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Any second now. It was going to happen any second now. 

"I have no idea what you're talking about! This is stupid. You're all stupid!" The defendant cried out for the umpteenth time. The trial was nearing its end, and the accused was about to be convicted for a series of break-ins. The evidence was stacked high against him beyond reasonable doubt, and the audience had already made up their minds. Not that it mattered though, because any second  she  was going to burst through those doors, attendants in tow with that proud yet determined smirk on her face. With her, a piece of evidence that would flip the whole case around and make for excellent entertainment. 

She was going to come this time, Furina just knew it. Hence, her eyes burned holes into the doors of the Opera Epiclese, waiting for them to blow wide on their hinges and reveal that tall, blonde unwavering figure. Furina was practically on the edge of her seat. She just had to come, because if she didn't, this would be the eleventh mundane trial that Furina had shown up to in the last two weeks or so. 

But those doors remained closed.  

" Lady Furina ?" Neuvillette called with a tinge of impatience to his tone, suggesting that this was not his first attempt for her attention. Furina snapped her head to him suddenly, slightly startled from being so abruptly pulled from her thoughts. "I asked if you had any further input before we turn to the Oratrice?" 

"O-oh, right..." stammered Furina, casting one more glance to the door in desperation. Perhaps she was running late, the Archon wondered. So, to stall for time, she asked, "Are we sure we have considered  all  perspectives? What about what Mr Abirouge said about the crash he heard in the dead of night? If I'm correct, then that crash he heard happened at the same time Mrs. Foirior's house was broken into. I don't believe our suspect could be in two places at once now, could he?" 

Neuvillette let out a sigh. "Lady Furina, we have already established that that crash was a result of Mr. Abirouge's cat breaking his coffee table and that nothing was actually stolen from his home. I suspect you would have known as much if you were actually paying attention." Being so blatantly called out, Furina recoiled in embarrassment. "Now, if you have no legitimate inquiries, I believe we are fit to proceed to the next stage of the trial."  

Furina's gaze fell to the floor in a disappointed manner. It seemed as though Navia, again, Wasn't showing up after all, and that this trial was going to be just as boring as all the rest. "Very well," she conceded, folding her hands on top of each other and biting her tongue. She knew she could not afford to disgrace her image further after recent events. 

That said, Neuvillette nodded his head and rose from his seat. "We shall now turn to the Oratrice Mecanique D'Analyse Cardinale to decide the final verdict." 

To no one's surprise, Mr. Dimone, the defendant, was found guilty and soon taken away by the Gardes to serve his sentence in the Fortress of Meropide. All the while, he hurled insults at just about everybody. Neuvillette, the people watching, the victims, even the Hydro Archon herself. Deep down, Furina knew from the start that Mr. Dimone was guilty, yet she still held out hope. Hence why she soon made a move to leave the Opera Epiclese with a solemn expression upon her features. However, before she could fully exit the doors she had so desperately wished to burst open, Neuvillette called out to her again. 

"Lady Furina. I wish to have a word with you."

That was how, not too long after the trial had concluded, Furina found herself in Nurvilette's office within the Palais Mermonia with Clorinde by her side. Neuvillette was looking at her disapprovingly as he spoke, "Time and again you have shown up to meaningless trials and have challenged accusations with zero grounds. Is there something you are hiding from the public? Information on crime that has been bothering you? If not, then, should this happen again, I could have you prosecuted for an obstruction of justice." The Archon's eyes widened at this, for Neuvillette was well in his right to do such a thing, And if she was indeed convicted, that would guarantee Furina not being able to see Navia for who knows how long. Ah- no correction, Furina thought, that meant she would not be able to bear witness to any interesting trials whatsoever. That said, she needed to come up with an excuse for her recent behaviour. 

"Wh-why yes, there is something I must bring to your attention," she claimed, turning her back to briefly collect her thoughts. Then, for the sake of theatrics, she turned dramatically and exclaimed, "I believe that Navia is in danger!" 

The dualist and the Chief Justice both stirred up at this. "How can you be sure?" Clorinde asked, trying to hide her worry. 

"Well, have either of you crossed paths with her in recent days?" 

Neuvillette shook his head. "Not since I went to go pay respects at her father's grave. 

"She asked me to stop protecting her from the shadows, so I did. I haven't seen her since she took me out for that meal."

"But what does this have to do with your continued disturbances during trial?"

