Barbara's POV

Now I see why that melody was beautiful. The talented Venti is the one singing, masterfully playing his lure to the audience. Behind him though there's some other man who's also talented with the piano.

"What is going on?" I whisper, daring myself to step a little closer to see better what's happening to the plaza. And I am astonished when I see that I guess with the collaboration of the Honorary Knight, Venti and his friend's powers all combined they created a pretty watery surface where things gets reflected as he keeps singing.

"♪Please listen to me again, the ultramarine colors and sentiments I saw with you are beautiful, let me stay by your side.♪" Venti won numerous prizes due to his poems, songs and melodies, but this lyrics in particular creates an odd grip in my heart.

I have to say, that effect is like fresh air being blown towards us. Nobody ever has done something like this to give more life to their perfomances, and using their Visions to do so, is rather brilliant.

"♪Don't worry come to where your hands are. Please don't cry, even if the song itself has no meaning, I wanted to save your heart. Reach out to you, let your voice roar, wait and don't disappear. Before autumn, let's go convey this feeling even just once, see you tomorrow.♪"

I hear Lady Barbatos humming to the song, she's sit sideways on the rail and admires the stage with what I see is happiness in her eyes. Although I do not know why, but there's some bitterness in that feeling, I wonder... Maybe because she must remain hidden? I mean, Mondstadt is the city of freedom, of wine and poetry yes, but we are also known in Teyvat for being without an Archon present, unlike the other nations.

I may not know the reason why she was visibly absent all these years, but I do know that deep down I knew she never abandoned us. She was just among us and we never saw her!

"♪Summer will die soon, the magic will soon fade, but I still I love you. The summer cicadas, the clouds, the sea, the wind chimes, the sky, the rain, the rainbow remember, let's end the lyrics of this song with these words. Let's finish~♪"

As the instrumental part takes over, Lady Barbatos chuckles with an expression overflowing of love. She gets down from the rail and descends the stairs, making that crystal clear jiggle echo all over Mondstadt. And it doesn't go unnoticed, since everyone's eyes are now up here. And when she opens her arms as to welcome us all in her embrace, the world changes before our very own eyes.

"♪Don't worry, come to where your hands are. Please don't cry, even if there's no point in living, I'll embrace your whole. Reach out to you, let your voice roar, wait and don't disappear.♪" her voice is divine to say the least, it makes me cry just hearing it singing such words with beloved tones, but oh Archons, this world she trasformed our Mond into, is... outstanding. And when I move my eyes again, I see her hugging Venti from behind and lowering her head so that her lips brushes his hat. "♪Before autumn comes, I'll go tell you these words even just once I love you... I love you~♪"

The bard has a bashful smile in his face, as he concludes the melody and slowly, like a sweet dream, the world dismantels; returning to be our plaza protected by the statue of the Anemo Archon.

Once overcomed the shock, I run the stairs to join the audience and loudly clap for these people, bathing myself with Lady Barbatos' image, faking to be one of the stage actors.

"Please everyone, have a bite!" the Honorary Knight's fairy shouts behind the counter of a little food stand, where there are many dishes I never saw before. "They're cheap and delicious, try it!"

So many colors, presentation and ingredients I do not recognize for how masterful they were processed into a plate. They have even drinks, who did these?

It's a matter of time and the longest line I ever saw is before this little stand. The fairy alone cannot manage so many customers, therefore the pianist and the Honorary Knight goes to aid her, and before I can get something, all is selled out. What a shame, I wanted to try those.

"Thank you for your patronage, ladies and gentlemen." the pianist speaks with a voice loud enough for us to hear clearly. "We are promoting a concert that will take place in less than a week. Fear not, entry is free of charge, and if you did not get a chance today to try our food, please hang on a bit more. If you wish to partecipate or help in any way, please direct your kind interest to the Honorary Knight or our amazing bard, Venti."

The crowd is quick to vocalize their intentions, but a few others are more focused and interested in Venti and Lady Barbatos dancing with each other, immersed in their own world. It warms my heart so much, I fear winters no longer, the bard doesn't let his height compromise the dance- Honestly he behaves like a happy child. He took his shoes off so that he could stand on Lady Barbatos' bare feet and let her lead. She doesn't look bothered at all, quite the contrary. She has such perfect smile, so full of gentle feelings it should be intoxicating to be so close to, and Venti is long gone, too dependent by it to be saved.

