Riding on Dvalin, the familiar of a god—basically a dragon ride-hailing service—the group soon arrived in Natlan.
"Hmm… what a strange feeling."
After setting foot on Natlan's land, Bennett froze for a moment. A wonderful sensation surged into his heart, both familiar and unfamiliar, as if he had belonged here from the very beginning.
Was it because he was a Natlan native?
"Bennett, what's wrong?" Paimon asked.
"It's nothing. Maybe it's just my imagination." Bennett shook his head, but he truly did not dislike that feeling.
"Bennett, there's no rush. Why don't you take some time to feel Natlan first? We can go to the Mare Jivari in a few days."
Venti smiled as he spoke. Bennett's situation was rather special. Other Natlan natives who left Natlan would not become as unlucky as Bennett. It was probably related to him blowing the Mare Jivari island away from the timeline.
Bennett nodded, planning to wander around Natlan on his own.
"Venti, do you think Bennett will choose to stay here in Natlan in the end, or return to Mondstadt?" Koji asked.
If he stayed in Natlan, the terrible misfortune from before would no longer cling to him. But if he left, the Goddess of Luck might once again bid farewell, and Bennett would still be that unlucky adventurer.
"Hmph, as for that question, Bennett will choose to go back to Mondstadt," Venti said with a little hum.
"True, if he stays here in Natlan, the protection of Natlan's ley lines can help him escape misfortune. But how could an adventurer simply settle down in one corner of the world?"
He was very good at judging people. Bennett would definitely choose to go back. In Mondstadt, he had the family he had now, and he also had the adventures that belonged to him.
"I didn't expect you to say something like that, Venti," Paimon said, deliberately sounding surprised.
"Haha." Venti laughed without minding it. "I like telling stories, and Bennett is undoubtedly the purest kind of adventurer in a story."
If it were anyone else, after suffering so much bad luck, they would have long since given up on the dangerous profession of adventuring. But Bennett would not. He had his own persistence.
Many adventurers became adventurers because of a burst of hot-blooded passion, but that enthusiasm only lasted for a short while. Bennett was different.
The wind was watching him, watching his journey of adventure.
"Venti, you really think highly of Bennett, huh?" Mavuika walked over and said with a smile.
"He's lived in Mondstadt for so many years. Even if he has Natlan blood in him, he can still be considered a Mondstadter. As one of my people, isn't it only natural that I think highly of him?" Venti said.
"That's true. Whether he chooses to stay here in Natlan or go back to Mondstadt later, as the Pyro Archon, I'll respect his choice." Mavuika nodded.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to Natlan."
"Hehe, Mavuika, among all the gods I've met, you're still the warmest one," Paimon said with a grin.
"Paimon, are you saying I'm not warm?" Venti said, pretending to be a little angry.
"You? Your generosity and kindness are probably equal to about three gods," Paimon said.
People should act like people, and gods should act like gods. Even if they were usually approachable, when it came time to do serious business, Venti still gave off a somewhat carefree and unreliable feeling.
If they were fighting over there, Venti would definitely be slacking off in the back.
"Hahaha, Venti, being described like that by someone else means you're kind of failing as a senior god," Mavuika teased with a laugh.
"There's nothing I can do about that. I was just a wind spirit at the beginning, and I never wanted to become a god." Venti spread his hands.
He was not like Zhongli or the Raiden sisters, who were born as gods.
He had merely been a very ordinary wind spirit, drawn in by the singing voice of a young boy. From there, the gears of fate began to turn. In a sense, he too had been pushed forward by fate.
"Why bring up such a serious topic?" Lumine said helplessly.
If they kept talking like this, the mood would become strange.
"Come on, Venti. Let's have a proper drink today." Mavuika patted Venti on the shoulder and said with a smile.
"Tsk, how could we not have any? There'll be more than enough alcohol."
Mavuika patted her chest and said generously. How could she possibly be lacking in alcohol?
"Mavuika, don't come to me to fix your bike next time!"
Xilonen rode Mavuika's motorcycle over, speaking in an irritated tone. She herself had already lost count of how many times she had repaired this Pyro Archon's motorcycle.
She had clearly reminded her over and over again to ride carefully and take good care of her bike, but Mavuika still somehow managed to send her motorcycle back to Xilonen for repairs all the time.
"Hehe, Xilonen's craftsmanship really is amazing." Mavuika directly changed the topic. She did this every time.
Xilonen rolled her eyes. This Pyro Archon was truly speechless.
"Mavuika, as a god, how can you trouble your own people so much?" Venti teased with a smile.
"Xilonen's craftsmanship is excellent. She can fix anything," Mavuika said seriously.
Xilonen. Bike. Fix.
"My dear Pyro Archon-sama, although I'm very happy to accept that praise, next time, could you please wait a little longer before sending your motorcycle to me for repairs?" Xilonen covered her forehead. What a thick skin.
"I'll try."
Mavuika could not guarantee something like that. And even if she did promise Xilonen, Xilonen definitely would not believe her.
Sure enough, Xilonen nodded. Clearly, she was already used to it.
"Xilonen, can you make me a vehicle to play with?" Venti asked.
"Hm?"
"Don't you know how to fly?"
Last time, she had learned that Venti was the Anemo Archon. In terms of mobility among the Seven, he should be among the very best.
"Being able to fly and owning a means of transportation shouldn't contradict each other," Venti said.
"It's not impossible. What kind of vehicle do you want?" Xilonen asked.
Since the Anemo Archon wanted one, she would make one.
"As long as it's interesting, anything is fine."
Venti did not have many requirements. He mainly just wanted to experience that feeling and occasionally take it out to play. It was not meant for combat or anything like that.
"Venti, if you do that, won't Dvalin get upset?" Paimon asked.
"I think Dvalin would be overjoyed if Venti had a vehicle. That way, Venti wouldn't have to keep bothering him," Koji said.
Lumine and the others nodded in agreement. Dvalin really would be overjoyed. Venti would stop disturbing his sleep for a long time. What a wonderful thing that would be.
The corner of Venti's mouth twitched. His image in Dvalin's heart should not be that terrible. They were the best of friends. Do not doubt other people's friendship.
Xilonen listened quietly. It seemed that this Anemo Archon was also quite unreliable.
Were gods all like this?
(End of Chapter)
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