3rd person's POV

-Dawn Winery-

With the use of her rings, Harmonia instantly teleported herself, Izel and Ahlstarr back to the winery. She sensed in the wind that something did not go as planned, and her concern for Venti made her postpone the investigation about Dragonspine.
Walking at the entrance, the deity tiredly yawns and gently shakes her head to shoo the sleep away. Ahlstarr and Izel look at each other in silence, then they move closer to the woman to first and foremost give her physical support, but also to try and persuade her to change her plans a little.

"Milady, why won't you leave the investigation to me?" the lancer uses a sweet and calm tone of voice, trying his best to hide his worry for the mistress. "It will be like a hike. It will also keep me busy for a few hours-"

"I will come too." the lady replies firmly, leaving no room for the other to add or change a single word. Desperate, Ahlstarr leaves the situation to his leader.

"My Lady, should I go instead? You should feel more relieved if I investigate." same as his companion, Izel chooses a sweeter tone, but in his case, he does because he actually wants his concern to be felt and seen.

"This is not a task based on trust or abilities, Izel." staring at the horizon, Harmonia speaks with an almost scolding voice, surprising the men. "If something related to the Black Rot is there, I'll be the one to go. Whoever accompanies me will not be in contact with that curse, for I wish not to see you in this endless pain."

The servants' eyes drop to a sad gaze, they look at each other one more time, remembering the nightmares they lived, even though they both fully understand the woman's words.

"What if-" the tallest tries once more with a different idea that should check off all requests, but the goddess is not on his same page.

"I spoke my will, Izel. Respect it." at the sound of such colder timbre, Izel closes his eyes to bite his tongue and lowers his head to sign that he will do as Harmonia asked.

In an almost a shameful silence, the trio sits outside and waits. Maids and butlers attempt to move them inside, but Harmonia just desires something warm and nothing more, since she will have to go soon. Not wanting to pressure the guests, Diluc's servants return to their daily tasks, making sure to secretly check on the mysterious woman and her boys from time to time.

After a cup of tea, the moment Izel pours the hot liquid to refill everyone's share, Harmonia looks to her left to stand up. The boys also move their attention to where their mistress is focusing, and they spot Venti's group walking back. One look is enough to feel the tension among those mortals, experts are not needed either to see that their spirits got almost crushed.

"Welcome back, every-Oh dear." before she could fully open her arms to greet the brave warriors, Venti launched himself against her and tightly anchored himself onto her. "Are you alright, precious bard?" Harmonia enclosed Venti inside her cloak and rests her forehead against his hat.

Seeing an old companion in such state, Izel chooses to ask what occured during the mission. The deity and her servants attentively listen to the answer, and they put on a little guilty smile on their faces when they are told that Diluc, Jean, Aether and Paimon know that Venti is Barbatos in disguise.

"Pff, what a fuckin' idiot." Ahlstarr snorts crossing his arms and looking to the bard with a side eye.

"Ahl, I am warning you." Harmonia scolds the other and then focuses back on Venti. "It is not too late, little one. You have wonderful and loyal friends by your side, you cannot give up just yet."

"First he didn't recognize me, now he hates me.... It was a tough blow even for me, Sensei..." Venti sinks his face more into her abdomen and sighs heavily. "It did not go as I wished and it hurts..."

"You are so stupid it's astonishing every single time." Ahlstarr clicks his tongue annoyed and lowkey growls too, offended. "You said your friend is corrupted and controlled, then why would you take his words seriously?"

"I'm not talking to you, dumb spasming animal." Venti finally raises his head and glares at the other. "Dvalin is sick and his clock is ticking, if you don't plan on being helpful, shut it."

"And since when a dragon dies from the poison of a mere snake, hah?" the servant uncrosses his arms and walks closer to the bard, just to take on the challenge. "There's nothing a dragon won't do for you once you've earned its loyalty."

"You speak about loyalty? Great example from someone like you-"

"Oi." crimson flames erupts from Ahlstarr, visibly angered. Stream of hot wind move around the surroundings, tiny forms of life slowly burning away. "Don't fucking talk to me about loyalty. I'm still here holding secrets for people who threw dirt on my name."

"Who's the stupid now, hah?" Venti talks back, calling to his aid various streams of powerful winds.

"We dragons were supposed to be cunning, cruel, heartless and terrible. But this much I can tell you, we never burned, tortured, ripped one another apart and call it fucking morality!"

"Enough!" a gast of wind blasts away the elements and forces both Barbatos and Ahlstarr to close their eyes and focus more on not being dragged away. Izel took care of the traveller and his friends by holding them close to him and releasing them once the discussion is over.

The mortals gulp a big knot of tension when they move their attention over the deity. A famous tell rises in their minds, shocked that its embodiment is right before them right now. It quote: 'when there are no words, let your eyes do the talking.' Harmonia created a deafening silence, but her minty eyes are speaking loud and clear to Venti and Ahlstarr, in fact both of them have their heads low, avoiding the direct eye contact with their mentor.

"I've warned you, Ahlstarr, didn't I?" she parts her lips to let out a commanding voice, making sure that everyone present get right away who's in charge.

"You did, milady."

"Air jail will be your punishment."

Air jail.....? What in the world is that? The mortals narrow their brows in question, too confused by the concept to wrap it around their minds.

"Ugh- Fine." a frustrated growl quenches the man's rebellious behaviors. He accepts his fate as Izel approaches him with his hands in display. "Gimme a moment to take off my jewels and a few pieces of clothes."

