T/N: Hey guys! Sorry for not releasing a chapter for some time—I got really busy with college. But don't worry, I haven't dropped this story. Here's a new chapter after a long break, so please enjoy!
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She hadn't expected to be ridiculed by a mere bard. Just as she was about to explode with fury, something made her pause. Her gaze sharpened as she stared intently at Venti. As one of the Fatui's top agents, she didn't leave headquarters just because someone stirred up trouble in the streets—that wasn't worth her attention. The real reason she'd come out was because she sensed a resonance from the Holy Lyre. Through her elemental sight, she had tracked the divine energy connected to the Lyre. She was on her way to locate the source. She had fully intended to dispose of the annoying bard and then resume her search for the Anemo Archon. But in that moment of scrutiny, she realized something shocking: the elemental trace left on the Lyre pointed directly to the bard standing before her.
Which meant...
"Heh... I've been searching for you for so long, and here you are, delivering yourself right to my doorstep?" A smirk played at the corners of her mouth. Whatever resentment she had from the earlier mockery was immediately shoved aside. Compared to carrying out Her Majesty the Tsaritsa's will, her own pride meant nothing. A gust of razor-sharp cold exploded outward. Ice surged from beneath the ground, creeping up and locking around Venti's legs, rooting him in place.
"To think that the fabled Ameno Archon would disguise himself as a disrespectful bard," she said, her lips curling into a cold, charming smile. Though she had failed to capture Dvalin, she had now found Barbatos, the Wind Archon himself. Half her mission was already complete. Venti, caught in the freezing trap, made a show of struggling, summoning some water from Cider Lake to simulate the effect of frost pinning him down. But despite his weakened appearance, his words remained defiant.
"If we're talking about proper decorum, shouldn't you be kneeling before me, your god?" His sarcastic tone cut through the air like a blade.
The Lady's expression twisted with rage. "You insolent little—!" Her eyes flashed. Aware of the monstrous presence of Su Mo in this city, she didn't dare prolong the conflict. Without hesitation, she focused her elemental energy and launched a precise and devastating strike, her hand cutting through the air like a claw aimed at Venti's heart. The two figures crossed paths. Venti dropped to his knees, feigning weakness. In her hand, a glowing green chess piece manifested—small, luminous, and unmistakably divine.
"So this is the Gnosis..." The Lady gazed at the radiant object in her hand, her voice tinged with contempt.
"Heh, not nearly as exquisite as the pieces in my own collection."
"Cough... cough..." Venti clutched his chest, coughing dramatically, before retorting with a smirk, "Maybe that just means you have horrible taste."
Say what you will about his combat ability— Venti might slack off and let himself be beaten up—but when it came to witty comebacks, he never held back. His sharp tongue remained ever sharp, even in defeat. The Lady's face twisted in fury. Her eyes widened as she raised her foot, clearly preparing to stomp down on the kneeling Venti.
BANG!
A sudden crash echoed through the square. But it wasn't Venti who was sent flying. It was the Lady. Her body slammed into the wall with a heavy thud. The surrounding Fatui agents reacted instantly.
"Enemy!" The Electro Cicin Mage rushed to help her up, while the Debt Collector drew his weapon, muscles tensed. But not a single one of them dared to charge forward. Because the man now standing before them had already etched a deep, indelible fear into their minds.
"Su Mo!" The Lady staggered to her feet, her eyes widening in disbelief. She finally saw who had launched that devastating kick.
"What do you want?" Panic bloomed in her voice. Things had gone from triumph to disaster in mere seconds. Joy turned to dread. That monster—why was he here? She had only just secured the Gnosis. If he took it back now... Even with the Tsaritsa's blessings flowing through her, she knew full well she was no match for this man. Fortunately, it didn't seem like Su Mo had noticed what she had just done. Nor did he seem aware that the bard was the Wind Archon. He didn't make a move to retrieve the Gnosis either. This gave the Lady a sliver of relief. Still, unable to bear the risk of confrontation, she immediately made a decision—she would withdraw from Mondstadt. She gathered her agents and prepared to return to Snezhnaya at once, to deliver the Gnosis to the Tsaritsa.
