"Good morning, Farmas."
That was Lumine and Paimon, passing by after taking a commission.
"Good morning, Brother Farmas!"
That was Klee, who had secretly slipped out of her confinement room to go bomb fish again.
"Morning, Farmas. Have you seen Klee?"
That was Captain Kaeya, panting heavily after chasing her.
Farmas pointed toward the Dawn Winery.
Klee, still holding her bomb, skipped happily in that direction.
"What?! She went to the winery?!"
Terrified that Klee might blow up the estate, Kaeya didn't even spare Farmas a sympathetic look and sprinted after her immediately.
"Just another normal day."
Farmas sighed.
Sunlight shone on his pale-red clothing, making the delicate flame patterns glow a striking crimson—
but the moisture and mud clinging to his pants and boots made him look more like a farmer who had just finished planting rice.
"Oh, I'm such a fool… such an idiot…"
Watching Kaeya disappear, Farmas bent down again and continued groping through the murky lake water.
"The forty-eighth Anemoculus."
He tossed the fragment he had fished out—another shattered piece of the Anemo statue, known in his old world as a map-filling collectible—onto the shore of Starfell Lake.
After yesterday's "friendly exchange" at the city gates, he had finally learned from Venti how to repair the statue:
Collect all the scattered fragments,
assemble them,
then use divine power to reconnect them.
The statue would restore itself automatically.
That was the only method.
According to Venti, the Statue of the Seven was sent down from Celestia.
Though infused with Anemo divine power, it couldn't be recreated with Venti's current strength.
So Farmas had no choice but to miserably wade into Starfell Lake and dredge up every last fragment he himself had blown apart.
He had considered evaporating the entire lake with Pyro—
but Venti had already strictly forbidden him from using god-tier Pyro energy on Mondstadt soil.
Ding-ling-ling…
The bell Xiangling had given him jingled lightly in the wind.
"The last one."
Finally, after searching nearly every patch of ground around Starfell Lake, he had gathered all the statue fragments he had blasted apart.
The ones pulverized into dust were lost forever, of course.
Using brute physical strength alone, Farmas tore up a giant slab of soil from the nearby grasslands and dragged it over to form a new central island.
Naturally, this artificial Lakeheart Island was less than half the original size.
Then he piled all the fragments onto the small island and began channeling divine energy, trlumine to reconnect them.
Golden light surged around him, enveloping the island in a massive divine field.
Gradually, the upper half of the statue began to take form.
The hat adorned with Cecilia flowers,
the eyes,
the little braids,
the gentle smile,
the lyre Der Frühling,
and the fitted robe.
But Venti's lower half—
lacked fragments.
So it looked very incomplete.
"Well then… I'll just sculpt it myself."
Farmas, suddenly inspired, replaced Venti's flared pants with a short skirt,
removed the white stockings to reveal pure white thighs,
and finally stamped a small flame-shaped sigil on the statue's ankle—
a proud maker's mark.
"And up here…"
After several minutes of "creative adjustments,"
a barefoot little Gothic-style Anemo loli statue—
leaning forward, clutching her lyre to her chest—
was born.
"I am a genius."
Farmas admired his masterpiece with great satisfaction.
"Now I just need to find Venti and have him put in a bit of Anemo power."
Humming a tune, he headed toward the Dawn Winery.
He knew that ever since Venti's identity was exposed, the bard had been freeloading food, wine, and lodging there.
Only Diluc knew the truth, which left the entire staff confused… and resentful.
"That bard snuck in again and stole a barrel of dandelion wine and apple brew…"
Winemaker Connor had complained countless times.
Stealing aside, repeatedly opening the cellar disrupted its temperature and humidity, and even introduced foreign microbes, ruining fermentation.
"Just put on more locks,"
was always Diluc's response.
But no matter how many locks Connor added, the green bard always managed to "slide in like the wind."
"Good day, Mister Connor!"
Arriving at the winery, Farmas cheerfully greeted the distressed winemaker.
"Good day, Mister Farmas. Master Diluc isn't here today— you can find him at Angel's Share."
Connor forced a stiff smile.
"No, I'm not looking for Diluc. Have you seen Venti?"
Farmas knew exactly why Connor looked so miserable.
His salary was tied to wine sales.
If Venti ruined the year's batches, Connor's finances were doomed.
"…sigh…"
Connor let out a long, weary breath.
"I don't know where that 'special bard' is, but finding him is easy enough…"
"Please follow me."
Curious, Farmas followed Connor into the winery.
The interior decorations were classic and aged, exuding a sense of long history.
Connor reached into a bookshelf, pulled out a round-mouthed clay jug, removed the stopper—
A rush of wild, windy fragrance filled the air.
"Who dares steal dandelion wine?!
Mondstadt's most loyal guardian—Venti—has arrived!"
A green whirlwind burst into the room.
It was Venti—clothes messy, braids damp, reeking of alcohol.
He lunged for the jug—
then froze mid-motion when he noticed Farmas beside Connor.
"…Where were you while I was fixing the statue?"
Farmas frowned at Venti's rolled-up pants, drunken sway, and wet braids.
"Hehe— I was catching fish for Mora!
I'm a bard of principles, you know?
Even if the wine should be offered by Mondstadt's people, I still pay."
Venti stepped to Connor and, grimacing, Connor reluctantly handed over the jug.
Diluc's orders were absolute:
if Venti paid, they must supply unlimited wine.
Watching Venti hand over fish-earned Mora, Farmas stroked his chin and pulled out a big pouch of coins.
These he had casually looted from hilichurls while collecting statue fragments.
"Mister Connor, please accept these as well."
Farmas spoke sincerely.
"Thank you, Mister Farmas."
Seeing the huge bag of Mora, Connor finally looked relieved.
"Alright, Venti— to Starfell Lake.
I've got a surprise for you."
After calming Connor, Farmas grabbed Venti by the arm and practically dragged him outside, excited to show off his creation.
"A surprise…?"
Venti wiped sweat from his forehead, puzzled.
~~---------------------------
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