3rd person's POV

"So, what may I do to assist?"

Ahlstarr patiently waits for an answer, his eyes glued on Diluc. He believes business with that mortal will bring great profit, so even his short temper will be tamed for the sake of gold coins.

"I'm sorry to disappoint buddy, but I'm not your client." the red haired man confessed with a sigh. He gestures with his head towards Venti and adds: "He's the one with requests."

Under Barbatos' chuckle, the servant sharpens his eyes even more and glares at the archer. He almost growls but tries his best to contain himself, by crossing his arms and leaning all the way back to the chair.

"I don't work for free." he spits and with a smug he adds: "Broke as you are, can you afford me?"

"I have a few savings. Hear me out first, then tell me your price. How about that?"

With encouragement from his goddess, Ahl rolls his eyes and is willing to at least listen. He makes it clear though that he'll be not lowering his prices no matter what, and with that being said, he quiets down and let the other god talk about his idea.
Surprising to the mortals and the Traveller, he actually takes neat notes and circles what for him is essential for the desired goal.
After Venti concludes, he waits a few seconds and clears his throat, his rival has a sick smile on his face.

"Will it be possible, my boy?" Harmonia asks with an interested gaze, but she knows her servant is plotting something.

"Absolutely, my mistress. Only if the client can pay though. This is what I want, can you afford it with your savings?"

Barbatos loses color when he sees the amount asked, he no longer can hold the bluff, so he goes for plan B: cry. "Sensei~ This is a ripoff!" he whines smacking his hand on the table.

"How fucking dare you!" exclaims Ahlstarr almost disgusted. "Do you realize how much work I need to do to make your broke life happy? You better make it worth it!"

"I just asked for a concert Sensei's style! You are overcharging, you ass!"

"Oh you mean creating different dresses for everyone on stage? Jewels to match for each of them? What about hair styles and makeup, mh?"

"Why do you need to do it? Sensei can use her powers to do this easily!"

"Little one, I thought to gift the outfits to your people." Harmonia intervenes to attempt to sedate the issue, not letting her strong headache leak from her mask. "That is the reason why I will not using my full power, at least not for the changing of the clothing items."

"There you go. You should thank her for such benevolence." Ahlstarr smirks again.

"I'm not paying that absurd price!"

"Bitch, do you want me to jump across this table? 'Cause I don't have all day for your bullshit, ok!?"

"Feelin' froggy? Leap." Venti shows his middle finger to the other, not afraid to fight. Quite the opposite, he's ready to throw hands.

"Motherfucker, here I come-" Ahlstarr halts halfway, making himself smaller on purpose.

It takes a while for Aether, Jean and Diluc to understand why, but when their brain register it, they wide their eyes, a sudden scary presence right next to them.
Izel stands there, leaning on the table with his hands on full display and a look in his eyes that could give a heartattack to even the devil itself.

"How may I help, my old friend?" he thunders with such low voice the bass tones vibrate to a frequency to be felt on the skin.

"W-well..." even Barbatos dropped the will to fight, knowing way too well that if Izel woke up is because something upset his mistress and he will not tolerate it. "I want to do a little concert for everyone with Sensei, but your brother here is trying to rob us."

"Bad news, sorry it only took a minute for me to get what you had." the spear servant's smug grows bigger as he flexes: "Sorry for the bad news, I'll be here for a minute, shorty, you should pack your bags-!" all Izel has to do to tame the rebellious dragon is lift his finger and make it sure he sees it.

So he was saying the truth. The knights keep their mouths sealed. He keeps his hands firmly presses on the table and assert his leadership, and I can understand a bard surrending to such giant of a man, but someone with enough spite to poison the world.... Izel really must be hiding a terrifying side.

"I believe however, my brother explained his reason for the charging. Did he not explain them well enough?"

"He did, but-"

"Even my Lady exposed her point of view as for why she requested Ahlstarr's skills." Izel dominates the air and does not gives in easily for anybody until he's done. "Despite you two do not get along, you cannot deny that Ahlstarr's crafts are unmatched. If my Lady's wish is to gift your people happiness and a present they will never forget, the item must stay perfect in quality for a long time. To do so, my brother will have to lose sleep, skip meals and focus only on the making of such pieces. My Lady is doing it for you and your people only, while Ahlstarr does it to make her happy. Do you understand it, Barbatos?"

"Yes..." the bard lowers his head in defeat and a hint of shame.

"Very well. So how about this, we'll sell stuff and the clothes at a fair price, the profit will be equally split among who partecipated. Do we have a deal?"

Venti nods while Izel slides papers to Jean and Diluc. When did Ahlstarr write all this stuff!? I thought he was too busy being petrified... With a quick glance they see a detailed list of things that need to be arranged and purchased to make it possible. Both know they need to get to work right away, so they politely excuse themselves from the table and roll up their sleeves.

