Seeing Dvalin looking so frightened that his scales were practically about to fly off, Venti shrugged innocently. Then he glanced toward the distant, world-ending tornado, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes.
"By the way, Dvalin,"
"What do you think of that kid down there?"
Dvalin's attention was forcibly dragged back to the terrifying storm. His massive throat bobbed as he swallowed, his voice dry.
"Strong… monstrously strong! That kind of power isn't something a human should have, is it?!
But… who in the world pissed him off? How big of a grudge does that take?"
Venti pretended to think, rubbing his chin.
"Well, I heard that a certain short-sighted dragon accidentally spat out a wind projectile and—oops—blew up someone's hard-earned, brand-new luxury villa.
Bought with years of savings, never lived in even one day, just about to start renovations…
Boom. Gone. Not even ashes left."
With every word Venti spoke, another layer of cold sweat seeped out of Dvalin's scales.
By the time Venti finished, Dvalin looked like he'd just been dragged out of a lake—cold sweat practically pouring out of the gaps between his scales.
Venti finally seemed to notice something was wrong. He turned his head, blinked his clear eyes, and asked innocently,
"Huh? Dvalin, why are you sweating so much?
It's not like you did it on purpose. It was those damn Abyss Mages controlling you, right?"
"R-Right! Yes! Exactly!!"
Dvalin's voice shot up several octaves.
"Those cursed Abyss Mages! Despicable! Controlling me into doing such things—utterly unforgivable! Hahaha… haha…"
His laughter grew more and more hollow, while the cold sweat intensified, nearly forming small waterfalls.
Venti watched Dvalin's 'so guilty he's about to evaporate' expression, his innocent smile becoming brighter—and far more meaningful.
"Really? Really~?
Then why are you reacting so strongly, Dvalin…
Don't tell me you were actually the one who lost your temper and decided to smash something yourself… and just happened to pick the absolute worst possible target?"
"How could that be?! Barbatos! Don't slander an innocent dragon!"
Dvalin panicked, shaking his massive head like a rattle drum, desperately trying to drown out his guilt with volume.
"It was all those Abyss Mages! Yes! They controlled me!"
"Oh my~"
Venti sighed theatrically, glancing again toward the raging storm in the distance.
"So it really was you, huh…
Now what should I do? Should I go tell that very angry little guy that the real culprit is already here~?"
"Damn it, Barbatos! What do you want?!"
Dvalin completely lost his composure, his giant claws fidgeting awkwardly.
He really didn't want to experience being personally "treated" by a storm of that caliber.
"It's simple, Dvalin."
Venti's smile softened, gaining a hint of seriousness. He floated closer and extended his hand, a gentle, pure green glow blooming in his palm.
"Relax. Let me help you completely cleanse the filth and curses that have plagued you for centuries.
It's good for both of us, isn't it?"
He paused, casually flicking his gaze toward the distant vortex again.
"Otherwise… once that kid finishes venting and comes to 'talk' to you personally—
Given his current state…"
Venti put on a 'this is for your own good' expression.
"…you might receive some very hardcore physical therapy.
The kind where the treatment cures the illness—and the dragon—at the same time."
Dvalin stared at the warm, pure light in Venti's hand, then imagined being "physically treated" by that walking catastrophe.
His massive body shuddered.
After a long pause, he finally gave in, extremely slowly lowering his scarred, corroded head toward Venti's small palm.
"…G-gentle… please…"
Not long after, the colossal tornado over Stormterror's Lair began to dissipate.
A streak of green light tore across the sky. Within seconds, Yi Chen arrived at Dvalin's side—while Venti had already vanished like a breeze.
The world-shattering aura around Yi Chen had yet to fully subside. Violent wind energy crackled around his hair and fingertips, his Mangekyō Sharingan still slowly rotating with lingering malice.
But when he saw Dvalin's current condition, the killing intent on his face melted away, replaced with genuine relief.
"Dvalin!"
Yi Chen's voice returned to its usual bright tone, filled with sincere joy.
"You've recovered! That's great! I knew it had to be the Abyss Order!"
He flew closer and casually patted Dvalin's massive foreclaw.
"Otherwise, there's no way you'd randomly attack Mondstadt and—"
"…and accidentally blow up my house, right?
There's no way you wanted to do that!"
Seeing Yi Chen genuinely happy for him—and even proactively making excuses on his behalf—Dvalin was instantly drowned in guilt.
"Ah… hahaha… y-yes!"
Dvalin laughed stiffly, nodding his massive head awkwardly.
"I was controlled by the Abyss Mages! Completely against my will!
Blowing up your house… I'm… deeply sorry!"
He practically squeezed the apology out through his teeth, every scale burning.
Yi Chen waved his hand magnanimously.
"It's just a house! No big deal!
As long as the dragon's okay!"
That level of understanding sent Dvalin's guilt through the roof.
Yi Chen's expression grew serious as he looked up into Dvalin's eyes. The Mangekyō that once radiated destruction now held only clear sincerity.
"I do have one request."
"What is it?"
Dvalin straightened immediately.
"Would you… continue protecting Mondstadt?"
There was no command in Yi Chen's tone. He paused, his voice lowering.
"When I used illusion techniques to guide you away earlier, I also… felt a bit of what you were feeling."
Dvalin's massive body trembled.
Yi Chen continued softly,
"I know you've suffered unimaginable injustice—forgotten, misunderstood, bearing centuries of pain and loneliness alone.
I have no right to force you, and no qualification to demand forgiveness."
"I only hope that—"
"Until Grand Master Varka returns and Mondstadt regains enough strength to protect itself, you'll temporarily continue your role as one of the Four Winds."
"This attack caused heavy losses. The people are afraid.
If you stay, they'll feel safer—and the city will heal faster."
"for full story please visit patreon.com/UchihaAce"