Chapter Text
The sun shone bright above Jean as the rows of Dawn Winery vineyards greeted her vision, a familiar sight that eased the ever present tension lining her shoulders. The distance from the constantly bustling city also aided in that as she trekked toward the main building on the property.
She waved and warmly greeted the numerous winery workers tending to the crops and tasks. Many of them had witnessed her chasing crystal-flies long before she joined the knights. It was a change of pace being seen as the woman who had grown up from the winery heirs' childhood friend, rather than Acting Grandmaster Jean Gunnhildr. She mused that she ought to pay more visits to the winery when she had the time.
Upon reaching the front of the manor, Jean stopped short at the sight of another about to head toward the front door.
Kaeya's smiling face flickered a twitch of surprise before leveling, a detail easily missed if not for their shared history. He offered her a lazy wave as they both continue their stride to meet in the middle, "Fancy seeing you here Acting Grandmaster. I didn't expect to bump into you all the way out here."
She waved him off, "I could say the same. Though I am not here in an official capacity, so not as Acting Grandmaster." She emphasized the latter with a look at her old friend.
A knowing glint formed in Kaeya's eyes, "Oh? And what business would you have with the winery off duty?"
Jean frowned and crossed her arms, "Before I answer that, can I assume you are also off duty for this visit?"
Kaeya smiled disarmingly as though that would work on her, "Of course, how could I deny the opportunity to pay my dearest brother a visit?"
Jean huffed with a hint of warmth in her tone, "I am here in a similar manner. If its nothing important than perhaps we can go see him together?"
She did not say like old time's sake, despite the weight of her words resting on them both and lingering unspoken.
Kaeya let the nostalgia be carried away by the breeze as he gestured with a flourish towards the door, "Yes, lets do that. Please, lead the way."
Jean pointedly did not roll her eyes but fondness bloomed regardless as she and Kaeya are allowed inside by a familiar white-haired older man, a familiar face from their childhood days at the winery.
He let them both in, a smile forming dimples on his deceptively youthful face, "What a pleasant surprise, Grandmaster Jean and Captain Kaeya! Please come in, come in. Is there some official Knights business to thank for this visit?"
"Thank you Elzer, but neither of us are here on duty. Could we see Diluc if he's in?" Jean answered with a smile in turn.
Elzer blinked, "Oh now, that is a surprise indeed. Of course, let me fetch Master Diluc. Pardon me."
The older man set off down the hall, where both Kaeya and Jean knew the office lies. Despite the casual visit, neither broke script from being guests of the manor and patiently waited in the lobby.
Soon enough, Elzer returned with the owner of the winery himself. Diluc Ragnvindr, a tall man with a youthful face (or baby face as Kaeya has teased in the past) and long curly red hair. His face remains passive as ever, and is adorned in his usual dark colored clothing as he entered the lobby.
Like Kaeya, his otherwise placid expression is betrayed by a slight twitch giving away his surprise at the sight of his visitors. Ah, so Elzer did not specify who his guests were, cheeky man, Jean thought.
"Jean, Sir Kaeya." Diluc nodded in greeting, his tone and face unabashedly dropped flat upon greeting the latter.
"A pleasure as always Master Diluc." Kaeya replied undeterred with a smile.
Jean elbowed Kaeya with exasperation, "Could we talk, in private?"
The three of them, Elzer had excused himself, made their way into Diluc's office. Said man shut the door before turning to address the two guests.
"Now, what can I do for you?" Diluc asked with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.
The two off duty knights glanced at each other, wordless stares dared the other to speak first. With time being of the essence, Jean breezed past the challenge to speak up, "I'm here to ask you for a favor."
Kaeya chuckled, "Coincidentally, I am here for a similar reason."
Jean continued, ignoring the navy-haired man, "Things are escalating to a dangerous degree with Lord Stormsong and I need your skills and help with it. On a less conspicuous level."
Diluc frowned, "You want me to help with a matter meant for the knights?"
She shook her head, "While normally it would be, tensions are rising in the city with the Snezhnayan diplomatic presence. While it may not be their own territory, there are much more eyes and ears in Brisewerth."
Her brow furrowed, "The church will not allow us to directly act against Lord Stormsong even as dire as the situation has become. And should the knights take action, it may send the masses into panic and chaos. Which we cannot allow with foreign dignitaries present."
