Chapter Text
It was around a week since the festival was canceled and yet Venti still didn't wake up,
Not that the Traveler was surprised about it, at all...
...
Their Archon friend did get corrupted for a long time and with such a huge amount of corruption,
There was so much of it and in such intensity, it was similar to Xiao's, making them collapse...
*Hopefully, when Venti finally wakes up, he is going to be alright...
...
...
But really, what happened a week ago still felt a little surreal even to them,
To see Venti becoming so bloodthirsty and outright evil due to the corruption...
*It was no wonder that Mondstadt was still processing/recovering from the shock of those events,
Realizing just how dangerous (a pissed-off) "Barbatos" is, basically summarized to:
"Mondstadt: ...would he really?
The winds: Without hesitation
Mondstadt: ...shit"
...
And now there were some drastic changes due to those events,
Like Mondstadt's people deciding never to make Venti angry,
Eula having to take care of the aftermath of her clan's annihilation...
...
And Diluc starting to practice in nonverbal skill activation...?
-...Well, I can understand why he wants to learn it, especially after what happened...-The Traveler soon admitted, their expression turning guilt stricken. -...Even if the "Grand Plan" ultimately failed, what my twin did...To both Mondstadt and Venti...
...
...
Should they have tried to stop their twin back then and there...?
Would they have succeeded in stopping their plan if they tried hard enough...?
*But this "Corruption Power" they were using, what if it backfired on them back then...?
...
They wanted to stop their twin, not to kill them!
*The two of them should be able to return home,
They should be able to...!
...
...
At some point they would have to make a choice,
Between helping their twin and stopping them...
*Either to stand with them or against them...
...
But to make such a hard choice, how could they...?
*It was still their twin, their other half, even now,
And the friends they made in Teyvat gave them a second home...
...
Instead of having to choose between the two,
Wouldn't it be better for themselves to become the collateral to stop this madness...?
...
...
-...I should have stayed with my twin for a while longer and tried to have them see reason...Maybe even submitting myself in return to leaving my friends alone. -The traveler sadly said, before sighing. -...I shouldn't have left with Paimon when I did...
Though it was still weird how the Pixie managed to not only find them but even get inside of that space,
Before teleporting both of them out, right to the spot at which they were recently kidnapped, soon meeting with Xiao and Rosaria...
...
It was probably due to their twin shutting down and weakening the barrier(?)...
...
...
Everything was still such a mess that they couldn't stop thinking of it,
Even now when they were in the process of doing a few commissions for Mondstadt's people...
...
With the current one being to help Albedo and not in experiments either,
But for a collaboration between him, a Sumeru scholar and Yae Publishing house...?
*Apparently it's for a card game invented by a Sumeru scholar, which is bound to become quite popular...
...
From the small details they heard, it's going to be called "Genius Invokation TCG" and include a lot of different people and monsters,
And Albedo, who is already famous for making illustrations for certain books, was specifically asked to do the card illustrations for the game...
...
Then Yae Publishing house was somehow informed of this "side project" and decided to cash out on it too,
Asking them specifically, as "an Outlander who must know a lot of interesting stories", to help give ideas for a series of light novels based on those cards...
...
...
Honestly, the Traveler wasn't sure what exactly Yae Miko was planning with this,
But just like she said, as an Outlander they did know quite a lot of stories that might fit here...
...
But a card game that suddenly surfaced and became a hit,
And also come from Sumeru, which they heard had rainforests and a desert...
...
Could a Yu-Gi-Oh like story work here, perchance...?
...
...
- Traveler, I apologize for interrupting your work... -A familiar respectful voice was soon heard, as Xiao teleported before the Traveler. -...But I have to inform you, Lord Barbatos has just woken up!
At the same time,
Somewhere in Whispering Woods...
SLAP!
SLAP!
SLAP!
SMACK!
SMACK!
SLAP!
-I AM SORRY! I AM SORRY! I AM SORRY! I WON'T DO IT AGAIN! -Albert was currently hung upside down from a tree, crying as he was continuously smacked and slapped with a certain fish claymore. -I WILL NO LONGER LOOK AFTER AND FOLLOW BARBARA-SAMA EVERYWHERE, EVEN WHEN SHE IS UNCONSCIOUS AND I AM REALLY WORRIED! I WOULD LEAVE HER ALONE! PLEASE, LET ME…!
-You are not going anywhere, Albert! Not until you repent for what you did! -Rosaria interrupted him, looking and sounding murderous, as she slapped and smacked him a few more times with the "Luxurious Sea-Lord". - ...I will make sure that an annoying stalker like you knows full well your place...
