Chapter Text
"A letter." The Wanderer passed a letter to the Dendro Archon. To Nahida, today was an ordinary day. It was getting close to spring, and she believes that her little protégé is getting close to actually finishing his thesis. With her short limbs, she reached for the sealed envelope and took an envelope opener from under her desk -- a gift from Nilou that she kept. A crisp, resounding sound echoed through her office as she ripped the seal apart, revealing a folded paper stuffed in dandelion seeds, a piece of Cecilia, and a few petals from what she deciphered as a windwheel aster.
My dearest Dendro Archon,
The letter read. The paper itself emitted a strong floral scent, which Nahida surmised as the scent of either the Cecilia, or the windwheel aster.
I hope this letter finds you in good health! Please take the dandelion wine that came along with it, and enjoy it with your peers.
Nahida smiled and glanced at the Wanderer.
"Did the letter come with a bottle of wine?"
The Wanderer shrugged. "It did. I left it with your kitchen staff."
The Dendro Archon grinned at the thought of her protégé interacting with humans. "Well, take it back and bring it to Dehya. She's someone I know who will enjoy it, don't you think so? Or maybe Madam Faruzan would?"
"I'm off to see Dehya." The Wanderer groaned and left her office, leaving Nahida all alone. She let out a soft chuckle as she continued reading the letter.
That wine is a vintage! Make sure to enjoy it with your friends. I hope you have found your own friends, your own people. Songs and songs of praise for you and your eternal wisdom have reached the ears of the city of freedom. And I, for one, am happy about hearing of YOUR freedom. It's exhilarating, isn't it?
That said, if you are free, could you perhaps consider visiting Mondstadt for the Windblume festival in a month? It would be an honor to be grazed by your presence! To the people of Mondstadt, it will be like meeting a hero from the ballads!
My kind Dendro Archon, I will await for your reply.
PS. Please don't address it to the Knights of Favonius. Instead, please address it to the Dawn Winery. Thanks!
Regards,
Venti the Bard.
Nahida chuckled as she read the bard's letter over and over again, and she couldn't help but wonder why he didn't want the letter to be addressed to the knights. Still, even from the strange way the letter was written, she knew that the bard wasn't just some bard.
The Anemo Archon.
"This should be interesting," Nahida thought. She took a quick glance at the Akademiya's calendar, and found herself smiling. "Looks like the Wanderer and I are coming to Mondstadt."
Somewhere in the desert, a certain wide-hatted Wanderer sneezed as he passed the Lioness a bottle of dandelion wine. I have a bad feeling about this. He thought. And he couldn't be more right.
"Ei, you have a letter." Ei furrowed her brows as Miko came in. The Electro Archon, minus the fanletters, as Miko called them, barely gets any letters. Miko gets them, she is a publisher. Ayato gets them, he's in politics. She thinks even her talented rival, Kokomi, gets them. Maybe even the idiotic oni gets them. But Ei? Barely. Rarely.
"It is from?"
Miko smirked, and the Shogun swears she saw her companion's tail wave back and forth. "Mondstadt."
There was only one person in Mondstadt who would dare contact her. She took the envelope and tore it swiftly. The abundant smell of the flower inside the envelope made her flinch, but she pulled the letter out, too.
The last time the bard was in Inazuma, Miko was kind enough to drag him, his words, not hers, all the way to the Tenshukaku and they drank together. The Bard even made Ei a ballad. He also made her some mint jelly, and he brought her dango milk, so Ei felt the need to reciprocate his energy. Maybe that's why she wanted to read the letter immediately.
Or maybe because she felt like it was nice for him to contact her.
Hello my dearest Electro Archon! I hope my letter finds you in good health. See I was taking a walk yesterday, and I saw that they are starting to put up flowers in the city of Mondstadt. I know what you're thinking, the flowers in this letter are on the too much side. It's okay, and PLEASE don't give me an earful about it when we meet -- I already have about enough coming from a crazy old blockhead. None from you, please!
Speaking of meeting, I would just like to invite you to the Windblume festival that's happening in a month! It's gonna be fun, streets filled with dancing, singing, and stories from friends that you could never forget. I know I won't. Even if we had our odds for years, I would love for you to be a part of this chapter of the story. It will be fun! I sent an invitation to the Dendro Archon a few days ago, too, so I've been hoping to bring us closer together. Don't hesitate to send someone along to tell me if you're coming. If you are, I mean.
