Chapter Text
He’s sitting up in the hands of his statue when the lyrics come to him. It’s a song he used to listen to quite often in his past life, though never of his own violation. It was just a song that was played frequently on both the radio and the speakers at home, one that his mom loved listening to. It’s usually hard for him to recall specific things from before, especially lyrics to music he hasn’t heard in thousands of years. He’s not sure why this song is so easy to remember, but it probably has to do with all the reminiscing he’s done with the others lately. With the true plotline of this game starting soon, it’s harder than he thought not to get lost in thought over his previous world. The others have been having the same issues, only he knows that it’s a bit easier for Kaveh and Focalors, he needs to remember to call her Furina, since they have so many distractions readily available.
The same can’t be said for Ajax or himself. There isn’t much that could be used as a distraction these days. He’s worked alongside the others, preparing all they could for the Travelers arrival; they won’t know which twin they’re dealing with for another few months. Venti decided to go through with helping Dvalin out on his own, it hurt too much seeing his old friend in pain like that.
Despite his best attempts, he wasn’t able to save Durin or keep Dvalin from getting injured. Following everything he did during the fucking genocide of Khaenri’ah’s people- he wasn’t able to keep from falling into a deep slumber.
He left Dvalin alone even though he had promised not to.
Venti hummed softly, hands idly strumming his lyre as he stared up at the night sky.
It wasn’t too bad, he did manage to change some of Tevat’s history, so this world definitely isn’t the game he barely knew of. He knows that Andrius stayed by Dvalin’s side and tried to help him fight off the corruption and keep those Abyss people away from him. Even without him there to personally watch over and protect everyone, the winds did it for him. The winds helped where no one else could, it was the winds that knew him best and stepped in whenever he couldn't.
It was the winds that protected Master Crepus while he slept.
Venti remembers how he temporarily woke up to an injured Crepus lying unconscious by his side. He was able to gather enough energy to treat the man's wounds and heal him of the delusions' side effects, a neat little trick that took years to master, and later the next day carry him on the wind to Dawn Winery. He wouldn’t learn until much later that people thought Master Crepus died, his body destroyed by Ursa the Drake. He left the man with his staff, before returning to his seclusion, not wanting to accidentally fall asleep out in the open. He didn't have enough energy stored to be able to stay awake for long.
It was partially because of Master Crepus that the people of his nation today think he's the Mondstat equivalent of an Adepti. Not one of the four winds, but an honest to God Adepti that serves Barbatos?
He doesn't know the full story of what happened after helping Master Crepus and returning to his slumber, only that not everything he knew of the game was avoided seeing as Diluc and Kaeya still must've had their falling out upon believing Master Crepus died, and Diluc vanished for some time hunting Fatui. That's where the similarities to what he knew of the game ended though, because while he could tell that there was some sort of tension between the adopted Brothers, they were much closer than he expected when he woke and integrated himself back into Mondstat.
For some reason, they- along with Jean, the Ragnvindr estate staff, and a few others- also knew who he was even though they didn't know his name. They all seemed to recognize him, and would greet him with reverence.
He remembers waking from his slumber, entering Mondstat with the determination to play his role as a Bard well only to have Kaeya spot him at the market and rush at him. He had tensed at the time, unsure if he was about to be attacked only for Kaeya's wide eyes to meet his own gaze and practically plead with him to come to the Dawn Winery. Venti, very reluctantly, agreed and was dragged over before he could try making any good first impressions on the people of Mondstat.
At the Winery, he was greeted with more wide eyes, a meal worthy of being called a feast, Master Diluc's intense gaze, and a healthy Master Crepus offering him a permanent guest room.
An hour or so later, Jean had arrived and for some reason Venti was assured by them that his presence was kept secret from the rest of the knights and Grandmaster Varka?
It was all very awkward and Venti remembers how he tried turning down the offer but Master Crepus refused his refusal.
In that moment he understood how Sanji must've felt dealing with Luffy.
It's been quite some time since then, well, not that long. Only a few human years. He woke up earlier than ‘Venti’ should’ve in the game, but that was the point. For some reason, he's well-known throughout Mondstat for both his storytelling through song, and for how often he helped out any of those caught up in fights against treasure hoarders, creatures, slimes, and excetera. It seems as though helping out as much as he had led the people into fully believing him to be not human, but a Mondstat Adepti. He's still not entirely sure how or why they came to that conclusion but it caused Grandmaster Varka to bow his head and ask Venti to protect Mondstat before leaving on some journey with many of their forces.
He agreed, of course he did. He's been protecting this nation for thousands of years, he wasn't going to stop now.
'Barbatos'
'Elf'
'Wind Spirit'
'Venti'
'Bard'
He's had a lot of titles thrown at him over the years, some taking more of a religious aspect as Decarabian was defeated and he became the Anemo Archon. Sometimes all those titles mess with his head and leave him stuck with thoughts he's better off not entertaining. Regardless, there is one consistent fact that will never change. He is this nation's protector, a position that he'll never take for granted and always give his all towards.
