Chapter Text
The riot leader in front of us was terrified. We were all locked in this little room with him. Ningguang tried as best he could to negotiate.
But it wasn't really progressing. Venti next to him clicks his tongue on his puck and mutters a curse.
"A problem? I said softly, avoiding annoying Lady Ningguang.
-This discussion is pointless.
-Why, then ?
-Talking with just one person will never change the mindset of other people. He replied, turning towards me.
Venti was right, he had just hit a flaw in our plan. We rushed headlong and omitted this important detail. Lady Ningguang had thought that if Clitopho was on our side the other partisans would follow us. But no, there would always be those who would create another alliance to kill vampires. Under unintentional intimidation, Clitopho quickly agreed to the words of our contract. But we all understood, he still didn't agree with us. Ningguang got up from her chair after signing and walked over to us, a displeased look on her face.
We didn't even need to talk to her as we already knew what she was going to tell us. It wasn't good, it's not going to work.
Venti, Ganyu, Hu Tao and I brought up the rear of the blonde. Clitopho also came forward and opened the French window of his balcony. Standing on the concrete, we looked down at the battle that was taking place. There was blood everywhere but also corpses. The sound of screams and gunshots echoed horribly. We also heard tears, torture but also laughter. We all sigh a little uncomfortably and Clitopho straightens herself and takes a microphone to hear her speech.
“My dear comrades! I have good news to tell you. With my dear friend Lady Ningguang we reached an agreement!”
Everyone stops the fight, surprised by Clitopho's announcement. All the revolutionaries stared at their leader waiting for the rest of his speech.
“From today on, we humans will work with vampires. This peace, built in an ideology of solidarity and the future, will allow us to find our balance. I thank you all here for your fight, but I must tell you that what we did was a serious mistake. Vampires are the light of our life that allows us to live. Oh mighty divine, forgive us for our stupid sin. We should never have soiled our hands with their blood. Oh archon! have mercy on us humble sinners.”
He talks nonsense. His words have no meaning and ramble, making his words incomprehensible. Venti steps forward, taken aback by Clitopho's words. Probably the most disconcerted as a deity. But it is blocked by Ningguang's arm.
“Ningguang! What he says makes no sense! We must stop him! He said.
-No Venti lets him speak. »
Venti looks at her disoriented but he says nothing more and moves back next to me.
“Oh poor fisherman! Pray to the archons to save us! »
The archon frowns, clicking his tongue again. Hu Tao awkwardly adjusts his position and Ganyu looks away equally uncomfortably.
Until one of the leaders who had attacked Venti several weeks ago grabbed his gun and shot the speaker. Immediately, Ganyu grabs his jacket pulling him back. He screams in agony, even though he is simply hit in the arm. The humans below get angry, start shooting again and insult Clitopho.
“Someone needs to go and talk to them to try to calm them down. Ganyu suggests.
-Lady Ningguang, go ahead! Said Hu tao
-No, it's not a human who should speak, it won't change their point of view. It has to be a vampire who makes a speech that touches them. Because this vampire will represent the unity that unites us and the future. Ningguang replied.”
Everyone turns to Venti which was our best choice. He looks at us with surprise.
"What no ! They're going to jump in to kill me! They're killing hundreds of vampires an hour and you think they'll listen to me?? His voice was filled with panic.
-Yes because you are the archon anemo, a vampire deity. I'm sure you'll find the right words to change their minds. Ningguang retorts again.”
The archon opens his mouth but no sound comes out, slightly dazed.
“I don’t have a choice anyway, right? He asks, sighing.
-Please Venti. Lady Ningguang begs. »
The vampire tenses but gets up again. Instead of staying behind the railing as Clitopho had just done, he climbs it. It was totally exposed, any shooter could aim easily. Venti sighs a little uncomfortably. He rearranges his feet and watches the fight. Then he gathers his powers creating a mini tornado calling out to everyone. Venti does not use a microphone, using the wind to carry his voice.
