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Venti was sleeping when something tucked at his consciousness. He stirred. Who would dare wake up a sleeping bard, but then he snapped upright almost falling out of his tree. No one could just wake him up like that. He closed his eyes and searched for the reason for his awakening.
The amount of distress reaching and pulling at his mind almost made him block it all out but he had to figure out why his people were so distressed.
Panick was seeping into his bones. He couldn't concentrate on what the prayers to Bartbatos were saying because they were overlapping so much that he knew something must have gone very wrong in Mondstadt.
He thought about what he should do for a second until a voice called out to him, for a second he ignored it thinking it was just another prayer until the shouting got louder.
He looked beneath him to see Diluc standing on the ground clearly also distressed.
Venti jumped down, the winds easing him onto the grass softly.
He noticed how Diluc was out of breath and staring at him.
"You're glowing.", Venti looked down to see his braids glowing lightly amongst the other markings on his body although they were all covered.
"Could be because of the distress of Mondstadts People, what's happening Diluc?" Venti stated his voice turning serious.
"I- We are not sure. Mondstadt is being held captive, they want you, well they want Barbatos." Venti's eyes widened.
“Who are they?" Venti inquired starting to head towards Mondstadt.
"The Abyss Order, I saw two Heralds, a Lector and multiple Mages."
Venti's head was spiralling, what could they want from him? Surely it must be some sort of revenge. It wasn't uncommon for the Abyss Orders Members to have personal grudges against Archons, but usually, they wouldn't go this far.
They have never dared to go this far. Why did no one alert him earlier, why were the winds not informing him? Is it because he doesn't have the gnosis anymore? Do the winds not talk to him the same as before? No, he would have noticed.
Oh. He had been in one of his slumbers again. He'd probably slept through multiple days, he usually did when he took one of his naps.
The distress calls in his mind were not doing much to calm his own nerves. What if he couldn't protect Mondstadt, what if he really had gotten too weak? He knew he was currently the weakest Archon but he couldn't be that weak right?
"...ti"
"...enti!"
“BARBATOS! Are you even listening?!" Diluc snapped, successfully gaining Venti's attention back.
"Sorry I was lost in thought. It's getting quite crowded up there." Venti spoke pointing at his head.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Diluc was confused.
"Ah right, yeah. Part of being a God is hearing every prayer and feeling if your people are in danger or distressed." Venti explained matter-of-factly.
Diluc stared at him for a second.
"Ah don't worry, it's usually easy to separate them from your thoughts and feelings. It's just more difficult the more people are calling out to me" The God smiled sheepishly, he realised a bit late that he just revealed some secrets of godhood to a mortal just like that.
Mondstadt was in view now and Venti began to realise that they were calling for Barbatos. That he had to go into his Archon form and make an official appearance as Lord Barbatos.
"What are you going to do?" Diluc asked carefully, probably seeing the distress on his face.
Venti schooled his expression quickly.
'I can do it. I've been in my Archon form hundreds of times. I am Barbatos and I can make an appearance to my people, they need me. I can do it. I've done it before and I will do it again! For Mondstadt and my Children' he took one last deep breath.
"I advise you to close your eyes for a second Master Diluc." tone already slipping into that of the old God he actually was unlike his childish, bubbly personality.
Diluc did as he was told, Venti was engulfed by light for a mere second before he could feel the familiar weight of his wings on his back and the wind on his skin. He felt more powerful than he did normally and the wind seemed excited to see him in this form again.
When Diluc opened his eyes again he could barely believe that the Devine God before him was the same person as the drunkard bard that he knew.
"I guess I have to make an appearance as Barbatos again." Venti-, no Barbatos spoke his gaze hardened.
Diluc was frozen he had never expected that Venti could look this serious.
"I'm gonna fly, do you want me to teleport you back to Mondstadt or do you wanna walk?" Barbatos asked.
"I- if you could teleport me behind the cathedral, that would be welcomed." Diluc barely noticed him speaking way more formally than he would usually with the bard.
Barbatos touched Dilucs shoulder and sent him off in a burst of Anemo. He then spread his wings to their fullest extent and shot into the air. He would have enjoyed it if it wasn't for the urgent situation.
Diluc had informed Jean immediately of his interaction and that Barbatos would arrive any minute now.
The God circled Mondstadt ones high in the air to locate the enemies and then ascended in front of his statue facing the enemies. He could feel eyes bore into him from all sides.
"So you decided to come here after all 'Lord Barbatos'", the Abyss Lector spoke tauntingly.