"I thought you would have connected the dots by now..." Furina spoke in her high and mighty tone to create an air of confidence. "Navia does have a habit of intruding on court proceedings herself, does she not? And yet, she has been absent from the Opera Epiclese for some time now. Hence, her prolonged absence in combination with a diverge in her behavioural patterns has led me to believe that something is amiss." 

Upon hearing this, Neuvilette brought a hand to his chin and pondered. "It is unlike you to be so concerned over someone's whereabouts, but I'll send for one of the Gardes to do a welfare check on her right away."

"That simply won't do," Furina said before she could truly think about her response. "Navia is no stranger to combat. If she truly is in danger, say, for example, she was kidnapped, then we will need more than just the Gardes." 

Clorinde looked a little troubled by her words. "As I said, Ms. Navia requested that I refrain from protecting her. If she is not in danger, then I fear it will tarnish my newfound standing with her."

Furina giggled. "Worry not, Clorinde," said she. "I had a feeling you would say such a thing, which is why I will be the one to seek her out, and you will be protection for me- ah, ahem, not that I really need it. We shall start first at her current place of residence." 

"Are you sure, Lady Furina?" asked Neuvillette with a brow quirked. "Just what makes you so insistent on this matter? I didn't perceive you and Miss Navia to be particularly close. She was the one who humiliated you during Lynney's trial after all."

Furina faltered a little at his question. It was true that no one, save from maybe the traveller and Paimon, had caught her attention quite like Navia had. If she had to put it into words while viewing court cases like a grand play, then Navia was simply her favourite character. Strong-headed, fierce, smart, and pretty- a little like Furina herself if she may say so. Yes, Navia was simply entertaining, that was all. 

"It is for that very reason, Monsieur Neuvillette, and I'm glad to see my feigned humbling had taken great effect. That woman and her unpredictability, though it can prove to be a nuisance, adds a level of shock factor to the trials that the audience devours every time! Would I not be a good Archon if I gave my people what they desired to see?" Neuvillette began to protest, but Furina hushed him, "Yes I know, I know, her conduct during previous trials has breached legislation, which is why I propose that we offer her a more permanent role in our justice system. Before trials she can submit any and all evidence she collects as per procedure which will of course be disclosed to you, the prosecution team, and the defendants. Only the audience will be kept in the dark thus allowing for perfectly legal entertainment!" 

Neuvillette sighed but ultimately accepted her reasoning. Then, after several preparations had been made, she set out with Clorinde guiding her to Navia's place of residence in Poisson. (Clorinde disclosed that Navia had several abodes littered across Fontaine, but more often than not she spent most of her time in the house stationed near the headquarters of the Spina di Rosula.) As expected, they were stopped along the way by many adoring fans, and though Furina wanted to make haste, she did not want to alert her people to a potential danger. So, she waved and smiled and pretended as though anticipation and anxiety were not eating her alive. 

Along the way, They bumped into the traveller and Paimon, and Furina thought it wise to ask them if they had seen the Spina's president recently. However, they claimed to have not encountered her in at least the last two weeks. Well, the traveller held up two fingers and Paimon articulated what they meant by that. Shortly after, they parted ways with Furina feeling a little dismayed and more concerned-For the future of the Opera Epiclese, of course. 

In time, Furina and Clorinde dove into the depths of Poisson, and the shorter woman had to admit that she could not imagine why someone as sophisticated as Navia would want to reside in such a place. Regardless, before heading to the blonde woman's abode, the two of them spoke to the locals to see if they had any idea where their beloved Navia might be. A lot of them had many questions as to why the Hydro Archon of all people needed to see her, so, as to again not raise alarm, Furina lied and told them that she needed Navia to submit a testimony of utmost importance- so important that Furina had to seek her out in person to ensure that she got the message. Either way, the residents of Poisson all claimed the same thing, that being that none of them had seen Navia in a good while, not since the memorial that was held for her father. Needless to say, Furina's stomach sank. 

However, some of them mentioned speaking with Melus, one of Navia's bodyguards and attendants. Apparently, he had just left to collect something from the shops and would be back shortly. They told Furina and Clorinde that they could stay and wait for him to return. With a smile, Furina told them she would do just that. 

Her actions were different from her words, however. 

"You are certain this is where she lives?" Furina asked, now standing outside the door to Navia's house.

"Positive, Lady Furina."

That said, Furina inhaled deeply and stepped forward. She raised her knuckles and racked them against the door in a polite fashion and waited. There was no response. Furina repeated her actions, this time knocking with a bit more force, but again, there was nothing. 

