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mikashisus · 8 months

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Thus Always To Tyrants

“i hope you live a life you’re proud of. if you find you’re not, i hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

— f. scott fitzgerald

summary: The story of a young woman and a young god who both had the unfortunate experience of getting trapped in a separate timeline.

pairing: venti/barbatos x fem!reader

content warnings: blood and injury, panic attacks, angst, mild foul language, suggestive themes. - (more will be added later if needed.)

other disclaimers: time travel au, mc making poor choices, mostly canon divergent, barbatos x previous cryo archon if u squint, there will be an alternative ending

cross-posted on ao3

chapter 1 wc: 8.8k

author’s notes: povs will switch around a lot, mainly between how the mc and venti both got stuck in alternate timelines and meet each other. venti’s pov will be first, followed by the mc. timeline in general is very choppy, with “future” events happening first, and “past” events happening after.

there will be an extra chapter at the end of the fic that will be an alternative ending. that’s all i’ll say for now as to not spoil the plot too much >:)

enjoy!

playlist

CHAPTER I: the moon will sing a song for me

It all started when Barbatos made the awful decision to cross through a stone arch near what would later be a historic landmark.

Ignoring the warnings that Istaroth had given him about traveling out this far, he let his curiosity get the better of him…

Which led to now.

Looking down at the hands that once held him so gently, he felt a deep, bitter sadness swell in his heart for the first time. His first friend, his first companion, had been killed in a war that he originally wanted no part in. A war that he came to fight in because he wished for the freedom of all the people of Mondstadt.

And look where that left him– desolate among a sea of corpses.

The putrid smell of rotting corpses and ash surrounded him, but all he could think about was the death of his friend. The lifeless, navy irises that always held the utmost gentleness in them. Slightly parted pale lips, that always used to promise freedom for all. An arrow straight through the heart of a person who always cared a little too much for others and never for themselves.

As Barbatos reached down to caress the bard’s cold skin, his heart dropped to his stomach. Reaching out before him was a human hand– a stark difference to what he was familiar with. It wasn’t until he realized that it was his hand, that he reeled back in absolute horror.

In a fit of disbelief, he raised the hand to his face, feeling all along the crevices and over his eyes. He was now possessing a human body, and it wasn’t just anyone’s body… but his friend’s.

As a piercing ringing resounded in his ears, a distant voice whispered in the silence. A warped and distorted, rough whisper that sent shivers down his spine.

“Welcome to the seat of the gods.”

In a flash of light and a moment of stillness, everything around him went silent. He screwed his eyes shut, a poor attempt to convince himself that this was not happening. That it was all a dream, and his friend was actually alive, and most importantly…

That he hadn’t just ascended to Celestia and achieved godhood.

He wasn’t special. He was merely a thread amongst the thousand winds, a small wind spirit that held no importance in the grand scheme of things. He hadn’t done anything noteworthy, nothing worth becoming a god for.

The tears that cascaded down his new human face fell to the grass like a waterfall. A flood of emotions seemed to overwhelm him, all piling onto his shoulders at once. For the first time, he understood just how powerful human emotion could be, and just how much it began to corrupt him.

That same, familiar distorted voice– closer this time –whispered in front of him, “You enter the garden of the gods, and the first thing you do is cry… how pitiful.” they scoffed. Two cold, pale hands gently grasped his cheeks and lifted his head to meet their gaze.

Two icy irises bore into his soul, chilling him to the bone. Long hair, as white as snow, fell along their shoulders elegantly. Pink lips twitched up into a somewhat sincere smile. She was like a goddess– maybe because that was actually what she was –and Barbatos found his heart beating a little too fast all of a sudden.

Her mere, chilly presence had calmed him down, and the tears on his cheeks froze over at her touch.

She pulled her hands back, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to do that.”

With the softest of touches, she quickly wiped away the tears she had frozen. Without thinking, Barbatos nuzzled into her hand. The goddess gasped fleetingly, before a small giggle sounded from her lips.

“I’ve never met a god like you,” she muttered, kneeling down before him to hold his face better. Her smile faded to a frown as she caressed his cheek with her thumb. “Someone so broken… but I’ll fix you. Once we descend back to our respective nations, I will heal the scars in your heart.”

True to her word, as soon as Barbatos descended back to Mondstadt and blew away the ice and the snow, and hurled the mountaintops into the ocean, the goddess came to visit him. She kept him company, brought him food from her home to share with him. The two nations of the two gods grew close, before Barbatos fell into a deep slumber, only to be awoken again by a change in the winds.

The cycle of life was thrown askew. The skies grew confused, and the natural order of all things had paused, as if time had stopped. That’s when he heard the distant chiming of the old stone arch– the stone gate he had passed through at the start.

Someone new had passed through the gate, and now this series of events would change.

For a split moment, the world felt as if it was spinning. Tumbling and turning, twisting and lurching.

Your stomach tied into knots, and bile quickly crept up your throat. As soon as you thought that this might’ve been the end for you, everything came to a standstill.

The world itself seemed to pause for a second, and the silence that followed was deafening. The ringing in your ears continued to grow louder, and the pounding of a headache against your skull grew more prominent.

