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“How absurd. How long does he intend to carry on like this?”
The rain was continuous over the last few days. In the land of Hydro, no one minded a little rain. No one, save for – ironically enough – the Hydro Archon herself. The crankiness Furina displayed whenever it rained unexpectedly was dismissed by those around her as one of her many quirks. They weren’t privy to the same information she knew. That’s to be expected, isn’t it? It was the role of an Archon – to be burdened with knowledge that was, at best, inconvenient; at worst, devastating.
That was all Furina had. Knowledge she didn’t want. Responsibility she didn’t need. None of the perks of being a god. None of the reverence. None of the faith. She could walk through the streets of Fontaine without a single subject bowing their head, without a single word of praise or respect. Just lingering looks and pleasant smiles, the way one might smile at the sight of a stray kitten.
No respect. No reverence. No faith. No prayers. She wasn’t a god. She was a mascot.
No. No, there was still one person who had faith in her. One who honored her position as Archon; as God of Justice.
At least, Furina prayed that was the case.
How dire are things when a god can do nothing but pray?
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Furina?” Neuvillette dismissively greeted her. This was fine, Furina thought. This was normal. He may have taken an improper tone with her from time to time, but he still had faith in her. Surely he did.
“Oh, I just thought I would take a walk in the unexpected rain we’ve been having as of late, Monsieur Neuvillette,” Furina replied with an equally irreverent tone for the Chief Justice. She casually approached his desk. “However, while I am here, might I make a small request?”
“I cannot help but notice that you are bone dry. And seeing as you live in the same building as this office…”
“My, nothing gets past you, Monsieur. Now, will you hear my request?”
“I cannot refuse you.” It sounded less like a declaration of devotion and more as though Neuvillette had resigned himself to indulging Furina’s whims.
“Then might you cease trying to drown my nation, Monsieur Neuvillette?”
Neuvillette paused, but he still hadn’t lifted his eyes from his paperwork. “I would never do something so cruel to you, Furina.”
“Truly?” she asked, her voice carrying a haughty skepticism.
“Of course, my lady.”
“...Truly?” she asked again, her voice trembling softly. Soft footsteps brought her to Neuvillette’s side.
Another pause. Neuvillette finally lowered his pen. Just as he raised his head, Furina pulled herself into his lap. “Furina?”
“Callas chose to die,” she said suddenly. Neuvillette’s back and shoulders stiffened.
“What are you…?”
“He could have been cleared of his crimes. He chose not to fight in my court. He forced Clorinde to kill him. I… my… my court cannot be held responsible for his choices.”
“Furina, calm yourself.”
“He’s made a mockery of my court! He’s made you lose faith in my justice, hasn’t he?”
“Furina-”
“Hasn’t he?!”
Furina clung tight to Neuvillette’s shoulders. Silence filled the room. She buried her face in the curve of his neck. Neuvillette was at a loss. He knew Furina was temperamental, insecure… childish. But this…
“I hate him,” Furina said.
“You don’t mean that.”
“He’s ruined me.”
“He’s done no such thing.”
“I’m glad he’s dea-”
“Furina!”
Silence again. It grew thicker with each passing second. The rain picked up, pounding against the windows. After what felt like an eon, Neuvillette curled his arms around his god.
“I still believe in your justice, my lady.”
“You don’t.”
“I do. I wouldn’t still be in this office if I didn’t.”
“Do you promise?”
“I swear to every god across Teyvat and in Celestia.” Furina relaxed her grip on Neuvillette. “However,” he continued, his harsh tone making Furina hold him tight again. “I swear with the same fervor that if you speak ill of Mr. Callas once more…”
“I won’t. I’m sorry. I’ll be good.”
“…Thank you,” Neuvillette whispered tenderly. He carefully lifted the hat from Furina’s head, setting it on his desk. He bit the finger of his glove and pulled it out, and laid it to rest with Furina’s hat. His fingers combed through Furina’s hair. “You’re a good girl, Furina. My beloved god. My Divine Justice.”
“More.”
“My Lady of the Terrestrial Lake. My Heavenly Bearer of Hydro. My Empyrean Princess.”
“More, more!” Furina sniffled.
“How many epithets do you expect me to come up with, Furina?”
“You’ve had five hundred years to think about it.”
“You sound as though your mood has already improved.”
“Boohoo, oh woe is me…”
“If you are feeling well enough to make jokes, might I return to work?”
“Go right ahead.”
“…”
“…”
“Furina.”
“Am I in the way?” she asked, still clinging to Neuvillette.
“Can you not surmise that yourself?”
“You can work around me.”
“I cannot.” Neuvillette grasped Furina’s hips, intending to lift her from his lap. “Now would you-”
“No! N-no…”
“...Your mascara ran, didn’t it?”
“Shut up. Don’t look at me.”
Neuvillette sighed. “I will close my eyes. Then you may climb out of my lap and clean yourself up.”
“You won’t look?”
“I will keep my eyes closed until you are finished.”
“Until I leave.”
“Until you leave.”
“Good.”
Neuvillette did as promised, and closed his eyes. Then waited.
And waited.
“Well?” he asked.
“Do you truly still believe in me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Say it.”
“I love you, Furina; my Archon, my god. My heart and soul belong to you and you alone.”
Seemingly content with that Furina fulfilled her end of the bargain by climbing out of his lap. Neuvillette reached into his pocket and blindly offered Furina his handkerchief, which she took. The faint sounds of Furina wiping herself off and putting herself together were accompanied by silence. Then, even those sounds faded.
Even to someone as long lived as Neuvillette, the time that past felt far too long. Just when Neuvillette started to wonder if he somehow missed Furina’s exit, he felt a warmth upon his lips. Though stunned, he kept his promise.
“Take tomorrow off,” Furina whispered near his lips. “Go see him, and apologize properly. For both of us.”
Momentarily speechless, by the time Neuvillette mustered a response, it was drowned out by the sound of Furina’s high heels hurriedly clacking against the floor. When he heard the door slam shut, he opened his eyes. She was gone. She even took her hat and his handkerchief with her. The only evidence of her presence were the faint tear stains on his collar, and the lingering warmth of her kiss.
Neuvillette leaned back in his chair, his still bare fingers touching his lips. “Yes, my Lady,” he whispered to himself.
The harsh pounding upon the window ceased. Yet a light rain continued to wash over the nation of Hydro.