Are you familiar with Teyvat's landscape? Quick refresher, it is a vast landscape in which harbors life from all walks. There are the wildlife, albeit, some beautiful and some horrible, who fills in the space between the trees and rivers in which manmade properties aren't placed. Beyond that, are the cities and roads that have been built overtime for the use of travel, which only benefits humans, and those alike. There are various cities, such as those named Mondstat, Liyue, and Schneznaya to name a few. Within those cities, and general area, are mafias that control the area.

Each mafia has their own definition of what's right, each mafia has their own definition as to what's considered diplomatic. As such, there comes tension and the reason for these splits in the first place. This reach in ideas is what makes mafias so strong, as they generally have the support of the public in these ideals. Think of it as a giant political party. These mafias are very public, there is only so much law enforcement could do to cull back mafia actions when the general public gives it so much assistance.

A perfect example of this can be the situation in Mondstat.

Mondstat has virtually no law enforcement, as the mafia there, The Knights of Favonious, pretty much is the law. The church used to run things, but have been overruled by the mafia as it were. It got to the point where the church had no choice but to accept this fact, and now is in cahoots with the mafia. In their best interest, it would be better to unite the city, and not divide it if you want to avoid bloodshed.

Let's focus on this tavern, a tavern called the Dawn Winery. A quaint little tavern in Mondstat overseen by Diluc Ragnvindr, who also has high respect in Mondstat, seen by equally high disrespect as well. Within it currently is the man himself, a notable bard, and the other lovely patrons who come regularly.

"Another one for the bard!" the bard cries out, raising his wooden mug eagerly. Although slightly tipsy, he is still very much sober--this being almost his 12th fill.

"For such a small figure, you do sure hold your alcohol well, Venti" Diluc says, getting ready to pour him another, "I also assume as well you have no means of paying for any of this, right?"

"Ah, you know me so well. I play regularly for the drunkards here, surely that should be enough as a form of payment?" the bard, known as venti replies, "though, it does seem you don't know me well enough to know that you should never underestimate a bard's ability."

"There are many bards that wish to play for me. The thing that makes you abnormal is your unique circumstances. You've surely been blessed with many gifts." Diluc finishes, giving Venti his newly dandelion wine filled mug.

Venti takes a gulp before responding, "ah, my gifts. They are both a blessing and a curse I suppose. My entire existence could be a nice melody and lesson one day." he says before taking another sip.

"Anything notable, master Diluc? You place yourself around Mondstat more often than I do. I tend to avoid the open city unless I am in the mood for a song."

"Hm, well, as someone who also adopts my own principles, I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell." Diluc starts, "Through eavesdropping, although not on purpose, I've heard that there may potentially be a watcher lurking outside The Knight's territory, and Mondstat's boundaries in general."

"I haven't checked it out myself, having not the time, but maybe you could in my absence and check it out for me? It seems The Knights don't have any intention right now to investigate the matter themselves. Though, Mondstat folk tend to not fold to gossip as they do in Liyue." Diluc finishes.

"I do look into things on my own, but as a charitable bard, I do not mind." Venti says, taking another swig.

Venti and Diluc, although not a part of The Knights of Favonious, still do care about Mondstat. Both in the eyes of the public come from different origins but generally, the same reputation. Diluc is seen as a fallen hero, and although he moves for mondstat, he still garners the disrespect of those who feel betrayed by his leaving of The Knights. Venti is entirely different, as his disrespect comes from societal disrespect. He, being an omega, has more power than  every alpha situated in Mondstat. His existence is directly conflicting as to what's seen as an omegas role in a society. Though, he still has respect for his dedication to Mondstat, both in the past and the present. In this regard, they are almost in the same situation, and because of this, they both have a mutual respect for one another.

After a couple hours, the tavern closes. Diluc cleans up and gets ready to head out, kicking out any drunkard who was left lingering, conscious or not. That also included Venti, who left on his own merit after a few words.

Venti decided to investigate tomorrow, once he's sobered up more and can focus. He goes to rest at the local inn, as a thought occurred to him along the way. How exactly was he going to investigate? Surely, if there was a bird in the trees, they'd become suspicious if they noticed someone was looking for something or someone. Which in-turn, would make them more cautious about their presence. Venti would have to think one step ahead, though something tells him he shouldn't underestimate the culprit. He may have to use his teleportation ability to sneak up on them, but to have a watcher so close to the boundary? They must be powerful, or at least, able.

The next morning, Venti was sitting resting on the giant statue that looms over mondstat. He came to the conclusion that this culprit had to appear during the morning. Although it was entirely possible they lurked in the night, depending on the information that they were searching for, Mondstat is most active during the day. Besides, as it is morning now, he might as well search. Venti decided to move, and go to the highest point of Mondstat. Using his elemental ability of the anemo element, skyward sonnet, he is pushed into the air by a gust and he gently floats.

