Chapter Text
The winery is as bustling as ever; the never-ending clinking bottles made Diluc frown. Even so, he still finishes the drink he was making.
Kaeya was drinking alongside Rosaria in their usual place, in front of the bar; much to his displeasure. Kaeya with his Death After Noon and Rosaria with her Dandelion Wine. They seem to be enjoying themselves.
For some reason, Diluc doesn't want to know, Venti is absent. Although it wasn't the first time, his absence was still noticeable. 'The winery might close on time' is what Diluc thought to himself.
Suddenly the door swung open, and Acting Grand Master Jean entered the tavern seemingly searching for someone, Venti perhaps. When she doesn't find him tho, she went straight to where Diluc is. Not minding Kaeya and Rosaria who is staring at her both with eyebrows raised.
"Pardon Master Diluc, but have you seen Venti around?"
Diluc furrowed his brow, which already is an answer for Jean but she waited for an answer nonetheless.
"No, I haven't," he replied. Diluc then wonders what could have gotten Jean so worried, at this time of the day especially. On top of that, searching for THE Anemo Archon himself.
"Why would the Acting Grand Master Jean be searching for our beloved bard at this hour? Hm?" Kaeya asked eye intently. 'It piqued his interest of course', Diluc thought.
"Oh, um, ah.." Jean sighed in resignation. She didn't even realized that Kaeya and Rosaria were there before Kaeya asked her. She massaged her temples and sat down on her right, next to Kaeya. "Well, he told me to meet him in the tavern, but he still isn't here?" she paused, looking back to the door. "I was expecting he'd be here already as I arrived late."
"He hasn't stepped foot on the tavern once today." Rosaria replied. She placed her elbow on the bar table cupping her chin.
Kaeya suddenly straightened his posture, "Oh? Is he in danger now? Should we search for him?" He asked, he realized how alarming the situation was after assessing what Jean and Rosaria said. It wasn't rare for Venti to not be in the tavern but it is also not the usual.
Jean nods, "It might be for the best. And I think what he wanted to tell me is something crucial as well."
"Hm?" was all Kaeya said as he narrowed his eye.
There was a sudden silence.
"Where should we go then?" Diluc asked, cutting the silence that filled the tavern.
"Right," Jean sighed, she thought of the places Venti would be and there's only two she could think of. "I'm quite sure he's in Windrise, if not he's probably in Storm Terrors' Lair."
OoO
After an hour or so, they can finally see Windrise in the distance. They come across some hilichurls and slimes, which made their travel much slower.
Rosaria spotted someone sitting next to the tree, she realized it's probably Venti with the shade of green on their clothes.
When they reached the tree they saw Venti, his back leaning on the tree's trunk. Head popped to his side, with his hands on his lap. He looks so serene, with crystalflies surrounding him. Like an embodiment of Freedom itself.
Diluc was the first to approach Venti. He crouched to Venti's level, and tapped his left shoulder. Waiting for a response, he looked back to where the three were.
Jean somewhat hesitantly stepped forward. Rosaria and Kaeya followed behind.
Even after Diluc tapped Venti twice more, the archon still didn't stir.
"He's in deep sleep." Diluc whispers concern evident in his tone. He looked upwardly, catching Jean's sight. Her brows furrowed, she clenched her hands together at a loss on what to do.
"We can't leave him here." Kaeya said. Glancing between the sleeping figure beside Diluc, and Diluc himself. "He can stay in my apar-"
In which Diluc cutted. "He'll stay at the manor til he wakes." He said as he was placing his coat over to Venti, wrapping him as you would in a burrito.
Diluc was readying to lift Venti up, with his right hand on Venti's back; when a hand suddenly squeezed his shoulder. He looked up and saw Kaeya glaring at him.
"He'll stay in my apartment, not yours." He gave emphasis on the "my". Still glaring at Diluc.
Diluc just sighed and stood up; he found it absurd to argue. Then he finally fully lifts Venti up, in a princess carry manner.
Diluc noticed that Venti was so light; light as a feather, as a wind. If Venti wasn't breathing steadily he would've thought he was only lifting a fabric of clothes. But right now, he is here. Breathing, sleeping, just living.
He heard a voice from his front. "Kaeya, I.." Jean sighed, "I think it's also better to let Venti stay at the manor." she stuttered.
Kaeya looked at Jean and saw Rosaria nodding. 'Damn you traitor' Kaeya internally curses. He deeply exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
Archons, he hoped he misheard Diluc snorting.