The broad windmills circled over the land of freedom as they had 500 years ago. Watching them, Mirror Maiden felt a vague sense of nostalgia. Another lifetime ago, she and Rostam swore their eternal love here. Those pleasant memories were all a distant dream now.

Her little book of sorrows had a long list of names. So many people she hurt, so many lives she ruined. Near the top: Barbatos. She wished she'd done this with Aether before he left for Natlan. Why hadn't she?

Because she spent their entire date making love to him, that's why. Procrastination.

Once more she read the letter Aether had left her:

I talked to Venti. He's willing to meet you outside the city near Starsnatch Cliff. He knows you're a Fatui, but I didn't tell him the other part. Good luck.

Well, it'd be better this way. Without Aether around, Barbatos would feel free to tell her exactly how he felt. A part of her hoped he'd chew her out. That would be the least she deserved. Sucking up her breath, she went up the road leading towards Thousand Winds Temple.

Soon, the amphitheater ruins lay before her. She expected the clacking Ruin Guard would be marching about. Instead, a light, airy song permeated the arena. It was soft, mellow, and familiar as home. The musician in question sat upon a stone bench beneath a pillar awning, strumming his lyre. His eyes closed, he lost himself in the ancient song.

Mirror Maiden quietly made her way up the steps, careful not to interrupt. As she sat close to him, he began singing.

"When the lilies bloom at night"

when you see the stars up high"

shining for you"

"As the years start passing by"

you will keep the strength, you'll try"

I'll watch over you"

"Though the nation's people change"

"they'll depend on you, my brave"

"feel as they do"

"Dust to dust I may remain"

"may your heart find love again"

"may joy find you always"

The song came to a gentle end. Mirror Maiden found tears brimming in her eyes. It felt like Rostam speaking to her through those ancient lyrics. Telling her that he'd always love her, that she deserved to love again. It was more than she knew she'd ever deserve.

Mirror Maiden pressed a handkerchief to her nose, dabbing her eyes. Barbatos let out a content sigh. His bluish-green eyes turned to her with an almost knowing smile. It took her time to find her voice. She couldn't even look at him.

Hands clenching her knees, Mirror Maiden took a deep breath.

"My name was Roselyn," she said, "I was the Harbinger La Signora. I died, but somehow, I returned to life. Only recently, I regained my memories."

A light breeze whistled across the grass. Distant waves rolled beneath the cliff, a deep blue expanse that stretched on to eternity. Barbatos remained silent. Not one muscle in his face moved.

"May I tell you a story?"

He nodded.

"500 years ago, I sang in the squares of Mondstadt. That was how I met my love Rostam, the Assistant Master of the Knights of Favonius, famed as the 'Wolf Pup.' Before I left for Sumeru, he gifted me a Hydro Timepiece. When I returned, he…"

Mirror Maiden clenched her eyes shut.

"I used an ancient art of liquid fire, hoping to cleanse the world's wickedness. I hated everything; you who I felt allowed this tragedy, the monsters who killed him, but above all else, I hated myself. I just wanted to burn everything away including myself. Then, Pierro recruited me to the Fatui and gave me a Cryo Delusion that helped me stabilize, helped me forget what I'd lost. Once I'd forgotten, it was easy to hate. To kill. To take."

Mirror Maiden choked on her emotion, throat panging with a familiar guilt.

"There is no apology I could make for everything I've done. I know that I'm beyond redemption. Even so, I am so sorry for everything, Barbatos."

Mirror Maiden bowed her head.

The green-clad man chuckled.

"I go by Venti, these days. So, what shall I call you?"

"Mirror Maiden."

"Well then, Mirror Maiden, this story of yours is quite the tale. Where does it end?"

Mirror Maiden lowered her eyes. "The Raiden Ei killed me."

"Is that where it ends?" asked Venti. "I'm not so certain. It seems yours is a tale still being written. Perhaps the chapter of La Signora is at a close, but what of your new chapter?"

"I don't…I don't know."

Venti strummed his lyre.

"Roselyn, the icy queen of slaughter"

"Now, the maiden of tranquil waters"

"She died, she killed, she lied, she slew"

"But now she seeks her redemption anew."

"Roselyn, once a witch of wicked flame,"

"Has a new purpose and a new name."

"To repent, to atone, to shine like gold"

"And heal a world scarred by her cold."

"Roselyn, Roselyn, where shall you go?"

"Roselyn, Roselyn, once pale as snow."

"Roselyn, Roselyn, your tale is not done"

"Roselyn, Roselyn, your life's just begun."

He smiled. Mirror Maiden stared into her lap.

A strange emotion welled up within her, growing into an all-consuming, irresistible need. For the first time in centuries, Roselyn sang.

"I lost my love, O Rostam."

"And by my sins, I am a damn'd."

"I work for the day I can show them my face."

"I pray that witch such as I can earn grace."

"My road is a long, hard, without end,"

"But I now, I walk alongside my friends."

To her amazement, her voice remained just as dulcet and powerful as it had once been. The centuries had not stolen her song. If anything, time had mellowed her voice into a melancholic croon.

Mirror Maiden looked at Venti.

"I'm sorry I stole your Gnosis. I understand if you can't forgive me."

"I do. Your sincerity is all too clear."

Disbelief rocked her. Truly, he had forgiven her so quickly? She had not expected it would be so. Relief washed over her, along with another sensation: joy. To receive forgiveness when unearned, was the sweetest gift of all.

She reached into her knapsack. "I cannot return what I took, but I can give you this."

Venti's eyes became stars as she produced bottles of aged Osthmanthus Wine, rare vintaged Dandelion Wine, Apple Cider, Saké, Firewater, and a silver key.

She said, "The key unlocks Signora's old wine cellar. There's enough there to get all Mondstadt drunk."

"Oo, very nice," he grinned. "Come, share a drink with me!"

Mirror Maiden poured them both cups of Dandelion Wine. As the fragrance wafted from the drink, her heart stirred in fond remembrance of when she and Rostam shared wine. Venti lifted his cup.

"To forgiveness, to redemption, and our new friendship."

They clinked their cups and drank to their new beginning beneath the dawn of tomorrow.