Chapter Text
The first time he ever met her was when she was still the reigning archon of Fontaine.
He remembered back then that he had his hand cuffed behind his back. The silver metal that donned his wrists like a cold jewelry and clunked with every step he took. The sole reminder of a crime he doesn't regret doing, nor did he think he will ever do in the future.
If he has any future at all after this.
The gardes were behind him trailing carefully but remained enough distance as they watched and guarded— guarding the audience from his presence of course. He already knew this was the outcome of his actions. Whatever happens next, he will accept it with no complaints.
His new worn shoes stepped inside the Opera Epiclese. When he saw the amount of people-- audiences waiting for him, he didn`t falter for a second. Although the size of the opera was bigger than he had imagined, he kept his face cool. There was nothing he should ashamed about. Even when stronger and bigger guards were following behind, even when his handcuffs was a sign who he was, the one murdered, or at least the target of his hatred, deserved it.
'He's young...', 'Isn't that how it is with youngsters these days?', 'Poor thing, he wasted his own future.'
He could hear the people's murmurs as their eyes judged him. But Wriothesley didn't care, he did what he needed—should have done in the first place. His hands may now be dirty, but for him it was an equivalent exchange. Their deaths was an equal freedom to those children whose future would have gone had he not made a move.
And then he remembered, his back on the cold wall. Removing the gag on his lips as bloodshot eyes watched with the faint glimmer of light as children, teenagers and some young adults with similar gags on their mouths, desperately clutched on their foster parent's clothes. A man pulling them to his side with a smile.
Their parents simply looked down as the children's hoarse cries went muted as the 'customer' harshly punched their jaws with a crack, resulting for their mouths to shut and their hands fall limp. The other older victims, who knew what they were getting into could simply look away with silent sniffles and eyes closed in defeat.
And all his foster parent did was take a step back with no remorse and smiled to their customer as if nothing ever happened. Hand on hand did their dirty fingers touched, the bag of mora weighing heavy than those who were taken away. Wriothesley could only watch as crimson fall through some of the children's mouths that were treated roughly. The light disappeared in his eyes as the doors closed and he had never seen those people again.
Because of that, he repaid them with blood.
He didn't remember much, but see red. He felt the weight of his newly made gauntlets, not perfect but enough. Then a confrontation, first it was a conversation filled with disbelief, betrayal and pain. Then the truth, a yell-- perhaps that was his own voice? Then blood splattered on his face that dripped like a harsh caress, a scream, one wet plop, a pained cry, then another drop, then silence.
He watched without a mince of remorse as they took their last breaths. Eyes with desperation to survive but he did nothing but share a cold silence as they stared one another. He waited mercilessly for them to die. He did not enjoy the process, but he let them see him as their final image before they got sent to hell.
And he would soon follow.
Three long marks dragged his neck, scrapped from his gauntlet and the liquid that oozed out of his own injuries felt nothing compared to when he remembered those gurgled and high pitched cries as those innocent people were taken somewhere worse than hell.
Never. His sacrifices, his blood and his foster parent`s blood will never be enough.
Their blood mixed, and he stared wondering why creatures like them could ever bear the same blood and appearance like other Fontainians. It would make him feel better had they been monsters all along beneath those wretched layer of skin. But the fact that they were simply humans, weak and fragile under his grasp, could have committed so many crimes before he was even adopted by them, and that he did the same as they did, had utterly disgusted him.
He had passed out from the loss of blood, wishing that his life would end there, along with the monsters that he once called his parents. Because he was now stained like them, a life for a life. And even though they deserve it, he had done the same as them. Under Fontaine's law killing is a sin and he shall repent his regret, his crime on the scales.
But alas fate didn't want him to die. And so he found himself on the stage with a new name branded on his being. The murmurs of the audiences began to be louder and Wriothesley didn't know how to feel to be treated like that in the spotlight as if he was some sort of entertainment. When throughout those days felt like utter hell to him. He couldn`t understand it. So his head tilted down, eyes closing and hoping that the trial would start so the voices and eyes would disappear.
"Ugh, enough!"
The noises immediately stopped.
For a moment there was silence. Confused, Wriothesley raised his head and looked around wondering why the audiences had suddenly become quiet. The masses were not looking at him anymore, not a single one except for the guards who were momentarily distracted by the voice, their shoulders tensed. Something, had taken their attention somewhere higher ground and when he looked up he had realized what or specifically, who it was.
Lo and behold was the first time he had ever seen the Hydro Archon and her gracious presence in the flesh. He had heard her from even her foster parent's mouths. Praising the God with the most amazed tone he had ever heard from them, maybe even more than mora. She who sat on the highest seat on the most revered seat of audience and the most expensive chair. And suddenly the spotlight went hers, stealing his like it was the most natural thing in the world.
