"Wait up!" Yelled lumine, catching up with the two as they continue their way back, nearing the bridge to the city gates.

"So are we just going to agree and possibly help him steal a priceless artifact?" Commented paimon.

"Well we can't be sure that he'll resort to stealing it right away." Said lumine. "We can convince the sisters in the cathedral to see eye-to-eye with us on his plan."

Then atheer spoke his turn "That's if they'll even allow us to speak with them. Any mentions of this holy lyre would startle them. At best they'll just stay silent."

"Or at worse, They would want us to be silent!" Shivered paimon, still remembering their encounter with rosaria last night, her silent glare, even just memories of it, invokes any evil and mischief to just erupt from a person with sheer fear.

"I was going to say tell Jean, but that works too."

"Guys, I'm not saying that I want to commit a crime, but if this is truely our chance to save dvalin? Well, should we be too quick to judge."

They bantered a bit on what course of action; lumine was a bit insisting of following Venti while paimon was all too frightful of the consequences whether it was plausible or mere paranoia. Atheer was conflicted on which side he should pick.

As they made to the entrance, their thoughts were silence, or rather cancelled out- A wave of excited people exited the city as they were just entering it; From the young to the oldest, they shall share a sense of excitement that threatened to push the trio out of the way.

But thankfully they made it out by moving out of the way.

"What is going on?! Is a parade happening!" Said paimon.

With a confused mind, atheer walked to a man in the crowd and asked. "Hello sir, mind you tell where you and all of mondstandt are going?"

"Why the beach you've created of course!" The man replied.

Atheer eyes widen a bit by what the man said. "Um, thanks?"

The wave continued on with noises a plenty, until they all crossed and the loudness of their chatter faded away slowly. Though the citizens went out, the guards however stayed loyal and stood firm in their post- no matter how much some of them admittedly wanted a break from it all.

The trio just stood there, in awkward silence. The streets being uncannily quiet with no residences to even man the stores, the bustling and busy air gone like a quick breeze that left them in the dust- the quietness only being cut by the rumble of paimon's stomach.

"Ah nuts! Paimon's hungry." She rubbed her grumbling stomach."

Atheer stood unmoving and stared at the ground, thinking deeply until a tumble weed dusted pass him and out of the gate.

"How the?!" He commented.

*Tap* *Tap*

The distinct sound of feet straddling closer that closer filled the vacant sounds of the city, they felt like they were louder for merely being the only audible thing around. They look to the source- blue hair and an all too familiar swagger and smirk.

"Oh, kaeya." Atheer was the first to greet his presence.

"Good morning my compadres." He greeted back. "I see that you three are quite perplex on something."

"We are, why did all the citizens suddenly exit out?" Asked lumine.

"With all the things happening lately, Jean figured to give the citizens a nice needed break." He leaned in and nudged atheer on his side like a friend's gesture of a job-well-done. "Made possible all by you, atheer." Patting him on the shoulder.

"Oh it was nothing, I wasn't going to left that beach unfixed when all it was my fault." Trying to cranked down the Cavalry captain's praises, but kaeya wasn't going to let that slide.

"Don't degrade your accomplishments just because of the causes! It's in the past and what's in the past, stays in the past." He patted him on the back before walking off.

"Anyways." Out of the entrance he looked back. "I'm going to take my break too, already asked Jean and she figured that maybe they all needed it too."

"Oh, she's talking a break too finally?" Said a hopeful lumine. A shift in kaeya's face gave her the answer, unfortunately.

He sighed. "Sadly our good ole grandmaster is too much of a workholic."

"Ah man!" Paimon hungry mood was distracted by a sense of frustration. Only for her stomach to snap her back in.

"Yeah." Kaeya then look at atheer with his sword on the side. "So how's been harbinger of dawn serving ya?"

"Pretty great, Ive learned some. . . "He paused a bit. "New tricks."

"Oh~!" Kaeya smirked. "Then show me those tricks of yours to me later, anyways." He begun to walk away from the scene, disappearing over the closing horizon and with only a wave which spoke everything he needed to.

"So, about venti's offer." Lumine wanted to continue as no one was around save for a few guards at the gate which were too busy and too far to hear them.

