Chapter Text
"Venti, I am glad that you finally woke up! Back then, you cried so much that...
...You are feeling much better now, right...? You are not feeling weak or sleepy or...?"
"I am alright, Jean. As best as I can be considering that...
...I apologize if I worried you back then. After 'waking up' and finding out that they...And also that...Recording...
...After seeing all of that I just...Broke...All of those people who...Because of me..."
"...Venti...Lord Barbatos, it's not your fault. They had..."
"...Chosen it themselves. To become sacrifices and take on the remainder of my punishment. I know.
...But it still doesn't make me feel any better, especially not since...I-I was supposed to be the one to...A-and yet, they...!"
"...Venti, please. Don't do it...Not again...
...T-the last time...Y-you broke up...I-in tears...C-crying so much...I-I feared...T-that you...!"
"...J-Jean, when is it...? T-their funeral...W-when is it...?! E-even though...N-nothing was...L-left...T-they still...!
...T-they need to have...A-a proper funeral...T-those poor children...
...A-and I have to attend it...N-no matter what…!"
"...B-but you are still...!"
"I HAVE TO! I HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THEIR LAST...!
...H-how could I ever think...A-about not attending it...?! A-after they, for my sake...!"
"...V-Venti...L-lord Barbatos, you...
...I-I understand and the others probably would, as well. Just please...
...Please, don't wear yourself out. We can't lose you so soon after..."
"...I understand, Jean. And I will...Try."
...
This discussion they had when Venti woke up,
When he told her that he will try to take it easier...
*And yet, shortly after the funeral proceedings started...
...
"...Thank you for saving me. And I am sorry!
I am so sorry...! Because of me, you had to...!"
...
And now he was, right before the Casket,
Sitting on his knees and...So sorrowfully...
*Why did it have to come to this...?!
-...I-I am sorry...! I-I am sorry...! I-I am sorry...! -Barbatos kept shakily saying over and over, the Crystaltears streaming freely down his face. -...B-because you...T-took on my...P-punishment, you are now...! N-not even a body...A-and your souls...B-because you sacrificed...Y-yourselves for me...Y-you are now...!
-...Venti, I am sorry. -She couldn't help but soon say in regret, before bashing him on the back of the head with her sword's scabbard, a moment later catching his unconscious form in her other hand. -...A little more and just like back then, when we found you...There was a chance that your life would be in danger. -She added while putting the scabbard back in her vision's 'Hammerspace', a moment later repositioning the unconscious Archon in her arms, her expression soon turning angry. -...It's all because of that Monster showing him THAT! If not for THEM, he wouldn't have blamed himself to this extent! -She said in an equal amount of rage, her words clearly heard in the now-quiet hall, before there were a few seconds of silence. -...Venti...Lord Barbatos. He really shouldn't be left alone. Now now, when not only is he unstable, but to feel so much self-guilt...If he breaks down again...
"After all we did to bring him back, for him to die again...We can't have that no matter what!", was left unsaid,
And it needed not be, as it was apparent to everyone in the area what she meant...
*As everyone, in one way or another, agreed with the sentiment...
...
-I can watch over Venti. -Vennessa was the first to say, looking and sounding serious, as well as sorrowful. -...Upon waking up, if he starts crying so much it might get dangerous, I can share some Anemo Energy with him so he wouldn't deplete himself and...-Her words trailed off, as she walked closer to and crouched to the unconscious Archon's level. -...To think he will be unconscious almost twice in a row after being brought back to life...-She sadly added, upon looking him over, before turning her head up to glance at Jean. -...Your father and your sister, Seneschal Seamus and Deaconess Barbara, did you already decide when you are going to ask him to save them...? -She soon turned to look back at the unconscious Archon in Jean's arms, a moment later proceeding to gently touch his eerily relaxed face. -...Wherever the decided time is, if you are not careful about it, Venti will...
-...I know. He might blame himself even more, which could lead to...! -Jean sorrowfully admitted, her words trailing off soon enough, as there was a few seconds of silence. -...So I am still not sure when the right time would be, wherever I should do it myself or ask mother...Alder Knight to. -She explained, as tears soon quickly welled up in her eyes, ready to spill. -...A-and just how...S-should I ask for...T-this favor...W-without him...B-breaking again...!
She shakily ended, as the tears soon started to spill,
Moments later falling down on the Archon's unconscious form...