"Oh Navia~" She called in a sing-song voice, trying to push down her anxiety to the bottom of her stomach. "Are you really not going to open up to the Hydro Archon after she came all this way to see you? Some people would only dream of such a thing happening to them!" 

There was no response. 

Furina stepped back and again she inhaled, this time shakily. with her hands, she grasped the doorknob and tried it, but it was locked. "Clorinde, bust it open."

The dualist looked at her, perplexed. "Lady Furina, are you sure?" 

"Her life could be in danger!"

"And if it's not?"

Furina dismissed her with a wave of her hand. "We'll worry about that later. Now, the door." 

Clorinde complied, albeit reluctantly. She braced herself, and with great force she kicked the door open, causing it to almost come off its hinges. Furina hurried inside and looked around in a panic. The house was utterly dishevelled. Cabinets were left open, clothes were scattered about the floor along with other personal belongings. Fear quickly ran through Furina's veins, and a thousand thoughts crossed her mind. Had the man convicted of the series of break-ins really been innocent after all, and the reason why Navia couldn't prove such a thing was because she herself had been a victim of something much bigger?

Without thinking, Furina rushed further into the house so as to search for any clues of where Navia might be, any signs of a struggle, or any traces left behind by whoever had tarnished her abode. Clorinde followed suit, the expression on her face making it clear that she had a similar train of thought. 

Neither of them thought to try and call out to Navia again, nor did they further emphasise their presence, and it was because of these things that Furina suffered. As she crept upstairs and made her way into the first bedroom that caught her eye, she was greeted by the sight of a young woman clad only in her undergarments with long, blonde dishevelled hair. In her hand, she wielded what appeared to be a rolling pin which she had raised high above her head, and in the blink of an eye, she swung it down, and ultimately Furina's world faded to black. 

...

She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but slowly her eyes fluttered open only to screw back shut as they adjusted to the light. "She's starting to wake up, thank goodness," said a familiar voice, and it was then that Furina became aware of something cold pressing against her forehead, suppressing a distant sting and ache that she felt. She tried to rise up but found that whoever had just spoken was holding her still. "Easy now," they soothed, keeping pressure upon what Furina figured to be an icepack. 

Furina drank in her surroundings, and slowly it came back. The trial earlier that morning, her brief meeting with Neuvillette, her journey to Poisson, forcing their way into Navia's house only to be knocked out by... none other than Navia herself, Furina realised. Now, she resided on a couch with the Blonde woman and Clorinde looking down at her with concern. 

Once she had connected all the dots, Furina shot up and tried to ignore how it felt as though her brain was rattling inside her head. "You-!" she exclaimed, looking at Navia with wide eyes. 

Navia recoiled, and the icepack fell to the floor. "I'm sorry!" she blurted out in a panic. "Look, I was asleep, and the next thing I knew someone had just broken in! I thought you were an intruder related to that series of break-ins. How was I supposed to know that the Hydro Archon herself was in my home!?" 

The shortest of the bunch furrowed her brows and let out a huff. "Though I could easily have you prosecuted for the assault of a God, I suppose your actions were only a result of self-defense, so I'll show mercy."

Navia let out a sigh of relief, but it was clear that she was still perplexed by the whole situation. "If I may, Lady Furina," Clorinde spoke up. " She  could have us charged with breaking and entering." 

Furina's eyes widened, for the dualist had a point. After all, she was certain that the entire population of Poisson had watched Clorinde kick open Navia's door before bursting inside. Thankfully though, Navia was far from the cruel type, hence why she replied with, "I could, but I won't. I'm assuming that this is just some misunderstanding, so do you care to explain just what it is the Hydro Archon and Fontaine's best dualist is doing in my home?" 

The God in question believed they still hadn't spent enough time discussing the fact that she had been knocked unconscious by a rolling pin, but perhaps that was better for the sake of her pride. Why did Navia have such a thing in her room anyway? Regardless, she knew that she owed the woman an explanation for her actions. Her intentions were innocent, so she had nothing to hide. That said, she began to elaborate, "Well, you see, I-"  but that was when she fully comprehended Navia's appearance. Her hair was still a little messy, there was a tired glint in her eyes, and still, she wore nothing but her undergarments- a pale blue, lowcut vest with a matching pair of silky shorts. Suddenly, Furina couldn't remember what she was going to say. 