Wincing, you opened your eyes. As your vision cleared, the first thing you saw was the brightly lit night sky. Dozens upon dozens of stars, all glittering and shining brighter than any star you’ve ever seen. Was the night sky really ever this breathtaking before?

For a moment, you were convinced that you were not in Mondstadt anymore… however, the familiar scenery around you was too recognizable to not be Mondstadt.

You sat up, a wave of dizziness washing over you as you did. You were near the ruins of Old Mondstadt– but they looked oddly more put together than you last saw them. The tower and the stone bridges surrounding it weren’t nearly as broken as you knew them to be, and the wind barrier around the city was still in place.

Confused, you thought back to the legend you had heard before. The one about the old stone arch that would transport whoever passed through it to another timeline. You hadn’t thought it would actually be true, and now here you stood, looking at what was supposed to be the ruins of Decarabian’s city.

The most surprising of all was when you turned around to look at the city on the lake. Your eyes nearly popped out of your head.

The city was in the process of being constructed, and the gigantic tree in Windrise was but a sprout. Just how far back in the past did you travel?

To get a better look at the city, and maybe ask around, you began heading towards the settlement near Springvale. At least that small village would be familiar to you.

Springvale was bustling with people, much unlike how it was in your era. Since the people had nowhere to go right now– what with the city being freshly built –they had all scurried to Springvale. This was the busiest you’ve ever seen the usually small village.

“Look!” A woman shouted as she approached three other women. “I gathered some apples for the Anemo Archon! Do you think he’ll appreciate them?”

“Of course he will!” Another exclaimed, letting out a small giggle. “Lord Barbatos loves apples! Everyone in Mondstadt knows this!”

You thought back to how Mondstadt was in your current era– it was vastly different from this. In the present, the people of Mondstadt knew next to nothing about the Anemo Archon, except for two things: that he was gentle and kind, and gave the people of Mondstadt the freedom to govern themselves.

He had been absent from your era for about five hundred years or more. No one recognized his facial features anymore, and the statues littered around Mondstadt were vague in appearance at best.

You tried to think of how the people would react to his return… if he ever did return, that is. However, you came up empty. Maybe there would be excitement for his return, or maybe there would be resentment for his absence.

You did know one thing: the people deeply missed their archon, even if his absence meant that the people were free from the watchful eyes of a god. You were thankful for that freedom, even if you had always desired to meet the Anemo Archon.

When you were a child, your mother would always tease you, saying you should just marry him if you were that infatuated with him. You would then get upset at her accusations, claiming that you just admired him and his feats.

Who wouldn’t admire a god who fought for the freedom of the people of his nation?

“Sorry, coming through!” A man shouted as he passed you, carrying a stack of wooden planks on one shoulder. “Excuse me, pardon me! I have to get this to the Anemo Archon!”

The way these people spoke… you could’ve sworn that you’ve heard this accent before. You were inclined to believe that you were just being, as Diluc would say, “delusional” again, until a familiar voice caused all of your thoughts to turn to static.

“Let me help you,” A calm, boyish voice said.

The wind began to carry the wooden planks, and the people around you stopped whatever they were doing. They all muttered in excited voices, and as soon as you craned your neck to get a look at whatever it was that they were fussing over, you felt your heart drop to your stomach.

There was Venti, adorned in quite revealing white garments. Teal, glowing markings occupied his chest and thigh. The ends of his braids were also glowing, and bright, snow white wings stretched out behind him elegantly. His striking eyes seemed calmer, more relaxed than usual, and his lips were pulled up into a sweet smile. A cecilia with golden leaves was placed loosely in his hair.

His entire presence commanded heavenly respect, and you couldn’t help but assume that he was an angel sent directly from Celestia. Or maybe the human manifestation of a dove, sent down to bless the people.

“Lord Barbatos!” The man from before shrieked in surprise. “You needn’t worry yourself with this trivial matter, please just rest! You’ve done enough for us already! We are eternally grateful.”

It felt as if the air got knocked out of your lungs… did you hear that correctly? Did that man just refer to Venti as Barbatos? The Anemo Archon?

“Nonsense,” Barbatos chuckled. “I want to help you. Mondstadt is my home too, after all.”

You were witnessing history in the making. Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, was helping with the rebuilding of Mondstadt. You watched in awe as the god helped carry a surplus of materials, claiming they weren’t heavy because the wind made them weightless.

The people flocked to help him, even if he dismissed them, because no one was going to pass up this golden opportunity of speaking with their archon. They talked and laughed with him, baffled at how their god acted just like a normal person. Could a god really be this… human?

Barbatos had no problem instantly calming the fears of his people and helping them feel comfortable around him. It felt as though he didn’t favor the praise and adoration they constantly gave him, but he still greatly appreciated it nonetheless.

You managed to hide amongst the crowds for most of the day, but when sundown came, that was when your whole world flipped on its head.

You shuffled through the crowds of people in the plaza, carrying a rather hefty supply of food crates. You were used to this, as you often helped Diluc carry wine to and from the Dawn Winery. You always had your work cut out for you.

As you set the crates down near a camp of construction workers, a gust of wind blew your hair around. You huffed, pulling your hair back in place.

“I’ve never seen you in Mondstadt before,” a playful voice interrupted the silence.

