The sun was barely peeking over the hills as Aether, Paimon, and I made our way down the well-trodden path leading to Springvale. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the distant murmur of birds waking up in the trees. We had picked up another commission from the Adventurers' Guild, something about raided merchant carts along the roads near Springvale. Treasure Hoarders again. Those guys were like weeds, no matter how many times you pulled them up, they just kept coming back.
Paimon floated ahead of us, humming a little tune to herself. She was in high spirits, probably because the commission came with a promise of a huge bag of Mora. "Paimon can't wait for this to be over! Just think of all the delicious food we can get with the reward!"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You really think of food all the time, don't you?"
Paimon puffed out her cheeks, turning back to glare at me. "Hey! Paimon's gotta keep her energy up! Besides, it's not like you and Aether are complaining when she finds all the best restaurants!"
Aether shot me a sideways glance, a faint smile playing at his lips. "She's got a point. Besides, if we're going to spend all day chasing down Treasure Hoarders, we might as well have something to look forward to afterward."
"Yeah, yeah, fair enough," I replied, grinning. "Though personally, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with those guys for a while. They've been getting bolder lately, haven't they?"
Aether's expression grew more serious, the humor fading from his eyes. "Yeah. The reports from the Adventurers' Guild have been more frequent. It's like they're getting desperate."
Paimon floated closer, a little frown tugging at her lips. "Maybe someone if forcing them to suddenly become more active? Or maybe someone's paying them more to make trouble?"
I shrugged. "Could be. Either way, it's our job to put a stop to it. Again."
Aether nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. "Let's hope this time we can deal with them quickly"
---
By the time we reached Springvale, the sun was fully up, casting a warm glow over the little village nestled among the hills. A few villagers were out and about, going about their morning routines, but there was a tension in the air that I couldn't quite shake. Near the edge of town, a group of merchants was huddled together, their clothes torn and dirt-stained, with a few bruises marking their faces. Standing with them was Draff, the village's head hunter, his usual confident posture looking a little more troubled than usual.
He glanced up as we approached, and a relieved smile broke through his rough features. "Ah, you made it! Aether, Tayden, Paimon. It's good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Draff," Aether said with a nod, his expression turning serious as he took in the scene. "We heard there's been some trouble?"
Draff's smile faded as he gestured toward the merchants. "Yeah, you could say that. I was out hunting boars a bit further from Springvale than usual, when I heard someone screaming for help. By the time I got there, I found these poor folks, what's left of them, anyway."
He cast a sympathetic look at the merchants, who seemed to be nursing their injuries. One of them, a woman with a nasty bruise on her cheek, gave us a shaky wave, trying to muster a smile.
I felt a knot tighten in my chest at the sight. It wasn't the first time I'd seen the aftermath of a Treasure Hoarder attack, but it never got easier. "Treasure Hoarders, I take it?"
Draff nodded, his expression darkening. "Yeah. It's the fifth time this has happened in the past couple of weeks. They've been ambushing merchants who pass through, always targeting the smaller caravans, the ones that can't fight back. They take whatever they can carry and leave the rest."
"Fifth time?" Paimon's voice was high with indignation. "Why didn't anyone call us sooner? We could've stopped them already!"
Draff scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. "We thought we could handle it ourselves at first. The Knights of Favonius have their hands full with other issues, so we didn't want to add to their burden. But... it's getting out of hand. They're getting bolder, attacking in broad daylight now."
Aether folded his arms, frowning thoughtfully. "That's not good. If they're getting more confident, then something must be the source of that confidence. Did the merchants mention anything specific about the attack? How many there were, or if they had a leader?"
Draff shook his head. "Not much to go on, I'm afraid. They said there were about a dozen of them, usual gang of thugs. But they mentioned one guy who seemed to be in charge. Big, scar across his face, barked orders at the others."
I exchanged a glance with Aether. That sounded like our guy. The leader was always the key in these kinds of raids, we take him down, and the rest would scatter.
