Chapter Text
“Well, this is it.”
The smell of Primordial Seawater permeated Furina’s nostrils as she gazed upon the soaked streets of Fontaine. Behind her, the Palais Mermonia stood tall, relatively unshaken by the events of the prophecy; but she could not care less. It was her prison cell for 500 years, and she was finally free.
A large haversack was strapped to her back (most of her personal trinkets just served as a painful reminder of her centuries of suffering, so she packed what she treasured most), and she was clad in a jet black cloak. After all, she didn’t want to risk being recognised and questioned by anyone she knew. She was far too tired for that. Evidently, her puffy eyes and her eyebags were testament to her exhaustion. A pitch-changing mask covered her nose and mouth. Furina de Fontaine’s voice was simply too iconic. Strapped to her waist was a shortsword. The road ahead would be full of uncertainty.
She took one final glimpse of the Palais Mermonia, yet she did not find any emotion or thought about leaving this place. It harboured bittersweet memories; while the privacy of her room initially provided her with a sense of comfort, it eventually gave way to an aching feeling of solitude and suffering.
Thank you, Furina.
The former hydro archon turned away and walked to the elevator.
From this moment on, please live happily as a human; just as I wished we could.
Waiting for the elevator to arrive felt like an eternity, especially considering she could get caught at any time. Will you forgive me for leaving your city, oh dear Focalors? The ding of the elevator interrupted her thoughts and she stepped in as fast as she stepped out. The elevator ride was short, after all.
The aquabus ride to Romaritime Harbor was accompanied by only the chirps of birds in the distance. Furina closed her eyes, relishing the last time that she would be in Fontaine for the foreseeable future. Perhaps she would someday return, perhaps she wouldn’t… but she hoped that Fontaine wouldn’t flood after news of her sudden disappearance got out. After all, this was the first time that she had done something for herself in her 500 (or perhaps longer) years of living.
Stepping out of the aquabus met her with a sight that she was really hoping not to be met with. Navia and Clorinde. She took a shallow breath… perhaps they wouldn’t notice her if she just walked past them. Fate seemed so cruel yet again. Perhaps she was being given a second chance to reconsider her decision, to stay in Fontaine.
But she didn’t.
As inconspicuously as possible, Furina walked past the duo. Navia seemed oblivious to it, yet Clorinde stopped and nudged her. It seemed that even Furina’s distinct heterochromatic eyes couldn’t escape the Marechaussee Hunter’s acute gaze.
Navia opened her mouth to speak but Clorinde put her hand over it, eliciting a gasp and blush from the blonde. Furina turned around to face the source of the noise, and her erratic gaze was met with Clorinde’s cool one. Instantly, she froze in her tracks, and the two maintained eye contact for a few seconds.
“Is this truly what you want?” Clorinde finally asked, her tone flat as usual.
“…farewell, Clorinde.” If Neuvillette was here, he’d have noted how much Furina sounded like Focalors. Perhaps it was because of the mask, or perhaps it was because it came naturally to her.
Navia and Clorinde watched as Furina de Fontaine walked off into the horizon, unaware of the newly manifested Anemo Vision that had formed on her waist where her sash once was.
-
“Welcome to Mondstadt, strange yet respectable guest! Please state your identity and intended destination. The Knights of Favonius are here to ensure your safety.” A flicker of recognition appeared in the Knight’s eyes. The cloaked figure in front of him just seemed too familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before…
“Mondstadt will be my final destination. And as for my identity… you may call me the Drifter.”