To the unknown Future

Chapter 6:

After getting her Serenitea pot, Uriel started to decorate it from the inside, and only Venti, Zhongli, and Xingqui were left in the office. 

"Ah, Whenever she puts her mind to it, she will want to see it to the end, sorry if she's getting in the way, Sir Venti," Xingqui told him with an apologetic tone. 

"It's fine, it's fine, besides, I have no arrangements for this week so waiting for her is not troublesome," Venti said with a smile. 

"I heard that the lady was an adopted daughter of your subfamily branch, can we ask from which branch she was raised?" Zhongli asked,

"Oh, since it's not a secret about her birthright, she's from the sixth branch of the Feiyun Family. This branch is also associated with the exorcism so she may end up showing some quirks here and there in the near future," Xingqui said with an embarrassed smile and the two nodded their heads. 

"Does Miss Uriel have any vision?"

"Oh, I think she has one, but always protests on using it so she swapped her real vision with a fake some time ago," Xingqui said contemplating. Venti and Zhongli both wondered about the reason but decided to not ask more.

"Oh that reminds me, Sir Venti, so you were the recipient of the commissioned lyre of Uriel, I didn't see that coming," Xingqui said with a look of inquiry in his eyes, Zhongli too was equally interested. 

"Yes, She accidentally broke my lyre while she was doing a commission in Mondstadt, and here was the payment," Venti smiled and caressed the lyre in his hands. 

"Can we see a performance today?" Zhongli asked Venti and Xingqui looked his way with expectant eyes,

"Ah, about that, the first audience of this lyre would be Uriel, I already promised her this," Venti made a nervous laugh. 

While the three were talking, Uriel came back from her Serenitea pot and eagerly invited the three of them inside. 

"O-Oh, no, it's fine really, Uriel, no need. Just go with Sir Xingqui and we will wait, maybe you both will see something missing if you take a look around together," Venti and Zhongli declined and the two left for the Serenitea pot. 

"So, why did you decline her invitation, Venti?" Zhongli asked curiously while the two of them were left in the room.

"Are you serious? That's a girl's house, what would we do stepping inside that place and looking at her personal belongings? It is too awkward and too intruding," Venti said with a knitted brow and Zhongli just hummed,

"But this person just invited us in, It means she trusts us enough to step into her personal place," Zhongli said but Venti still shook his head. 

"No, just be quiet Zhongli and let me think, I have to make a song for her too as thanks for the lyre," Venti ended the conversation, sinking deep into his mind to create a new song dedicated to Uriel. 

It was until nighttime that Uriel and Xingqui were finished investigating the Serenitea pot before they offer the two of them to Xinyue Kiosk for dinner before leaving for Mondstadt. While they were eating, a person dressed as a Fatui walked towards their table and asked for Uriel to come with her. 

"The Northland Bank wishes to offer a commission to the miss after hearing of your great feats and your profession in handling the commissions both in Mondstadt and Liyue if you could be so kind to-"

"Ah sorry, After dinner, I'm on my way to Mondstadt so I won't be taking any commissions from Liyue," She said in an apologetic tone. The person from the Fatui nodded in understanding but still pressed on for her to take the commission.

"I'm sorry, I must decline," She said in a firm tone and the girl could only leave them be. Venti gazed on the back of the Fatui girl wondering what kind of scheme they were aiming for once more. He met Uriel's stare and he tilt his head with a confused look, Uriel smiled at him before she focused on her food once more. 

"Why are they looking for you, Uriel? There's a lot of other capable adventurers with far greater experience and knowledge than you, and yet they were adamant to make you do it," Xingqui was frowning while thinking of any possibilities that may take any risk on Uriel's being. 

"Don't worry too much, Xingqui, there's nothing to worry about. For all I know, it would be something trivial because they want to commission me," Uriel paused eating and giving a hypothetical guess. 

"Let's say I did agree to take the commission, it would be noteworthy to look at my background first as a novice adventurer and I haven't made any big connections to anyone. Aside from that, I am also a member of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, they might use my connection to that for something big. That is, still hypothetically speaking," Uriel said with a bright smile before taking a drink from her teacup. 

"You are right, Jiejie. I'll make sure to keep an eye on the Fatui while you're gone," Xingqui said and got a pat on the head from Uriel. 

"Xingqui still loves me the best, hehe~," Uriel said and hugged Xingqui who was embarrassed at her open affection. After that, Xu prepared their horse-drawn wheel cart for their trip towards Mondstadt. They were sitting next to each other, and the silence was peaceful while the bright moon illuminates the road they were taking. 

"Venti," Uriel called him and he perked up from her voice which snapped him out of his thoughts,

"Yes, yes?" He asked with a confused tone. Uriel looked around first before looking back to Venti. 

"The first song you will play with the new lyre, can I hear it now?" Uriel made the horse slow down while she faces the road, making sure that the vibration from the wheels and the rough road won't affect Venti if he played the lyre. 

"You mean now?" He asked surprised. Uriel nodded her head and turn towards him with a bright expression. 

"Actually while I was running commissions in Mondstadt I heard that you are one of the renowned bards in Mondstadt, and I've been so curious that I've been itching to hear your songs and tales," Uriel said in an excited manner. 

"Ah, no wonder," Venti smiled awkwardly and looked at the lyre in his hand, it was extravagant and the quality was top-notch, it was not a coincidence but because of the prestige, she gathered about him. 

"Hm? What's wrong Venti? Do you feel uncomfortable? Want to stop here for a while?" Uriel asked in a concerned tone. 

"Uriel, you... Do you know who I am?" Venti asked with a serious tone. Uriel looked at him with a surprised and confused look on her face. 

"Well, If I'm being honest, I don't know a lot about you... but, since we are friends, we can know more about each other slowly in the future," She said with a smile. Venti's eyes widened and looked at her with a blank mind. 

'I thought she did it because of my prestige, but it seems like, She's just a generous person in general with little to no common sense available each time,'

"You... I can't understand you at all," Venti frowned and looked away from her with a knitted brow.