like the wind that flows through your hair

𝙸𝙸. 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙲𝙰𝙽'𝚃 𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝙰 𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶𝙻𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙿 𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴

Mondstadt's clouds were straight out of a Claude Monet painting—wispy and impressionistic—as if smeared across the sky's canvas by an artist's paintbrush. Zhongli admired their captivating shapes as he strode along the bridge towards the City. Venti had invited him for a drink at the tavern, and Zhongli naturally would not turn down a cup of osmanthus wine that tastes the same as he remembers with someone who shared the memory. The wind rustled his long amber-tipped hair. The land of the Anemo Archon Barbatos always carried a mysterious, mystical breeze wherever one wandered within its borders, like a constant promise of companionship.

Pushing open the door of Angel's Share, Zhongli found Venti guzzling a glass of dandelion wine in the corner. The God of Contracts raised his eyebrow as he sat across from his old friend, the only remaining member of the original Seven Archons aside from himself. "Are you drinking already without me? How impatient." It was a rhetorical question. Barbatos has been a bottomless pit for alcohol since he has known him. That's probably why he composed songs that were a disgrace to the arts.

Venti scowled up at Zhongli, his twin braids swishing over his shoulders. "I got tired of waiting, old man. You're late!"

"Apologies. It is a long way from Liyue," Zhongli responded reasonably, unfazed by the Anemo Archon's jibe, "I will make it up to you." He nodded graciously as the bartender Charles placed a flask of osmanthus wine before him along with a small saucer on a tray.

"So, how has life been as a retired archon, Morax?" Venti was one of the few who still called him by that name.

"I have been traveling frequently overseas. Liyue is no longer the feeble, war-ravaged land that needed my protection. I am glad that it has strong guardians now to watch over its great mountains. It is as if a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders," he responded. The hint of a smile grazed his pale lips. "Mortality somehow makes everything more beautiful. Even the air tastes different when I breathe."

"I know what you mean. Imposing rules, reigning over others, trying to escape shackles of the past... I have never enjoyed such things. Pointless as it may seem to others, I quite appreciate my freedom as a nameless bard. We have worked hard, Morax. It is time we took a break and let the wind take us wherever it shall."

Zhongli sipped his wine as he listened to the bard's musings, the tangy flavor burning a sweet trail down his throat. "The earth remembers everything—all the history that has transpired upon its surface. The stories of our nations will be passed down through the generations. I am content as I see Liyue prosper today and for many more years to come."

Dusk fell, and after a few more drinks and casual banter, both of the archons' cheeks were tinged with subtle color. Venti leaned back and stretched lazily, "What are you thinking about?"

Zhongli seemed to be deep in thought, his brows furrowed. After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"It just occurred to me that I haven't confessed my affections for a particular lady."

Venti's jaw dropped to the floor. Out of all things, this was the least expected. Then, his grin widened like a Cheshire Cat. Drunk Morax was fun, and this was not an opportunity to be missed. "Oh? And who has caught the mighty Lord of Geo's eye? Or shall I say...heart?"

The Geo Archon's gaze wandered toward the silvery moon that peeked through the window at them. "Her eyes are clear as a lake and her skin fairer than snow. She has a way with me that I can't explain. I feel that my traitorous heart is no longer my own."

Venti had leaned so far across the table he nearly spilled his drink. He held his tongue, giddy for more details. To his dismay, Zhongli cleared his throat and waved him away.

"Nevermind. Don't mind my ramblings."

The disappointed Anemo Archon scowled and smacked him on the shoulder. "Come on~ Leaving me on a cliffhanger like that. No matter. I will find out who this mysterious lady is soon enough. Stop waiting around, Morax. You are a mortal now. It's now or never."

Zhongli shot him an exasperated look. "I know that. I just don't know how she will take it. Even in the face of centuries of knowledge, a woman's heart remains one of life's greatest mysteries."

At that, Venti laughed boisterously as he poured his friend another glassful of wine.

"Then it sounds like you are going to need some more liquid courage, old man."