Thankfully though, a new disturbance caught everyone's attention, and that was the sound and sight of a new figure bursting through the door. (It seemed as though a disregard for doors was something that a lot of Fontaine residents had.) It was a man who was adorned in a black suit. He was old in age, had grey hair and a matching moustache, and upon his head he wore a black hat. In his hands, he grasped a shopping bag while he heaved and panted- as though he had run here.

"Demoiselle!" he spluttered in a gruff voice. Ah, Furina recognised him now, he was one of Navia's attendants who was present for Lyney's trial. "I heard reports that someone had broken in and-"

"Calm down, Melus," she said, walking over to him. "It was nothing. Just some... unexpected visitors is all."

The suited man looked over to where she and Clorinde were seated, and his eyes went wide. "Lady Furina and Miss Clorinde! It is an honour to have you here in Poisson," he bowed. 

"Please, the pleasure is all ours," said Furina, a smile coming to her lips at the praise. "There were just a few things I needed to discuss with Miss Navia, nothing to be worried about I can assure you." 

As she spoke, The blonde took the shopping bag from Melus and thanked him quietly, she propped it on the coffee table and rummaged through it. Furina cast her gaze over to it and caught glimpses of what appeared to be baking ingredients. "See? All is well. Thank you for this Melus, you've done so much for me over the last couple of weeks. Please, have the rest of the day off, I'll call for you should I need anything."

Melus appeared reluctant but heeded his boss' wishes, bowing once more before bidding farewell. On his way out, Furina turned to Clorinde and said, "You can go too since Miss Navia is in no danger."

"Are you sure you're okay being all the way out here on your own, Lady Furina?" 

"O- Of course I am! I am the Hydro Archon, after all. Besides I..." her eyes fell to Navia, her arms were crossed over her chest, and their gazes locked. Suddenly, her mouth went dry. "I wish to speak with Miss Navia alone." The expression that the Dualist gave her made it clear that Clorinde found her request odd, after all, the Archon did not fare well in one one-on-one conversations. Even so, she did not say anything, and just like Melus, she adhered to her superior's requests, ultimately leaving Furina alone with the boss of the Spina. 

Before discussions could take place, however, Navia requested that she go and make herself look a little more presentable which Furina graciously allowed her to do. As she left the room to go to her bedroom, the Archon's eyes followed her closely, watching the flow of her hair, the subtle swing of her arms, and the sway of her hips. She looked elegant, Furina thought, even in her night attire.

Furina waited patiently as Navia tended to herself, all the while a pit of anxiety pooled in her stomach which she tried her best to ignore. As she waited, she placed her fingers to her forehead where she had been struck and winced at the pain it evoked. When she pulled her hand away, she found a smidgen of crimson upon her fingertips which she rubbed between her thumb and forefinger with a frown. How was she going to explain this to others? 

Before she could come up with an answer to that question, however, Navia returned. Now, her figure was covered by a long, velvet, dark blue nightgown. She had taken the time to brush her hair out too, Furina noticed, and soon she sat down on the couch opposite Furina. She cast her eyes up and down the Archon with a small, welcoming smile. But for some reason, it only made Furina more anxious. 

"So, to what do I owe the honour of having the Hydro Archon herself show up in my home?"

Furina sat up straight and tried to appear as confident as possible. "Is it not obvious? Your absence from the public eye has raised many concerns which have all been doubled due to your high status. The people had begun to fear that something bad had happened to you."

"Ah, so you rushed into possible danger so as to save me? Aren't you quite the charming prince," she giggled.

Not expecting such a response, Furina felt her cheeks grow hot, but she tried to counteract it by giving the other woman a look that screamed 'I'm your God, don't forget that.'  She composed herself and added, "I understand that you're quite the fighter no? So if you truly were in danger, then whomever it was that posed a threat was not to be underestimated. Hence why it only seemed fitting that someone as powerful as an Archon came to you're rescue. You should be grateful, I wouldn't do this for just about anyone." 

Again, Navia gave her a reaction that Furina wasn't expecting. She sighed, and her face grew solemn. "So now I've burdened none other than my Archon. Do I really give off the impression that I need to be protected? I thought I had asked Clorinde to refrain from doing such a thing." 

For some reason, Furina did not like the sadness in her eyes. "I-I asked Clorinde to come with me for my sake. You know how my adoring fans can be sometimes. But there was also another reason why you're absence was so widely felt." Furina was fully aware that she was the only one who had brought to light Navia's lack of activity, but the blonde woman didn't need to know that.

