Chapter Text
The wind was different.
How absurd. The wind was all over Teyvat and it had always been there, but it was so subtle that I never paid any attention to it before. Then how come I kept on feeling its presence now? What changed?
Ever since arriving in Mondstadt, there was no moment that I didn't feel the wind. Every second of every hour it made its existence known. And it was very strange how I acknowledged that there was something with me yet there was none.
It was as if the wind was alive.
Such silly thoughts, but it was truly difficult to put into words because the disparity was not seen, it was felt.
"Venti is going to sing. Let's listen, come on." an adventurer said, beckoning his friends to come near a bard.
On the topmost of the staircase that was aligned with the city gates, the bard, or Venti, was strumming his lyre at the fountain. He was playing an unfamiliar tune, and a small crowd started gathering around him.
"Right now, I wish I was sitting on top of a tree, looking out over a meadow, cider in hand," Venti said, "but this crowd is expecting a song from me, so I have no choice but to agree."
The city was bustling with life and the sun was at its peak in the sky. With two suitcases in both hands, I was supposed to be searching for Donna when I arrived in Mondstadt, but unfortunately, the melody that Venti was creating enticed me to listen.
"One song won't hurt, right? She can wait." I whispered.
I climbed the staircase to approach the growing crowd. Suddenly, the wind passed by bringing along a rainfall of Dandelions. It made a mirage of snow as its seeds were scattered on the ground like snowflakes.
"The wind is here!" a girl said in the crowd.
"Barbatos is listening, Venti." another one said.
Venti laughed mischievously as if he found the situation amusing. "It's the greatest honor for a bard to have Lord Barbatos as an audience. Now, citizens, listen to this melody for this is one of the best that I can guarantee."
I stood in the back of the crowd before placing both suitcases on the ground. With a strum on his lyre, Venti started singing.
There will come a soldier
Who carries a mighty sword
He will tear your city down
Oh lei, oh lai, oh, Lord
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
He will tear your city down
Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh, Lord
The crowd continued to grow. Some were eager to listen, and some were curious about the commotion.
I had to admit that Venti was amazing. He had a beautiful voice, and he was extremely talented. The tune he was playing was not something that an amateur could pull off, not even by luck, I believe it required thorough and consistent practice to reach his level.
By the end of his performance, the crowd gave him a round of applause. "Thank you, thank you," Venti said.
The crowd slowly dismissed while I, too, decided to leave and continue my search for Donna's workplace. However, another gush of wind blew right past me and ruined my hair in the process.
"Seriously?" I complained. I searched my pockets for a hair tie and it struck me that my hair ties were inside my suitcase. It looked like I had to find Donna as soon as possible, so I could hide indoors from the wind.
"I believe you need this." Venti suddenly appeared beside me with a hair tie on his hand. "I'll give one to you. I have tons of it as my hair is quite long." he said, pointing to his pigtails.
"Thank you," I took it from his hand and attended to my hair, "That was a wonderful performance, Sir Venti."
"Oh, you know my name?"
"I overheard it from the audience."
"Thank you. I haven't seen you around here a traveler, perhaps?"
"I'm moving in."
Venti smiled, he opened his arms as if a welcoming gesture. "The wind is always overjoyed when a new face arrives in Mondstadt."
I proceeded in tying my hair while Venti took an apple from his pocket. "Sir Venti, if you don't mind me asking, do you happen to know where I can find the Floral Whisper? I'm looking for Donna, she works there." I said.
"Oh, so you traveled here to see Donna? I know that place, I'll take you there and drop the formalities, Venti will work."
Venti and I continued our conversation while he led the way to Floral Whisper. From our short interaction, I could say that he had a carefree way of perceiving things, and his eager inquiries about the wine and cider in Sumeru, where I came from, was a hint of how much he liked alcohol.
We walked down the stairs and turned left where an array of flower pots came into view.
We approached the woman who was crouching as she tended to the flowers. "Good day. I am looking for Donna. Is she here?" I asked.
The young woman turned to face us before standing up and smoothing the dirt from her hands and skirt. "That is me and you're–" she paused, she looked at the suitcases in both of my hands, "[Name] is that you?"
"Yes."
Donna had long, brown hair which was fashioned in a braid, a slender body, and delicate features; she was undoubtedly a beautiful woman.
Before traveling to Mondstadt, I exchanged letters with her a few times to inform her of my situation in Sumeru and to ask for a huge favor. My father, a renowned professor in Sumeru Academia, died five months ago. His death did not only cause me sorrow, but it also took away my privilege of living in the academy. Considering that I was not a scholar, I had no more reason to stay there, so I was left with no choice but to live with the only relative I had left, Donna.
"Welcome to Mondstadt. I was a little worried that you might be lost, I've been waiting since this morning for you." she said.
"I'm alright, Venti helped me so it's fine." I assured her with a smile before turning to Venti who was quietly finishing his apple. "Venti, thank you for bringing me here. I expect that we'll be seeing each other more frequently, so I promise to return the favor."
"Well, you can return it now," he said, licking the juices of the fruit off his fingers. "I'll be singing in the Angel's Share tonight. Additional audience will be appreciated and the owner of the tavern will be there. Who knows there might be free alcohol." he said the last part in a whisper.
"He'll be there?" Donna asked, the interest in her voice was evident.
"Yep, so are you two coming?"
Donna remained silent as she left the decision for me to make, but the eagerness on her face was certainly not concealed. She looked at me with hopeful eyes, but I think her silence meant that she was considering my situation since I traveled for days to get to Mond, and personally, rest did sound good.
After a minute of silence and careful consideration. "Well, I have the entire afternoon to rest. I think my energy will be back by tonight."
Donna smiled and Venti looked pleased. "I'll see you tonight in the tavern then."
After bidding goodbyes with Venti, Donna helped me with my suitcases to get inside the apartment.
"You'll be staying with Flora, the owner of the flower shop, and me in this apartment. The flowers are only displayed outside but the rest of the inside is purely lodging." Donna said, she toured me inside of the apartment, and finally, escorted me to my room.
It was a square room with a single bed in the middle, a cabinet on the right, and opened windows to the left that gave leeway to the sunshine to illuminate the place. Well, this room seemed to be up for a makeover.
"You should get some rest. I'll be outside if you need anything." Donna said.
I had a long list of things that I needed to do, and I made sure that getting rest was on top of it. So if I had a good nap, I might cross number one out.
Venti's Song