Dreams from the Stars Above

CHAPTER TWELVE

ACT ONE ; PART TWELVE
"Goodbye Mondstadt, Hello Liyue"

NOTE: ⛧─⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─⛧stands for a text messaging segment.

"We should go to the Cathedral," Azrael said. "That's where the next cutscene is."

Ryu nodded. "Yeah, that was the plan, Az."

They spotted Signora leaving when they arrived.

"Huh, so Venti got his Gnosis stolen already," the dragon casually said, then went up, seeing Barbara trying to heal Venti.

"Oh hey Jean," he said, waving at the anemo user. She turned her attention to him. "Woah. What happened here? And who was that woman walking away from the two of you? Fatui, I presume?"

Jean nodded. "She is Signora, eighth of the Fatui Harbingers. She stole..."

The blonde glanced at Barbara.

"...something important."

Barbara yelped and jumped back as Venti suddenly woke up, sitting up.

"Huh? Oh, hello Honorary Knight~!"

Ryu smiled and noded.

"My healing powers didn't work on you," Barbara told him, worried. "Are you alright?"

Venti laughed. "It's completely normal. Come, Ry-Ry! Let's go to The Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero!"

(note: ry-ry pronounced like ri-ri)

The black haired dragon didn't get a word in before Venti stood up and dragged him to The Big Fucking Tree™ while laughing, carefree, like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

Once they arrived, Venti told him to sit down, also taking a seat himself, on a root.

"I assume you have questions?" he asked. "Ask me now, while Lumine is still out. Can't really tell ya the answers of what I think would be your questions when she's around, soo..."

"Restating my question earlier, have we met before?"

"Oh, we were great pals back then. Before... that time, we chatted sometimes for days on end, and you even helped me escape the old blockhead's wrath! Wait, you're reincarnated, so are they technically you?"

"Fair point," Azrael piped up.

"I assume past life me taught you many modern references and how certain devices from outer space work?"

Venti shrugged. "Kind of? It wasn't really you, but someone else who I shall not name."

"Can you tell me who I was and what my role was?"

The former archon cheekily smiled. "Haha! Can't do that, bud. The past life you wanted you to figure it out yourself. I'm not aboutta break that contract!"

Ryu looked at him in a way that said, 'Seriously?'

"Not even a hint?" he asked.

"Nuh-uh. Oh yeah, and don't really bother asking the other Archons or their companions directly. We're all in an agreed deal to not tell you or K—"

"Tone-deaf bard!"

'Hoo boy... that was a close call,' Venti thought as Lumine and Paimon approached. 'Focalors and Morax would be on the floor laughing if they were a few seconds late! I don't wanna lose the bet!'

He smiled at the two. "Hello~!"

"So... what's a Gnosis?" Lumine asked. Ryu stayed where he was as Venti stood up and dusted himself off.