Quickly glancing, he hadn't noticed anything in particular. Figures, this wasn't going to be as easy as spotting them from a bird's eye view. Then, his next idea. To rule out the possibility of a vision bearer, or one who bears elements without a vision, he decides to float to the ground and use elemental sight. If they had anything of the similar, venti's keen sense would surely pick up elemental traces,unless the culprit is of the normal populous, or really good at hiding their tracks.

Starting at the back of the Mondstat boundary, he uses his elemental sight to see if he picks up any traces. Walking around as if he was having a leisurely walk to not look very notable, and pacing back and forth while humming gently. While he walked, he thought of song lyrics for a potential new song, though he did remain fairly focused. After determining that there had been no elemental pick up behind Mondstat, he traveled to the front, and did the same process.

However, he did pick up something. It was very peculiar. He picked up gentle traces of the anemo element, but..it also seemed...tainted. It was a very unique thing for him to have felt, but decided to ask around before jumping to conclusions. There are two notable figures in Mondstat that harbor the anemo element. One a vision bearer, and one not. Since it is early morning, both of them shouldn't have left the Mondstat borders yet. Any elemental tracing from yesterday should be gone with the wind by now.

Venti quickly travels to the inn, from where the Honorary Knight of The Knights of Favonious rested. He asks the innkeeper which room they resided in, and although met with superstition, he seemed harmless enough to be in the know.  Especially since he's not exactly a stranger in Mondstat. Venti went over to the room and knocked, announcing himself, "Your neighbourhood bard is here to sing you a verse!"

After a bit, and there being no response, the door finally opened, with a half-awake Lumine peering through the door. "You tone-deaf bard! Don't you know what time it is?! What could you want with us this early in the morning?" Paimon yells, causing Venti to chuckle.

"Sorry to bother you on such a fine morning, but I was wondering if you had travelled out of the city this morning? Or came into the city late into the night?" Venti asks

"Paimon doesn't recall coming back when it was dark. We only just came back during the afternoon for dinner!" Paimon replies.

"Well, that answers my question then. Sorry to bother, but i shall be heading off now. I'll pay you back later with a song." Venti says, before heading off. He left too quickly to hear Paimon's snarky rebuttals.

Taking his leave, he quietly walked over to The Knights headquarters. Although not officially a part of them, he is always welcomed to come and go as he pleased, as long as someone was present to account that he was there of course. Walking in, being greeted by the knights that stood there to keep watch, he entered Jean's office.

Jean hearing the aged door creek looked up at the clover-colored bard. "Hows Klee?" Venti asks, before getting situated. As expected of a mafia leader, Venti is unaware as to where Jean's sleeping quarters are, so catching her here at her office at this time of day was going to be a hit or miss. "Glad to catch you here, a bard's luck I suppose."

"...Klee is fine, what brings you here?" She questions, not letting go of the writing utensil she wielded. She was a bit off put by the question, as Klee is still a somewhat sensitive topic for her.

"Didn't mean to offend. I just have a question, have you at all left Mondstat's borders this morning, or maybe late into the night?" he asks the similar question to the one he asked Lumine prior.

"No, I have not personally. Why, is there something that has been bothering you?" she asks, suddenly the question peaking her interest.

"I wouldn't worry, I just wanted to clear something up. As the lonesome bard, I have a few duties myself that I cannot share until I am sure. Sorry to keep you in the dark, but when I have results, I may update you." He says, before waving and leaving the office, leaving Jean quite perplexed and curious as to what he is up too. However, given that Venti always has Mondstat's best interest in mind, she doesn't worry much.

After confirming that both parties have not left recently, that means that those elemental traces he felt before were not done by them. With a mischievous smirk, Venti skips to the front of Mondstat, and using elemental sight walked a bit before picking up the anemo traces he felt before. He walks a little before the traces felt more recent and recent, meaning this culprit has been here--at least recently.

When the traces felt stronger and stronger, Venti started to slow and be more cautious. The traces were very weird, as it was definitely anemo, but it was just....off. As if it was fuzzy, as if it was...as if....there is a maliced presence mixed in with it. This odd fact has put Venti on alarm. From the strength, he is sure the culprit is around this area, and to not look suspicious, Venti went to sit next to a nearby tree, and decided to fiddle with his lyre as if he's just here to play a tune.

With no exact tune in mind, he starts to play a little ditty on his lyre. His gentle strokes made the tune flow through the wind, the sudden area around him calming--it was like a momentary bliss. It seems this has gotten the attention of another, as a gentle sound of a jingle was heard. Maybe from a necklace, maybe from a weapon, who knows. All Venti knows is that it wasn't him.

With a general idea about the direction it came from, as the wind tells all secrets, he gave a gentle smile and disappeared. He teleported to a nearby tree, on one of the highest branches, and peered down to a figure. "Good day!" he announces, from which the figure spins around and seemingly teleports. Luckily, Venti is quick, and grabs onto the figure before it goes, meaning he also teleports with.

