Dean POV

Soon it was time to return to "Angel's Share" and meet Diluc. When we returned, the ones waiting for us were even more surprising. Venti, Jean, and Diluc were waiting for us.

Venti turns to greet us. "You're here!"

"Wait, You're….Aether? And Dean?" Asked a surprised Jean. I knew she was going to be here but it's still come as a surprise. The public Jean and the one standing before me were hard to reconcile. I wasn't the only one to feel that.

"Jean? What is the Acting Grand Master doing here?" Asked a shocked Aether.

That's when Diluc took charge of the situation. "Well, first of all, I contacted more than one person. Secondly, she came here as "Jean" herself, not as the Acting Grand Master. A Jean you would never see, even as an Honorary Knight."

And Jean took it from there. "What a surprise. I heard about the Holy Lyre, but I never suspected it was you. So, the sound of the Holy Lyre can purify Stormterror and return it to normal... Is that true?"

Venti nodded. "That's right! Aether and Dean are putting themselves on the front line to try and resolve this Stormterror issue. Now that's the hotshots of the Knights of Favonius I'm talking about."

I scolded him. "Will you cut that out? No one is calling us that. It makes it sound like we're egotistical." Venti laughs and sticks his tongue out at me.

Paimon shakes her head. "Never mind that, Paimon feels like we're breaking the law though…" I almost cracked a smile. "I know what you mean. We're having a secret meeting with the Acting Grand Master in a Bar Tavern. It's like something out of a comic book!"

"Don't act so excited! This is serious!" Paimon snapped. And wow I'm getting scolded by a fairy. Aether smiles at our antics.

Diluc turns to Jean. "I understand this kind of absurd explanation is hard to believe. But, we can ask the bard to play the song again to try and persuade—" Jean shakes her head.
"I believe you." Jean cuts in.

"To persuade our stubborn comman— Wait, what?" Diluc asked surprised.

Jean nods. "I can't think of any reason for Dvalin's betrayal, given it was once one of The Four Winds. However, if it was poisoned in the battle over Mondstadt all those years ago...And then corrupted by the Abyss Mage after it woke up — we can't really blame it. But as Acting Grand Master I obviously cannot make such a statement publicly. Diplomatic pressure from the Fatui makes it hard for us to seek a peaceful resolution to the Stormterror issue. People would think I've lost grip on the gravity of the situation. That's why I can only do this in private."

Diluc crosses his arms. "Hmph." I couldn't help it but he looks so childish doing that. "Are you sulking? You must had put a lot of thought into what you were going to say to Jean." I teased. Venti snickered and Aether grinned.

Diluc gapped. "I was not! And you, take that stupid grin off your face! It's just one of the reasons I don't like the Knights of Favonius."

Aether snorts and whispers to me. "Oh boy, here we go."

Diluc turns to address Jean. "What surprises me is that you would believe an outlander so easily…" I think he being a little hard on Jean. She might be- No, I know she is the most hard-working person in Mondstadt. He needs to give credit where credit is due.

"My cautious and meticulous superior, even you trust them. Don't you, sir?" Answers Jean. Why do I feel like Jean is throwing shade back at Diluc? I'd love her even more if that was the case.

Diluc rolled his eyes. "I already told you not to call me sir... Never mind. We don't often get to work together after all."

Aether mouths to me "Sir?" while I wondered about something.

"Um, were you two involved in the past or something? There is so much tension in here." Venti's eyes widen and he looks back and forth from Diluc's stormy expression to Jean's blush and Aether's shocked look.

"Me and her?! As if, you need to get your eyes and ears checked! I just don't like the way the knights do things. That's all, there is nothing beyond that." Well, that's a bald-faced lie.

Jean nods in agreement. "Though I wouldn't have said it as harshly I agree." Diluc stood smug but then realized Jean agreed with him. It seems like Jean realizes this too because they look away from each other.

"..."

"..."

"Wow! Um, this is really awkward." Paimon! Please read the room! Though I wasn't any better.

"I have a rough idea of where the Holy Lyre der Himmel is." Jean changes the subject.

Venti whispers to me, Aether, and Paimon. "Nice recovery! She's really talented at changing the subject…"

"The conflict between Mondstadt and Snezhnaya stems from the conflict between the seven nations and their respective gods. The Cryo God's Fatui seems to be after the Anemo God's power." Continues Jean.

