A/N: Oh, this is the first time that I’ll be posting a fanfic after a long time. Hope this turns out good ‘cause I’m running on angsty music and 3 cups of coffee right now (I’m going for a fourth cup, just watch me) lol.
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Ah, sweet dandelions. Always waiting for the wind to take you with it aren’t you?
A lone boy sat on the edge of a rock in Starsnatch Cliff. Lyre in hand, soft notes flow out of the instruments, singing of a melody in the days past. As the notes are plucked on the delicate strings of the lyre, the wind surrounding the figure gently picked up, seemingly trying to pass on the melody to a distant land.
The melody, which brought peace on the area, slowly comes to a decrescendo, signaling the coda, was halted by a high-pitched squeal. The boy, startled by the noise, plucked the wrong string that caused him to wince.
‘Well, so much for peace, I suppose?’ He thought as he tried to look for the source of the distraction. Looking down from his perch, he spotted a young girl running away from a group of Hillichurls. Seeing how terrified the girl was, he leapt from his place in an inhuman height. Observing the distance between the girl and the monsters, he landed with great force in their midst, startling both parties.
“Hey, I don’t know what she did for you to chase her out, but will you stop it? She’s so young and she’s already scared enough.” He told the monsters as he stand in indignation. This was met with angered snarls and growls. Sighing in exasperation, he summoned his lyre. This action of his was perceived as a threat by the Hillichurls which caused them to charge at him.
With an elegant strum on the strings, a small, but strong whirlwind was created and took the monsters in its swirling torrents, sweeping them away from the two. A sound of awe was heard in the forest and the boy faced the young girl.
“That was awesome Mister! Thank you for saving me!” The young girl said as she bows in gratitude. The boy deduced that she must be an outsider from Mondstadt based on her gestures.
“You’re welcome! But, you see, this area is dangerous to be alone in. Where are your parents?” He said in a friendly voice so as to lessen the girl’s fright. The young girl gently shook her head and faced him with a carefree smile.
“I don’t have my parents right now, We are just visiting from Liyue! I have my Grandma right now.” She said, her smile brightening. “What is your name, Mister?” She asked with a tilt of her head. The boy laughed at the enthusiasm of the girl before him. “My name is Venti and I’m the best bard of Mondstadt! How about you? What’s your name?”
“My name is Nozomi!”
—
After rescuing Nozomi from the Hillichurls, Venti took it upon himself to bring her back to Mondstadt. While on their way to the walled city, he learned the reason as to why she was all alone in the forest.
“We we’re on the way to the city when I asked my grandma about the glowing round flowers.” She started while happily picking a stray pinecone on the base of a tree. “She said that they are Dandelions. When you blow on them, the flowers are then scattered in the wind together with its seeds.” Venti hummed, urging her to continue.
“Grandma picked one and showed me. When she gently blew on it, the flowers fly into the air and I asked her if we can get some more,” She then picked up a couple of carefully plucked dandelions to show him. “But Grandma said that there are more in Mondstadt. When we arrived, she asked me to wait in a restaurant called “Good Hunters” while she goes to meet someone…” Her voice grew slowly quieter and she started to fumble on her blue dress.
“She promised that she’ll go with me but it was so long so…” She trailed off. Venti sighed shook his head.
“-so you decided to go on your own?” He finished. Nozomi timidly nod her head. Venti noticed her crestfallen expression and felt a gentle smile work its way on his face.
“Worry not now, young one! I, Venti. the greatest bard in Mondstadt and in all of Teyvat, will get you back with your beloved Grandma!” He said joyously, in hopes of making the young girl smile again. Nozomi looked up at him with happiness dancing in her eyes.
“Thank you, Venti! You’re the greatest bard in all of Teyvat!” She declared as they both laughed and hurried to the city.
—
It was already dusk when they entered the city’s gates. A frantic woman awaits on the stairs leading up to the plaza. Venti recognized the woman and called Nozomi to follow him. The woman, who noticed the bard, let out a sigh of relief.
“Oh, lord Barbatos, thank goodness that you found her, Venti!” the woman said as she rushed to them. Venti, in return, smiled gently as he took Nozomi from behind him to bring her before the woman.
“Do not worry, Sara. She is safe, although, it is in good graces that I found her. I found her in Starsnatch, being chased by Hillichurls.” At this, Sara’s face drains of color. She immediately kneeled to the girl and checked her for any injuries.
“Miss Sara, I’m okay! Mister Venti saved me from the monsters with his powers!” Nozomi said with a toothy smile. Sara shook her head slowly at the statement.