Ps. Please send a reply to the Dawn Winery, Miko knows the address. She initially sent my packages to the Knights of Favonius, and some things are not meant for children to be opened. The grandmaster would appreciate it if that never happens again hehe.
Your bard, Venti.
Ei smiled at the final line. She looked up at Miko, who was explaining to Sara how different a dandelion wine is from their traditional sake. "Miko." She called. Miko glanced at her and raised a brow. "Let us prepare a ship."
Miko now looked more confused, and she looked at Ei, and then at the letter in her hand. "For what..?"
"We shall be sailing to Mondstadt in a few weeks."
Furina's bored. Since stepping out of the limelight, Furina's done nothing but one of five things; eat, sleep, walk around, sweets, and watching some opera. She wanted spice. She wanted drama. Her boredom was reaching its maximum point, and now, she's just rolling around her bed, with really nothing to do.
She could meet the twins today. Surely, those two will indulge her? Or maybe she could meet Charlotte! She seemed kind to her. She can’t exactly ask Navia out today again. They went on a local trip to a cafe just yesterday! Maybe she should've taken the traveler's advice and actually traveled. After 500 years, one might assume that Furina would spend more time resting, but no, it's only been months and she's already so bored.
A knock came on her door, and Furina opened it meekly, revealing her former bodyguard and friend, Clorinde, with a box and a letter.
"Clorinde," she squeaked.
"Lady Furina." Clorinde had a small smile and she passed the box and the letter to Furina. "This came to the Palais Memoria, and the Iudex received it. It was addressed to you, however."
"Oh!" Furina took the envelope and the box and smiled. "Thank you. May I offer you some tea?"
Clorinde shook her head. "Next time. Wriothesley--" The champion duelist groaned. "I have some business at the Fortress of Meropide. But I shall have them with you once I return."
"O-okay. See you then." Furina waved Clorinde goodbye and she first opened the box. It had a bottle of dandelion wine, which made Furina so confused. Dandelion wines are the specialty of Mondstadt.
Opening the letter, and putting down the wine for a second, she started to immerse herself into reading.
Hello Lady Furina. If anybody other than Lady Furina is reading this, please know that the wind is not kind to those who are evil!
"The wind?" Furina muttered out loud.
Oh. She thought to herself.
But, if this IS Lady Furina, I want you to know that a simple bard like I has heard of Lady Furina's incredible stage persona and expertise. I also know of your heroics, and I can assure you that ballads and songs are being written, engraving you as truly a wonderful Archon of the Nation of Justice. Believe me, as I myself, have written some. Flattery truly soothes Furina. Perhaps it was the performer in her that truly enjoyed it.
That said, I would like to invite you to the Windblume Festival happening in three weeks! There's a lot that's going to happen. Songs, ballads, performances, and a lot of happiness. The nation of Mondstadt celebrates freedom. We would love to celebrate you, as well. I have also invited some friends who are also in awe of you. So please, I look forward to your attendance.
Ps. Don't hesitate to bring some friends, too! And you can just send a reply to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Your fan,
Venti the Bard.
Furina stared at the letter again. And again. The Anemo Archon has sent her a letter. The Anemo Archon sees her. She smiled widely and she skipped around, packing her bags, writing a letter for her Iudex.
She was going to Mondstadt, and not even the moody Hydro Dragon is going to stop her.
"Yoo-hoo! Mr. Zhongli, a letter!" Wangsheng funeral's director came skipping from her office, to her consultant's office. Hu Tao was happy to pass along a letter from the Conqueror of Demons, after all. How Xiao knew Mr. Zhongli? She doesn't want to go there.
"Thank you, Miss Hu Tao." Zhongli took the envelope, and he felt a sense of deja vu when he saw the envelope and the handwriting. In his thousands of years of existence, only his friend would write in this handwriting.
Barely legible, but it is.
Even in his time as Morax, and this friend's time as Barbatos, this was just among some of the things that has never changed.
"I'm getting lunch with Xingqiu and Chongyun. Wanna come with?"
Zhongli shook his head. His meeting with the Cloud Retainer was overdue, after all. He was just going to read Venti's letter and go. "No, thank you. Enjoy your lunch, Miss Hu Tao."
Hu Tao gave her goodbyes and when Zhongli was sure Hu Tao was gone, he finally opened the letter. He didn't want to open it with Hu Tao around, he's getting the feeling that the young director is getting a hold of his and Venti's identities after all. They're kindred spirits, Zhongli knows as much, but the two archons are still hiding their identities for the most part.
Zhongli flapped his letter open, and a wolfhook dropped from it. Amused, Zhongli shook his head and began reading.
