Those Who Share the Memory

4.

Venti found himself extremely grateful for Guizhong's presence. Without Guizhong, he didn't know how he'd survive.

Rest? Rest was for the weak Zhongli had said and thus they had been labouring away all day long without a single break.

Food? Food was a luxury in times of war and Zhongli seemed to have forgotten that food even existed.

Venti let himself fall flat onto the ground, eyes squinting from the strong glare of the sun and he gratefully accepted the steamed buns that Guizhong handed him. Other than the occasional berries he had nicked from bushes they had passed, it was the first piece of food he had received in days. Slowly he propped himself back up, resting in a sitting position.

He stuffed a bun into his mouth. "Ah, moments like these remind me of the good old days."

Zhongli did not bother to hide his distaste at the way Venti spoke while eating. "Old? Aren't you quite young though?"

His bun became stuck in his throat and following that came a long coughing fit from Venti. Slowly regaining his composure he turned to stare dumbfounded at Zhongli. "It's a saying, blockhead."

Zhongli opened his mouth for a moment before closing it. "Oh, I see."

Venti let out a sigh, he supposed it was to be expected that Zhongli was not as familiar with the wonderful nuances of literature and language. Zhongli had never been much of a poet and instead, one who wielded a physical weapon and stood at the frontline of battlefields. "You know, you should try spending more time with humans."

"I do second this," Guizhong piped up, "You are awfully slow at some things my friend."

Venti nodded vigorously. "That's right."

Zhongli frowned. "Why are you both giving me that look?"

"What look?"

Venti's innocent face and sparkling eyes did not help at all. Zhongli sent a betrayed look towards Guizhong who was clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Venti snickered, and although he was laughing, his mind was busy wandering as he reminisced about the past and how he had first met Zhongli all those years ago.

It had been a rather sunny day he remembered. He remembered not because of the sweltering heat but instead the way the sun reflected off the other god, illuminating him in golden light. He had descended in a gust of wind and upon touching Liyuen soil for the first time, he had been greeted by none other than Rex Lapis who at the time believed that he came seeking aid. But what the man didn't know was that Venti had come prepared with bottles of wine for the two to share. And it wasn't just any wine, mind you, it was the best quality wine that Mondstadt had to offer at the time.

As the carefree spirit he was, the older god must have thought it preposterous that he'd be shirking his duties. Nor was it likely that the older god ever thought that he'd come to visit him again. But if there was one thing about Venti, he enjoyed travelling and seeing the world and meeting new people. He was flighty like the wind and it just happened to be that the wind kept taking him back to Liyue and to Rex Lapis. With the god, he explored Liyue Harbour and enjoyed wine, a barrage of questions slipping from his lips each time.

However, these good times did not last and those memories slowly faded. Times changed and eventually, there came a day when the wind never returned to Liyue again - a day that became the last time he saw his friend before disappearing into a deep slumber. It had been too late when he had realised that that day had become the last time. While he had long understood that all good things had to come to an end sometime, he wished it had happened another way in which he wasn't left wallowing in regret.