She coldly promised, a wide evil grin soon appearing on her face,
And before the "fan" could as much as blink, proceeded to slap and smack him even more vigorously than before...
-Oh, hello there, Traveler! -Was the first thing Venti said as the two teleported into the room, Xiao soon letting go of the Traveler's arm. -I heard that you collapsed after purifying all the corruption from me and my Adorable Deaconess, are you okay now...? -He soon asked in concern, sounding guilt stricken. -...Not only was I corrupted so easily, but you had to overwork yourself in order to help me. I am really sorry about that...
-It's alright, Venti...-The Traveler soon reassured, taken aback for a second by the Archon's suddenly confused expression, which shifted to normal afterwards. It was probably just their imagination...-...It wasn't your fault that this happened, but the Abyss Order's...-...And their own twin's...Whom they couldn't stop...-...I am the one who should be apologizing to you, Venti. It was my twin who did all of those horrible things to you and to Mondstadt's people. -They soon guilt strikingly said, upon walking nearer the bed where their friend was now sitting on and crouching before him. -I can't apologize enough. Punish me as you see fit.
- . ..I am not going to punish you, Traveler. Especially not for something like this. -The Archon soon reassuringly said, before proceeding to lean toward the other and help them up. -...No matter what happened, we are still friends. Besides, I can't fault you for not being able to stop your sibling, the family you lost and were searching for, for so long. - He reassured, before a small amused smile appeared on his face. -But I surely hope you still remember our earlier "agreement", Traveler. You still owe me a lot of alcohol~
-To visit different nations and buy you all the alcohol I can, I remember. -The traveler added in some tiredness, which soon turned to amusement. -...You are still sulking about that "Joining a Church=Marrying the God" info I shared before, huh...? -Seeing Venti's confused expression, they decided to let go of this topic for now. Venti didn’t forget he was an Archon, again, did he…? Though considering what happened to him before, they couldn’t blame him…-...Venti, before the Abyss Order interrupted the festival, you realized what the "Fecund Blessings" event was all about, right...? -They rhetorically asked, before summoning certain items from their "Hammerspace" and holding them towards Venti. -A wine bottle, a "Baby Dvalin" plushie, a small Swan Statue, a Small Grass wreath and a Snow Globe of Mondstadt city, all of those were supposed to be your gifts that I unknowingly took. I planned to return them later, but seeing what happened...I would like to return them to you now.
They soon admitted, hoping that Venti wouldn't notice the addition,
A gift of their own that they added as an apology to him...
*Hopefully Venti likes the Snow Globe that they commissioned~
...
-I...Thank you Traveler. -Venti soon said, upon taking the items and putting them in his "Hammerspace". -...Even though you won them fair and square, as per the agreement to our little "competition", you still decided to "return" them to me...
-Lord Barbatos, I also wish to return the offerings to you. -Xiao admitted upon taking the items out of his Vision's "Hammerspace" and crouching in a small bow before the other, deciding to ignore the Archon's split-second confused expression. -The Astral Lyre Strings and the Bird Shampoo were prepared for you and you only, thus I have no excuse to keep them with me any longer.
He then respectfully held the items towards the Archon,
Who soon took them into his hands and then the "Hammerspace"...
-Venti, I have to return those items to you, too. -Amber soon said, as she took the items out of her "Hammerspace" and held them towards the Archon, Xiao standing up and moving to the side. -...A box of Wine Dipped Apples, a White-Aqua colored Sleeping Robe with Silver Linings and a "Duo Siblings Barbara-Jean" plushie.
Venti took those items too, before putting them all in his "Hammerspace",
Soon proceeding to quietly look between the three people nearest to him,
As he couldn't help wondering if there was something else they needed to tell or give him...
*Was there supposed to be something else or was this it...? Did he remember this right...?
...
-Venti, it's time for me to continue my journey through the rest of Teyvat. The only reason I still didn't leave was because I wanted to help Mondstadt and make sure you are alright. I have to discover what happened to my twin and find out a way to help them. -The Traveler apologetically said, as they soon moved their gaze to the ground. -...Hopefully I could get the right information in Sumeru. It's the Land of Wisdom, right...?
They couldn't help mumbling, feeling conflicted and unsure.
...
All this time, after that goddess kidnapped their twin and sealed their powers,
They were searching for a way to find their sibling, reunite and return back home...
...
Finding out they were the Abyss Order's leader was bad enough,
Hearing and seeing all they did during these years and until now...
...
Even hurting their newfound friends and now secondary family...
...
