Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the new series. Going to be intense chapter with La Signora. Ash will finally get to meet Barbara the deaconess of the Church of Favonius and a prominent "idol" for the first time even if it's just biefly. After La Signora's encounter, Ash will decide his goal moving forward. I might also take a brief break from this series to focus more on other projects. Sorry Dx.
La Signora
...
"W-W-Whhhaaaaaaaaatttttt?!" At the Church of Favonius, Barbara's heartfelt cry echoed off the stone walls, startling everyone present. The young deaconess knelt dramatically before the damaged Holy Lyre der Himmel in Venti's hands. "Ohhhhh nooooooo! How could this happen?!" she wailed, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she clutched her hands together in a prayerful gesture. "Barbatos, please forgive us for allowing your sacred lyre to be damaged! We were only trying to save Mondstadt!" Completely absorbed in her grief, Barbara failed to notice the uncomfortable glances being exchanged between Venti, Jean, Aether, Paimon, Ash, Lucario, and Pikachu. Venti, who was Barbatos, scratched the back of his head sheepishly, clearly unsure how to handle the situation.
Paimon floated closer to Jean and whispered, "Uh, is Barbara always this...over the top? Paimon thinks she might be going a little overboard here."
Jean smiled warmly, letting out a soft chuckle. "Barbara has always had a flair for dramatics. When we were kids, she would overreact to the smallest things. Like the time I accidentally broke her favorite teacup—it was tears and prayers for hours!"
Paimon tilted her head. "Teacup? Really?"
Jean nodded with a fond sigh. "That's just how she is. Her passion and dedication are...unique, but it's part of what makes her such a wonderful deaconess. She truly cares about Mondstadt and its people."
Meanwhile, Venti took a step forward, waving his free hand awkwardly. "Uh, Barbara? You really don't need to—"
"No! Don't interrupt me, honored bard!" Barbara exclaimed, cutting him off with a fervent tone as she clasped her hands tighter. "This is a matter of divine significance!"
Ash leaned towards Aether and muttered, "Should we tell her that Venti is Barbatos? Or maybe not right now?"
Aether gave a small, knowing smirk. "Let's wait. This is too good to interrupt."
Pikachu and Lucario exchanged amused glances, with Pikachu letting out a quiet "Pika-pi!" as if chuckling at the absurdity of the scene.
Barbara continued her heartfelt prayer, oblivious to the barely contained amusement of her companions.
After a few moments of Barbara's fervent praying, Venti decided it was time to put an end to her dramatics. Taking the Holy Lyre in both hands, he subtly channeled his Anemo powers. A soft green glow emanated from his fingertips as the lyre's cracks and damage seemingly repaired themselves. With a flourish, he presented it to the group.
"Ta-da! Good as new," he declared cheerfully, spinning the lyre in his hands before holding it up triumphantly.
Paimon gasped. "Wow! Venti, you're amazing! Paimon didn't know you were so skilled at fixing things!"
Barbara, who had been on her knees moments ago, stood up quickly. Her eyes were wide with awe as she reached for the lyre, snatching it from Venti's grasp. Hugging it tightly to her chest, she exclaimed, "Oh, thank the winds of Barbatos! The Holy Lyre is restored! Praise be to Barbatos for this miracle!" She turned to the group, her face glowing with relief and happiness. "I will ensure this sacred artifact is never harmed again! You have my word!" Without waiting for a response, Barbara dashed off toward the inner sanctum of the church, the lyre clutched protectively to her chest.
The group stood in stunned silence, watching her disappear through the church doors.
Paimon broke the silence, pouting. "Hey! Paimon wanted a closer look at the lyre! She didn't have to run off like that."
Venti chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about it."
Ash raised an eyebrow at the tone of Venti's voice. "Why's that?"
Venti smirked and leaned in. "Well...because the 'repairs' are only temporary. In about an hour, the lyre will be back to its original, ahem, slightly broken state."
Paimon's jaw dropped. "What?! You mean you tricked her?!"
The bard shrugged nonchalantly, his grin never faltering. "What can I say? I'm a god, not a miracle worker. Fixing the Holy Lyre properly would take far more power and time than I currently have. This little touch-up will hold long enough for us to get out of trouble. After that, well..."
Jean pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "You could have just told her the truth, Venti."
"Where's the fun in that?" Venti teased, hands on his hips. "Besides, her faith is unwavering. I'm sure she'll forgive me...eventually."
Ash and Aether exchanged amused looks, while Paimon groaned loudly. "Ugh, Venti! You're so frustrating sometimes!"
