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─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Whenever Istaroth gazes on a being, she will learn everything that happened, is happening, and will happen on that particular being.
There will be times when a being’s future or life has two different versions, but after a while, their whole life will be definite. No one can escape their life’s defining characteristic.
Her wisps are no exception to this, of course. Her wisps of The Thousand Winds. Always flowing through time. Istaroth sees their lives – always flying and flowing with one another and her.
Until Barbatos came along.
Barbatos came to existence just recently, the latest wisp there is, yet their existence already made a dent to Istaroth’s looped life and time in Teyvat, especially in the comfort of her Domain.
The moment they existed, Barbatos latched themself onto her. Always tailing around her like a human child to their parents.
How interesting. Barbatos is a curious being, and Istaroth finds herself becoming intrigued as well, wanting to know how their life will come to be – but there’s nothing.
Istaroth couldn’t see anything in Barbatos.
Istaroth was worried, how could she not see anything? This was her wisp, her child – why? Is there something wrong with Barbatos?
Barbatos was sleeping happily in between the crook of her neck, their soft voice a beautiful and warm combination of bells and divinity. They felt lethargic the moment Istaroth absentmindedly sang them to sleep in between her worries. Yet, at this point, Istaroth herself was already distracted.
‘Barbatos is cute.’ Istaroth finds herself thinking. Her wisps are adorable, but this one has another charm.
Even if her worries about them never ceased in her mind.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
*‘Mother. Barbatos is hoarding apples again!’* One of her wisps exasperatedly tells her the news. Though Istaroth could immediately sense the fondness behind it. Even Barbatos’s wisp-siblings love them and their shenanigans.
“Oh, dear.” Istaroth chuckles, teleporting to where she could sense the little wisp is. It’s just the second time when she brought this batch of the Thousand Winds to Teyvat, but Barbatos is already making a reputation of themself. “Barbatos~! Let’s go back now.”
Istaroth didn’t hear any response from the wind wisp, urging her to go to where the cart full of apples is, but there’s no Barbatos in sight.
“Barbatos?” Istaroth calls again. “It’s getting late, child.”
She turns around, ensuring that she’s coated in her enchantment of illusion so no human could see her as there’s a nearby house to her right. Istaroth felt relieved when she saw the back of little Barbatos, “Let’s go back, child.”
Barbatos still gives no response, worrying Istaroth. She moves beside them, letting the little wisp rest on the crook of her neck, “What are you looking at?”
*‘That. Mother.’* Barbatos’s soft voice of chimes and bells responded back.
Istaroth follows their gaze, and what she sees makes her feel a mixture of emotions.
It was a mother lulling her baby to sleep. It was a heartwarming scene to see and gaze upon. And even with this far distance, Istaroth can see that this love between mother and child would be cut short the moment the child became of age. But she understands the beauty of seeing this moment unfold – it’s a core memory. Both for the mother and the babe.
*‘Mother.’* Barbatos chimes, curling up to the neck of Istaroth, * ‘What’s that little human?’*
“It’s a baby, Barbatos.” Istaroth hums, ushering the both of them back to her domain.
*‘What’s a ‘baby’?’* Barbatos asks.
“It’s a newborn human, Barbatos.” Istaroth smiled. They arrived at her large domain, and the wisps rejoiced seeing the two of them back before going along their currents and fleeting breezes.
*‘Was I a baby too?’* Barbatos asked, making Istaroth stop in her tracks.
“. . .No.” She answered, “You were never a baby, child. You just came to be a wisp.”
*‘Oh.’* Something about that response from the little wisp made something shatter within Istaroth’s mending heart. * ‘Okay, Mother.’*
There was a tense silence that occurred, making Istaroth let Barbatos fly away for a while. She finds it dangerous for Barbatos to be this interested in humans just with their second visitation to Teyvat. It has been a long time since Istaroth herself made true connections to human beings, and it has been a long time since she last saw the ‘Primordial One’ (that she finds suspicious as of the moment) and the other Three Shades.
It has been quite some time since she last adhered to the voices of the people.
Istaroth blinks back to her senses when she notices that most of her wisps are in their own modes of hibernation. There were some still flying around, and there’s a quiet little hum of chimes and bells that Istaroth could hear from her place.
It was Barbatos. As Istaroth expected.
A few wisps were listening to them as they fell asleep on their own positions. Barbatos themself seems to be lulling themself to sleep, mimicking the scenario they see earlier, but they were the baby, and there’s no mother holding them.
“Barbatos.” Istaroth breathes in soft mourning.
