When Lumine finally returned to Mondstadt, she was gone way longer than she had expected well than anyone expected. The company was escorted to the Grand Master's office, where Kaeya delivered the report of the mission.

Jean scanned it quickly and looked over at Lumine with a smile. "My gratitude to you all and what you have done. You have gone far and beyond what was expected."

Jean dismissed the company, "Lumine, a moment of your time."

Lumine turned to look at Kaeya who just nodded his head. She wasn't in trouble; she heard Eula in the hall vowing vengeance on Pallad. She turned to face Jean, her hands behind her back fidgeting with her fingers.

"Kaeya has said great things about you on pervious missions. And Eula too seems to have favorable remarks for this mission." Jean looking over the report. "I see you are not from Mondstadt."

"That is correct but over the past few months Mondstadt has become my home," Lumine doesn't hesitate in that answer it really has her friends especially Zephyr made it so.

Jean just nods at her, "You have done a great service. For that I must award you with some time off, if you choose. You need to get caught up on your studies after all the Knights Exam is approaching and you are on your way to become a shining star of hope for the knights." Jean bows at Lumine and with that Lumine is dismissed.

Lumine can still feel the blush on her cheeks but her chest is full of gratitude and so pride at the good impression she has left. She hoped it would win her favor in the months to come. She knew what she was going to do with her given free-time, while studying was probably the best course of action she knew she needed to gather some supplies and rush out to Windrise.

She made her way to the barracks for a quick rest before heading out. Amber greeted her excitedly. "Oh, my Winds, I can't believe you saved Pallad and Kaeya! I missed you so much! We must go out tonight!"

After much insistence on celebrating at Angel's Share, won when Lisa and Kaeya joined Amber. Lumine reluctantly, agreed. She could wait to visit Windrise the next day.

At the tavern, she tried to enjoy herself, but guilt weighed heavily on her. Amber talked about everything that came to mind. Lisa chimed in on various books that were getting popular. Kaeya bought them drinks and food. Music filled the air with various performers doing small sets. The tavern seems to go silent for just a moment, when Amber pointed out the next performer, Lumine turned to see a bard dressed in green, his eyes scanning the room.

Amber whispered, "He's new. Very quiet. But very good. He plays a few songs, drinks at the bar than is gone."

As he began to play, his gaze met hers, and his music faltered for the briefest moment. She feels her cheeks warm as he seems to be watching her as he hums out the songs instead of sings. Lumine was captivated. His melodies carried the same ethereal quality as the wind sprite in Whispering Woods.

When he finished, Amber leaned in. "Looks like you've caught his attention."

Lumine feels her face going warm in spite of herself which only deepens as Lisa coos and winks, "Seems like our cutie found a cutie of her own."

Kaeya laughs and loudly exclaims, "Oh, she found something more intoxicating than the wine! "

Lumine brushes it away as the bard walks pass their table, straight to the bar. She can't help feel a bit of disappointment but grabs her drink before her friends pick up on it. She watches the bard get a glass of the famous Dandelion wine. The music starts up again. Lisa goes out and grabs Diluc for a dance. Amber gets asked by a patron leaving Lumine with Kaeya. Lumine looks over at Kaeya who is taking a long drink hoping he will ask to dance soon.

However, the green bard walks over to her, hand extended as if asking for a dance. She only nods. He responds with a graceful bow as he wraps his smooth fingers around her hand. He escorts her so gentle to the dance floor. Lumine is shocked on how gracefully they move, how the bard silence doesn't seem so silent with his expressions and gestures. She almost forgets that they have not said a single word to each other. She was to say something to him anything to him. She tries to talk about his music how beautiful it was, what is his name, hell she would be happy to say her name but instead blurts out, "Your eyes remind me of my homeland."

The bard blinks at her but before he is able to respond, Kaeya cuts in with "Sorry lad, it's my turn."

The bard silently and most reluctantly bows and retreats to the bar. Lumine is jostled around the dance floor by Kaeya. Lumine is desperate to get away and makes eye contact with Lisa who quits dancing with her new partner and grabs Kaeya rather roughly. Before he is able to respond, Lumine is gone. Rushing over to the bar with a panic. The bard is not there. She quickly moves dodging the dancers as she sees him make way to the entrance. Normally she wouldn't intercept him but she feels a strange pull towards this bard goes up to him saying, "Excuse me, we weren't done dancing," she said, offering her hand once more.

