"The city folk don't look too cheery." Sying commented, observing the townsfolk's faces. Aether nodded in agreement.
"Everyone's been put out of place by Stormterror recently. But everything will turn out fine as long as Jean's with us!" Amber told the trio with a smile.
"Jean?" The Traveler repeated the name, unfamiliar with it.
"Jean..." Sying echoed.
"Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius: Jean, Defender of Mondstadt. With Jean on our side, surely even the vicious Stormterror will be no match for us." Amber declared proudly. "Before I take you guys to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, I have a present for you, Aether. It's a reward for helping me out with the hilichurls. Come with me, we'll head to the city's ahh... high ground." Amber told us. Sying and Aether followed the Outrider as she talked. "This used to be a bustling street... But with so many Stormterror attacks recently, the usual crowds are nowhere to be seen. Except for the local tavern near the city wall over there. They haven't been affected. If anything, their business is better than ever." Then, the three of them reached the large Barbatos statue, where a Wind Glider rested on the ground. "So, the present I want to give you is... A Wind Glider! Outriders use them to ride the wind, and the people of Mondstadt love using them too. I brought you here to give it to you so you can experience it right away!"
"You're really excited about these Wind Gliders, huh." Aether commented.
"Well that's because the wind is the heart and soul of Mondstadt! Alrighty then, enough talk! Let's give it a whirl! It's easy to use, but you still need to pay attention to my instructions." Amber said.
As Aether put his on, Sying showed his to the Traveler. It was a starry blue with a gold design on it. Amber then took Aether somewhere to practice. Soon, the Outrider returned and Aether glided his way down to them. As soon as the traveler landed, the sky turned gray with clouds and the wind picked up.
"The sky..." Amber trailed off. The dragon from before flew around Mondstadt, destroying any building it came across. Amber mentioned it as Stormterror. The citizens began to flee as tornadoes suddenly appeared in the city. As the trio ran away, Aether was taken by one of the tornadoes.
"Sying!" Aether called out, reaching out for the adeptus. He barely missed the traveler's hand as Aether was thrown into the sky.
"Aether!" Sying yelled, concerned for the boy's safety. Once the adeptus saw Aether was okay and holding his own against Stormterror, he noticed the bard in green from earlier standing on the roof of a nearby building. Sying smirked and climbed up behind him. Like he thought, the bard was his old friend Venti, better known as the Anemo Archon Barbatos.
"Boo." Sying whispered in the bard's ear, causing Venti to scream and fall off the roof onto a balcony. Venti smiled nervously as Sying advanced.
"S-Sying! Yo-You scared me." Venti said. Sying just smiled. "Um, a little help please."
"Oh, right." Sying picked up Venti and placed him back on the roof. Venti let out a sigh of relief. "So, how long has it been since we've seen each other? Oh, that's right! It's been 500 years. You haven't even attempted to see me after you and the other Archons destroyed my nation. I hope you've enjoyed yourself, Barbatos."
"I've tried finding you, I really have! I missed you! You're my best friend Astral!" Venti exclaimed. Sying placed his hands on Venti's shoulders.
"Are you being honest?" Sying asked.
"Yes! Of course!" Venti replied. Sying gave an evil smile and put pressure on one of Venti's shoulders until there was a sickening crack. Venti's eyes widened in surprise and the bard resisted the urge to scream. "I deserved that."
"Yeah, you did. If you weren't keeping Aether from falling right now, I would have killed you already. Oh, Barbatos, did you know that everyone thinks I don't exist!? That Khaenri'ah never existed!? That She never existed!?" Sying snarled. Venti tilted his head in confusion.
"Really?" He questioned.
"Yep! Everyone thinks that I died and there are only seven Archons and seven nations. It's ridiculous." Sying shook his head in frustration.
"If you let me live, I'll make sure you get recognized! I'll write poems, and compose songs, I promise!" Venti told the angry adeptus.
"Make sure you include Her." Sying muttered. Venti nodded his head.
"Of course." He agreed. "Will we be friends again after this?"
"I'll consider it." Sying admitted.
"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Venti cheered.
"However, there's one more thing, you drunk traitor." Sying said. Venti's happy expression changed into one of fear.
"Please don't." Venti stated, but the bard's request was ignored and the Nova Archon broke the bard's other shoulder.
"I'm going to go now. I'll be seeing you around I guess. Oh, and get those shoulders looked at!" Sying yelled and ran off as Aether began to glide back down to Amber. Stormterror flew off causing the tornadoes to disappear. The only thing that remained were the dark clouds. Aether landed by the time Sying returned. Amber looked at the two boys worriedly.
"A-Are you guys hurt?" She asked.
"No. I'm alright." Aether replied.
"I'm good." Sying answered. Their moment of relief was interrupted by the sound of clapping. A man with long dark blue hair in a ponytail walked toward the trio. His eye was blue with a star in it, like Sying. An eyepatch covered the man's left eye. A Cryo Vision rested on his belt. The stranger looked at Aether.
"You've actually got the power to go up against the dragon... Are you a new ally, or a new storm?"
YOU ARE READING
Meraki
Fanfictionthe soul, creativity, or love you put into something; the essence of yourself that is put into your work. In which the King of Khaenri'ah plans to overthrow the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
