On the palm of the Statue of The Seven.
Ellin and Venti sat side by side.
Venti's story went on for a long, long time, and Ellin said nothing throughout, simply listening in silence.
By the time Venti finished his story, he had also finished the Dandelion Wine in his hand.
He looked at Ellin and said, "As a bard, I ought to know plenty of things to say to heal someone's heart."
"But... I can't heal Hans the way you did, nor can I bring Hans and Stanley salvation."
"Even gods have wounds that are hard to heal."
"After twenty-six hundred years, I still miss my old friend. What right do I have to heal Hans, who, like me, cannot come to terms with an old friend's death?"
Ellin remained silent. She did not comfort Venti.
After all, twenty-six hundred years had given Venti enough time to comfort himself millions of times over.
Nor did Venti need comforting.
The Anemo Archon represented freedom. He would not let himself sink into sorrow, because doing so would keep his old friend's soul from ascending, just as Stanley had.
He was simply reminiscing, missing the joy of meeting that boy, missing the wonderful times he had shared with his friend.
The Anemo Archon had never been trapped in sorrow. What held him was endless loneliness.
Ellin looked at Venti with a faint smile.
She sat beside him like an old friend of many years, gazing up at the stars with him.
"From now on, I'll be your friend. You won't be alone anymore."
Suddenly, Ellin spoke.
Venti froze for a moment, then realization struck him.
"You saw right through me again..."
"What? Is this part of the [plot], too?"
"No." Ellin shook her head. "None of this was in the plot.