"What do you want from Mondstadt?" His voice was steady and clear.
"Oh no, we don't want anything from Mondstadt we simply want something from you" the abyss-tainted voice spoke again.
"Then why threaten Mondstadt like this? It is not good to anger an Archon by threatening their people just to talk to them you know." He wasn't taunting, he was warning them.
"Oh? Is the great Lord Barbatos not known for his kindness? If this is all it takes to anger you perhaps the stories are wrong?" Again taunting his very being in front of his people.
"This is not the point now. State your business with me. If it is a fight you search I advise you to leave this city. I will not be endangering my people because of you." His voice held an authority that was almost foreign to his own ears.
"My, my, since when do you Archons care about the lives of mortals?!" the Abyss Herald was getting angry now.
Thankfully the knights of Favonius had evacuated the people into the cathedral only some standing guard outside among those were Jean and Diluc who were closer than the others, definitely in earshot.
"You didn't care when you murdered innocent people back then why care now?!"
The words stung in Venti's chest. What happened in Khaenri'ah was not by choice and it still plagued his dreams.
"I would advise caution, Mortals are within earshot" His voice still not betraying him.
The Abyss Lector laughed, it sounded distorted with abyssal energy.
"Do you care about your reputation that much?","Pathetic"
Barbatos was now trying hard to keep his cool, they didn't understand and this conversation could be twisted in very wrong directions if overheard.
He was not allowed to speak of the incident of Khaenri'ah. He may have cut the connection with Celestia that his Gnosis gave him but Celestia knows everything, Celestia hears everything. They will know if he breaks the contract and the punishment will be severe.
"This here is not about me, it's about the greater good." He spoke confidently, but was surprised when one of the Abyss Heralds came charging at him.
He dodged swiftly with the help of the wind, pushing the Herald away, "This is not the place to do this! If you want to fight me so badly then do it but not here! Not in Mondstadt!" he demanded.
His priorities were his children and he had to protect them at all costs. This was about revenge on him, not Mondstadt, they are innocent people, and he was not.
"Where do you reckon would be a better place for your downfall than this? Amidst the people who foolishly follow an absentee Archon while not knowing a thing about them. Isn't it time they finally see what you really are?!" They were yelling by now thinking they had the upper hand.
Barbatos was panicking slightly, they could never know the truth!
"No. This here is not a debate it's an under my conditions or you leave," Venti was trying to put all his authority in his voice.
"Okay fine but when we are finished with you, we will come back and tell everyone the truth and we will tell them just how weak you are!"
"I will meet you at 'insert location' in an hour, I have to deal with this here first." With that Barbatos gestured behind him and watched them leave through a portal.
Barbatos sighed and relaxed his tense wings again. He turned around and walked towards Jean and Diluc.
"They shouldn't be coming back, was anyone hurt?"
They stared with clearly something else on their mind.
"Hello?" He asked finally snapping them out of whatever was distracting them.
"Oh yeah Uhm sorry, no no one was hurt besides a few scrapes but the healers already took care of everything." Jean also switched into her leader role realising that whatever feeling and personal questions had their time and place and that this was neither.
"Do you think the people will be fine to return to their normal activities or do they need a moment?" They both seemed to think for a second
"I mean no offenes but this was your first formal appearance in decades sooo..." Jean said.
"Oh. Oh well- uhm, I have to admit for the amount of time I have been an Archon I still don't quite know how to interact with people like this, so any idea what would be the next best move?" He chuckled nervously, being this open about his weakness as an Archon made him kinda insecure but he had to push through.
"How do you do that?" Diluc blurted out suddenly they were both not sure what or who he meant.
"What do you mean?" Barbatos asked.
"Ignore everything that just happened. I have questions!" He looked between them.
"Uh, Master Diluc this is not the time or place for this it can wait while affairs like the well-being of my chi- I mean Mondstadts citizens can't." Both mortals noticed the Gods slip up but chose to ignore that.
"Huh. Sorry."
Barbatos smiled his signature Venti smile at him for a second before eyeing the cathedral.
“So I guess we just got to open the cathedral, let the people out and explain the situation- well not really but you know what I mean, nah you probably don't, anyway that should be all after I do have to leave to prepare for the fight and I don't think I want to make another appearance after that.”
Diluc looked even more confused while Jean seemed to have some understanding. She nodded going over what they probably wanted and what they had to hear.
"But Master Jean I would appreciate it if you could talk to them first and not intervene with what I tell them of what happened yeah?"
