The "bowing in thanks" situation was soon resolved,
Which Venti was really grateful for, since it was going out of hand...
*With the sheer embarrassment...
...
Why did his people always like to see him so embarrassed...?!
...
...
He understood why they were thanking him like that, but still...
"If you want to thank me, just make me some tasty dishes or buy me alcohol!
T-there's no need for this kind of highly embarrassing gesture...!"
...
This whole situation was just too embarrassing, truly...
*Which ended with Jilliana promising to make him some homemade dishes,
As Rudolf ran off somewhere, most probably to the Angel's Share,
And Lily...
...
"Lily is going to help Mommy make Papa tasty food!"
She was such a pure and adorable child...~
*Venti was glad that he helped her when he did,
Even though he still felt like this help was not quite enough...
...
...
Especially when part of the help turned out to be the melody coming from his lyre...
*Listening to it closely, it seems that after the "upgrade" with the Crystaltears, the melody sounded even clearer than before...
...
He should definitely thank Albedo and Emilia for...
"Albedo, Emilia, you have a minute maximum to explain this. If I don't like your explanation, you better be prepared for severe punishment!
...What do you think you just did...?! I accepted you, two Homunculi, into Mondstadt! I adopted you as part of my people, my children of wind! I TRUSTED YOU TWO, SO HOW COULD YOU...?!"
...
...
A week and a half ago, at the time he found Lisa...Like THAT,
He was so mad that he basically unloaded on them, blaming them for what happened...
*Venti knew that his reaction was an understandable one, but all the things he said during that short time...
...
He even blamed them for betraying him and Mondstadt, for murdering Lisa in cold blood,
Even after they have shown, again and again, that they also see this nation as their home...
*If not for the Winds interrupting him back then, he might have actually killed them both in revenge...
...
...
Venti knew he had to apologize for saying all those awful things,
But he found himself evading them ever since, too ashamed to apologize...
*The next time he sees them, he should definitely apologize...
...
...
But would they even want to hear his apology...?
*Not only did he say those awful things to them,
It's also already been a week and a half since then...
...
And he was truly about to kill them then and there...
*Something which they must have realized right away...
...
"...To accept my proposal so readily...
You must be aware of what I really am. So, why would you...?"
"A homunculus, I know. It doesn't matter to me. You are of Mondstadt. There is no way you will hurt me .
Especially not when you look so frantic in trying to help me. I can clearly see it in your expression."
"But, I am..."
"I am the "God of Freedom", I have to be fair. No bias, no judging others based on what they were born/created as, but based on their actions instead. And from what I could see of you until now, you are a good person: You don't want to hurt anyone, you are actively trying to keep your own corruption dormant and would rather be killed than lose control. That and your care for Klee, Sucrose, Timaeus and many others are the reasons why I shouldn't doubt you or your intentions. Reasons for why I can trust you."
...
...
"...You said you were created from the same Primordial Human Project as Albedo. So then...?"
"Was our master trying to create two "products" of the opposite gender...? No, she did not, I was her first experiment and that "Twin" of mine was the next.
My physical form was originally that of a "Male" and I soon changed it to that of a "Female" after starting my life in the city.
...My previous answer was quite brash, I am sorry for that. The truth is, when I just started living with the humans and went by the name of Nigredo...
...At first I was annoyed by this "Dress Up" activity, but then came to like it more than I thought I would. So I slightly changed my physical form with Alchemy and now I am officially a woman."
...
"I see, so that's what happened...
Well, as long as this change makes you happy, then it's fine. That's what freedom is all about!
Welcome to Mondstadt, miss Emilia! I hope that you have a nice stay~"
He was truly awful and such a liar...
*He said that he welcomes them as his own and yet...
...
"Albedo, Emilia, you have a minute maximum to explain this. If I don't like your explanation, you better be prepared for severe punishment!
...What do you think you just did...?! I accepted you, two Homunculi, into Mondstadt! I adopted you as part of my people, my children of wind! I TRUSTED YOU TWO, SO HOW COULD YOU...?!"
...
...
Even if he tries to apologize, they surely hate him so much now that...
"It's going to be alright, Barbatos. Chief Alchemist Albedo and Alchemist Emilia will surely understand and accept your apology. The two of them might originally be Homunculi, but with their time living in Mondstadt, they learned more and more about what it means to be human.", the Winds interrupted him, sounding very reassuring, before there was a short pause, "...The same way as you learned human emotions so long ago, Barbatos. And the same way we learned them from you, as we are now also able to care for Mondstadt and its people that you love so much..."
-Everyone is okay now. Everyone is really okay. -Venti couldn't help but say a few minutes later, after he made sure to teleport all over Mondstadt and check if everyone was alright. They definitely looked like they were okay...-...They are really alright now, right...?
He couldn't help but add, wondering if it's really the case,
His sudden worry rising considerably, as he imagined...
Albedo and Emilia were quietly standing by the bed,
The familiar form of Lisa lying on top of it, completely immobile,
A pure white sheet was covering most of her body, with only the head seen,
And a small jar with a strange substance was standing at a nearby Alchemy table...
...
FirstLisadiedduetohercursebecauseofthosef*ckingCelestiaass*olesandnowEulasuddenlycollapsedandisnotreactingtoanythingbuthersoulisstillattachedtoherbodyANDWHATWASGOINGON?!WASTHISANOTHERONEOFCELESTIA'SSICKJOKES?!WERETHEYHAVINGFUNSEEINGHIMPANICSOMUCH,THOSEM*THERF*CKINGSADISTICSICKINTHEHEADAND...?!
