretty certain that the Traveler and Paimon were as well...

...

Why else did the surroundings suddenly envelop in Silence…?

Oh, wait…