"I'm still not sure." Said atheer.

"And paimon is too hungry to argue~!" The pixie groaned.

"Then maybe we should just think for a bit, he gave us until afternoon after all." The blonde said. Once again insisting

At this point. Atheer was wondering where this was going, lumine was the first to react intensely with the sheer mention of possibly stealing something, sure it was paimon and Venti quickly affirmed but he knew better not to just blindly agree on something.

Yet she was a bit too agreeing now, not that he'll judge, just curious on the sudden change. "Is this about her brother?

"Yeah. . . Let's think and talk about it."

"Where though? All the shops are closed probably." Paimon said much to her annoyance as the glutinous beast that was her stomach roared on.

Like literally roaring.

"Um, is your stomach ok?" Atheer walked a feet back like making distance from a snarling animal out of instinct.

"This happens when she doesn't get food on a daily" Answered Lumine, though no matter how much she'd heard this, which wasn't alot due to the pixie veracious apatite always feeling her stomach before it could do that, it was always starting to her of how someone so small could make a sound like that.

"Paimon needs to raid the store!" She said seriously.

"You aren't!" Lumine stepped in.

"What? We'll be stealing a lyre, this is childsplay compare to what he'll do." The pixie admittedly regretted speaking as the blond smack her to the ground like a bouncy ball, even springing up into place and floating about.

". . . .Ok, paimon takes that back." The pixie's head hurt and spun, she tried to vomit out her contents, but couldn't. "Paimon can't even puke~!"

"Maybe there's some food in HQ" Atheer said.

As if his words were a 'Ready set, go!' Paimon bolted towards the HQ with a faint trail of ravenous saliva.

"Looks like you tempered the beast." Lumine remarked.

Atheer only let out a huff with a smile. "Well, my bad I guess."

"Help me with holding her back." She said.

"No need to ask!"

______________________________________

[Mondstadt Cathedral]

Looking down towards all of the city, Venti perched himself at front arch of the roof, below the giant door where he listened to two nuns discussing a dilemma.

"It is sanctity to preserve this holy palace of barbatos, we cannot just leisure away." Said the nun.

"Yes I agree, after all who will deliver barbatos' graces with people need them?" Replied the other.

"Yknow barbatos would totally allow that, but yeah who am I too judge." As he thought of those words a light chuckled escape his lips from the sense of oxymoronic humour. He has been having fun watching the cathedrals keepers doing their daily deeds, even interfering, or rather jovial jokes. Like say pilling up all the leaves while a cleaner was just beginning to dust away, simple tricks.

But he wasn't here to play simple tricks, it was an act to pass the time until the people he wanted to see came as they promise- or he hoped they promise, lumine did but the other two will take some time convincing, maybe the pixie can be swayed with some food, dirty tricks but he was never above such things, not when it was for the greater.

Which did include spying, on atheer Especially- this being that just came out of nowhere, with these awesome powers of unknown origin, it seems like every passing day he gets more interesting, Venti's imagination could only run wild at what he could do.

Especially concerning the light he once saw that came from his room through the window- his interest was peaked after witnessing such a divine display on such a normal environment as a bedroom.

"What, did you hear something?" The nun said.

"No, why?"

"Huh. . . Most be the wind." She replied.

"You're more right than you think" Venti smiled as he perched like a bird overlooking all- waiting.

Though, he didn't need to wait that long, as. "Speak of the devil!" Thinking as the three marched from the stairs, towards the doors where that two nuns continued to discuss, with either side not wanting to go down with their argument.

But didn't want themselves to be known and he needed to act fast, so he grabbed a tiny life, barely the size of his small palm and blew it down, where the wind spiralled it down like a invisible slide.

Where it landed on atheer's noise midway up the stairs. "Huh?" He curiously pluck it up, the other two noticed as no one could miss a peculiar leaf just landing smack dab on to his noise.

"Huh." Lumine was the first to look up, where Venti hissed while pointing his thumb at the right at the cathedral, nudging them to the follow as he dropped down.

"How are we going make it pass the nuns?" Paimon peaked over the stairs, where the nuns where still arguing, fixed to their own words that they didn't hear the stud that Venti made as he descended. "Ok, nevermind!"