"I will hold them for you." Izel patiently waits with a hand open where his companion can put his precious jewels. "I also apologize, brother."

"For what?" Ahl takes off his coat and then kneels to untie his shoes. "You did nothing wrong."

"Truth be told, I'm upset about what she said earlier. I'll be throwing you higher than usual just for this reason. I'm aware is selfish on my behalf, but it's really bothering me and I need to vent. You are the only tough enough who can handle my strength."

"That explain why you whispered all of the sudden." Ahl gives his shoes to his friend and shrugs his shoulders. "Fair enough, even if she can hear you the same."

"It was not meant to be hidden from her ears, but the mortals'. I wish not to be seen this vulnerable, I do not trust them."

"You should let down your mask once in a while, brother." Ahlstarr steps back willingly, and he takes a deep breath before adding: "Go ahead."

Without a warning, Izel takes the lancer's head and yeets him so far up in the sky that is not visible anymore. The mass of air moved drops everyone's jaws, their nacks cracking since they all have their eyes glued to the sky and that tint hole through the clouds.

IS HE GONNA SURVIVE THAT!?!? They exclaim beyond shocked.

"Little one, come closer." after a tired sigh, Harmonia focuses back on Venti, who obeys still fearful for a punishment. "This is for you all, so please let these wise words rest in your soul."

And in a snap of fingers, everything feels so peaceful and... Just right. How does she do this every single time? Aether is on the same page as his companions who still do not know who the Noble really is. For Venti instead, he is aware and he is forever grateful for what Harmonia is cabale of with no effort.

"If you feel like you're not in control, may seem troublesome but remember: you can never control the winds upon the sea. However, what you can do is adjust your sails. So even though you feel like everything is in chaos or you can't control the events happening, what people do and/or say, you can control how you act, how you react. Because trying to fight the wind only sends you in the direction you never wanted to go to begin with. So adjust your sails."

The running minds suddenly halt, leaving just a blessing-like quiet, that allows everyone to drop the shoulders by inches and have a moment to breathe in peace. Looking at the mortals and even her little friend so immersed in that state of mind, the deity chuckles and decides to step closer to each one of them to gently pat their heads to sweetly bring them back to reality.

"It seems you no longer need my guidance, little one." Harmonia pulls up her hood once again and steps back. "I have a matter to attend to, although I will be ready to welcome you and your brave knights back anytime."

"Argh, goddamn that was really high...." Ahlstarr softens the land by kneeling and takes a few seconds to catch his breath. "I passed out from the lack of oxygen, Izel. Definitely too high and too fast."

"I apologized in advance." the tallest hands back each item with care and even helps his companion to dress back up. "Are you feeling alright now? Are you in need of something?"

"Nah, I'm good." Ahlstarr puts his coat on his shoulders as always and is happy to have his jewels back on. "Maybe a bottle of wine when I'll be done with the hike."

"Ah, Sensei where are you going?" Venti inquires when the group begins to march towards the Statue of the Seven.

"Hiking. You know I like to walk around." through the hood a smile is spotted. "Brave ones, know that to this end, I'm ever at thy side." with those words and a little bow, the deity and her group disappears, teleported wherever they wish to explore.

While Jean, Aether and Paimon giggle and feel relieved by those words, Venti is the one who still thinks. And Diluc is the one who notices it, inquiring why a drunk god would be reflecting on something for so long. Paimon joins the teases, but both get a little concerned when Barbatos do not react at all. Therefore Jean approaches him.

"Lord Barbatos, is something the matter?" she asks with a polite and gentle tone.

"It feels odd, I don't understand." he talks with himself tapping his chin. "Something changed among them, but what?"

"What do you mean with that?" Paimon floats closer to the bard and tilts her head. "It looks like the Noble is mostly like legends-"

"It was a short period of time indeed, but I lived by her side and I witnessed wonders and horrors, that is why I say something feels off. The others are acting way too protective for a deity who never known defeat, they have physical changes that should not happen when you are in deep slumber. They are hiding something, but what?"

Is it connected to what I saw at the tavern? Diluc's mind starts to race and elaborate to connect the dots. Then he is right, they hide something, but I guess for a good reason. The red haired man feels odd about keeping a secret he himself does not know yet, at least he tries to help his own deity to achieve an answer that will satisfy him. "And what feels different about Lady Y/n?"

"Mh, it's hard to define. Physically, just the new pieces of jewelry. Before disappearing, she only ever wore the ten rings and nothing else."

"But we found her with those already on, right Traveller?" Aether nods to Paimon and Venti elaborates.

"So after she left but before going to sleep something happened that made her wear them. They seemed also linked to the others, which I presume is not a mere coincidence."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Izel always wore earrings, but never that little gem stuck on his forehead, the same Sensei has too. Her forearm gear as well, never had it before but it looks similar to a tattoo Arius now has, and he makes sure to keep that arm hidden which increases my suspicions. Sensei's choker seems made of the same material Ahlstarr's jewels are made, and it's very sophisticated in design, and only that dumb reptile can create such craft. And last but not least, Sensei's support that looks like a pair of wings, which leaves out only Jala who matches the design. He wears a lot of clothes on, but I bet he has a tattoo like Arius, but on his chest."

"So, what do you want to do about it?"

"Nothing for now. This can wait, Dvalin cannot. So friends!" the cheerful Venti is back and has a new plan in mind. "Let us save my dear friend first, and I promise I will reward your courage greatly!"