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"You can do this Barbara."
Barbara, the Shining Idol of Mondstadt, has been hiding behind Barbatos's statue at Mondstadt for about a half an hour. She carried a small box, tied with a flashy red ribbon. Looks like it is intended for a present.
"How should I give it to him?"
She want to give a present to someone. Someone that she has been waiting for. Well, the person is actually already been there, but Barbara just can't give her present. Atleast not when that person is still performing. So who is this lucky guy that will receive Barbara's present?
On the other side of the statue, stand a boy wearing green clothes. It is Venti. Venti, the bard, doing his usual performance in front of the crowds. Venti's voice is really charming that it could attracts a lot of people. Yes, Venti is that lucky guy.
"He is really amazing for being able to sing for this long."
Not that Barbara mind waiting for a bit longer. She loves Venti's performances. Hearing his beautiful voice is already like a bless from Lord Barbatos. She listens to Venti performance until the end.
We thank the West Wind, whose enduring caress
Brings the blossoms of Spring, by whose scent we are blessed.
Finches, ducks, rabbits and boars,
Mondstadt's revival bid them thrive evermore.
In summer the lion walks the plains,
No words one finds to praise it but these:
Do you sweat out your water to make way for the wine?
Comes the heat of the summer from your mane of sunshine?
The mountain mouths and gorges low like drunkards wayward lie...
But the East Wind cares not, for it doesn't walk — it flies!
Over the fruit trees it brushes low,
And its wings brings the harvest of things that grow.
The North Wind in the silent forest slumbers,
And around it pace the wolves in their numbers.
Though most have never a glimpse of them seen, for the Wind knows that none is of winter too keen,
Yet the Anemo Archon glimpses and sees, that it dreams each night of warm reverie.
As his performance is finally over, the crowds no longer there as people return to their daily activities. Barbara releases a relieved sigh as she now can gives her precious present to him. As she is about to come out, Venti surprises her with his sudden appear.
"Hey lady, I don't mind if you listen to my performance for free, but could you atleast listen with the audiences?"
"Venti! H-how do you know I'm here?
"I just know. But it's unusual for you to hide when listening to my performance but-Ah! Are you possibly stalking me?"
"N-no, I'm not a stalker. I-"
Venti slams his hands against the statue, sandwiching Barbara between them.
"You know that stalking someone is a bad deed, right? Hmm... I change my mind. I won't let you go after you've been listening to my performance, not without paying. Ahh, I think a kiss is enough. "
Venty slowly moves his face closer to hers.
"V-Venti, we are in the middle of the city! S-stop doing that!"
"So you mean it will be fine if we kissed somewhere not in the middle of the city?"
"No! That's not what I mean!"
Barbara covers her face with his hand to hide from Venti's gaze. Her face turns red from the embarassment. Venti quickly stop his mischievous act before he gone too far.
"Ehe, sorry I'm just teasing you. So, what do you need from me?"
"Venti, you mean! I really thought you were gonna-" Barbara stopped her sentence.
"Gonna what?"
"Gonna k-k-iss-"
"Ehe."
Barbara feels dumb for being the only one flustered. She knows Venti is only teasing her but seeing his tongue sticking out really makes her really annoyed that she won't be satisfied until she give him a smack in the face.
*One smack later*
"Please don't do that again!"
"Yes ma'am!"
*****
As the girl composed herself, she gives Venti her present.
"A present, for me? I don't think this is my birthday, so what happen?"
"This is valentine day, dummy. It's a chocolate from me."
"Ahh, I forget. That explain why today I get more mora from my performance. Thank you for the present! I really appreciate it. Hehe, I'm happy to get a valentine present from darling Deaconess!"
"Hmmph, don't get your hopes up. My love is only for Lord Barbatos."
"Yes, yes, I'm just a mere bard. I'm nothing compared to Lord Barbatos."
"I didn't mean like that! It just that I'm happy when people tell beautiful tales about Lord Barbatos. Lord Barbatos might not be here, but he's remain reside in people's heart thanks to the bard's tales. I can't give my chocolate to Lord Barbatos but atleast I can give it to you, as my thanks. Thank you for always singing about Lord Barbatos."
"Lord Barbatos would be happy to have a devout follower like you."
"Don't treat me like a kid! Beside, you don't even look older than me!"
"Hehe, who knows. I might be 2600 years old."
Barbara laughs at the joke about Venti being 2600 years old (Well it is not a joke).
"Seeing you smile really soothe my heart."
"Thanks, Venti."
After finishing their conversation, Barbara says goodbye to Venti.
"See you later, Venti!"
"Wait... you forget something."
"Hmmm... what is it?"
Venti takes her hand and kisses it.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"I already told you that a kiss is your payment for listening my performance. For today, hand kiss is enough because you've given me this chocolate. But remember, next time might the price could be more expensive."
Barbara tries to smack him again, but Venti swiftly dodges her. He quickly jumps down from that place to the bottom part of the city as he carefully gliding through the buildings with his anemo power.
"Thank you for the present, Barbara! See you later!
"Ughh Venti, that guy is always teasing me!" But, I don't mind that part about him.
"Barbara, you already accomplished of what you want to do. Now, it is time to go back to the work!"
*****
Venti is resting at the top of the big oak tree at Windrise to eat Barbara's chocolate.
"Hmmm... this is delicious!"
As Venti enjoying the chocolate, someone approaches him.
"Traveler, you're here. Sorry I can't share this chocolate because it is just made for me."
"That's chocolate from Barbara, right? I don't know what you two were talking about but I was happen to see what you two doing from the top of the church."
"So, what do you need, Traveler?"
"I just want to tell you that Barbara is a good girl."
"I know."
"She is also really devout to Barbatos."
"I know."
"Don't tease her too much."
"I will try not to."
"Don't take advantage of her kindness."
"I won't."
"Sigh... I'm just worried about what would happen in a relationship between human and God."
"There are cases like that in the past, if you're talking about God and human being a couple."
"What happened to them?"
"Well, I can only say that not all of them end in a happy end."
"Then, what is your opinion about that?
"Me? I will let people fall in love with whoever they like, despite it is between God and human. I'm a God of Freedom after all."
"So what will you do if she ever confess her feeling to you?"
"To be honest I don't know. I mean it is the first time a human have a feeling like that to me. But when that time comes, I will find the happiest ending possible."
"I guess I could atleast trust you on that."
"Thank you Traveler. Also don't you think it will be a cool idea if in the future, a bard gonna tell people of Mondstadt about the story of a girl who married her God?"
"Yes, of course you're both the bard and the God."
"Ehe."