A short while later, Venti—or rather, Barbatos—had already walked over to the massive oak tree not far away together with Lumine and Paimon. They seemed to be discussing something important.
The breeze carried fragments of their quiet conversation, along with Paimon's occasional surprised exclamations.
On the other side, Yi Chen leaned back casually, resting against Dvalin's warm yet solid dragon scales.
He tilted his head up, gazing at Mondstadt's clear blue sky, and asked casually,
"Hey, Dvalin… speaking of which, is there anything you especially like? Or… something you particularly miss?"
Dvalin lowered its massive head slightly. After a brief silence, its deep voice—heavy with the weight of time—slowly sounded.
"What I cherish…"
"It is the breath of the purest and freest wind, brushing past one's fingertips as it flows across the high skies…"
"It is the quiet starlight falling gently upon ancient forests, where fireflies dance like scattered stars…"
It paused, its voice growing even deeper, yet tinged with a rare softness.
"…And also…"
"…the pure, untainted laughter left behind by carefree children running and playing across the open fields beneath the gentle wind."
Those sounds had once been the most precious echoes in its thousands of years guarding this land.
Yi Chen listened quietly, committing those words to memory.
"I see… I understand. I'll prepare for it."
As if recalling something, he nudged Dvalin's scales lightly with his elbow.
"Oh, right—here's something interesting. Recently, Mondstadt's been quietly circulating little picture books about you!
They're super cute, all about the East Wind Dragon protecting Mondstadt. Kids absolutely love them—always pestering their parents to buy one!"
He added with a grin,
"See? Everyone still remembers you. Especially the children—they really like you. Who knows, maybe one day a kid will bring a picture book to Windrise just to come play with you?"
Dvalin's enormous body shifted almost imperceptibly.
It didn't respond right away.
But its molten-amber dragon eyes drifted, uncontrollably, toward the direction of Mondstadt.
A warm yet bittersweet current quietly spread through its ancient heart.
So… not everyone had forgotten.
So… those pure laughs had never truly disappeared.
It let out a long, low sigh—so faint it was almost impossible to hear.
That sigh held less of its usual heaviness, replaced instead by a subtle sense of release.
"…Mm."
That was all it said.
Yet the surrounding wind seemed to grow gentler and softer, as if responding in silent comfort.
Soon after, Lumine and Paimon finished talking with Venti and walked back.
Paimon floated ahead, hands on her hips, looking like she'd just completed a major mission.
"Venti said he has something to talk to you about. Alone."
"Huh? What else?"
Yi Chen stood up from beside Dvalin, brushed grass from his clothes, and walked over in confusion.
Venti stood beneath the tree, twirling a leaf between his fingers. When he saw Yi Chen approach, his eyes curved into crescent moons.
"So? What do you want with me, Venti?" Yi Chen asked bluntly.
"Finally grew a conscience and decided to treat me to a drink?"
Venti chuckled without answering. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed something small toward Yi Chen.
Yi Chen caught it reflexively and opened his palm.
It was a finely carved chess piece—a queen.
It felt cool to the touch, yet faintly pulsed with an indescribable energy.
Yi Chen turned it over a couple of times, his face full of question marks. Then he looked up at Venti as if staring at an idiot.
"Venti… are you asking me to throw out your trash?"
Venti tilted his head, the smile on his lips growing even more inscrutable—like someone who saw everything yet refused to say anything outright.
"Think of it as… an early investment."
He deliberately drew out his words, his tone light and sing-song.
"Who knows~ You might need it very soon. After all, the chessboard of fate… seems to have started turning quietly already."
"When that time comes, don't say your old friend didn't help you! This favor isn't cheap, you know~"
Before Yi Chen could press further, Venti turned like an uncatchable breeze, humming an incomplete tune as he strolled off toward Mondstadt.
"Hey! Venti! Stop right there!"
Yi Chen immediately chased after him and grabbed his cape.
"No riddles allowed!"
"I'll even buy you a drink—just tell me already!"
Venti didn't struggle. He simply turned back, wearing that infuriatingly cheerful smile.
"I told you, it's a 'mysterious little tool'~ You'll know how to use it when the time comes! Just keep it safe—guaranteed no losses!"
"Oh… thanks."
Yi Chen, completely disarmed by the halfhearted explanation, reflexively thanked him and let go, turning as if to leave.
"I'll take the item. I'm heading off."
"…Eh?!"
Now it was Venti's turn to freeze.
He quickly slid in front of Yi Chen, pointing at his own nose.
"Wait! Didn't you just say you'd treat me to a drink?! Where's the alcohol? Where's my wine?!"
Yi Chen stopped, wearing an utterly innocent and perfectly reasonable expression. He pointed toward Mondstadt.
"I already put the wine in the Angel's Share wine cabinet. It's not going anywhere. Just go drink it—
you only need to pay the Mora!"
The anticipation on Venti's face shattered instantly.
"…Huh?! Doesn't that mean I'm buying my own drink?! Yi Chen, you—!!!"
Yi Chen laughed brightly and patted Venti on the shoulder.
"No need to thank me! I'm off!"
Before Venti could finish calculating whether this counted as being treated or scammed, Yi Chen bolted back toward Lumine and Dvalin.
Left behind, the great Anemo Archon Barbatos stood there, staring toward Mondstadt, silently calculating whether the wine or the favor cost more.
"Yi—Chen—!!!"
Venti's half-laughing, half-crying shout drifted on the wind.
"I'll remember this grudge!!!"
Far away, Yi Chen tossed the warm queen chess piece in his hand with a smug grin.
"Riddle-lovers can buy their own drinks."