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A little girl in red wandered down the roads of the city, seeing people run around with gifts and flowers, and ladies with crowns of petals on their heads; a longing gleam hiding in her eyes. Turning down the road and away from the scene, she clutched her backpack as she remembered one of her Uncle Kaeya’s survival rules of taking care of her things, when she heard the lilting music from the fountain in the plaza.
Treading closer to the sound she had found her favorite bard in green strumming on his lyre and with a running start and a gleeful shout she charged.
“Mister Venti!” Caring not for the consequences as she barreled into the man, nearly toppling them into the water of the fountain where the bard previously sat, saved only by the wind the bard had called. “Oh! Oh no! Klee is so sorry, Mister Venti!” She began as she had realized she had broken one of Master Jean’s rules!
“Nonsense my dear Windwheel! You’ve done me no wrong!” He smiled down at the child in his embrace, “Now to what do I owe the pleasure of having Mondstat’s Spark Knights’ company this lovely day?”
A smile brimming with joy met him as she settled comfortably on his lap, “Klee was walking around alone, when she heard your lyre! So I came by to say hi!”
“Well hello to you too my dear!” He greeted as he nuzzled his face into her hair, eliciting a lilting giggle from the child, “but to wander alone today?”
“Mhm! Mister Albedo, Uncle Kaeya, and Master Jean are all busy at the Knights… even Miss Lisa was busy. So Klee went out to walk around the city instead.” She replied, a pout forming on her lips, he looked at her sadly for a moment, not needing to ask the whereabouts of her primary guardian
‘Oh Alice, could you have not graced the little one with your presence even just for a day such as today?’
Shaking out of his reverie, his plans for the day formed quite quickly, “Well then! It looks like I will be having the great pleasure of having you all to myself for the day!” He exclaimed as he hopped to his feet, lyre stored, and an elven child bouncing in his arms. “Really Mister Venti? You’ll really spend the day with Klee?”
“Of course! What would you like to do first?” He asked the child in his arms as they strolled past the gates of the city.
She hummed in thought, face scrunched in concentration when a scene flashed through her mind, “Could, could we make flower crowns Mister Venti?” She asked quietly.
A knowing sad look passed through his eyes as he responded lovingly, “Of course my Windwheel.”
They strolled through the plains after she had asked to be let down so she could skip alongside him instead.
“There’s a beautiful flower field right by the big tree, Mister Venti! Let’s go there!” An enthusiastic little bounce back in her step as she held his hand rushing ahead. He let himself be pulled to her enthusiastic pace; recounting little sights and animals they passed along the way. The girl responded enthusiastically, even going as far as stopping to play with a nest of rabbits they met on the way.
Sitting in the field of flora, he let the little one create her crown of petals, ‘Don’t you worry Mister Venti, Mister Albedo and Miss Sucrose taught me how!’ as he accompanied nature’s tune on his lyre.
“Mister Venti?” He hummed in response, not stopping in his strums, but attention fully on the child before him. She took a moment, fiddling with the crown of petals she had made, eyes downcast before she spoke again “Klee’s really super duper happy that she got to spend today with you when everyone was busy. So Klee made you something but you might not like it because you can’t wear it today…”
“Nonsense who said I can’t? Show them to me and I will send a gust of wind to their face!” He dramatically implored.
“Really?” She asked, peeking up slowly, “Even though you’re not my mommy?”
He smiled kindly at the girl, placing down his lyre as he ushered her onto his lap once more, “Really my dear. Let me explain to you something,” he began, tucking a red bloom behind her ears, “A mother is not just someone that brought you into the world. A mother is the people that have loved you and cared for you unconditionally. They are the people that have supported you and taught you right from wrong. They are the people that will hold you when you cry and celebrate even the tiniest of your wins. They guide, love, provide, protect, care, and teach. A mother to you can be anyone that you have found has molded you to be a better you.” he finished a soft smile on his face, gently ruffling her blonde head; as she thought over his words.
Once all was said silence rang true.
Then, as if the sun had broken through the horizon; she smiled and said, “Then! Klee wishes you a Happy Mommies day, Mister Venti! Thank you for always making Klee happy!”
Standing from his lap she crowned him in petals as he bowed his head for the little knight in red.
Straightening up, he looked at the young lady before him and said “Many thanks to my Windwheel! Now what do you say we make a few more crowns for your other busy mothers?”
A squeal of delight rang through the air as she bounced and replied, “Yes! Yes! Let’s do that please!”
“Your wish is my command, my child.” With a kiss to her head they set off to their workshop in the sea of blooms once again.