Music to my Ears [(Y/n) x Venti]

Chapter 25

  "I don't believe we've been acquainted. I'm one of Venti's friends, and this is Paimon, my guide across Teyvat."

  I nodded at the two of them, trying to reel in my own curiosity. "My name is (Y/n)."

  "(Y/n) is my good friend. She's also experienced the presence of the Abyss Order recently." Venti butted in, sliding a hand around my shoulder. I tried not to smile at his action.

"It's nice to meet the both of you!" I smiled, trying to show hospitality.

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"One more bite, please?!" Venti whined, dropping his head onto my shoulder. His bright eyes shone with hunger as he eyed my meal.

Across the table, Paimon and the Traveler were working on their own food, the fairy devouring it greedily and her companion laughing at the bard's antics.

"Is he always like this, (Y/n)? I must admit it's in character for him!"

Venti feigned annoyance, rolling his eyes and sporting a smile. He straightened up and waved his hand dramatically. "It's not in character for me, because I usually don't have to ask. (Y/n)'s just being stingy."

"Since when?" I declared, trying to shimmy out of his grip.

"You know you love me~" he responded, sending a shiver through me. He swayed to my ear, whispers fanning across my neck. "You don't have to play so hard to get..."

Goosebumps emerged on my skin, and red flashed across my features. I felt heat crawl to my face. My brain struggled to think of a reply, a response to such a bold statement.

Unfortunately, I had been taking too long to process everything and before I knew it, Venti had stolen the food on my fork, dangling just inches away from my face.

"Wait-hey!" I gasped, my voice rising in surprise.

The bard responded with a boyish laugh and a wink my way. "Think faster next time."

The traveler's laughter filled the air, along with Venti's chuckles. I pouted their way, turning to the golden sun and burst of cyan sky. My expression relaxed, and my mind thought instead of what the traveler had said just half an hour prior.

"Are you sure!?"

The bard beside me gave a sympathetic look my way as he rubbed gentle circles on my back.

  "It was at the Lantern Rite. Lady Ningguang was preparing for the rite, but when it was time for his appearance, his Exuvia just...crashed out of the sky. It brought everyone to a spiraling panic. I barely made it out of there..." The Traveler spoke, her vivid eyes glossing over as she recounted her memories.

"The people of Liyue will pass this- they've always been resilient..." Venti added, eyes furrowed in thought. "Are you- were you particularly close with your archon?"

I stiffened, steeling myself to keep his gaze. "Not quite. But he was a was a symbol of protection to the people of Liyue. Now that he's gone..."

Although I kept my eyes down, I could feel the sympathetic looks of the tense bodies on me. My sadness and worry did not directly stem from my knowing put Rex Lapis- I wasn't notable enough to have had ties with him. The emotions eating me up were of guilt, of my brain somehow finding ways to tie his death to me and my siblings. After all, this was so close to our moving away from Liyue. I couldn't help but wonder if the rest of the Harbor's people thought the same thing. I subconsciously pulled the hood shading my face of snugger, hoping nobody got a peak of the features engraved into every citizen's mind like the scalding ring of sun dominating the sky.

My companions noticed the nervous tic, felt the jitter of my fingers under the table drumming my leg. They were close enough to see the furrowed brow and blurry gaze on my face, and surely thought of why others weren't allowed to see it. But how could I begin to explain my origins that were hated by all, including them. My heart felt heavy with all the secrets it cradled.

I thought of Zhongli- of his firm, guilted eyes, filled with wisdom, brimming with compassion for me. I knew tonight was the night- I would tell him of the problems aching me as of late. I felt compelled to trust him- to ask for a hint of his intellect, a sliver of his mind occupied by me.

"Why don't we think of more merry things?" Venti piped up, letting loose a nervous chuckle.

  They're worried for me.

I nodded, trying to swallow down my apprehension. After all, someone distant to the archon would be able to move on relatively easily after being reassured of the safety of Liyue. I couldn't let them know about the awful pit in my stomach, trying to devour me like an insatiable black hole. And so, I put on a slight smile and gulped down the sinking pain in my chest. It'll be alright...

  "Traveler, shouldn't we be visiting another one of the adepti today?" The little fairy said, her big round eyes looking at the sun. She had licked her plate clean and realized with a start that they had things they were supposed to do.

  The girl's eyes also widened in realization, following Paimon's gaze. "I'm so sorry, but I'm supposed to be delivering the news about Morax to some adepti. I've visited a few yesterday but it seems there's more than I expected."

Venti nodded in understanding. I tried not to think too much about the word 'adeptus'- I had heard it much in my time in Liyue but had never actually met one. I thought the blonde lucky she could meet not one but several, personally delivering the news of Rex Lapis. It made the deepest dark of my heart brim with a sliver of envy.

  "Well, good luck Traveler! I wish you the best on your further travels." I smiled, trying to ease the guilty feeling. Why her? Why not me? Who am I kidding- it's never me.

  As she got up, the little fairy in tow with her, I struggled to keep the smile on my face. No matter how much I could try to smile, her face always shone brighter. And I couldn't help but think that Venti agreed. Why does that bother me so much? Why am I trying to keep his sentiments on me alone?

  These thoughts are stupid...

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  "Can you feel that?" A lazy voice chuckled, catching the eye of his fellow companion.

  "I beg your pardon?"

  "I said, 'Can you feel that?'..." he reiterated, drumming his slender fingers on his armrest.

  If was silent for a few moments, as the sharp-eyed figure beside him waited for his next words.

  Silence, and then the vast chamber echoed again with the lull of his voice.

  "It seems the first crack has set it. How much longer do you think she'll last?"