After being carried by Dvalin and spun around in the sky, Barbatos suggested a stroll into the city.
Morgan looked at his own flamboyant outfit, then at Barbatos—white-winged divine attire, a gleaming lyre, radiating an aura that screamed, “I am the Anemo Archon.”
“Are you planning to enter the city like that?” Morgan asked.
“Otherwise, what?”
“Can we be a bit more low-key?” Morgan said.
“I want to experience Mondstadt as an ordinary person.”
Barbatos gave him an “I get it” look.
Dvalin set the two of them down on a hillside not far from Mondstadt.
He glanced at Barbatos.
“Don’t get too carried away.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry.
Goodbye, Dvalin.”
Dvalin flapped his wings and flew away, his long, cyan dragon form soon disappearing into the clouds.
Barbatos spun around in place.
A flash of white light passed, and his outfit changed into that of a bard—a green cape, a white shirt, tight trousers, and that iconic beret.
A sense of familiarity welled up in Morgan’s heart; this was the image from his memories, the green-clad bard who had guided him through the first two nations in the game.
“Just call me Venti from now on.” Barbatos winked at him.
Morgan patted himself, and the crown on his head transformed into a halo, floating above him.
His figure remained unchanged, but those pointed Fairy ears vanished, replaced by black wings growing from where his ears and waist were.
They weren’t large, and when folded against his waist and hips, they looked like some unique decoration.
Venti leaned in, looking him up and down.
“Whoa, you can shapeshift too?”
“Mm.” Morgan opened his eyes.
“Casual wear from my Trailblazer days.
It’ll do.”
Venti circled around him.
“Can’t you also change your appearance with a snap of your fingers?” Morgan asked.
“That’s different,” Venti said.
“I’m an Anemo Wisp, I can mold my form into other shapes.
Your change isn’t just a simple appearance shift; it looks like your entire species changed, right?”
He reached out and poked the black wings on Morgan’s waist.
“As far as I know, only Greater Lord Rukkhadevata has the ability to completely alter life forms like this.”
Morgan swatted his hand away.
“I am a Memokeeper.
My existence is quite unique; I’ve transcended physical form and survive in the form of a meme.
In the eyes of others, the appearance I’m observed in is called a ‘Dharmakaya.’ As it happens, I have multiple Dharmakayas.”
He pointed to his halo.
“As you can see, this form is the body of a Halo race.
You can think of it as a winged subspecies of the Fairies.”
“Is it really okay to tell me such important information just like that?”
“That’s why you have to keep it a secret for me, friend,” Morgan said.
“Besides, who knows?
There might come a time when I need the breeze’s help, so it’s only right to be open with a friend.”
Venti looked at him, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
“Actually, I’ve always been a bit curious—aren’t you trusting me a bit too much?
We’ve known each other for less than a week.”
Morgan answered righteously, “Because you are kind.”
Venti: “?”
Morgan didn’t explain, but he had his own calculations in mind.
If there’s anyone in Teyvat who is the most reliable, it has to be old man Zhongli.
If you become friends with him, you can always count on being pulled out of a crisis.
He hadn’t forgotten the Khaenri’ah cataclysm—with only the old man Zhong and the drunkard left among the first generation of Archons, he needed to play it safe.
But how do you become bros with Rex Lapis?
You have to take it one step at a time.
Start by hanging out with a friend’s friend.
Besides, while Venti is unconventional in small matters, he can be helpful when it comes to big ones.
As for the three Shades other than Asmoday, he could only manage small talk with them.
Rely on them?
That would be like using the Heavenly Principles’ sword to slay the Heavenly Principles.
A shade cannot defy its master; at least, that possibility doesn’t exist at this stage.
Plus, when playing the game in his past life, these two helped him a lot in early exploration and the Spiral Abyss.
The sense of security brought over from his previous life was something he could carry into this one.
Venti leaned in again and started tugging at the black wings on his waist.
“Hmm, with these wings on your waist, can you actually fly?”
Morgan rolled his eyes and flapped his wings, slapping a faceful of feathers onto Venti.
“Touch your own, don’t touch me.”
“I’m just curious!” Venti persisted.
“Can you fly?”
Morgan was speechless.
Who are you asking?
Me?
Go ask MiHoYo!
That’s just how the Halo race is designed.
“I can glide for a short time.
Alright, didn’t you say you were going to show me Mondstadt?” he said.
“Are we going or not?”
“Let’s go, let’s go.” Venti finally withdrew his hand, but his eyes were still darting toward his wings.
“But other than growing wings and changing your clothes, your appearance hasn’t changed, right?
Aren’t you afraid of being recognized by the Fairies?”
“Aren’t you the same?” Morgan pointed at his head.
“Those two braids are styled just like the statue.
Do you think your own people are blind?”
Venti touched his braids.
“I’ve changed my temperament, haven’t I?
Besides, it’s normal for Mondstadters to wear the Anemo Archon’s signature hairstyle, right?”
“Then I’ll say the local Fairies held a ‘Cosplay as the White Tsar’ competition,” Morgan spread his hands.
“I entered in disguise and unfortunately didn’t win.
The judges said I wasn’t cold enough.”
Venti was stunned.
“There’s a competition like that?
Can they really not tell?
Should I hold one too?”
Morgan said, “If there were such a competition, you wouldn’t necessarily take first place.
A thousand people read a book, and a thousand ideas arise.
