Purifying

"H-how can it be?" Eula was completely shocked by the event. This was not the first teardrop that she found, having another one in her possession, however, it did not matter what method she tried, it has been impossible to suppress its corrupted aura.

"Have I done something wrong?" Ellen asked with an unsure tone as she saw the shocked face of her siblings.

"Of course not!" Eula quickly interjected "You made an incredible act! It's only that we were shocked by it. But more importantly, are you fine? Did you feel some pain or something different?" Eula worried started scanning Ellen's body, trying to find any sign of the teardrop affecting Ellen.

Ellen shook her head "I'm completely fine! Nothing is wrong."

"Thanks, Barbatos!" Eula sighed in relief, but she still kept her wariness over, not risking her sister's condition.

"You did great Ellen. Don't worry" Allen tried to cheer her up, but within him, he was full of doubt

'How could Ellen have the same ability as the Traveller to purify the teardrops? What could they have in common with someone from another world that manipulates elemental energy without Vision...?' Allen thought 'I'll need to make some investigations later on. Nevertheless, the most important is that Ellen is fine.'

"This could be quite important. Shall I inform the headquarters" Eula mumbled once she was sure that Ellen was well and she calmed down "It might be risky to make it openly known, but I should at least inform that Gunnhildr girl."

"Sorry" Eula turned over Allen and Ellen "I wanted to bring you home and have some time together, but this is quite important. Would you follow me to the Favonius headquarters? I want to solve it before anything."

"There's no need to feel sorry." Allen turned over Ellen who nodded "If it's important, we'll follow you."

"Thanks"

...

The quartet quickly left the place, entering Mondstadt and requesting a direct meeting with Jean.

"So you are saying that Ellen is able to purify the teardrops?" Jean asked after hearing their story

"Could she show it again?" Jean took out a metal box from her desk, opening it and revealing another read teardrop that illuminated the room with its red light.

"Ellen, could you try it?" Eula asked her with care, Ellen answering with a strong nod and approaching the teardrop.

As before, just as Ellen touched the teardrop, this one was purified, changing from red to blue.

"Impressive..." Jean wondered "With her maybe we are able to affect him."

"What are talking about Jean?" Eula inquired.

"I have not shared all the information with you, Eula" Jean said "These teardrops are in truth the tears of Stormterror."

"Could it mean...?" Allen was already aware but for Eula was quite a surprise.

"As you are aware Stormterror was one the Four Winds, Dvalin. I'm not aware why he is attacking Mondstadt now, but if his contaminated tears can be purified, maybe he is also contaminated and we can cure him..."

"Good hypothesis" An unknown voice resounded all over the room and following it, a sweet breeze opened the windows and entered the office.

"Who are you?!" Jean drew her sword and pointed over the window where a green-clothed bard was sat over it.

"The wind had brought your words to me" The bard stated as he caressed the wind. "I am Venti the Bard!" He declared as he jumped inside the office "And I know how to stop Dvalin."

It was a tense situation with Jean and Eula preparing to fight and arrest the intruder while Allen simply contemplated the scene, curious about what would happen.

In the end, Venti was able to make his words come through. Venti explained Dvalin's story and how he was injured and contaminated in his fight against Durin 500 years ago, losing his sanity due to it.

"If it's like this, I suppose that it's not his fault" Jean reasoned "We should help him. With Ellen's ability, we might be able to"

"Do you want to make my little sister face against a mad dragon?!" Eula shouted angrily "I won't let her be in danger!"

"Your care for your sister deserves to be praised" Venti interjected "But do not worry as Ellen does not need to directly confront it. We can use the Holy Lyre der Himmel, Barbatos' lyre. With it in my hands, I should be able to calm and purify Dvalin."

"It really has that kind of power?" Jean asked with doubt. She had seen the lyre quite a few times and while it has some lingering elemental power, it did not seem powerful at all.

"It won't be able to do it as now, but once imbued with strong Anemo energy, it will recover its lost strength. The best possible source being Dvalin's purified tears" Venti explained "So Ellen will only need to purify them while I with some helpers can face and heal Dvalin."

"If it's true, it's a good choice..." Jean mumbled "Let's do it" Jean declared. "However, this must be kept as a secret operation, one aside from the Favonius Knights."

"Yes" Eula nodded "With the Fatui's influence, especially Columbina, Dvalin has become a dangerous monster in everyone's mind. We can't openly try to help him without letting ourselves open to the Fatui's actions. Better to do it for us alone."

"Yes, I'll do it as simply Jean, not as the acting grandmaster" Jean informed "I will also bring some other helpers. I know one that would be a great help and knows how to keep a secret."

"Great!" Venti beemed "Let's obtain the Holy Lyre der Himmel and some more teardrops, a total of 5 should be enough. I have some idea of where there can be more"

"I'll obtain the lyre" Jean declared as she should be the best for the work and the only one capable of legally taking the lyre from the church while giving some excuse.

"I can search for more teardrops" Allen declared "After seeing one, I'm sure that I can feel more of them, being able to pinpoint once near. Call it intuition."

"Let's start!" Venti declared and everyone started moving.

...

After a day, the group reunited again, however, this time outside Mondstadt's walls in a more hidden place where Venti was waiting for them.

Allen brought three more teardrops, not having much difficulty finding them except for some weak monsters. For her part, Jean came with a lyre in her hands and a young man with red hair next to her that everyone except Ellen was able to recognize.

"So this is the group... I suppose that it's better than those stuck-up knights" Diluc did not hide his hate towards the Knights of Favonius at all.

"Now that everyone is here, let's repair the Holy Lyre der Himmel" Venti declared and everyone nodded.

Ellen touched the teardrops, immediately purifying them while Jean gave the Lyre to Venti.

"Let's start!" Venti took out the lyre and suddenly froze in his place, his face turning grim as he look over the lyre.

"Is something wrong Venti?" Jean asked worriedly seeing his look.

"Yes, the worst" Venti turned over the group "This is not the Holy Lyre der Himmel, it's a fake."