Change of Plans

{AN: Sorry for the lower releases, but as I am busy, two chapters each week seems to be the maximum of it. And now that august and my holidays starts, it became a chaotic time when I might have more time to write or might have less as I will be away. So I am still unaware of how will the future posts will go, sorry about it.

On another note, I've already finished writing this volume (That's it's finished over my patr.on). It will have 10 more chapters, for a total of 16. As I said, a shorter volume, but quite the important one as it's the presentation of a truly important new character that will mark the future and end of this story.

Thanks for your support and enjoy the read!}

"A fake?!" Jean reacted completely shocked. "It's impossible! We the knight and the Church of Favonius have been guarding the lyre during centuries with Barbatos himself letting it in our care. It can't be fake!"

"Without any doubt, this is a fake one" Venti said convinced "Looking at its remaining elemental power slowly degrading, it shouldn't have passed much time since its creation, meaning that the most probable is that it has been changed for a fake one in these months. Do you have any idea who could have been?"

"It's always being guarded in the church and with most of the responsible at the expedition, I am the only one capable of authorizing its retribution" Jean explained thoughtfully "There's also a huge protection over and while it will be possible to rob it, it would at least be discovered and nothing has happened these days..." Jean's eyes suddenly opened widely "The Ludi Harpastum!"

"Columbina" Diluc spatted contempt "She was the one that played it at the festival and the one capable of changing it for a fake one without being discovered. Knowing the Fatui, it seems like something they will do."

"If that's so, do you have any idea where it could be now?" Venti asked.

Jean shook her head "She left Mondstadt just as the festival finished, so if that's the case, the Holy Lyre will be far away now. It seems that we have lost the opportunity."

"Without it the only thing that could be done is..." Venti turned over Ellen.

"Do you want to force my sister to risk her life against a mad dragon?!" Allen stepped forward, hiding Ellen with his body 'His first plan was to use the lyre's Destruction power to destroy the corruption and now that it's impossible, he of course will choose to use Ellen's ability to purify Dvalin.'

"This is the only way!" Venti exclaimed, "We need to safe Dvalin!"

"I won't let you put my sister in danger!" Allen declared 'Does he really think we will help for nothing? Having the favor of an Archon could be a good thing, but not worth enough to risk Ellen. Even more with Barbatos who no longer holds a Gnosis. He is not worth even returning the Holy Lyre.'

"I am with Allen." Jean nodded "We shouldn't risk civils in this. This is our own battle."

"But!" Venti made a painful expression "If Dvalin continues like this, he will completely fall for the corruption and be lost forever! With only death as the ending."

"If those are the only options, why don't we face Stormterror in battle?" Diluc stated "You seem to know a lot about him, barb. What would be our chances to defeat him?"

"You want to kill him?!" Venti said horrified.

"It's only about defeating him" Diluc explained "They won't let the little girl be in danger so we only need to stop that danger, fighting against it and making him unable to move."

"That won't be so easy" Venti explained "While he had just woken up and is not still at his peak, Dvalin is still strong and with its corrupted mind, he won't stop whatever happens. We might be forced to kill him."

"So what?" Diluc answered "Didn't you say before that death will be his only ending if it's too late? At worst, we will only forward his ending. Now, barb, can we do it?"

Venti made a thoughtful look, thinking about the possible ending of his long-past friend, before turning to look over the group, analyzing their strength "It could be possible. We should be strong enough to defeat him, but we'll need to make sure he doesn't escape."

"And how we will make it? Dvalin is a flying dragon" Jean asked concerned.

"He is staying at the ruins of old Mondstad..." Venti said thoughtfully "Decarabian's powers still remain there, if we are able to trap Dvlain with them, enclosing it with wind walls... But we will need to guide him into the trap. Even if I can taunt him, it will be difficult without knowing and controlling his whereabouts..."

"Fu, fu, fu!" A boisterous laughter echoed through the air, capturing the attention of the group. A girl emerged atop a nearby rock, accompanied by a raven perched upon her shoulder. "I perceive that you find yourselves in dire straits," she announced confidently. "Fear not, for I, Fischl, Prinzessin of Verurteilung, shall lend my aid. Allow this Prinzessin to assist you, for nothing can elude my left eye, Auge der Verurteilung!" Fischl declared with a touch of theatrical flair.

"It seems that the problem of finding him is completely solved" Allen nodded 'Fischl had joined the party.'

...

At the ruins of old Mondstadt, Jean, Diluc, Venti, Fischl and Allen stood inside the highest tower, while Ellen with Eula protecting her waited outside until the battle finished.

"It's ready" Venti declared as he was finished touching some rocks and formations around that started shining with a green light "Now we will only need to make Dvalin come here for that entrance without breaking anything."

"Dvalin is currently resting on a lower floor, approximately 500 meters from our current location," Fischl declared, blocking her right eye with her hand to enhance her connection with Oz's vision. "Bringing him here without causing any collateral damage would indeed pose a challenge. Do any of you possess a viable plan for such an endeavor?" she inquired, her voice filled with a sense of anticipation and readiness, clearly enjoying the adventure of fighting a dragon like in the books.

"It's time for my part" Venti stood up and invoked a bow over his hands "You must know that I am not only the best bard of all Teyvat, I am also a superb archer!" He declared confidently "Leave it to me!"

Guided by Fischl's commands, Venti left the group to find Dvalin while the others prepared for the battle, everyone taking their weapons out.

'If this trap were to fail, the best option will be Diluc's Delusion, but would he use it? It's worth it for him to save Dvalin?' Allen thought while looking at his sword.

"Help!" It wasn't long before some shouts in despair were heard. Venti was approaching the group's place at high-speed while flying with a wind glider and summoning winds to push him.

"BARBATOSSSSSS!" Following him, Dvalin charged against Venti, roaring angrily at him.

*Pa* Venti landed just next to the group near a monument, his scared face quickly changed into a smile.

"Gotcha!" Releasing a little of Anemo power, Venti activated the monument, completing the formation. Suddenly, strong winds surged all around, encompassing Dvalin and the group into a dome within a wind barrier.

"Grrrr" Dvaling roared in fury as he found caged while the group lifted their weapons, pointing towards him.

"Incursion starts!"