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He woke up in agony.
His people, his children, screamed, prayed, begged for help. Their cries for help pounded in his head. The cry for Freedom rang in his ears.
Barbatos opened his eyes.
Fire, red sky, death.
What happened while I was away? How did the clear blue sky and bright Sun turn into blood and destruction? How did these monsters and creatures get into Taivat?
After all, those creatures with whom Barbatos fought were certainly not born under the gaze of the Heavenly Body. The winds would have told him that such an attack germinates in the minds of the creator of these monsters long before the attack.
Abyss. And someone else.
Burning rage at the one who created this hell filled him. He was ready to tear into pieces any person or god responsible for this.
You can't hurt his children. Anyone who encroaches on the child of the Wind will be destroyed.
The wind around him began to gather into a raging hurricane.
Stop. We need to calm down. Mondstadt needed him. And Barbatos will fight for them and their Freedom.
Dvalin. He saw Dwalin and asked what was going on.
“Hell, Barbatos,” the dragon roared, “Apocalypse.” Dark.
- I understand it, my friend. But what happened? How?
- I don't know.
And then Barbatos asked the wind. Who caused this chaos and discord? Who brought grief and destruction into this world? Who are the sinners here?
I will show it to you, the winds answer.
And Barbatos flies, flies, flies. The winds will protect Mondstadt during this difficult time. And Barbatos will not stand on ceremony with the sinner for long.
He notices her out of the corner of his eye. Powerful, full of strength and selfishness. Thinks he can do anything. Pride. Death. Dark.
Gold, the winds whisper. Reindottir, that's her name.
Barbatos draws his bow. Powerful Anemo force to rush through the arrow. Aim-
Blonde with a star on his neck. Turquoise, staring eyes.
Barbatos stammers. Who was this... non-human?
Blue floats before my eyes.
- Older brother! Big brother! - A little girl dressed in red screamed excitedly. The blond smiles softly at her, answering in a gentle and patient voice. The blue sky is visible above Mondstadt.
Barbatos closes his eyes. You can't be distracted!
“Your company is surprisingly pleasant,” Snowy camp on the mountain, the blond man and himself in the guise of a bard are sitting and talking.
Who are you? Barbatos wants to ask. Why are you so important?
How many years will it be before I see you?
Not now, whisper the Winds of Time. You will find out, they say.
Barbatos blinks. The arrow is released, but hits a pile of stones, which instantly turns to dust.
The figure of Sinner Gold is no longer in his sight. He doesn't know where she is.
Whatever he was, this definitely-not-human was important. And Mondstadt, where he lives... A child's smile, blue sky, joy. Something that doesn't exist now.
When it will be?
A deafening dragon roar rang out. Not Dwalin.
Barbatos looked towards Sal Vindagnir. A black, bony dragon that brings Death, the size of the city of Mondstadt. Barbatos' help is needed there. There is no time to think about anything else.
Barbatos took off and hurried into the thick of darkness, fear and hatred.
***
Almost 500 years later, a certain alchemist descended from his laboratory on the Dragon Ridge. This definitely-not-human, because people can't walk in such bitter cold wearing such light clothing, saw a huge explosion of Anemo's power. And as a researcher, he could not help but check it.
Seeing someone who was most likely Barbatos... Albedo didn't know what to feel.
Of course, Albedo, as an artificially created person who had communicated only with the Master throughout his life, knew nothing about human emotions and experiences. He just didn't expect that the second person he would be... acquainted with would turn out to be God.
But perhaps the most appropriate emotion right now is... surprise? Perhaps pity? Albedo didn't know. But Barbatos most likely looked... scared. And the winds, which for some reason circled around him and even from time to time “helped” Albedo in the laboratory, flew away to possibly Barbatos.
(Albedo wouldn't call it... a big help. But it was nice to have their company during the years he stayed in Dragonspine).
So Albedo takes out his sword and deliberately rustles branches and dried leaves as he emerges from behind his hiding place. Probably Barbatos quickly hides his wings and creates some kind of clothing.
Albedo pointed his sword at Barbatos, narrowing his eyes.
- Who are you? What are you doing here?