Chapter Text
“So this is where she wants us to meet now.” he thought, as we walked into a small café downtown. Clorinde had chosen as her meeting place today, a café decorated with an arched window, framed by pastel-blue wooden shutters, allowing a view of the white marble tables and wrought-iron chairs.
Above the door is a metal sign reading “Le Concorde”. Gas lanterns are fixed on either side of the oak door, with a window at the top.
He entered, pushing open the door, which slammed into a small bell hanging just above. Once inside, he saw Clorinde. He gestured to say hello to the man in the suit at the counter before going to join Clorinde, who was wearing her usual outfit: a white blouse with buttons only visible at the chest, with a mineral-blue coat very close to black with a few gold buttons that connected to a skirt of the same color at the waist. She also wore a purple cape with epaulets similar to those worn by military lieutenants, and long white gloves. Clorinde had chosen a small table for two, close to the window.
“Oh, it's you, Furin, you can sit down.” she said.
He didn't hesitate, and took a seat on the chair opposite her while she put away her paperback.
“I haven't kept you waiting too long, I hope.” he asked slightly worried.
“Not at all, don't worry, anyway are you getting used to life in Fontaine? If I remember correctly, it's been a month since you arrived.” she asked.
“It's okay, in fact yesterday I got the answer to the last letter I sent.” he replied. “Was it the one you sent to your sister? Her name was Shenhe, if I'm not mistaken.”
“That's right, and as for the one addressed to my master, I haven't yet received a reply.”
“That's too bad for you, but seeing how you described your master to me last week, I imagine she must be very busy.” she said.
“That's true... and how are you getting on with your bodyguard duties?” he asked. “It can be okay, but then sometimes it feels more like I'm guarding a child than a god, Lady Furina is... 'energetic' if I do say so myself.” She let out a slight sigh after she'd finished her sentence. “If you say so.”
Just as he finished his sentence, the man he'd seen at the counter arrived and placed on the table an assortment of teas accompanied by a teapot of hot water and cups, each taking a different bag and placing it in their cup decorated with little blue flowers, before filling them with hot water. They thanked the man, then he left.
“Besides, come to think of it, shouldn't you be protecting her right now?” He took out a small pocket watch and looked at it before continuing. “Normally you start your shift at 9 a.m., but it's already 11 a.m. Has something happened?” he questioned.
“Nothing's happened, don't worry... Let's just say Monsieur Neuvilette has decided to give me the morning off.”
He nodded in reply before sipping some of his tea, then noticed the slight change in Clorinde's gaze.
“I'd like to ask you a question. You wouldn't happen to have anything else to say? Even if your attitude's always the same, your eyes give you away, you know?” he said, curious. “We really can't hide anything from you! Just like when we first met, it only took one look for you to understand that I was someone important.” she replied, slightly surprised, before taking a sip from her cup. “Maybe I am...” he replied, before leaning back in his chair and pouring himself another cup of tea. “You really are enigmatic sometimes...” she said before her voice became a whisper.
“...Just like her.”
“What did you say? I didn't hear the end of your sentence.” he asked curious about her change of voice.
“It's nothing, as for my question, it's related to our meeting, do you remember?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“When I think back, our meeting was a lot of fun... on my side at least.”
“It's only on your side.” he replied slightly embarrassed.
“Well, a little mistake happens to embarrass you?” she teased.
“Shush...”
She gave a little giggle in response.
“Let's move on then... as for my question, would you accompany me to Mermonia Palace?”
Furin gasped in surprise at her request, and nearly dropped his cup.
“Why do you want me to accompany you to the palace?” he asked.
“Because I might have mentioned our meeting with Lady Furina, and I guess now she wants to meet you.” she admitted.
“Sure, when you explain it's better, but it still doesn't explain why she wants to see me.” he replied, skeptical of Clorinde's explanation. “She's a god, how do you expect me to know what's going on in her head.” she said, he sighed at her answer. “Seriously... shouldn't you know a little? You’re her bodyguard and you're the one she asked.”
“Unfortunately for you, no.” she replied.
“All right.” he said, before sipping the rest of his tea.
On the bright side, at least you'll be able to tell your sister and your master that you've met the god of this land.” she asserted.
“If you want.” he replied. His voice was neutral, after all, he'd already met one of them, the one of contracts, and he'd already been to see Cloud Retainer several times after his change of identity.
“What enthusiasm...” Clorinde let out a sigh before resuming her sentence. “...So are you planning to accompany me to the palace?”
Furin began to think about the pros and cons of this meeting, and a minute later, which seemed like an eternity to Clorinde, he accepted her request.
“Perfect we can leave now, I have to get back to work at noon, it's eleven thirty, and since you've accepted Lady Furina's request you'll come with me.” She said cheerfully, which was very rare for her. Clorinde was usually as cold as a wall.
They rose from their seats, and Clorinde went to pay the bill, while Furin went outside to wait for her, trying to see the floating orb in the Passage Vasari.
Clorinde came out of the café and noticed where Furin's gaze was going.
“Do you still find that orb so attractive?” she asked. “Yes, I find it fascinating that two elements that are supposed to oppose each other manage to make an object float.” he replied. “Agreed...” she nodded. After a slight pause, she resumed. “Well, shall we go?
I don't think you'd want to keep a god waiting... unless you would?” she said before starting to walk towards the palace.
“I'm on my way.” he replied, before starting to walk beside her, towards the aquabus management office, which had an elevator leading directly to the palace level.
This allowed her to look at the orb again, until they entered the building, where Clorinde just needed to present an amulet depicting two people, one with a dark blue outline and the other with a light blue outline.
“It's all right, you can go.” said the receptionist before indicating the elevator behind her.
Clorinde and Furin entered. The elevator shaft was made up of thin glass walls in a light blue hue. Inside the elevator, there were four small golden buttons, each numbered from one to four. Clorinde pressed the fourth button. When the elevator arrived, the doors opened and Furin saw the palace appear before his eyes.
The Palais Mermonia was an imposing, symmetrical structure, evoking majestic grandeur. On either side, numerous pillars rose up to a roof ending in a dome of slightly bluish glass, all supported by a finely crafted wrought-iron frame. The main door, set in a U-shaped niche, was surmounted by an immense gilded clock, whose hands indicated eleven hours forty. Numerous windows decorated the façade, each representing water or one of its derivations.
“Are you coming?” asked Clorinde. She had already begun to walk along the wide, elevated passageway leading to the palace, which was lined with pots of various flowers and iron lampposts. The floor, meanwhile, was carved stone. The end of the passage formed an arc with the palace at its center, and on one edge stood a statue of the old Archon and on the other a statue bearing the effigy of the new Archon.
“I'm coming.” he replied as he joined her.
Then, when they reached the arched platform, Furin spoke again.
“Who's the statue on the left?” he asked.
“That's Egeria, she's the god who was present before Lady Furina.” she replied as they climbed the stairs to the double doors of the palace.
When Clorinde arrived, the guards straightened up and finished their discussion. They wore blue button-down uniforms, each with a blue kepi embroidered with two crossing strings. They both carried rifles and rapiers.
“Oh, it's you, Lady Clorinde, and who's that?” asked one of the guards, one of his hands resting on the pommel of his weapon.
“He's with me... he's a guest of Lady Furina.” she replied instantly, pointing to her amulet.
“Okay.” he replied a bit skeptical, but he decided not to push any further. Then the guard who'd been talking until now nodded to his colleague before opening the door with him.
“Go ahead, I don't think Lady Furina likes to wait.”
Clorinde thanked the guard before entering, Furin still beside her.