Chapter 35: Fixing the Lyre

Venti was glad we were successful and greeted us

“Welcome back! Ah, this is the Holy Lyre! You managed to retrieve it! The pattern of flowing wind carved on the rosewood... and the strings still feel cool to the touch too. Oh, the memories...”

“What do you think, Venti? Can you summon Dvalin?” Jen asked

“Although this lyre is the real thing, I doubt that it's going to work. As you can see, the lyre has been through a thousand years of history. Its Anemo power has run dry. In this condition, you couldn't play music fit for even Diluc's tavern with it…”

“Bards fight to get on the stage of my tavern. Don't make assumptions!”

“Is that really important right now, Master Diluc!?” quipped Paimon

“And you — did you just borrow the Holy Lyre to play music for drunkards to hear?”

“Hehe” Venti laughed

“What do you mean "hehe"!?” Paimon was annoyed by Venti’s response

“Anyway, we won't be able to call Dvalin with it. The lyre itself is fine, but the strings… You're up, outlander!”

“Are you talking about me?” Lumine tilted her head wondering why Venti needed her

“Relax! It's not broken. It's just that the intensity of its Anemo power has greatly diminished. Lumine, do you still have Dvalin's Teardrop Crystal with you?”

“Yeah? I’m still keeping it.”

“Great! Try to use it on the Holy Lyre.”

“Let me give it a try.” Lumine infused the tear into the lyre and almost instantly the lyre got a brighter color as if it was in its prime

“It worked, as expected,” Venti said happily on the state of the lyre

“This youthful glow…” Jean said

“Praising yourself? Really?” Paimon quipped

“...I was talking about the Holy Lyre,” Jean said embarrassed

“Don’t worry Jean, we all know you’re beautiful.” I said and Jean turned red

Amber punched me at my side and made a pouting face “Ouch what was that for!?”

“Hmph!”

“Thanks to Lumine having purified the crystal, the Holy Lyre won't continue to lose power. That said, its power is far from replenished. It'd be great if we could get more tears.”

“We'll help,” Lumine said

“I’m with her.” I also joined

“How can we gather more?” asked Paimon

“I can surmise that Dvalin will already be crying… Suffering alone in some deserted place...”

“Dvalin…” Jean was saddened by Dvalin’s state and wished she could do more

“Poor baby…” said Paimon feeling the same as Jean

“This is not something that an Honorary Knight can accomplish alone. I will mobilize the rest of the knights to assist. When you get the Teardrop Crystal, please let Lumine perform the purification process.”

“Leave it to me.” Lumine was resolute to help end Dvalin’s suffering

Vent’s tension was rising when seeing all of our resolve “Heroes supporting each other and setting out on a journey together... How exciting! Lemme come up with a song for you...”

“Is that all you're going to do? Just sing?” said Paimon

“Wouldn't be much of a bard if I didn't now, would I?”

“Hmph. You're so cheeky... You deserve an ugly nickname. Oh, Paimon knows! From now on, you'll be known as "Tone-Deaf Bard"!”

…

Back in the Fatui Base

Many guards were seen injured and running around to tend to the wounded. A tall woman with pale skin, platinum-blonde hair, and light gray eyes is seen walking around. Some of her hair is tied into two rose-shaped buns at the back of her head. She wears a black earring on her left ear and a black mask that covers her right eye.

“What happened here…” The woman turned to the Cicin mage next to her

“We… We were attacked Lady Signora. Some intruders… came and took the holy lyre. Even the captain (Fatui Pyro agent) was killed…”

The woman named Signora was the Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, codenamed "The Fair Lady". She was irked by her subordinate's incompetence.

“Who were these intruders…” said Signora with irritated

The Cicin mage was scared by her superior’s fury “They… they were six of them, my lady. Jean the Acting Grandmaster, The Outrider of the knights, Diluc owner of Dawn Winery, a blonde outlander with a flying fairy, and the armored adventurer from the reports but he insists on calling himself a Kamen Rider…”

“Hmph… no matter this won’t obstruct our plans too much. We have what we want in the end. Keep an eye on the intruders. I want eyes on them at all times.”

“Ye-Yes lady Signora!” the Cicin mage scrambled to fulfill SIgnora’s orders

‘That armored… no she said he called himself a Kamen Rider. He only started only 2 weeks ago and he is already a wretch in our plans. His growth is alarming… he needs to be on surveillance.’ Signora thought being on guard for our hero

…

It is now the next day and we all gathered once again at Angel’s Share

“Good Morning~ everyone~ did all of you get a good rest,” said Venti greeting all of us

“Uah~ Paimon is still a little bit sleepy.”

“We are going to need to find more fallen tears of Dvalin to use the lyre. Venti, do you know where we can find more? I mobilized the knights to search for them but it is better if we have an area we can search”

“Hmm… I believe we find more in the four wind temples. Dvalin needed to go through there to gain his current power. So there might be a few tears that have fallen.”

“We are going back there again?” Lumine asked a bit annoyed

“This search reminds me of a feud I once had with the Fatui.” said Diluc

“Six months ago, a thief stole treasure from the East Temple of the Four Winds.”

“Whoa. What was it? A cup used by Barbatos?” Paimon was getting excited

“No. Although if such a thing existed, it would be very valuable. Among all the relics they managed to dig up, one particular object was very rare… It was a vial which contained the Anemo God's breath.”

“Relics come in every shape and form huh…”

“Anyone with an eye for fine art would like to add this relic to their collection. Once word got out, the Fatui started trying to seek it out as well. They've made tons of counterfeits that can be found everywhere. In response, I just bought every one I could find, irrespective of its authenticity. We're still at it now. I've bought more than two thousand fakes to date, and the Fatui are yet to find the real one.”

“Whoa. You guys are insane…” Paimon was amazed at the lengths Diluc went for

“So, it means that the real one must be out there somewhere on the black market, right? Hmmm... Paimon'll give you a discount on them if she finds any — cause Paimon's just great like that!”

“Sure, you can try to find the real one. I'll take what you find, even if they're fake. Once you're done, find me at the winery. I'll trade you a beer for every 20 you find.”

“That’s enough for story time we must go to find other fallen tears.” said Jean putting an end to the conversation