"Alright," I said, turning my attention back to Draff. "Which way did they head after the attack?"
Draff pointed toward the hills to the southeast, where the forest thickened again. "They were last seen heading that way, deeper into the woods. If you go past the woods then you would come across a ravine. Wouldn't surprise me if they were using it as a hideout."
I nodded, committing the directions to memory. "Got it. We'll check it out. In the meantime, make sure these merchants get some rest. They've had a rough time."
"Thank you," Draff said, clapping me on the shoulder with a grateful nod. "Be careful out there. These Treasure Hoarders are getting desperate."
Aether, Paimon, and I exchanged a final nod with Draff before turning to head toward the woods. As we walked, Paimon floated closer, frowning as she glanced back at the battered merchants. "Paimon still doesn't understand why the Treasure Hoarders are doing this. What could they possibly want that's worth attacking innocent people for?"
Aether's gaze was distant, thoughtful. "Desperation makes people do terrible things. While it doesn't excuse their actions, you never know what someone could be going through so don't judge them too soon."
I hummed in agreement, my mind already shifting to the task ahead. We need to quickly find these treasure hoarders , before they cause any more harm.
---
The path through the woods grew narrower as we descended into a deep ravine. The air was cooler here, damp and heavy with the scent of earth and moss. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves above, casting dappled patterns across the rocky ground. The silence was almost unnerving, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves underfoot and the distant chirping of birds.
The walls of the ravine loomed on either side, rugged and weathered, with clusters of vines trailing down the stone like nature's drapery. The further we went, the more the world seemed to close in around us, the shadows growing longer and deeper. It was the kind of place that most people would avoid.
Paimon hovered beside us, glancing around with wide eyes. "Eugh, this place gives Paimon the creeps. Why would anyone want to hide out in a gloomy ravine like this?"
I shrugged, keeping my eyes on the ground ahead. "If you're a Treasure Hoarder, gloomy probably comes with the territory."
Aether's gaze swept across the surroundings, his expression as calm as ever, but there was a focus in his eyes that I'd come to recognize. He was scanning the area, looking for anything out of place. "They wouldn't pick a spot like this without a reason. It's remote, easy to miss if you don't know where to look. Perfect for hiding out."
As we continued deeper, a soft breeze stirred the air, carrying with it the faint scent of smoke and something else—something metallic, like the scent of old coins. I paused, squinting into the shadows. And then I saw it: scattered along the ground were broken wooden boards and the splintered remains of a cart wheel, half-buried in the dirt.
Paimon floated closer, leaning down to inspect the wreckage. "Look at this! Paimon bets this is what's left of one of those raided carts! Stupid Treasure Hoarders! Why can't they just leave people alone?"
Aether knelt beside the wreckage, running his fingers over the splintered wood. His expression was thoughtful, his golden eyes scanning the area for any other clues. "If they attacked the cart here, they probably dragged the goods somewhere close. We should keep looking."
I nodded, taking a step back to sweep my gaze over the ravine. The walls here were jagged and uneven, with shadows pooling in the crevices between the rocks. Bushes clustered thickly around the base of the ravine, their leaves a deep green that blended seamlessly into the undergrowth. It was the kind of place where something—or someone—could hide without ever being seen.
For a while, we continued to search, picking our way through the dense undergrowth and keeping our eyes peeled for anything out of place. Aether activated his Elemental Sight, his eyes glowing faintly as he scanned the area for traces of elemental energy. Paimon hovered nearby, muttering to herself about the Treasure Hoarders' nerve, while I kept my focus on the shadows around us, ready for any surprises.
After a few minutes, Aether paused, his gaze fixed on a dense cluster of bushes near the right wall of the ravine. He narrowed his eyes, and I followed his line of sight, trying to see what he had spotted.
"There's something here," Aether murmured, his voice low. He stepped forward, brushing aside the thick curtain of leaves with his free hand. As he did, a faint shimmer of energy glowed against the rock, revealing a small cave entrance that had been almost completely hidden by the foliage.