That made Venti go silent with a conflicted look on his face. Aether notices this and tries to change the subject. "So are they trying to take over the defense of Mondstadt?"

"And trying to kill Dvalin," I added darkly.

Jean nods. "Right. If the Knights of Favonius publicly prevented an attempt on Dvalin's head, then… The only other way to affect the Anemo God's power is to take the Holy Lyre." So I was right, they did have their eyes set on the Lyre from the very beginning. It seems Aether realized it too cause he gave me a knowing look.

"The number of Fatui that have come to Mondstadt is far from limited. I've already managed to... coerce a few reports out of them," admitted Diluc. Uh, Diluc should you be admitting that to the Acting Grand Master? Though Jean looks like she expected, which makes me wonder what the hell kind of relationship they have…

"Diluc has determined that the Holy Lyre is not being held in the Goth Grand Hotel." Jean takes over. "I imagine they don't want to leave something stolen in a place where it could be so easily found."

Paimon perks up. "Paimon gets it. If too much of a scene gets made then it becomes a big diplomatic issue." Good job Paimon, honestly she is a lot smarter than I give her credit for.
"Hm, such is the diplomacy of the seven nations." Diluc rolled his eyes. Honestly, Diluc you might overthrow edge lord Prince Aether if he keeps this up. Afterward, Diluc tells us where the Fatui is keeping the Lyre and the plan to take it back.

As we made our way to the Fatui's hideout.

"Jean just said the Fatui are trying to take Dvalin's power for the Cryo God…" Says Venti. "I think they intend to use Barbatos' connection to the wind to draw him out. Just like Lisa traced the source of the storm to the temples."

Diluc looks over curiously at him. "The God of Anemo? ...Hasn't been seen for more than a thousand years. What makes you think that's their intention?"

Venti started sweating bullets. "Oh..Ah…"

Diluc rolled his eyes. "Forget it, I don't like having to pry. Aether, Dean, here take this." Diluc hands us black masks.

Paimon eyes it curiously. "What is it."

Um, Paimon? Yeah, I'm going to need you to be for real.

Diluc gives her a weird look but answers anyway. "A disguise, to protect your identity. Put it on before you run into the Fatui. Unfortunately, they are still one of Mondstadt's allies. At least that's the facade we're maintaining...Our actions are going to get them stirred up. Better to not implicate yourself on a personal level."

We put on our masks before we entered the Fatui's hideout. Diluc takes charge as we get inside and Me and Aether take his lead on this. He's the one with the information after all.

As we go further into the hideout, more and more traps of all sorts appear. The most dangerous one was a bridge that routed the floor with a spinning flamethrower.

"Be careful," Diluc tells us sternly. As we carefully made our way over the bridge, the floor in front of us flipped to a routing flamethrower. Diluc steps in front to shield us. Crap, what do I do? Wait…I pushed Diluc and inhaled. The flames obeyed me and I absorbed them in my mouth. I was putting the talent I inherited to absorb Pyro energy and flames to use.

Everyone looks at me in shock. "Well? Come on!" We make it across the bridge before the floor has the chance to flip again.

Baby Eletro Slimes were awaiting us. Diluc's Favonius Greatsword materializes in his hand. "Allow me." Diluc swings his sword as if it were nothing and slays the slimes with a few slashes. Holy shit. Just how strong is Diluc if he swinging that big ass sword around? He could probably slice me in two with one swing.

As we continue to head further we stumble upon a single guard. "No, NO! Don't eat me! Ah? You're... You're human?" The Fatui guard realizes. "The entire floor's defenses... have been broken. I thought it was the Abyss Order attacking.." Funny, now why would he think that?

I grabbed the guard and ignited my right hand with Pyro energy. "The Lyre or your life? Talk!" I snarled.

The guard screams for his life. "AAAHHH! No, don't! I have valuable information! I'll tell you! We hid the Holy Lyre in the depths of these ruins. The place it's being kept is locked up tight. If you're after the key, keep going further into the ruins, but d—don't come after me! I don't know which one of the guards has it, but I'm sure you can find the guards and find out for yourselves."

"This guy looks like he's about to wet himself…" comments Paimon.

