Chapter Text
Why did it turn out like this? I... Charlotte sat, alone in the forests of Fontaine. I really hoped... no. I couldn't. if only...
--
I was walking along the streets of Fontaine, pink hair blowing gently in the breeze. The best reporter The Steambird ever had— at least to others. I would've had no idea of what could've happened next.
I spotted Monseiur Neuvillette, the Iudex, walking by, oddly enough, there have been reports of the Iudex missing. Our lovely Hydro Archon, Furina, seemed extremely stressed. She had eyebags, and she was extremely jumpy.
I took a closer look, our Iudex, seemed... unconcious but concious, if you know what I mean. He seemed like he wasn't in control. I'm hoping Furina has it under control, though.
I also saw Lady Navia, I stopped for a chat, but she shrugged me off and said she felt ill.
I don't know what's going on, but Lady Navia and Lady Furina felt.... off...
. . .
How wrong I was.
- - -
I wish...
. . .
It was late. My eyes would refuse to close, even for a second. I was wide awake, unable sleep due to my gut. It was telling me to run. But from what?
I could hear someome calling out to me... I thought to go for a walk. Yes. That's what I needed.
-
I took my walk, I'm scared and shaken, people disappearing... things don't add up. And Lady Navia. Lady Navia is just...
I heard a crashing sound. WHAT WAS THAT? My brain immediately began to think:
Run. Don't end up hilichurl dinner or worse.
And I knew I better listen.
But I heard something:
"Aren't I beautiful, Clorinde?"
--
SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED
SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED
SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED
SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED
Why'd it turn out like this?
--
....
The Iudex... he... he..
I can't even say it. He bit Navia.
The once kind and gentle Iudex I knew was gone. Blood was everywhere. The splatter and squelching made me sick to my stomach.
I grabbed Lady Furina by the arm and ran away, hoping to get her to safety, agaisnt her protests. She needed to stay safe.
---
"Furina, I need you to tell me what happened," I attempted to say calmly, hoping not to startle her.
"No... please Charlotte. You... you don't need to know," she protested. "Please, I can tell you some things. But not everything. It's for your safety, and for Fontaine's."
"Then, tell me. It might help us in the long run. Please, Lady Furina." I tried to cocere her into telling me.
She sucked in a breath:
"This is an infection, and a goddamn bad one at that. We took a visit to the Dendro Archon, Nahida, and... he... wasn't the same."
"Now that you mention it... it did look like he was turning into stone.. eugh..."
"Charlotte." Furina warned me, and I stopped.
"Oh! Yes.. um.. sorry... just.." I fumbled, my words were mixed up. All I knew is that we had get out of this goddamn nation. It's done for.
"Charlotte, Charlotte!"
I snapped back to reality. "Yes, we have to leave..."
I swiftly ran outside the city, dragging Lady Furina and a few others behind me. I managed to hijack a boat, and we went to a far off island.
When we arrived, I noticed Furina muttering under her breath: "Foçalors, Foçalors, Foçalors..."
If there were any survivors, I begged in my mind that they would come.
Please. We need you. I can't take this...
---
I heard a knock on the door of this old shed. I was hesitant to answer, but the good outweighing the bad. Worst thing, we die.
It was Lyney's magic assisstant Lynette.
"Hello," she said robotically, looking us up and down. "I know we have been at odds, but, it is time for us to set them aside. This whole thing is not a time to fear eachother."
I stood, silenced. The woman who I admired, who I begged for interviews, was telling me we had to stick together.
"Hm? What do you say?"
I was about to start saying something, but Furina interrupted.
"I, Furina, the hydro archon, demand to know why you are helping, it is simply out of character," she spoke loudly and clearly, unlike her mumbling before.
"Maybe I'm not a monster, like most think." She looked to the side.
"Let's calm down," I started. "We accept your help, right?"
"...Yes..." Furina said without looking at Lynette.
"Then it's settled. We leave next dawn."
---
Lynette has come to see us get to the Sumeru desert safely. Lyney, will be waiting for us. I'm packing my things, I hope Lady Furina and I manage to get to safety. And Lynette.
Maybe we'll actually survive! Who knows?
I'm still wondering: What happened to us?. I know it may not seem relevant, but Furina was being oddly cryptic.
I keep hearing her yearn for Neuvillette,begging him to come back.
I tenatively approached her, but Lynette grabed my arm and pulled me back. My heart fluttered for a second, before I heard her words.
"It isn't safe."
"What do you mean? I've been with Lady Furina... for some time," I replied shakily.
"Charlotte, stay with me. We can't deny it any longer. Furina is dangerous. She's the cause of everything."
"Wha— why are you blaming her?!" I whisper-shouted, suspcious.
"Just trust me. Let's go somewhere more private." She turned around slowly. "You coming?"
---
"Lynette, are you sure this is a safe space to talk? Why didn't you trust Furi?" I asked, hoping it wasn't a bad one.
"Simple,I don't. I only trust you and my siblings," She paused, "Think about it, and think about it good. Who was the one that started this shit? Who was with Neuvillette?"
I looked down. "Well I'm very aware of tha—"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP CHARLOTTE," she screamed. "WHY ELSE WOULD I BE HERE? YOU'RE SO FUCKING DUMB ALL THE TIME. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!" she continued her rant, "CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE IS OBVIOUSLY INFECTED YOU STUPID BITCH? GODDAMNIT FOR FUCK'S SAKE—"
I felt my eyes start to water, as my heart beat. How could she?! Lynette's calm demeanour quickly started to return, but I was still huffing and blinking back tears.
The silence was broken by her again. "Look, I'm sorry for yelling at you, but you need to be smarter about these things. You're important to me."
My voice shook, I was hurt, but I still wanted to know. "But.. why is my question? Why go through all this trouble to stay with me?"
Her eyes started to dart around, her tail lowering and shaking. "Er... uh... just a hunch, Char. I know you want to get out of here and so do I. You have the brains for this and I believe in you."
"Can we still please take Furina? When I did a check on her the other day, she didn't seem to have any bites. Her cut has healed!"
"If you insist. But the moment she goes rogue, I'm protecting you. If I get bit, throw me off the boat."
"Heh, deal."
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