I do not see the world they are in now, but I know it must be alluring to the point of forgetting about reality. Despite the Honorary Knight and his companion are trying to get Lady Barbatos' attention, she does not hear them, nor Venti for he's hypnotized by those eyes.
The goddess suddenly takes the human and throws him in the air like we do with babies to make them laugh, and Venti, like the same children, asks to go higher and higher, but each time she catches him, she spins hugging him...

I see that such simple, pure love is the source of envy and jealousy among the adults and kids. Unfortunately, I cannot exclude myself. I wish I was looked and loved that way, even half of it would be enough.

"Arius, what do we do?" asks the little fairy, starting to be frustrated at being ignored, so she asks for assistance.

So the pianist is named Arius. I think as he walks closer to the couple and remains immobile for a little. Does doing nothing really work with that level of focus?

Out of the blue, Mister Arius claps his hands, once yet so loudly it startles me, but brings the duo out of their world. The man bows with a hand on his chest, and talks about something I'm too distant to hear. Lady Barbatos who had Venti sat on her shoulder, gently puts him down and both get closer to the stand.

"Miss Barbara!" Venti waves at me, dragging along our god by her hand.

Oh Archons please, protect me from a panic attack! I pray silently as I put on a smile and welcome them either way. "Hello."

"Sensei, this is the talented idol I talked you about." Venti steps to my side and continued with excitement. "She's famous in Mond, her music is amazing."

"Where are my manners, gracious!" Lady Barbatos crosses her legs and delivers an elegant bow. "It's a pleasure too meet you little Barbara, my name is Y/n, and I was Venti's mentor."

"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Y/n!" I exclaim trying to go as low as I can to show respect to our deity. Did I do something wrong? I ask myself when I see the god knelt, trying to make me stand straight. "Your pupil flatters me, milady. However, I must admit I do not stand at his level, in terms of performance. I have tried, but his melodies are too complicated for me still. Without mentioning his voice, it sounds wonderful every time, without failing a single time."

"Hehe~, I still have a lot to learn from my Sensei. I actually wanted to see you, and ask if you would like to join for the concert." Venti extends his hand to me and adds: "Of course, clothes and makeup are being taken care of, so you can sing without a worry!"

"I appreciate the thought, although our styles are too different-" I try to decline, but it seems that our famous bard is stubborn in this.

"Sensei will fix it. She's master of all music, no matter the genre, or the complexity. She's the lead for our show, be guided by her and you will not fail. I promise."

"My little one rests so much trust in me is an honor, however, little Barbara." Lady Barbatos tilts her head to the side and smiles, making my heart skip beats. "I never force anyone to do what they do not want. We extended the offer to you, feel free to decline if you're not comfortable enough."

Oh my world, what do I do now!? I asked for protection from a panic attack, but it was not granted, probably not even heard. Am I really allowed to reject my own god's request?? Of course she's cultured about all music, she lived for eons- Can I stand to those high standards??

Kaeya's POV

I was strolling, enjoying my days off, happy to hear from theirs letters that Razor and Bennett are well. They were adorable, they sent me a get-well present and even wrote an apology letter, which it was futile. It was not their fault if I almost broke my arm, but I appreciate the gesture nonetheless.

So while I walked like always, I was guided by an angelic melody to the plaza, which to my surprise it was not The Noble, but Venti singing, helped by the famous Traveller and Arius.

I was genuinly intrigued when I saw what they created on the floor by fusing their powers, but like I was destined to, the only god who sparks interest in me appeared. And like the very first time, her voice lulled us all, but she did something new that took my breath away. She created a world under my very eyes, and with the same ease, she destroyed it at the end of the show.

Now I refuse to go elsewhere. I heard they are looking for staff for the concert, boy, I won't let this chance go so easily. I might lack in singing skills, but I know my stuff if there are balls involved.

The poor Barbara seems so conflicted. I don't get why though, Venti said Lady Y/n will teach her, is she worrying for the church?

"May those doubts never drag you where you do not belong, miss." Arius pops up and holds a kind gaze. "Milady will not judge, neither we. Rest assured also nobody here will laugh if you fail. We will teach and guide you to the standards you believe are accetable."

"I a-accept, Lady Barbatos!" Barbara shouts with a blush and such rigid posture, not even soldiers can compete with that.

When everyone giggle to defuse her embarrassement, I make my entrance. I clap so all eyes are on me, and I decide to stop next to our adorable idol.

"Lady Y/n, it is amazing how everyone here in Mondstadt mistake you for our god." I say chuckling. "Is this the second or third time happening?"

"Yes, indeed. It seems the reason is the shade of my hair and eyes." she giggles and bows to greet me. "I apologize if I disappoint you Barbara, but I'm not Barbatos. He's a male I believe, the statue here was made after him, am I correct?"

