"I'll remember what happened today! The Anemo Archon's Gnosis will be ours sooner or later! No matter what god you are, you won't be able to stop the Fatui!"
Rosalyne fixed Lora with a cold stare, hurled out her threat, then swept her arm sharply through the air.
"Notify everyone. Withdraw!"
"Yes!"
The Fatui soldier hurriedly nodded and ran off to relay the order.
Venti watched Rosalyne's retreating figure and let out a sigh.
"Ah… honestly, I'm kind of glad you didn't end up fighting her."
"You think I couldn't beat her?" Lora asked.
Venti shook his head.
"Of course not. Rosalyne is strong, but she's still nowhere near the level of the Seven Archons. It's just… her past is complicated. I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her."
"She won't give up just because she failed to get your Gnosis today," Lora sighed, then glanced at Venti in reminder. "She doesn't know the Gnosis is with me. You're going to have a headache ahead of you."
"Don't worry. I have ways to deal with it," Venti replied, reassuring her. After all, they were just the Fatui—there was only so much they could do to him.
Lora hummed in acknowledgment. Then, remembering that Kaeya was leading the Knights of Favonius this way, she suddenly patted Venti on the shoulder.
"Venti, I'll leave the rest to you. I'm going to lie down."
"What?"
Venti froze.
Lora clutched her head dramatically, staggered back several steps while crying out "Ouch, ouch," then collapsed beside Lumine in an exaggerated pose. Her eyes shut tightly as she "lost consciousness."
Venti: "..."
Fine. So that's how she wanted to play it.
Before Venti could react, Kaeya arrived with the Knights of Favonius. He glanced at Lora and the others lying on the ground, then turned his gaze to Venti.
"Poet," he asked, "what exactly happened here? We received a report from Acting Grand Master Jean that there was fighting in this area."
Venti rubbed his nose, glanced at Lora on the ground, and sighed.
"As you can see, Captain Cavalry, whoever attacked us has already left."
"Then why are they all unconscious while you, the poet, are completely unharmed?" Kaeya frowned, clearly unconvinced.
"Well…" Venti laughed lightly. "Maybe because I'm just a poet, the attackers didn't even bother with me? After all, Lumine and Lora are far stronger than I am. Thanks to their protection, I came out unscathed."
"Is that so?"
Kaeya studied Venti's smiling face, his brows knitting together. Suspicious—far too suspicious. The attackers who came and went without a trace were suspicious, and this bard was even more so.
But before setting out, Jean had specifically instructed him not to overthink things. As long as no one was hurt, that was enough.
Recalling her words, Kaeya understood that these people were anything but ordinary. He sighed.
"In that case, describe the attackers."
"Eh-heh." Venti tilted his head and shook it. "No idea."
"…I see."
If not for Jean's instructions, Kaeya would have seriously considered arresting him. Just what kind of bard stayed so relaxed after being attacked?
In the end, all Kaeya could do was order someone to fetch Barbara from the church to treat Lora and the others.
Under Barbara's care, Lora, Lumine, and Paimon gradually regained consciousness.
Lora rubbed her head and looked around blankly.
"What happened? Why did I faint? Venti… what's going on?"
Venti's lips twitched slightly before he smiled.
"It's fine. Everything's safe now."
"Those people who ambushed us earlier…"
Lumine frowned, trying to recall the enemies she had glimpsed before losing consciousness. Before she could continue, Venti cut in cheerfully.
"Alright, alright! As long as everyone's okay, that's what matters. Lora, Lumine—do you feel unwell anywhere? Barbara's still here. She can take another look."
Paimon immediately protested.
"Hey! Why didn't you ask if I'm okay? I got frozen into an ice cube, you know!"
"Well, uh…" Venti blinked and laughed. "I figured Paimon's pretty tough. Just getting frozen isn't a big deal, right?"
It was an obvious brush-off—but it worked perfectly on Paimon.
Flattered, Paimon scratched her head awkwardly.
"Well… I guess that's true. But it's still annoying!"
Kaeya waited nearby, watching Venti and Lora. He had originally planned to ask Lumine a few questions to see if he could get some clues, but Venti's attitude made it clear he didn't want them knowing what had really happened.
Though Kaeya didn't understand why, he chose not to press the issue.
"Since everyone seems fine, we'll take our leave," he said. "Miss Barbara, thank you for your assistance."
"P-Please don't say that. I didn't really do much…" Barbara replied shyly, lowering her head.
"What do you mean you didn't?" Paimon chimed in. "If it weren't for your healing, Lumine and Lora would still be lying on the ground!"
"Exactly!" Lora immediately nodded along, whether out of mischief or solidarity. "Someone as weak and helpless as me would definitely still be unconscious without Miss Barbara's help!"
Venti watched Lora's performance from the side, briefly wondering if he could hire her as an actress for his stories. He could sing while she acted out the scenes—surely it would draw a crowd.
In the end, he abandoned the idea.
Mainly because he didn't have the money.
After everyone had left, Lumine finally turned to Venti.
"Venti, why did you stop me from telling them who attacked us? Those people… they looked like members of the Fatui, didn't they?"
"Huh? The Fatui?" Paimon blinked, her thoughts catching up a beat late. "Now that you mention it, I think I've seen similar people near the Temple of the Four Winds before."
"Very sharp," Venti laughed, glancing around. "But this isn't the place to talk. Let's go somewhere else and discuss it."