When Venti woke up next,
He found himself in a familiar place...
"A small road cuts through these dense and deep woods.
The fluttering sound of leaves blown by the wind in this place were often mistaken for whispers by travelers.
This is why they started naming it "Whispering Woods."."
This place,
Whispering Woods...
*Why did he wake up here...?
...
Shouldn't he be in his and Barbara's room in the Cathedral...?
*The only times he woke up here specifically were...
...
...
He didn't sleep for decades again, did he...?!
...
...
If so, then everything that happened the last year and few months was...
*From back then, during the Fatui attack on Mondstadt...
"You better stop this futile resistance. You are surrounded.
It really was a right decision to bring so many of our members this time."
"Why did you invade Mondstadt?
What are you planning to do?!"
...
"Before that, don't you want to know what actually happened on the day after "Stormterror's defeat"...?
...I am sure the information would be most interesting for everyone here to know..."
"...What do you mean, the day after...?
...The attack near the Cathedral...! You were the one who...?!"
"Yes, it was all me.
...I am sure everyone would like to know what actually happened that day.
They should know why a diversion was made the day before, right...?"
...
And until just recently, during his birthday...
"Happy Birthday, Venti!"
A banner was seen in the distance, located by a familiar tree...
*So this time, his birthday was being held at Windrise...
...
...
The song ended way too fast,
And yet, this warm feeling he now felt...
*Any moment now and he felt like he was about to cry,
If he wasn't already, as at the moment, it was really hard to tell...
...
...
Yes, this birthday party that everyone so lovingly prepared for him,
He was certain he was going to enjoy it in full~
...
It...Couldn't have been...A-all a dream, right...?
*I-if it was all just a dream, then...!
"...Barbatos...? H-how are you...?!", the Winds interrupted him in both confusion, as well as some fright, before there was long silence, "...Oh, we see now...So that's how it is...You are Barbatos, but not OUR Barbatos...", they finally continued, sounding very sad, almost sorrowful, "...(OUR) Barbatos is already..."
They quietly added, before becoming completely silent,
Leaving Venti to wonder about what was going on here...
*From the Winds'(?) words, it felt like...
...
He was in another Timeline altogether...?
...
...
...
"...Another Timeline...? Yes, that sounds reasonable.", the Winds(?) mumbled moments later, sounding a little thoughtful now, yet still sad, "...If so, then we have to help you get back to your own Timeline. Even though there's not much time.", they continued in more thoughtfulness and now some seriousness, as well, before becoming completely quiet for a few seconds, "...Barba...You still didn't check the sky, right...? We urge you to do so now."
They added in even more seriousness, as well as some urgency,
And Venti couldn't help but do as they asked, proceeding to go to a more open location and...
...
-...The sky is...That familiar Timer...! -The Archon couldn't help but soon say, as he saw it clearly in the distance, right above Mondstadt city.
...
A weird timer appeared in the sky, right above Mondstadt, showing 24:00,
Seconds later, the time started ticking down and when it got to 00:00...
...
It rapidly started becoming darker and darker,
Soon enveloping everyone and everything in it...
...
Until it was pitch black, with no one and nothing around,
Vast and hollow darkness, that reached far and wide...
...
And then, after an unknown amount of time,
There was suddenly light...
...
...
It showed 15:43 now,
And when the time runs out...
"...So there is really no way to stop it now...Since Barbatos is already...", the (Previous Timeline's) Winds commented, their anguished words soon trailing off, before there was a short pause, "...The quiet sobbing...Can you hear it...?", they suddenly said, sounding quite hollow, "...Ever since (OUR) Barbatos died and that timer appeared, we can occasionally hear her anguished weeping."
And with this, they became silent once again,
Leaving the Archon to once again ponder on their words...
*And he really didn't have a good feeling about this...
...
Somehow, he was afraid to find the answer...
...
...
But he still had to, didn't he...?
...
...
...
SOB
SOB
SOB
SOB
...
...
Those sobs...
*This...Voice...
...
A woman's...
...
...
It was...
...
Familiar...
...
...
"As I stated before, I have a Resistance, not outright Immunity. So even after I was able to revert it, there's still a tiny bit of corruption remaining in "me".
But it's alright, I will snap if and only someone gets me extremely mad... Like if THEY dare murder a certain person I love and once again I would have to..."
...
This.."Vision" he "saw"(heard) before...
...
...
"...Barbatos...? H-how are you...?!
...Oh, we see now...So that's how it is...You are Barbatos, but not OUR Barbatos...
...(OUR) Barbatos is already..."
...
"...Another Timeline...? Yes, that sounds reasonable.
...If so, then we have to help you get back to your own Timeline. Even though there's not much time.
...Barba...You still didn't check the sky, right...? We urge you to do so now."
...
"...So there is really no way to stop it now...Since Barbatos is already...