"B-but I saw you! You played with animals earlier with such Anemo control it could not be achieved in such young age!" she whispers so unwanted ears can't hear her. "What about the world! That is not an achievabke thing for a human! I understand you must keep yourself hidden, I won't say-"

"My deepest apologies miss for interrupting." Arius raises a hand and comes closer. "Was your assumption made because you saw Milady's control of the Anemo element?"

"W-well, yes. And because of her hair and eyes which are tinted with a shade of green so similar to it."

"Are you familiar with illusions?" at the question Barbara moves her head in confusion. "The world you saw was a mere illusion created by us. If you combine Hydro with Anemo, the waters can freeze and become a mirror, which will reflect the ray of light and create things that are not really there."

"It was improvised, so it was not good, honestly speaking." Lady Y/n's humble words are not processed by the idol. Who I can understand, such complex work is seen like not even a task for them, she may think at this point she's being fooled. "But I promise, next time you will feel the illusion."

"Something like this." Arius' powers enhances as he creates a space where only us seven are present. A space where there's nothing but a vaste ocean underneath our feet.

I do not know how they do this, but this is no illusion. I feel water moving under the sole of my shoes, I smell the saline air, this is real. They just want Barbara to believe is a combo of very masterful entertainers, who also never reveal their secrets that easily.

"Captain, may I have the honor of your collaboration for a demonstration?" Lady Y/n comes and asks me to use my Cyro to freeze a piece of the water.

"It is my pleasure, madam." I obey and I watch how a swift move of her hand controls my Cyro so that a huge portion of the ocean is now froze in time.

"Lady Y/n, do it!" Paimon's cheer is rather suspicious, because not only her but even the Traveller are smirking in a mischivious way.

Are they planning a trap on me? Boy, how bold of them. I raise my guard when The Noble instructs her friends to follow a specific tempo by clapping their hands and stomping to create a drum-like noise. She seeks attention from Barbara and then stares in my soul.

I have to admit, I thought I was the one whose gaze made people nervous, it seems I found a decent rival. Those eyes make me shiver head to toe, impossible for me to read her intentions. Those minty orbs are so trasparent, yet they do not let anything spill out.

"Captain, may I pose a question?" she inquires, probably enjoying seeing me squirming inside my own self.

"Be my guest." I try to keep my cool, even if I'm sure I won't fool the eyes of a god who seems to be able to read souls.

"What are your thoughts on letting a woman lead you?"

"I... don't mind. I have to object though, as a man, I must be the one who-!" she encloses her arm around my waist to pull me against her and before I know it, she skates, moving my body with such light touches I feel like a puppet.

"♪As these feelings become more intense, every time I sing it drives me mad! This melody for just us two, an endless serenade!♪" she sings a song with a rhythm so quick it's not a custom of ours, yet it's so catchy and energetic. It reflects on her skating, I feel the speed on skin, yet she secured me to her, I won't slip. "♪If I could have one wi~sh come true, I'd throw everything away; I want to embrace you...♪"

Arius took over the piano and I'm at a god's mercy during the instrumental break. I feel her legs in between mine to guide my body where she wishes, all these minutes I did not have control over myself at all. I dare not to look at her, I know I will melt in her hands and I cannot allow myself to do so.
And to be honest, this is crazy, but rather amusing. Her lead is strong, yet gentle on my body, and it gave a new meaning to the word: 'dance inside one's hand'.

"Kaeya~!" Paimon waves with a smile so big, it's irritating. "Indulge, we know you like this stuff!"

"It's a shame Master Diluc is not here to see such show, hehe~" what Venti said cleared my doubts. This was revenge from either my brother or the Traveller and they used Lady Y/n to deliver it.

"♪As we are, without moving, confirm this with only our lips.♪" I spin and halt, but when I do, Lady Y/n's face is so close to mine, our noses almost touch. When I try to pull back, she takes my chin and drags me closer to the point of breathing her air, feeling the divine notes escaping her throat and suffocating me with them. "♪Reflected in my eyes, you're the only one I'll allow.♪"

"Oya? Am I seeing the flirtatious Captain beaten at his own game~?" Venti really can be instigating if he wishes. "Look at that blush on his face, goodness!"

Is it how they wish to play? Very well, let us play then. I stand straighter and lean closer to the goddess, whispering to her: "Allow me, I will follow you." her gaze switches into a challenging one as her grip loosens, and she takes distance. I know you enough, Harmonia. You will test me.

As I thought, she doesn't give me the time to adjust to my freedom, she skates as usual, but as a Cyro user I have no choice but to serve her standards. So I skate at her speed, copy her flawless moves and this time I do not break the eye contact.

