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It was a ballroom most grand, a sky of gold shone brightly above the twirling subjects. Lost in a reverie of strings as they danced the night away freely. Between the wealthy populace there stood a young woman, dressed in an otherworldly gown so out of place, blonde short hair accented with two fluffy locks and a bouquet of flowers in her hair.
Of course this figure was widely known, for she was the world famed Traveler and one of tonight’s guest of honors. You could also spot her equally dressed companion at the nearby hour’ derv table stuffing her face but she was not the focus here. Rather the latter indeed was the focus of one...
“Excuse me...”
A woman of equal age was soon stood beside her, dressed in a specially prepared blue tuxedo akin to her usual outfit but especially more extravagant. “May I have this dance?” she smiled.
“I don’t see why not” she answered back and took her hand.
Before long the two were on the dance floor, bounding across from another as the song changed just for them, lights dimming as the lights shone only for them. And a dance from the Hydro Archon herself reserved only for the Traveler. She gazed longingly at her dance partner with a smile akin to smugness, and she gazed back completely smitt-
(BRING)
(bring)
Smacking the button on the cursed device called an alarm clock she groaned at it for rousing her from a lovely dream. Tearing herself from the messy bed into an upright position, yawning as she began another day in her daily archon life.
Munching on a piece of toasted bread as she read through todays schedule, more of just the same as yesterday and the day befor-
(tap, tap, tap)
Gasping she turned over to the window to see a pigeon, and opening it was delighted to take the slip of paper wrapped around it’s leg and read the contents.
She then giggled in glee, crashing onto her bed as the slip flew to the floor. Grabbing the fuzzy form of her closest confidant and squeezing them tight.
“She’s coming oh my gosh!” she raised them to meet her face “she’s arriving, here. To see me!” She cheered into the beady emotionless eyes of her stuffed otter Nubert before throwing herself into her closet, rummaging through the spacious place before strolling out dressed in her absolute best.
“Clorinde! Gather my ensemble, at once!” she commanded as she barged through the doors. “Very well and where shall we be heading today my lady?” she asked. “Dormand Port!” she answered before making her way out. Clorinde stifling a groan as she hurriedly gathered the said entourage.
“May I ask the reasoning for our sudden march?” Clorinde requested. Nonplussed after receiving a scoff from the lady. “Why today is a remarkable moment in history, for non-other than the world famous traveler is set to arrive at noon” She raised a brow at the speech that was bordering on gushing. “... uh and it’d be ignorant of me to welcome a woman of her status to our dear nation”
There’s a first for everything, Clorinde supposed.
A thought that turned to a statement when she readied her blade, poised to strike down the fully armed traveler when the very archon that was just threatened raised her hand to pause.
“My not even a couple feet into the land of justice and you’ve already broken the law” she sneered.
“Whu huh?” the floating fairy thing gawked.
“Article 261 dash 1, threat with a deadly weapon” Clorinde explained. “Which lands you to a year in prison once convicted, doubled and instant if voiced towards the Archon of her Committee”
Furina’s sneer turned to a smug smile at the fairy reprimanding the traveler. “However by my benevolent grace and the magnitude of my abilities I am... willing to let this petty crime slide so long as I gain an audience by yours truly” she explained with a stony gaze of her hetero-chromatic eyes.
“Worked like a charm...” Furina smiled at the thought of what the afternoon could entail.
“My lady are you sure the public wouldn’t perceive this incident as a gross misuse of your authority?”
Which earned another scoff. “You forget that I am two kinds of authority dear Clorinde, why should I care about what my doubters say about me?” Clorinde left it at that, mainly because whenever she gets like this anything that isn’t related to her train of thought would fly over her head... well at least she was happy for once.
“No I have the faintest clue as to where your brother could possibly be” Furina answered, lowering her teacup to unveil her bored frown. “Are you sure there aren’t any local records, or accounts to his deeds. He didn’t have to go to court here did he, is he in...”