I let out a low whistle. "Good catch. I would've walked right past that."
Aether glanced back at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It helps to look beyond what's on the surface."
I just rolled my eyes at him "Ugh don't try to sound all cool now, it does not suit you" Aether just looked at me with an eyebrow raised and I responded by making a weird face directed at him.
Paimon floated closer, her eyes widening as she took in the hidden entrance. "Wow! That's... actually kind of impressive! Paimon didn't even see it!" She darted inside, her excitement clear. "Maybe this is where they've been hiding all the stuff they stole!"
The cave was small and dimly lit, with just enough space for us to move without bumping into the rough stone walls. It smelled of damp earth and stale air, like it hadn't been disturbed in a long time. But as we ventured further in, I began to notice signs that someone—or several someones—had been here recently.
Paimon let out a small gasp. "Look! There's stuff everywhere!" She darted around the cave, pointing out piles of crates and sacks, each one stamped with the emblems of different merchant guilds. "Paimon bets all of this is stolen! It's a treasure trove!"
Aether knelt beside a stack of crates, prying open one of the lids. Inside, glinting in the dim light, were neatly packed ingots of iron and bundles of fine fabrics—goods that would fetch a high price in any of Mondstadt's markets. "Looks like we found their stash," he said, his tone more serious now. "This must be where they've been keeping everything they stole."
I ran a hand along the edge of one of the crates, feeling the rough wood under my fingertips. It made sense—why haul everything back to Liyue or wherever when you could stash it in a place like this and sell it off slowly? But it also meant that the Treasure Hoarders would be coming back sooner or later, probably to check on their spoils.
Paimon floated down beside Aether, her expression shifting from excitement to uncertainty. "So, what do we do now? Should we go back and tell the Knights of Favonius? Or... should we hide here and wait for those sneaky Treasure Hoarders to come back?"
I shot Aether a sideways glance, a smile playing at the edges of my mouth. He met my gaze, and for a second, neither of us said anything, just sharing a look that said all we needed to say. We both knew the answer. Aether wasn't the type to pass up the chance to catch the bad guys red-handed, and... well, neither was I.
Paimon caught the look between us and let out an exaggerated sigh, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Ugh, you two are always like this! Fine, fine—Paimon gets it! Let's hide and wait for those Treasure Hoarders to come back. But Paimon better get something really good to eat after this!"
I chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Paimon. I'm sure Aether's got plenty of Mora to treat you."
Aether shot me a mock-annoyed look but didn't argue. Instead, "Let's find a spot where we can stay out of sight. If we're lucky, the Treasure Hoarders won't even know we're here until it's too late."
---
The afternoon sun had shifted from the center of the sky, casting long shadows across the ravine as we waited. And waited. And... waited some more. I lay flat on my stomach in the underbrush, half-covered with leaves, twigs, and whatever else I could find to blend into the surroundings. My position wasn't exactly comfortable—one of the rocks beneath me kept digging into my ribs—but I'd had worse. I adjusted a stray leaf that tickled my cheek, trying to stay perfectly still.
Aether, on the other hand, had wedged himself inside a particularly thick bush. He'd broken off a couple of branches and was holding them in front of his face like makeshift camouflage, the twigs sticking out at odd angles. I had to hand it to him—it was a decent attempt, though the way the branches wobbled every time he shifted made him look like a giant, leafy puppet.
Then there was Paimon. She had insisted on hiding in an empty barrel we'd found inside the cave. The lid barely fit over her, leaving a tiny crack for her to peek out from. It was her idea to hide there in the first place, but after nearly three hours, her patience was wearing thin. From my spot on the ground, I could hear her muffled grumbling.
"How much longer are we going to have to wait?! Paimon is starving!" she whined, her voice slightly muffled by the barrel's walls.
