chapter 6 - thank Barbatos

I woke up to the sun burning my eyelids. I haven't opened my eyes yet, but I felt somehow relieved that I didn't feel a massive hangover at all. No headache, no nausea.

It's good to know I am still too young for crazy hangovers.

I opened my eyes, just to stare into huge turquoise eyes.

"Wakey wakey, Tessa" giggled the owner of the eyes. I immediately sat up, a light dizziness hit me.

"Barb... Venti, what are you doing here and how did you get in?" I looked at the bard. Or anemo archon. Whatever.

"Alice asked me to check on you" he answered. "And, your sister let me in. She brought you breakfast" he said as he bit in the apple he was holding in his hand.

"And now you're eating my food?" I asked as I climbed out of bed.

"You have plenty. Don't you feel pity for a poor, moraless bard, Tessa?" he put his hand on his chest. I just rolled my eyes.

"No, I don't feel any pity" I said.

"And how about the anemo archon? Would you reject him too?" he kept teasing me.

"I wouldn't if I didn't know mentioned archon since I was born because my mom befriended him for some reason" I answered. "And I know what type of person he really is."

"Ehe~ You're a cheeky little kid, Tessa" he said.

"I am not a kid anymore" I stated. "And you can have some of the food, I can't eat this much" I said as I looked on the table. I couldn't help but tear up. My little sister brought me many fruit, fresh bread, butter and cold cuts. She shouldn't spend her money on her stupid sister.

Me and Venti sat down to eat.

"And where are my parents right now?" I asked as I spread some butter on a slice of bread.

"She didn't mention" he shrugged. "She called me through that strange device she invented. But judging by the background noise, it's windy there"

"That could be anywhere" I smiled.

We were quiet for a while, which was rare, usually Venti didn't know how to shut up, but apparently he was busy munching on his food.

"Venti?" I started. I bit my lip. Maybe I shouldn't ask him...

"Huh?" he looked up at me.

"You know a lot about the people of Mondstadt, right?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'lot'." he answered.

"D-do you know where Diluc went for three years after Crepus' death?"

Venti finished the last bite of his bread, cleaned his hand and looked me deeply in my eyes.

"After all these years, Tessa?" he sighed. "Why don't you ask him?"

"Oh yeah, like it's so easy. I just walk in front of him and ask like 'Hey, Diluc, how are you? Anyway, where did you go after your dad died? Did you do anything fancy?'" I snorted.

"I don't really have the right to tell you" he said eventually. "And I only heard some small bits from Alice. All I can tell you is that he was looking for the truth behind his father's death. That's all"

"The truth?" I raised my eyebrows. "I thought it had something to do with the Abyss Order"

Venti shook his head.

"No, Tessa, it wasn't the Abyss Order"

"Then who was it?" I demanded. "Venti, please tell me. Crepus was important to me too. Like family"

"And do you treat his son as family too in your heart, Tessa?" he grinned. "As I said I don't have the right to tell you. But I am sure that in time you will learn the truth"

I sat down and folded my arms like a huffed little kid. It was so hard to talk to Venti most of the time. He liked telling only half of the things and hiding the important details.

I was naive that I can deal with a literal god with equal terms.

"Well, thanks for the breakfast, Tessa" Venti stood up and was ready to leave.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Visiting an old dragon friend" he winked.

So he was going to Stormterror's lair.

"Can I join?" I asked. I decided to gather more half-truths from him while I have the chance and he disappears for an indeterminable time again.

"Sure, why not" he laughed. "But I am not gonna tell you any secrets"

I will try asking you anyway. I thought. And I knew he was aware of that.

We spent the whole morning and early afternoon at Stormterror's Lair. Venti had some talk with his old friend, Dvalin. It was pretty chill actually, but I felt kind of guilty for abandoning my research for the day.

"And how's your studies going at the academy, Tessa?" Venti asked as he sat down next to me on the top of the tower. "You didn't forget, that you made a promise to the Traveler, right?"

"No, I still remember that I promised to help him." I answered. "I left them a message yesterday, but they need to wait a little bit. I still need to finish some things before I return to Sumeru. Which was a lot more easier if you just helped me, Venti" I looked at him meaningfully.

"That would be cheating" he winked at me. "But I told you before, that I am not giving visions personally."

I snorted. "Yeah, yeah I know, because you are not Barbatos, you are just a regular bard"

"Ehe~ No, Tessa, I mean it. I don't choose the people. I just... made some requirements. Yeah, let's say that"

"And what are the requirements of an anemo vision?" I asked.

He laughed at me.

"Tessa, what's the point of research if I give you all the answers you need?" he winked and took out his lyre. "Enough of this for today. Wanna hear a new song?"

I shrugged like I don't care. I was a little mad at him but I understood his point. He was right. And to be honest, I loved his songs.

He danced with his fingers on the strings of the lyre and started singing his song.

Where the wind fails to blowThere is a danger you cannot followIt lures you with promise and charmBut gives you nothing but fatal harmIt illuminates with its glowing eyesSoothes your soul with pretty liesTouches your skin as light featherUntil you meet with a poisonous daggerStabs your heart, breaks your soulBeware the beast that takes his form

The way he sang the song was beautiful, his voice was pure and tinkling like bells. But the lyrics was strange.

"Did you like it?" he asked with a soft smile on his face.

"It was beautiful" I answered. "But I wonder what was the inspiration behind this song. You usually sing about things that happened, something historical... but this one feels like a scary bedtime story kids tell each other"

"Oh, I can't tell you what inspired me" he giggled. "But I assure you that what is behind this song is very much real"

He stood up and he was staring at the horizon. He leaned his arm towards me.

"I have to leave now" he said. "Come, I will take you back to the ground."

I took his hand and with his other hand he grabbed my waist. He technically pretended like we were dancing as he summoned a wind current to take me to the ground. It was fun, actually.

"Until next time, Tessa" he winked and disappeared quickly.

Even if he left me with more questions than before, I appreciated the time we spent together.

I walked towards the city when I saw a little red dot running to my direction.

"Big sis, big sis!" I heard the voice of an excited Klee. "I got a letter from mom!"

"Yeah?" I petted her head. "And what did she say?"

We often received letters and notes from mom, but she was careful and never mentioned what she was doing or where she was at the time.

"Mommy and Daddy are coming home, big sis!" she clapped her hands excitedly. "Mommy said we will all spend the day together tomorrow"

I rounded my eyes. Mom and Dad both will come home? That's... rare.

But I had a strange feeling that there is more into this than them missing their daughters.