A/N: I am running on 3 hours of sleep and 2 cups of coffee! Let’s go!
—
“Ah, there goes poor Jeras. Still hopeless in love.”
These are the words that he has grown sick hearing off.
“I feel sorry for him, this is, what, the 8th time already?” A man whispered to his fellow hunter.
“No. You must have lost count for a long time. This is the 14th time already.”
The whispers and murmurs about him continued to resonate as he walks back on his way to Mondstadt. Yes, the other hunter was right. This was already the 14th time he was rejected by the woman he greatly adores. A tired sigh escaped his lips as he spotted a rock near the city’s bridge. He took a seat and stared at the clear water of Lake Cider in contemplation.
‘Are all of these heartaches worth it? Or was it all in vain?’ Negative thoughts caused his expression to be more crestfallen as his grip on his aster bouquet grew tighter, slightly bending and snapping some of the stems.
His somber moment was interrupted by a melodic tune from a lyre. His head snapped at the source and found a young man clad in green, serenely playing a tune, presumably a love song, much to his chagrin.
“I thought bards are supposed to be good at reading the atmosphere to match their songs with. You seem to be not in your game now, lad.” Jeras said in a bitter tone. The bard in green tilted his head to the side as he gestured if he can sit beside him.
“Do whatever you want. I don’t really care right now.” He murmured as he passed his fingers through his hair to at least release some of the stress that ransacks his being.
“Do you wish to hear a depressing, grim tune instead? You seem to hate love songs as of current, even though that is the one best suited for you.” The bard said. Jeras gave him a skeptical look and quietly questioned the young bard’s sanity.
“Seriously? Can you not see that I am not in a mood of sunshine and rainbows? You better sharpen those observation skills, lad.” He spat in annoyance. The bard sighed tiredly and played a slow love song.
“Yes, i am serious. Are you actually giving up now when the actual battle is about to begin? Do you truly love her, if you give up now?” The young bard said as he stared at him. Jeras felt a surge of anger flow through his system when he heard the questions.
‘Calm down, Jeras. He’s just a kid who probably takes life lightheartedly’ He reminded himself as he huffed in annoyance and glared at the boy.
“What do you know about love, lad?” Jeras asked the bard beside him. The young man smiled as he takes in the breeze of Lake Cider.
“I know more than you can imagine.” He said wistfully. This caught Jeras off-guard. ‘More than I can imagine? Ha! As if. He’s what, fifteen at most?’ Jeras reasoned. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest as he continued to drill holes in the young man’s head.
“Oh, do pray-tell what you know, wise one.” He said in a mocking, monotone voice. The young man laughed and scratched the back of his head.
“Well, it is quite hard to explain, but maybe I can tell you about it through a song!” He said as he took his lyre and tested the strings. Jeras decided to humor him and nod, signaling his full attention on him.
///
Once, in a meadow bathed by moonlight, a chanced meeting occured. Fate weaved its strings, and brought two worlds in a fold.
A wind with a strength that topples strongholds, and a delicate dandelion who in the harsh gusts is bold.
The wind was drawn by the warm glow of the flower. The wind sought it and noticed the fragility of its love, decided to weaken its own power.
They tried to live as normal as they can. With the wind visiting, carrying a tune as it sung. The dandelion gently swaying, as if dancing on the music that it strung.
All is well, and as beautiful as it can be, but of course some things are not meant to be.
The wind slowly noticed how the dandelion was so alone. It learned that the others have long since flown.
The wind realized that since it lowered its power to keep its lover, it unknowingly allowed its beloved to suffer.
With a pang of pain, it came to a decision: to let it be free and go to where it truly belong. So with a painful song, the wind send its light along.
Years has passed, and the wind continued it duty on the land, keeping watch and more. Until one day, a seed fell from the skies with a familiar glow on its core. The wind rushed to its side and held it like how it did with its past lover.
“My days are now counted, but I gathered strength to land here again.” said the lone, dying seed. “I did so, because I know that your winds will lead.”
They shared their last moments, dancing on the breeze, trying to put their grieving hearts in a little bit of ease.