"Hm?"

"Well, the Opera Epiclese has been rather dull as of late, and the people have been complaining about the same old same old. We need a spark, a shock factor to utterly subdue them in awe! You, Navia, have that spark. The way you would burst in with a new piece of evidence, face your opponents with fierce determination, speak your mind with that sharp tongue of yours, and-" The wide-eyed, star-struck expression with which Navia looked at her made Furina realised she had lost track of herself. The shorter woman coughed awkwardly and got back on track, "What I mean to say is, if you would like a more permanent role in court proceedings, I'd graciously hand it to you. You'd have all of mine and Monsieur Neuvillette's support and access to all kinds of resources so long as you bring your... unshakable character."

"I had been chided for my disruption to court proceedings, and now I'm being praised for it," she mused before her face grew more serious. "I'm flattered you think so highly of me, but I'll have to talk it over with those affiliated with Spina... As you know, many of them don't agree with the Opera's modus operandi after everything that happened with my father." 

Ah, Furina had not taken that into consideration. "Of course, take all the time that you need," she replied, to which Navia gave her a warm, grateful smile. Instead of stiffening, Furina found that she melted a little under her kind eyes. "A-ahem, but if I may ask, just where have you been these last couple of weeks?"

"Since you went to the trouble of coming all this way, I suppose I can tell you. But before that, I understand that you're a fan of desserts?" 

Furina cautiously cocked her head to the side. "I am, why do you ask?" Navia only smiled wider and asked her to follow her to the kitchen after grabbing the shopping bag from the coffee table. 

The kitchen area was nothing grand per se, but that didn't stop Furina's mouth from falling agape. This was because, littered upon the various countertops, resided an abundance of cakes and confectionaries. Some of them were complete and ready to eat, others needed decorating, and a handful were merely batter and dough in the early stages. It smelled nice in the kitchen, and it made Furina aware that something was in the oven. 

"A good thing you woke me up, actually," Navia spoke as she bent down and opened the oven, a waft of something tasty gracing Furina's senses. "I could have very well burnt this place down had I left these in there too long." 

The president of the Spina di Rosula turned around, revealing in her hand a tray of- "Scones?" 

"A simple yet delicious treat," she smiled. "Would you like to do the honours of dusting them with some powdered sugar? There should be some in that shopping bag over there." 

Typically, Furina would have gone on a lengthy rant about how Navia seemed to be treating her as an equal, a friend, rather than a God-  her  God nonetheless. But, for some reason, Furina found that she did not have the desire to do so. Hence, she nodded along to Navia's offer and retrieved the paper bag of powdered sugar. She tore it open thereafter, and a cloud of white dust burst forth suddenly. It stunned Furina a little, but the giggle that Navia let out at the sight made her find it amusing too. 

Then, Furina approached the stovetop where Navia had placed the tray of freshly baked scones and began to sprinkle pinches of sugar upon them. Navia warned her to be careful of the heat beforehand, and this time Furina made a comment about her Godhood and how a searing tray was no threat to her. 

"Excellent work," Navia proclaimed once the last scone had been dusted, and the praise was nice to Furina's ears. "Come, I'll tell you about my absence over some treats and tea."

That was how, but a few moments later, Furina found herself back on the couch with a cup of tea in front of her on the table, and one of the fresh scones in her hand. It was half eaten by now, and the Archon knew full well that she was going to want another with how delectable they were. But before she would indulge in another, she mentally planned to try a few slices of the variety of cakes Navia had also brought from the kitchen. 

After a sip of her tea, Navia began to explain. "A lot has happened in the past few weeks." It was a vague statement, yet Furina knew what she was referencing. "Lyney's case, the Synthe case, my father's case... the reports, interviews, celebratory parties and paperwork. So much in a short period that I ended up neglecting my bodily needs." 

Furina listened with interest, watching Navia's hand gestures, the tilts of her head, and the shape of her lips as she formed her words. Even in this tired state, the woman was still as eloquent as ever. 

"At one point I surpassed my limit and ended up passing out at one of said parties. The attendees thought I just had one too many, but Melus knew something was amiss. He all but demanded that I take some time off, which I did. Even so, I was still filling out paperwork and tying up loose ends where I could. Melus put his foot down in the end, however, and it's awfully hard to argue with him when he does so, even as his boss. He essentially grounded me until my body had recovered, can you believe that? So, I've been here, baking and sleeping."