"♪The blooming flower at the edge of a dream will guide the two of us tonight! The only thing we'll say is: 'I'll never let you go!'♪"

I give her the fact that she took me off guards many times. I give her the victory of today of flustering me to the point of panicking, but surely I cannot be her toy and tool for my brother and drink buddy to tease me for this long. I have a reputation and image to keep, I have to fight back. And that's what I will do.

"♪All I li~ve for is this love; this is what I was born fo~r!♪" this time I'm the one spinning her, I even lift her up and drop her down so she can glaze the ice with her fingertips as the melody fades away, destroying the world we were so immersed in.

"Bravo!" everyone claps as we first bow to each other, then to the audience.

"Was this genre of music more familiar for you, Barbara?" Lady Y/n asks with a smile and I never saw our idol with such dumbfounded expression before. Jean will laugh all her life if she saw it.

"Where do I sign? Please allow me to be your student!" Arius giggles and holds the papers for her, while the Traveller asks her a bunch of questions, I take my chance.

I ask to join as well, this was fun and I can't wait to see with what else this odd goddess of a distant past will do next to surprise me. While I sign, I grab the bard by the collar and whisper threats to his ear.

"Not a word with Master Diluc about what happened today." I roar with a dark smile, that does not work with him.

"You might be able to stop me, but you surely cannot stop Paimon." Venti smirks evilly and chuckles. "Good luck also trying to stop Arius."

"He won't tell-" I try to sound sure, but it seems being so close to them, the bard got to know them more than me.

"He won't make fun of you, indeed. But he will tell Ahlstarr and boy~" he laughs and pats my back. "Try to not go back home crying, young man~ If you need me, I'll be at the same place."

He leaves together with the others, leaving me alone with The Noble. She looks at her people and when I see her body weight change to permit a step to be taken, I gently take her hand. As all other times, she doesn't yank her hand away, nor resist at all, she just waits, patiently, without making you think you are a waste of her time.

"May I be arrogant enough to ask for you to sing for me one more time?" I said it before and I will say it again, I am able to fool myself, but I've learnt that I cannot hide from this woman. So there's no point in even trying, she already knows and I'm okay with her seeing my scars. I console myself with the fact that she has this effect on everybody, so I'm not left out and I'm no madman.

"Why?" she's arcane, yet with a few things she becomes predictable. For example, if someone asks for help, she will soften her gaze like now and will offers aid without a hint of hesitation.

In those old scrolls, one thing seems to be correct. Harmonia is the embodiment of the word 'Agape'. "Because you go somewhere else when you sing. I want to go there as well."

"Lady Y/n, let's go!" , "Sensei~" Paimon and Venti surely share the same brain cell when it's about this woman, huh.

"You all have a little bit of 'I want to
save the world' in you, that's why
you're here." she gently pats my head and speaks with a voice coated with a feeling I forgot, it almost makes me choke for how strong it is. "I want you to know that it's okay if you only save one person, and it's okay if that person is you." she grabs my face and kindly guides it so that our foreheads connects for a few seconds, then lets me go. "Come tonight child, I will bring you in a world serene, so you may sleep without fearing for your demons."

While she rejoins the others, I focus more on the feeling on my fingertips. I brush them over my forehead where I felt her stone lightly tap my skin. It felt a little weird, but in a good way. I think as I make my way home.

As I walk back, once I hit the bed, all hits me like a mountain.
I now understand why I feel at peace next to her.
It's because my life is a graveyars of buried hopes. So I am still and I am silent, because if I open my mouth, I may never stop screaming. She heard me even when I was silent all this time, she saw my graveyard and walked inside nevertheless. She took each hope, dusted it off and gave it back to me...

"I heard Diluc is sponsoring this concert. So I believe she stays at the winery until the end of the event." I talk with myself staring at the ceiling. "I have to go back, huh?" I sigh but when I think about it, Lady Y/n is there, he won't behave too roughly with me if he has guests, nor Ahlstarr and the others, she holds that mansion under her command now. "Well, a night won't kill me."

I stand and head to the bathroom to take a shower. Surely I cannot appear there without pulling myself together. Father taught me this, but also because a goddess invited me, I cannot have her disappointed.
I mean, when will I get another chance to be close and study how this ancient deity do her magic. This sense of safety, comes from her rings? Her presence? Is it a passive skill she own?

So foreign, but Archons she's as alluring as a deadly sin. Humans usually fear the unknown, why she doesn't spark that fear? I want to know and I will, soon or later.