Venti gave her a playful wink. "I aim to please."
...
As the group parted ways for the day, Ash found himself walking through the peaceful streets of Mondstadt with Venti, Lucario, and Pikachu by his side. The crisp breeze carried the faint melody of wind chimes and the chatter of the bustling city.
"So, my traveler friend," Venti began, twirling a strand of his hair with a sly grin, "What grand adventure shall we embark on today?"
Ash paused, scratching the back of his head in thought. With the Stormterror incident resolved, he hadn't really planned what to do next. He mulled it over for a moment before considering something important. "Maybe I should start looking for the rest of my Pokémon. I have a feeling they might be wandering somewhere around Mondstadt."
Venti gave a thoughtful hum, tapping his chin. "Ah, a fine quest indeed! Reuniting with your loyal companions is a noble pursuit." He then grinned mischievously. "But, of course, it wouldn't hurt to stop by the plaza first. I was thinking of gracing the people with a little musical show. Perhaps you'd care to join me?"
Ash shrugged, figuring he didn't have anything else pressing at the moment. "Sure, why not?"
Pikachu and Lucario exchanged glances, the former squeaking cheerfully in agreement, while Lucario gave a calm nod.
Venti clapped his hands together with delight. "Splendid! And after my spectacular performance, we can celebrate at Diluc's tavern. Oh, and you can cover the tab, of course!"
Ash groaned and rubbed his temples. "Why do I feel like I'm being set up here?"
"Come now, Ash!" Venti teased, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Surely a newly-crowned celebrity like yourself can afford to buy a few drinks for a poor bard."
Pikachu giggled at Ash's exasperation, while Lucario gave a faint, amused smile.
With a sigh of resignation, Ash muttered, "Fine, fine. But don't go overboard, okay?"
Venti's grin widened. "I make no promises."
...
As the group ascended the stone steps leading to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, the atmosphere abruptly shifted. A sudden chill swept through the air, halting them in their tracks. Ash instinctively glanced at Venti, who had tensed up, his carefree demeanor replaced by a grim expression.
"This feeling…" Venti muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Something's not right."
Before anyone could react, shadows rippled across the ground, and from them emerged a pair of Fatui Pyro Agents. They struck swiftly, catching Ash off guard and slamming him to the ground. His arms were wrenched behind his back, and a sharp pain shot through his shoulders.
"Let me go!" Ash growled, struggling against their iron grip.
"Silence, you Rotarian brat!" one of the Agents hissed, pressing him harder into the cold cobblestones.
Ash froze for a moment, his struggles faltering. "How do you know—" His question was cut off as Lucario and Pikachu leapt to defend him, only to be subdued by more Agents who pinned them down.
"Ash!" Venti cried, stepping forward to intervene, only to be stopped by an icy breeze that swept across the plaza.
A lovely figure emerged from the swirling frost, flanked by two Cicin Mages. The temperature dropped further as her presence filled the air with menace. Venti's eyes narrowed as he recognized her immediately.
"La Signora," he growled, his voice tinged with disdain.
The woman smirked with her gray eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Well, well. Barbatos, reduced to this pitiful form. How disappointing. I expected more from an Archon."
Venti scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery. "And I expected less frostbite and more personality. Guess we're both disappointed."
La Signora's smirk twisted into a scowl. With a flick of her wrist, an icy blast struck Venti, encasing half his body in frost. He gasped as the freezing magic sapped his strength, yet his defiance remained. She strode up to him, seizing his face in an iron grip. "Mock me again, bard, and I'll ensure your humiliation becomes legend."
Venti grinned weakly, his voice still laced with sarcasm. "Funny, I thought you liked legends. Guess you just prefer rewriting them."
Her patience snapped, and she closed the gap, tearing the Gnosis from his chest. Venti let out a strangled gasp as he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest where the Gnosis had been.
"Venti!" Ash shouted. He tried to rise, but the Fatui Agents pinned him firmly. Lucario and Pikachu snarled, but the Agents didn't relent.
La Signora inspected the Gnosis with disinterest, scoffing. "Such a fragile thing for an Archon to cling to. Pathetic." Turning her attention to Ash, she waved her hand, and the Agent holding him yanked him to his feet. She approached slowly, her heels echoing ominously against the stone. Grasping Ash's chin, she forced him to look at her, her icy fingers biting into his skin. "So, this is the living descendant of a Rotarian," she mused, her voice dripping with disdain. "Nothing more than a weak, insignificant brat. I expected more from a bloodline said to rival the gods."
