The aroma of salt, wood tar, and fresh fish blended to form the dense identity of Melen City. The brackish breeze from Lake Lolog swept the terraced cobblestone streets, hitting the green cloak of a young man who had just stepped out of an inn.
After renting some of the best rooms at the "White Gull Inn" located not far from the main square, the Barbatos Familia gathered briefly in the courtyard. The midday sun reflected blinding light from the surface of the giant lake below, but for those with high-level instinctual sensitivity, that glimmer could not hide the dark aura settling in the depths of the waters.
Venti stretched both his arms into the air, taking a deep breath with a bright smile, directly contrasting the serious faces of his four followers.
"Alright, since we've secured a comfortable place to sleep tonight, it's time to divide our tasks," Venti said in a cheerful tone, looking at Hedin, Hogni, Dina, and Vena in turn.
The God of Wind placed his hands on his hips. "Hedin, Hogni. The two of you take Dina and Vena down to the main port area. Rent a boat if necessary, or ask the dock guards. Your task is to investigate the water conditions, map the exact location of the Leviathan seal, and find out about any anomalies occurring around the area."
Hedin adjusted his glasses, processing the order with cold military calculation. "Investigating the anomaly's epicenter directly. Understood, Lord Venti. We will gather topographical data and threat levels in those waters without causing a commotion. Then, what about yourself?"
Venti's smile instantly widened. He grabbed the wooden lyre slung across his back, stroking its strings with full anticipation.
"Me?" Venti winked one eye. "I will be doing an equally important task! I will wander around the city, become a street bard, then visit the most crowded tavern in Melen. There is no better place to gather secret information, sailors' rumors, and the complaints of locals than in front of a glass of quality wine!"
A momentary silence struck the inn's courtyard.
Hogni lowered his head, hiding his awkward laugh behind his silver bangs. Dina and Vena exchanged glances with understanding smiles; although it hadn't been long, they already understood very well the nature of their god who loved freedom and liquor.
Meanwhile, Hedin Selland let out a long sigh, a habit he had recently been doing often since joining the Barbatos Familia.
"In other words, you just want to laze around, play music, and drink wine all afternoon," Hedin concluded with a deadly flat tone.
"Ehe! You can't call it lazing around if it yields results, Hedin!" Venti argued without the slightest guilt. He patted the former White Elf King's shoulder lightly. "The mood of the residents of this city is very bad right now. Fear keeps their lips sealed. My music will loosen their hearts, and the wine will loosen their tongues. Just leave this social intelligence gathering to me!"
Without waiting for further arguments from his tactical commander, Venti immediately turned and waved his hand. "Be careful near the water! I'll meet you guys at the tavern this evening!"
Watching their god dart away with steps as light as the wind toward the city square, Hedin could only massage the bridge of his nose.
"Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that cheerful young man is the same existence that helped us and the god who brought down the pillar of light in the far east," Hedin muttered softly, before finally turning to face Hogni, Dina, and Vena. His eagle eyes sharpened again. "You heard his orders. We move to the port now."
For Venti, walking down the streets of Melen City felt like a spiritual liberation.
The responsibility as a familia god protecting his family had forced him to act like a shadow tactician. But at his core, Venti's deepest soul was not a knight, a hero, or a king.
He was Barbatos. The Anemo Archon. The God of Freedom and Song.
Now, momentarily freed from Orario and the burden of the mission thanks to the Guild's special access permit, Venti could finally embrace his true identity again.
He found a perfect spot near the fish market plaza facing directly toward the lake. The place was crowded with merchants, sailors, and locals bustling about with grim and tense faces. The losses due to the halt in shipping activities had clearly robbed this city of its happiness.
Venti sat on an empty wooden crate. He took a deep breath, letting the aroma of salt fill his lungs, then began plucking the strings of his lyre.
Tring... trang...
The first notes flowing from the lyre were very simple, yet possessed a resonance impossible to ignore. A thin breeze accompanied every pluck of the strings, carrying the sound waves sweeping across the entire square with a gentleness that caressed the soul.
