She arrives at mondstadt horribly, horribly nervous. She shouldn’t be- she’s put on the longest play in the history of Fontaine, surely this isn’t so frightening?- but her voice still trembles, her hands feel stiff and clumsy, and Neuvillette is picking up a shattered cup she, the portrait of elegance, has just dropped.
A traveling bard invited her to the Windblume festival with a wink and a melody, and who knows why, the song has been playing itself over and over in her head. So she has come to perform, to celebrate, in a city that values freedom above all else.
Neuvillette places a hand on her shoulder, reassuring. It’s the only reason she feels him freeze.
“Ah, Furina de Fontaine!”
It’s the bard, and Neuvillette is looking at him with murder in his eyes and a dragon’s protective grip. The bard’s short and green and cheerful, slightly drunk, and as he moves, he stays in the air just a little too long.
He settles beside her, embraces her with a familiarity that surprises her, completely ignoring Neuvillete.
He stares daggers into his back.
He pulls away with a smile. “I’ve seen you performances. Without a doubt, you are the best actor Teyvat has, or ever will, see.”
The praise is thick and dramatic. She’s used to these words from her subjects as a god, her betters as a disgraced lady, but from the bard they are sincere and soft and they turn her red.
“I appreciate the compliment.”
“It is no compliment- it’s truth, simple as the open sky.” He shrugs. “So, you’ve accepted my offer?”
“Ah… yes. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Mondstadts culture for myself, and to perform again, especially for the city of freedom…” she can feel her face reddening further, half in shame, half dreading the thought. “It will certainly be a spectacle.”
“A spectacle, huh?” The bard looks thoughtfully at the windmills, off into the cloud-traced sky. “In that case, may the Anemo Archon bless you with song and free thought. Although…”
He turns back to her, and his expression softens from pained wistfulness to sympathy. “Although it seems you’ve found freedom to urself, Lady Focalors.”
Her throat tightens. “Yes… I suppose I have,” she agrees weakly.
A shadow falls over them. Neuvillette clears his throat, looking every inch the immovable cornerstone of justice. “Excuse me.”
The bard turns with an anxious little giggle. “Ehe, sorry.” Instead of running, he thrusts his hand out. “Name’s Venti the bard! Pleased to make your acquaintance!”
Seemingly confused, Neuvillete slowly takes his hand.
Venti sweeps away, bows grandly. “Lady Focalors. Iudex Neuvillette.” His eyes lock with hers, and they are tired and pained and old. “Truly, Lady, I hope this festival will return you passion and joy,” he says, and then he’s gone, and the two most powerful creatures in Fontaine gaze after him in utter disbelief.
This is the Anemo Archon?