*‘Eep!’* Barbatos’s tune was halted. *‘Sorry, Mother! I was—’*
“Do you want to be a baby?” Istaroth finds herself asking. She can sense the surprise in Barbatos’s cute features and the awe of the other wisps that were still awake.
*‘Can I?! Can I?!’* Barbatos squeals, flying around her.
Istaroth chuckles, twirling her hands around as sky blue and holy gold swirls around the little wisp, “You can.”
Many wisps gathered at the commotion, and a few seconds later, a small little baby emerged from the twirls of sky blue and holy gold, and Istaroth caught them. The baby’s features leave her in a state of adoration and fondness.
‘Barbatos looks like me.’ Istaroth finds herself thinking. There were some features of them that were a bit different from hers, though, like Barbatos’s eyes – it was a swirl of teal and turquoise, rather than hers that was dominantly light blue and circlets of holy gold. Their hair is white like hers, and has her blue tips as well.
Oh.
I love them.
Barbatos squeals and giggles under her touch. Their eyes shine like galaxies as they stare at her, like Istaroth was their whole world, and this melts her.
Istaroth looks at the other wisps, “Do you want to be one, too?”
All wisps shook their little figures, *‘No.’* They replied, *‘Barbatos looks happy! We are happy too!’*
Istaroth smiled, the widest for the very first time in a millennia. She spins around, Barbatos in her arms, and begins to sing. Barbatos laughs and curls to her, their eyes drooping as they find comfort in her, and Istaroth’s heart expands.
Istaroth raises Barbatos, letting their foreheads touch, they giggle to the warmth the touch brings to them, and Barbatos lifts up their tiny hand, caressing Istaroth’s cheek as they stare at each other while she is still singing.
‘My dear child.’ Istaroth finds herself praying. ‘Never change.’ She hugs Barbatos close, ‘Stay by my side.’
I love you.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
It was the age where gods and god-like beings began to flourish in Teyvat. Although she is not that involved with the gimmicks of the other shades, some gods challenge themselves to meet with them somehow. To get their blessings, or whatever.
One such god is this young god of the earth, Morax. Who successfully managed to go through every puzzle and trial to get into her newest domain that is near Teyvat. She applauds this internally, as he is the first to ever do so.
She readies a few foods from Teyvat, foods without seafood, as Istaroth already got a glimpse of this new god’s future albeit a little. She finds it a bit amusing that this new god will loathe sea foods with a passion.
*‘’Mom! Mom!’* Barbatos calls, rubbing themself to her cheek, *‘What’s happening? What’s with the food?’*
“A new god will visit us, Barbatos.” Istaroth pats the little wisp gently, “That’s why there’s food.”
*‘Oh! Oh! Really?!’* Barbatos excitedly flies around, giddy at the prospect, *‘Yehey!! Yehey!!’*
“Calm down now, Barbatos.” Istaroth chuckles, “He’s coming in.”
On cue, the doors to their domain opened, and there came a tall, young god with brown hair and tints of gold on the tints of it. He has gold and amber eyes, and parts of his aura greatly reminds Istaroth of Asmoday. Still, she smiles, “Welcome, Morax.” She says, “That is your name, correct?”
Morax bows – probably a bit too deeply, “Yes, Goddess.”
Istaroth softly laughs, “No need to be tense, Morax.” She points to the table and food, “Come now, eat. Worry not as there is no seafood.”
“I am fine with seafood, Goddess.” Morax replied, taking notice of the wisps stopping by to look at him before flying away or around him. Strangely, Barbatos was hiding away behind the hood of Istaroth. Huh.
Istaroth silently snorted, ‘You won’t be in the future.’ She thinks, but takes delight at the way Morax began to eat, even though he’s still hesitating. Ah, probably because of the wisps.
“Don’t mind them.” Istaroth smiles, and Morax came into an eye contact with her, “They’re quite the curious—”
“Here’s a wine from Mondstadt. Care for a taste?”
“Morax!”
A lullaby.
“Morax. . .”
“I lo—”
“The Travelers—”
“No.”
“No, no, no. Please.”
“And you can?”
“Why.”
“Don’t leave me.”
“Ba—”
Istaroth blinks, “—wisps. . .”
What?
What is that?
Who is that—?
“Goddess?” Morax calls, breaking Istaroth out of her reverie, “Is there something the matter?”
Istaroth shakes her head, “There is none.” She gives him a small smile, and Morax continues his meal, still hesitant, but at least he’s really eating now.
That dark blue haired being with blue tints on the tips. . .
. . .and teal-turquoise eyes.
Cold dread was what Istaroth felt and this is when she notices that Barbatos already flew out of her hood, but they’re still beside her, staring at the new god, Morax, who was staring right back at the wisp in curiosity.