It was the only time he could breathe properly with a soft exhale.
Like the symbol of Fontaine, she wore an official blue uniform that donned of blue and white. Her irises were in the most unique form he had seen in with the shape of water droplets and the first time he ever encountered someone with heterochromia eyes. Her skirted legs were crossed, far from any `proper` ladies he had seen on the streets without a care. Chin on top of her palm as her head was slightly tilted back and raised like a mock, her lips wore in an indignant frown.
Her pair of long white hair smoothly moved as she stood up. Her foot clicked on the floor and she seemed to relish the attention on her. Breathing them in like sweet ambrosia. For a moment their eyes met and an emotion passed into her eyes before she looked away first and her attention was on the audience.
Then her pink lips quirked into a smile.
"My dear citizens, surely you can all remain a proper decorum when it comes to court cases such as this?" She spoke, her voice high pitch and sweet, with sympathetic at the end of her sentence. "The trial hasn't yet to start and you are all riled up. While I completely appreciate your energy in the Opera Epicliese, as the God of Justice, I find your noises quite displeasing."
She took one step down, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "We are the nation of justice and water." She raised one hand. "While justice is fair and equal--" She raised her other, "--water is a reflection of transparency and honesty." She put her hand down. "Whatever the result of this trial is, know that the truth will always be revealed no matter how well hidden it may be." At the last sentence she faltered. Perhaps it was because Wriothesley with his observation abilities saw the distortion of her acts.
No one saw how her lips pursed, her gestured hands slightly tilted down, eyes dimming with a vulnerability he hadn't expected from a God. But then she raised her chin up and continued with her smile being a little unnatural than it was before, covering it as smoothly like any another actress. But she was the one who sat atop them all. He didn't know how he could have seen it from this distance, but maybe because his attention was stolen by her with every dramatic words actions she took.
"Know that the nation of justice will remain true as long I, Focalors, the archon of Fontaine will remain in her throne. And that I`ll judge every single one, including you, my dear audiences." Her eyes went to the judge`s seat, and her smile tightened. "With the help of my Iudex of course."
And then she sat down, putting her chin on the back of her hand as she waved her other. "Now that my dear Iudex has arrived, we can properly start the trial."
Like any loyal followers, the majority of voices had lowered their tones of awes and obedience. Wriothesley could hear some comments to her as the Chief of Justice arrived, 'We're sorry Lady Furina', 'Please forgive us', 'Lady Furina is as amazing as always!'
Their murmurs were permanently shut down by the slamming of the Chief of Justice's cane. And Wriothesley's eyes that were still on the Hydro Archon, moved away as the trial officially started.
He listened to the charges, his head not lowered as he faced the Chief Justice. The murmurs were still there but felt far away as he listened tentatively to the crimes bore upon him on his person. And when the ardor of justice had spoken, "Wriothesley, do you plead guilty to these charges?"
When he heard the question, Wriothesley's minds drifted to his foster parents whom he wondered could dodge the charges with their sweet lies and well crafted smiles. Innocently saying that they are not guilty without feeling sorry for the ghouls of the past that was pulling them with wails until now.
He momentarily closed his eyes with a deep breath.
No, he wasn't like them.
"Yes." For once his mind became clear, he felt no fear even though he was closing his own fate if he finished his sentence. "I plead guilty."
Throughout the gasps, and rising murmurs the Hydro Archon suddenly stood up from her sit with a sound that startled almost everyone on the court. She began to descend from her sit with her expression well hidden. A thoughtful, different from her earlier boasting tone. Even the Chief of Justice whose cold expression was focused on Wriothesley, morphed into a confused one.
"Lady Furina?"
The lady in speaking didn't answer. To Wriothesley's surprise her mismatched eyes went to him and he could see disappointment and then went to guilt swirling in those confusing depths before it disappeared, snapping her head to the Chief of Justice.
"I'll excuse myself." She said. And the noises erupted loudly at her announcement. But she paid them no heed as she yawned lazily, her glove coming up to cover her mouth. "The ending is already concluded and I shan't use my time here. So, my dear, impartial Iudex, I trust that you can conclude this trial without any incident, yes?"
The Chief of Justice eyes twitched before he sighed. "Of course, Lady Furina."
She then laughed. "Good, very good! Now, my dear citizens, while our time together right now is albeit short, I will see you all in the next trial, until then, toodles!"