"Yeah," Jean nodded wearily but still agreed.
They started their walk over to the church and the guards watched their every move, while Barbatos usually preffered flying or floating over walking he now decided to stay on the ground.
Jean signalled for the knights to open the doors.
Barbatos hadn't seen Mondstadts people this scared and confused in a while and Mondstadts people hadn't seen Barbatos at all in a... while *cough* centuries *cough*.
For a moment there was silence and then Jean cleared her throat and reassured them that everything is okay and that they can leave the cathedral now and return to their normal activities.
Then she looked at Barbatos.
"As the acting Grand Master Jean has already mentioned I have delt with the situation accordingly, there should be no worries that the enemies will come back although if that should be the case I will inform Master Jean how to take care of them and or how to call upon me again. Though I have to apologise to all of you for not stepping in earlier. Though I have to excuse myself very soon to make sure this will be a one-time occurrence.”
The crowd was surprisingly silent during his whole speech but after the whispers erupted but most gazes were still fixed on the ex-Archon. Barbatos couldn't help but notices the wide eyes of Barbara who was placed at the very front only a few meters across from him.
Jean and Barbatos then retreated to an area out of earshot of those leaving the cathedral now.
"Okay. That went well?" He sighed "Anyway the enemies should not return though if they do then I either lost to them or I will follow immediately and probably have to resort to some harsher violence which won't be so good considering all things so I would appreciate it if passage up by the statue and cathedral could be minimised so that nothing bad happens and stuff. I know it's a lot to ask, but neither outcome is good should they return. I think you heard their threat towards me should they win which I am pretty positive they will not but rather safe than sorry."
Jean took a minute to process but then replied "Okay I understand. So you want Passage in this area-" she gestured to the aforementioned area, "minimised for let's say a day. Also, when am I allowed to ask personal questions because I am worried for you." The last bit was said in a friendly yet very worried tone.
Barbatos sighed and looked at Jean in a way that showed that they both had no time for personal feelings and worries. "I will be fine, after all, I am an Archon- actually wait a minute... no that's a story for another time, I am a God after all and I may not be as strong as I used to be, I can still kick ass." He smiled then glanced to the side to the people still around. He schooled his expression."I have to go now and prepare. Also, should you not hear of me by tomorrow and no one came here then search for me at Windrise. If I'm not there... honestly I'm not sure but that's a problem for the future,"
With that the God of freedom spread his wings took to the air and stayed above Mondstadt for a moment to watch his people, deliberately ignoring the eyes that were still fixed on him. With a strong flap of his wings, he took off in the direction of Windrise.
He settled down in Vanessa's tree softly. He had to be at the location he gave very soon, but he still wanted to take a moment to recharge energy and connect with the wind properly.
For a few moments, he just sat there, eyes closed and enjoy the breeze on his skin feeling the Anemo around him and trying to connect to the wind. It worked when he opened his eyes and he could feel the air around him and the winds worked as extensions of his senses.
He travelled with the wind to the location but not before checking if his enemies had arrived already.
They were already there waiting and noticed him in the blink of an eye.
"Well if it isn't the Absentee Archon of Mondstadt, for a moment we thought you wouldn't show up."
"Well, I am here now."
And of course, the Lector had to start the battle off with an electro-debuff. What a great thing to begin with.
The battle was long and tough due to them constantly making elemental reactions which the Anemo user couldn't counter, though with his wings, agility and the help of Anemo he was hard to hit though that changed when he turned his back on one of the Heralds a second too long and they decided to throw their weapon at Barbatos. Surprisingly this turned out good for them but very bad for the God of freedom now free falling due to the now heavily injured wing. He summoned a swirl Anemo to soften his fall but he still collapsed the moment he touched the floor. To protect himself from further harm he summoned a bigger black hole than his go-too in order to trap his enemies even if for just a few moments.
Barbados had to catch his breath and inspect the wound. His once white, delicate feathers were now dishevelled and crimson red. He took the sword on the ground used it as a help to get up and then threw it as far as he could. He would have taken it but it wasn't his choice of weapon. He could use bows, crossbows and catalysts. And a bit of polearm too from when Morax tried to teach him. But swords were not his strong suit.
The moment his black hole dissipated and his enemy's elemental attack charged he summoned a new one trapping the now-released elemental energies in the swirl.
If he wasn't so focused on not falling over or fainting he would have snickered at the backfire of the Lectors attack.
When the Abyss Creatures summoned their Elemental shield the fight got even more difficult for Barbatos. As though he could not easily break them.