Istaroth swallows down her thoughts.
And the fact that she noticed that the being she saw in Morax’s future memories looks like Barbatos.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Time marches on, and Istaroth’s wisps begin to have their own roles in Teyvat. This includes their dearest child, Barbatos, who was always intrigued in anything related to Teyvat itself. It worries her greatly, especially when she sees the future she saw in Morax.
*‘Mom! Mom!’* Barbatos excited chatter was what filled the domain once more, * ‘Did you know? There are many people again in Teeyvaat!’*
“I know.” Istaroth hums, caressing their little figure with just her fingertips, “But you will not be assigned along with the currents.”
*‘Again?’* Barbatos withers, * ‘Mom, it’s been a long time. . .’*
“Time merely does not permit you, sweet child.” Istaroth simply states, “Fly along with the others on stand by, okay?”
Barbatos does not say anything, yet they obliged.
Istaroth did not know at this moment that Barbatos was willing to go to far lengths just to be in Teyvat.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Istaroth has never felt this much anxiety in their long life.
The moment she was informed that Barbatos was not in the domain, she immediately searched for them. Even the wisps helped, but to no avail! In the span of 12 human hours, they still could not find the tiny, little wisp! And Istaroth feels cold and worried. She could not sense the little wisp anywhere.
“Barbatos!” Istaroth calls. She’s already near the stormy dome of Mondstadt, the nation whom she knows she will be worshipped in the future – but she ignores this fact. “Barbatos! Child!”
*‘Mom!’* A dash of white flew to her, and Istaroth felt relieved at the familiar tingle of the little wisp on the crook of her neck, before feeling the suppressed anger climbing up her spine, *‘Mom! Mom! I—’*
Whatever Barbatos was about to tell her, it was stopped when she teleported the two of them to her main domain. Letting the mixture of anger and worry overwhelm her, “What did I tell you, Barbatos?!”
*‘I’m sorry, Mom! But I swear—’*
“Enough!” Istaroth scowls, the thousand of winds dispersing with her shout, “You will never set flight in Teyvat again!”
There was a tense and echoing silence that followed. Barbatos merely stared at her in hurt and shock before shaking – are they crying? oh, my sweet, sweet child – as well as turning away; flying far, far away from Istaroth.
She releases a sigh before leaving the domain, ensuring that Barbatos would never get away.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
The future is always set in the eyes and experiences of Istaroth.
She sees the course of time over and over. She knows how this world would end. It was not a happy ending.
But Istaroth also knows how the ending changed the moment she acquired Barbatos.
She noticed it about a few decades after Barbatos’s ‘birth’, whenever she checked the course of Teyvat, it became a muddle. No clear path, no clear way, and full of forks in the road. She, herself, could not even see the entire course of their life. And they’re one of her little wisps – her child.
Because of Barbatos, this is when she somehow accepted the fact that there may be times that the future is not always set.
But she cannot ever adhere to the fact that her child is somehow influencing it.
As a Goddess of Time, a Shade of Phanes, mere fear is a numb feeling. She has already experienced what it feels like to gain and then lose followers and believers. She already witnessed how benevolent gods became selfish. She already saw how time could change anything and everything.
Even her.
Istaroth could still hear the cries of the people of Teyvat, the beings of Teyvat; but it’s not as clear as before. It may be due to her intended isolation and distance from them. She loved them in the past, was intrigued by them, was curious – and these outlooks became lost after a certain event, so seeing it all again in another, in her child, she could not help but fear for them.
Celestia is not to be trifled with. Especially with those four on top. Even though she was considered to be one of them.
They don’t know about Barbatos. How their personality and entire being could potentially interest the ‘Primordial One’. Istaroth ensures – wanted to ensure, that they would never even hear of Barbatos, that they would never come to know Barbatos.
But Istaroth feels like this is a failing battle.
She feels like what would happen next is inevitable.
Istaroth sees the tiny figure of Barbatos on one of the areas of her main domain. She marches to them in trepidation, worried and thoughtful. She knows Barbatos already sensed her, yet she prevails, and thankfully, Barbatos did not fly away.
“Barbatos.” Istaroth starts, sighing. She decides to stare at the cogs of time that they were staring at, “‘The future. . .is not always set.’ That’s what I learned from you, my child.” She whispers, “You are astonishingly free, you embody what you are – the wind. Always constant and there, but. . .” Istaroth continues, feeling happy that Barbatos was listening intently, “Still. . .the winds change direction. And someday, they will blow towards a brighter future. . .” Istaroth feels Barbatos sitting on the crook of her neck, making her caress them with their fingers, “That’s why, my child,” She removes them from her neck and kisses the top of their figure, “Take my blessings and live leisurely from this day onward.”
