Falling for You

Chapter 6 - Helpful People

 At top speed, I arrived at Mondstadt in just two hours. Along the way, I still kept looking out for the bard, but maybe we took different roads or my luck was just bad, but I didn't see him.

 Arriving in a completely unfamiliar city, I decided I should first ask at the adventurer's guild. The little guy was a vision holder, the guild wouldn't miss him for the world.

 Getting to the reception, I was faced with a rather familiar face.

 "Katheryne?"

 "Ad astra abyssosque! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. How may I help you?"

 "Uh, Katheryne, weren't you in Liyue?"

 "Oh, you have met Liyue Katheryne?"

 "Liyue... Katheryne?"

 "There is a Katheryne in every nation so of course, there would be a Liyue Katherine."

 "Of course..."

 Never mind then. It's not the weirdest thing I have seen in my life. I can just ask Morax about it when I get back.

 "So how may I help you today?"

 "About that... Is there any chance you know a bard named Venti?" Well, this is a long shot.

 Katheryne's answer surprised me, however.

 "Oh, the little guy dressed in green? That Venti?"

 "Yes, exactly!"

 I got a little excited. Have I finally found a clue?

 "He should be at Barbatos' statue if I'm not wrong."

 "Thank you, Katheryne!" And with that, I was already gone.

 Even if I don't know anything about Mondstadt, that giant statue could hardly have gone unnoticed, even from down here.

 I ran up at least three, maybe four sets of stairs, but, when I got to the statue, I didn't see Venti.

 I decided to ask someone.

 "Excuse me. Do you know a bard named Venti?"

 "Him? He was here till about an hour ago. If you're looking for him, check at Good Hunter."

 "Thank you!"

 And I ran off again, forgetting one small detail...

 "Where is Good Hunter?"

 "Not a local, it seems." An amused voice came from behind me.

 I turned around to see a tall man, dark skin, dark blue hair, and a pair of light blue eyes with... Huh? Diamond-shaped pupils?

 "You're staring." The man pointed out.

 "Oh, my apologies. But, how did you know that I'm not a local?"

 Is my personal information so easy to find? First the bard and now this guy.

 Luckily it was something a lot simpler than that.

 "I don't think there is a single person in Mondstadt who doesn't know where Good Hunter is." He laughed.

 "Oh."

 "I'm Kaeya, cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius. And you are?"

 "My name is Xiao. I come from Liyue."

 "Okay then, Xiao, why are you looking for Good Hunter?" He asked with a smile.

 "I'm looking for a bard."

 I have no reason to tell him anything else. His next words, however, surprised me.

 "A bard? You are looking for Venti, are you?"

 "You know him?"

 "Who doesn't? After winning the title of the most popular bard in Mondstadt three times, I would be surprised if someone here didn't know him."

 "Most popular bard in Modstadt..."

 "But if you're looking for him, Good Hunter isn't the place to go. Angel's Share would be a better guess."

 "Angel's Share?"

 "Let me lead the way, I was going there anyway."

 That is what he said, but for some reason, I really don't like that grin on his face.

 In the end, I still ended up following him to... a tavern.

 "Are you sure he would be here?"

 It didn't seem like something a cheerful guy like him would do.

 "That little fellow is one of the best drinkers in town. If he's not here, he is probably not in the city." He answered opening the door.

 "Hello there, master Diluc." He greeted the man behind the bar, but the other just sent an annoyed glare in his direction.

 "What are you doing here, Kaeya? You should still be on duty."

 "Oh how kind of you to remember my schedule, but today I'm here to help my friend look for our favorite little bard."

 To his call of friend, both I and the red-haired man looked at him questioningly.

 "You're his friend?" The man behind the counter asked me.

 "I don't think so...? We just met five minutes ago."

 "Is that so? Seems like captain Kaeya is fast calling people his friends." He sent another glare in the cavalry captain's direction before turning back to me.

 "If you are looking for Venti, go to Windrise. It's that big oak tree southeast of the city, you can't miss it."

 "Thank you very much!" I thanked him before once again running out, afraid to miss him again.

 I have to say, this city is filled with helpful people. Maybe it's not that bad to go out once in a while.

 3rd person POV

 After Xiao left the tavern, Diluc turned back to Kaeya.

 "So, why were you with him?"

 "Oh, nothing much. I was just curious what an adeptus was doing so far from Liyue."

 "I admire your information network, captain Kaeya," Diluc said sarcastically.

 "You speak like you didn't know the moment he entered the city."

"Tsk!"

 "I'm curious what our little bard did this time. To be able to drag someone like Xiao away from Liyue... Maybe I should ask him to teach me."

 "You should go back to work."

 "Oh but master Diluc, I'm already off work today." He smirked.

 "Tsk!"