You whirled around, only to be greeted by Barbatos standing before you. Well, more like he was currently weightless, as his wings kept him afloat in the air.

“And that’s surprising, seeing as I know every single one of my children by name– but I don’t know yours.”

You suddenly understood why Venti’s accent was so unfamiliar to you. It was that of the early Mondstadters– an accent that only a few of the major clans still possessed in your era. You felt like a fish out of water, not knowing what to possibly say to him.

What could you say? You had just found out that Venti was the Anemo Archon almost a whole day ago, as well as the fact that you had time traveled back to the early days of Mondstadt.

“Hm? Shy are we? Don’t worry, I don’t bite!” He laughed, trying to liven up the tense atmosphere between you. When he noticed that you still weren’t saying anything, he grew embarrassed. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to bother you—“

You stopped him before he could leave. “Wait! Uh, I’m sorry, actually. You just surprised me is all… um- my name is (name).”

He smiled softly at you. “Sorry for startling you before. And (name), hm? Your accent sounds oddly familiar… you must be a Mondstadt native.”

Nodding in confirmation, you returned his smile. “Indeed, I am.”

He seemed to be lost in thought, as he was biting his lip in contemplation. He had never seen you in Mondstadt before, yet your accent was similar to the people around you. That, and you were fluent in the language of the nation.

He had known every one of his children by name. He had memorized their dreams and aspirations, their favorite foods, and their current hobbies. He chatted with his people daily, as if he was speaking to an old friend, and he made sure that everyone in Mondstadt was comfortable. When it came to foreigners, he ensured that they felt welcomed and safe.

As long as the wind would blow, Mondstadt would know peace, and it would stand as a safe haven to those living here. He would make sure of it.

He smiled at you once more. As he studied you, his cheeks began to flush pink. “You’re rather pretty, (name).” He told you, taking one of your hands in his.

You were beyond disbelief now. The Barbatos, or Venti, from your time wanted absolutely nothing to do with you, yet the Barbatos standing before you seemed to be rather infatuated with you.

He kissed the back of your hand, the touch of his lips sending a jolt of electricity through your veins. He was quite the charmer, wasn’t he? The divine being in front of you held a boyish smile as he giggled at your flustered expression.

“Until we meet again, lovely dandelion.” In one large gust of wind, he disappeared, leaving a trail of feathers in his wake.

You picked up one of the snow white feathers left behind by his wings, running your fingers over the base. It was extremely soft, like silk. You hadn’t even been aware that there was a smile on your face, nor the fact that your heart was beating abnormally loud in your chest.

You just hoped that he hadn’t been able to hear it too.

There was an old legend in Mondstadt– one of a stone arch located in the ruins of Decarabian’s old city. Whoever passed through the gate would be transported through time and wind up in another era.

This urban legend had only become popular in recent years, when a bard by the name of Venti had begun to roam the streets of Mondstadt.

By the way he talked, and his distinct accent that was a little hard to pinpoint but definitely sounded close to the other people of the city, you quickly deduced that he was a Mondstadt native.

The bard that you originally believed to be around sixteen years old, was actually way older. You didn’t know his exact age, only that he was old enough to drink.

After the first few months of his arrival to the city, you found that he wasn’t just any normal bard. The songs that he sang predated the current era, and although many hymns in the church did the same, his songs were ones that no one had ever heard of before.

He claimed to know every song in Teyvat— from the primordial era, to all the way in the future. He held an air of playfulness and mischief around him, as well as a deep sorrow that could only come from someone who’s lived for centuries. He was eccentric and charming, and you were always happy to serve him at Angel’s Share.

To meet someone with such a wistful, happy aura was a blessing. It could even be considered a rarity in a world filled with strife, even if the people of Mondstadt knew peace and solace better than anyone else in Teyvat.

However, he was oddly bitter towards you.

The people in the city had noticed it not long after his first visit to the tavern— the stoic, weirdly long stares he’d send your way, how he’d always frown whenever he caught sight of you, and how he’d always make minimal talk with you.

No matter how hard you tried to get on his good side, it was never enough. He harbored a sort of resentment towards you, and for the life of you, you could not figure out why. You had a pretty good memory, and you couldn’t remember ever meeting him on any of your travels to other nations, nor in Mondstadt before he showed up here a few years ago.

What was his deal?

You placed a mug of dandelion wine on the table he was currently occupying. He was previously out cold, and you swore he had memorized your footsteps, because as soon as you set the mug down, he woke up. You flinched at his piercing stare, sending him a fleeting smile.

“Hey, have ya heard?” A drunkard at a nearby table asked loudly, grabbing your attention. You failed to notice the way Venti stared at you longingly as you turned away from him.

“There’s this legend of a stone arch that lets you time travel if you pass through it.”

“Oh? Pray tell.” you were suddenly intrigued, joining in on the conversation the patron was having with one of his friends.

Usually, you didn’t entertain the drunkards’ stories. They were mostly full of utter bullshit, but this one sounded interesting.

“Yeah!” the man laughed as you walked over. “Jus’ a legend though. Doubt it’s for real.” He took another swig of his drink before handing you the empty mug. “‘Nother round, doll.”

