113 Lying is the Way

"Why are you trespassing on our territory?" The wolves moved, leaving space as Andrius stepped forward "This is no place for you. Return to your land, humans!" Andrius growled, the blizzard around Allen's group becoming stronger.

'I don't know his concrete relationship with Decarabian, but he saved us before, so his hostility towards us shouldn't so be high.' Allen stepped forward, bowing his head "Lord Andrius, we came seeking refuge. We don't have any place to stay, having been wandering in this eternal blizzard."

"What makes you think that I, the same creator of this blizzard, would help you?" Andrius showed his sharp teeth.

"Because it was you who saved us from Decarabian" Allen stated "If it weren't for you, we will have been killed by the tyrant."

"You think him as a tyrant? You are showing your true colors" Andrius growled "The only reason for Decarabian to chase after you is your own rebellion. You have strength and a spirit, enough power to survive even here. But it's that eagerness for more that had put you in danger. I won't help the likes of you. My previous help was due to him breaking his own deal and invading this land. It won't be repeated."

"But is it wrong to fight for freedom?" Allen stated "To dream of seeing the birds flying freely through the blue sky. To battle a tyrant that caged us in that wall."

"What do you know about Decarabian?" Andrius inquired, glaring at Allen.

"I'm unaware of the truth, that's why I'm searching for it along with freedom" Allen answered. "We don't have any other option, help us uncover the truth and bring Decarabian down."

"Strong words for someone who knows nothing" Andrius laughed "Do you want to know the truth? The truth of Mondstadt? The truth of my blizzard? The truth of this battle and sacrifice? You are too weak to even pose as a thread, before anything, show the strength of your ideals."

"And how must I show?" Allen touched his lyre and Elf moved over his shoulder.

"This is not a war that can be fought alone!" Andrius growled, shooting a powerful icy wind toward Allen, forcing Elf to fly away. "Show the strength of your ideals in others, make the Lawrence join your cause."

'The Lawrence...' Allen remembered how they had been treated some days before, not even letting them have a conversation before chasing them away 'I'll need to convince them with my strength.'

"However, only you must be there, neither partners nor the spirit to tag along" Andrius warned "Convince those warriors with your words and actions and I'll think of your cause as something worth taking into consideration, showing you the truth behind all."

"AUUUUUUUU!" Andrius howled and the air around trembled, a blizzard swallowing Allen's group.

"Venti!" Fischl extended her arm but was unable to catch him before being taken away by the powerful gale.

When it finally stopped, Allen found himself all alone, without any trace of the group "I'll take care of them for now. Show me your worth" Andrius stated before turning around, and disappearing into the blizzard.

...

'What should I do?' Allen thought as he saw the Lawrence's settlement in the distance 'I could use my Delusion to force them with my strength, but even if I show it as part of my power that would ask for a lot of questions. And in the end, I doubt that Andrius accept it as I would have convinced using their ideal that strength rules.'

'Let's try to talk again and go with the flow' Allen decided as he stepped in front of the gate 'If it doesn't work, let's force it!' Allen put his hand over his Delusion.

"So little Venti decides to return again?" Seeing Allen, the guard grinned "And this time all alone. Have you been thrown away again?" The guard laughed.

'Thrown away again?' Allen couldn't really understand what was all about.

"Phillip!" A serious voice sounded and the guard looked back. "Open the door."

"Madam Venerare" The guard glared down.

"I had since long made the decision, he will never be accepted" Venerare said without any shred of doubt "Now, open the door!" She said threatening, the guard following her order.

Venerare left through the door, walking towards Allen "What are you doing here, Venti?" She glared at him "I won't change my mind, this is not your place. You are no longer my son."

'So it was that' Allen finally discovered the truth 'The role of this body was being part of the Lawrence clan as Venerare's son. However, it seemed to have been exiled from it. I can think about the reason behind it, seeing the lyre and handbook.'

"Even now, wandering around this place, you are only with your lyre, with no weapon at all" Venerare shook her head "Return to the city and forget about this place."

'I can work with this. Let's the start the act.' Allen grinned for himself "♪" Allen played his lyre "Oh, Lawrence Clan! So powerful and valiant. Daring to go against the cold and wind♪" Allen started singing loudly, getting the attention of the people at the settlement whose heads started surging over the wooden fence, wanting to look at what was all about.

'Inflate their ego...' "Facing monsters and the environment♪ Conquerors of the land!♪" Allen could see the interested faces of the clan members that grinned at the compliments, proud of their customs and strength.

"Or that's why they tell themselves♪" '...and attack it!' Allen grinned as he changed the tone of the music "Leaders of cowards♪ Lawrence Clan, those fearful of gods, hiding in a corner, trembling in fear not daring to even be in their presence♪ Conquerors of nothing!♪ Masters in hiding and ignorance♪!"

"Fucker!" "What are you fucking saying?!" "I'll kill you!" "YOU'RE DEAD!" Loud shouts surged from the wall from the outraged Lawrence members.

"Venti, that's the reason for your return, to insult us?!" Venerare said gritting her teeth as she draw her greatsword, effortlessly lifting it with one hand and pointing at Allen "The coward of the clan who couldn't fight and run away, returning in search of his death."

Venerare lifted her greatsword, taking it with both hands "I will give it to you!" Venerare swung her greatsword with immense strength.

"Death?" Allen smiled seeing the greatsword falling towards him, not moving at all. "I don't have any plan to die early."

*Bang!* The greatsword grazed Allen's nose and hit the ground, failing to hit him and cracking the ground behind while Allen stayed immobile, completely keeping his equilibrium.

"And coward, eh? See what this coward has done. I faced not only the forces of Mondstadt but even Decarabian himself, being chased by him and even facing him once. I crossed the blizzard reaching Andrius's lair and facing him face to face!" Allen turned over the wall "What had the oh-so-powerful Lawrence Clan done?"

"NOTHING!" 'Destroy that ego!' Allen shouted as he stepped over Venerare's sword, piercing it further into the ground "I won't accept this place, this law! I'll revolt against it! I'll take down Decarabian and his reign of terror, showing everyone what true freedom is!"

"I can already think about the song. About the exiled boy of the Lawrence Clan, about the coward who dared to face the gods, while the clan hide away. It will be sung for generations. Imagine if I were to accomplish the impossible, the dishonor of the clan!"

"Or!" Allen extended his arms "You can join my revolution! Go against the gods! You are the strongest? You are the conquerors? Show it!" 'and finally let them an exit.' "Show to the world, the true strength of the Lawrence clan that bows to no one!"

"Let's show our strength!" "Let's go!" "WOOOOO!" Shouts of defense in their honor, shouts to finally leave their actual and show their strength to the world.

Listening to Allen's powerful voice without any doubt, seeing his determined eyes, Venerare could not help to be shocked by the great change in her son. She smiled sadly "You have grown, Venti."

Listening to everyone, Allen grinned 'I've got them!'