Her frown soon lifted a little as she listened to the travelers ramblings. “No I could check with the Iudex for any court records, but I doubt there would be any records whatsoever” She smiled at her relaxed sigh before it quickly turned back to a frown. “Well thanks for your input, but I think it’s time we better get going”
The other two people gawked at her statement. “But, we just got here!?” The fairy now known as Paimon yelled. “Exactly! You get a once in a lifetime exclusive meeting The Furina de Fontaine, and only after a few minutes you wish to leave? Preposterous!” Furina balked.
“Wait how long do people have to wait to meet you?” Paimon turned to her. “The waiting list goes on for months, perhaps even longer” Furina answered. “And besides I personally invited you here, and you couldn’t be bothered to make use of that time?” “Yeah!” Paimon joined in. “I’ve barely even tried everything we’ve been offered!”
“Neither have us...” The other two bitterly held their tongues. “I guess we could stay a while...”
“So is the cake suitable to your tastes?” Furina asked, nearly completing a slice.
“It’s pretty amazing actually” she answered finishing the last bite. “So I’ve been meaning to ask you about something” Furina smiled. “Well ask away and in my wisdom I shall do my best to answer it”
“So what’s this whole talk about a prophecy?”
Furina’s smile irked. “I’ve been hearing about it from time to time, and I’ve only ever gotten the gist about it” the traveler recounted, thinking back to how Lyney was just about to explain it when they were somewhat rudely interrupted by the archon of all people.
“Well why would you wanna hear about some old rumor of the week?” Furina asked, unbothered.
“We’ve only heard the basics of it, and with how the water’s seemingly rising it sounds plausible” Paimon explained.
“Huh well if it troubles you so, then allow me to set the record straight”
“... The only reason the seawater is rising in the first place is all but a natural phenomena, which involves the lands that occupy our waters gradually eroding away. While it surely is happening as we speak, it’s happening at a snails pace and we’ll only ever see a drastic increase in a couple hundred years time” Furina... explained in stark detail. “Surely if the traveler of all people buys this then all of Fontaine shall...”
“That... makes a lot of sense actually” she replied, as her companion snored away.
“Of course I’ve investigated this matter myself thoroughly, this is all but natural”
They continued to chat like this for a long while up until the archon had to break it off, to her disappointment. “Well this has been a grand time, but it appears I must bid you farewell”
“Oh? Do you have archon stuff to do?” Paimon asked after waking up with a yawn.
“Yes I’m afraid so, there is a performance I must attend to at the Opera Epiclesse” she answered.
“Oh yeah Lyney and Lynette are holding a magic show there, and aren’t we going as well?” Paimon turned to the traveler.
“Ah! Well I’ll be, is this true?” Furina smiled.
“Yeah, yeah! We made plans with them to meet them there!” Paimon cheered, mainly in the prospect to mooch off the archon. “Hey hold on now I didn’t say we...” Traveller tried to interrupt-
Before she knew it they were seated in the front row, courtesy of the archon herself.
“I see you’ve personally met the Archon herself, have you?”
The two turned to meet a tall and well dressed man. “Uhm do you know her?” Paimon asked, as Lumine couldn’t help but take in his eyes. “My apologies I am Monsieur Neuvilette, the Iudex of Fontaine. And it’s quite the pleasure to meet you and your companion”
“You know who we are?” Paimon asked.
“Yes I’ve heard many a great tale recounted from the archon herself, she seems to have quite the admiration for your exploits” he explained. Making the traveler glance up behind them to meet the eyes of said person for a brief moment before slinking out of sight.
“Skies above what was I thinking seating them beside Neuvilette!? Please don’t blab, please don’t blab!”
Soon enough the show had finally started. All thoughts of potential embarrassment gone away at the spectacles happening right in front of her. She watched that magician boy’s sister willingly slink into a tank of water, before disappearing in a cloud of bubbles... before arriving on stage all neat and dry!
Next thing she knew he himself stepped into a box that mirrored the one an audience member stepped inside, the audience counting down as the two suddenly swapped places. Lyney appearing from the box in the middle of the seats and the box on stage-
Suddenly smashed to pieces by the tank from earlier...
And just like that another act in this long, long case has begun.
The hydro archon sat on her chair, pondering the lines between the evidence. The case to put an end to the growing tides of missing women manifesting right before her eyes. But what could the nail in the coffin for these sinners be?