The shorter of the two leaned back in her seat and pondered upon hearing Navia's explanation. Envy was Furina's initial response, and perhaps it shifted into a brief jealousy. Oh to just take a break, take a break, and have nothing to worry about. To indulge in hobbies, to sleep-  to sleep in , to nap, to have an early night, to rest.   To rest  and have others take care of your work for you, others who recognise when you're not well, recognise your struggles and tribulations, others to rely on, and who understand. 

Furina's turmoil and spiral of thoughts must have been apparent on her face because Navia leaned forward with concern and asked, "Lady Furina, are you alright?"

Said woman snapped her head up then and tried to compose herself by taking a long sip of her tea. "W-why, of course! I just couldn't help but feel sorry for you humans and your unreliable bodies. Sacrificing a third of the day every day to recuperate energy? I couldn't imagine living such a life," she lied. 

Navia leaned back in her seat. She pulled her legs onto the couch and gave Furina an inquisitive look. "Do Archons not need to sleep?" 

Furina swallowed hard, her body going into its usual panic mode when her powers and abilities were questioned. "I won't deny that it doesn't have its advantages, but the cons outweigh them significantly."

"Oh, how so?"

"W-well," she stammered, making things up as she went. "As I said, sleeping consumes a third of the day, how could an Archon wish to rule an entire nation if they aren't operating twenty-four-seven? Though I do retire to my chamber every night, I'm usually awake reviewing the proceedings of the day."

Again, yet another lie. At the end of every day, Furina would crawl into bed as quickly as she could, hoping to be graced with an uninterrupted slumber. Her hoping was always futile, however, for her brain would fill with painful thoughts about her loneliness, her burden, her role- her true role- and when she did sleep, her mind was infiltrated with nightmares. oftentimes, she'd awaken with a tear-soaked pillow and would simply have to get on with the following day. 

"Wow, that's quite fascinating," Navia responded, helping herself to a slice of chocolate cake. "I pull one too many all-nighters and I immediately feel the effects." 

"Well, you are human after all, so it can't be helped." 

They spent the next while in silence, drinking tea and eating the rest of the pastries and cakes. The only words spoken were that of Furina's compliments to Navia's talent for baking, but she refrained from jokingly suggesting that she work as the God's personal chef. 

Furina was certain that by now her absence would be suspicious, that her fans would be missing her, and that she still had many important tasks to attend to for the day, but she hardly hastened herself and savoured every bite of the delicious food before her. She may have just reinstated her lack of capacity for a break, yet here she was, prolonging her inevitable return to the throne in Navia's abode for as long as possible. Soon though, there wasn't a crumb left on either one of their plates, and so Furina accepted that it was time for her to depart. 

At least, she tried to.

"I'm not quite sure I believe you," Spoke Navia as Furina rose to her feet.

Furina's blood ran cold at her words, and it took all of her might to appear unphased. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

”When you claim that sleeping wouldn’t benefit you. You said yourself that it did have its advantages.”

growing defensive, Furina folded her arms across her chest. “Though it may increase our energy for the following day, Archons have so much power and energy that the boost sleeping provides virtually amounts to nothing.” 

“And yet you have such a tired glint in your eyes, who’s to say that, over the last five hundred years, you’ve almost used up your surplus of energy? I recognise that look of fatigue easily, for it was one my father often adorned, yet he himself could not see it, just as I couldn’t see it in myself.” 

It felt like her whole world had been flipped on its head. It was but a moment ago that Furina was glossed with a desire to have others notice her struggle, and Navia had done just that. Part of her felt relieved, and for a moment the façade cracked with how her breath hitched in her throat and how her eyes widened in bewilderment. That was for about a fraction of a second, however, and in no time the cracks were sealed, and her face resumed its prior authorial form. She could not break character. Not for anyone.

"I should have expected that the woman who continuously bursts into the Opera Epiclese had the gall to question the power of a god. Just what will it take for you to comprehend my abilities far surpass that of yours- a human? You said yourself you can't handle something as simple as an all-nighter, no?" 

Suddenly, Navia began to ponder, and she echoed Furina's words, "What will it take, hmm?" The longer she stayed silent, the more Furina began to fret. Again, she had spoken without thinking, without a plan in mind. Just what will Navia have her do in order to prove her Godly existence? Would Furina be able to lie her way out of it? She would have to. She could make up a lie about having duties to return to. Yeah, that should do it.

At least, that's what she thought until Navia asked, "I don't suppose the Hydro Archon has ever had a sleepover, has she?" 