“Nozomi, please do not do that again. Your Grandma was worried when I told her that you snuck out.” Sara told her while leading them to a table and offers them Radish Veggie Soup and Sticky Honey Roast. Both Venti and Nozomi marveled at the delicious foods laid in front of them, the scent wafting through the air and enticed their hungry stomachs. Sara softly laughed at their antics.
“Please eat up! I know that walking all the way from Starsnatch to Mondstadt must have been quite a trip!” She said as she turns to Venti. “Again, I am truly grateful to you, Venti. Thank you for bringing her back. Her Grandma will be delighted once she comes back.” Venti looked at her and saluted while his cheeks are stuffed akin to a squirrel.
The night was then filled with laughter and perhaps a choking sound from a certain hungry bard.
—
Alas, after eating their fill, Venti prepared to leave, as he needs to visit a place before the night gets too deep. Nozomi gently tugged on his green cape with a look of wonder and expectation in her eyes.
“Mister Venti, will I see you again?” She asked with an eager smile on her face. Venti mirrored her expression and tapped his chin in a contemplative gesture. The anticipation of the girl for his answer was broken by his gleeful laugh as he messed her hair.
“Perhaps! Maybe the winds will allow us to meet again!” He said and placed his hands on his hips. “But for now, I must go! You see, the greatest bard of Teyvat never rest!” Venti laughed as Nozomi repeats with a ‘Yes! The Greatest Bard indeed!’. Venti bid his farewell to his newly found friend and headed to the place he goes to when he needs to think.
—
“Took you long enough.”
A voice greeted him as he neared the enormous tree in Windriser. He gently laughed and held out his hand to the elderly woman waiting on the steps of the Anemo Archons’ statue beneath the tree. The elderly woman took his hand and allowed him to lead her up to the base of the tree.
“I will lift us up, do not loosen your grip okay?” He asked, even with full knowledge that the woman trusts him fully with her life.
“As if I will let go, you mischievous bard!” She quipped. Venti chuckled as he summoned a gentle gust of wind that lifted them up to one of the tree’s branches. When they reached it, Venti gently allowed the woman to settle down on it before doing so himself.
They did not speak a single word for a while, allowing the breeze from falcon coast to sway the leaves and create its own natural tune. The peace and quiet washing over their being.
“It seems life has been quite good on you huh, [Y/N]?” Venti started. He heard the woman beside him softly laugh at his words. He looked at her quizzically, puzzled as to why she is laughing.
“Is that your idea of a heartfelt greetings to me, Barbatos?” Upon hearing his name and the jest she threw at him, he sputtered and looked at his side, rubbing the back of his head.
“W-well, you see…we did not particularly end in good terms and um-” he frantically said, which caused more laughter from the woman.
“You are still the same, huh?” [Y/N] nostalgically murmured as she closes her eyes to enjoy the gentle breeze passing the tree once more. This caught Venti’s attention as he focuses his sight on her. Her face radiates peace and the happiness of reminiscence. “All of the things that happened before are beyond me now. I understand you and-” she paused, looking at him with gentleness in her eyes. Gentleness that was brought by the wisdom and the years she lived through.
“I am sorry, only thinking of how much it hurts me, but not how much it hurts you more…” [Y/N] said quietly.
Ah yes, that day is still fresh in his mind, for it happened in this very place too.
///
‘Forgive me, [Y/N]…’ A silent plea resonated, hoping to reach the crying woman’s ears.
Her pained, choked sobs pierces his heart like a hot knife. He cannot bear to hear her be in pain. He badly wants to craddle her to his arms, kiss all her pain away, vanquish all her tears and sing to her all the songs that he can conjure for he loves her, but he cannot. If he allowed himself to, then, he will not be able to keep her away.
‘Venti… why? Am I not good enough? Please tell me the very reason…’ She quietly asked, her teary eyes persisting on focusing to his beautiful aqua ones. Once the color of her favorite clear skies, now riddled with storm and unsure.
‘I cannot hold you back selfishly…” Venti kneeled in front of her touching her cheeks softly, caressing her tears. His eyes looked at her with gentleness, though she can see pain beneath it. “You have so much for you. I am an immortal. I can live for so long, but you cannot. I-I cannot just hold you back from all the things life can offer that I cannot give to you…’ He told her as new tears welled up in her eyes.
‘I can experience it all with you. All I want in life is you. You are more than enough for me. You… you are my happiness. My light…. please do not push me away from you, my Love…’ [Y/N] reached to touch his cheeks, trying to hold her lover’s face again. Her actions are desperate. She does not want to lose him like this.
