"We Will Meet At This Journey's End"

Mondstadt's Disappointment (4)

AN: hihi im so bored anygays Aether give me ur gender pt2 pls

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Morning came, and Aether and Paimon were up and ready to meet the others. As they took down their tent, Paimon asked Aether why he was going to such extreme lengths to help these people. Aether struggled hard but couldn't find an answer that didn't involve his sister.

Uhhhh because Jean looks kind of like Lumine? No that's dumb. Maybe because since my powers are gone and I'm stuck here, Lumine is somewhere in Mondstadt too. I can't exactly find her if there's a huge dragon in the way. No, that's really selfish I can't say that.

"Because I refuse to see someone else go through the same losses as I have." was his final response. Yeah, good enough.

"Whatever you say" Paimon replied, taking down the last pole of the tent. With this, they set out for Starsnatch Cliff. 

"Everyone is finally here" Diluc stated as Aether and Paimon got closer and closer to the edge of the cliff, where the other 3 were. Paimon stared into the distance in awe.

"What a view"

"Lovely for a fated reunion, is it not?" Venti rushed over and appeared next to Paimon, giggling slightly. "Well now don't get too comfortable, we must be prepared for a fight"

Diluc scoffed slightly behind them. "To think Mondstadt has gone through so much and the solution to our problem was but a traveler and a song. Ridiculous."

"We get it Master Diluc, you're annoyed that you couldn't solve this on your own. Now everyone please step aside, it's time!" Venti rushed to the very edge of the cliff, lyre in hand, ready to summon Dvalin. Diluc huffed again, standing back and bringing the others with him.

Venti began playing a tune that Aether was sure he had heard before, simple, elegant, and a little melancholy, when all of a sudden the ground began to shake violently. Even Paimon was unable to maintain balance, despite not even being on the ground. After a moment of violent movement from the cliff, everything went quiet, when all of a sudden a raging blue dragon emerged from underneath, soaring into the air and knocking everyone except for Venti right off their feet. The plan had worked. Dvalin had been summoned again.

"You have come" Dvalin glided down to meet Venti's gaze. "What has been done cannot be undone, do not test my will insolent bard." 

"If I cannot undo this, then why do I still sense you yearning for my music. Yearning to be free." Venti had to scream at the top of his lungs to let his voice be heard over the sound of Dvalin's wings. 

"Th-they're communicating." Jean whispered, frozen in place at the sight she was seeing.

"Huh?"

All of a sudden a massive bolt of ice shot down from next to Dvalin, targeting Venti and knocking the Holy Lyre right out of his hands, shattering the frame. From behind Dvalin's wings, a cryo abyss mage emerged.

"Do not be fooled dear dragon. This bard left you to rot alone, and now he has summoned you again to make a mockery of you." The abyss mage shrieked in a voice no one should ever have to hear. Aether had to cover his ears to make the sound more bearable.

Venti looked at the mage with an almost bored expression, and Aether noticed this. What is Venti doing? Does he not see the seriousness of the situation?! 

With his hands on his hips, Venti spoke in the most monotone voice Aether had ever heard him use.

"It's not like that." He rolled his eyes. Aether was in shock at Venti's behavior, however he seemed to be the only one who noticed.

"He's lying to you. He lies to you all the time. He wants to deceive you, use you for his bidding" The mage shrieked again. "Let your wrath fester dear dragon, for him, and all of Mondstadt, have already turned their backs on you."

With this, Dvalin soared into the sky, allowing the mage to rest on his back.

"Farewell, Barbatos. You foolish soul." With this they vanished, leaving an injured Venti and a shocked party.

"Barba- Venti, are you alright?!" Jean rushed to tend to his wound. Venti stared at her with an excited look on his face.

"You've known my true identity for a while now, haven't you Jean?" Jean payed no attention to Venti's musings, as she continued wrapping his arm tight with his own sleeve. "Actually, this may not make any sense to you, but you've known who I am for much longer than you'd think." With this, he winked at Aether, who was dumbfounded at what just happened.

"No matter, just know I'm very grateful for you using the name Venti."

"Anytime" Jean smiled.

"How is the Holy Lyre? Can it be fixed?" Diluc reached down to pick up what was left, ignoring the broken shards and strings still on the ground.

"Yeesh, I think it's beyond repair at this point..." Venti chuckled to himself at Diluc's silly question.

"No matter, what's important right now is not letting that abyss mage get away! Dvalin is in danger..." Aether interrupted, looking directly at Venti.

"Later ok? I'm tired and my arm hurts. Let's meet at Dawn Winery?"

Diluc looked at him with a tired expression. "Oh Lord Barbatos why me"

"Because I said so~" Venti exclaimed. The rest just laughed, and the 5 of them made their way down the cliff together.

Meanwhile, Dvalin was making his way to Stormterror's Lair, with the mage still on his back. The mage teleported down, landing on a ledge with 2 other mages to bow down to the girl in front of them. 

"Your highness, your humble servant has returned." The mage, head down, spoke quietly. "When your homeland returns to this world, we will be prepared.

The blonde girl in white turned around to face the 3 servants. Lumine.