To the unknown Future

Chapter 10:

Venti used the glider to go to her location and gave her a teasing smile. 

"Uriel you look so pretty in that dress," Venti complimented her that making her speechless beyond words. She grabbed the hem of her dress tight and turn away from him from excessive embarrassment. 

"What is this, can't speak? Cat got your tongue, hmm?" Venti teased and chuckled at her shy demeanor. 

"P-Please stop teasing me, Venti," She said in a soft and whining tone that made Venti giggle. He stood up and smiled at her. 

"But I don't want to, Nobody in Mondstadt knew that the rising adventurer of Mondstadt is so shy wearing a cathedral dress, so cute~," Venti said and admired her in that white dress. 

"Y-You..." Uriel was too embarrassed to talk or refute him that she escaped directly to the Serenitea pot. This move had Venti laughing out loud. After he had his fun, he coaxed Uriel to come out of the Serenitea pot. 

"I'm sorry for laughing, Uriel. Your reactions are just so cute that I can't help myself, forgive me, please?" Venti said in a coaxing manner and waiting for her to come out but there was no movement. 

Venti knows that she can hear his voice inside so keep coaxing her. 

"Uriel~, come out, I'm really sorry... Will you not see me anymore because I teased you too much?" Venti asked in a sad tone while staring intently at the Serenitea pot that he was carrying. 

"Are we not going to be friends anymore?" 

"What- No!" And just like that, Uriel came out of the Serenitea pot and hold his wrists because his hands were occupied. 

"...."

"A-Are you telling the truth just now? Y-You, don't want to be my friend anymore?" Uriel asked with a trembling and hurt tone as she looked down to hide her face. 

"Aye, So emotional today. Uriel, you're just so cute," Venti said and freed his right hand to tilt her chin up and smile gently at her. 

"It was a joke, I was just kidding. Because you do not want to see me, I have to think of the extreme. Were you scared? I'm sorry," Venti explained himself and wiped away the tear that escaped her beautiful golden eyes. 

"Y-You, you were joking? Venti, your jokes are so cruel," After she said that, the tears carelessly fell down from her eyes. Venti pursed his lips before he put down the Serenitea pot and hugged her tight in his arms. 

"I'm sorry, I won't do it anymore, calm down and take deep breaths," Venti consoled her as he felt her arms hugging him around his waist. Calming her down took a while and when she's finally calm, a part of his clothing has a wet spot. 

She saw that and was embarrassed and felt troubled. Taking out her handkerchief with a Cecilia Embroidery, she tried to wipe it dry. 

"I'm sorry, I ruined your clothes, I'll try to wipe it dry so please stay still, Venti," Uriel said and leaned closer to look at the wet spot. Venti too, looked down and saw her reddened eyes and tear-stained face while she was seriously wiping the wet spot on his clothing. 

Seeing her like this, Venti doesn't know how to respond, so he decided to question her instead. 

"Uriel, I know you have a vision. I asked Xingqui the last time when we were in Liyue. Using your vision will make this spot disappear in just a few seconds, why do not use it now?" Venti asked with confusion that made Uriel pause and looks at him with widened eyes. 

"Y-You knew I also have a vision? T-This... Uhm..." Uriel tried to grasp her words but she keep fumbling to them. It was obvious that she doesn't want to talk about it. Venti reached out and patted the top of her head, smiling at her. 

"There's no need to answer it now, feel free to say it to me when you are ready. It's not like I was in a hurry," Venti said reassuring her before letting his hand fall back next to him. 

"I-I see, T-Thank you for understanding, Venti," Uriel gave him a grateful smile before she resumed wiping the wet spot on his clothing. 

After that was done, the two of them sat at the stairs leading to the Statue of the Seven. Venti was surprised she was taking a break and asked if something happened.

"Oh? It was because I finished my commissions early, and decided to not get another round till tomorrow. I mean, commissions do help me in earning a living, however, there were some taxing jobs that I really do not like and prefer to not accept unless it was needed immediately," Uriel told him and proceeded to tell him her savings, which shocked him. 

"Wait, what?! You have already earned twenty-thousand mora within ten days?! W-What kind of commissions are you doing Uriel? This is so shocking," Venti exclaimed and thought in his mind, 

'Twenty-thousand Mora, imagine how many Dandelion Wine I can buy with that! What a dream!'

"U-Uhm, mostly it's for errands and delivery, there's some for solo battles for clearing Hilichurl camps on the road too... Just a few of them..." Uriel's voice seem to go softer and softer that made Venti look back at her. 

"What is it, Uriel? Are you okay?" Venti asked and hold her on her shoulders when he saw her getting pale on the face. 

"U-Uhm... V-Venti I think I need to go..." Uriel said in a low tone and stood up, only to stumble after three steps before she was caught by Venti's shoulders. 

"Whoa, wait a moment Uriel, what's wrong? You can tell me anything," Venti asked worriedly and look at her face, but she keeps being elusive. 

"Y-You... T-Thank you for your help b-but I really need to go," Uriel said and open the Serenitea pot but Venti watched up to her and he too got sucked inside the realm. 

"Uriel, please tell me what's wrong? You make me worry. I'm your friend, why are you keeping it to yourself?" Venti asked confused. Uriel tried to pull away from him but he tightened his grip on her wrist and her shoulder, not giving her the time and space for her to escape. 

"P-Please Venti let go... t-this is so embarrassing!" Uriel raised her voice and look away from him in shame. 

"Please tell me what's going on first? I don't want to see you collapsing, Uriel!" Venti said and her answer made him surprised. 

"I-I'm bleeding s-so please let me go... I-I..." Uriel started to tremble and began to tremble. Venti's eyes widened and wanted to help her but she pushed him away, Venti her let, and saw the trail of blood... down her pale, bare legs.

"What- Uriel your legs-"

"PLEASE DON'T LOOK!"Uriel shouted and run inside her home and shut the door. Venti was dumbfounded with a blank look on his face. 

'W-What- Why did she...' Venti's mind was in shambles while not understanding the problem.