When one Herald was down his Attacks got slopier, he made a mistake and had to take another hit with a sword. Luckily this time not to his wings.
He managed to defeat the second Abyss Herd too, now it was ranged fighter against ranged fighter. Tho this battle he managed almost with ease if it wasn't for the screaming pain from his wing and the aching of his body.
Minutes after the defeated Abyss Creatures retreated, he managed to catch his breath. Such a hit to the wing did not only make him nauseous but also threw off his balance. He thought about where he could go. Certainly, he couldn't show up like this in Mondstadt. But he also could barely move and really needed his wing to be treated, he wouldn't be able to bear it if there was permanent damage.
Though he couldn't make it like this to Mondstadt at all without passing out so he chose the safer option of letting the winds take him to Vanessas tree. There he would be able to regenerate his stamina.
So that's what he did. He passed out the moment he sat comfortably on a branch.
It was most likely the next day and the pain had finally leasend. He decided he would at least wash off the dirt and blood before he went back to Mondstadt. So Venti went to a river washed his face and at least tried to clean some of the blood off his side where another wound was located. The water stung.
He then proceeded to inspect his wing again. He couldn't treat that alone for the life of himself. Every movement sent pain down his wing and into his back.
He decided that it would probably be the best choice to see a healer but he couldn't just go to any healer as Barbatos, but due to his injured wing he couldn't transform into his normal form.
Vent I decided to take the risk and hope for the best. He let the winds take him straight into Jean's office.
When Venti opened his eyes it was luckily only to a surprised Jean and not to anyone else.
"Hello, Master Jean." He uttered.
Jean stood up and rushed to his side. He was still very wobbly on his knees.
"Archons! We were about to go search for you, you know! I was worried." Jean lectured him.
Vent I just blinked up at her "Sorry, but I kinda fainted and couldn't come earlier" he said quietly.
"Come here sit down"
"Don't you have like a self-healing ability or something?" Jean asked concerned.
"I mean yeah I do."
"Then why didn't you use it?"
"Well, because of my wing. I don't want it to heal incorrectly."
"Is that enough reason to nearly bleed out?!"
"Yes! Yes, it is. You've never had wings before Jean. The thought of being grounded, of getting that freedom stripped away is terrifying."
"..."
"Sorry I didn't mean to lash out."
"Venti, my hearing abilities are very limited. I can try to heal your other wounds but the wing I won't even attempt. We have to get you to an actual healer." she said carefully.
"..."
Venti looked down, he sighed and then turned back to Jean "Okay do what you can."
Venti and Jean were both currently resting. Healing takes a toll on both sides. After a while, Jean spoke up again. "You know Barbara is the best healer I know and she has healed birds before so she has some experience with wings."
Vent I sighed. "But how do you explain this to her? She idolizes me. She worships me. I don't want to use her that feels wrong."
"You're not using her. You are seriously hurt and she just happens to be the one who can help you." Jean argues.
He sighs again. "Okay. But you have to deal with her probably being completely overwhelmed." he pouts and then grimaces in pain while Jean just raises an eyebrow. "Yeah go get her or something I won't run off! I don't think I can do that anyway." the last part was nothing but a murmur to himself.
Jean must have told her what to expect because Barbara did not freak out completely.
"Hello Lord Barbatos-" she paled at the sight of his wing.
"Hello, Barbara" He was really making an effort to seem friendly but not too much like Venti.
"Are you sure I can do that?" Barbara looked sceptically at Jean.
"Better than anyone else so yeah I'm sure." Barbara blushed a bit at Jean's compliment.
"I can tell you what to do if you're not sure if you'd like. Because I don't lack the skill to do it myself but rather I can't move or reach my wing so-" Barbatos offered.
"I think I can manage but it depends on the damage, so I might take you up on that offer Lord Barbatos," Barbara said.
"Just Barbatos is enough you know," he said trying to drop the formalities.
"Okay, so I would begin with a routine exam, if you would sit down please Lord Barbatos." She did not in fact drop the formalities.
When the God sat down Barbara began the exam water floating around her hands and softly on the feathers. Her face paled even more. Especially when she moved over to where the boen was.
"Okay. I'm done with my Exam. It's as bad as it looks and I will definitely not be able to heal it all in one go, tho may I ask what kind of weapon can make such a wound? There is blunt-force trauma on the bone, a slice and a stab wound." Barbara questioned.
"A polearm maybe?" Jean asked.
"Nope. A flying sword." Barbados deadpanned.