"Your disagreement with my plan is of no concern to me, my foolish twin. I have long accepted my part in all of this."
"As long as our wish gets even slightly closer to be fulfilled, I don't care how much I will need to get my hands dirty. Not like it matters by this point, as I am already an enemy of humanity. Unlike you, who is slowly becoming its savior and even making acquaintances and friends."
"... "The end justifies the means" , you still remember this proverb, right...?"
Was what their twin told them...
* "The end justifies the means" , wasn't it...?
Just what did they try to do...?
...
What happened to their twin to become like this...?
What did they experience to want to throw everything away...?
-You would surely find the information you seek in Sumeru, Traveler. -Venti soon said in reassurance, as he gently stood up from the bed and patted them on the head, to the other's slight confusion. -...It's just a shame that the Weinlesefest festival was canceled. -The Archon soon added, as he let go of the other's head, his expression turning sad and slightly amused. -...I so wanted to have Xiao drink alcohol and possibly even get drunk~ Our overly dutiful Yaksha really needs to lighten up and have some fun! -He added in some amusement, before getting eerily quiet for a few seconds. -...Xiao, you wouldn't mind joining the Traveler on their trip to Sumeru, yes...? They did help you a lot, after all.
He said moments later, looking serious,
As well as slightly guilt stricken for some reason...
*Which people couldn't help noticing, wondering as to the case...
-...I can not be thankful enough for this kindness, Lord Barbatos. -Xiao decided to answer in respect, writing off the Archon's slightly weird behavior to the fact he just recently woke up after being purified of such a huge amount of corruption. What mattered now was to fulfill the Archon's request, to repay his debt even a little. -I shall join the Traveler in their journey to Sumeru and further on, helping them along their journey in whichever way they see fit.
He promised, while going into a respectful bow before the Archon,
In his show of respect, not noticing the other's suddenly confused expression...
*Which some others definitely noticed and were now starting to get worried,
Even after the Archon's face returned to normal and Xiao stood up...
...
-...Traveler, before you go, there's something I forgot to tell you about...-Venti said soon afterwards, before summoning a certain device from his "Hammerspace". -...A while ago I was given 2 identical communication devices from Alice, called "Dodocommunication Device" and I would like you to have one of them. -He soon started to explain, looking a little confused, as he gave the device to the Traveler. -...Since you are still journeying through Teyvat and even disappeared without a trace before, I hope that we could keep in touch. -He admitted, looking slightly lost now. -...I don't know how much I would be able to help you in your travels, but I would still be happy if you call me from time to time...
-I will. Thank you, Venti. -The Traveler promised, before becoming quiet for a few seconds, thoroughly looking towards their Archon friend. He was definitely acting weird...-...Venti, is everything alright...? -They decided to ask, getting a confused reaction in reply. -...I am not sure how to explain this and it might just be me, but at some points of our discussion, you were acting a little weird...-They admitted, before pausing for a few more seconds. -...I understand that this might be an effect from the events of a week ago, but if something is wrong, tell me, alright...? You might not be my actual siblings, but we are still good...
-I am alright, Traveler! Just a little disoriented after what happened! -Venti soon interrupted them, looking and sounding reassuring. -Just go to Sumeru and find a way to help your twin, alright...? It's already been so long since the last time you spent time together as a family, right...? -He warmly added, before jumping up from the bed and starting to push the Traveler towards the door. -So of you go now! I am fine and Mondstadt is fine and everyone else here also seems to be fine! So there is no need for you to dawdle here anymore!
He continued, much to the other's protest, as well as growing surprise,
Before long managing to force the Traveler out of the door and lock it afterwards...
*With Xiao, realizing that they overstayed their welcome, soon teleporting out of the room,
To no one's surprise, joining the Traveler in their journey before long...
...
-...Well, now that that's done, I suppose I should be honest with you all...-The Archon said with a deep sigh, as he soon walked towards and sat back on the bed. -I remember who each one of you is, but as for myself...I am not really sure...? Honestly, seeing one of Rex Lapis' Yaksha's bow to me was really confusing and kind of surreal...And why does it look like Alice and myself are good friends...? Why am I so close to an outlander and Mondtsadt’s Honorary Knight...? What is with the "Lord" title drop...? And why is everyone acting like I am some very important person, giving me so many great gifts and gathering here so fast just after I woke up, even though most of you must be really busy...? Does it have something to do with that "Joining a Church=Marrying the God" thing…? What exactly does that have to do with me, anyway…? -He admitted, looking and sounding very confused. -...And moreover, is my name "Venti" or "Barbatos"...? Or do I have 2 different names for some weird reason...?