Someone even pointed at me and said: ‘Oh my, this is a pathetic imitation of His Majesty.'”
Venti rubbed his chin.
“After all, the Anemo Archon in everyone’s heart is different, right?
I feel like you’ve experienced so many interesting things.
It would have been better if I had met you earlier.”
He suddenly leaned in close.
“So I really can’t touch your halo?
You look like you could impersonate an Archangel right now; angels also have halos and wings.”
Morgan shoved his face away.
“No.”
He dragged Venti toward the city.
Although taking a friendship a step further means becoming “frenemies,” why does this Venti seem to be developing into a little troublemaker?
The two entered Mondstadt.
Morgan looked around curiously.
The streets of Mondstadt now were not quite the same as the Mondstadt he had seen in the game in his past life.
There were no Adventurers’ Guild counters, no Crafting Benches, no Good Hunter restaurant.
Along the streets were small vendors selling a variety of items: hand-woven baskets, freshly baked bread, and homemade fruit wine.
The architectural style was somewhat similar to the Mondstadt of later generations, but rougher and more rustic.
However, because of the Fairies’ arrival, the city had been decorated, giving it a unique beauty.
“How is it?” Venti asked.
“My city looks good, right?”
“It has a very free feeling, characteristic of Mondstadters.
The Fairies have never seen the scenery of spring.” Morgan caught a petal drifting down.
The city had a feeling like it was celebrating the Windblume Festival, though he didn’t know if that festival existed at this point in time.
“Hehe.” Having received praise from Morgan, who bore the reputation of the Archon of Art, Venti was clearly much happier.
They passed a square where several Fairies were strolling.
One of the female Fairies saw Morgan and froze.
“This gentleman…” she said hesitantly, “you look a bit familiar.”
Morgan kept a straight face.
“Really?
Maybe I just have a common face.”
“No, no, no,” the Fairy shook her head.
“You look very much like our His Majesty.
Are you a Fairy from the honor guard?”
Morgan pointed to his chicken-wing ears. Get faster updates on g.com.
“I’m from the Birdman tribe of Mondstadt.”
“Bird…
Birdman?” The Fairy was amazed, her feathered ears popping up.
“Does Mondstadt have such non-humans?
Is this right?”
Another Fairy noticed he didn’t have the pointed ears of a Fairy and smiled embarrassedly.
“Sorry, sorry, mistook you for someone else.” She pulled her companion away.
Venti was stifling laughter on the side.
Hahaha, this was the first time he’d heard someone call themselves a “Birdman.”
“What are you laughing at?
You have wings too; you’re a Birdman too.” Morgan kept a straight face and continued walking.
They met a few more Fairies on the way; some looked twice, some greeted him directly.
Morgan handled them all, and he really managed to fool them.
Venti took him to the best tavern in Mondstadt—though it wasn’t called Angels Share yet.
However, this little shop had been recommended by Anastasia, and even if Venti hadn’t brought him, he would have wanted to taste it himself.
The landlady was a cheerful young woman with red hair in a high ponytail.
Morgan hallucinated a female version of Master Diluc, but she was more outgoing and youthful, unlike Master Diluc, who always wore a cold expression as if everyone owed him money.
“Yo, you said you wanted to treat someone to a drink today?
That’s rare.
Usually, you’re the one asking others to treat you.
The sun must be rising from the west.”
Venti sat down without changing his expression.
“Miss Lia, please don’t tease me.
Please bring us your best wine.”
Lia looked at Morgan, then at Venti.
“Is this your friend?”
“My friend,” Venti said.
“He’s from Snezhnaya and wants to taste Mondstadt’s specialty.”
“Oh, oh, is it His Majesty, the White Tsar?”
Venti looked at Lia in surprise; how did she guess that?
“I don’t know this Fairy gentleman, but do I not know you?
Your Grace, the Anemo Archon.” Lia winked playfully.
Barbatos didn’t care much for rules.
Compared to the solemn church, he preferred to come to the mortal world to play and have fun, and he had made many human friends, Lia being one of them.
“Friends who can be brought here by Your Grace must be big shots.
Because of the recommendations of Lady Anastasia and Lord Krylov, this shop has received quite a few Fairy friends recently.
The Fairy friends kept telling me about His Majesty the Tsar, and even gave me many related things.
One of the textiles even has your portrait.”
Huh?
Philins is involved in this too?
“Then why don’t I see anyone else?” Venti looked around.
There were many Snezhnaya decorations on the walls and shelves, but he didn’t see anyone else.
“That’s for you, isn’t it?
You said you wanted to come and taste my wine, so the tavern is closed to the public now, only entertaining the two of you.”
Lia quickly brought over two glasses of Dandelion Wine.
Morgan picked up the glass and took a sip.
The taste was similar to the sweet wine of later generations, but richer, with less commercial cloying sweetness.
“Not bad,” he said.
“Of course,” Venti shook his glass proudly.
“A Mondstadt specialty, certified by the Anemo Archon.”
Morgan looked at him.
“You’re certifying yourself?”
“Hehe.”
Morgan took a light cone of himself.
They clinked glasses, drank until evening, Lia waived the bill, and Morgan gave a gift.
Leaving the tavern, Venti swiped two bottles of wine.
They climbed a windmill.
Venti gave him a harmonica, engraved with patterns of wind and Cecilia.
“A return gift.
If you want to share good wine, you can call me.”
Morgan stroked the small instrument: “Thank you, I will cherish it.”
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”