"Hurry, hurry! There's something amazing happening outside—if you're late you'll miss it!"
"What amazing thing? I'm running a shop—I don't have time!"
"Master Diluc is fighting a white-haired girl! I heard the Knights went too!"
"What? Master Diluc…? I should go check on him. He won't yell at me for that, right? Yes, of course! I'm only concerned for his personal safety!"
…
Diluc… fighting someone?
Am I still drunk?
Half-awake from his drunken haze, Wendy—no, Venti—heard bits of conversation about Diluc being in a fight.
That alone sounded wrong enough to sober him slightly.
He knew Diluc well. Diluc didn't "fight people."
Not like that.
"Come on, let's hurry!"
"Wait for me!"
More voices rushed past.
"…Huh. Sounds real. Guess I should go have a look."
Hearing the chatter again, Venti finally stood up. Several citizens rushed out the door in a hurry.
So he wasn't imagining things.
Diluc was actually fighting someone.
Surprising, honestly.
In his mind, Diluc was the stable, rational sort.
Wait—white-haired girl?
On his way out, Venti recalled the details he overheard. A white-haired girl… and suddenly, an image flashed in his mind—
The one above the heavens.
Impossible.
No way it's her.
It's not like she'd come all this way just to scold me for slacking…
Even thinking it made Venti snort.
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles wasn't that petty.
As long as he didn't cause trouble—or die—she didn't care what the mortal Archons were doing down here.
"…Huh? What's with the crowd? It's not Windblume or the Ballad Festival today. What's going on?"
Following the noise toward the city gate, he found a massive gathering of people.
Curiosity tugged him closer.
"Master Diluc lost…"
"No way!"
So they really were watching a fight. Mondstadters and their love for drama…
Pressed by the crowd, Venti reached to pull someone aside to ask—
And then it hit him.
…That power?
Just as he turned to leave, something—faint yet strange—rippled from beyond the crowd.
Sustainer?
No…
No, not quite…
But then why…
Why does it almost feel like her?
What is this…?
Wait—white-haired girl?!
No way.
A hundred—no, ten thousand Dilucs wouldn't beat her.
He closed his eyes and focused.
That faint presence… part of it was unmistakable.
A trace of Heavenly Principles—but different enough to confuse him.
He couldn't ignore it.
But with so many people, how was he supposed to check?
Scanning the area, Venti began searching for a vantage point.
He didn't want to reveal his powers yet.
If that white-haired being was related to the Heavenly Principles and hadn't noticed him here in Mondstadt, he had to use that advantage.
For now.
Of course, if Mondstadt truly faced danger, he would step in.
…Ah. That roof should work.
When the crowd's attention shifted back to the fight, Venti quietly slipped up the side of a nearby building, then hopped onto the city wall.
And the moment he looked out—
Sustainer…? How…?
The white figure in the distance stunned him.
The clothes and hairstyle were different—but the face, the aura—
They were identical to the one above the heavens.
Even after so long since he'd last seen her, he could never forget.
Changing outfits wasn't impossible.
But why come here?
Could it really be…
Did she come because I slack off too much?
No way.
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles wouldn't care about such things.
And sparring with Diluc?
None of this made sense.
"Master Diluc is in danger!"
…Hm?
A shout from the crowd jolted him from his thoughts.
If he didn't act now, Diluc would die.
No time to hesitate—
Venti dissolved into wind and rushed forward.
"So much wind…"
"Was someone just here…?"
"Shh! I'm watching!"
No one noticed Venti disappear—too focused on the battle outside.
"Heh… this is the end, then?"
Flat on his back, Diluc stared at the spear-like object flying straight at him.
Strangely, he felt calm.
At least he hadn't disgraced his father.
Even if he wasn't a Knight anymore.
FWOOOOSH—
Huh? Wind?
Just as he braced himself for death, a violent gale swept in and knocked the spear off course.
Is that… the Anemo Archon?
When the wind settled, a figure stood before him.
A hooded white garment.
Pure white wings behind the back.
Exactly like the statue of Barbatos.
"That's… Lord Barbatos?"
"No way! He hasn't shown himself in ages!"
"You know nothing. He must've sensed Mondstadt in danger and descended!"
"Danger? They were just sparring—"
"…Uh…"
"Lord Barbatos!"
The crowd erupted again.
None of them quite believed it, but the resemblance was undeniable.
And from this distance, no one could see the actual face beneath the hood.
Can't let them know anything about the Heavenly Principles…
With a sweep of wind, Venti separated himself, Su Mo, and Diluc from the crowd—clearing the area instantly.
"Leave at once. I'll handle this."
His voice rode the wind into every listener's ear.
Then he looked toward Su Mo.
"You. What is your purpose here…
Sustainer?"
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