The return of one of Liyue's three gods was celebrated with a grand festival. One that lasted nearly two weeks. The people spared no expenses—after all, the abundance they enjoyed was one that'd been provided by their gods. It was only natural that they now pay it back.
The people of Sublime Spicewood also helped in providing an abundance of food and materials for the festival. Their reverence for Lady Venti is higher than even Morax, and so the Serenitea Pot that serves as a gateway between Liyue and Sublime Spicewood would often be crowded with thousands of people.
When Lady Venti had awoken from her deep sleep, her body was weak and fragile from the stasis she had fallen into. But that did little to stop her from joining in the festivities. If anything, the time she had lost served only to empower her, and she would come out and play her lute every evening as a gift to the people.
Many would hear Lady Venti's songs for the first time during that celebration, and many would be enchanted. Thousands would willingly sit on the streets if it meant they could listen to her melodies. It would earn her a new title: The God of Music.
In the following years, the day of Lady Venti's awakening would become a vital holiday for the people of Liyue, but that was a tale for a later time.
During the festival, it was not rare to see Morax and Guizhong walking across the streets of Liyue Harbor, often there to support Lady Venti in the event that she falls. It showed the great camaraderie between the three gods, and it gave insight as to why Liyue became one of the few regions in Teyvat that housed multiple leading gods.
Many joyous times were had during that celebration. Many would call it the beginning of Liyue's golden age; where three of Liyue's gods would walk amongst the people in peace and tranquility.
No one quite knows what Lady Venti did during the celebrations. Though she regularly appears to play her music, she was surprisingly elusive during most days. Many credited it to her recent awakening and assumed she was resting, but some believe otherwise.
Rumor has it that Lady Venti would often explore Liyue with Morax. The credibility of this statement is to be questioned, but this same observation has been heard from various people with varying degrees of confidence.
Some even shared that they saw Morax often hold Venti during their travels. Likely in response to the latter's weakness after awakening from her stasis, but some have also believed something deeper is there. A bond that stands above even mere companionship.
Whether that is true or not is difficult to determine, but their bond has spawned one of the most popular trends in the stories written and told by the people.
The weeks following the celebration were calmer but no less joyous. Liyue discovered a new sense of enthusiasm, one that would remain eternal.
-Excerpt from [Liyue's Golden Age: Vol. 1], as written by the Storyteller Weifeng-
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"How is it?" I asked, rolling my thumbs nervously as I waited for Guizhong's verdict. Guizhong glanced away from the scroll and raised an eyebrow, and I shyly looked away. "It-, isn't too bad, is it?"
She smiled slyly. "If this is your first time writing, I can only wait for what you will write a few years down the line." She stated simply, and I felt my cheeks go warm at the undisguised praise. Urgh, curse this still-weakened body of mine. Trying to keep my expressions under control hadn't been as easy as I remembered.
"But really, this is great." She gently patted my head. "Do you want to become a Storyteller, then?"
I nodded. "I mean, it's not like I can do much right now." I whispered, slowly shaking my hands. "Better use these for something else, right?"
I've had weeks to slowly recover, but it wasn't enough yet. Being frozen for 17 years takes a toll on a person, and I needed more time before most of the grease I'd accumulated would be shaken off. At least Morax's power helped to speed that up, and so I'd at least spend an hour with him every day.
So yes, the rumors about him holding my hand were very much true. Aside from just keeping me from falling, the contact also allowed better transmission of Energy between the two of us. That, and Morax's hand felt wonderfully warm whenever he did that, so I often had to restrain the urge to just climb onto him like a cat and sleep.
Guizhong's smile fell. "Venti…"
I huffed. "I know, I know." She'd told me that me being asleep for 17 years wasn't my fault. That it was their fault for letting me get injured in the first place. It didn't really make me feel better. "But I've done nothing but rest after I stopped exploring, and I'm going crazy~" I grinned slyly at her. "I think your hard-working attitude infected me."
