Blown To You - [Diluc Ragnvindr x F. Reader]

7 - Ad Astra Abyssosque

As we elapsed by the portcullis and began our journey outside the city, a frisson of excitement bubbled in my gut along with faint anxiety that I persevered to ignore. I confessed that being outside was a breath of fresh air after a long time of cooping myself indoors.

I was attired in a floral, cerulean dress. Its bodice tightly hugged my torso, emphasizing my bosom. My hair was fashioned in a waterfall braid, and a woven basket was slung on my elbow as Donna and I walked side by side.

We intended to gather Windwheel Aster, and the Statue of the Seven before Vennessa's tree was the closest place to collect it.

The break of dawn brought a drizzle to Mondstadt. The path was a moist ground carpeted by wet fallen leaves. On either side of the pathway, the trees' branches were bespangled by dewdrops. Clouds adorned the sky, and a cool breeze drifted past us.

"Lord Barbatos must be in high spirits. The wind is alive," I said, relishing the wind.

"The wind is fickle. You can feel its presence now then one moment it goes quiet," Donna replied.

"I see, the Anemo Archon is having mood swings."

She giggled as she looked at me. "You're becoming one with the wind."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you understand it. The wind is unpredictable. At first, it blows softly as if it's at peace then suddenly it sweeps a storm to the city. Learning to understand it will help you predict its behavior. Being one with the wind is a unique trait to Mondstadters." her lips curved upwards. "I'm glad to know you're adapting well in Mondstadt despite everything that happened. To me, you don't feel like a foreigner anymore."

I listened to her with a growing pain in my chest. It was as though someone pinched my heart. For a moment, it throbbed and it was painful but in a good way. Her words touched me, and I was swelling with positive emotions.

A smile as wide as the sea appeared on my face while I affectionately bumped my shoulders with Donna's, and the latter returned the gesture.

Upon our arrival, we started off picking up Windwheel Aster in front of the Statue of the Seven when a sudden shriek resonated in the area, causing me to drop the basket. The basket fell with a soft thud on the grass.

"Archons forbid- Oh my God. I just... I can't. One more scream and I'll roast you until you're overcooked."

"That's enough. You two are scaring them away."

Their voices were coming from the other side of Vennessa's tree, a telltale sign of their location. Donna and I came to a silent agreement to check the discordance. We walked past the Statue of the Seven and then ascended the sloping grass floor. Afterward, we trudged on the right side of the tree where humongous tree roots were sprawled in every direction. One root was large enough to cover both of us, so we utilized it. We crouched down, hiding our entire body but our eyes.

I peeked and saw a stream below. Foliage and Windwheel Aster were scattered abundantly beside it. To my surprise, Venti was there, standing on the bank of the stream with a flying creature next to him, and two persons who shared the same blonde hair were wading in the water.

"The crystalflies are all gone now, let's come back tomorrow," the blonde girl said.

Unbeknownst to her, a crystalfly was hovering above her head.

"Lumine, don't move," the blonde boy said.

With escalating astonishment, I watched him catch the crystalfly with incredible agility.

"Got it," he said. He looked at the crystalfly on his hand, made the biggest smile, and chuckled most adorably as if allowing himself to savor his small victory.