"Y-You just worry about yourselves!" He tells us angrily. "One of the Harbingers is already in Mondstadt. Signora. When she gets her hands on you she's going to string you up and torture you. When that time comes, don't you dare say a word about me!" Oh, for the love of..

"Oh my, is that her?"

The guard turns around frightened only to see no one there. He turns back around confused. "Wha-" I punched him. Hard. And he went down like a sack of potatoes.

"For a Fatui guard, he was all talk….What?" I asked confused.

Diluc, Paimon, and Aether were staring at me with different degrees of expression.

"That was a nice technique."

"Paimon just a little surprise that's all."

"Nice right hook."

I rolled my eyes. "Who is Signora? She sounds like a big deal."
"She number eight of The Eleven Harbingers. The fact the Fatui can run amok across the seven nations like they do is entirely because of The Eleven Harbingers. We need to act quickly before she gets wind of what's going on." Says Diluc darkly.

We hurried further in through the door he was guarding and headed upstairs to a large room with a mechanism in the center of the room. Behind it was a large locked door.

"This is the deepest part of the hideout, it has to be behind that door," I inform the others. Aether checks the mechanism and frowns. "We need a key, it has to be in one of these rooms."

I pound my fists. (In the way that Natsu does. I know, I'm such a nerd.) "I say we split up and search for it. We should get out of here as soon as possible before that Signora lady gets back." Aether nodded. "Is that okay with you Diluc?"

Diluc crosses his arms. "That's not an issue with me. Let's meet back here then."

Aether and Paimon went upstairs while Me and Diluc each checked a room on the other side.

I came across a suspicious-looking guard. "Who are you? How did you get in here?" Hm, if my hunch is correct. "I came to borrow the Holy Lyre." That got his attention.

"And how are you planning on borrowing it?" The fatui guard asks curiously. Jackpot.

"How does 500,000 Mora sound?"

The Guard looks around and answers. "Okay. Sounds like a plan. I have the key here. You can head in from the hall outside, but don't tell anyone that it was me who gave you the key." He hands me the key while I hand him the Mora. "Pleasure doing business with you."

He nods at me. "Likewise. Hehe, this is enough to pay my rent for the next 40 years." Rent? He should probably buy a house. Wait, no, that's not of my business.

I came back to the large room just in time as Aether and Diluc seemed to finish up. "Look what I found boys…and girl, Sorry Paimon."

Diluc nodded. "Good work."

I activated the mechanism, and the door opened and revealed an elevator. We took the elevator to a hidden room and there, in the middle of the room, was the Holy Lyre.

As we made our way towards it, a cage slammed down on it. "Great, what now?" growled Diluc.

"Where did you rats scurry out from?" called a voice.

An Agent reveals himself in our blind spot and throws Pyro-infused projectiles. We spread out and dodge his attack. Damn. I should have been paying more attention.

"Signora is not going to tolerate this kind of interference in our affairs! So I'll be the one to take care of you — save her the trouble of having to deal with you herself." Growled the Fatui Agent. He disappears suddenly. Okay, that's not good.

I strain my enhanced hearing and hear the sound of a blade being drawn.

"Behind you!" I yelled to Diluc.

Diluc swiftly blocks the blade with his great sword and summons a huge amount of Pyro Energy.

Dawn.

Diluc sends his opponent back with an elemental burst, A fiery Phoenix knocks the Fatui agent and slams him into the wall behind. Diluc flash step and swings his mighty great sword infused with Pyro energy in a wide arc. The agent brings his blade to block and the strength behind Diluc's swing cracks the wall behind him.

"What monstrous strength! Could you be with the abyss order? No, just who are you?"

The agent disappears again and Diluc's sword goes through the wall, stuck.

"Tch."

Diluc let go of his great sword and punched what seemed to be nothing but air until the agent reappeared in a roll. The Agent then gets his footing and lights his blade with Pyro.

"Let's see you deflect my blades n-"

"Should you really be taking your eyes off the enemy?" Diluc cuts him off.

The Agent's eyes widen and before he can turn around and defend himself a large Anemo Tornado slams against him so hard that he drops his blades. The Anemo Tornado ripes him to shreds and he drops to the floor unconscious.
Whoa. Did Aether get some of his power back? And Diluc was an absolute monster just now.

Diluc checks the agent's body and activates a remote. The cage opened up and we retrieved the Lyre.