The two hastily bolted while paimon blasted quickly in the air, making a twinkling sound- of which the nuns still payed no mind.

"Venti, so what's the plan?" Lumine said.

"Not going to lie, I was sure you three wouldn't meet me here."

"We doubted coming here." Atheer admitted, they were a bit late for reasons of controlling paimon's hunger, they had to spray her away from the doors of the Favonius HQ kitchen inorder to not get baratted for destroying property, she would have broken them open with her Hangry induce strength.

"Paimon's still hungry by the way." The pixie paled.

Venti patted her head in-between the crown. "Well don't worry my fairy friend."

"We aren't friends and barely know each other for an hour." She worded bluntly.

"Still, from our efforts the food shall be good, I promise."

"You better! Paimon heard prison food isn't very good" she shivered.

"Venti, why are we stealing the. . . Wait was it again?"

"Holy lyre der himmel" lumine said. "Or something like that, Ive never heard of it before."

"Well, it's for good reason. It is the lyre of barbatos himself." From his words the three turned into statues from shock, nervously trying to form speech.

"Say what now?!" With no control paimon yelled but was quickly muffled by atheer, who himself was trying to control doing so too.

"Did I hear that right? From barbatos." Lumine gulped, failing to stay still as a slight chill rattled her spine.

"Yup, no mistake on my part."

". . . Oh screw prison! We are getting a death penalty." Said paimon.

Atheer himself was beginning to wonder why he signed up for this, having already destroyed an island, the last thing he'll do is to still a divine artifact their god no less. But he was willing to give the bard to explain further. "Venti, explain please."

The eager blond herself was troubled by the revelation as well. If all goes badly, she'll doubt they're able to walk amongst these walls again, even if the knights of favonius backed them up, which she'd rather not deal with. "Can you explain, please?"

"Just relax, it's not a big deal." The bard tried to reel back their worries, only to word it badly.

"Not a big deal!" Paimon raised. "What are you tone deaf?!"

"Ok paimon, you should stop there before you alert the nuns." Atheer said.

"Venti, I really want to support you, but you need to explain further, clearer." Said lumine.

"Ok. Well, due to its divine nature, being barbatos' and all, perhaps It could be used to bring out dvalin gentle nature and reel him in to the light from this nightmare he is going."

"Solid plan, I'll say." Atheer said though uncertain about the possibility of stealing still.

"Perhaps?" Paimon nodded. "What do you mean perhaps, are you or you not confident in your plan."

"Paimon, I think you're a bit on edge." Lumine came in

The pixie simply scoffed, arms with closed. "Well excuse paimon for being concerned about our own reputation."

"Relax my friends." Venti said. "I'm mondstadt's greatest bard, if anyone is confident on the lyre's abilities? Well, it is i."

"I feel like he meant something else from that" Atheer thought while being observant of Venti through the whole thing, from the very start he carried himself like a free spirit, looking at obstacles and simply floating over it, concerns are above him, knowing that he'll simply prevail.

It was this observation that made him on edge with the bard, he cared not fully for the simple actions as long as they served their part on solving the greater problem- though atheer had a feeling it wasn't that simple, he knew more than he let out, the boy was a bard, a Storyteller Afterall

So, with a breath of uncertainty, curiosity and admittedly hope. Atheer said. "Venti, I'm in, fully."

"Wait, are you sure?" Lumine asked, being either one from start, even she was doubting it.

"Yes." He diverted his eyes down to the bard. "I trust you, but please, don't take my willingness for granted."

"You're worries will be lifted. That's a bard's promise." He did a gesture of promise, an oath with a palm on his chest. "And paimon, how about."

She simply rolled her eyes. "Well. . . Paimon doesn't have any other choice doesn't she?"

"Nope." Atheer smiled

"Ok!" Venti started. "We need to ask the nuns."

"Wait, I thought we were stealing?" Lumine said.

"That's more of a last resort." He said. "So, you three would be staying here. . .but, I figured that you being by my side would aid in convincing. With being mondstadt's hero and the honorary knight! Legends practically over night."

"Um. Venti." Lumine said in unease. "Are you sure?"