She giggled. "Oh, so I'm a plague now, am I?"
I winked, pressing my hands onto my chest as I mimed a heart attack. "A plague on my heart."
Her eyes twinkled. "No, that's Morax."
"Wha-!?" My ears went red as I winced. "Now that's just mean. Just because people like putting me and Morax together doesn't mean that's real." I grinned back. "And besides, don't think I haven't heard about your rumors either. Morax was more than happy to share that time you went flower-picking together."
She hissed. "That traitor…"
I laughed, and she joined me not long after. Of course, we knew that it was nothing like what we were thinking. Morax was a complete blockhead in that regard, and his draconic instincts were not helping with the rumors. It didn't make the scenarios any less funny. Or embarrassing.
"By the way, how's the rest of Teyvat doing?" I then asked. "I haven't heard anything from the outside."
Guizhong hummed, an odd expression on her face. "It's…mixed, so to say." She leaned in conspiratorially. "I know that other regions are still embroiled in war here and there. I think the only one that isn't is Mondstat, but I haven't heard anything about a new Archon appearing there, so I'm not too sure."
"Mondstat, huh…" I frowned slightly. That…was the region just neighboring Liyue, wasn't it? Hills and mountains covered in constant snow, with the only bastion being a kingdom covered in constant storms to protect from the outside. Or at least that's what people have said about it.
"Mondstat…" I repeated, closing my eyes. Tasted the way the name rolled on my tongue.
I wonder if BaRBaToS would appear soon-
Would appear-
…
"Venti!"
I flinched at Guizhong's sudden call. "W-What?" I stammered, and I opened my eyes to see Guizhong worriedly staring at me. "What happened?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Do you know anything about Mondstat?"
I tilted my head, confused. "Huh? Why would I? I've never gone to visit."
She frowned for a moment, her eyes sad. But she then shook her head and grinned, though I could tell it was a little forced. "Well, it's all snowy and cold right now, but that might change in the future." Her smile became a little more genuine. "Wanna go explore someday?"
My eyes brightened. Exploring an entirely new region? That-, sounds great actually! I'd practically run out of places to explore in Liyue for the time being, so heading out to some other place sounded nice. Maybe there'd even be more treasure chests for me to find! I wonder if the rewards I get change depending on the region?
Well, not like I could find out right now. My body was still recovering.
"Maybe once I'm better." I smiled. "But I'll hold you to that."
She grinned. "It's a promise then!"
I grinned back. "This contract is sealed in Stone." I said in a vague impersonation of Morax. Guizhong snorted as she heard my mimicry, and I couldn't help but chuckle as well. Gods, I was glad I never had to say those words seriously. No amount of training could stop me from grinning whenever I said that.
We spent a few more hours chatting in my dojo's dining room, and Guizhong finally left when night fell. I then returned to my room, and after giving my arms one last stretch, I laid down on my bed.
I yawned. Today was fun. I'd mostly just walked around Liyue Harbor to listen to what people thought about Liyue, which then inspired me to compile everything into a scroll. I hadn't really planned to make it anything substantial, but once Guizhong found out what I was doing, she chimed in and added a bunch of details herself. And before I knew it, I had several scrolls containing Liyue's history.
Which was how I eventually came up with the whole Storyteller thing. Because while I was still Tianqiu's master, I had nothing else to do. And since Liyue still didn't have an official historian to keep everything in order, I might as well take up the position.
I mean, I already played music and sang, becoming a Storyteller was just the obvious next step. Maybe I could eventually become a travelling bard or something!
Ehe. Maybe something to do once I retire or something.
I smiled wryly as I glanced at the moonlight streaming through the window. Of course, there'd be a long time before I considered anything close to retiring. I'd already spent 17 years asleep inside a chamber of amber; like hell I'd spend more time lazing around. I needed to spend time doing something, lest I go stir crazy.
And so, I gently drifted to sleep as I pondered over my future possibilities.