Diluc's face fought back a grimace despite himself and Jean backpedaled from that activated boom blossom.
Jean's face softened, "I'm not asking for the Knights. I'm asking as Jean."
"I have made my stance regarding the Knights apparent." Diluc exhaled with a hint of fondness, "But for the safety of Mondstadt and its people, I suppose I can lend my aid. And as a personal favor for a friend."
"And for your dearest, younger brother?" Kaeya chimed in unabashedly.
Diluc leveled an unimpressed look, "Indeed, what pray tell could Sir Kaeya be doing here. Slacking off on your own duties?"
Kaeya reared back, hand on chest, "You wound me Master Diluc. Can I not simply take time to see you of my own accord?"
The other didn't deign that with a response so Kaeya continued, "I came to touch base with you on the matter of our dragon issue. "
Diluc scoffed, "If you think my contacts have all the answers, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. I have not heard anything on the issue of Lord Stormsong's situation. Perhaps this issue is a bit too divine for my network."
Kaeya sighed with an exaggeratedly put out expression, "Say it isn't so, even Master Diluc's elusive information network cannot find the answers to our problems." He then dropped said expression into one of genuine severity, "That certainly is troubling. I suppose the solution will have to come from more creative avenues."
Jean hummed in thought, "I have a proposal for both of you."
The two men turned to her in unison with similar knowing looks.
"It would be suspicious for the Acting Grandmaster to be wandering about during a crisis. But if she were simply spending time with old friends, there is less room for undue attention, surface level at least." Jean smiled wryly.
Diluc sighed but nodded and Kaeya grinned roguishly in response.
The youthful bard that trailed alongside Lumine was the chatty type as she had learned. Allowing the other to chatter away suited the traveler just fine. Lumine found that one can learn a lot from how a person filled or neglected to fill silence.
"-wine is one of Mondstadt's best exports, though it is best served fresh in the lands of freedom herself! Nothing beats a good cider and the fresh air of the outdoors." Venti insisted with gusto.
Lumine hummed in acknowledgement, listening but lacking a verbal response to voice. Paimon orbited around Venti like a miniature planet, having not grown bored of this new person.
Venti sighed wistfully, "Oh the joys of good drinks can never be praised highly enough- oh we're here!"
Temple of the Dragon was a tall and majestic structure out in the open fields, the endless tall grass rippled with the flow of the wind that flew freely all around in hues of green and yellow. The structure itself was carved from stone and weathered with time and stood proud despite its age. Tall stone pillars held up a roof while keeping the interior open to the air, the breeze ever present within.
Throughout the open air temple hung numerous wind chimes. Some were intricate and finely detailed pieces made from glass, delicate art formed by the hands of masters of their craft. While others were lopsided and haphazard misshapen pieces, clumsy in execution but earnest. Yet all of them regardless of form, rang with the charm and heart of genuine passion and prayer. They jingled and clang in a melodious cacophony and symphony, discordant sounds that should be a bane on the ears managed to work together.
Venti gazed with fondness at the chimes strung about, "For hundreds of years, all were welcome to hang wind chimes here in Lord Stormsong's temple. As a tribute and offering to his watch over Mondstadt and defense of it in times of need."
"He was a gentle child, so shy and scared of rejection from others. It is said that the sounds of a melody drew down a young dragon from the bright skies above to the earth below. The soothing music entranced him so and despite the fear of the humans, the dragon and they learned that they were not so different." Venti hummed softly, a melodious undertone to his words.
Gazing up at the chimes drifting in the wind, he continued, "Even with venom coursing through his veins and his mind hampered, he acts out of protection and defense of the people and the home he calls his own."
Lumine listened to the tale spun and the echoes of the past seemed to reach through time itself through the bard's words. Though no musical instruments or tools in hand, Venti invoked a vivid song and impression of the dragon's past and role as a protector. She could almost hear the very tunes that lured a curious dragon down to the grassy plains below and felt the rage and confusion from a burning poison in her own veins.
The surge of emotions, strong as though they were her own experiences brought an ache to her heart had her pulling Paimon close for comfort, cheek pressed against the little creature who chirped inquisitively.