Reappearing still within Mondstat's fields, with Venti's arms wrapped around the figure's neck behind them. The figure retaliates by suddenly forcefully bending down, causing Venti to come up above the figure's head and down on the ground. The figure pulls out a polearm, and went to stab down onto Venti's head, but Venti was quick enough to roll to dodge it. Before the figure could teleport again, Venti quickly grabbed onto their ankle, and they teleported away again.

Reappearing once more, the figure growls. The growling gets savage, and a mask appears on the figure's face. At the same time, a black smoke starts to form around the figure. This feeling...was definitely the feeling of malice. Venti personally could not stay in something like this for long. Malice can ruin someone very fast. The figure uses their free foot to kick Venti off. Venti grunts but gets up quickly and backs off at a reasonable distance because of the malice. How can someone withstand so much malice..?

The figure growls more and then rips the mask off, the mask shattering on the ground. "Dammit, I let my emotions get the best of me!" they scolded themselves. The figure is, although small like Venti, a masculine figure. His clothing style also indicated that he was from Liyue, not a Fatui and not a treasure hoarder....meaning...

"Calm down, I have no intention of taking you in." Venti says, "I was only curious as to who was the bird that has been watching Mondstat for who knows how long."

"Don't belittle me with such awful lies."

"Hehe, I may live for Mondstat, but I'm sure you're familiar with who I am, depending on how long you were watching. I work alone, I make my own investigations, and I tend to solve them myself, only getting help if I cannot truly do it alone. Finding this out, I'd have nobody to report too. Like I said, I was investigating for my own interests." Venti explains.

Venti started to gather information as he was speaking. The clothing is from Liyue, but not from the previously mentioned Mafia and gang. This figure also has elemental traces, and has a strong malice coming from them, which a normal person would go crazy under. That is, unless, they have been trained to withstand it......such a painful training. Not only that, this culprit has the ability of teleportation. Teleportation isn't a skill that an average person can possess, as an untrained body can easily be killed if they teleport too far. That also means that if an untrained body were to grab onto a teleporting body, they will still feel the effects as if they were teleporting themselves, resulting in the same results. This figure probably was relying on that, and did not expect Venti to withstand it. The figure mustive picked up on this too.

"You're from Rex Lapis' Mafia, called...Adeptus? Meaning you're a Yaksha, as they are called within that mafia." Venti says, looking toward the figure.

"I have no reason to answer anything you ask of me." The figure said, collecting themselves and started to calm down.

"Ha, I don't expect you too. I'm aware of how rough being in that mafia can be, I'm sure going back empty-handed, nonetheless, getting caught, would warrant you some trouble, correct? I'm not a part of any mafia, I have no reason to get into mafia drama. Even if I want to help Mondstat, I'm not a one-man army, I'm just a...patriotic lonesome bard."

"Again, don't belittle me. For you to survive that, you must be trained to teleport, perhaps, even possess it yourself. You're far more powerful than you try to make it seem, I know more than you think, Venti." the figure said, his gaze turning even colder.

"Already on a first-name basis?" Venti smiled, "you're not exactly unknown yourself, Xiao. There are only five yakshas in that mafia, minus your mafia leader, all of different elements. You possess the anemo element. You are the most quiet one, it would make sense for them to send you out for a stake-out mission. I must say, an average person wouldn't have been able to find you, your only fault was the jewelry you wear."

The figure, now known as Xiao, didn't say anything in response. He just kept a cold gaze on the bard.

"Whether you trust me or not, I will let you continue on with your stake-out mission. I'm a kind bard, I'll even play you a tune when you take a break." Venti says, with a gentle smile.

"....such a waste of time." Xiao says, before teleporting away.

Venti then himself teleports back to the boundary of Mondstat. With a sigh of relief, he walks back into Mondstat. He goes straight to the Dawn Winery, and even though it was closed, from Venti's knocking pattern, Diluc was able to assess that it was him, and let him in.

"What are you doing at the tavern so early in the morning?" Venti asks, before going to sit down.

"I could ask the same of you, you wouldn't have come here if you suspected me of not being here." Diluc says, going to clean the counters and the tables, "I'm assuming then you're coming here for information, and not alcohol?"

"Hehe, I did go investigating the rumors on my own. That's what i've been doing this morning. Although it was such a short time, I haven't found anything. This culprit is a lot quieter and smarter than I would've thought, so I need to approach in a different way. Nonetheless, I did truly come here for some wine. At least as payment for volunteering my services." Venti says, with a malicious smile.

"....whatever, I'll get you a mug." Diluc says, before going to the back to get the wine for Venti.

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AN: Fun Fact: I play Aether, but I chose Lumine for this fanfiction :)