"Positive! Now come with thy." They all turned to the cathedral's entrance where three wooden doors welcomed them, with non of the nuns who were just conversing what felt like just ten minutes, Venti asked to them to stand back a Bit, telling of the interior's 'Blinding beauty'

Entering the middle door he pushed, and like a flood gate, as the wooden doors open with a loud echo, beams of light seeped out directly to their eyes.

"I forgot how bright the inside is." Lumine covered her eyes.

"No kidding." The pixie said who flew in. "

"I guess to harness heavenly aura." Atheer didn't mind to light and allowed his eyes to see and his mouth to gawk at the beauty, tall ceilings perfect for echoes for prayers to be heard, as said prayers sat and kneeled on tables, not minding their presence at all. The light of the days reflected and amplified through the kaleidoscope of colours from the windows.

Waltzing in over the softly woven carpet, like a fine cloud, much more refined than the once at HQ. To atheer it showed their love and commitment to barbatos, something atheer can't help but admire.

At the stage Infront of twin flight of stairs converging to one point up top, was a nun, older the ones at the door just couple minutes ago, they could tell from her aura, an air of elegance and wisdom beyond their years.

"Let me handle this!" Venti marched with subtle confidence at the nun, who turned to the unusual looking boy, it wasn't strange to see bards in the cathedral but it wasn't common either.

"Hello sister!" He begun.

"May the anemo god bless you, young bard, how can I help you?" She collapsed her palms together prayer.

"Oh, what a blessing from the god of anemo! But you should report that to the knights of favonius. Why have you come to me?"

Venti said, with confidence. "Hahaha, because you, dear sister, are able to help." He inhaled. "I'd like to borrow. . . the holy lyre, with it. I'll be able to help stormter-"

"Please see yourself out." She put it bluntly, cutting him off with no hesitation.

"Oh, brother!" Paimon sighed the hardest she sighed in what felt like for the whole week. "He really is tone deaf isn't he?"

"What?" The bard said.

"It's a viscous dragon indeed, but once the acting grand master makes up her mind, nothing can stand, in the knights' way."

"That's simply not acceptable! Wouldn't stormterror end up getting killed that way?" As if raising his voice were to do thing, it only made him more brittle, while the three in the sidelines felt as if they were watching blasphemy in practice.

The nun reaffirmed. "That foolish beast betrayed the winds, not even the god of anemo themselves would forgive it!.

Not even the god of anemo themselves would forgive it. Those words words rang like gongs in his head as his voice begun to tremble. "Ah-ah um. P-please, I beg of you!"

"I'm afraid not, little bard." She felt heavy as she rejected his plead, like she was disobeying her own instincts of nature.

"Then. . . I guess I'm left with no other choice." Venti readied. "I cannot hide anymore! My disciples, rejoice! Behold. The god of anemo. Barbatos have descended!"

. . .

. . . .

"Ah, what?" Lumine simply uttered confused, while paimon held in her burst of laugh, and to not waste her saliva while her stomach was empty, the last thing she'll want is to be thirty as well, oh and making a scene too, she guessed.

But atheer, he had it different, neither confusion or laughter in his head , more like clicking sounds, things snapping into place.

"Shocked aren't you!" Venti spoke with grandeur. "Don't you just want to cry out and rejoice? How does it feel to finally meet the god you've been serving?"

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going to Handle the cathedral's paperworks." The nun said with acknowledge of his proclamation.

"W-wait-"

"Ok." Out from the audience atheer swooped in and hoist Venti over his shoulder. "We should leave her alone. Sorry sister."

The nun herself was a bit taken back from the new yet familiar face, how could she not know from all the converses these last few days.

"Oh, your mondstadt's hero, at-theer right?" She stuttered. "Atheer, Ive never heard of a name like that before, you must be new hear?"

"Is she flirting with him?" Lumine thought confused.

"You can say that?" He replied.

"And I didn't expect you were this tall, from what I've heard described."

"Must be the child-like wonder."

"Indeed." Though he couldn't see from the obstruction that was the squirming Venti, she had a light blush on her cheek.

"So." The nun said. "What might bring you here, besides escorting this young bard out?"

"Yes. I have been task for a permission to borrow the holy lyre der himmel." He spoke his hardest, speaking