Unwanted Reveal

His worried song

Songs of the wind can be heard everywhere as the little bard wonder around Mondstadt again. "Ah~ Such a beautiful day. . . Seem like it's a perfect moment for me to earn some mora."

The little bard sang all day long, treating people with his delightful performances. Sometimes a little wind blow by him as he sang beautifully with his people listening carefully to his songs which truly help them to carry on their days.

"Wow Venti!" The deaconess said with sparkle in her eyes. "You truly have a beautiful voice! Not even I can sing that beautifully."

"What are you saying?" The little bard chuckle, "anyone can sing beautiful if they believe and try hard enough" He sometimes wonder whether if she just comparing her to him or did she really think that she couldn't sing like him?

"Maybe you're right but with the help your lyre, it just help smoothed out your singing." She sang looking down as she thought that she would never play an instrument. "I never play an instrument before, but even if I try. . . It will never work out for me."

"What nonsense you have, ehe~" He chuckle again wondering if her mind was in the right, "you just gave up like that? Maybe that why you look down at yourself" He said while trying not to upset the little deaconess. "Of course an instrument need time to learn, nobody can learn it in just a second or two! So why just give up that?" He question the deaconess waiting for her reply.

"But I have no time to learn now...I have a lot of duties you know plus I need to put up a concert for my fans plus I have to be ready if anyone need healing plus I-." She reply to him fast but also sounding disappointed.

"My my, maybe have a time schedule for yourself. I know Mondstadt's people are truly hardworking but I wouldn't want them to over do themselves. You are a human not a machine."

"Yea but still-"

"No no, no complain. You're the one who ask me so take my advice." He bow at her with a simple grin on his face. "You're not the only person who have a lot of work to do. So please take care of yourself and take care of other people. Stop them before they collapse because of overworking~"

"Alright, I do as you advice also thank you for yourself time~" She sang while waving at him goodbye.

"It great- no, fantastic to give my people some advice." He thought as he carry on with his day while playing a few tunes on his lyre. "But aren't they a little too hard working sometimes?" That thought got the bard a little concern for his people.

________________________________________________________________________________

*Knock knock*

"Oh- Come in" Varka, the grandmaster of the Knight of Favonius said wondering who want to see him at this time.

"Greeting Varka, the grandmaster of the Knight of Favonius~ Working hard as usual it seem." The little bard enter with a small bow.

"Ah! Lord Barbatos, welcome...or do you want me to call you Venti instead?" The grandmaster answer with joy, having to see his archon present in his office.

"Venti would be fine, sir" He chuckle while having a sit in his office.

"Well, what bring you today Venti?" He asked.

"Oh, nothing much, I just want to discuss about the Abyss Order that I over heard with the winds about your discussion about me with Jean." He said sounding to be a little bit more serious.

"Ah yes, why of course, anything for my archon." He reply with respect to the little bard who seem a bit uncomfortable with the amount of respect he gets. I mean- its really been a long time since somebody respect him as Barbatos in person. I guess he had gotten too use with people showing their casual side, having to get along with him with or without respect.

"You don't have to act so respectful." The little bard said, "Just act casually around me, I truly don't mind."

"All due to respect but I cannot do that." The grandmaster reply, "It due to the fact that I am very devoted to you as well as many others, so it might be hard to get use to it and I believe you will."

"Ah...I understand but maybe not when I am just a bard." The little bard said with little disappointment in his face, "It better to show me your kind of attitude when I am truly Lord Barbatos in my archon form, otherwise it will just surprise me."

"I understand Venti, I will do as you wish." The grandmaster reply back to the little bard. "So anyways, about the Abyss Order, what do you want to know about it?"

"I'm just wondering..." The little bard having to clear his throat, "will they actually attack Mondstadt? I-I mean like, they will one day but won't they have a chance at beating us since you said they are stronger that than we thought at first plus, we still don't have much info about them. All we have is just theories and and also won't they be coming mainly of because me since one of the Abyss Mage know my identity when we went to cure Dvalin. I-I"

"Venti. Stop it. You're worrying me." The grandmaster said quietly but in anger. "You're not the only reason why they want to attack Mondstadt. We will find a way so just trust us, Lord Barbatos I mean Venti. I know you're worried for Mondstadt future but it is in good hands."

Having to said that make the little bard look down at himself, wondering if he's really useless or he is just overthinking and pressuring himself to protect Mondstadt from any danger. Even if it meant his life. No, he have to live. His people would just blame themselves for not protecting him. . .but what can he do without his gnosis? If only if he had his gnosis still with him maybe when the Abyss Order come, he could cast a wind barriers about Mondstadt to protect his people. No- It might not work. After all he was still petty weak with or without his gnosis. Maybe he shouldn't had left Mondstadt on its own but staying there would mean the people would want him to rule over Mondstadt since other nations have their archons ruling over them. . . But that's no freedom at all. . . But it is want the people wanted right...?What is his true definition of freedom now? No, he should known what it is to him, after all he is the God of Freedom. . . But what if he's wrong in some way?

"A-ah yes, Mondstadt is truly in good hands for many years up until now. Sorry for worrying you...I guess I was overthinking too much..." The little bard reply having to bow to the grandmaster to show his apologies.

"There no need to bow at me Venti, it is very normal for an archon for you to show his concern for his own nation." The grandmaster said while having to put his hand on his archon head with a gentle smile. "We will protect Mondstadt and ourselves at all cost, so please have some weight off you."

But doesn't he also need to have some weight off him too? He is a human being while Barbatos is an immortal god. Why is he doing this while it is suppose to be an archon job? His people are really overworking themselves. But just how long will it last? He just don't want to see people to die for him but to rather die for something they love the most other than him. Even if he dies, another anemo archon will appear but. . . they will be different from him and would have different intention like the other 5 archon who replaced his old friends. He just wanted Mondstadt to be a free nation with nobody ruling or telling them what to do. Many people had died during battle to free themselves, he just couldn't let it go to waste.

"I understand Varka, but if Mondstadt were in deep danger...I will eventually have to step in." The little bard said with a very serious tone but why does his mouth move its own?

"Very well then. I believe you should take a break now and end our discussion here today." The grandmaster reply.
"You too should take a break." The little bard said having to surprise the grandmaster, "You're not a machine but one of my people so you should deserve a break"

"Alright then, I will eventually after today work. I'm glad to finally speak to you, Venti." He reply back to the concern bard.
"Me too." The little bard said having his feet to take control as he left the office.

Now the little bard have nothing to do except playing a few song on his lyre. Transforming his fake vision to his beautiful lyre, he played his song the all dawn long. "It would be nice if I had my Holy Lyre back to play my songs instead..."