Barbatos’s tiny figure is shaking, and Istaroth’s heart cracks, “I—”
*‘’m sorry, Mom!’* Barbatos sobbed, and Istaroth feels her entire being shatter, *‘I didn’t mean to worry you!! I swear!’*
“I know.” Istaroth sighs, “You didn’t do anything wrong, Barbatos.”
*‘I just heard them, Mom!’* Barbatos tells her, and Istaroth’s world and reality froze, *‘I can’t leave them!! They needed my help!!’*
“. . .Who needed your help, Barbatos?” Istaroth gently asks, even though her heart has already dropped.
*‘The people!’* Istaroth couldn’t feel her breath as Barbatos continues, *‘I wanted to help them! I could hear them in pain, Mom! I don’t want to leave them!’*
Oh. Istaroth realized, in intense fear and fond awe, ‘They can hear the people.’
They can hear the people.
Suddenly, Istaroth wanted to take it back. She wants to take her blessing back, but—
Barbatos looked so determined. They looked ready to fight for them. They looked so. . .
No.
“Alright.” Istaroth suffices, “Return back to me, Barbatos. Understand?”
Barbatos rubs themself to her cheeks, *‘Always, Mom!’*
‘I sincerely hope so.’ Istaroth prays. To whom, she doesn’t even know.
Please.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Her little Barbatos never came back.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Istaroth wants to laugh and tear everything apart in Celestia.
She wants to tear off the faces of this ‘Primordial One’ and all her other co-Shades. She wants to teleport away. She wants to be away.
But she can’t.
Istaroth was immediately informed when a ‘little wind wisp’ became an Archon. She wants to laugh. She wants to cry. She wants to destroy everything.
She should’ve never given her blessing.
In the middle of this ‘Throne Room’ was Barbatos. Looking confused and distraught at the same time. They were just learning how to walk (they also lost a human friend), and how dare this Primordial One summon them here right after their ascension. They do not look like the little baby she held years before, but they look like the same being she saw in Morax’s future memories.
Oh. Istaroth wants to scream.
Barbatos was not even wearing anything and the only thing covering them up was the white cloth. Istaroth could see the faint glow of their blue tattoos that they got from her. Not to mention Barbatos’s angelic wings – she really wants to bawl her eyes out. Barbatos glances at her, and Istaroth immediately understands.
‘I’m sorry.’ Istaroth wanted to scoff. Why is their child the one apologizing?
Istaroth notices the way the Primordial One was staring at her child. She wants to rip the Primordial One’s face off, but she can't.
The Primordial One says something, and the next thing she knows, Barbatos is in chains.
Then she sees a glimpse of the future.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Istaroth sees that Barbatos lets the people of Mondstadt and Teyvat know about her presence and existence, making everyone worship her alongside them. It made her give the people of Teyvat her blessings, and even brought fruit to her also seeing the other Archons of Teyvat.
The worship dominantly happens in Mondstadt, and Istaroth, while touched, finds herself feeling numb to fear and anxiety. Not for her, but for Barbatos.
Always for Barbatos.
They never really got to talk to one another again. Istaroth knows it’s for the best, the others might have another line of thought, and she’s doing everything to not let that happen.
So, she stops.
And made everyone forget her.
She tries not to think of the expression on Barbatos’s face when they realized what she did.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Istaroth sees red the moment when she finds out that Barbatos has these unceremoniously sudden ‘slumbers’.
She feels nothing but rage the moment she learns what happens to them in Celestia during these slumbers.
Barbatos has charm. They’re beautiful and ethereal. They have a divine voice that Istaroth does not know where to dissect where they got it from (hers or that human bard). They are a great performer.
Yet Istaroth did not want it to be like this.
‘It was because Barbatos doesn’t really rule over their nation,’ they said. ‘It’s because they’re abusing the leniency Celestia has given them,’ they said. ‘Barbatos is the weakest Archon,’ they said.
Nonsense.
Barbatos is her child. They are never weak. Just too kind.
Istaroth gazes upon Barbatos’s slumbering figure beyond the holy gold cell in Celestia and whispers.
“Remember who you are, my child.” Istaroth breathes, “You are a child of time.”
She did not know that Barbatos heard her.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
The future is not always set.
But the varying versions of it dreaded Istaroth.
Teyvat was supposed to not end well. It was supposed to destroy itself, mainly because of the others, but in the Teyvat she sees, it was flourishing, then destroyed, then flourishing – it was a mixture of bads and goods – she can’t fully see it.