I was about to whisper back, trying to keep her quiet, when my ears caught something—the low murmur of voices and the crunch of footsteps on gravel. I froze, straining to hear better. The voices were getting closer, echoing faintly through the ravine. My heart skipped a beat, and I lifted a hand, motioning for Paimon to be quiet.
"Shhh," I hissed softly, turning my head toward Aether's bush. He caught my eye, lowering his leafy disguise, his expression sharpening with focus. Paimon, sensing the shift in tension, finally stopped her complaints. I adjusted my position, making sure I was still hidden beneath the layer of leaves and branches.
The voices grew louder, accompanied by the heavy clomp of boots on stone. I pressed myself closer to the ground, holding my breath as the Treasure Hoarders came into view.
They emerged from a bend in the ravine, a rough and rowdy bunch, laughing and talking like they owned the place. There were ten of them in total, each one looking as scuffed and shady as the next. The leader—a huge, muscular guy with a scar running down the side of his face—walked in front. The rest followed behind him, each carrying their own makeshift weapons.
One of them, a wiry guy with a crossbow slung over his back, cackled as he jabbed an elbow into the ribs of his comrade. "Heh, did you see the look on that merchant's face when we swiped all his goods? Thought he was gonna cry!"
Another, a bulky man carrying a shovel, let out a bellowing laugh. "Hah, too bad he didn't put up more of a fight! It would've been fun to rough him up a bit more!"
They continued their banter as they approached the cave entrance, oblivious to our presence. From my spot beneath the leaves, I counted their weapons—four with crossbows, two big ones with shovels, a couple with bottles that seemed to glow faintly with Pyro energy, and a few with small throwing knives strapped to their belts. And then there was the leader, towering over the rest like a smug, overgrown rock.
I glanced over at Aether's bush again, catching his eye. He nodded, understanding the signal—it was time to get ready to move. I turned back toward Paimon's barrel, about to give her the go-ahead, but then...
Thump.
Aether's foot caught the edge of the barrel, and with a muffled yelp, Paimon's hiding spot started to roll down the slight incline toward the Treasure Hoarders. My heart dropped into my stomach as the barrel picked up speed, bumping along the uneven ground, heading straight for the group of bandits.
Paimon's panicked voice echoed from inside the barrel. "Aether! Tayden! Stop it! Paimon's not ready—woah, woah—!"
I winced as the barrel wobbled, rolling directly into the path of the Treasure Hoarders. The men froze, their laughter cutting off abruptly as they turned to stare at the sight of a runaway barrel barreling toward them. It rolled to a stop just in front of the leader, teetering on its edge before finally coming to rest on its side. For a second, everything was dead silent.
Then the lid popped off, and Paimon's head poked out. She blinked up at the startled Treasure Hoarders, her face a mix of nervousness and forced cheer. "Uhh... good day, everyone?"
The Treasure Hoarders stared at her like she was some kind of alien creature that had just landed in front of them. The leader's brow furrowed, and he took a step forward, his club lowering as he tried to process what he was seeing.
"What the—what's this little... thing?" one of the Hoarders muttered, scratching his head.
Before they could figure out what was happening, Aether and I sprang into action. I darted forward, grabbing Paimon around the waist and pulling her out of the barrel. Aether moved just as quickly, scooping her up as he leaped back, putting some distance between us and the now very confused-looking Treasure Hoarders. We landed lightly a few yards away, Paimon tucked safely between us.
She let out a small huff of relief, adjusting her little cloak as she glared up at us. "Geez, you two! That was not part of the plan!"
Aether shot her an apologetic smile, his grip tightening on his sword as he turned to face the group of Hoarders. "Sorry, Paimon. But now's our chance."
I drew my own weapon, keeping my eyes on the bandits as they started to regain their composure. The leader's confusion quickly turned to anger, his scarred face twisting into a scowl. He swung his club down, pointing it directly at us.
"So, what's this? You think you can just sneak up on us, huh?" he growled, his voice a low rumble. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But there's three of you and loads of us. I don't like those odds for you."