You sent him a glare for the pet name but took the mug, rolling your eyes as he ogled you as you walked away. A moment later, a crash sounded behind you. You whirled around to see what was happening, only to see the drunk man on the floor and Venti standing above him.

There was a deadly fire in his eyes, one that you’ve never seen before. For a moment, you felt scared— scared of this innocent bard and the vision hanging at his hip. He said nothing as the drunkard scurried out of the tavern like a dog with its tail between its legs.

Diluc sighed behind you. “That’s the fifth time this week,” he said, taking the empty mug from your hands and running it under the sink. “That bard has got to get ahold of that ugly temper.”

You turned to your boss. “What? But…” you turned to look at Venti again, only to see him staring at you with a sorrowful expression. Noticing he had been caught, he quickly looked away, picking up his lyre and exiting the tavern in a hurry.

What in the name of Barbatos..?

“I know what you’re thinking,” Diluc muttered. “But whenever you’re around, he turns protective. Are you sure the two of you were never together?”

You stood there in a dumbfounded silence. You couldn’t wrap your mind around the situation, finding it so utterly incredulous.

“Positive…” you trailed off, wondering why in the hell Venti was acting this way.

You paused. “Wait a second– did you really just–”

Diluc smirked, “Did I what?”

You decided to let the matter go. Instead, you changed the subject, opting for something more interesting. “Have you heard about that legend? The one of the stone arch that allows you to time travel?”

Your boss shrugged. “I’ve heard of it. I don’t think it’s worth checking out, so erase that idea from your mind.”

As always, Diluc knew you too well. Perhaps it was because the two of you were childhood friends… you even thought of him as your brother. You pouted, “C’mon Diluc, wouldn’t it be cool if it was actually true? Think about it: time travel!”

“I’d say you’re delusional— more than you usually are.” He quipped, navigating around you to put the empty mug back on the shelf behind you.

You turned to him, leaning your back against the counter. “You’re so boring. What happened to the rambunctious guy I knew when we were kids?” You crossed your arms over your chest.

Once upon a time, before the passing of his father, Diluc was quite the troublemaker. One would always believe that Kaeya had been that way instead, but it was actually the opposite. You knew them better than anyone.

You knew that Kaeya was once a shy, easily flustered boy that tripped over his own words and preferred to stay quiet. Diluc had been the opposite, always causing trouble around the winery and roping Kaeya into his tricks.

Among the three of you, you were often the voice of reason. Kaeya, although hesitant, always gave in to Diluc’s antics. However, you were the one always shutting down the ideas and warning them that they’d eventually get caught— but you never ratted them out. You would happily say “I told you so” and smirk after they performed the walk of shame after receiving a scolding.

Often times, you found yourself missing those days, when everything had been simpler and the three of you were still close. Crepus’ death had changed the entire relationship between the three of you, going from siblings to strangers in just one night.

Despite the change, you maintained a good relationship with both of them, even if they didn’t with each other. It always stung a bit to see the two brothers have such a poor sibling relationship when it hadn’t always been that way. And despite the bomb Kaeya dropped on you both, you still regarded him as your best friend regardless of his background.

“He grew up,” Diluc answered, sending you a pointed look, “and so should you.”

The trek to Old Mondstadt was a little more taxing than you expected. It was a little farther from the city than you imagined, even if you could vaguely see the ruins from the top of the cathedral.

In short, it looked closer than it actually was, but you didn’t mind the walk. It only meant that you got to appreciate Mondstadt’s gorgeous scenery in full. It also made you realize that you haven’t been out this way that much. The most you’ve been to were the outskirts of Wolvendom.

Of course, you never traveled further into those woods… you knew the legends, heard the rumors about Andrius, a god who was alive during the Archon War in Mondstadt 2,600 years ago. He fought against Decarabian and helped the people of Mondstadt break free from the tyrant’s rule.

Now, his soul resided in the soil, and the spirit of the god was the supposed King of the wolves in Wolvendom. He was rumored to be fairly peaceful. He rarely attacked anyone unless they stepped foot into his domain first and challenged him to a duel.

Unfortunately for you, you had to cross through Wolvendom to get to where you needed to go. Thankfully, you only needed to cross through the outskirts of Wolvendom and climb up to the top of the cliff near Brightcrown Canyon.

You made it out of Wolvendom in one piece, though you were spooked a few times by distant howling, in which you almost considered going back to the city. However, you prevailed and eventually made it up the cliff.

The view of the city from the summit was one of the most beautiful sights you have ever seen in your entire life. The scenery, paired with the view of all of Mondstadt, took your breath away. To top it all off, the wind was blowing– as it always did in Mondstadt.

As long as the wind would blow, Barbatos would protect Mondstadt.

That was always what your mother told you when you were young. Of course, you believed her, and you knew that the whole of Mondstadt believed the same.

The moon was high in the sky now, bright and full of life. You turned a bit, just enough to see the dark outline of Celestia in the sky.

“The garden of the gods,” was what you heard some people call it. You didn’t know if that was true or not.

The stone arch was right on the edge of the cliff, standing tall for all to see. There were ancient markings carved into the stone— markings that you’ve seen before near the Thousand Winds Temple. You wondered just how old these markings could be, as well as the stone arch itself. Despite looking like it was on the brink of falling apart, this gateway was still standing tall and proud.