‘I promised you, no matter what, I will always love you, even at the very last of my mortal breath.’ [Y/N] said firmly, reminding him of the vow she gave him years ago at Starsnatch.
Her words seems to have reached him as his face briefly flashed in reminiscence, but it was quickly washed over by seriousness as he shakes his head.
‘I also promised you that I will do everything that I can to give you the life you deserve…’ These words of his made [Y/N]’s heart clench in dread. She knows his next words.
‘But this is not the life you deserve. You should be out in the world, experiencing things and not be stuck here with me. Your time is counted, therefore you should be able to do what you want and not be held back in here just because of me.’ He told her as he touch his forehead with hers, lovingly caressing her hair and silently engraving the scent of it in his memory for probably the very last time.
‘Is-is that it? J-just because I am mortal?’ [Y/N]’s question startled him. He looked at her in shock.
“No! I- you misunderstand-’ ‘I do!’ [Y/N] moved away from him, removing his hands from her cheek.
‘I do, Barbatos.’ His name was uttered with so much venom, it may as well kill his heart. ‘What can a mere mortal, such as I, offer an Archon like you? Love? Ha! Mondstadt’s people already love you. What is one compared to a city?’ [Y/N] said bitterly as she stood up, jumping from the tree branch that they were previously perched on.
‘If you just wanted me gone before I expire, you should have directly told me.’ Venti tried to reach out to her as she began walking. The wind picked up, perhaps a reflection of the bitter end of their love and romance.
‘Farewell, lord Barbatos’
///
After the remembrance of their bitter past, Venti reached out to hold her hand and looked at her with gentle, loving eyes.
“I know, and it is past me too… I’m glad that you found your happiness now. She’s an energetic child, like you before.” He said with a knowing look at his eyes. [Y/N] laughed, unsurprised that he immediately found out.
“Yes, yes she is. A rambunctious little flower. She probably took after her Grandfather…” Venti’s grip on her hand slightly tightened. His heart clench a little, but hid all his pain with a smile.
“He’s a good man. He thinks of others before himself. Loving and selfless…” Unspoken words are left to the wind as they both understand the meaning. Venti caressed her hand gently as he watched the cranes beneath the tree.
“I am glad you gave love another chance. It is all I wished for you, after that day…” He said as he longingly looked at the distance. Pushing down all the feelings that wants to resurface.
“Do not give me that look!” [Y/N] said as she pinched Venti’s cheeks, stretching it slightly that makes him look like a squirrel. “Come on, I’m old now. Find someone your age, Old man.” She quipped at him, poking fun of his actual age which caused him to chuckle.
“Then I am still qualified then!” He said with laughter in his voice. [Y/N] narrowed her eyes on him and flicked his forehead.
“Seriously, no. You don’t.” She said sternly, sighing inwardly at the bard’s quiet laughter.
“Venti, I am close to my sunset days.” She started. Her words silenced him as he held her hands once again while looking at the distance.
“I know.” He said in reverie. His grip on her hand slowly tightening.
“I know, but my love stays the same.” He declared “Maybe in the next life, we will meet again.” Venti looked at her with a knowingly sad smile.
“When that time comes, I will never let you go again.”
[Y/N] smiled at him gently, a friendly smile that wishes to see him again.
“Well, then, when I pass on, may I request one thing so that I can find my way back to you again?” She requested. Venti’s eyes widened with wonder and a questioning look on his face, but urged her to continue, fully willing to do whatever it is. She gestured for him to come closer to whisper her request.
—
A day like any other greeted most of Mondstadt’s inhabitants, well except for a girl in black. Her face was covered by a black veil, her hands holding onto a velvet pouch. The people of Mondstadt who passes by her gave her sympathetic looks to which she nods at in recognition. She was mourning, but glad that the people around her were there beside her. Helping her move on slowly, but surely.
As she was about to pass the plaza, the guards near the main gate pointed at something approaching. The people become alerted and awaited whatever is going to rush through their city. But all of their apprehension and panic was washed over by amazement and wonder.
A strong gust of wind led thousands of dandelion seeds through the city, filling it with its sweet aroma.
The girl opened her velvet bag and took out its contents: an anemo vision and a dandelion necklace. She smiled at the contents and clutched them to her heart.
—
Sat atop the hands of the statue of Barbatos, Venti looked over the scene with a loving, gentle smile on his face as he strums his lyre, playing a sweet love song.
“Do not take long, okay?”
///
‘What is your request and why do you want to whisper it?’ he playfully asked her. [Y/N] laughed and urged him close.
‘Well, when I pass on, go back to the Cathedral and then…’ Venti hummed to let her continue.
“Let the wind carry all the Dandelions to lead me back to you.”