Furina laid back in her chair sighing, if only the Iudex was able to give some pointers. But she thought this was a suitable body for now as her thoughts were clouded with excitement, the prospect of facing the traveler in her court straying her away from professional line of thought.
Eventually the morning came and signaled the trial of Lyney and Lynette was soon to come, gathering her evidence and arriving to court. Though she managed to pull a one up over the traveler it had come to everyone’s surprise as both the Iudex and the Oratrice Mechanique d’Analyse Cardinale ruled in favour of the defendant. A verdict that in the end had both the defendant and plaintiff exiting the courthouse in low spirits. The accused revealed to be members of the Fatui, and the plaintiff humbled that she had taken the win yet outraged at being so wrong.
But soon enough the archon had settled the scale between them, albeit in a way that had confused everyone and marked the first time in a long while that both the Iudex and the Oratrice Mechanique d’Analyse Cardinale had, disagreed. Resulting in the imprisonment of one Tartaglia of the Fatui Harbingers... and a response from said organization.
That woman, the Knave as she was referred. Her wariness of the harbinger had left her tense, choosing her words ever so carefully. Those calm and piercing eyes picking apart her every word and mannerism, she couldn’t even breathe a sigh of relief once Neuvilette took control of the conversation.
It was only after she took her leave she was able to relax...
“You’re thinking of what!?”
Though not for long as Neuvilette’s idea of sending an undercover agent into the Fortress of Meropide was met with swift backlash from the archon. “Why in our right minds would we send her in with those low-lives?”
“I’ll have you know that the fortress has a stellar repertoire, and second she’s our best bet at finding the whereabouts of Childe”
“But couldn’t we just send out one of my... our committee to investigate”
“I think we both know how that would pan out” he pointed out.
She groaned. “I promise you no harm would befall her during the incarceration”
(sigh) “I shall... take your word for it I suppose...”
“Stupid Neuvillete, sending someone as beautiful as her to a dreary dank place like that” she grumbled kicking at dust in the street. Though as troubling that thought was, it was trumped by the potential threat that the Knave posed. “Be careful Furi, someone like her could ruin everything you’ve worked for” Sighing she continued on her walk, doing absolutely nothing to ease her-
“meow”
“Oh if only I could be like you” Her voice dared not to utter as she knelt down to talk with the cat, her mood a little bett-
Screaming bloody murder she fell over onto the ground, a searing pain in her hip as she attempted to scramble away before a talon like foot had dug into her side keeping her in place. Looking up with her pale pin pricked face she met the masked calculating gaze of her attacker. Pleading with them to let her live, to leave upon the promise of no other soul ever knowing.
But just as quick as it happened, the cloaked assailant had simply flecked blood laden claws before walking away. Leaving the attacked to limp away to safety.
She now knew to be afraid of the Knave, a fact both of them knew. Yet the other had to continue on as if this fact was fiction, for not only an act such as this was outlandish but would bring her entire being into question. So to the outside world this was but an ordinary tea party, the curtain cast over what in reality was akin to interrogation. Every word pricking at the façade, it’s keeper knitting away at the wool to keep it sound despite the storm burning away the tapestry.
Even the arrival of the traveler, her knight of shining armor in this moment did little to sway her mind. The fact that the traveler, sensing her inner panic had graciously offered a hand to squeeze had naught received nothing more but a rushed vice grip. The strength unfaltering throughout the session, from the tumultuous climax to the tense falling out.
But even as the traveler had shown her kindness, she knew all to well she could never confide.
“Surely you can trust me?” Lumine patted her chest. “I’m not from this world, you can confide in me and me alone and I promise to not tell another soul”
“She’s right, she’s not from here... surely I could be selfish, just this once?”
“But if what she said was true, wouldn’t that mean it’d apply to her too?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you” she began. Lumine’s eyes widening in belief.
“But what you need to do is trust that I know what I’m doing, and that everything will be alright”
Furina explained with her usual tone, that crack of her character all but convincing her.
“Alright Furina, I trust-”
All of a sudden the walls above them crashed to the ground, no longer in the ruined town left to drown but a stage set... for a trial against a god. As explained by the two bit magician she considered a romantic rival, and by the voice of reason she called a friend.