As if it were sensing your presence, a small whisper called out to you from the other side of the archway. It was almost inaudible, but were it not for the slowing of the wind, it would have gone unheard.

You stepped closer, placing a hand on the archway. The stone was cold to the touch, but as you began to step through it, the markings on the stone started to glow a faint silver.

“WAIT!”

Someone yelled out behind you. You whirled around, and the glow of the markings faded. The whisper that once called out to you was gone, and the wind had returned in its full glory.

Venti now stood before you, a little out of breath and his expression panicked. His eyes searched you for a moment, as if relishing in the fact that you were standing right before his eyes. You’ve seen him do this every time you’re around him, and it never ceases to confuse you.

The two of you did not know each other. You have hardly even talked. Why was he constantly looking at you this way? Oh, what you would give to receive all the answers to your questions.

He was silent for a moment, and you patiently waited as he collected himself. He took a deep breath, and his expression grew firm. “Whatever you do, do not pass through that archway,” he said, his tone stern.

Your brows furrowed in confusion. “Why? The rumors about this archway are just legends–”

“Just please listen to me, (name). Do not go through that archway and do not touch those markings.” The look in his eyes was pleading you to listen to him.

“We’ve barely even talked, how do you know my name?” You questioned, crossing your arms over your chest. You were beyond confused now. “And whenever I get close to you, you glare at me like I’ve fucked up your entire life… seriously, what is going on? What have I ever done to you?”

Venti flinched a little, a guilty expression crossing over his visage. He looked away in embarrassment. “It doesn’t matter, it’s all ancient history…” he muttered, too quiet for you to hear.

“What?” you took a step closer to him.

He cleared his throat, “I said you didn’t do anything… I just…” he let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head. “Just please promise me you won’t go through the archway. If you go through, you’ll end up in a different era, just like the legends say… but you won’t be able to return home unless you cross back through the archway at the exact same time that you entered.

“The gate only opens once every one hundred years. If you cross through and don’t pass back through in twenty-four hours, you’re trapped there forever. And you can never return home.”

You stood there in shock. How did Venti know so much? It was as if he had witnessed it himself, though you doubted he did.

It was just a legend… right?

You scoffed. “It’s a stone archway… where could it possibly lead?” You walked over and stuck your hand through.

“DON’T!” Venti screamed, lurching forward to grab your arm before you could reach through the archway.

“Let go of me!” you yelled, prying his hand off of your arm. “Don’t touch me!”

“I’m trying to save you!” he retorted, wrapping his arms firmly around your waist, and with an unknown strength that you never expected him to have, began to pull you away.

You struggled like a little kid against his forceful grip, prying at his hands and kicking your feet around as he lifted you up. “Save me from what!? A gate that leads to nowhere!?”

“From our future, you dumbass!”

As you successfully kicked his shin, he doubled back, instantly letting go of you. You stumbled forward, only to hit the ground harshly as a weight fell onto your legs.

“What future!?”

You looked back, only to see that you were alone, and there was no trace of Venti anywhere to be seen.

You hadn’t known the full history of the Windblume Festival before this… “trip.”

You had always known that it was a festival celebrating love and working on self reflection. You had never personally received a windblume during the festival— at least, not from a romantic standpoint.

It was a tradition for you and Diluc to give each other windblumes each year, with you giving him a cecilia (your favorite flower) and him giving you a windwheel aster (a flower favored by the Ragnvindr Clan). The two of you were practically siblings, and Crepus always treated you like his daughter before his untimely death.

Ever since Crepus’ death, you had a tradition of walking to his grave during the Windblume Festival and placing a bouquet of cecilias on his grave. It wasn’t his official grave, but rather one you made for him. He was like the father you never had, and you were the daughter that he always wanted.

Sometimes, Kaeya would tag along with you during that time. He would always stay silent, giving his own respects to the man who also took him in and raised him as his own son. But Diluc would never join you, and you had always known the reason why.

As the reconstruction of Mondstadt was happening right before your very eyes, a man with dark hair passed you, shouting orders left and right. He bumped into you, causing you to stumble a little. Immediately, he whirled around, grabbing your arm before you could fall.

“My dear lady, I am so deeply sorry,” he said worriedly, his aristocratic tone all too familiar to you. You’d heard this type of accent before… but where?

“Are you alright, my dear?” he asked, holding you by the shoulders. He looked genuinely sorry, and you nodded hesitantly. “No, a silent answer won’t do… I need a verbal response to make sure you’re okay.”

This man was definitely making an impression on you. With his mindful manners, grace and elegance, and deep compassion. He was doing the bare minimum, and you would’ve fallen for him if it weren’t for the fact that he looked a little… too familiar.

You’ve seen this man before, you were sure of it.

“I-I’m alright, sir. Trust me.” You reflected his formalness right back at him. It was only right to do so.

He smiled a brilliantly charming smile. “Wonderful. Be careful now, My Lady. This year’s Windblume Festival will be quite the rage—“

“Lawrence!” Another man shouted.