...
"...M-mommy...D-daddy...I-if you won't return to Lily...I-if you continue sleeping...L-like Miss Lisa…L-Lily would…
...L-Lily would join you in...!"
...
...
...
Everyone were alright now, thanks to the Traveler's help,
His people were no longer in a "fake death"(?) state and were perfectly healthy...
*Or at least, that's just how it looked like to him...How it felt like to them,
In truth, for whatever reason, their life was still secretly in danger...
...
Sooner or later, they were going to fall again, into a death-like state,
But this time, they will never wake up and their souls...
...
...
...
It was afternoon,
But you could barely notice it with how dark the sky was...
…
It was cloudy, as if aligning with his current mood,
And the scene around him made it even worse...
...
He was near Springvale accompanied by the knights of Favonius,
On the same hill where Jean imagined his "send off" to be that one time...
...
There were graves scattered all over it...
...
...
...
Maybe he should do another round around Mondstadt and check it out...?
Perhaps there was something he didn't notice the first time he looked everyone over...?
*From what he noticed, the Knights and Clergy members were currently checking people over,
Making sure there are no complications from people being..."Unresponsive" for so long and...
...
...
I-if they all, just like Lisa did...
...
...
H-he would...
...
H-he would...!
-Look, Venti, I do have an idea why you are crying and can understand it...But you doing it right outside my house is a little...-A familiar voice was soon heard, followed by a deep sigh, as a slightly tired and concerned looking Mona appeared in his sight moments later. -...I am not certain what happened recently, but I made sure to run divination on everyone I could and found out that there is nothing wrong with their fate. As the great Astrologist Mona Megistus, I can assure you that everyone is perfectly fine! -She made sure to add in as much reassurance and pride as she could, before pausing in thought, her expression soon turning a little annoyed. -...Look, I know that you must still be affected by what happened with Lisa and the highly annoying "Discontinued Fate" situation from earlier, but as a renowned Astrologer, I will let you know that my divinations are perfect! If I say everyone is alright now, then everyone is alright now! So come inside for a cup of tea and some light snacks if you wish, just stop crying right outside my house! -She added in some annoyance, looking quite offended now, as she proceeded to take his right hand in her left and lead him towards the entrance of her house. -...Don't misunderstand, I am not doing this just to help you, by reassuring you that everyone is safe. As a (Fate Defying) Archon and the Traveler's friend, you must know what led to that annoying situation earlier. I would be very grateful if you two shared this information with me too.
It wasn't long until she lead and left Venti inside her living room,
And Mona was secretly glad to see that the Archon was no longer crying...
*Though, it did feel like she forgot something when she was pulling him inside...
...
No matter, if she forgot, then it wasn't important,
It would be best to concentrate on the task at hand!
"So come inside for a cup of tea and some light snacks if you wish, just stop crying right outside my house!"
...
She already decided on Mint tea, with the leaves freshly gathered,
But as for the dessert to go along with it...
...
...
She didn't quite think this through, did she...?
*There was nothing in her house that she could...!
...
"Pate de Fruit:
A gummy candy. It was first created as a way to preserve fruits. With the passage of time, the candy has made its way into every Fontainian's childhood memories. It is sweet and chewy, and one can never have enough of them."
...
"Fruity Trio:
A dessert with a romantic flair. Add jam and fillings made from Bulle Fruit into tart shells and spread some meringue over the top before baking in the oven. The dish offers three fruity aromas all in one bite, making it a top choice for post-meal snacks."
...
Perhaps, she did have appropriate desserts to treat the Archon with,
Both of which will go splendidly together with Mint tea and...
*Those were the desserts she specifically ordered from Fontaine,
Ones she made sure to save some Mora for, in order to enjoy herself...
...
...
"Venti? The bard that sits around doing nothing all day? What's so interesting about him? Sure, I guess I can take a look...
Huh, that's weird, the scryglass, it's... I can't see a thing... this wind... I can't... open my eyes! No, my hat! Ah! My clothes, stop! The wind's going to strip all my clothes off! Make it stop, make it stop! ...Alright, alright! I'll never do this again!"
She did still remember that embarrassing situation,
One that the Traveler made her go through…
…
But...
"Look, Venti, I do have an idea why you are crying and understand it...But you doing it right outside my house is a little..."
...
Seeing him cry like that just a few minutes prior...
*It reminded her of all the other times in which "Venti" cried,
Both literally and figuratively…
…
It was honestly hard to look at,
Him of all people, having this kind of expression…
…
…
...
Perhaps she could part with her desserts this once,
She still wanted Venti to explain to her what happened earlier, after all...
*And he would have trouble doing that if he is depressed, right...?
...
...
"...Don't misunderstand, I am not doing this just to help you, by reassuring you that everyone is safe. As a (Fate Defying) Archon and the Traveler's friend, you must know what led to that annoying situation earlier. I would be very grateful if you two shared this information with me too."
...
...
Yes, first she would help him calm down,
And only after, would she start asking him questions...
…
…
This way she would have no trouble getting answers, right…?
*And hopefully, answering her questions wouldn't lead him to cry, once more…
…
…
…
She just didn't like people crying near or inside her home!