Ash glared at her. "W-Who are you? What do you want?"
She chuckled darkly, finding his courage amusing. "I am La Signora, eighth of the Fatui Harbingers. As for what I want? I already have it." She held up the Gnosis, its faint glow reflecting in her icy gaze. "Though, I did hope to see this so-called Rotarian in action. Imagine my disappointment when I found… this." Without warning, she struck him across the face, the force of the blow knocking him unconscious.
Ash crumpled to the ground with a faint groan.
Lucario and Pikachu roared in fury, only for La Signora to regard them with cold disdain. "Filthy creatures," she spat. A wave of frost surged from her hand, encasing them both in a solid block of ice. Satisfied, she turned to her subordinates. "We're leaving. The Knights will be here soon, and I have no time for their meddling." As her Agents began their retreat, she spared one final glance at Ash's unconscious form. "Perhaps you'll grow into something worth crushing next time."
With that, she vanished into the swirling frost, leaving the plaza in silence.
...
As La Signora and her entourage departed Mondstadt, one of the Cicin Mages had something on her mind. "My Lady," the Mage ventured cautiously with hesistation, "If I may ask… why did you spare the Rotarian boy? You could have ended him easily when you had the chance." Signora halted mid-stride. The icy glare she cast over her shoulder was enough to make the Mage flinch, but the Harbinger chose not to unleash her full wrath.
"Questioning me now, are we?" Signora's tone was laced with disdain, her ruby lips curving into a smirk. "Do remember your place, Mage. My motives are my own."
"M-My apolgies, my Lady...It won't happened again," the Mage quickly lowered her gaze, murmuring an apology.
"Still, since you've managed to amuse me with your insolence, I'll indulge you." She turned, letting her piercing gaze sweep over her subordinates. "Killing the boy now would be… shortsighted. Some of my fellow Harbingers are intrigued by the idea of a living Rotarian—such an anomaly, after all." She paused, brushing a gloved hand over the delicate frost on her sleeve. "If I were to snuff out that spark prematurely, it would no doubt upset their fragile curiosities." Her smirk deepened, a flicker of disdain flashing in her gray eyes. "Not that I care about their petty interests, but one must pick their battles wisely."
One of the Pyro Agents exchanged a glance with the Cicin Mage, daring to press further. "So, this is for the sake of… politics, my Lady?"
Signora scoffed, turning away to resume her stride. "Politics?" she echoed, her tone dripping with mockery. "No, you fool. It's simply a matter of strategy. The boy will grow, no doubt fueled by vengeance after today. And when that day comes…" She paused, letting her words hang in the frigid air before glancing over her shoulder one last time. "…it will be far more satisfying to crush him when he believes himself stronger."
Her subordinates fell silent, nodding in reluctant understanding. Signora's icy gaze lingered on the horizon as Mondstadt faded from view behind them. The thought of her fellow Harbingers' reactions to the boy's eventual emergence brought a faint, twisted smile to her lips.
"Let them have their moment," she murmured to herself, more for her own amusement than for her followers. "It won't change the end I have planned for him."
...
"Hey! Hey! Please wake up!" a gentle but urgent voice called out.
Ash's eyelids twitched, and a groan escaped his lips as consciousness slowly returned. His body felt heavy, his mind foggy. As he opened his eyes, the world around him appeared blurry. He realized he was lying flat on his stomach on the cold cobblestone ground. Groaning softly, he pushed himself up with trembling arms, his vision gradually clearing.
Hovering above him was the faint image of a man he knew all too well—a man clad in blue with spiky black hair, a kind yet determined expression etched on his face.
"S-Sir... Aaron?" Ash murmured with confusion.
For a moment, he thought he was dreaming.
But as he blinked, the spectral image vanished, replaced by Barbara.
"Sir Aaron?" the woman echoed, tilting her head in confusion. "No, it's me. Barbara," she corrected softly, offering a reassuring smile.
Ash shook his head, blinking again as his senses returned. Reality came crashing back. His eyes widened as memories of the ambush flooded his mind: Signora, the Fatui agents, Venti's Gnosis being ripped away...
"Signora…" he muttered under his breath before gasping and jolting upright. His head darted around frantically, searching for any sign of the Fatui. But the area was eerily empty, the only figures in sight being Lucario and Pikachu standing beside Barbara.
Lucario's crimson eyes locked onto Ash with visible relief, and Pikachu squeaked softly, rushing to his Trainer's side.
"You're finally awake!" Barbara said with relief.