Venti began to sing. He did not sing heavy war ballads or epic tragedies about monsters. He sang a classic melody from Mondstadt, a song about the sea breeze guiding sailors home, about the stars singing at night, and about the freedom of the waves dancing under the moonlight.
His voice was incredibly clear, melodious, and surpassed the beauty of any race's voice in this world.
One by one, the footsteps of the people in the square began to slow down. The porters stopped their activities, setting down heavy baskets of fish to listen. The faces of the sailors, previously hardened by anxiety, slowly began to soften. A few small children ran closer to Venti, sitting cross-legged on the ground with eyes sparkling in awe.
Without them realizing it, Venti through his song worked like spiritual therapy. Like the Wind lifting an invisible weight off their shoulders, driving away fear, and replacing it with a glimmer of peace.
When Venti ended his song with one long strum that echoed softly, the square was silent for a moment before erupting in thunderous applause.
"Incredible! A very beautiful song, boy!" exclaimed an old fisherman with a thick white beard, tossing a few valis coins into the beret Venti had placed in front of him.
"That song makes my heart feel much lighter. Wherever you're from, Bard, Melen really needs music like this right now," added a merchant woman, also tossing a coin.
Venti laughed crisply, bowing politely with perfect theatrical flair. "Thank you, thank you, ladies and gentlemen! Your praise is more precious than any valis to a street bard. May the wind always bless your voyages!"
For the next two hours, Venti truly enjoyed his role. He played various songs, danced a little accompanied by the children's cheers, and answered light questions from the citizens. While entertaining them, Venti's sharp ears managed to catch various fragments of information.
He heard sailors whispering about the lake suddenly becoming foggy near the deep-sea border. He heard complaints about magic compasses constantly spinning wildly. He also caught rumors about giant shadows underwater driving all the fish away.
Highly valuable information, gathered armed only with smiles and songs.
After the sun began to lean to the west and his throat felt a bit dry, Venti picked up his hat, which was now full of valis coins. He waved to the crowd reluctant to leave, then walked down the sloping street toward the row of wooden buildings near the main port.
Now it was time for the second part of his plan: finding the best tavern and wetting his throat with Melen's local wine.
The "Golden Anchor" tavern was the most conspicuous two-story wooden building along the coast of the Melen docks. The building looked worn from the harsh salt air, but its doors were always wide open, emitting dim magic lamp light and the signature boisterous noise of a sailor's tavern.
As soon as Venti pushed open the double wooden doors, the pungent aroma of spicy grilled fish, sweat, and cheap wheat beer immediately assaulted his sense of smell. The room inside was very spacious, filled with dozens of round tables where large-bodied men dressed in leather and thick linen exchanged stories loudly.
However, Venti's sharp instincts immediately realized something. The commotion in this tavern was not a form of celebration or joy. It was the way these sailors vented their frustration. They drank not to celebrate a catch, but to drown their fear of the sea that had suddenly turned hostile towards them.
Venti walked casually through the gaps between the tables, ignoring several condescending stares from large sailors looking at his petite stature. He headed straight to the long bartender's counter.
"Uncle, please, one portion of the best seafood dish you have today, and one bottle of your oldest red wine!" ordered Venti, placing 500 valis on the wooden counter wet with leftover beer.
The middle-aged bartender's eyes only glanced at him. His initially indifferent attitude instantly changed to be very friendly. "Of course, your order is coming right up!"
While waiting for his drink, Venti turned around, leaning his back against the bartender's counter, and swept his gaze across the entire tavern.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of dozens of humans, the god's teal eyes caught a very strange figure in the darkest corner of the room.
The figure was a man with brown hair tied back. He wore a simple linen shirt that showed no noble status whatsoever. The man sat alone, his shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of a mountain, and both his hands gripped tightly a large wooden mug.
An ordinary person might only consider him an unfortunate ship captain who had just gone bankrupt. However, to Venti, who possessed divine perception, he could see the thin spiritual aura radiating from the man's body. An aura that was heavily suppressed, but clearly an aura not possessed by humans.