They closed their eyes for a moment to center themself from the unexpected deluge of secondhand emotions, then breathed deeply and slowly. Opening their eyes was met with Venti's expression softened and a saddened smile.
The traveler stared back into those eyes as they softly exhaled, "I understand."
The history etched into the temple they stand in resonated with Lumine, she heard the echoes of times past, present and future carried by the wind. The experience and the expression full of longing and guilt spoke to the question she held. The bard before her held the dragon in his heart dearly, a deep bond that urged her very being to help mend it.
Aether always did say she had a soft spot for the hurt and desperate despite herself. Today was not the day she proved him wrong.
Venti's head perked up as if hearing something far away, "Oh! Oh dear, quickly traveler we must make haste. Dvalin's landed again and away we go or this chance we waste!"
They dashed from the temple, the traveler racing after the bard with haste.
Seconds after they did, three heads popped out from behind a wall.
Jean side eyed her two old friends, "Kaeya I understand but do I want to ask why you have such a knack for sneaking and going unnoticed Diluc?"
Said red-haired man did not deign to offer a response.
Kaeya smiled disarmingly (as though that would work on someone who grew up with him), "Master Diluc was able to swipe bottles of cider from the winery cellar even when a small child, I'm sure he wouldn't let such skills dull even after all these years."
Jean forced down the unimpressed expression her face yearned to shift into, before remembering she is Jean rather than Acting Grandmaster for the moment. So she fully leveled her narrowed eyes and frown in full at her childhood friends.
Kaeya hummed, "In any case, quite a character that bard is. How on Teyvat does he know that Lord Stormsong is nearby? And he's with the traveler too, now this is a interesting situation."
Diluc pointed toward the direction of the bard's departure, "The best way of getting answers is currently booking it to said location as we speak. Less talking, more tailing."
Banter aside, the three swiftly trailed behind the bard and outlander in pursuit.
A mortal human would have been panting and gasping from exertion by the pace and speed set by Venti, thankfully Lumine was something else (and she suspected Venti too at this point).
The two had darted back into the woods, the thick tree cover leaving only dapples of sunlight peaking through the canopy.
Venti had not even turned back to ensure the traveler was still following the entire rush of a journey, seemingly focused on getting to the location of Dvalin. How he knew only added to Lumine's growing suspicions, though she set that aside for now.
The familiar roar of a dragon and sounds of fighting grew louder and louder as the two drew closer to a clearing before finally breaking through the treeline.
Massive wings had already lifted the sickly dragon back into the skies as the two made it to a battle worn clearing. Dvalin's form already growing smaller before soaring away in another direction faster than one could blink.
Lumine spotted numerous humanoid bodies scattered on the ground once again of a similar attire and aesthetic choice as those from the previous encounter with Dvalin and Venti. Their singed and dirtied clothes told the tale of having been dealt with ease by the dragon.
Venti stared out at the sky in the direction Dvalin had fled toward, a sad look in his eyes. However he jolted and then in a flurry of action rushed past the strewn bodies. Lumine trailed after him and spotted a floating red object that he beelined toward with fervor.
He walked up to the gem fearlessly and cupped it before he turned around to face the traveler, though his eyes only had sights for said item.
Venti's face twisted with worry, "Dvalin is weeping, the poison turning his tears into crystals of poison."
Said crystal was a faceted tear drop shaped gem that hovered in the air with a faint sickly red glow.
The pulsating venom within the crystallized tear drop shaped gem surged to Lumine's very core, like the beat of a loud drum that rumbled her entire being yet wholly drew her attention. The crystal hovering in her palm (when had she taken hold of it ) was hypnotic and she barely heard the muffled sounds of someone talking, the words lost as thought her ears were underwater.
The energy coursed and surged into her, gently but insistently like water absorbed by hungry roots of a plant. It flowed into her in a ceaseless stream, like the motion of a wheel turning and caught up in the speed and momentum of spinning. It flowed and flowed before the stream drew empty, the source empty.
"-Traveler!"
Lumine blinked as though waking from a dream, mind fuzzy and thoughts scrambled. Venti frantically called her name, she realized. Even Paimon chittered with panic around her, both of them hovering around her.