"That's enough! he exclaims.”
The incessant shooting of bullets stops and they all look at Venti. Even more annoyed at being bothered by a vampire, they raise their weapons at the archon. But with a wave of his hand, Venti summons a wind that makes them let go of what they have in their hands.
“You honestly think that killing hundreds of vampires, including innocent people, will honor the death of Grave Lune? Expresses Venti. No! Grave Moon would never have wanted that!
-Oh shut up, you dirty monster, how can you talk about Grave Moon when it’s your race who killed him!”
Venti starts before continuing:
“How dare you use the term race after all these years?! I agree with you, Grave Moon should never have died, like all those innocent people who died. The disease that affects us vampires, this horrible corruption is killing the planet. It is no longer a question of species but of time. How do you allow yourself to swear at us? While we have always helped you, protected you, we fought for you humans and we mentioned this peace. Centuries, no millennia have passed where you have killed each other! How can you massacre us like this when the first vampire to be corrupted dates back to 1968! It’s not even 60 years ago!”
The deity's voice cracks and he strikes a slightly out of breath pose. He placed his hand on his heart to emphasize the importance of these words.
“We know it’s a problem. This is why we created the antidote and why we are trying to limit the spread. But the problem doesn't come from these simple, innocent vampires, they have nothing to do with it. The problem comes from the archon Pyro and cryo which feed the corruption. »
As he said these words, he casually dropped his arm and bowed his head.
“Then it’s all your fault!” Screams a woman.”
A man starts running, gets his gun and shoots Venti. I move forward and while rotating my spear I deflect the trajectory of the bullet. Venti thanks me and I return to my seat. But as I turned, I saw out of the corner of my eye a bullet approaching Venti again. I don't even have time to move before the ball explodes on the balcony, splitting him onto the railing where Venti was standing. I extend my arm but the vampire's fall is faster. We all approach the edge in panic. Cradled in the middle of the void, the archon seems quite calm.
“I don’t want to see that,” Ganyu said, putting his hands in front of his eyes.
-It will make a nice crepe replied Hu Tao.
I click my tongue, shocked by the brunette's lack of respect.
But just as he was about to hit the ground, the wind wrapped around the archon's form, delicately setting him down. Venti leans on his right hip and breathes calmly. Despite the height, we had a very good view of the scene.
The leader who attacked Venti and then Clitopho comes forward and starts to get angry:
“Let’s Archons! You are nothing but good for nothing! You deities?! You don't give off any aura! You have as much strength as a normalis! There's no point blaming others!
-I don't blame others. I am Barbatos, archon anemo deity of freedom and hope and that's not just a long title for nothing. You want to see the difference between an archon and a normal vampire, I’ll show it to you.”
Venti takes a deep breath and exhales. At first, nothing happens.
Then, suddenly, an anemo circle erupted from the ground. The black blue night sky slowly changes color to a beautiful turquoise blue. The stars light up and connect, giving birth to constellations that were previously simply imaginary. Energy begins to slowly release from the flowers, from the corpses and from each tear. This glitter-like energy was accumulating in the middle of the sky. Everyone was mesmerized by the majestic spectacle that was happening.
Then the ball shatters into thousands of sparks. Unconsciously I reach out my hand to grab one, intrigued by the magic of this light. But when it comes into contact with my palms it cracks and I then express the voices of my brothers who have been dead for years now.
“Xiao how much have you grown! Said Menogias.
-We are proud of you! Indirias shouts to me
-Not really growing in size but you have become a real man. Retorts Bonacius.
-It's going to be okay Xiao, we love you. Bonasus whispers to me. »
I touch my cheeks and it's wet from my tears. I scan the others and see that it's the same for everyone. Below, ghosts of deceased children were running in the middle of the field. It was wonderful. And after a few minutes the anemo energy dissipates. Despite the hundreds of people present, no one utters a single word, everyone is paralyzed. The wind wrapped around its owner lifting him slightly. Her hair and eyes shine and her clothes dance to the rhythm of the wind. He is a divinity yes. A magnificent deity.