"A huh?!" Jean sounded just as confused as Barbara looked.
"Yeah, I turned my back on an Abyss Herald a second too long and they just threw their sword at me mid-flight."
"..."
"Okay so the problem here is the bone is fractured and there is a hole in one part a big slash from around here-" she pointed at one point of the wing, "to about here. This cuts off the blood flow to this part of the wing almost entirely. That could result in it dying and the wings being unusable." Barbara explained.
Barbatos' eyes widened with fear at the last part.
"So this could be solved tho through healing this part almost completely right? So if we were to part the healing sessions In let's say three parts the first for this part so that nothing dies then the second to fix the hole as far as possible with your abilities and the last to right the bone so that I can activate my self-healing and finish the natural healing process."
Barbados ranted.
Barbara nodded along. "Yes, yes I think that could work tho it will take me at least a day to recover from every session so in the meantime I could give you something for the pain?"
"Yeah let's do it like that," he noted but then pain shot down his back from the moment and he grimaced.
After moving to a healing room Barbatos settled down but insisted he would not faint so he stayed sat up. When Barbara began her healing tho, pain pulsed through his wing and down his already aching back.
His eyes closed and he had to heavily concentrate on breathing, he was getting concerned glances from Jean. "Are you okay Barbatos...?" She asked nervously.
"Mhm," he managed to answer "I'm good."
He said his face contouring in pain until he schooled his expression again.
"I thought healing isn't supposed to hurt but alleviate the pain?" Jean asked genuinely.
"Jup. Wings work differently and it depends on the type and size of the wound." He sounded very concentrated on keeping his voice steady.
Barbara started paling too now and now Jean was concerned for both. For the bard who was clearly trying to be tough but also clearly in a lot of pain and for Barbara because she knows how much she probably wants to prove herself to Barbatos and Jean.
"I think that's enough your both not doing good." She stated matter-of-factly.
With that, Barbara stopped her healing and had to steady herself on her feet. Barbatos' posture slumped and he took a few deep breaths and then straightened up again just to pale immediately as that movement moved his wing bone in a way that made him nauseous.
After a few minutes, they proceeded to try and clean the wound and bandage it as best as possible with Barbatos' instructions.
A few hours later Jean came back into the room to see Venti sitting by the window staring outside.
"Aren't you supposed to rest?" she said almost tauntingly.
"I did. For maybe an hour."
"Couldn't sleep?"
"No. I grow restless indoors with no access to moving air. It's why I usually sleep outside or with open windows but these here don't open."
"Oh"
"Yeah I mean I can't really walk around like this and I also can't wind-travel so I'm kinda stuck and I am not enjoying it."
His gaze was distant and showed Jean again how he is not human.
"We could use this opportunity to clear up some of the many questions," Jean suggested.
Vent I sighed "Okay buy at least get Diluc first I don't want to explain everything twice." he was not keen to have this conversation but he knew he owed them answers.
In the meantime, he tried changing his clothes in the way that he usually changed his form surprisingly worked. He was still wearing a crop top and shorts but more normal ones.
When Diluc and Jean entered Venti was looking out the window again. But this time he seemed lost in his own world until the doors opened and he snapped out of whatever trance he was in.
"Oh Hello Master Diluc," He gave a small wave and then gestured for them to sit on the bed.
"So where do you want to start?" Venti started not really keen to answering anything.
"How about what did these Abyss Creatures want from you?" Diluc went straight to the point.
"Okay but beforehand I can't answer everything due to reasons I can't talk about and I also may just choose to not answer some things. I know I kinda owe you some explanation but yeah," Venti explained.
Diluc gave him a look and Jean just looked at him with a neutral expression.
"Okay, what they wanted from me is quiet simple, revenge."
"Revenge for what?" Diluc asked.
"Can't really say and don't want to explain that not now."
"Were they trying to provoke you or did they speak the truth when they talked to you by the statue?" Jean now asked.
"Both tho they took everything heavily out of context."
"We are not gonna get explanations just answers right?"
"Ehe"
"Ugh"
"Ey, first of all, it's fun messing with you master Diluc and second I have to be careful with what I say and I don't have the mental capacity to do that right now."
"Why?"
"Because I'm exhausted, in pain and I can't communicate with the wind which is driving me nuts."
"No, I meant why do you have to be careful," Diluc tried to get answers but Jean already gave up on actual answers.
"Sorry can't tell right now."
With an annoyed sigh, Diluc looked at Jean. "Now don't blame me for his weird sense of humour."
