What was going on...?!
What was going on?!
WHAT WAS GOING ON?!
…
They were preparing for Collei's party,
When Eula suddenly collapsed!
...
First she was fine and then she suddenly got all quiet and moments later she collapsed,
Completely unresponsive, with her face ashen and body turning blue, but her soul was still inside!
*Just what was going on?! Why did she collapse like that?!
And what was with this stupid sudden headache he was having?!
...
She wasn't dead, right...?!
*Her soul was still firmly attached!
...
So why did she suddenly collapse?!
AND WHY IS SHE UNRESPONSIVE AND TURNING BLUE?!
...
...
FirstLisadiedduetohercursebecauseofthosef*ckingCelestiaass*olesandnowEulasuddenlycollapsedandisnotreactingtoanythingbuthersoulisstillattachedtoherbodyANDWHATWASGOINGON?!WASTHISANOTHERONEOFCELESTIA'SSICKJOKES?!WERETHEYHAVINGFUNSEEINGHIMPANICSOMUCH,THOSEM*THERF*CKINGSADISTICSICKINTHEHEADAND...?!
"BARBATOS, PLEASE CALM DOWN!", the Winds soon interrupted him, sounding quite panicky themselves, before there was a short pause, "...We just checked (and asked) around about what happened and it's...", a deep sigh was soon heard, "It's not just Spindrift Knight Eula and you who are affected. Yes, that headache you must be feeling now, Barbatos...It comes from the same source.", they explained, before there was a small pause once again, "It has to do with the Traveler's journey in Sumeru (which they would surely retell for you later) and at the moment...They are probably in Irminsul (With Flying-cupcake Paimon, trying-her-best Nahida and Hopefully-not-thinking-about-sacrificing-himself Samir), which is burning(?)...So the whole of Teyvat is affected now.", there was short pause once again, "From what we noticed, most people, Vision users or not, are in the same state as Spindrift Knight Eula. Then, there are people who seem to be in a state of great pain, which includes the Anemo Vision users, Noelle and the Pyro and Cryo Archons. And lastly, people who are affected the least and seem to have a bad headache...Which includes you, Barbatos, Deaconess Barbara, Clergy Trainee Sophia, Spark Knight Klee, Outrider Amber, Pure Child Lily, New Wind-child Collei and the Geo and Electro Archons...", they counted, before there was a short pause, once again, "...Seeing who is the least affected, we theorize it has something to do with your Time Power, Barbatos..."
They thoughtfully added, before becoming silent once more,
Leaving Venti to his own thoughts, which were now quite jumbled...
*And the headache he was still having wasn't helping things, either!
...
But if Irminsul was truly burning and everyone was...
*Traveler and co would be able to save it, right...?!
...
And if not, if they fail, the whole of Teyvat will be...!
*If his Time Power can help, should he...?!
...
Wait...
...
Lily, was also...
...
The least affected...?
*When did he use his Time Power to...?
...
...
"Papa...? You look so sad...
...Don't be sad...Lily is fine...
...Miss Mona helped me...Mommy and Daddy soon came to help Lily too...
...What happened is not your fault...Mommy and Daddy will also agree...I know that..."
...
...
No, that...
*That's wrong, right...?
At that time, she survived and...
...
"Wait, where was Lily...?!
*Why couldn't he see her no matter where he looked...?!
...
Was she already saved or was she...?!"
...
...
"He was truly at the loss for words, when he saw Mona came out of the water,
An unconscious and completely limp looking Lily in her arms...
...
...
She wasn't moving...
...
...
She wasn't moving!
...
No matter what Mona did, she wasn't moving!"
...
...
...
This headache...
...
...
If he was panicking before,
Then Lily must be...
"Loving Parents Rudolf and Jillianna collapsed right before Innocent Child Lily's eyes, so she is understandably devastated and can't stop crying.", the Winds soon informed, sounding both sad and regretful, "...We wish we could help her, but since we don't have a solid form, we can't do much..."
-You should go to her, Venti. Lily loves her "Papa", so hopefully, you will be able to help her during this time. -Amber suddenly said, looking and sounding mostly serious, as well as thoughtful and sad. -I heard about what happened from the Winds, the Irminsul's possible burning situation and...T-the Traveler will save it, right...? -She added in wishfulness as well as some dread, upon looking down at the Spindrift Knight's unconscious and death-like form, one she was carefully holding onto now. -...Until then, I am going to stay here with Eula. For as long as it takes her to wake up and...
-I am also staying with Big Sister Eula! -Collei soon added, as she was now sitting by Amber's side, reassuringly and slightly nervously clutching the other's left hand in her right. -...W-we...We will be alright, so...You shouldn't dawdle here anymore...
A few moments prior…
-M-mommy! D-daddy! P-please, wake up! S-stop scaring Lily! -The poor child was currently sitting down by her motionless parents' side, panickily shaking them with tears streaming down her face. -L-Lily's gonna be a good girl! L-Lily's gonna do everything you ask! L-Lily's not gonna complain! S-so please...! S-stop sleeping and...! P-please return to Lily...! L-Lily misses you...! I-I miss you so much...-She added in deep anguish, upon stopping the panicked shaking and proceeding to carefully lay between her collapsed parents, tightly clutching their limp hands in her own. -...M-mommy...D-daddy...I-if you won't return to Lily...I-if you continue sleeping...L-like Miss Lisa…L-Lily would...-She said in even more anguish and now also determination, as she slowly looked between her corpselike parents, the tears still streaming down her face. -...L-Lily would join you in...!