“That’s the difference between a vampire and an archon. He said, putting his feet down gently. Now that everyone is calm, I will tell you how the corruption was born. I'm not particularly proud of it but it was a bit because of me that it was born. Archon Pyro is of Mexican origin, she saw the massacre of her people, the Mayans by the colonists. She decided to take revenge during slavery. I was against it, for the sake of humans, but she absolutely didn't want it. We fought and years later she took revenge on our little sister the Tsarina. The Tsarina destroyed, sank into madness. And during the Second World War, Murata allied with the Germans. We were all against it but the last fight killed the archon hydro, electro and denro. The too disturbed balance was broken, at first we thought it would only affect us archons. But about fifteen years later, the first vampire became corrupted before multiplying.”
Venti pauses longer.
“Of course I didn’t go into details. But there. This is where it comes from and this is why I am asking you humans to ally with us. The fight will be tough and complicated. But it is by uniting that we will fight this scourge. Please, I ask you on behalf of all vampires, give us time and help us. »
The archon's words pierce us all. Venti was truly the best choice to speak. We all quickly go down to join the group at the bottom. Venti extends his hand to the leader who attacked him. And he takes her hand as a sign of peace. That's it, this horrible revolution is finally over. Some exclaim with joy, others start to cry with emotion. Hu Tao starts running and jumps into Venti's arms.
“Thank you Venti, thank you so much for everything.
-Venti, we told you, you really were the best choice. Said Lady Ningguang.”
Venti laughs slightly, a little uncomfortably, but he puts his arms around the brunette. It's risky, Hu Tao was leaving his blow totally exposed on the fangs of a vampire. Yet Venti did not react, he remained neutral and calm.
Then we heard applause.
“Oh how cute, dear comrades. Said Tartaglia.”
Venti's look changes and I recognize the redhead from last night's party. But the difference is that this time, he was accompanied. About forty men were behind him.
“So they are evil vampires. Said Venti with difficulty.
Hu tao releases Venti and we line up in defense.
"What do you want ? I said coldly.
-Me ? Oh I just want to have fun. Oh Barbatos you cut it a bit short during our last meeting. How unfortunate, I would have liked to talk to you a little longer”
And before we can even react he rushes towards us summoning two blades of water in each of his hands. The henchmen behind him started running too. We fought back almost immediately. But despite the fact that he was older, we were at a disadvantage with all our injuries. Each group of around twenty people fought around ten fatuis. Venti, Jean, Diluc, Hu Tao and I fought Tartaglia.
But Tartaglia ignored us, mainly fighting Venti. I throw myself at a blade and intercept it, Diluc summons a fire eagle and tartaglia is hit. But the redhead quickly stood up, slipping under his arms under his burn. He recalls his weapon and the blades clash again. It was quite repetitive and the giant left no openings.
Until finally Jean touches him and he is propelled against a wall. Around ten henchmen arrive and we find ourselves surrounded. Then a purple lightning strikes the body of the fatui, everything becomes electric and before we can even react the redhead reappears and knocks us all to the ground. My body rolls and I hit a rock, ringing me slightly. I cough up blood trying to get up. I feel dizzy and mumble a curse. I look up and see the redhead in the middle.
Electric arcs were created, mixed with the water, the electrocution was fatal. Diluc gets up and calls back his firebird. But this time, Tartaglia easily avoids him, appearing behind him to shoot him down.
The henchmen chuckle and we feel humiliated. All unable to get up paralyzed by pain. Yet only one person succeeds: Venti. A circle appears around him. In its center was the anemo logo and messages in a language I don't understand were written circularly. Gusts of wind spring from the sides and as sharp as a blade, all the minions are knocked to the ground. Tartaglia is hit and he is forced to retreat. He catches up with his blades but an eagle arrives and hinders the fatui. He gives the bird a violent blow which disorients it a little. When the bird finally leaves, he bursts into fits of laughter.