Su Mo, watching her retreat, didn't stop her. Instead, his eyes drifted toward the still-frozen Venti. "Lend me a hand?" Venti asked with a grin, trying to play it off. "You brought this on yourself. Get up on your own." Su Mo replied flatly, not even attempting to hide his disdain. After all, this whole scenario had been nothing more than a one-man show orchestrated by Venti himself. That was why Su Mo hadn't intervened. "Eh? Come on, don't be like that!" Venti clasped his hands together, fluttering his eyes in mock pleading. "Please, please, pleaaaase?"
"…"
Su Mo sighed, clearly exasperated. With a burst of cursed energy, he shattered the frost that bound Venti, freeing him. Venti stood up and immediately beamed. "Thanks! Really, I mean it!"
"I'm starting to think I shouldn't have helped you," Su Mo muttered, shaking his head. "Maybe you're into this kind of thing, huh?" Venti teased, scratching his head sheepishly. "Not that I'd judge, but I don't swing that way, okay?"
"But still, Su Mo, you already knew my identity, didn't you?" Although he had long suspected it, this was the first time Venti had openly admitted it.
"I imagine Jean and the others have probably guessed it too," Su Mo replied without surprise. "That night, after ambushing the Abyss forces, I forgot to release Dvalin from the ice sculpture. I remember the next morning, when I arrived there with Jean and the rest, Dvalin cursed you for an entire day." The memory made Su Mo chuckle a little. What should have been a heartwarming reunion ended up with Venti getting scolded harshly by Dvalin. Fortunately, not many people were present at the time, so only a few had noticed Venti's true identity.
"Ah… right." Venti looked a little awkward as he remembered that. It had taken him a fair amount of effort to finally calm Dvalin down. "But that's not what we're supposed to be discussing right now!" he quickly changed the subject. "Su Mo, I assume you've realized—I intentionally allowed the Gnosis to be taken, right?" He brought the topic up himself this time.
"Yeah," Su Mo nodded. "Strictly speaking, you Archons are supposed to be subordinates of Celestia. The Tsaritsa, however, is a rebel, aiming to defy the Heavenly Principles. And yet, as one of the Seven, you willingly handed your Gnosis to her."
"Does this mean you also support her cause and wish to resist Celestia?" It was a question Su Mo had been curious about for a while. Venti, now trusting Su Mo completely after recent events, finally spoke honestly.
"Not exactly," he said, shaking his head as his braided hair fluttered slightly in the breeze. "I don't entirely agree with the Tsaritsa's ideology. But after thousands of years of Celestia's rule… it's time for change." The youthful bard's eyes held deep memories.
"Back then, before I became the Anemo Archon… I was just a wisp of wind in the roaring northern skies. I symbolized change and freedom. And now, after all these centuries, even Celestia's reign must face transformation." Venti's meaning was clear: while he didn't support the Tsaritsa's methods or ideals, he did agree with the need to oppose Celestia's ancient and unyielding rule. It was, perhaps, an inevitable upheaval he could sense coming.
In a way, Venti's decision to give up his Gnosis was a calculated gamble—a sort of investment in the Tsaritsa's rebellion. If she succeeded, she would owe him a great favor. On the other hand, his unwillingness to directly join her cause implied he still wanted to keep his options open. It showed just how much Venti cared for Mondstadt. Giving up his Gnosis wasn't an act of surrender—it was laying a potential path for the future.
"Last time, I composed a song of rebellion for my first friend," Venti said softly. "And now, it's your turn. You and the Traveler—I'll write a new song for the two of you." As he spoke, Venti smiled lightly, his gaze serious as he looked at Su Mo. "You both have to give it your all, alright? If it's you two, I'm sure you'll create a truly legendary epic." If Lumine had been there, she would have found the moment deeply touching. But unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Su Mo was the one standing here. So he only gave the bard a sideways glance and said flatly, "That sounds nice and all, but aren't you just trying to slack off again?" He saw right through Venti's real intention. All this talk about epics and songs… in truth, he just wanted to sit back and play cheerleader.
"Heh," Venti chuckled sheepishly, trying to pass it off with a laugh. But Su Mo's expression was too blatantly disapproving, so the bard quickly corrected himself. "Well, I mean… I don't think you and the Traveler actually need my help. But if you ever do, feel free to call me anytime. I may no longer have divine power, but as a bard, I'm still plenty useful for support roles." That at least sounded like a solid promise. Su Mo considered that as essentially drafting the Wind Archon into the team—unreliable or not. He just wasn't sure whether the real-life version of Venti would still be ineffective at dodging Klee's bombs. If so, that'd be kind of pathetic…