The bard's sad eyes widened in surprise before he chuckled softly and accepted. They danced again, the world around them fading into the music and the moment. She can't help but notice how he moves so smoothly and yet playful like as they dance. She doesn't know how long they danced for or even if it's a new performer when the green bard pulls her along to follow him to the bar.

They sit in silence. She reaches for the wine that suddenly appeared in front of her not remember herself ordering it and looks over at the bard who has captured her attention. She realizes she doesn't even know his name, "I'm sorry. I realize we haven't been introduced. My name is Lumine."

He jumps as if remembering she was there beside him. He takes a sip of his wine before writing in a notebook and pushing it over for her to read:

"My name is Venti, a bard you see,
But the songs I play are not just for me."

Lumine looks over at the bard confused. "You can't speak."

"Speak I can but not of this native tongue."

Lumine just nods. She doesn't know how to feel about this, disappointed really isn't the word. But wanting not to make him sad again just says, "You play so beautifully. You must have been playing the lyre for very long. I'm really only a hobbyist not very good."

"Many thanks, my dear –
I hold music very near
but have only just started the lyre.
You must play for us soon…"

As he started writing the play for us soon, Lumine laughed "Oh no…I don't play for anyone."

Venti looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a smirk on his face. It was easy to read that he was saying Not yet but maybe a duet.

She shook her head and hands laughing "Oh no, I see that look! You won't drop this any time soon, will you?"

The mischievous look deepens and he just chuckled "TeeHee"

Lumine just rolls her eyes, "Well Tone-Deaf Bard, you'll have to ask me in words." Lumine didn't even know that she made up her mind to teach him how to speak this language. "I will teach you then as payment you can have your duet."

Venti clapped his hands in joy. They return to their drinks. Lumine thinks how easy it was to talk to him. It's like they have been friends for some time. She turns her head towards her friends at their table. They clearly have been watching her and Venti this entire time.

She continues to sip her wine admiring Venti as he watches the new performer begin. He moves ever so slightly that they are now staring deep into each other's eyes. They are super close as Venti hands her a torn page:

"Join me now, take my hand,
Together we'll float, as if wind-swept sand."

She grabs his hand yet again expecting to be taken to the dance floor. There is no one dancing though but he motions for the door. She hesitates. She doesn't mean to leave her friends. She abandoned one a few weeks ago and now she's about to do it here with a stranger. She sees her friends give a thumbs up. She looks back at Venti waiting for her to follow. With a quick scan she sizes him up, from her training and even with her drinking, she could overpower him if need be. She nods and they are outside.

The cool breeze feels refreshing after being in the tavern for so long. Venti is escorting her gently though streets of Mondstadt. The streets aren't overly crowded but there are people about having fun and even a few guards on duty. He's taking her to a quiet part of town. She for some reason isn't worried. He looks at her and tilts his head up towards the windmill. She can't help but smile. This was one of her secret hiding places away from training and the library. He couldn't have known that but it felt special none the less. They climb up the ladder to the landing.

From here they share a quiet moment overlooking the city and the vastness of Mondstadt. Lumine looks over at Venti as he smirks and produced a bottle of wine to sit behind them. Lumine raises an eyebrow at him, "Did you steal this from Diluc?"

Venti's mischievous laugh was all the answer she needed.

They spoke in gestures and notes, Venti writing poetic responses to her questions. When he asked about her and what she does she talked about joining the Knights. He asked her how this was the first time he had seen her since she seemed to have been in Mondstadt for a while.

Lumine sighs and begins talking about Dragonspine. Her mission to take supplies and how it took longer than she wanted. Venti listened intently, his eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and concern. Lumine felt a warmth in his presence, a sense of ease she hadn't expected. She talked about how she recused both Kaeya and other soldier.

"I saw a light as if guiding me to him." She muses. She didn't know why she brought this up but she trusted Venti. He wouldn't tell.

"What amazing abilities, my flower
you have great power."

Lumine looked at his writing. She didn't know how she felt about that. She looked at him noticing his concern watchful eyes. She blushed at their closeness. She could smell the wine on his breath, the tickle of his braids brushing her face with a gentle wind. They both quickly turned towards the city.

As the city lights flickered below, Lumine found herself wondering about this enigmatic bard who seemed to know her heart better than most. And Venti, though bound by the wind and his temporary form, silently vowed to cherish every moment he had by her side.