A wave of shock hit you all at once. The man standing before you was the ancestor to the Lawrence Clan. The same Lawrence Clan that ruled over Mondstadt 1,000 years ago and enslaved Vennessa and her people. The same Lawrence Clan that continued the cycle of tyranny that Barbatos worked so hard to break. Eula’s clan. One of the oldest, original aristocratic families of Mondstadt.

You suddenly felt sick. But this man didn’t seem like the other Lawrence Clan members that you’ve met. This man seemed different, and you considered that maybe the evil had prospered after this man’s time.

“My apologies, I must go,” The Lawrence Clan ancestor left with a chaste kiss to the back of your hand, a small smirk following after.

You visibly shuddered. You didn’t find that man attractive anymore, and you’d rather keel over than experience him kiss your hand again. You usually weren’t one to judge others based on your first meeting or their background, but something about him being the ancestor to the Lawrence Clan just didn’t sit right with you.

Of course, you knew that not all of the members of the clan were terrible people– Eula being a great example –but the majority were. You made a mental note to watch your back for the time being, even if your gut was telling you that this man was not the cause for the Lawrence Clan’s poor actions.

Turning on your heel, you decided to pay a visit to where Crepus’ grave would be if you were still in your own era. You made quick work to leave the bustling city, weaving around people carrying boxes of wreaths made of flowers, and layers upon layers of fabrics. They were most likely decorations for the festival.

You hadn’t expected the land to look so different. It looked more barren than you knew it to be, more lonely, relaxed, and less populated. The terrain of Mondstadt was vastly different from what you knew it to be. Of course, lands changed with time due to various factors, but it never changed this fast.

The culprit for the immense change in recent years had been none other than Spark Knight Klee, an adorable little girl that the Knights of Favonius all watched over since her mother, Alice, was currently away on business. Klee was prone to disaster, as was a teenage boy by the name of Bennett, but the two carried different forms of disaster.

Bennett’s was in the form of bad luck and misfortune. Klee’s was in the form of pure chaos and destruction due to the bombs she created on the daily. Her impact on the land caused Mondstadt’s landscape to change so much that the cartographers had to redraw maps for the Knights every few weeks.

Right before your eyes was a Mondstadt completely untouched, with smoother cliffs and purer water sources. There was a surplus of trees and boar too.

From what you gathered so far, it had been a year since Mondstadt gained its freedom from the tyrant, Decarabian.

One month was spent with Barbatos terraforming the land and making it habitable for his people. Five months were spent mourning the losses of the rebellion and retreating towards Cider Lake to find a place to settle down. The other six months were spent rebuilding the city and healing from the scars that were left on the nation. That’s when the Windblume Festival was created, honoring those who had fallen during the rebellion.

The months following were filled with Barbatos’ helpful hand guiding the people and making them happy again after years of sorrow. And that led to now, a year and a half after the events that changed Mondstadt forever.

The land near the present day Dawn Winery was completely different from how you remembered it to be. There was no Dawn Winery yet, and the area was covered in trees. A few small houses lined the outskirts of the forest; houses that were still presently standing in the future.

A flood of memories washed over you as you reached the bank of the river– memories from your childhood. Memories of fishing here with Crepus, where he had taught you how to bait a hook, and when he would celebrate every time you successfully caught a fish.

Memories of stargazing here with Diluc every Summer, when the night sky was so clear that you swore you could see the whole of the galaxy. Afternoons spent here with Kaeya, watching as the sky filtered from brilliant blues to striking oranges and pinks, laughing together as you both skipped stones and relished in your youth.

Mornings spent with Jean, helping her improve her swordsmanship and denying her wishes for you to join the Ordo because of how naturally adept you were with a sword.

Sometimes, Jean would pull you out here at night just to stargaze, and sometimes the both of you would go swimming in the river with nothing but your undergarments on. You’d try your best to stay quiet and not get caught by the occasional knight patrolling the area, but Jean’s hands on your body never failed to make you a bit noisy.

You were eighteen, maybe nineteen, back then.

You greatly missed the golden years of your life, when everything seemed simpler, and all you had to worry about was impressing the girl of your dreams. Little did you know at the time, but you had done that already.

You’d give anything to go back and change what happened between you… to tell her your true feelings and avoid that fateful day in the rain. The day that changed the relationship between you two forever.

The smile adorning your lips faded. You missed Jean very dearly… but you couldn’t go back and change the past.

Kneeling beside the river, you began to quietly sob. You had a chance to go back to any time period, and it just so happened to be this one. Why couldn’t it have been that day in the rain, when you and Jean called it quits and broke each other down to nothing. You’d give anything to go back and take back everything you said that day.

Yet… you ended up here. Directly after the Archon War ended.

If you had the power, you would cross through that gate once more, only to cross through it again and hope you landed on that day in the rain.

A sudden idea formed in your head, along with a startling revelation.

You only had five hours left to cross back through that gate, or else you were stuck here for the rest of your life. With a newfound panic running through your veins, you hurried back to the city to keep better track of your time, and to hopefully draw your mind away from painful memories.

An hour remained before the gate closed for another one hundred years, and you were currently entertaining the head of the Lawrence Clan and his sister.