"When Diluc has the fabrics and gems I need, this will be your task Aether." the lancer gives another piece of paper to the blonde traveller and dismisses him as well.

"Be careful on your way back, little ones." the Noble smiles and waves at the human and the fairy, who waves back with too much enthusiasm and blush at the realization of it.

"Before leaving, Sensei..." Venti sees that Izel is pressuring him to follow the example of his worshippers, therefore the god takes the hint. Although he does not suspect why, he just assumes that because his mentor was painting a very dear person to her, she might want to be left alone for a few days to heal. "Dvalin asked to meet you. Whenever you feel like it, please let me know. I will arrange everything."

"Sure, my little one." her short reply gives fuel to the God of Freedom's theory. "Have a good night."

"Sweet dreams, Sensei..." Venti turns his back but forgot to say one more thing: "Thank you for always indulging in my tantrums. I know I'm a pain and can be childish, I just feel happy when I'm around you and cannot express it properly. I adore you so much, Sensei."

With silence, the Anemo God heads back to his town, unaware of what lies were just hidden right under his nose. With his hearing, Ahlstarr gives the green light once the bard is far enough and cannot hear, nor sense anything else. The moment he gives the sign, Harmonia rolls her eyes and falls, but Izel and the dragon are fast to catch her before impact with the table. They lay her on the ground and put on a scolding face, not having mercy for her.

"Are you postponing what awaits us, my Lady?" questions Izel with a wet cloth in hand to put over her eyes.

"No... I only need to make peace with myself. Guilt is eating me alive, so I have to find a way to shut it off." she confesses with a sigh so heavy on the heart, the servants can tell she really is conflicted. "I want to give him everything I have since after those days, he will no longer be able to see me. He will slowly forget me like the universe already did...."

"My Lady-"

"I feel awful... Constantly spitting lies in his face, making him believe all will be like those old days... And I cannot bring myself to be the carrier of such heartbreaking realities." she holds the cloth tighter against her face to dry her tears up. "He does not deserve any of this, but I do not know anything better if not granting whatever wish he has, no matter the cost... Because I know that at the end of this road, I'll stab him in the back by disappearing once more, and this time he will not live long enough to see me again." the tears flow down her face, watering the grass underneath. "This is my last effort for him... I owe him at least this much to make up for all the lies... the betrayal..."

"So after you met Dvalin, you're done?" Ahlstarr questions, not feeling angry at her anymore. "He's stupid as shit, but I think he's starting to get what's going on with the help of his citizens."

"Yes. I will tell you when, but after that.... We will return to be memories of the past."

Harmonia passes out and leaves the servants in a sad silence. Arius opens an eye to check on things and when Izel insists on taking the guarding turn, the warriors understand that he needs some time where he can remove his mask. And his only moment is when they cannot see him, so they don't fight the sleep and quickly returns to dreamland.

"Back at my village, there was an old saying quoting that tears are the way the eyes speak when your mouth cannot explain how broken your heart is..." he whispers as he sits on his knees before the painting. "Almighty Xatia.... What should I do? I feel so broken if I see death I'll hug it..." he sighs as tears stains his eyes. "The corruption is getting stronger.... I wish I could take it all, I'll give my life this instant if it'd cure Harmonia... Yet, we're utterly powerless. The only people able to heal her were you and the owner of that curse. Please, Almighty Xatia..." the man bows until his forehead touches the grass and continues with a broken tone: "If my voice can reach you, I beg of you, protect your guardian's soul from such horrendous fate. I do not wish to put my hands on her. Please, spare me from this agony.... Let her walk on the path you believe is more fitted for a cure."

You grew so much, child of wrath.

Izel snaps his head up so quickly, his earrings almost slap him in those shocked eyes. He met Xatia when he was a child, so Izel stores secrets and memories no one else has. He knows the god the most, how his feet move with a specific, distinct noise, how he laughed, how he wrote, and most of all, what his voice sounded like.
And what he heard tonight is without a hint of a doubt, Xatia's voice.

Izel's eyes move to the sides over and over, over his shoulders, above and below his head, anywhere his sight can reach, the servant searches for the fallen god almost like his own life depends on it. When he fails though, he sits back on his knees and sighs with his hands on his hair.

"Am I losing my mind too?" he whispers shaking his head bewildered. "Daydreaming of the dead... That's not like me-"

Sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right.

Izel caught a spark coming from the painting, that's the reason why he grabbed it and held it against the weak moonlight. "I'm not insane, I saw it. Almighty Xatia, please reveal yourself to me. What did you mean-"

"Izel?" Arius stands a few steps back to give the man space, but his face is transparent with concern. "Is everything alright, brother of mine?"

"Y-yes. Apologies if I woke-" the man halts his words when the other takes a chair, spins it so the back can face his leader and sit, leaning on it.