“That’s what I want Barbatos! Show me your power!
-And kill everyone! That’s not what I want Childe! We are tired! I know what you want but I refuse to let people die for it! I promise you that one day you will have your fight.”
The redhead laughs even more, then he looks at us all. And he continues:
“Oh so that’s the archon anemo and his friends! What joke !"
He throws himself at Venti who loses his balance and falls on his back. Tartaglia is above him, one of his blades under his chin.
“Tell me where he is!” Barbatos! Tell me! Does he threaten
-I will not tell you ! »
Tartaglia clicks his tongue laughing a little less then he raises a gun on us and starts to make the archon bleed. We paralyze ourselves not wanting anyone to get hurt.
“Well then we’re less smart. Tell me."
Venti frowns and uses a blast of wind to disarm the redhead. Then he teleports reversing the positions. Now Venti above him, weapon in hand, the tall man looks a little less smart.
“What does it feel like now that the roles are reversed? Go away, leave us alone and there will be no more deaths.”
Tartaglia tenses before finally raising his hands.
“Comrade, relax, we can talk.”
Venti sighs and seems to relax.
“Leave immediately. And we'll talk more about it, Childe.
-Okay Barbatos.”
The archon gets up and moves away, leaving Tartaglia to get up. The two stare at each other and the redhead leaves, calling his troops.
Last shots are fired before the fatuis leave.
“Master Tartaglia why?
-No questions, do it! Orders Tartaglia »
But before leaving Tartaglia turns to us and says:
“It’s not over, believe me. »
The archon holds the other vampire's gaze until they finally leave. And when the threat is finally gone, some run towards the divinity while I walk quietly.
_____
Venti✨
_______
I see Hu Tao start running towards me and throw himself into my arms. I barely catch up with her and we laugh together.
“Thank you Venti very much.”
I don't answer but smile against his neck. She trusts me and inside it made me happy. Finally a breakthrough, allying humans and vampires is only the first step but a big one. I close my eyes and let go of the brunette. Quickly I am surrounded by the entire group from the fight against the 12th executor. Jean approaches me and places his hand on my shoulder.
“Are you okay? she asks. »
I take a deep breath not knowing what to say.
“Yes, it’s okay, don’t worry, Jean.”
Non, it is not OK.
“The fight was difficult, didn’t you get close to your limits? Diluc offers me this time.”
Yes I exceeded my limits.
For months now, if not years.
Even the slightest breath hurts my lungs.
“No, don’t worry, Diluc, everything is fine, I’m in great shape! I said, forcing a laugh.
-Are you sure you’re okay Venti, are you a little pale? Worries Ganyu »
Non, it is not OK.
Since I took that ice stake almost 80 years ago, my condition has been getting worse.
I can't take it anymore.
"Ah good ? Oh I’m just a little tired that’s all, no need to worry.”
I smile big trying to convince them. I hold out my arms as I move forward quickly.
“Okay, let’s go!” We have to see how the others are doing!”
Everyone follows me somewhat uncomfortably. I look at them laughing and they catch up with me. We move slowly to where the henchmen attacked. But as I turn I am horrified by the massacre before my eyes. Blood was everywhere and a burning smell was in the air. This feeling of déjà vu makes my head spin. And quickly I still feel like I'm in the middle of the bullets on the battlefield. I swallow hard and my head starts to feel dizzy.
I see a shadow pass in the corner of my right eye and I panic a little. My movement is quick and I prepare to launch an anemo attack. This shadow seems familiar to me, even drawing Xiao. I lower my arm letting a gentle breeze caress her hair. I look away embarrassed by my gesture. I slowly feel a cold coming over me. I hide my shiver but Xiao looks at me skeptically.
“Venti are you okay? He told me.
-Yes, why wouldn’t it work? »
I tilt my head and our eyes meet. It's rare for a human to have gold eyes. And every time he looks at me I feel like he's reading me like an open book. I do not like it.