Aether stepped forward, his stance firm and his blade glinting in the afternoon light. "You've been raiding merchants and attacking innocent people. For those crimes, I'm giving you one chance to surrender and come quietly. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to bring you in by force."
The leader's laughter rang out, a rough, mocking sound that echoed off the walls of the ravine. His comrades joined in, their voices mingling together in a chorus of derision.
"Did you hear that, boys?" the leader jeered, his grin widening. "He thinks he's some kind of hero! How cute."
One of the men with a crossbow slung over his shoulder sneered, nudging his friend with an elbow. "You really think you can take all of us on? You must have a death wish, kid."
I exchanged a glance with Aether, my grip tightening on my sword. Despite the Treasure Hoarders' bravado, I could see the faint flicker of unease in their eyes. They weren't expecting a fight—but we were more than ready to give them one.
"Guess we'll just have to show them how wrong they are," I said with a smirk, lowering myself into a fighting stance.
Aether nodded, his expression turning steely. "Let's make this quick."
With Paimon hovering between us, her expression switching from frustration to determination, we faced down the group of Treasure Hoarders. The air crackled with tension, and for a moment, everything went still, like the world itself was holding its breath.
'Switch on' I felt my body grow stronger as I entered Demon Mode.
Then, with a wordless shout, the Treasure Hoarders charged, weapons raised and battle cries echoing through the ravine. Aether and I moved as one, surging forward to meet them head-on.
---
The moment the Treasure Hoarders charged, Aether was already moving, a blur of gold and white as he closed the distance between himself and the four Hoarders in the back, each armed with crossbows. He aimed to neutralize them first, knowing that even a single bolt in the chaos of battle could be a game-changer.
Aether's blade flashed in the sunlight as he leapt into their midst. The first crossbow-wielder barely had time to lift his weapon before Aether struck, the flat of his blade catching the Hoarder in the gut, sending him sprawling. Without pausing, Aether pivoted, sweeping the legs out from under the second with a quick spin, knocking him to the ground with a swift strike to the head. Two down, two to go.
But the other two Hoarders had already reloaded, their crossbows aimed directly at Aether. They fired in near unison, the bolts cutting through the air. Aether's eyes narrowed, tracking their trajectory. He shifted his stance and swung his sword in a fluid arc, cutting one bolt cleanly in half. In the same motion, he reached out with his free hand, catching the second bolt mid-air, inches from his face. He twirled the bolt in his hand, giving the remaining Hoarders a cocky smirk.
"Nice try," Aether said, snapping the bolt in half and tossing it to the ground. Before they could reload, he closed the distance, delivering two quick strikes to their heads, knocking them out cold.
Meanwhile, I scanned the battlefield, my eyes landing on two Treasure Hoarders clutching bottles filled with a reddish-orange liquid that glowed faintly—Pyro energy. A single hit from one of those could turn this whole area into a blazing inferno. That would be bad. Really bad. I had to take them out before they could make things complicated.
Just as I was about to make my move, the leader—a mountain of a man with a scarred face—rushed at me, flanked by two of his thugs, each wielding rusty shovels like makeshift warhammers. The leader's fist came at me like a battering ram. I met his punch with my forearm, compared to me, he isn't that strong and I could tell he hurt his arm when I blocked his punch.
Before I could retaliate, the two shovel-wielders lunged at me from either side, swinging down with every intention of cracking my skull open. I ducked low, the shovels whistling over my head, close enough that I could feel the air shift. As I twisted to the side, I caught sight of the two Pyro Hoarders further back, already raising their bottles.
No time to waste.
With a grunt, I planted a kick squarely into the leader's chest, sending him stumbling back into his cronies. The moment they collided, I swung my sword in a tight arc, catching the shafts of both shovels and snapping them like twigs. The two shovel-wielders stumbled, surprise flashing across their faces as they suddenly found themselves unarmed.
