Chapter 24: The Holy Lyre

After the fight with the Eye of the Storm, Lumine and I went to Venti with Paimon waiting as well.

“Seems the dragon wasn't the only thing affected by this change in the wind… Now then, you were saying someone had told you about the dragon?”

I tell Venti about what Lisa told me and my theory on the Abyss Order

“Is that so? Quite the scholar I must say, that Lisa. She's not wrong. The conflict has reached this point, only because both sides have resorted to the use of force. His hate, however, did not arise from the people not making tribute to The Four Winds.”

“Degra... dation?” Paimon was confused

“The black blood flowing through his heart has been torturing him for years. That's what has allowed him to be led astray by the lies of the Abyss Mage.”

“Was it the one who attacked you Jun?” Lumine asked me about my encounter

“He was most likely not the one controlling Dvalin but they were part of the same group.”

“That’s right but I never would have thought someone would guess the Abyss Order would be involved. You are pretty good.” Venti praised me for my insight but I just knew the Abyss order was involved because I played the game

“Th-Thanks…” I said with a wry smile

“Before arriving here, I too was like Dvalin, cursed and left to waste. But now, before us stands the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero, the place from which Mondstadt rose. The wind amongst the branches is good, I love the way it smells… Being here with all of you beneath this great tree feels like when the tear was purified earlier. Like the poison is leaving my body…”

Venti takes a few moments to relish the atmosphere

“Mmmmmmm... Feels much better.”

“So... how exactly did you get poisoned?” Paimon asked Venti

“Ahh... that would be because I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier, but was... interrupted… As a result, not only did I not manage to help Dvalin break his curse, but instead, I was also infected myself!:

“Sorry... (X3)”

“Fine I forgive all of you but… to make up for it, you three are coming with me to the Cathedral!”

“The Mondstadt Cathedral? To do what exactly?” Paimon asked

“Since you three wanted to join in on my plan well, I guess I’ll let you. We are going to claim a certain "Holy Lyre der Himmel."

We all went to the church in Mondstadt and along the way we all chatted getting to know more about each other. Venti likes to travel a lot and performs wherever he goes. He also likes to get drunk in bars while chatting with the local folk. He leaves a lot of tabs though so a lot of places kick him out. We arrived in front of the church and Paimon began to ask what was special about the Lyre

“So this... "Holy Lyre der Himmel" is…”

“One of the most treasured items in Mondstadt. It's the lyre that Barbatos used to play. With it, perhaps I can help Dvalin draw his gentle nature back out of this nightmare he's going through.”

“Will it really stop Stormterror from causing more damage?” Paimon was getting skeptical

“Of course. I'm the best bard in the world. There's not a single song I do not know, no matter if it's from the past, present, or future. Look me in the eyes. Do you not find me trustworthy?”

“You look like someone who is going to leave his tab on me.” I said sarcastically

“So how can we get the Holy Lyre?”

“It's said that it's enshrined deep within the Cathedral, somewhere safe. I'll go take a look around. You can come if you want.”

We all headed inside the cathedral and we saw a nearby nun

“Let me handle this…” Venti approaches her

“Hello there, Sister.”

“May the Anemo God bless you, young bard. How can I help you?”

“Actually, I know a secret that can save Mondstadt from its current predicament.”

“Oh, what a blessing from the God of Anemo! But you should report that to the Knights of Favonius. Why have you come to me?”

“Hahaha, because you, dear sister, are able to help! I'd like to borrow... the Holy Lyre. With it, I'll be able to help Stormterror—”

“Please see yourselves out.”

“What?”

“It's a vicious dragon indeed, but once the Acting Grand Master makes up her mind, nothing can stand in the Knights' way.”

“That's simply not acceptable. Wouldn't Stormterror end up getting killed that way?”

“That foolish beast betrayed the winds. Not even the God of Anemo themselves would forgive it!”

“Wow…” Venti was shocked by the sister’s words

“Please, I beg of you!”

“I'm afraid not, little bard.”

“Then... I guess I'm left with no other choice. I cannot hide anymore!” Venti appeared more confident and spoke with a commanding voice

“My disciples, rejoice! Behold, the God of Anemo, Barbatos has descended! Shocked, aren't you? Don't you just want to cry out and rejoice? How does it feel to finally meet the god you've been serving?"

The sister looks at the bard before her with a deadpan look as if she was talking to a crazy person

“If there's nothing else, I'll be going back to handle the Cathedral's paperwork now.”

“Wait—” The sister walks away leaving Venti on his own

We approached Venti and he looked like he could not be bothered “Eh? She didn't even bat an eyelid. But, I have at least learned what I wanted to know. She didn't deny that the Cathedral is enshrining the Holy Lyre. 

“You’re an idiot you know that,” I said

“Huh?”

“Think about it a random bard suddenly asks for an important relic to be handed over without any notice and he suddenly starts saying he is the god of Anemo Barbatos himself when he has not been seen in years. The man would be labeled as crazy and blasphemous. You’re lucky the knights were not called on you.”

“Hehe” was only Venti’s response