It was a god.
And seeing the distinctive water energy signature surrounding him, Venti immediately realized the identity of the unfortunate man. It was Njord. The God of the Sea, leader of the Njord Familia that monopolized the entire port and fishing industry in Melen City.
Venti smiled faintly. Fate was always on his side indeed. He didn't need to bother looking for the local authorities, because the ruler of the city himself happened to be sitting drunk in the same tavern as him.
When the bartender pushed a glass bottle containing very appetizing red wine along with an empty glass, Venti grabbed the bottle without pouring it. He took his wine bottle, along with a plate of aromatic grilled fish, and walked casually across the room toward the dimly lit corner.
"Is this seat taken, friend?" greeted Venti in a cheerful tone when he arrived at Njord's table.
Njord looked up slowly. The sea god's face was covered in lines of extreme exhaustion. His eye bags were deep and dark, indicating he hadn't slept for days. He stared at Venti blankly, completely not recognizing the figure of the petite young man before him.
The outside world didn't really know Barbatos's face yet.
"Find another table, kid," mumbled Njord in a hoarse voice that radiated absolute despair. "This is no place for children to play. Go before the drunk sailors over there make you the butt of their jokes."
Venti paid no mind to the reprimand. Instead, he pulled up the wooden chair across from Njord and sat down comfortably. The God placed his plate of fish, uncorked his wine bottle, then casually poured the ruby-red liquid into Njord's wooden mug, which happened to have just been emptied.
"Children shouldn't drink indeed, but they are very good at listening to adults' complaints," said Venti with a mysterious smile. He propped his chin on one hand, looking straight into the eyes of the sea god. "You look like someone who just lost the ocean itself. Rough day, God Njord?"
Hearing his true name and title mentioned so casually by a "little kid", Njord's body instantly tensed. Half his drunkenness evaporated. His eyes widened, and for the first time, he truly scanned the aura of the young man before him.
As soon as his divine instinct pierced through Venti's aura disguise, Njord held his breath. He didn't sense monster power; he didn't sense Falna. What he felt was an expanse of wind with immeasurable depth, an existence that was on the same level—perhaps even higher—than himself.
"You... this aura... you are a god?" hissed Njord softly, leaning forward to ensure their conversation wasn't heard by the surrounding tables. "Who are you? I know almost all the gods who have descended to this world, but I've never seen your face."
Venti smiled gently. He had no intention of hiding his identity, because to complete this mission smoothly in someone else's territory, he needed the cooperation of the local ruler.
"My name is Venti. Or perhaps you prefer to call me Barbatos," he replied casually. "I am a god who just established a Familia in Orario. Just consider me a breath of fresh air that has just blown into this lower world."
Hearing that name, Njord's eyes instantly widened incredibly wide. The remnants of his intoxication vanished without a trace. Of course he knew that name! News from Orario had spread throughout the world outside Orario and its surroundings. Barbatos was the god who now harbored Alfia the Silence in his Familia.
For a moment, Njord's face paled, but a second later, a spark of wildly burning hope appeared in his tired eyes. The sea god leaned forward until he almost bumped the table, staring at Venti desperately.
"Wait... if you are Barbatos, that means Alfia is under your banner!" exclaimed Njord, restrained, his voice trembling violently from overflowing emotion. "Alfia... she is the hero who conquered the Leviathan! Tell me you brought her to Melen! Please tell me she is here with you! If there is one person in this world who understands and can stop the monster in that lake, it's her!"
Venti laughed softly seeing the enthusiastic yet desperate reaction from the sea god.
"Relax, Njord. Alfia is chilling at our headquarters in Orario. She has to take care of her sister, so she didn't come here," said Venti, waving his hand cheerfully.
The hope on Njord's face crumbled instantly, replaced by a suffocating disappointment.
Venti leaned forward slightly, cutting off Njord's complaints and closing the distance between them. The tone of his voice shifted from playful to very serious, signaling absolute authority.