The first time Istaroth saw Barbatos’s life through their eyes, it was only a short glimpse – it was a period of war.
Not the Archon War, not the upcoming Cataclysm – but the Ending War.
Istaroth only saw the surroundings, not the full view of the people, and this concerns her greatly. What would happen to her child?
Barbatos sang from Teyvat, distracting Istaroth from her thoughts, and what made her stop in her tracks was the fact that The Heavens Above responded almost immediately in her point of view.
And Two Stars arrived.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Another period of war unnerves Istaroth, and this time, it’s mainly because of Khaenri’ah, a nation without a god, and the influence of the Abyss.
She knows much about the areas of the Abyss, yet Istaroth finds herself not caring as of the moment. She is mainly focused on the well-being of Barbatos while keenly observing all the other Archons. Morax is there, as well as Baal and the others. They were called by Celestia to destroy Khaenri’ah, and Istaroth worries about what Barbatos may do.
They are known to never truly oblige for sakes like this.
The first Archon to draw the attack was the Pyro Archon, then Morax, Baal, the Hydro Archon, and lastly, Cryo, as Istaroth knows that Rukkhadevata, the Dendro One, was in Irminsul.
Barbatos stayed on air.
Istaroth massages her temples. Please, child. She wants them to move. She wants them to do something. Istaroth knows that Barbatos’s standing in Celestia is dire as it is, and just one more strike then they might be severely in danger. Istaroth may not have the chance to save them.
She will never recover from that.
“Barbatos.” Istaroth finds herself hissing within her main domain, watching the events unfold. Khaenri’ah began to be filled with smoke, debris, and cries. Barbatos never moved, and Istaroth’s heart shudders.
A few moments later, Barbatos finally summoned their lyre, and Istaroth felt relieved.
But instead of aiding the destruction, Barbatos aided something else.
The people.
A melodious tune surrounded the entirety of Khaenri’ah, as well as a powerful swirl of tornadoes and winds, but it is not for pain.
Istaroth realizes that Barbatos is guiding them to the heavens, so that they may have a peaceful rest.
Istaroth laughs.
How are they so reckless and brave at the same time?
The people of Khaenri’ah may misinterpret this as Barbatos killing them all. But a few may truly know what was happening. For what purpose did Barbatos do this, she wants to laugh once more.
They do this action both for Mondstadt and the people of Khaenri’ah.
For Teyvat.
It was not too long ago when Barbatos had to kill Durin, a dragon made by Rhinedottir. Barbatos never wanted to kill the creature, but, alas.
Why are you too kind?
Barbatos’s kindness already brought fruit to many situations where they are almost wiped. They are strong. Powerful. Yet Istaroth could not understand why they weren’t using it for themself. To protect themself.
Istaroth sees a golden-haired traveler. Their twin is not by their side.
Istaroth also sees the future.
Barbatos’s ‘punishment’.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Something within time changed.
Istaroth could not put a hand on it, but she felt it.
She tries to find the source. Istaroth wanted to distract herself from the fact that Barbatos’s current slumber is the longest there is. And the fact that currently, in Celestia, Barbatos is there, lying on their holy golden cell, sleeping.
The others tried to wake her child up. But deemed it useless when Barbatos couldn’t be deterred in their sleep. Istaroth decided it was a good thing they’re asleep even here.
At least they weren’t being abused.
Istaroth follows the chain of cogs and ticking times. She feels overwhelmed to the point that it’s making her head hurt. She finds every chain and time horrifying.
Then she realized she’s in another domain.
This domain is full of time. Hourglasses, ticking clocks, chains, and loops.
Loops?
Istaroth finally sees the source – and it catches her breath away, she feels like she couldn’t breathe.
“Barbatos?” She whispers. And cold dread was the only thing Istaroth felt when she got transported back to her domain.
All chains of time are now gone.
What is that? Her mind reels. ‘What is that?’
“Remember who you are, my child.”
“You are a child of time.”
Istaroth felt nothing but fear for the rest of her years.
And when Barbatos woke up in Celestia, she immediately knew.
They used the Power of Time.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Istaroth wanted to stop her child.
For what are they doing this for? Teyvat? Oh, child, please.
She lost count of the many loops. She lost count as to how many times her child has died in so many lifetimes and timelines.
She lost count of how many times she grieved.
It was not supposed to have this many loops. Barbatos probably noticed how she manipulated the number of it. But she would never let it end with her child dying over and over again.
Barbatos. My baby. My child.
Stop.
The mother’s cries went unheard by her child.
Who continues to sacrifice themself over and over again.
Just for this world.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───