That was the reason he gave when Jean later summoned him to her new office and asked him about what Grandmaster Varka wanted from him.
She had been so apologetic about it all… Venti sighed.
It seems like reminiscing was taking over his plans for the night. He hadn't met to be up here for so long, simply lost in thought, although the familiar tune coming from his lyre does catch him off guard. It takes him a moment to recall just what song the tune belonged to.
It's quite late, there's no reason to believe anyone would be up and about right now…
Surely it wouldn't hurt to pass the time with a song? It's not like anyone else would know that it's a song from another world, he can change the lyrics if he so wishes. The others don't live in Mondstat so they can't judge his music tastes either.
Humming for a few moments, Venti opens his mouth and begins to sing, "Hello, it's me… I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet."
It's almost… unsettling hearing his voice echo into the night. It sounds much louder than he meant to be, yet somehow still soft. Not belting out the words but loud enough that it cannot be called a whisper. The winds danced around him, carrying the song out into the world. Although he has to admit this body did have quite a lovely voice, as Venti he could sing as much as he used to wish he could in his past life.
"To go over everything… They say that time's supposed to heal ya, but I ain't done much healing. Hello, can you hear me?"
Venti chuckles but even to his own ears it sounds empty, hollow.
Rather than memories of this world, this song was causing memories of his past life to resurface. Memories he had purposely tried to erase.
"I'm in Mondstat dreaming about who we used to be. When we were younger and free, I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet."
It’s suffocating to remember what he lost. After all this time, even comparing stories with the others, none of them have figured out why or how they were alive once more but as characters in a game. They all had family and friends before meeting their sudden demise. He cannot recall how he died either, only that he knows with certainty that it was not quick or painless.
"There's such a difference between us and a million miles. Hello from the other side, I must've called a thousand times. To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done…"
…it's not like anyone would be able to tell if he skips a bit.
"Hello, how are you? It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry. I hope that you're well… It's no secret that the both of us are running out of time. So hello from the other side—" Venti trails off with a yelp, only keeping from falling off his statue's hands thanks to the winds.
Standing directly behind him is… Master Diluc? Or, no, it is him but it's him dressed up in that Dark Knight Hero outfit of his.
"Master Diluc?"
He doesn’t even pretend to be surprised Venti knows his identity.
"Are- Are you," Diluc frowned at him, frustration bleeding into his stance, "Did something happen?"
Venti strummed a few more cords, letting the music fade into silence and chuckling lightly as the winds tousled his hair. He knew they were disappointed not to be able to hear more, it’s alright, he’ll just sing for them later.
“I’m quite alright, what about you? Is everything okay? Did you need my help with something?”
"...No. There's nothing going on, I was just- patrolling when I heard you."
"You heard me?" Venti blinked, "Ehe, you mean my singing? Sorry, I didn't think I would bother anyone—"
"–You weren't!"
Even Diluc seemed stunned by the outburst. Good, at least Venti wasn't the only one not sure what was going on here.
"Are you going to keep singing?" Diluc asked.
Venti contemplated. There was a part of him that wanted to get back to it, but he knew being in that type of mood while alone wasn't smart. That and even with Master Diluc here, that would just worry the man if Venti zoned out.
Venti shook his head, "Ah, I believe I'm done for the night. It's quite late you know, perhaps it's time you turn in as well?"
"Will you be coming back to Dawn Winery?"
Should he?
He knows that the maids keep cleaning that guest room for him even though he barely ever stays the night. Over the years he's only slept there maybe once or twice because he couldn't say no when it was all of them asking him to stay. For adults, they all are ridiculously good at doing puppy eyes. He knows that the reason why they are treating him this way is because they feel as though they owe him for saving Master Crepus. Even though he keeps reassuring them that they don't need to do anything for him, he had stepped in and helped simply because he was able to, but they wouldn't hear anything about it. They just kept offering him food and a roof over his head, Kaeya and Jean would buy random snacks or drinks for him if they happened to run into one another outside. Master Diluc would ask Venti to stay at the bar, pouring him apple juice and offering to make him something to eat.
It was all too much. Venti tried repaying them whenever he could.
He acted as entertainment for the bar's patrons, and he watched over the Knights anytime they went out on a mission or quest. He left flowers and would play relaxing tunes any time they all start to overwork themselves as well.
Master Crepus would always smile at him whenever he did this, but that smile never reached his eyes. Venti still doesn't understand that man.
So to go back to Dawn Winery tonight, should he go?
…He doesn't really want to be alone right now.
If it's just the one night, and he doesn't overstay his welcome or make a mess then it should be okay. Mind made up, Venti smiled at Master Diluc before silently asking the winds to bring them down to the ground.
The winds don't tell him that Master Diluc had woken his father and Kaeya later that night once Venti retired to the guest room. He has no way of knowing that his little song from earlier at that night was told by Master Diluc to the others; nor does he learn of the concern that the lyrics caused to form within his people who had been woken by his singing yet pretended to remain asleep.
Venti never realizes that the people of Mondstat silently agree to keep an ear out for any new songs he may sing, with lyrics they believe to be about himself.