The flute amidst a sea of flowers

A bard's freedom

"It seems like something good happened today."
"Why do you think hic* so...hehe"
"You've been drinking two times the amount you would drink normally."
"Hmm... maybe."
"Looking at your expression it seems I'm not wrong."

It's been so long since I've drank so freely. It's weird that the cold-yet-grumpy Diluc would care about me. It doesn't seem all bad. I always thought that he would look nice if he at least smiled. Trying on jokes didn't work and he rarely laughed. Alas, he doesn't share my sense of humour which he said was complete gibberish. I just don't understand how he doesn't get my jokes.

"Mind telling me what made you so happy?"
"Oh? Can I ask why you care about my personal life? Hmm?"

I was curious of what caught his attention as I asked with a smirk expecting a good answer. Normally he wouldn't care about what I did during the day and he would not care a single word that came out of my mouth as I blabbered about my daily life.

"I would just like to know what made my personal customer drink twice the amount since this dear customer of mine doesn't pay their fee."

Ooh. Haha. I can see that coming. I can see that deep inside he was aiming for me and the fact he bluntly said it with a deep tone of voice made me sweat a bit.

"Well my bad, ehe."
"*cough* *cough* So...are you willing to tell me what made you so happy?"
"I'm just in a good mood that my dear old friend asked me to come to his place. You know, the Geo archon. At first I wasn't interested in coming to Liyue, but after I heard of their limited edition of their Glaze lilies wine, I just- *yawn* I just couldn't help myself."
"Hmph. Seems what our archon cared about was wine. Sigh* I must question myself why Mondsdadt would bestow their lives and worship to a drunkard like you."
"Yeah yeah...*yawn* don't worry...zzzzz"
"Seems all you think of is your own freedom but you're too carefree that..."

I couldn't remember what he said next as I was on the verge of falling into a deep sleep. I could only remember the sensation of a big warm hand caressing my head. It made me quickly fall asleep. I think it was Diluc's hand which is very surprising. Hehe didn't know he had such a sweet side. Too bad I fell asleep. I would like to tease him a little. I wonder what my bard friend would do if he was still alive. Better if I forget about it.

I remember how it felt when I first drank alcohol. It was a very pleasing sensation. I could almost say that it made me forget things and fall into a deep hole of pleasant feelings. Even though my head was dizzy, I could still remember why I started drinking as my daily hobby. I remember it was thousands of years ago, I was in a deep sadness. Yes, me, a lively bard. People find it weird for an extrovert bard like me to have sad moments. Ever since my dear bard friend passed away, I've been in constant pain. I wonder how things could be different if he was still alive. Would I still be drinking to forget these feelings or would I lived a life with meaning. I've been used to this lifestyle. Drinking and singing as days passed without even noticing. Each day the same routine, wandering on the streets of Mondstadt, I could only remember the smell of alcohol. People would say living in freedom is the best feeling you can get as you no longer need to work for a purpose. I got to say, as bard's freedom isn't that joyous at all. Living a life without meaning nor goal is the least I could have asked for. I could've went back to Celestial instead of staying in Mondstadt. It seems that one song he sang made me stay in this city. I've promised him that I would see the world on his behalf. If that's the only thing I could do, I would gladly live for eternity.

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I was supposed to leave early for my trip to Liyue, but I just couldn't resist to get a serving of apple cider just in case I would crave for some on the road. As I was about to go in to Angel's share, I encountered Cavalry Captain Kaeya, you could say we are drinking buddies. Sometimes Rosaria would tag along if she is off duty from the Church.

"One serving of apple cider please!"
"Well well, seems our bard came for another drink."
"Ehe, you know me, I always need to start off the day with alcohol."
"If I'm not wrong, I was informed you will leave Mondstadt for a couple of days saying you are to visit an old friend."
"Hmm seems you already know. I just don't seem to understand how you are free from work this morning. Shouldn't a Cavalry Captain be attending to his duties?"
"I just seem to have some time off this morning as most of the work meant for today was already done yesterday."
"Hmm if u say so. Anyway it was a great morning talk with you sir as I may need to go since I've received my apple cider. Well then, I'll see you in three days."

"*chuckles* well ok, make sure to not die as it would be a pain to prepare your own grave."
"You still don't remember that I'm still an immortal god."

As i walked out of the city, I turn back and took a last glimpse of it. I smiled and used my wind ability to teleport. Just like the wind I've traveled to Liyue, a city which is very different from Mondstadt. Liyue seemed like a city with strict rules and courtesy. It has a way different vibe to it. I must say I'm not suprised for a city of contracts which is the exact opposite of Mondstadt a city of freedom. Liyue was pretty, i got to admit. U could say it had blown me away. I'm not too familiar with its landscape but i could tell it feels nice to see something new than the usual vast hills of Mondstadt. I could stay in this beautiful landscape, but the strict rules could suffocate me as I'm the god of freedom. Bound by contracts, I wonder how it feels. Limiting someone's freedom is something I've never experience as I've lived a life of freedom.