When you had returned to the city four hours prior, you were hellbent on finding something to snack on and maybe swipe some sort of souvenir to bring back to Kaeya, when the Lawrence Clan’s ancestor spotted you and demanded you join him and his sister for a few rounds of drinks.

Ever the alcohol enthusiasts that you knew Mondstadters to be, you caved and decided to join them just for a little while. A “little while” turned into four hours as you downed drink after drink, your tolerance so high that you could withstand all the alcohol.

You were by no means an alcoholic, and you always managed your liquor quite well, but Mondstadt was known for its wine, and the people practically had wine and beer flowing through their veins. You would not be able to call yourself a true Mondstadter if it were not for how high your tolerance to alcohol was.

Amidst the festivities, more of the townspeople joined in, uncasking wines and sharing them graciously amongst each other. The homey-ness of the atmosphere and the bright lanterns hanging from above your head provided you with a sense of familiarity and comfort.

This was Mondstadt.

Peaceful, familiar, comforting, relaxing, and free.

You were glad to know that Mondstadt had not changed a bit over the years. Even in the past, it was the same old city you knew– the same old country you were born in and loved with all your heart. Your father’s city.

A sudden gust of wind rattled through the plaza, prompting the townspeople to laugh in pure joy and bliss. Next to you, Lawrence (you decided to only refer to him by his last name), raised his mug of wine high into the air.

“To the Anemo Archon!”

The rest of the people followed after, and so did you. With a brilliant smile on your face, you raised your mug of beer. “To the Anemo Archon!”

It really was like you never truly left.

Halfway through the last hour, you could tell that time was ticking. You had to leave immediately, or else you would never see your friends or family ever again.

You’d never get to witness another Windblume Festival or Weinlesefest with the people you dearly loved, you’d never get to see Klee’s magnificent smile or help Bennett out with another commission. You’d never get to challenge Fischl to another game of TCG or be there to welcome Collei home from Sumeru. You’d never get to prepare another drink in the tavern or listen as bards filled the tavern with lively music and got the patrons to sing as loud as they could. You’d never go stargazing again with Kaeya, or go out drinking again with Eula on a night off. You’d never get to help Razor with his reading or writing, or have a daily chat with Sara in the morning as she clocked in at Good Hunter.

You’d never get to challenge Amber to a game of Pile ‘Em Up during Ludi Harpastum, or present a brilliant bouquet of cecilias as an offering to the huge statue of Barbatos towards the end of the Windblume Festival while Kaeya joked that you were a show off. You’d never get to send Jean another envelope of dandelion seeds every Spring whenever you took your annual trip to the Dandelion Sea.

…You’d never get to witness another one of Venti’s performances in the plaza underneath his own statue.

You didn’t realize just how much you cherished everything until this moment, when you were about to lose it.

“Why the frown? It’s hardly the time to be sad when others are celebrating!” A joyous voice brought you out of your stupor. Next to you was none other than him, the Anemo Archon. His smile widened as you met his eyes.

The townspeople greeted him as if he were an old friend, and he quickly returned the gesture, swiping a glass of dandelion wine and taking a lengthy sip. “Ah! This year’s Thousand Wind Wine is delicious!”

Thousand Wind Wine?

“Please join us in the festivities, Lord Barbatos!” someone jumped up, offering him another glass of wine.

He eagerly took it as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. “Why thank you! However, I have some urgent business to attend to. As soon as I return, I will be more than happy to join all of you for a multitude of drinks!”

The people cheered and threw praises his way. He pulled you closer to him, “Hold on tight,” he muttered. You did as told as he flapped his wings and took off into the air.

You held back a screech as you screwed your eyes shut and clutched onto him tighter. If it were not for your fear of heights, you would’ve been panicking over something completely different: the fact that you were currently being held in the Anemo Archon’s arms as he flew through the sky.

He chuckled, “I’m a safe flier, I promise. I won’t drop you.”

The moment he placed you back onto the ground, you let out a sigh of relief that you didn’t realize you were holding in and collapsed to the ground. “If anyone had told me that the Anemo Archon was going to take me for a flight, I never would’ve believed them.”

Barbatos laughed heartily, holding out a hand for you to take. Under the light of the moon, he was practically glowing. Your breath got caught in your throat as you stared at his ethereal form.

This was the angelicity of a god.

You took his hand, his skin soft to the touch. He brought you back onto your feet effortlessly. As soon as you gathered your bearings, you glanced around. You were right where you wanted to be: by the stone arch, and with only a few minutes to spare.

Turning to Barbatos, you sent him a quizzical look. How had he known?

He smiled, though you found that it did not reach his eyes. “I hear every whisper amongst the wind, every prayer to my name, every tip in the balance…” he trailed off. You could sense there was something else he wanted to add to that, but didn’t.

“I knew you weren’t from this timeline from the beginning.”

So he had known all along… but how? You surmised that it was because nothing escaped the eyes of the gods. Or maybe it was exactly as he said– that he could hear every little thing along the wind.

“So you know, then…” you sighed heavily. “I’m sorry for causing a disturbance, Lord Barbatos. I never meant to-”

His smile broadened as he gently shushed you. You never expected a god to be this kind, nor this patient. He truly lived up to the legends that circulated around the city in your era. He took your hand into his, squeezing it lightly.

