Chapter 25

"You've also grown much weaker over the past thousand years, War Lord."

After the recent battle, Dvalin knew he couldn't defeat Famas, but he also wouldn't be easily defeated like he was a thousand years ago.

"Natlan already has a new ruler. Your divine power… it comes from another source, doesn't it?"

Dvalin still had an Abyss Mage sitting on his back. However, after the battle, the Ice Abyss Mage had been caught in the crossfire, with half of its fur burned off. It was still muttering something like, "A god from a thousand years ago has returned from the Dark Sea… the passage has been opened…"

"Dvalin, I order you to kill this god!"

The Abyss Mage waved its staff arrogantly, pointing at Dvalin's head.

"Roar!"

Already furious, Dvalin turned his head and opened his massive jaws, biting down on the Abyss Mage that was still yapping on his back.

The protective shield around the Abyss Mage shattered instantly. After shaking it around in his mouth a few times, Dvalin hurled the Abyss Mage toward the group on Starsnatch Cliff.

"Oof!"

The disheveled Abyss Mage barely managed to get up, only to see Jean and Diluc closing in. It nervously swallowed and instinctively took a few steps back.

"By the power of… judgment!"

This was Diluc's phoenix.

"Be gone with the wind!"

This was Lumine's tornado.

"As the wind commands!"

A massive Anemo field rose beneath Jean's feet. All three attacks flew toward the Abyss Mage. Without its shield, the Abyss Mage was no stronger than a regular Hilichurl. It was instantly torn apart by the attacks, dissipating into stardust.

"Yeah!"

Venti cheered for the three of them. If it weren't for the wound on his hand still bleeding, he would have shot an arrow at the Abyss Mage himself.

"Famas, you don't know what has happened over the past thousand years…"

As the two stood facing each other, Dvalin suddenly flapped his wings with great force, stirring up a chaotic gust of wind mixed with sand and dust.

Famas knew this was Dvalin's way of retreating, no longer wanting to engage in further conflict.

"Running away so soon?"

Though he could feel his strength fading, Famas still couldn't resist taunting Dvalin.

"Save it, Famas. Like me, you were betrayed. I thought you'd understand how I feel…"

Dvalin gave Famas a complicated look. The sound of wind rose as the dragon gradually flew away.

"I wasn't betrayed, Dvalin."

Famas looked at the fiery tornado beneath his feet. During his battle with Morax, the generals who had helped him build Natlan had never betrayed him. Even after Famas' defeat, those who believed in him never abandoned their faith. Some even refused to leave the mortal world after death, their souls merging with the ley lines, waiting for Famas' call.

The fiery tornado beneath Famas' feet gradually shrank, slowly carrying him back to Starsnatch Cliff.

"Are you okay, Famas?"

Seeing the fiery tornado beneath Famas disappear, Venti rushed forward, extending his arms to catch the exhausted Famas.

"Barba— I mean, Venti, please take care of yourself."

Famas' falling body landed directly in Venti's arms, causing the bard's barely healed wound to reopen.

Witnessing everything, Jean worriedly advised, "Wind of freedom, please heal this pain."

A gentle Anemo energy flowed from Jean's Vision, slowly healing Venti's wound.

"Famas, are you really a god from a long, long time ago?"

Venti helped the barely steady Famas, while Paimon, perched on Lumine's shoulder, immediately asked.

"Mhm."

Famas leaned on Venti, looking extremely weak, and only let out a soft hum.

"Paimon, Famas just fought Dvalin…"

Lumine quickly stopped Paimon from asking more questions. She had already recovered from the shock of Famas' legendary identity and now looked at him with concern, like a friend.

Diluc placed his right hand over his chest, giving Famas a respectful salute.

After confirming that Famas was merely exhausted, Venti gently let go of him.

"You've worked hard."

Venti fell silent for a moment, looking at Famas, who was still clad in armor, and gently touched his faceplate.

"Shall we head back?"

Venti forced himself to perk up a little, looking at Diluc and the others.

"What about the Holy Lyre der Himmel? Can it still be played? Or…?"

Diluc looked at the lyre, which was almost shattered into pieces.

"In this state… it's probably beyond repair, right?"

Venti didn't look at Famas again. He couldn't bring himself to ask if Famas could repair the lyre again—at least not now.

Jean walked to the edge of the cliff and carefully collected the broken lyre.

"The wind is rising."

Venti whispered. The wind flowed around everyone, lifting them into the air. Even without using their Wind Gliders, they could fly steadily through the sky.

Even the usually composed Diluc now wore a look of surprise.

Jean was the same.

Venti carried Famas, while Paimon clung tightly to Lumine, afraid she might fall.

Even though Paimon could fly, it seemed she had a bit of a fear of heights?

"Let's pick up the pace."

Venti, flying at the front, chuckled and manipulated the wind around them, speeding up their flight.

They soon returned to Mondstadt, landing gently by the city's moat.

Famas, who had been continuously drawing power from the ley lines, had mostly recovered. Under the gaze of the group, Venti and Famas sighed.

"As you can see, I am Barbatos, one of the Seven Archons, the greatest and most magnificent Anemo Archon of Mondstadt, and also the best bard."

"This guy is the former Pyro Archon of Natlan, Famas."

Venti used a plethora of flowery words to praise himself, while introducing Famas in a single sentence.

"But, Your Excellency, Lord Barbatos, why did you hide your identity?"

Jean's gray-purple eyes revealed a questioning look.

"Ehe, well…"

Venti's green eyes darted around, as if trying to come up with a suitable excuse.

"Of course, it's so he can slack off openly."

Famas walked to the bridge of Mondstadt and sat down on the railing. His armor had already been replaced with casual attire: a red coat with golden patterns, a leather tailcoat that reached his calves, and boots adorned with flame motifs. His deep red eyes sparkled.

"Ahem, that's about right, I guess?"

Venti chuckled awkwardly. "Mondstadt is a city of freedom, so it doesn't need me to micromanage everything."

As Venti spoke with the group, Famas' gaze fell on the bridge of Mondstadt. A young boy stood there, tossing something into the air, seemingly feeding a large flock of pigeons.

"I have a bold and very mature idea."

Famas began to plot.

A/n - Read chapters ahead on my patreon.com/nneol