“You have frost on your face. he replied to me
-What?"
I touch my cheek and feel a patch of frost. My body paralyzes and I feel my world shaking. The horizon shifts and I feel corruption seeping through my veins. I close my eyes, trying to breathe but my legs give out and my body tips over. I moaned slightly trying to stop everything. I hear whispers telling me to do harm. I then think I feel the wind catch me and fall to the ground. Yet an arm wraps itself around my waist and I open my eyes in panic.
Again, our eyes meet but through the reflection of his eyes, I see the purple of mine. I open my dazed lips and close my eyes feeling his body petrify. He's scared and I feel it. I open my eyes again and feel reassured to see the green in the reflection of his. I move slightly behind them from hurting me and he doesn't protest.
I straighten my clothes, looking at everything but him. I run my arm across my cheek rubbing the frost until it's gone. My eyes spinning around at full speed looking for a distraction I ended up seeing Jean, Diluc and my friends helping injured humans. It touches me inside to see this mutual help. Finally...peace between humans and vampires. Better late than never as they say. Deciding to come back to Xiao, I try to formulate a few words but my tongue slips.
“Ahem uh...sorry...
-Are you corrupting yourself? he asks tactfully. »
I open my mouth but no sound comes out. A few seconds pass without me knowing what to answer. And with a courage that comes out of nowhere I try to say:
“Mhm..I..”
Finally I panic, I don't know what to say or what to do. I'm petrified, my veins are burning and I still feel the damn corruption inside. What should I answer? The truth ? Lie? Yes, I'm starting to get more and more corrupt. But more is needed. For now, this corruption is just internal. She can't hurt anyone.
“Don’t worry Xiao, it takes more than that to corrupt me. I try a little smile.
-Well then what was that?
-When I really exceed my limits my body becomes exhausted and I experience surges of corruption. But don't worry it's been really a lot lately. I’m going to rest, I promise.”
My gaze softens and my words come from the heart. It was the truth, I was exhausted. I was only half lying...
“Think of you Venti. He said to me with surprising tenderness.
His words touch me, how long has it been since I thought about myself? Years ? Decades ? Or centuries? I bite the inside of my lip nervously.
This hunter looks like me deep down.
And I hate it.
He knows what to say and how I am.
Xiao extends his arm and slides his fingers between mine to remove the weapon I stuck in my wrist. I flinch and let go of her, dropping her so that she falls into the ground.
“Yeah I really need some rest. I whispered.
-Yeah…"
A sharp pain invades me and my blood fills my mouth. I frown, squeaking slightly. I had just cut my lip. Xiao looks at me worriedly. It was a bit embarrassing for a vampire to cut himself with his canines.
“Have a problem?
-No, don’t worry.”
I raise my arms and try to quickly find something to change the subject. And by something or someone, I can see Hu Tao running towards us. At least it allows me to change the subject.
“What energy... Xiao mocks.
-Yes… It’s rare to see a human with so much energy.. I said, giggling.”
She arrives out of breath but gets up, giving us a big smile. This young girl really impresses me. She has boundless energy and a rare joie de vivre. Deep down, she too has her difficult past I suppose. Yet when we look at it like that, we absolutely won't think about it.
“So what are you two doing, just the two of you?!
-We ? Nothing special ? Xiao said.
-Oh come on! I'm not crazy, you're a little too close for people who don't do anything. !”
Xiao looks at me not really knowing what to do.
“I wasn’t feeling very well so Xiao helped me, sorry.”
I feel both of them looking at me intently.
Surprisingly, Hu Tao does not try to understand more. Thank you.. I wouldn't have felt like continuing further on the subject.
“There were a lot of injuries. I asked, trying to change the subject again.
-Yes a lot... we don't have the figures yet but a lot. Does she answer me?