“...you set me up, didn’t you” she whispered under her breath to the girl she foolishly trusted, quiet enough for everyone besides them to hear.
Not giving her a chance to explain before she put her feelings aside to voice how absurd such a feat like this was to even think of. “If I am to interpret your words as refusal to stand trial, then as per court rulings you have the chance to defend your honour via a duel”
Furina watches as her only bodyguard who would put up with her antics entered from stage left, sword at the ready-
But just like a fontainian courtroom drama the audience gasped loudly, as from stage right none other than the traveler walked forward to stand in front of the Archon. A Skyward blade at the ready and a hand raised in protection of the said person. “If she is to accept this duel than I shall fight in her stead”
“What?” “This wasn’t in the plan at all!” “In no way do our laws state that action can be done” “What are you doing!?”
Furina stared at her incredulously as if she was smaller than her. “There is no way I’d ever let you do that!” she found her voice and spoke.
“Even if everything in the prophecy is set in place, and it happens today or anywhere after I believe that when the time comes Lady Furina will know what to do. And I’m sure of that” Lumine spoke.
“And what is your proof, to support your claims?” Neuvillete asked.
“... I swore under oath, to not speak a word” she answered. Causing murmurs in the crowd, and the Iudex to think of how to proceed before rendering his judgment.
“Then in trust of your judgment, I shall honor your request shall Lady Furina accept” Shocking everyone. Sighing Clorinde could only steel herself and glare at the enemy, and Lumine was no different as they both prepared to duel.
“Very well, then I shall agree to stand part in this ridiculous farce of a trial”
“But what about-” Lumine went to argue but was shushed by a hand on her shoulder.
“Just trust me, once everything is all said and done we’ll be dining on cake before we know it”
Lumine’s heart skipped a beat a little at that, before nodding.
“As per your actions in the court you have deemed yourself unfit to stand trial, henceforth your companion Paimon will assume the role of plaintiff” Neuvilette spoke.
Lumine could only agree as she assumed the role of a witness.
“Never before had she cried upon entering this world, the tears that did fall had only ever been for her brother. But here in this opera house, she found herself brought to tears”
“For the play that only showed for her and her alone, showed a look into a warped mirror of her own immortality”
“I just wish that for you alone, I could reach out my hand”
“Furina!”
Turning her head from the sun kissed mess in front of her she just barely noticed the traveller running up before crashing into her. “You’re okay” she muffled into her shoulder, and hugging her tight.
“But I’m not...” she tried to wriggle out of the embrace.
“How? After lying to you and everyone all this time?”
“How can you still even want to be around me?”
“I saw everything Furina, all of it” Lumine admitted.
“When everything came down, I tried my best to save you”
“Only instead it showed me everything you went through”
“I saw all the untold suffering you went through, all of it. Five centuries of immortality spent alone, something I would never want anyone to go through” Lumine let some tears stray just remembering how vivid it all was. “Yet you persevered through it all, you’re not a fool Furina. You’re a hero”
Despite the blush on her cheeks it was outweighed by the tears that began to fall, desperately trying to wipe them away to save face. “Lumine...” she whined and selfishly crashed into her, crying.
“It’s ok Furina, you’re free now”
“You’re free”
“Honestly a woman of your caliber should be above menial labor!”
“Hehe yet that doesn’t stop everyone from asking me to do their chores”
Lumine set the box down. “Honestly I don’t mind helping you move your stuff out, only until now I’ve basically become your roommate”
“Well I’ve but been alone for so long so forgive me for being a little selfish” Furina pouted, face red mainly because of the heavy lifting from today. “Trust me you of all people deserve to be so”
“So I suppose it’s my turn to cook tonight?” Furina asked heading to the new kitchen.
“As long as it isn’t cheese macaroni again”
“Hey I can cook anything else, just watch me and I’ll blow you away!” She smirked before getting to work.
She was quick to act with a smirk as soon as the smoke detection unit began to blare, shaking her head at Furina’s coughs as she went to help out. Wondering why she wasn’t already off to Natlan, the answer in front of her being a nervous and chuckling girl holding what used to be some kind of roast.