-Please, don't do that, Lily. -Was suddenly heard from nearby, as Venti crouched before her, looking and sounding heartbroken himself. After he teleported in, seeing Lily like this and hearing her words...Her plan, he...-...You are still such a young and innocent child. I am truly sorry that you have to experience this. If only I arrived sooner, you...
-P-papa Venti...? D-did you come to help Lily...? -His words were interrupted by Lily's surprised voice, as she was now looking towards him from her spot by her unmoving parents' side. -...M-mommy and Daddy...W-we went to see Papa's big statue...B-but then...M-mommy and Daddy...T-they fell and stopped moving...A-and Lily tried to…! -She tearfully explained, before looking Venti up and down, her expression turning a little hopeful. -...P-Papa also fell asleep...P-Papa also didn't move...L-Lily saw this many times...L-Lily was afraid Papa Venti won't wake up...B-but Papa woke up and now Papa went to see Lily...W-will Mommy and Daddy, just like Papa...?
-I am sure they would, Lily. Just like I did many times before. It's just going to take some time. -Venti answered her, trying to look and sound as reassuring as possible, yet there was still sadness in his eyes. -...But you can't continue lying there, especially not in the state that you are in...Your face is so red from crying and with the added headache from the "unexpected situation"...-He couldn't help but sadly sigh, imagining how awful she must be feeling now. Especially after that horrible sight he just saw...-...Until Jilliana and Rudolf wake up (which I am certain they would. The Traveler will make sure of it, so don't worry), I promise to stay with you, Lily. -He added upon offering her his right hand, at which she looked in some confliction. -...So, how do you want us to spend the time...? You can play with my wings, if that will help...Or I can play you a soothing melody and...
-A-anything is fine, Papa. As long as I can stay near Mommy and Daddy...-She interrupted his words, upon letting go of her parents' hands and taking Venti's offered hand, soon getting helped up on her feet. -...A "soothing melody" will be nice, Papa. Lily is sure Mommy and Daddy will like it too...-She added upon looking between her parents, before turning back to look towards him, her earlier teary face looking a little hopeful now. -...They also like Papa and Papa's songs...So if Papa plays a nice song, maybe Mommy and Daddy wake up sooner...-She clutched his hand tighter, as tight as she could considering her weakened(mostly from crying) state. -Please, Papa Venti. One of your songs for Lily...
-Of course, Lily. Anything you ask, you will receive! -Venti told her in as much reassurance as he could, as he carefully moved his hand out of hers and summoned the Holy Lyre der Himmel from his "Hammerspace", this time also feeling a little hopeful. If he can really help, even a little...And she still had so much faith in him, even in this horrible situation...-...I will be sure to make it as long and as melodious as I possibly can!~
After finishing playing the melody,
Venti let Lily play with his wings...
*As he couldn't help but wonder why it was taking so long,
Why was it taking so long for the Traveler to...?
Ugh
...
Wait...
...
Was that...?!
-Mommy! Daddy! You finally woke up! -He heard Lily enthusiastically yell behind him, as he soon turned around to see her jump in the arms of her now-awake mother. -Lily was so scared when Mommy and Daddy fell and stopped moving...! -She soon started recalling what happened, slowly starting to cry as she did so, the whole retelling taking around three minutes. -...I-if not for Papa Venti appearing to help Lily...L-Lily would have...! L-Lily would have...!
She barely managed to added upon burying her head in her mother's chest,
As sounds of uncontrollable sobbing were soon heard...
-There is no need to thank me. I did what I had to. -Venti made sure to say moments later, upon seeing the two parents' expressions, as he made his wings disappear. -...And I still wish I could have done more, but considering what happened...-He sadly mumbled, his words still clearly heard due to his "Archon voice", before he proceeded to glance between the two. They looked fine, but considering what happened...There weren't any internal injuries, right…? -...Jilliana, Rudolf, are you two feeling alright...? Are you hurting anywhere or...?
-I am feeling a little sore and seem to have gotten an annoying aching bump on my head, but otherwise, there doesn't seem to be any problem. -Rudolf interrupted him, looking and sounding quite grateful, as he glanced towards Jillianna and Lily. -I might not be as devout as my wife is, but I still love my daughter. So even if you say there is no need for thanks, I still wish to show my gratitude. -He continued upon proceeding to stand up, walk towards and stop before Venti. -Thank you for not only arriving to check on our daughter, but also staying with her up until now, making sure she is going to be alright.
He gratefully said, upon going into a small and respectful bow before the Archon,
As moments later an equally grateful-looking Jilliana helped Lily stand up on her feet,
Before then proceeding to walk towards and stand by her husband's side...
*Seeing this, Venti couldn't help but worry that she too, even though he said it was unneeded...
-Thank you for looking after our daughter when we couldn't, Lord Barbatos. -She gratefully said upon going into a respectful bow before him, similarly to her husband. -If you didn't help Lily when you did, our beautiful girl...-Her words soon trailed off, as she sadly sighed. -...I can't thank you enough.
-Thank you, Papa! -Lily was the next to gratefully say, as she went to stand by her parents' side and mirrored their actions. -Thank you for staying with me until Mommy and Daddy woke up!
…
By this point, Venti was just quietly standing in place,
And looking at the gratefully bowing family in some embarrassment…
*He told them there was no need for thanks, so why did they have to do this…?