"I'm not."
"Oh but Venti you said something about being an Archon or well not being one."
"Oh yeah I did, damn I thought you forgot about that. Well so there are these little objects that we call gnosis that originally granted the seven their rank as Archons because it connects you to Celestia and stuff, but I don't have it anymore so technically I am not Archon anymore though I am still the God of Anemo and Freedom."
"You not gonna explain it further are you?"
"Another time."
"Okay, I admit defeat."
"Yeahhh!!! Anyway please don't leave I can't stand being alone with no connection to the winds."
A while later Venti also moved to the bed and eventually fell asleep against Diluc.
"Uhm, Jean. What do I do? I think he is asleep?!"
Jean laughed at Dilucs panic.
"I don't know take it as a compliment? He must feel safe with you considering that he is injured and is cut off his extra danger alert sense and still fell asleep."
Diluc brushed a bit at that and a tiny smile appeared on his face until he snapped out of it (can be read as a ship if you want? But it was not intended as that).
"Jean I meant more like how do I move him to a comfortable position."
"Oh... I don't know but be careful with his wings"
Somehow he just ended up still sleeping against Diluc(again this is intended as a wholesome friendship XD). Diluc gave up and let the bard sleep.
After another hour or so the bard awoke again and at the sight of who he was cuddling up to he sat up straight and blushed in embarrassment. The fast movement aggravated his injuries and he groaned in pain and then apologized for falling asleep.
"Venti please don't apologise for sleeping, you are majorly injured and just got healed that really takes a toll on anyone." Jeans voice laced with genuine concern.
"I wouldn't call this majorly injured, if it weren't for me being petty this wouldn't be more like scratch, gods I've grown weak over the years." The last part was mumbled but both people still understood it.
Jean and Diluc exchanged a worried glance.
"Oh stop looking at me like that, this isn't the first time I've been injured like this. I've literally partaken in war before." Barbatos was getting a bit annoyed at the pity and concern.
He has never been good at handling people when in pain. He just hoped they would understand.
After the next healing session Barbatos was a lot less grumpy. But he was still visibly in pain even tho Barbara gave him medication.
When the last one finally came both were the most nervous yet, they had to realign the bone, hold it in place, start the healing process and the rest was up to Barbatos.
The Hodhad refused stronger medication because it would would make him unable to heal himself.
When the water started dancing around Barbara's fingers the nervousness seemed to fall off and a professionalism took over.
Hovering her hands over the fracture, the water began to slip in between the feathers and glow. Then she grabbed the wing, made a small movement and started healing.
Barbatos winced in pain and his eyes widened when Barbara adjusted the bone. Nausea was washing over him and he couldn't breath for a second.
Barbara let go and took a step back. "I will leave the rest up to you." She said nervously.
He took a deep breath straightened up and closed his eyes. He felt the Anemo energy around him and channelled it to his will, his braids softly glowing.
He felt the pain ebb out and relief wash over his body. After taking a look at his wing, Barbatos tentatively moved it and was happy to see it moved just fine. A smile crept onto his face as he stretched his wings to their fullest extend.
The lingering anxiety of being grounded finally disappeared and in its stead came a the urge to just jump out the window to be able to fly again.
"Thank you very much, I appreciate it really. But I will have to go clean off these feathers." Barbatos smiled at Barbara.
"May I ask one question before you leave Lord Barbatos?" Barbara asked shyly.
"Of course! What is it?"
"Are the stories true?"
"Which ones there are lots, some true some not."
"The ones were they say that wherever one is if the winds can reach one you are with them because you are the winds themselves."
"Uh well, it's true to some extend, tho I am not the wind itself, but the wind talks to me and if I want to and it lets me I can see whatever the wind sees."
He smiled and then disappeared like he he had never been there.
Barbara processed the information and then smiled.
Meanwhile Barbatos reappeared by a lake. Slowly going into the water he washed away the dirt and blood sticking to him. Normally he would avoid getting his wings wet as tho they take extremely long to dry. Under normal circumstances he would also not require to wash his wings with water.
After a long time of combing through his feathers with his fingers and plucking out dirt, blood and loose feathers he left to go sit in the sun to dry off.
He sat on a rock in the middle of the forest, sun bathing. When he felt his feathers were dry enough the Bard let the end guide him to a cliff side.
And then he jumped off, tho the thrill of falling only lasted a moment before he opened his wings and flew through the sky like he was one of the birds gliding above Mondstadt.
Flying so high that he was but a mere speck of colour among the clouds.