Night fell over Mondstadt.
At the side entrance of the Cathedral, three suspicious figures quietly crept along the wall.
"If there's something you want to say, say it. Don't hold back—freedom is all about speaking your mind."
Venti whispered, glancing at Lumine and Paimon as all three crouched low, each wearing an odd mask over their mouth and nose.
Venti even slipped a tiny black cloth over Farmas' face like a prank—though since Farmas was perfectly round, the "mask" was practically a full-body wrap with only his eyes and mouth exposed.
"I really don't want to steal anything…"
Lumine clutched Venti's sleeve, resisting until the last moment.
"Haha, look at you—off-topic the moment you open your mouth. You're far more suited to this job than I am!"
Venti patted his chest proudly.
"I mean, other than singing, I'm not exactly brimming with talents."
"Besides, I have no backing in Mondstadt. If I get caught, no one will speak for me—I'll be punished severely for sure."
"But you, Lumine—you're a hero who helped drive away Stormterror. A rising star in the Knights. If something goes wrong, you can explain your way out of it!"
Farmas watched Venti comfort Lumine while smiling mischievously at him over the mask.
"What about Farmas? He jumps so slow—does he have to come with us?"
Paimon tugged on Lumine's hair, peeking as Cathedral guards finished their rounds, only a few remaining.
"Oh, right. Farmas will stay with me outside. We'll cover you."
Venti nodded, having suddenly remembered.
"What?!"
Paimon instantly regretted opening her mouth.
"No time. Dawn's coming."
Paimon looked up at the starry sky, grabbed Lumine's arm.
Farmas hopped onto Venti's shoulder—quietly puzzled.
She says she doesn't want to steal… so why does she look a little excited?
"Ehehe."
Venti and Farmas made their way to Mondstadt Plaza, stopping beneath the giant Anemo Archon statue.
"You left me behind for a reason, didn't you?"
With a rising wave of heat, Farmas burned the black cloth from his body to ash.
"Huh? Are you mad?"
Venti stood before the statue, gazing up at the vague stone face.
"I told them not to carve my statue like this. It doesn't look like me at all!"
As he spoke, Farmas suddenly felt a surge of powerful Pyro energy.
From Venti's hand appeared a Fire Vision, decorated with a feather motif.
"This was Amber's grandfather's—a Vision passed down to her from the very first Outrider of the Knights. Don't drain it dry; you'll be giving it back."
Farmas nodded. He only needed the divine power inside—he wouldn't touch the Pyro attunement or any of its functional abilities.
But as he accepted the Vision, he noticed a tiny break where it used to connect to Amber's sash.
A bad feeling struck him.
"Barbatos… how exactly did you get this Vision?"
"Aha… borrowed it… from the Outrider… of course…"
Venti's voice wavered suspiciously.
"You know Amber well?"
Farmas asked, eyes narrowing.
"Of course!"
Venti thumped his chest. "Stop worrying and absorb the power already!"
Farmas still felt doubtful, but this wasn't the time to interrogate him.
He nodded—and thin strands of golden divine power flowed from the Vision into his slime-like body.
"Ss—"
The moment his strength grew, the temperature around him shot upward. Venti's fingers trembled on his lyre; he hurriedly summoned a breeze to disperse the heat before the stone tiles of the plaza melted.
But the power was too much. Even the winds struggled to cool the swelling wave of heat, and Venti was forced to whip up a small whirlwind around Farmas.
The air distorted into a blazing sphere of fire.
Within it, a faint silhouette began to form—
a boy with soft features, long black lashes, deep crimson eyes, and hair colored red and white, with a pale ahoge bobbing adorably atop his head.
When the boy's eyes opened, the temperature around him instantly plummeted.
He stepped out of the burning sphere and casually tossed the Vision back to Venti, who was barely holding his wind shield in place.
"Wh—Farmas, you're human again!"
Venti fumbled to catch the Vision.
"Careful! If it breaks, you can't make a new one right now—"
But before he could lecture, the newly human Farmas darted forward.
He threw his arms around Venti, resting his chin on Venti's shoulder, hugging him tightly.
"…Thank you."
Venti's eyes widened—then softened.
He wrapped his left arm around the boy's waist, and with his right hand, ruffled Farmas' fluffy hair.
"You're welcome."
CHOMP.
"AAGH! OW OW OW—Farmas!! What are you doing?!"
Venti screamed, trying to pry Farmas off his shoulder.
So painful! he thought.
I knew I shouldn't be too nice to this war-loving maniac!
But in the blink of an eye—
Venti's arms suddenly felt empty.
The boy had vanished.
A round red slime plopped onto the ground, pretending nothing had happened while staring into the empty plaza grass.
"I can only stay human for half an hour each day. I can't waste it."
Farmas said calmly, turning toward the injured bard.
"That's why you bit me?!"
Venti clutched his shoulder in agony.
"In Munata, that's how you express friendliness."
Farmas nodded with perfect seriousness.
He had no idea where such a ritual came from—
mostly because he had just made it up to trick the lazy Wind God.
A small, petty bit of revenge for Barbatos sitting out the Archon War ages ago.