Looking down, they saw the tear in their palm now shined a bright and clear cyan, the blue hues a stark contrast to its formerly vivid red coloration. The oppressive and sharp energy that permeated the crystal is gone, like a foul odor the wind carried away leaving only crisp, clean air.
Venti's eyes widened in surprise, "The tear, you-"
Lumine tensed instinctively as Venti scooped the tear from her and held it delicately as though it would shatter like fragile glass. His eyes focused on the tear with momentary intensity before the focus floated away with the wind.
"It's clean, there's no traces of the poison or corruption!" Venti murmured with awe.
"Huh." Lumine noted with a de-attached sense of calm, absentmindedly petting Paimon.
Venti surged forward and startled both of them as he leaned in with vigor, "That's it traveler! This is the piece that was missing!"
"Missing piece?" Lumine asked with confusion, having lost track of what the conversation was about.
"Yes! The key to helping free Dvalin of his ailment! This ability of yours to purify abyssal corruption!" Venti cheered with a massive smile.
The blonde outlander blinked, "That's good..?"
"Fear not dear traveler, I have a plan!" Venti proclaimed with a dramatic hand motion toward the sky.
"And what is the plan?" Lumine grumbled.
"Yes please do elaborate." A third voice insisted.
Lumine and Venti froze in unison and slowly turned around to see an unimpressed Jean standing beside them with crossed arms. Lumine idly noted the red haired winery worker and Kaeya beside her, the former aloof and the latter amused.
"Ahh-ehe how long have you been standing there?" Venti stammered.
"Long enough to get the broad strokes." The red-haired winery worker- Diluc that's right- intones dryly.
Lumine internally sighs at once again having become caught up in some shady sounding plan by the local authorities. It must be a record time at getting caught though. She chimes in, "I don't suppose you could pretend you didn't hear any of it?"
Jean's expression speaks louder than her words, "I don't believe so."
Kaeya chuckles, "Certainly not. Who could forget a situation this memorable?"
Venti sighed with light exasperation and a shrug, "Well I suppose the fluff is off the dandelion at this point. Very well gather round my friends, and let me explain my plan."
He gestures towards himself, "I have tried to calm Dvalin and talk to him, but his mind and perception is too muddled by the corruption inside. He's not mindless, but his ability to focus and think is hindered and being sabotaged. Like being stuck in a constant state of panic, he can't think clearly and is easily provoked if he feels threatened."
The bard points at the traveler, "That is where you come in! Even if I can calm him down, the poison will eventually take hold of his thoughts again. If you can draw away some of it, it may creature an opportunity to free him of it!"
Diluc frowned, "That seems a bit optimistic. Are you certain that this will even work?" Lumine is inclined to agree but doesn't voice her concurrent, better to not draw attention to said abilities that blindsided even herself.
Venti clucked his tongue in a light scolding, "Let me finish before you judge. That said, I don't think my words alone can bring Dvalin back to his senses even if the poison is siphoned by the traveler." The manner reminded the traveler of a wizened grandparent despite the bard's youthful appearance.
He gestures with a dramatic motion, "Thus we'll need the Holy Lyre der Himmel as well!"
"What" was the response from all four people. Lumine lacked some context but anything holy sounded like something rather important and that would be missed.
Kaeya inclined his head, "You are that confident in your playing? The Holy Lyre der Himmel is a sacred keepsake of Lord Caelum Carmen himself, does that not daunt you in the slightest?" Make that a very important item, Lumine idly noted.
Venti smiled enigmatically, "A fair question but I am quite the renowned character myself. I'll have you know that I have won 'Best Bard in all of Mondstadt' three years in a row!"
Diluc huffed, "I do not recall hearing of such a contest in Brisewerth."
"Ehe-ah well memory is a fickle thing indeed. Anyhoo rest assured, Venti the bard is more than capable of drawing music from such an ancient lyre." He brushed off with a chuckle.
Jean paused, "Wait. How exactly do you plan to acquire the lyre? There is no loaning service for such a revered holy instrument. The church only retrieves it from its secure storage during certain celebrations."
Venti gazed imploringly at her with doe eyes, a silent request. Lumine almost laughed but nonetheless was impressed at the audacity.
The Acting Grandmaster stared back, "You want me to request the Holy Lyre."
Venti winked, "Spot on!"