...The quiet sobbing...Can you hear it...?
...Ever since (OUR) Barbatos died and that Timer appeared, we can occasionally hear her anguished weeping."
This Timeline's Winds' words up until now...
...
...
...
H-he...
...
Himself in this Timeline…
*H-his death…
...
...
It wasn't the reason…
…
That the Timeline was going to get reset...
…
…
…
R-right...?
-Venti, you are still alive! I am so glad! -A familiar voice suddenly exclaimed and moments later, Venti felt himself being tackled and enveloped into a tight hug. -F-first the Abyss Order attacked...! A-and my Twin...! T-then everyone fought against the invaders...! A-and I also fought, but it wasn't enough...! A-and then, when everyone thought it's all over...Y-you revealed yourself as Barbatos and got yourself...! E-everyone...I-I...W-we saw you die...! Y-you sacrificed yourself for Mondstadt and...! A-and then Paimon disappeared somewhere...! A-and that weird Timer appeared and...!
The blond haired person, whom he recognized as the Traveler, soon cried into his shoulder,
And yet, Venti couldn't help but stand completely still, as he tried to understand what just happened...
*From (this Timeline's) Traveler's words, he had an idea of what exactly happened,
But having them tackle him so suddenly...
...
"...You planned to go to Mondstadt discreetly, in a disguise as not to shock everyone with your appearance...", the PT's Winds summarized, sounding a little hollow, "...But the Traveler from the Stars and Outrider Amber, who were just in the middle of patrol, noticed you first and..."
They must have been shocked to see their friend still alive, right...?
*Even though he was not the Venti that they always knew...
...
...
...
-...Traveler. And Amber. There's something you need to know. -The Archon quietly said, as he tried to keep his voice steady. -...I am not from here, but from another Timeline. I can tell you how I found myself here if you want, but...-He couldn't help but heavily sigh, wondering how he should say this. How can he possibly say this without hurting them...? Both of them will be hurt, either way...-...The Venti that you knew is already dead. This is an undeniable truth.
He finally voiced out, trying to look and sound as serious as possible,
So that they will know that he is a 100% not joking...
*Even though they surely wish he was...
...
...
-...You are really not...The Venti that I know...? -He heard the Traveler's shaky voice after what felt like ages, one that sounded so hopeless, as their hug was becoming weaker and weaker. -...S-so he...I-is really...
And then, practically out of nowhere,
The Traveler suddenly collapsed in his arms,
Their warm blood getting smeared on his "Clothes"...
...
...
...
Wait, blood...?!
...
...
FOR ALL THIS TIME, THEY WERE ACTUALLY WOUNDED?!
"Their bandages opened up due to the excessive action. Not like I can't understand them...
...Venti...You are really not the Venti we know...? And from another Timeline, as well...
...Abyss Mage scouts. They must have noticed your presence. We have to leave and fast.
I will guide you to our secret base...Venti. Please, take the Honorary Knight with you and follow me.
...You can explain what happened on the way, if it's alright with you."
Was what (This Timeline's) Amber told him soon enough,
And before long, they left for the "Secret Base", where "his" children were now staying...
*Those who were still alive, that is, as some were either killed or sacrificed themselves before "he"...
...
...
The Secret Base was part of Master Diluc's underground intelligence network,
And it was surprisingly big enough for everyone, even with sufficient provisions sorted out...
*Which is a good thing, since not only Mondstadt city got partly destroyed, but the Abyss Order also captured it.
...
...
Not like it would matter in a few hours, when the Timeline itself will...
...
...
Is this really all because of him...?
Since "he" died and now "Kairos" was going to...
-We are almost there, Venti. But before we come inside...-His thoughts were interrupted by the serious and slightly conflicted voice of Amber, before she audibly sighed. -...I will have to ask you to stay hidden (I will show you where) until I explain the situation to everyone. To prepare them...-She continued in a quieter voice, before there was a short pause. -...Similar to the Traveler, if they see you randomly appear...I can already imagine what kind of reactions they would have...-She said in an even quieter voice, one which was seeping in sadness and barely hidden regret. -...It's not everyday you find out that not only your good friend was your Archon all along, he sacrificed himself for you and everyone else, another version of him appeared later on and this whole world is going to end in a few hours...
"...Even with preparation, it would be a lot to take in.", was what she didn't add,
Yet Venti still understood what she meant, since the whole situation was quite bleak...
...
...
-...I understand, Amber. -He couldn't help but say moments later, looking and sounding quite sad, as well as apologetic. He tried to hide his guilt, but...Since this timeline was going to...Because of "his" death...-...While you explain everything, I will be "as quiet as a mouse", promise...
He promised her, already planning to do just that,
As he couldn't help but soon look up at the sky, in a certain direction...
...
...
...
The Timer now showed 12:36,
And soon, there will be only half a day left.