Ever since meeting the huntress and the nameless knight in the tavern, young Venti continued as before.
Facing the walls and the storms, he played his harp every day and sang songs of freedom.
But Barbatos soon noticed that the boy often sat alone before the walls, lost in thought.
Barbatos ruffled Venti's braids and settled on his shoulder, a hint of annoyance in its voice.
"Venti—"
"Have you fallen for that huntress? Ever since you saw her, you've been like a soul possessed."
"You didn't even notice you played out of tune just now."
Barbatos was a little upset, dissatisfied with Venti's recent behavior.
Hearing this, Venti did not know whether to laugh or cry.
He had only glanced at the huntress that day, drawn by her bow.
He had not even seen her face clearly.
How could he have fallen for her?
Ridiculous, pure slander.
He smiled. "Silly. I wasn't thinking about any huntress. I was thinking about the world outside."
"I can hardly wait."
"Barbatos, our dream might soon come true."
After speaking with the nameless knight in the tavern, Venti had been astonished to discover that his daily songs and music had already begun to influence people.
Within the tower, some had already raised the banner of rebellion.
To fight for the true sky.
To fight for the songs and poetry beyond the cage.
They needed only an opportunity to raise their weapons against the tower.
Knowing this, Venti played his harp with renewed vigor, hoping to awaken more people to the spirit of freedom.
He eagerly awaited the coming of freedom.
On Venti's shoulder, Barbatos, as a wind spirit, was itself a messenger of freedom. It did not truly understand Venti's feelings.
But as the boy's closest friend, it could sense his emotions.
Excitement. Anticipation.
Barbatos laughed as well. "Yes, our dream is about to come true. Soon, we will see the world beyond the walls together."
They were thinking of different things.
Venti thought of breaking down the walls, overthrowing the tower, and tearing apart the storms—so the people within could see the blue sky and the world outside.
Barbatos thought of how it had absorbed a great deal of Anemo power from Venti's music. It needed only a catalyst to form a physical body.
Then, it could take Venti through the storms to see the blue sky, touch the feathers of birds, and sing songs of freedom together.
Just thinking about it made Barbatos so happy.
Excited, it flew circles around Venti, ruffling his braids until they looked like pigtails.
Venti looked like an adorable little girl.
Barbatos laughed heartily.
But as happy as it was, Barbatos had no intention of telling Venti about forming a physical body just yet.
It would wait until it succeeded, then surprise him.
It would surely startle him.
...
In the days that followed, Barbatos grew even more diligent. Whenever Venti played his harp and sang songs of freedom, Barbatos would come close, using all its strength to absorb Anemo power from the music.
Soon. Just a little more elemental power, and Barbatos could form its physical body and take Venti through the storms.
Venti, too, was busy during this time.
After finishing his work each day, he played his harp, sang his songs, and then accepted invitations from the huntress and the nameless knight, hurrying off to attend some meeting.
Barbatos did not understand human affairs and had no interest in such troubles.
It only wanted to form its physical body as quickly as possible, take Venti through the storms, see the blue sky, and fulfill their dream together.
Finally, one day, Barbatos absorbed enough Anemo power. From a small breeze, it had grown into a powerful gale.
It came before Venti, wanting to tell him that it was about to form a physical body, that it could easily take him over the walls and through the storms to see the world outside.
But before Barbatos could speak, Venti reached out his hand.
"Barbatos—"
"At last, I can fight for the true sky, for the wind and song beyond the cage, for our dream of freedom."
"Come with me—"
"Crush the tyrant. Tear down the wind wall."
Venti raised his harp high into the air.
A gentle breeze stirred, and the harp's strings quivered, letting out a soft note.
Barbatos heard it clearly.
It had wanted to share its long-prepared surprise, to tell Venti that it was about to form a physical body.
But seeing the excitement on Venti's face, Barbatos knew that even if it formed a physical body, Venti would not leave the tower alone.
His wish was to overthrow the tower, to crush the tyrant, to tear down the wind wall.
Since Venti had made his decision, Barbatos would not refuse. It would resolutely follow the boy's path, stay by his side, and join the war for freedom.
"Venti—"
"After the war is over, when freedom comes to us."
"I have a surprise for you. It will surely startle you."
Barbatos spoke with confidence.
Who would have thought that a wind spirit born only days ago, a weak breeze, could form a physical body so quickly?
Just thinking about it made Barbatos smile.
It could already picture Venti's astonishment, his joy.
Venti laughed. "Alright. If it's a surprise from Barbatos, I'm sure I'll love it."
"I can hardly wait."
Barbatos echoed, "I can hardly wait, too."
When it finally formed its physical body, they could truly embrace.
Then, Barbatos would learn to play the harp.
One could play; the other could sing songs of freedom, filling every corner of the world with Venti's poetry.
As they made their promise, the huntress with Amos' Bow and the nameless knight appeared before Venti and Barbatos once more.
"Let us begin."
"Break the cage."
"Crush the tyrant. Tear down the wind wall."
Behind them stood countless others—people of the tower, weapons in hand, waiting for Venti's harp to sound, ready to charge.