“There’s no need to apologize, (name).” His voice was soft as he spoke, as if he were talking to an upset child. “I assume you landed here in the first place because of something to do with me…” His expression turned to a guilty one.

Your brows furrowed. “Something to do with you?” you asked curiously.

He nodded solemnly. “I am the one that is supposed to be guarding this gate, to ensure that no one ever passes through ever again. Yet… since you are here, that means my future self has failed at this job. I failed to protect a citizen of Mondstadt…”

He looked to be on the verge of a breakdown, but before he could completely lose his composure, he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. A moment later, it was as if he hadn’t been worried in the first place. He guided you over to the gate.

“I still have a chance to save you. Go, before it’s too late.”

As soon as he let go of your hand and bid you a small farewell, promising to remember you in the future once you returned to your current era, you placed a hand on the archway and watched as the markings engraved into the stone glowed a bright silver.

You’d be going home, back to your friends and your family– and a timeline where Venti hated you. You stopped suddenly, pausing as you opened your eyes and glanced back at the image of Barbatos. He was waiting, wanting to make sure you returned safely to your own time.

You glanced at the city, at where the newly built settlement was thriving and teeming with people. You took the small souvenir you grabbed for Kaeya out of your pocket– a keychain with a windwheel aster engraved into the stone. When your eyes landed on this in the plaza hours ago, you knew you had to get it for him. It was perfect, since he was always losing his keys and never had anything attached to them to make them stand out.

“I’m sorry,” you muttered, pressing a kiss to the cold stone, before tossing the keychain through the archway, along with the note you had written out for him describing the gift and why you found sentimental value in buying it for him.

You watched as both the keychain and the note disappeared, landing on the other side of the archway– your era.

You clutched onto the last remaining thing you had of your era: the ring that Jean had once given you when you were fifteen. The one with a cecilia and dandelions carved into the inside.

“Please don’t go looking for me.”

Venti gritted his teeth together as he gripped tightly onto the letter in his hands. Tears cascaded down his cheeks. He had lost you. Again.

And now, the last remnants he had of you was a small note that wasn’t addressed to him. He dug his fingers into the grass underneath him, choking out a few sobs that he had been holding in for way too long now.

Why did this keep happening to him? Every time he thought he had gotten you back, you’d leave again, just like the very first time. Were the two of you fated to keep playing this game? To keep running through the motions of cat and mouse, as Venti suffered the after affects while you completely forgot about all of it?

He hadn’t meant to cross through that gate all those years ago, and had he known that it would bring him this much pain, he wouldn’t have done it. He would’ve stayed with Istaroth. Digging his nails into the dirt, he couldn’t help the self deprecation that took over his mind and body.

Why hadn’t he heeded Istaroth’s warning? Why hadn’t he listened and just stayed behind like she told him to do?

“Curiosity killed the cat,” that was the saying. But in this situation, there was no satisfaction to bring it back.

His heart grew heavy as he waited yet again to see you pass through that gate. To see you return with no ounce of remorse in your expression, just like you had done countless times before.

He angrily brushed his tears away and waited, staring out at the first signs of morning light that crept up over Falcon Coast. The redness of his cheeks and his eyes did not go unnoticed by you as you stepped through the gate, staring at him with that stoic expression that you always gave him.

He met your eyes, watching as they began to water and your lip began to tremble. This time must’ve hurt way more than the others. You had never returned with this kind of reaction before, startling him.

You said nothing as you stood there, clutching a feather in your hand. He swallowed thickly, recognizing that feather anywhere. It was the one he always gave to you, and the one you always returned with. Except this time, there was also a keychain in your hands– made out of gold and shaped into the anemo sigil.

Suddenly, a wave of new memories flooded his brain, and as soon as he made eye contact with you again, he knew that you had found out. The memory of him telling you passed by like a flash in his mind, and his frown deepened.

How could things have ended the same way once again?

There was a silent agreement between the both of you as you sent him a curt nod and took the note that was crumpled in his fist. He watched as you retreated back to the city, his vision blurring with another set of tears.

He would never get used to this pain, and he knew you wouldn’t either. But the pain he felt every time you left him was insurmountable.

Wiping away his tears, he watched as the sun continued to rise over the horizon. The two of you would meet again one day, maybe in a timeline where you didn’t leave him and the two of you lived happily together, relishing in the peacefulness of Mondstadt– the nation the two of you once worked hard to build.

Maybe next time, you wouldn’t be returning like this, like a stranger.

notes: yes it was the og cryo archon that barbatos first met upon entering celestia. it was originally going to be the heavenly principles, but then i changed it midway thru writing.

can’t catch me now by olivia rodrigo is the song that represents this fic the most. like, that is exactly the theme im going for with this fic, and u guys will see that in the last chapter when the ending is finally written.

(shhhh no i totally didnt already write the ending in this chapter. there will be a more descriptive ending in chapter 3 that will make more sense than the one ive already put in chapter 1.)

#genshin impact #genshin #genshin venti #venti x reader #genshin x reader #angst #diluc ragnvindr #kaeya alberich #jean gunnhildr #zhongli #time travel au #old mondstadt era #npcs for plot purposes #— thus always to tyrants 🪴

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