A Protective Wind 🍃Venbara🍃

🍃Nine🍃

Venti POV
For any typical mortal being, walking from mondstadt to Liyue would take days but personally I created my own wind current and went over to Liyue in just one day. I knew Morax no longer had his title and was just a random guy in the city by the name of "Zhongli" now, as I had figured this out from the traveler. I walked around in the brilliant city as when I got there it had turned to night and all the lanterns were lit...truly a magnificent sight, I wonder if she would like it? No, no, no Venti that's how you got into this mess and that's why you're going to ask the blockhead about it.

I began to look for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, I had been told he worked there by the traveler as well. I went inside the door and I was met by this woman with two dark brown pigtails, she was talking about death very happily and kept trying to offer me coupons...A strange personality for sure...Anyways I finally spoke up,

"Is Zhongli here? I kind of need to talk to him..."

"Oh yeah he's here! I'll go fetch him for you, oh Mr.Zhongli~"

She had began to skip over to another room as she said his name, I still couldn't quite understand what she was so happy about in a Funeral Parlor...I sat in the lobby for what felt like hours, but perhaps that's just because I'm impatient. I finally saw Morax in my view, and we stared at each other until he spoke,

"Hello, Venti. What is an old friend such as yourself doing here? Also I hope Hu Tao hasn't upset you."

She didn't upset me I thought, I wonder why he thought she might of? Perhaps he's thinking about how...never mind that, no need to get so gloomy all of a sudden!

"I need to talk to you about something in private, I really need your guidance! Please Zhongliiiiiiii!"

I put both of my hands together and lowered my head a bit, I don't quite know what he thinks of me...I mean he talks with a bit of kindness in his voice, but he used to throw boulders at me so I'm quite confused...Anyways, he looked over at the woman named "Hu Tao" and began to ask,

"May I go for the day, Venti here is a friend of mine and I would truly love to go give him advice."

Hu Tao smiled, and nodded, "You may Mr.Zhongli, after all I sometimes go off to hang out with friends. It would only be right to allow you to do the same, and plus you don't really ever mention friends that much. I could give them all free coffins if you need them!"

She gave a mischievous giggle as Zhongli simply said his goodbyes and we went somewhere to eat. I had a few spare mora on me, enough to get
food for the both of us but Morax actually offered to pay...How strange, the traveler said he was broke. I was fairly silent the whole time, hearing the clanking of our shoes and the noise of the small crowds who were still out.

Zhongli POV
He's so quiet...What is troubling you little brother? As annoying the drunkard is, I still view him as a little brother that is to be protected. In my mind I will always view him as the little wind spirit he is, an adorable creature. I am taller than him so I put my hand on his head and ruffled his hair.

"Something truly is bothering you, Hm?"

He didn't respond which most definitely made me go on edge. This is not "the vibe" as the kids say now, I think I used that right...He wasn't talking and so I wasn't going to push it out of him until he was ready, we finally arrived at the restaurant and sat down to eat more so in the corner. We got our food shortly after and began to eat, I looked up at him a few times and he was mainly just playing with his food.

"Zhongli...Are you ever frustrated that you can't have freedom? That you end up getting people hurt without meaning to?"

"Where is all of this coming from, Venti? Do you yearn for someone's affection?"

After I asked that he stayed silent, I had finally gotten a hint as to his problems...He yearns for affection most likely from a mortal, and is afraid. He was fully looking down as he took small bites of his food.

~777 words~