Jean shot him an incredulous look, "You cannot be serious. I may be Acting Grandmaster but even I cannot simply ask for it without questions and scrutiny. Let alone approval from the church."
Venti waved his hands in denial, "It may be simpler than it sounds! You are a respected figure in Brisewerth and the church. You needn't even fib, just explain that its necessary for a chance to help Lord Stormsong and that the matter requires discretion!"
Kaeya whistled, "Impressive plan for omitting rather than outright lying indeed. Not a bad plan honestly."
Diluc hummed, "It could work and it would certainly be more palatable for Jean to carry out. She is not one to lie to her allies."
Jean reminded herself that punching the two would be unprofessional and tried to reply to such a spiraling out of control situation, "Let's say we go with this plan of yours. How exactly will we even find Dvalin to enact this plan?"
Venti beams, "Not to worry, a bard has his ways~" His hands come together to mimic a bird flapping its wings. The other three did not know of the motion's meaning but could tell that it was some sort of hint or message.
Jean's eyes widen in understanding, "I see. Well that is assuring to hear, I suppose we don't exactly have many other ideas for helping Lord Stormsong. We'll try your plan Venti."
"Splendid!~" Venti cheers. "Then let us make haste to the capital city, daylight is burning after all!" The youthful bard turned on his heel and began trekking toward the direction of Brisewerth.
The others follow suite, the traveler striking up conversation with the two brothers and expressing surprise at them being acquainted.
As she trails after them, it occurs to Jean that something had been ignored by the rest of the group to the point of dissolving into the background of her own perception.
Jean spared a moment to glance around with some concern at the numerous sprawled Fatui agents on the ground. Her reflexive desire to help them was tempered by the need to keep this operation out of the public's and outlanders' eyes. She told herself it was for operational security.
She almost believed it as the group headed back towards Brisewerth.
Lumine learned that the Angel's Share bar is owned and operated by Diluc- who knew he was the humble owner of the winery- and is also a perfect discrete location for plotting amidst the city.
She, Paimon, Venti, Kaeya and Diluc are holed up in the storage room behind the bar. Its early enough in the afternoon that the tavern is not too busy yet, so the bartender Charles allows them in with little more than a curious look.
The traveler supposed that Charles is not paid enough to question why his boss and a bunch of people need to hide in the back and to let no one know they are here. Diluc seemed like a decent fellow, but perhaps Lumine would keep a more scrutinizing eye on him in the future just in case.
"-I can't believe you would torment us by having us hide among wine bottles and not even let us have a sample as we wait. What happened to basic hospitality?" Kaeya whined dramatically.
"Yes how cruel Master Diluc, surely a magnanimous winery owner as yourself can spare a bottle for us poor wine-less fellows in such stressful times?" Venti joined in with just as much flare.
Diluc grunted from where he stands still as a statue, "If we are actually doing this, I won't have anyone getting drunk on the job. Consider that basic management of staff."
Lumine nodded, "Wise decision, best not to be distracted." Paimon curiously examined the barrels and bottles stacked in the storage room, though the blonde outlander kept an eye to ensure it remained only looking.
After what felt like ages, the backdoor quietly creaked open and a familiar blonde (no not Lumine) entered with a flat but big wrapped item in hand.
"I told Cardinal Calvin that keeping the loan discrete was crucial with the sensitivity of the mission and he conceded." Jean spoke hurriedly, "That said, I had to turn a blatantly suspicious cloak that he offered for me to sneak out of the cathedral in. How he genuinely thought it would be inconspicuous is a mystery left for the gods to decipher."
She handed the wrapped object to Venti's awaiting hands and he accepted it with care and attentiveness. Despite remaining wrapped and obscured visually, the item's weight seemed to click with the bard and a look of longing- nostalgia?- welled up.
He nodded, "Well done Jean, we have everything we need to enact the plan."
The group split up and staggered their departure from the backdoor as to minimize suspicion and within the hour reconvened in the woods outside the city.
Stood beneath the cover of trees, Venti's eyes narrowed and his eyes looked at nothing as though too preoccupied with something unseen to pay the sights before him much mind.
His eyes re-focused on the present company as a serious expression took hold as he spoke solemnly, "I know where Dvalin is and he won't be leaving there anytime soon. Our destination is the ruins of Old Mondstadt."