Hello, you brutish, blundering bufoon. How many times do I have to tell you to SEND YOUR LETTERS THROUGH DAWN WINERY. THE KNIGHTS DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE ATE (THAT YOU INSISTED TO PAY FOR, IN CAPS, SO YOU'D REMEMBER YOU BLOCKHEAD) AT WANMIN RESTAURANT. Archons, are you TRYING to get caught as Morax?!
Also, remember when we went to Windrise and you forgot your spear? I'm holding that hostage. Come to Mondstadt for windblume, AND THEN I'll give it back. Windblume's in a week, so just come over!
Ps. None of my children in Mondstadt right now use spears, so if you don't come, I'm giving it to the only spear user I know of. The nun!
Pps. PLEASE COME JEAN MIGHT KILL ME I THINK I INVITED TOO MANY PEOPLE.
Your love,
Venti the Bard.
Zhongli chuckled as he read the letter. Venti said he invited too many people? Zhongli thought of how amusing it must be, and in a split-second decision, he decided to go to Mondstadt.
"Venti, you can't invite twenty people and expect them to all stay in the Goth Hotel!" Jean tried to reason. She knew her Archon didn't mean to invite twenty people -- not including Venti's friends from Liyue -- but twenty people, all from Fontaine, Sumeru, and Inazuma. He didn't expect the guest list to get that long. He was expecting, maybe ten. Or fifteen, Liyue included. He knew Mr. Zhongli was coming with Hu Tao, and a couple of Hu Tao's friends-- Xingqiu, too! He ticked off about five— six, if Xiao decides to come — for Liyue.
As for the Inazuman convoy, the Shogun's arriving with Miko, two other high-ranking officials from Inazuma, and their companions. They're being taken to Dorman Port by the Crux Fleet, so he's expecting Kazuha and his captain. In total for Inazuma — eight.
The Dendro Archon sent him a notification that she and her convoy recently left on foot. She was apparently bringing her protégé, two of her trusted retainers, a doctor, and two civilians, one of whom is Collei — that makes seven.
And finally, the Lady Furina's arriving from Fontaine today. She brought one bodyguard, a friend, and three... Children of hers? He's not exactly sure but that's how she called them in her letter. And that's six. The grand total of the people arriving in Mondstadt will be twenty seven.
The Liyueans will be no trouble when it comes to coming back-and-forth, he's already talked to the owner of Wangshu Inn, and Zhongli's helping him with that. The real problem lies in the people who traversed through seas and deserts to get to Mondstadt. He was not going to let them sleep in a rat-ridden room!
Diluc, his friend and the one whose address he puts in his letters glanced at Jean. "This might be the biggest Windblume you'll ever throw in a long time, Acting Grandmaster."
Jean massaged her temples and shook her head. "It might just be." Truthfully, she was rather amused with regard to her Archon's antics. This wasn't new. Well, the execution of this was new. She never expected Venti to write letters individually to the other Archons. But he did. "I assume most of them will be concealing their identities?"
Venti laughed, amused, himself. "Just one. Although the Acting Grandmaster and Master Diluc are observant, I think you'll figure out who they are rather quickly."
Diluc groaned, memories from the first letter he ever received from a gentleman named Zhongli flashing through his head. Jean seems to have agreed with his sentiment — she, as well, knows very well what he's talking about.
"But the other three are not the flashy type. I mean, the Shogun, maybe, a little, but it's not like she's doing it on purpose. And Lady Furina...Well, she's performing for the Windblume, so there's that." Venti cupped his chin and he felt the wind blow. He listened in for sounds, looking for something significant. The leaves bristling, thunder rushing, a happy song, or perhaps a tone he so adored.
He smiled when he found a happy song being hummed from afar. No, nearby.
"Let's fix our room situation, then. Master Diluc, can you rent me a few guestrooms in your mansion?"
Diluc glanced at the list Venti made, and he pointed at the name, Furina. "I can open my home to Lady Furina and her peerage. Are the children actually siblings?" He thought of lending the children the room he and Kaeya used to share.
Venti shrugged. "I think so."
"Then you have my word."
Venti smiled widely and he drew a check mark next to Furina's name. "The Inazuman convoy is the largest, can they stay at the Knights' dormitories?"
"I can make arrangements." Jean agreed. "I believe that leaves us with the Sumeru entourage staying at the Goth Hotel, right?" Venti nodded and smiled. He was going to make this happen. He was going to make this work.
He's bringing the band back together.