Needless to say, Furina was left confused, but because the boss of the Spina hadn't outright requested a display of her control over the hydro element, Furina decided to hear her out. After all, what Navia wanted was proof that she didn't need to rest, not proof of her deityhood, and the former was much easier to achieve. That said, Navia requested that her unexpected guest follow her up to her bedroom, the room in which she had previously knocked out her God with a rolling pin.

Once there, the taller woman began to explain that, when she was younger, there was a game she would play with her friends during their sleepovers. It was a test to see who could stay awake the longest, and those participating could do as they pleased, within reason, to keep themselves awake or to lull the others into a slumber. Such things included ingesting large amounts of caffeine or sugar to keep oneself awake or opening the window on a rainy night to let the sounds of pattering raindrops pull one's opponent into their dreams. Navia stated that she had once read aloud a storybook in a soothing manner, and it had worked a treat. 

"I see, and what did the winner of this... childish ordeal receive as a reward?" 

"Bragging rights, of course! Back then, staying up late or pulling an all-nighter was among one of the coolest things you could do," Navia giggled, but her tone soon turned a little sad, "Although now, it's more of a curse if anything..."

A curse, huh? Furina thought. How ironic. 

"If you decide to humour me, then I can assure you that the odds are stacked in your favour. After all, I still haven't quite recovered and I've just filled up on hot tea."

Furina scoffed, "Regardless of those factors, the odds are stacked against you because this is a God you're challenging!" she exclaimed. "Hence why I must ask why you would even bother to partake in such a challenge when you're so inclined to lose?" 

"Actually," she began, clambering onto her bed- a twin bed that took up most of the space in the room. "It's a win-win situation. Should I lose, then you've proven to me that I needn't worry about your physical health. But If I win, then I can rest assured knowing that you're sleeping and therefore regaining your energy."

In her statement, there was one word that particularly stood out to Furina, and that was the word  worry . It impacted her so greatly and ultimately swayed her into playing along with Navia's stupid little game. But she tried not to dwell on it, especially with how much her heart was racing. 

"So I just... lay down and try not to sleep?" She asked, eyeing the bed.

"Yep! Do that and I'll get off your case." 

Furina grumbled but did so, tentatively crawling onto the mattress and laying on her back. How on Tayvat did she find herself in such a scenario? All she wanted to do was convince Navia to make more appearances during court proceedings so that things would be more entertaining for her people, so that her people would be pleased, pleased with their Archon. Yet here she was, laying in bed with Navia simply because the Boss of the Spina di Rosula couldn't believe that Furina wasn't tired. It should have been humiliating- she was a God partaking in a childhood game with a mere mortal for Celestia's sake! But all she could focus on was the soft mat beneath her body, the fluffy pillow under her head, the smell of the seawater that somehow wasn't off-putting. 

"Why are you so persistent on this matter anyway?"

When Navia replied, the tiredness in her voice had noticeably increased making it clear to Furina that she would in no time win this silly challenge. Once Navia had drifted off, she would be able to leave and forget that this ever happened. "A thought crossed my mind when I was tending to your wound after I had knocked you out, again, sorry about that. It reminded me of how Melus would patch me up after a clumsy accident of mine. I Have people who look after me, and I in turn look after my people. The Hydro Archon looks after her people, but can the reverse be said? Just who looks after Furina!" 

Furina shot upright then and stared Navia down with venom in her eyes, "I don't need to be looked after!" she spat. "I am Focelors, the God of the hydro element, and my power is far beyond your comprehension. How could a mere human hope to provide aid for a deity?! I am this country's sword and shield, the inverse could never apply!" 

As soon as the words left her mouth, Furina regretted them instantly, especially with how Navia looked upon her with wide eyes, the playfulness completely gone from her features. She knew why she had snapped just like that and it was because of the blonde's phrasing of ' the Hydro Archon looks after her people '. As a result, Furina was reminded of the people's dependency on her, of her role, of the prophecy. Indeed, it had all become too much, and who knew how much longer Furina would have to suffer alone with her burden. She could be waiting years, decades, centuries longer- well after Navia had passed and was nothing more than bones buried deep under the ground. No, she couldn't possibly hope to look after the ill-fated Furina. 

The Archon laid back down and turned on her back so that she was facing away from Navia. She was far too aware of the other woman's presence to even dream about ever falling asleep then and there. So, like she did most nights, she would lay with her destitute thoughts until Navia had long drifted off into sleep and then slipped away. If she was lucky, then maybe the boss of the Spina would wake up thinking that she had dreamed the whole ordeal. 