"There's no need for the mask. Don't force yourself to be always composed and perfect." Arius smiles at the other and adds: "I won't see you with any less respect or regard if you show your fears. Because I have known despair, I value hope. Because I have tasted frustration, I value fulfillment. Because I have been hated and lonely, I value love. So tell me brother, what can I do to help you?"

".....I'm beyond preoccupied for Harmonia. Despite being her first pupil, I see myself rather useless. And I don't know where to go or do to even ask for help."

"Useless? You? You must be blind, brother of mine."

"I am though. A butler is not very useful to a god Arius. She doesn't require food or water, yet she eats to make us happy and feel accomplished. She didn't even need to sleep, remember?" he runs his hands on his face, slightly scratching it with his long nails. And after a stressed sight, he continues: "I was given a way out of this, but that's a path I wish not to walk on. Until it's my very last chance, I'll keep ignoring it. So I'm torned and I stupidly asked guidance to Lord Xatia." he admits pointing to the drawing.

After staring at the portrait, the archer speaks up. "I joined you guys with Ahl, basically I was one of the last, so I don't know much about Xatia." Arius decides to sit next to his dear friend to discuss what comes next. "We talked about it with Ahl. We believe that Aether has some particular powers, seeing what he did to that corrupted dragon, Ahl thought of a plan."

"I'm out of ideas, so go on."

"One of us stays behind." those words said with such serious attitude, lowkey shocks the other. "That person will be Aether's shadow, accompany him through his journey and help him with the other gods. In the meantime, search for a cure or a way to make Aether's powers strong enough to take on a curse like the Black Rot."

"It could work, but it's too based on luck for my tastes." Izel speaks his mind, trying to see his brother's point of view and hopefully that could lead him away from the only choice he has left. "We know nothing about the other gods. The one who stays needs to be powerful. So not Jala, physically and mentally he's not suited...."

"I've never fought a god before, but I'm confident I can take on one easily."

"Still too risky, my brother."

"Why? Do you not trust my combat abilities?" Izel shakes his head no to reject the theory. "What is it then?"

"You are human, Arius. Even if powerful in mind and skills, your body is fragile. You can die, which is an absolute no for me." The words that Xatia said keeps lingering in Izel's mind and clouds his reasoning with anxiety.

"Fair enough, I cannot argue with that." the servant does not take offense, he knows Izel is right, but he teases the taller with a smirk and a gentle tab with his elbow. "You aren't immortal either though. We aim for immortality in this selection?"

"Indeed. Despite my body is hard to break and wound, despite my high regeneration skills, if the wound is too severe, I might not survive as well. Which leaves out only him, but it worries me."

"True. Ahlstarr is immortal thanks to the blood that flows in his veins, but maybe his temperament and thirst for money and blood might not play well in a long journey." with a quick glance, Arius sees his leader heartbroken, glossy eyes and a hopeless soul, so he guides his head on his shoulder and combs his hair to soothe his racing, intrusive thoughts. "Man, we're back at square one. Let's discuss this issue tomorrow all together, shall we? Harmonia may not agree on this, but if we play our cards well she will yield."

Why Lord Xatia said those words? Do I have to expect a disaster soon? Is that what he meant? Izel's mind is elsewhere and does not pay that much attention to his brother's attempt to calm him down. For who and/or what though? This world? Our family? Me?

"I swear to you that thinking too much is a disease. A real, actual disease." Arius softly laugh when Izel jolts at being busted overthinking and not paying attention. "Go rest. I'll keep watch tonight."

"No, I woke you-"

"Izel, rest." despite being second in command, Arius does not submit before his leader's stubborn trait, in fact he stares at him until the taller gives in and marches to the tree where he was sleeping. "Sweet dreams, brother of mine." he whispers with a soft, loving smile which is returned right away.

Arius keeps guard for a few hours, and when he's absolutely sure that no one can be still awake, with a sigh, he turns his attention to the painting. He walks to it and taps it, fearful that the paint is still too fresh and he might ruin it.

"Whenever you appear, may be through a dream, a vision or a painting, Izel returns to be the child we never had the chance to see. Is it you who he took the example from?" Arius taps the painting and a shocks runs through his fingertips, making him jerk away.

She will always come for you.

"Hah?" Arius looks around, elemental powers ready to be unleashed. When the threat cannot be found, he relaxes a bit and stares at the paiting once more. Like Izel, Arius also benefits from a very strong memory, and even if he saw Xatia when he was gasping his last words, the archer remembers it still clearly. Did he give me a warning? Unlike Izel though, Arius is not the type to overthink, especially when he's on guard duty.
So instead of fusing his brain, he smiles and bows to the dead god's portrait and whispers a thank for the heads up.
Only after that he sits and watches how the night veil is slowly being lifted by the passing time, until dawn raises to announce that the darkest hours are now over.