"My Familia members and I were sent directly and secretly by Royman Mardeel and the central Guild," said Venti with a voice volume that only Njord could hear. "We came here to deal with your problem. We came to handle the anomaly on the seal and the remnants of the Leviathan."
Those words seemed to have a calming magic effect on Njord.
The sea god's eyes widened in disbelief. The wooden cup in his hand shook violently. All forms of suspicion and vigilance on his face crumbled instantly, replaced by a relief so immense it almost made him cry on the spot.
"The Guild... the central Guild finally actually sent reliable help?" Njord's voice trembled, radiating the suffering he had kept pent up for days. "I thought Royman, that fat old elf, would just let us die slowly here because the big familias are busy in Orario."
Njord lowered his head, rubbing his face with his rough hands.
"You don't know how much we've suffered, Barbatos," Njord complained, his defenses completely shattered before a fellow god sent as a savior. "My children... the Njord Familia is the ruler of these waters. But lately, the water around the center of the lake feels strange. Not only are dead fish floating, but a giant whirlpool suddenly appeared from the bottom of the lake."
Njord downed the wine Venti had poured earlier in one desperate gulp.
"This problem is destroying us," he continued with a hoarse voice. "Our fishing business is totally disrupted. Export routes are paralyzed. Giant merchant ships that tried to force their way through to meet delivery targets... they never returned. No debris, no corpses. They were just swallowed to the bottom. I forbade my children from approaching the area because the Poseidon Familia—tasked with guarding that seal—has completely lost contact."
Venti listened carefully. Njord's complaints aligned perfectly with the report he received from Royman, even sounding far more horrifying from the perspective of a direct victim.
"The Poseidon Familia hasn't given you any reports?" asked Venti, analyzing the situation.
Njord shook his head bitterly. "The Poseidon Familia tried to investigate it. The last time we tried to send a rescue team there, they were blocked by waves that destroyed the ship. Whatever is happening down there, whether it's the Leviathan or the monster has resurrected and started eating this city alive."
Njord looked at Venti with his remaining hope. "How many troops did you bring, Barbatos? Did you bring top-tier adventurers? Please tell me you didn't come here alone armed only with that wooden lyre."
Venti laughed softly, leaning back against his chair. The soothing playful smile graced his face again.
"Don't judge a book by its cover, or a bard by his lyre, Sir Njord," said Venti casually. He took a piece of grilled fish and ate it with relish. "I do love music, but my children who are currently doing initial mapping at the docks... they are monsters highly skilled in matters like this. You don't need to worry anymore. Just consider this problem half-solved."
Hearing the absolute confidence from the Wind God's tone, Njord's shoulders, which had been tense for days, slowly began to drop. Even though he had never seen the Barbatos Familia's capabilities, there was something in the look in Venti's teal eyes that forced him to believe the dark storm enveloping Melen would finally end soon.
However, right as Njord was about to express his gratitude, a very loud tolling of a bell tore through the tavern's commotion.
TENG! TENG! TENG!
The sound of the emergency warning bell from the direction of the port watchtower rang loudly, making all the sailors inside the "Golden Anchor" instantly jump from their seats.
"What is it?! Are amphibious monsters coming ashore?!" shouted one large-bodied sailor near the door.
A dock guard ran into the tavern, panting heavily with a pale face. He looked around for the city leader with a panicked gaze.
"Lord Njord!" shouted the guard upon seeing the god in the corner of the room. "P-Please, you must come out immediately! The water in the lake's forbidden zone... it's spinning again! The giant whirlpool has reopened!"
The tavern instantly erupted in collective panic. Njord immediately stood up from his chair, his face hardening with terror once more.
Venti put down his cutlery slowly. His playful smile evaporated, replaced by a sharp gaze ready to face a storm. The God of Wind rose from his chair, his green cloak fluttering lightly even though there was no wind inside the room.
"Break time and drinking time is over, I guess," murmured Venti softly, looking toward the exit displaying Melen's evening sky beginning to be covered by dark clouds. "Let's see what kind of monster is under that sea."
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