Barbatos gave Jiang Chen a curious look.
This human… from another world, yet wrapped in a scent of divinity—
the air around him practically screamed "godlike."
Barbatos felt it down to his core: this one could snap him like a twig.
Panic flared in the Anemo Archon's chest.
Good lord, this person was dangerous.
Super dangerous.
What the heck was happening in Teyvat? Had the world been turned upside down?
Why on earth would Fate allow someone this strong to slip in?
Barbatos' mind raced.
"You should heal it first," Jiang Chen said, meeting Barbatos' gaze.
"Don't let it actually die."
His friend—the great dragon—was on the verge. A reminder like that snapped Barbatos back to sense.
"Heh—right." He forced a smile. "Thanks, then. This would've been a mess otherwise."
Barbatos began weaving Anemo energy, concentrating his power on Dvalin.
A towering wind wall rose around the clearing—shielding the scene from outside eyes.
Amber and the Knights approaching the forest spotted the sudden wind barrier and froze.
"What… is that? Like at the Stormterror's lair?" Amber breathed, incredulous.
Could it be—Barbatos himself had appeared?
Amber's heart thudded. Barbatos hadn't shown himself in ages. If it truly was him, this was huge.
Too bad she couldn't get through; the barrier held. All she could do was report back.
Jiang Chen watched the wind wall and nodded. He understood its purpose: keep spectators away. Good. Fewer interruptions.
While Barbatos treated Dvalin, Lumine and Paimon hurried over.
"Jiang Chen… who is he?" Lumine whispered, puzzled.
All the clues, the wind, the dragon—could this be Barbatos?
"Is that the Anemo god?" Paimon's voice squeaked with excitement and confusion.
Jiang Chen pointed without hesitation. "He is the Wind God."
"You wanted to find the Anemo Archon to ask about your brother, right? Ask him."
He practically handed Barbatos over.
Paimon gaped. "W-what?! No way—he doesn't look the part at all!"
She inspected Venti up and down, then frowned. The Wind God should be imposing, majestic—this guy looked unreliable, even a little flaky.
Lumine nodded in agreement. "He doesn't look like the Archon."
Barbatos twitched at that—if looks could bruise, he'd be sore. He was already feeling embarrassed enough.
"Hi!" Barbatos greeted awkwardly, still focusing winds to mend Dvalin.
Lumine didn't waste a second. "Hello. Have you seen my brother?"
For a moment Barbatos looked genuinely confused. Was he playing dumb—or truly unaware?
"Hmm? I haven't seen him," he said brightly. "Maybe try asking in Liyue?"
Jiang Chen couldn't help the exasperated face he made at that answer. Really?
Lumine's hope dimmed. "I see… then I'll have to search."
Barbatos offered another suggestion. "You can ask the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. They might have information."
Lumine accepted the advice with a small nod. She would look there.
Barbatos kept working—wind eddies twining into healing currents. After a moment he glanced up, then spoke with a gentle earnestness.
"I'd like you to keep my identity secret," he asked. "If you see me later… just call me 'Venti,' okay? Please?"
Paimon, ever inquisitive, blurted, "Why? Why hide your identity?"
Barbatos chuckled nervously. "Eh heh—mainly to avoid trouble. Please, I beg you!"
Jiang Chen couldn't hold back. "Venti, do your job properly. Stop sounding like a damsel."
"Talk normally—don't make it so weird. People might think you're some—uh—sly trickster."
Barbatos slumped, mortified. Even Lumine suppressed a laugh. The teasing left him frustrated—and a little contemplative.
Maybe personality trends had moved on. Maybe he was passé. Maybe he should go full cosplay and try being female for a while… After all, as a wind spirit, gender was fluid. He laughed at the thought but then got back to his task.
Gradually, Dvalin's wounds knitted, but deep inside the dragon a darker truth remained: Abyssal corruption still clung to his heart.
Barbatos' face clouded. "This is bad," he muttered. "There's Abyssal infection inside Dvalin. If it isn't cleansed, he'll lose his mind again."
Lumine stared, worried. "Can it be cured?"
Barbatos sighed, helpless. "Yes—but it's tricky. I can stabilize him, but only something like a purifying input can cleanse the Abyssic taint."
He looked at Lumine with surprising intensity. "You—Lumine—step forward. Pour your power into him. I can feel it. You can purify him."
Lumine froze. "My power?"
Jiang Chen shrugged, unfazed. "Trust my sixth sense."
Don't ask the heroic-spirits stuff too much. He said it like a command; he wasn't joking.
Seeing Jiang Chen's serious expression, Lumine set her doubts aside. She stepped closer and began the attempt—reaching out with the fragile thread of her Anemo-tinged light, hoping to scour away the blackness inside Dvalin.
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