Chapter 38: Reunion

We headed back to Mondstadt and went to Dawn Winery where Venti seemed to be waiting for us while drinking through the winery’s barrels.

“Woohoo! Dvalin Protection Squad! Assemble!”

“Welcome back everyone, I'm glad you all have succeeded.”

“And who you have been going through my inventory it seems.” said Diluc a bit irritated

“Tehee!”

“...I’ll put it into your tab.”

“Well then, let's put our crystals together.”

We got our fallen tears and handed them to Venti

“Oh… The color of these crystals looks... muddy. Dvalin... You're going through so much pain...  ...Let's start purifying these crystals first. Please, Lumine.

Lumine nodded and started purifying the crystals. After a few minutes, all three crystals were purified

“It is hard to believe such a thing is possible, until you've seen it with your own eyes.” said Jean still amazed by the scene

“Interesting. It's like filtering wine. The process is... refreshing.” said Diluc

“I think we should have enough tears now. So next we… Use the crystal on the Holy Lyre like last time.” said Venti

“Let me give it a try…” Lumine dropped the crystals onto the lyre and it glowed, restoring its form. We can now feel the anemo energy revolving around it

“It worked!” Paimon rejoiced

“It seems completely different from before.” said Jean

“It’s beautiful…” said Amber

“The lyre's Anemo power seems fully restored. We should be able to use it now. It's all thanks to you, Lumine.” Venti thanked Lumine

“Now, where should we summon Stormterror?” Jean asked

“It must be away from the city, else there will be casualties should we fail. Perhaps here at the winery...”

“If the winery was destroyed, it's not something I couldn't eventually fix, but... I'd still rather not go through the hassle.”

“...” Jean was quite embarrassed that she did not thought about it

“The wind that blows at sea or in high places should be able to carry a bard's words far away. It's never going to work if the air is too dry or suffocating.”

“Paimon understands. Sea or high places, right? Then the best location to play the lyre would be…”

“A cliff?” Lumine giving options

“If you go east from Starfell Lake, there are mountains south of the beach.” said Diluc

“..Oh! You mean that beach you were snoring away on and Paimon had to wake you?”

“If you head to where the cliff juts out — that place is known as Starsnatch Cliff. What do you think, bard? Meets the requirements, no?”

“Lemme think... Starsnatch Cliff… Alright, let's do it there.``

“Very well. Then let's meet at Starsnatch Cliff when we are ready. Please don't be late.” said Jean

“Hee-hee! Yes, Ma'am!” said Paimon

“Yes! Master Jean!” said Amber giving a knight response

“Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to…”

…

Somewhere in the Abyss

Those humans want to cure Dvalin… I won’t let them!” said the Abyss Mage

“All I have to do is get rid of the lyre and that…”

“I’m sorry but that is as far as you go…”

“Who is there!” The Abyss Mage looked around but could not find anybody

“Aah!” a sword was suddenly pierced behind him and he slowly died turning to dust

“I have greater plans for that dragon…” A man in a cloak sheathed his sword and turned around to leave

“Be prepared Rider… You won’t get in the way of my plans soon…” The man disappears as he slowly blends in the shadows plotting against our Rider

…

Starsnatch Cliff

We all had to split up attending to our own businesses before heading to Starsnatch Cliff. Amber and I headed home and had a quick meal while she was asking about the Breaking Mammoth and how she also wanted to ride it. I promised her that sometime we would ride it together and she was excited for that day to come. After our meal, we both headed to Starsnatch Cliff and saw Jean and Diluc there waiting. Lumine and Paimon came as well after a few minutes

“Everyone is finally here.” said Diluc

“What a view…” said Paimon

“Lovely for a fated reunion, isn't it?” said Venti

“Well, we must be prepared for a fight.”

“Regardless of the outcome, things finally seem to be taking a turn for the better. Mondstadt has really been going through so much recently…” Jean said

“Huh! In the end, the solution to our problem was as simple as a traveler and a song.” Diluc said sarcastically

“I suppose the Knights of Favonius may have played a part in it too…”

“Oh, we get it, Master Diluc... Everyone, please step aside! I, the best wandering bard of the mortal world, shall begin my performance with the Holy Lyre.”

Venti went to the edge of the cliff and played a tune. The sound carried through the wind hoping it would reach Dvalin. Venti finished playing and we waited. After a few seconds, Dvalin came flying out beneath the cliff creating a gust of wind blinding us with grass and leaves momentarily. He hovered in front of Venti not pleased with seeing him

“You have come…” said Dvalin

“What has been done cannot be undone…”

Venti looked Dvalin in the eyes and said “If so, then why do I see sadness in your eyes? Sadness that speaks of your yearning for this song…”

“Grr…”

“They are... communicating...” said Jean

We all waited while Venti and Dvalin talked and I was alert when the Abyss Mage would appear. When I was looking around I noticed a black gem heading straight for Dvalin’s corrupted crystal

“Look out!”

The gem made contact with the corrupted crystal making Dvalin scream in agony. I was too late to stop it

“GRAAH!”

“Dvalin what’s wrong!?” Venti was alarmed by Dvalin’s sudden change Black lines grew along Dvalin and he began to emit a dark aura

“No! Tone-Deaf Bard!” Paimon was worried for Venti

We all came up to him and guarded him from Dvalin

‘What is this… this did not happen in the game’ I thought to myself as this was not what I was expecting

“Bar-Barbatos stay away so-something is-is wrong… GRAAH!” Barbatos flew away trying to fight whatever happened to him. Leaving us in dread of the unexpected events