But I didn't give them a chance to recover. I was already charging forward. The Pyro Hoarders' eyes widened as I closed in on them. One of them tried to raise his bottle, but I knocked it aside with my blade, then drove my fist into his gut, feeling the air rush out of him as he crumpled to the ground.
The second one barely had time to react before I spun on my heel, slamming my fist into the side of his head. He went down like a sack of bricks, his bottle rolling harmlessly across the ground, the Pyro energy inside flickering out.
"Two less problems to worry about," I muttered to myself, glancing back over my shoulder to assess the rest of the fight.
Nearby, Paimon was... somehow holding her own against two Hoarders armed with throwing knives. One of them was trying desperately to swat her away, his arms flailing as she clung to his face, clawing at him with surprising ferocity.
"Get this thing off me!" the Hoarder howled, spinning in circles as Paimon clung to him like a particularly vicious cat. The other Hoarder tried to help, waving his knife at her, but only succeeded in nearly jabbing his friend in the arm.
Paimon glared at him from her perch, her tiny fists pummeling the poor guy's forehead. "You think you can take on Paimon?! You're gonna regret that!"
Finally, the Hoarder managed to pry Paimon off his face, flinging her into the air. She spun wildly for a moment before catching herself and hovering just out of reach, her arms crossed and her expression smug.
"Ha! Nice try, but you can't catch Paimon that easily!" she taunted, sticking her tongue out at them.
The two Hoarders glared up at her, frustration written all over their faces. But before they could do anything else, Aether swooped in, his sword flashing in the sunlight. He brought the flat of his blade down on the head of the first Hoarder, knocking him out cold. The second Hoarder threw his knives at Aether, but Aether moved like water, deflecting each blade with quick, precise strikes. He closed the distance in a heartbeat, delivering a sharp blow to the Hoarder's midsection that sent him crumpling to the ground.
"Thanks, Aether!" Paimon chirped, floating down to join him. "Paimon totally softened them up for you!"
Aether chuckled softly, his eyes scanning the area to make sure they hadn't missed any threats. "Yeah, thanks for that, Paimon."
With Aether and Paimon handling their side of things, I turned my attention back to the leader and his remaining lackeys—the two shovel-wielders I had disarmed earlier. The three of them were regrouping, glaring daggers at me as they steadied themselves. The leader cracked his knuckles, his scarred face twisted into an angry scowl.
"You think you can mess with us, huh? You're gonna pay for that!" he snarled, charging at me again with a roar. His two remaining henchmen followed close behind, their makeshift weapons raised.
I caught Aether's movement out of the corner of my eye—he was ready to step in, but I raised a hand, signaling for him to stay back. This one was mine.
Aether hesitated for a moment, then nodded, stepping back to watch my back. I took a deep breath, focusing on the leader and his two goons as they closed in. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, but I forced myself to calm, to focus.
You can do this. Just don't overdo it.
I felt the energy swell up in my eyes, the same strange, tingling sensation that always came with Enmu's Blood Demon Art. I focused on the leader's eyes, letting the power flow through me like a gentle current. I could see the faint glow reflected in his pupils, the sluggishness that started to creep into his movements.
"SLEEP," I intoned, my voice carrying the weight of the command.
The effect was immediate. The two shovel-wielders dropped like stones, their bodies hitting the ground with a dull thud. The leader, however, didn't go down completely. He stumbled, dropping to one knee, his eyes blinking rapidly as he fought to keep them open. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead as he struggled against the pull of sleep, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
But I'd done that on purpose. I'd held back, using just enough energy to weaken him without draining myself dry.
It's about control, I reminded myself, feeling the power pulse beneath my skin. Don't overextend. Use just enough to weaken him, then go in for the finish.
With the leader's movements slowed and his guard lowered, I surged forward, my body moving like a spring released. He barely had time to register my approach before I drove my foot into his chest, using the momentum to send him sprawling onto his back. His head hit the ground with a solid thud, his eyes rolling back as he finally succumbed to unconsciousness.