It could have been a minute that passed or an hour, either way, Furina didn't know. What she did know however was that Navia's breathing had evened out, and she was perfectly still. So, as to verify that the taller woman had indeed fallen asleep, Furina turned around as gently as she could only to gasp in surprise. 

Navia was looking at her- still awake, but barely. Her eyes were almost completely lidded, but she wasn't quite unconscious yet. Her voice came out as a tired hum. "As I thought, this may be the first time that I lose this challenge." There was a small, barely noticeable upward curve to her lips. "But at least I can try to take you down with me."

Though Navia's movements were sluggish and slow, Furina was powerless when her slender arms snaked themselves around and embraced her body. Furina found that she was too shocked to move. "H-hey, just what do you think you're doing!?"

"I said that in this game, you're permitted to take measures in order to either keep yourself awake or make your opponent fall asleep. This is a tactic for the latter." 

"This- this is something you've done before!?" she asked incredulously, even though that should have been the least of her worries. But given the extremely preposterous situation, it was hard to form a scolding sentence that would berate Navia for her misconduct towards the Archon. Was there even a law to have her prosecuted for this? And if there was, would Furina even want to press charges for such an...embarrassing thing? 

"No, never before, and perhaps never again," her words were far more slurred now, and muffled with how her face was buried in Furina's hair. "Because this tactic is very much a... double... edged... blade."

Furina understood not long after what Navia meant by that because, mere seconds later, she had well and truly fallen asleep. 

Now was Furina's chance. All she had to do was untangle herself from Navia's arms and legs and return to Palais Mermonia as though nothing had happened at all. She would tell Neuvillette that the people of Poisson were just so excited to see her that they kept her there for as long as possible, and then she could forget about this day entirely. 

But Furina didn't want to. 

Navia's body was just so warm and soft that the weight of the last five hundred years crashed upon her suddenly and Furina found her eyelids and body felt as heavy as blocks of steel. With her head pressed into Navia's chest, she could hear the soft thrum of her heartbeat which was soothing in a manner akin to the sound of rain trickling from overhead. And for a moment, the Archon wondered if it was indeed raining in this humble abode because the sensation of something wet falling upon her sternum made her brows furrow. 

Furina couldn't believe it at first, but she was crying. The only response that felt natural to her then was to, instead of running away, bury herself deeper in Navia's form, her own hands coming to find a comfortable resting spot upon the Blonde's back. At first, Furina struggled to comprehend the onslaught of emotions coursing through her veins, but everything soon fell into place.

Human is what she felt. 

She felt like a human who could grow old and die and bleed and cry and love and hate. So desperately she wanted to give in and shut her eyes for good, and oh it was a dangerous thought indeed because not even the prospect of primordial seawater rising from the depths and swallowing her whole would be enough to convince her to leave this bed. 

If only she were Barbatos, the God of freedom, or Beezebul the Deity of eternity, then maybe she could live in this moment forever without suffering the consequences. But no, she was the God, no, a proxy God cursed with justice. 

Then, almost as though it were a reaction to Furina's degrading thoughts, the cursed one felt something there upon her head where she had formerly been struck. It was so light that it could very well just have been a breeze, but something in Furina's heart told her that it was Navia's chaste lips planting a delicate kiss on her skin. Whether her actions were unintentional or not, Furina could not say, but she knew what she wanted it to be. 

And if it was indeed intentional, then Navia most certainly did not understand the power behind what she had done, for Furina was well and truly losing herself in this fantasy world where she could stay like this forever.

But reality soon crashed upon her like a ship colliding with a cliff face. 

A knocking at the door and Clorinde made her return known. In the end, Furina did indeed untangle herself from Navia's arms and legs and return to Palais Mermonia as though nothing had happened at all. She told Neuvilette that the people of Poisson were just so excited to see her that they kept her there for as long as possible, and she pushed the events of that day to the furthest reaches of her mind. 

When she had returned to her place of duty and later received news that the Harbinger Tartaglia had gone missing within the Fortress of Meropide, Furina's role was reinstated and her burden was placed back onto her shoulders, but this time, it wasn't as crushing as before. 

Though she tried to forget about it, Furina knew that it was probably a result of the smudged lipstick upon her forehead that was thankfully conveniently hidden by her hair- a last reminder of Navia's desire to look out for her.