But alas, the hours is nigh and sunset fell over the seed. The mournful wind sent a song so painful, the divines looked beyond their throne and sent a special blessing on its silent plead.
The wind was to be patient, as its a difficult path it will take. But the widower was determined to fulfill the quest for its lover’s sake.
To wait and wait, even as several millennia pass, because at the end, when all has been endured, they will meet again at last and share another dance.
///
After the last notes has been played, silence overtook them. Jeras looked at the young bard with sympathy, and spoke with a quiet and careful voice.
“That is a pain that I know I wouldn’t be able to handle…” He drawled as he saw the sun slowly set in the horizon. The young man hummed and carefully hid his lyre.
“You know, I also forgot to tell you something.” He told Jeras who looked back with a curious expression. The bard smiled and handed him his bouquet of Aster.
“There was a belief here in Mondstadt that is popular with people who seeks to confess their love for a person.” He stated and got the full attention of the once distraught and rejected man. “When a single dandelion danced in the wind without breaking apart, the person who witnessed it is blessed by the Archon himself.” He finished. Jeras sent an intrigued sound as he placed a hand in his chin, as if contemplating the bard’s words.
“Why?” Jeras asked. The bard in green stood up with a bounce in his feet as he looked down to Jeras.
“It was said that Barbatos himself was trying to court his lover, though it has not happened for such a long time.” He said with mirth in his voice. Jeras stood up as well and shook his head in amusement. The Archon himself, courting? Pretty ridiculous.
“Alright, alright. I’ll keep that in mind, even though it would most likely not happen.” Jeras said while dusting his clothes. The young bard laughed as he turns his heel.
“Well, it is still a sweet gesture won’t you think? You are not alone struggling with love problems!” He laughed as he sent an energetic farewell to his new found friend. Jeras sent a fond smile back to the lad as he was now left all alone to his way back home.
While walking back towards the gates, he saw a lone dandelion, gently swaying to the wind, still intact. “When a single dandelion danced in the wind without breaking apart, the person who witnessed it is blessed by the Archon himself.” The young bard’s voice rang in the back of his head as he chuckled softly.
“Now I’m not alone!”
—
In an edge of a small hill in Springvale, a figure clad in green sat as it observed a man handing a woman a bouquet of Aster. The woman accepted the gift and held the man’s hand as they shared a hug.
“Playing as match maker now huh, Barbatos?” A sweet voice behind him asked playfully. He stood up to meet the young lady behind him and held their face between his hands, as he nuzzled his nose with hers.
“Hehe, Mondstadt is known as the City of Romance after all. It’s not too far-fetched for me to try and make couples happen once in a while.” He said as he met their eyes. The young lady wrapped her arms around his and held his hands as she too, watched over the lovers below them.
“You should have also told Jeras how you stumbled over your words when you tried to serenade me in Cape Oath~” At this, Barbatos’ face erupted in a blush as he shyly laughed along with her.
“Come on now, You liked it, My Love.” He retorted as he summons gentle winds that surrounded them and transported them on the way between Windriser and Falcon coast.
“I do and I will continue loving it as much as I love the one who made it.” She said as she rested her head on his shoulder. Barbatos turned to her and kissed her hair as they continued to walk to the beach.
“Well then, the night is still young and I still have time to court you with all the love songs I’ve prepared while waiting for you. So you better listen well!” He exclaimed as he led her running towards their favorite spot.
“Of course, My Beloved Wind!”
—
Mondstadt is known with many names, but one of it is as the “City of Romance”. Their Archon has always loved a girl who tamed his winds and made it warm during the cold months, which allowed the citizens to be closer with one another as camaraderie and friendships bloom, even with strangers.
Their love was so pure, it gathered the sympathy of the other gods as they bestowed her an immortal life once she has passed. Now, whenever dandelions dance in the wind, the people of Mondstadt sends a message of “Please, Let me to dance with them” as a plea to allow them to meet their fated one and share the same love that their Archon and his lover experiences.
The girl’s name was never recorded, but she is known as “The Lady of the Dandelions.”