I straightened up, sheathed my blade, and brushed off some dust that got on my clothes as I switched off demon mode. The ravine was littered with unconscious Treasure Hoarders, their weapons scattered across the ground like discarded toys. Aether stepped forward to join me, sheathing his sword with a satisfied look on his face, while Paimon hovered nearby, looking much more pleased now that the fight was over.
"Finally getting the hang of it huh?" Aether came up to me and I gave him a fist bump. "You know it. While it's still far from perfect, it's still an improvement" Just as Aether was about to say something, we heard some rustling and we looked over and saw Paimon, who was trying to open one of the stolen sacks with no success.
Aether went up to paimon and picked her up like a small baby. "Paimon, these things are stolen. We have to return them and no you can't just take a little because that is still stealing" Paimon deflated and flew away from the sacks.
I just looked at them with a smile, going on adventures with them never gets boring. I look back at the unconscious treasure hoarders and asked Aether. "Should we carry them or..?" Aether contemplated for a while before saying "Leaving them here would risk them escaping so bringing them with us is the safest option"
I nodded before looking around and finding a merchant cart in pretty decent shape and I grabbed each treasure hoarder and plopped them on there. Then we carried on the way back to Springvale, pushing a cart with unconscious treasure hoarders.
Just another normal day in Mondstadt.
---
---
---
---
---
Back in Mondstadt:
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over Mondstadt as the city's residents gathered in Windrise, the soft breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers through the air. Beneath the towering statue of Barbatos, a small crowd had formed, drawn in by the lilting sound of a lyre that drifted on the wind.
At the center of it all was a young man, his figure draped in loose, flowing garments of green and white. A teal cape fluttered gently behind him, its fabric embroidered with intricate designs that shimmered in the fading light. He had a playful smile, a face framed by a cascade of dark green hair that matched the vividness of the surrounding fields. His bright, sky-blue eyes seemed to dance with mischief as he plucked at the strings of his lyre, the melody soft yet joyful, like a song carried on the breeze.
The bard's voice rose with the music, light and melodic, weaving tales of Mondstadt's past glories and the legends of the Anemo Archon. He sang of freedom and the winds that carried the hopes of Mondstadt's people—of songs that were meant to be heard far and wide, echoing through the valleys and rolling hills. His words seemed to float on the air itself, capturing the hearts of those who listened.
As he strummed the final chord, the crowd erupted into applause, their cheers carrying through the twilight. A few children ran forward, eagerly tossing dandelions at his feet, and he laughed softly, catching one in his hand and twirling it between his fingers.
"Encore! Play another!" one of the onlookers called out, their voice filled with excitement.
The bard flashed a playful grin, pressing a finger to his lips as if sharing a secret. "Now, now, patience, my friends! Even the wind needs a moment to catch its breath."
Another voice from the crowd, a curious merchant by the looks of him, spoke up. "That was amazing, but what should we call you? You never told us your name."
The bard's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He tilted his head, cradling his lyre against his side as he offered the merchant a theatrical bow. "Ah, a name, you say? Well, if I must, then you may call me... Venti, the Windborne Bard."
He straightened up, a sparkle of amusement in his gaze. "But don't think too hard about it! After all, names are like the breeze—fleeting and free, just like my songs."
The crowd chuckled, charmed by his whimsical response, and Venti shot them a wink before launching into another tune, the melody carrying through the air like a bird's call. The laughter and cheers of the crowd swirled around him, but Venti's gaze drifted toward the horizon, his expression turning contemplative for just a moment as he looked beyond the bustling city, to the open fields and distant mountains.
As he plucked at the strings of his lyre, his thoughts drifted to the winds that had carried a new presence to Mondstadt—strangers with burdens heavy as the stormclouds. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips as the breeze rustled through his hair, whispering secrets that only he could hear.
"Seems the winds are changing again," he murmured to himself, his voice barely a breath. "I wonder what stories you'll bring with you, little Travelers."