Feeling a gust of wind rush into his arms, Venti knew it was Barbatos.
He instinctively tried to embrace him.
But his arms and hands passed through the wind spirit Barbatos, grasping nothing.
"Barbatos, promise me—"
"Until you form a physical body, don't take such risks again."
As a weak wind spirit, crossing the storms alone was easy for Barbatos.
But trying to carry anything through them risked being consumed.
Barbatos understood the danger.
As before, it gently ruffled Venti's braids and settled on his shoulder.
"I am a god of wind, a god of freedom—a little storm like that cannot harm me!"
"But I'm sorry I couldn't bring the flower back."
Barbatos's voice carried a hint of guilt.
If it had been a little stronger, a little more determined, perhaps it would have succeeded.
Feeling Barbatos's disappointment, Venti smiled.
"It's alright. I will always believe in you."
As he spoke, a single red petal drifted down on a gentle breeze, floating before Venti and Barbatos.
Seeing the petal, Barbatos exclaimed excitedly, "A petal!"
"Look, Venti! I didn't fail. I really did bring a flower back."
With that, Barbatos did as it always did—it ruffled Venti's braids and perched on his shoulder.
It was so happy.
With its own power, it had shown the boy the truth of the outside world.
Now, seeing the red petal falling through the air, Venti was utterly transfixed.
He was not mistaken.
This was the first time he had ever seen such a vibrant color.
He reached out and caught the small petal in his hand.
Bringing it to his nose, he caught a faint, sweet scent.
Suddenly, Venti ran like a madman back to the tavern.
Cradling the red petal in his palms as if it were a priceless treasure, he showed it to everyone in the tavern.
"Barbatos was telling the truth!"
"This petal—he brought it from beyond the storms."
Excitedly, Venti presented the petal to everyone.
In the tavern, people turned at the boy's voice.
In his palm, they saw a delicate red petal lying quietly.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
They had never expected that a mere boy, a weak wind spirit, could bring a flower from outside the walls into their midst.
All their lives, they had lived within the tower, and no matter what they asked of the Lord of the Tower, he never answered.
They could never see the world outside, let alone flowers of such vibrant color.
Now, seeing the vivid petal before them, they were speechless.
Venti saw the stunned faces of the crowd.
He played his harp and sang, hoping his songs of freedom would awaken the numb.
"Great god of wind—"
"With a wave of your hand, drive away these raging storms—"
"Leave this tower—"
"Let me see the blue sky, let me see the green earth, let me see the birds flying free—"
"Free god of wind—"
Venti's songs and harp echoed through the tavern.
With Barbatos's help, they even escaped the tavern, reaching every corner of the streets.
In that moment, more of the numb and weary, more of those longing for freedom, were awakened by Venti's voice.
The way people looked at Venti changed.
From disdain and disbelief to admiration and even reverence. They saw him as a herald of freedom.
Not only that, but others on the streets heard the songs and committed them to memory.
Following Venti's harp, people began to sing songs of freedom themselves.
Songs of freedom filled the tower, even breaking through the storms to reach beyond the walls.
The spirit of freedom began to shake the foundations of the walls, to rattle the tower itself.
As Venti tirelessly played his harp and sang his songs, a huntress wielding Amos' Bow and a nameless knight approached him.
With the highest courtesy within the tower, they paid their respects.
"Your singing is beautiful—"
"Hearing your songs, I can almost see the blue sky beyond the walls, the trees with their lush branches."
"And you know—your music carries the power of Anemo."
The huntress with Amos' Bow spoke gently to Venti.
Both she and the knight carried a certain presence—the bearing of those who had fought and killed.
They were clearly no ordinary people.
Hearing their praise, Venti was delighted. "Thank you for your kind words. I am only doing what I can with what I have."
"If you enjoy it, you are welcome to listen here every day."
He would continue to play his harp and sing his poems, awakening the light of freedom in every heart.
But the nameless knight spoke.
"I love your harp and your poetry as well."
"But next time, I want to hear your songs from beyond the tower, not within it."
"To make that dream a reality, we need your help—and your friend's."
The knight looked toward Barbatos beside Venti.
Clearly, both the knight and the huntress placed great importance on the boy's songs and music.
Because they had discovered that Venti's harp did more than awaken people's longing for freedom.
The Anemo power it carried could also strengthen those who heard it, quickening their steps, lending them strength.
Though the boy was no god and possessed no Vision, his harp could inspire others, granting them power.
He was exactly what they had been searching for.
Hearing the knight's words, Venti froze.
A bold thought formed in his mind.
Were this huntress and nameless knight truly considering using force to overthrow Decarabian, the Lord of the Tower?
Far from being afraid, Venti was excited.
"If there is any way I can help, please tell me."
"I am willing to give all my strength for this dream, for this wish."
Seeing his response, the nameless knight and the huntress nodded slightly, clearly pleased.
"Soon."
"It will not be long now."
"Before long, this gray sky will return to its true color."