"Finally, the lyre is back in safe hands!" Paimon screams excitedly. Then she blinked and looked around. "Where did that guy go, though? He was here a second ago…" She says frantically.

"Signora is going to end you. The songs bards sing of your demise will be so terrifying — the people of Mondstadt will never sleep again for the nightmares they give them." The Agent's voice called out.

Paimon sticks out her tongue. "Bleugh! Big talk for a guy who still ran off in the end... Chicken."

Aether snickers, and I frown. "Are all the Fatui so bloodthirsty?"

Diluc sighs. "It's because of the Eleven Harbingers that they're able to grow such a big head. Come on, let's make our way back to Angel's Share."

Venti and Jean was waiting for us as we got back. "Welcome Back! Ah, this is the Holy Lyre! You managed to retrieve it! The pattern of flowing wind carved on the rosewood... and the strings still feel cool to the touch too. Oh, the memories…" Venti recalls fondly.

Jean frowns. "What do you think Venti? Can you summon Dvalin?"

Venti shakes his head. "Although this lyre is the real thing, I doubt that it's going to work. 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…"

Diluc twitched. "Bards fight to get on the stage of my tavern. Don't make assumptions!" uh oh, Venti touched a nerve.

"You tell him master Diluc!" I instigated.

Paimon crosses her arms and rolled her eyes. "Is that really important right now, Master Diluc!? And you too Dean, cut it out! And you — did you just borrow the Holy Lyre to play music for drunkards to hear?"

"Tch, whatever."

"Sorry Paimon."

"Hehe."

"What do you mean "hehe"!? Paimon snapped.

Venti ignores her. "Anyway, we won't be able to call Dvalin with it."

"Why I outta-! Let me at him Dean!" Whoa there Paimon, we need this reckless bard to save Dvalin.

Venti continues as if nothing happen. "The lyre itself is fine, but the strings… You're up Outlander!"

"Who me?/Who me?" Said me and Aether as we pointed to ourselves.

Venti gives me a weird look and pointed at Aether. "I meant Aether."

Aether gapped and look around the room in disbelief. "Uh, Did you hit your head? Do I look like I know how to fix instruments? Especially thousand year old magic ones at that!"

Venti laughed. "Relax! It's not broken. It's just that the intensity of its Anemo power has greatly diminished. Aether, do you still have Dvalin's Teardrop Crystal with you?"

Aether blinked. And pulls out Dvalin's teardrop.

"Great! Try to use it on the Holy Lyre." encouraged Venti.

Aether then merge Dvalin's teardrop into the Lyre and the room glowed.

"It worked, as expected. Thanks to Aether having purified the crystal, the Holy Lyre won't continue to lose power. That said, its power is far from replenished. It'd be great if we could get more tears." Venti informs us.

Me and Aether smiled at each, this was good news, we finally made some progress. "We'll help in anyway we can, Right Dean?"

"You bet. How can we gather more tears?" I asked Venti.

Aether frowned. "We don't have to make Dvalin cry do we? If that's the case, it's not going be easier than I thought."

Venti shakes his head. " I can surmise that Dvalin will already be crying...Suffering alone in some deserted place…"

"Dvalin.." Jean says sadly. "This is not something that an Honorary Knight can accomplish alone. I will mobilize the rest of the knights to assist. When you get the Teardrop Crystal, please let Aether perform the purification process."

Aether nodded determinely. "Leave it to me."

Venti grinned. "Heroes supporting each other and setting out on a journey together... How exciting! Lemme come up with a song for you…"

Paimon huffed. "Is that all you going to do? Just Sing?"

Venti laughs. "Wouldn't be much of a bar if I couldn't."

"Hmph. You're so cheeky... You deserve an ugly nickname. Oh, Paimon knows! From now on, you'll be known as "Tone-Deaf Bard"!"

Venti gasped. "Tone-Deaf?! You wouldn't know a tune if you hear it!"

Diluc laughs. A villianly laugh if I'm being honest. "Nice one little fairy. Since he the only bard not to fight to get on my stage I might be incline to agree with you." Wow, how petty are you Diluc? Is it bad I like this kinda messing drama.

"Little fairy?"

"Master Diluc! Is this cause of what I said earlier?"

Diluc ignores him. "Okay everyone, you all know what to do. Let's get to work."