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It was a cool autumn morning in Windrise. The bard sat upon the steps in front of the Statue of The Seven. Watching as the breeze tossed the green fields in waves. Enjoying the sight of crystalflies dancing together on the breeze high in the trees.
‘How times have changed’ Venti thought wistfully. He knows what comes next. He just wasn’t sure it was right. In a world that no longer needs Archons, the nations and their people had begun to grow more self reliant. He was fine with this. But he didn’t feel ready just yet.
“XIAO” he invoked the yaksha’s name. The only one he felt he could turn to in times of his greatest uncertainty and discomfort. Normally the young Archon went with the flow of the wind and time. But this was different.
“What burdens you old friend?” There he saw the yaksha. His friend of years. They had first met in Liyue Harbor when they all bid the traveler farewell.
“The land is quiet and beautiful is it not? So what is it that burdens you so Venti?” Xiao questioned, trying to hide the blatant concern in their voice. They felt something wrong. The air was too turbulent, and all the while everything seemed normal.
“It’s my people. Or should I say my former people. The world of Teyvat has changed in the years following the Traveler’s arrival. The Seven Archons…” Venti wistfully trailed off, staring into the bustling site of Mondstadt. His eyes seem to glaze over as he relived his younger days. Sure he didn’t physically age, mentally he never stopped aging.
“Even the mighty adepti of Liyue are no longer as depended upon. Our people no longer need us.” Venti replied, the uncertainty engraved upon his eyes, as the glass like glaze receded from Xiao’s view.
Xiao sat down next to the young bard, watching him anxiously fidget with his lyre and its strings. “I don’t know if I’m really ready yet. I want to stay here and watch my home evolve.”
Xiao places a sympathetic hand on his friend’s back.
“Time changes all Venti. Resisting this fact is largely pointless.” Xiao’s words hit like cold water, but Venti knew they were true. Change is inevitable after all. “You must rest now Venti.” Xiao added.
That was the one thing that never changed with time. He always rests in these times of peace. Why not now? Xiao thought, feeling their face involuntary contort to one of confused fear.
I know I must rest. But I don’t want to leave you, old friend. Xiao tried to pull Venti out of his head by tapping his shoulder.
“Come” Xiao tossed a glance skyward , their eyes gesturing to the canopy of Windrise. “A ruler might want to survey the lands one final time before rest.”
Venti shuddered, thinking back to Old Mondstadt.
“Please don’t refer to me that way ehe.” He graciously responded.
He wasn’t fond of ruling. That was the promise that Mondstadt today was built off of. Freedom. And what was freedom if it was manipulated by an Archon. He wanted to be free to live among “his” people. Freedom for them to rule over themselves.
“There is more you’re not telling me?” Xiao’s voice rang accusation through the canopy as Venti glided up to join his companion.
“Nothing at all” Venti teased.
But there was. He knew Archon power came from gnosis and faith of their followers. Of which Venti lacked both, the Fatui having robbed his gnosis ages ago, and his faithful followers dwindling by the day as generations grew up and passed on. Without this power, he could feel the inevitable. His mortal form would fade into a wind spirit, and then rapidly he would be called to Celestia.
What is he hiding from me? Xiao’s fear seeping into subtle anxiety. They had lost Pervases and the other Yaksha an age ago. But surely Venti wasn’t “dying” whatever that meant for Archons. Then why does something feel so wrong.
“Rest my friend. Mondstadt is in capable hands I assure you.” Xiao pleaded with Venti, who despite being “childish” had an adult like stubborn streak to his persona. “I will, I promise.” Venti sighed as he relaxed on the branches in Windrise’ canopy. “Will you hold me Xiao?”
This innocent request caught the yaksha off guard. Sure they had embraced before but they had never held each other for longer than a short embrace.
He huffed out a firm yet gentle response, “fine….just this once.”
“Thank you, Xiao.” Venti stared up at his friend, as he rest his head upon their chest. Listening to their heart gently beating.
“When you wake up, I can play for you.” Xiao said somewhat absently. Venti had taught them the art of the Lyre. Venti enjoyed teaching his friends. He thought it was sweet that Xiao was so eager. They had leaned against the trunk of the great tree, allowing the two friends to stretch out and relax.
If only you knew. I’m sorry I cannot tell you Xiao. You would surely storm Celestia’s gates. Venti thought feeling himself growing ever weaker.
Before long the two had both drifted off into the grips of sleep.
Hours later Xiao had woken up. But sitting up was far too easy. Their mind began racing.
Where is he?!
What happened to Venti?!
Where is my friend?!
They concluded that perhaps Venti had woken earlier and gone somewhere more secluded in the countryside of Mondstadt in order to rest.
But then it struck them. Hard and gut wrenching like a dagger stabbing through the soul. Venti didn’t have his gnosis. Without that he would lose the ability to maintain a human form, and become a wind spirit again like when the Nameless Bard was alive all those years ago. Now without even half the followers he’d had in the Church of Favonius, Archons only know what will happen.
They searched all across Mondstadt for a certain dragon. Dvalin. If anyone knew the absentee Archon's whereabouts it would be him. Sure enough he found him lounging in the Whispering Woods.
There was unease when he found the giant winged creature. But he needed to at least know his friend was safe before he went back home to Wangshu Inn.
“I suppose you came looking for Barbatos.” boomed Dvalin’s voice with an air of despair
“You guess correctly.” They didn’t know why Dvalin was so distraught, but they prayed to Rex Lapis it wasn’t to do with Venti.
What came next confirmed the young yaksha’s worst nightmares.
“I…I am afraid to tell you, young one. You just missed him. He came to me, a wisp on the wind. He wanted me not to tell you. Because he didn’t want to cause you any pain in his departure.” Dvalin’s voice grew lower and riddled with pain.
“His departure?!” Xiao’s face felt damp and cold. As he raised a gentle gloved hand to their cheek, they watched the midnight moon illuminate their tears.
“He had no more power to call upon. He simply faded away before my very eyes. He is bound to the wind now forever. Perhaps Celestia beckoned him one final time” Dvalin bellowed out in a pathetic qail unbecoming of such a majestic creature.
That broke Xiao’s spirit. They simply bid Dvalin farewell and headed back for Liyue, past the Stone Gate, back to Wangshu Inn.
What do I do with myself now? They thought as they walked head hung low, to the balcony. There they collapsed to their knees. Looking up at the moon they cried. For the first time ever Xiao wept. For Rex Lapis, for Pervases, for the other Yaksha and finally for Venti.
They had no one left to call friend. No one left who truly took the time to understand them. And that has to be the loneliest existence in the world…