A blank settles before Hu Tao excuses herself saying she still had bodies to count and starts running towards Ganyu again. Xiao and I look at each other in incomprehension and he starts to sigh. As for me, I can't help but laugh. Hu tao is truly special and sometimes even hazardous.
Xiao clears his throat and I look at him in surprise.
“Okay, I think I'll leave you and I'll check around to see if there's any more fighting.”
Ah lala.. Xiao.. still the fights huh? I let him go by just simply thanking him. Now alone, I finally feel my muscles relax. I feel the wind brush through my hair and gently wrap around my body. He was trying to reassure me. A smile slips onto my lips and I close my eyes. This black intoxicating me, I feel my body starting to slow down.
“Barbatos? »
I jump instantly, fear overwhelms me.
“Lady Ningguang? A problem ? I try to appear stoic.
-I suppose that tomorrow evening we will organize a party to celebrate this solidification and after tomorrow a day of mourning?
-Ah I... Yes yes I suppose.”
Ningguang talks to me about various things that, too tired to understand, I agree with for no real reason. Around 6 a.m., the sun begins to rise, forcing the vampires to return.
I lie to Ningguang that I'm going to help my friends get home so I can rest. On the way back, I don't come across Xiao and I must admit that I'm quite happy. I don't feel like a new confrontation.
Finally arriving at my apartment, I feel a certain nostalgia for my home in Germany. It's now been a few months since I left my real home. And even though China is the country where I grew up, Germany is my nation. Where my people, my children stay.
I go into my room still with all these ideas in mind, I open my closet, take some shorts and a t-shirt to take a shower to get rid of this smell of blood.
I pass in front of my mirror which I hide as usual with a sheet. I get out of the shower and get dressed. With these shorts, my archon tattoo on my thigh particularly stands out. Duller than hundreds of years ago, I don't pay any more attention to it.
My brain no longer thinks and my actions are automatic. Until I heard the rustle of the falling sheet. By reflex, I catch objects that slip from the sink. But when I place them on the marble, I meet the reflection of my gaze.
Immortality works a miracle.
If I would have been human, I would have been livid, with sunken cheeks and signs of exhaustion.
But the eternal youth that had made me his friend more than two thousand six hundred years ago had in no way changed my face.
Although, the emerald in my eyes shone less and less as the days went by. If I continue like this, I don't have much time left.
I know it.
But I can't give up everything now.
I must fight until the end.
I look at my hair and a knot in my stomach forms. Millennia had passed, and yet I still couldn't get used to this hair.
This black, the same as his.
Why him and not me?
I close my eyes, I shake my head. I grab the sheet and pass it in front of the mirror.
I go back to my room and lie down.
But sleep does not welcome me. A few hours pass and I try to force myself.
And yet nothing...
I finally decide to get up, my limbs exhausted.
I grab two bottles of wine and lean against the frame of my bed. I open the bottle amid its deafening noise. I put the bottle to my lips, alcohol flooding my mouth. I put my arm around my legs and press them against my chest.
That's where I was.
Ah...
Holy divinity eh...
The first bottle is quickly emptied.
Then the second
Then the third.
Until reaching the sixth grade.
I think back to that day, to my words that I improvised while standing on that railing. It reminds me of the horror of war.
Breed..
I hate this word.
Why after all these years does this word still exist?
There have been events that have marked history since the 1940s, so I have the impression that nothing has changed.
Freedom.
It took me centuries to have my definition of this word which is ultimately so complicated.
I sigh, sliding a little from my support. Tears start to form in the corners of my eyes. I hug my knees a little tighter and think about Xiao.
I felt strange around him, sometimes shy, sometimes energetic. This human is really strange. It has its share of mystery which I find very intriguing. I'm curious about his story and his personality. But then I have to keep a certain distance from him. He discovered more about me in two months than Jean did in a year.
I crawl over to grab my guitar and play a few chords. The notes form a melody and I begin to sing a few words.
Drunkenness makes me dizzy and with exhaustion I end up falling asleep with the guitar in hand.