'That was highly inconsiderate.' He remembered those thoughts running through his head as she waved off some audiences who let out sounds of disappointment. Wriothesley wasn`t a perfect person and he had his own thoughts and assumptions about what an archon should be. And while he bears no hard feelings for her, he hadn`t expected that she`ll stand up and suddenly leave at the middle of one`s trial. Especially when the topic at hand wasn`t a light one at all. Then he assumed that, it was `perhaps random whims of a God`. As he can hear the Chief of Justice began speaking in the background, his eyes remained to the walking form of the Hydro Archon.
She descended to the stairs with confidence and grace. But before the pillar covered her form, Wriothesley saw her smile disappear and hint of a single droplet slipped from her gem like eyes.
During that time he didn't pay much attention to it. Because the distance between them was far and it could have been a trick to the light. But had he known what it could possibly mean in the future, perhaps it could have helped him understand her more.
Not when she appeared in his fortress in the most unexpected ways.
He remembered in the present time that he and Clorinde were chatting inside his office about the happenings in the overworld when one of his men barged inside with a startled and terrified expression. He was panting heavily and he looked like he ran for his life as he heaved. "E-Entrance, Lady Furina-- injured...!"
Before he knew what was going on, the Champion Duelist had sprinted from her sit and disappeared with a flash of purple and electro. His guard barely dodged as a flurry of zap went past him and disappeared. Wriothesley followed soon after, hearing the guard lagging behind him a silent curse as he followed also.
When he arrived at the entrance, the image was something he hadn't imagined he would ever witness.
There in the entrance, was Furina de Fontaine, the previous archon who was on the metallic floor with crimson pooling beneath her and a light blue melusine in her arms. Her skin was pale, morphing to blue as her teeth clattered. Red descended from her right shoulder and she was trembling hard with a whimper as some female guards were beside her, trying to aid her.
But they looked troubled because she refused to let go of the melusine. The creases in her eyes formed the closer they approached, eyes empty with exhaustion and she became more blue as she shivered. Wet droplets fell to the blood underneath, mixing the two like yin yang.
The floor looked darker than it was before. Old rust with new fresh rust.
One that Wriothesley disliked.
The Champion Duelist immediately approached her and kneeled in front of the ex-archon. The action startled Furina, moving back and her hold to the one on her arms tightened. Three unfamiliar sea creatures wearing adorable clothes suddenly appeared like bubbles and went in front to protect her.
When their gazes met, Furina realized who it was, her eyes widened in recognition. Then it became desperate as she ushered her companions to the side and offered Clorinde the one on her pale arms. The latter carefully taking the melusine in her embrace, shivering when she came in contact with the blue melusine, who still wasn't moving. Wriothesley feared that she would be dead.
Clorinde leaned her head when Furina's blue lips parted, whispering soft words to her. Her arms were bleeding and Clorinde began to worry, but the ex-archon refused with a shake of her head. "Protect... p-please. She might not... Please. Her first, n-not me. Court of Fontaine, Sigewinne, might make it--"
And the white haired collapsed, startling Clorinde. Wriothesley shot towards them and caught her in his arms. He instinctively flinched when her skin met his, her skin was colder than his, colder than his own cryo and he was surprised she was still alive when he felt no hint of warmth on her person. Her eyes were barely open as frosted air left her blueberry colored lips.
He was about to call for Sigewinne but then he realized that she wasn't here, but in the overworld. Shit. He realized why their head nurse wasn't there yet. She was in a momentary leave to meet Neuvillette.
Wriothesley had no choice then. His eyes met with Clorinde, she understood the situation and they nodded. The Champion Duelist disappeared again with the melusine as she ran straight to the entrance with electro leaving behind her trail.
He hoped a silent prayer that it will go well, then he hesitated, there was no God for him to pray except for the one on his arms. Or was she still a God?
He felt her hair tickle his chin as she stirred, confused who caught her. Wriothesley opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself in the case that he might startle her because he was a stranger to her. But his worries were all for naught when he caught her eyes and recognition was there before she relaxed and fell completely limp against him.
Well then...
With a huff he carefully hoisted her, feeling the coldness seep into him and wetness shared with their clothes with a squelch. He can smell the familiar scent of blood greet him like any other day and her blood stuck to his clothes. But he ignored that as he stood and looked at his guards that were staring with confused, bewildered and readied expressions. "All units, guard every perimeter and make sure to keep the other prisoners quiet about Lady Furina's presence in the Fortress. Unless there's another emergency, then don't contact me, understood?"
All guards straightened their backs and saluted. "Yes, sir!"
He sharply nodded and walked to the infirmary. He was doing his best to hurry his stride, but also not waking up the woman who groaned when he accidentally grazed her wounds.
He sighed. Never would he had expected his monday to end up like this.
It seems things would start to become really interesting.
-To be continued