Teleporting to the border between Mond and Liyue, I pull out my flute. After playing for a little bit, and letting the wind carry the sound, I whisper...
"Xiao."
A dash of green and black light appears in front of me.
"Does Traveler need me?" The boy, Xiao, asks me.
"No, I do." Xiao looks surprised for a moment, before composing himself.
"You didn't play for me last night. Even drunk, you always play." Its not a question in the slightest and it makes me feel guilty. I do always play for him. But I've been distracted lately with Diluc, so my playing isn't as good.
"I know and I'm sorry, my lyre broke yesterday."
"I am so sorry, Barbados." He says, kneeling. "I know how much that lyre meant to you."
"Don't kneel, and I told you it's Venti now." I think about it for a moment. "I'll be Barbados to you for the next twenty minutes if you'll go get another Archon to call a meeting for me."
"Why do they need to call a meeting?"
"Because, Alatus, I can't, not with out my Gnosis. And I have a few choice words to say to that block head Archon of yours."
"You want.... to call a meeting between gods... so that you can... what exactly?" Xiao sounds skeptical.
"I need to rip Zhongli a new one. He said something to a friend of mine that insults me too."
Xiao looks shocked. "He insulted you?"
Zhongli and I have always been kind and friendly with each other. He looked out for me in the Archon war. And he was especially kind after I started playing for Xiao. But he went to far.
"Yes, he did. I am not one to toy with mortals and I don't appreciate him implying that I am." Xiao nods like he understands, but he still looks a little confused. "Go get someone to call a meeting and I will play what ever you want me to play."
Xiao almost smiles at this, disappearing from view in a dark green-black light.
Pulling out my flute, I wait. It doesnt take long, before I can finish my song a white orb appears in front of me.
"Please make your way to Celestia, Lesser God Kusanali has called a meeting." The orbs recites.
Teleporting to the meeting room, I survey my surroundings.
"Why the meeting, Kusanali?" Ei asks, sitting in her designated chair. The room is circular, chairs for Archons and guests, while the floor of the room is clear. Nothing but a polished floor for us to stand on when we plead what ever case we're trying to plead.
This is where we go when ever we need to see another archon. If I had my Gnosis I could have called Zhongli personally, but I don't, so seeing everyone else is fine. It's fine.
"A nice looking Adeptus asked me to call one." She says, looking around. "I am sorry it took so long, he had to teach me how."
That's right, we haven't had to call a meeting in a while. It would make sense that she didn't remember or just didn't know how. I don't know, personally I haven't been to the last three meetings.
"Oh, so Morax needs us?" Ei asks, but Zhongli shakes his head. The room breaks into chatter. Why would an Adeptus ask for a meeting?
All eyes turn to Xiao, who stands by Kusanali's side.
"I called it." I say and the room goes silent. "I needed to settle something with Morax." I use his god name in hopes to display that I'm angry.
"Why would you call a meeting?" Ei asks, looking skeptical.
"I think I know what this is about. Everyone can go home, Barbados and I can deal with this." Zhongli says.
"No," an icy voice says. The Tsaritsa. "You need a mediator. That is the rule. Beelzbul and I will stay." She says from her chair. I'm the only one standing, it's my turn on the floor.
"But Kusanali, she started the meeting, she has to be the one to end it." Murata asks. Her pyro making her side of the room hot.
The Tsaritsa just shrugs. "Well send that sweet Adeptus for her when we're done."
The three Archons nod. Teleporting away in a white light tinted with their respective element.
"Now, what did we come here for Venti?" The Tsaritsa asks and I turn to Zhongli, glaring.
"I can assure you it was a joke..." Zhongli starts but I put up a hand to cut him off.
"Joke or not, you still insulted me. And him." I say.
Ei just looks to the cryo Archon. "Why am I here. They only need one mediator."
"Zhongli needs someone of his side. Both that Adeptus and I are here on the side of Barbados." She says. The Tsaritsa is rooting for me?
Ei nods, turning back to the floor where Zhongli and I stand.
"I meant no harm,"
"But you did harm. You did harm and right now isn't the time to be harming the things that are important to me. You never would have said that to Traveler."
He nods, agreeing. "How do you wish to settle this?"
"I want you to apologize. And not some half-assed one, a real apology. A letter to Diluc and maybe even a small gift of sincerity. Something."
"And if I don't want to?" He asks and my blood boils.
"Then I challenge you to a game of chess. Loser has to apologize and spend the day showing around the others mortal in their respective city."
Cocking her head to the side, Ei speaks. "You want him to spend more time with your mortal? And why do you have a mortal?"
"I have a friend, and he didn't have the best time in Liyue. I want him to have a nice trip with a tour guide that knows the place well." I say, thinking of where I would take the harbinger, just in case.
She nods again, but she doesnt look like she understands.
"I accept your game and your terms." Zhongli says, but I'm not looking at him. I'm looking at the Tsaritsa, whos sitting in her chair smiling.
"Let the game begin."