Ash staggered to his feet, ignoring the lingering ache in his limbs. "W-What happened? Where are they?" he demanded.
Barbara took a small step back at his intensity before explaining, "I found you and the bard lying on the ground here. The Fatui were already gone when I arrived. Are you hurt anywhere?"
But Ash wasn't listening anymore. His head whipped around, scanning for someone else. "Venti! Where's Venti?"
Barbara blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his urgency. "Oh, uh, he left for the plaza a little earlier when I—"
Before she could finish, Ash bolted in the direction of the plaza, Lucario and Pikachu hot on his heels.
"Wait!" Barbara called after him, but he didn't stop.
...
Ash and his Pokémon hurried into the bustling plaza, scanning the area for any sign of Venti. The crowd was thick, merchants shouting their wares, and citizens going about their day. Frustration began to creep into Ash's expression until his eyes caught sight of something unusual.
There, perched in one of Barbatos' statue's outstretched hands, was Venti. The bard's teal hair swayed in the breeze as he lazily leaned against the statue, waving cheerfully at Ash.
"Hey! Up here!" Venti called out with a light and carefree voice despite everything that had transpired.
Ash let out a breath of relief as he immediately rushed towards the statue. Lucario and Pikachu followed. Climbing the giant monument wasn't easy, but the trio persisted, using whatever footholds they could find. After some effort, they finally reached the top, panting and catching their breath as they stood before the Anemo Archon himself.
Venti chuckled at the group with a playful grin on his face. "You're finally awake, my traveler friend," he teased.
"Venti, are you okay? That was—what happened back there? Are you hurt?"
The bard gave a dismissive wave. "I'm good, I promise," he said, though a flicker of unease in his eyes betrayed the truth.
Ash wasn't convinced. "But what about that thing that mean lady took from you? Isn't it important to you?"
Venti's smile widened with a glint of mischief sparking in his gaze. He stood and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small object. "Oh? You mean this?" In his hand gleamed the unmistakable green and gold crystal of the Anemo Gnosis.
Ash and his Pokémon stared with their mouths practically falling open in disbelief.
"Wait... you still have it? How?!" Ash exclaimed, utterly baffled.
Venti's laughter echoed across the statue. "Oh, you know me—trickery is a bard's specialty! Let's just say I have my ways. Right about now, I'd wager our dear Signora is realizing she's been duped."
...
Meanwhile, miles away, Signora stood amidst her retreating group, staring at the object in her hand. She turned it over slowly, her expression growing darker by the second. Realizing it was nothing but a fake, she crushed the imitation Gnosis in her icy grip. The shards of the green crystal fell to the ground.
Her gray eyes burned with fury as she hissed under her breath. "Barbatos... that cunning trickster. And that insolent Rotarian brat... this isn't over."
Her subordinates exchanged uneasy glances, daring not to speak as their Harbinger seethed.
...
Back atop the statue, Venti chuckled again, clearly amused by the mental image of Signora's reaction. He turned to Ash with his carefree demeanor softening as he spoke.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Ash. But for now, let's enjoy the breeze. Mondstadt is safe... for today."
Ash nodded silently with the weight of everything that had transpired settling in. For a moment, they stood quietly atop the Barbatos statue with the gently breeze carrying a hum. Pikachu and Lucario remained close with their gazes shifting between Ash and the bard.
Venti finally broke the silence in a light tone but his words laced with a cryptic undertone. "Say, Ash..." Ash glanced at him, as did Pikachu and Lucario. "After everything that's happened—what do you really want to do?" Venti asked with his emerald eyes fixed on Ash with an almost unsettling gaze.
Ash furrowed his brow at the question with his mind already turning over the possibilities. He knew he wanted to reunite with his other Pokémon and eventually find a way back to his world. That much was certain. But the events in Teyvat had left him with more questions than answers. Why had Sir Aaron's spirit suddenly appeared to him? What connection did he truly have to the Rotarians, a lineage he barely understood? And what were the Fatui truly after?
Ash let out a quiet sigh, his gaze lifting to the clear, endless sky. He had come so far, but there was still so much he didn't know, so much he hadn't figured out.
"That's a good question, Venti," Ash finally muttered
...
Just like that...A cliffhanger. Sorry :p What will be Ash's decision moving forward? Well, you will have to wait the next chapter to find out. Anyway, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I might end up writing a Thanksgiving one special one shot for something and closed out the month with a PokéHearts update. Afterwards, I might take a brief break from this series to focus more on PokéHearts and another project. I haven't decided as of yet but make sure to keep in touch for any future updates.