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The streets around the Court of Fontaine were quiet after dark, the residents of the nation of justice having long returned to their homes to rest for the night. Gradually, the people of Fontaine drifted off into dreamland, the house lights turning off one by one, like a cascade of water flowing downstream.
Well, all but one.
A lone figure stood still by the Fountain of Lucine, fingers curled into tight fists as her gaze remained glued to the surface of the water. Tears stung at her eyes, her bottom lip trembling as she tried desperately to hold her emotions in. Palais Memonia loomed ahead of her, its once familiar walls now a permanent reminder of a five hundred year old performance that had only recently come to a close.
Five hundred years of anguish and despair, only for the people of her nation to view her as a fraud; a liar who faked the role of archon. And in the end, it was all for nothing. The prophecy had been a lie, after all.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as a tear finally slipped free, her mask crumbling alongside it.
Furina de Fontaine did not cry.
Well at least Furina, the Hydro Archon, did not cry. She had spent so long living in her performance that she no longer remembered who Furina de Fontaine truly was.
The city she had spent so long protecting had now become more akin to a cage; an endless plane filled with disapproving glances and scorn. The adoring gazes and applause she used to receive with every appearance were long gone; betrayal replacing the love that used to fill the gazes of the people.
A quiet sniffle filled the air, her vision blurring with tears as she stood beneath the moonlight. Alone and afraid, just like how she was as the archon. It seemed she was destined to be just that. Who would want to be her friend, anyway? Especially after what she had done .
No one would want to be friends with a deceiver.
“Lady Furina?”
Her eyes widened, gloved hands coming to harshly rub at her face in order to erase the evidence of her breakdown. She turned, heart thundering against her chest as she came face to face with the Iudex of Fontaine. “A-Ah! Monsieur Neuvillette..! What brings you here at this time of night?”
Neuvillette remained silent, eyes warily scanning Furina’s figure as if she were a stray cat, ready to bolt away at any moment.
And, well, that was precisely what she was good at doing now; a skill she had developed in order to keep a low profile and remain in obscurity.
“I… I should really be going home! Have a good night, Monsieur Neuvillette!” And without saying anything more, she bowed and stepped forwards, ready to retreat into the confines of her apartment, and perhaps muffle her sorrows with the soft fabric of her pillow.
“Lady Furina, please wait.”
Against her better judgement, she stopped, feet remaining frozen in place as footsteps approached. A gentle hand placed itself on her shoulders, and it only became apparent to her in that moment of how shaky her body was. A stiffening silence overcame the pair, and Furina thought about running again, only for Neuvillette to speak again, voice softer than what she was used to.
“I’m sorry.” He murmured, and she turned around, lifting her gaze to meet his own. “I failed you, Furina.”
Furina blinked, horror washing over her features.
Failed? No. Neuvillette had done far from that. He saved Fontaine in the end. It was her who had failed, not only her people, but him, as well.
“What are you talking about?” Furina scoffed, desperately trying to ignore the way her voice shook. “If anyone should be apologising, it should be me. I’m the one who lied to everyone. I’m the one who failed, even if the prophecy was wrong.”
A look of shock appeared for a brief moment on Neuvillette’s face as the Iudex shook his head, gaze remaining ever so gentle as he looked back at Furina. “I might have not failed you as the Iudex of Fontaine. But I failed you as a friend, Furina.”
At that the girl stilled, eyes widening in shock once again. What?
Friend?
“...what?” Her voice came out quiet, wavering amidst the crisp night air.
The man before her let out a sigh, his hand remaining a steady presence on her shoulder. “I was not there for you both during, and after your time in the Palais Memonia. As such, I feel it is only right to apologise.”
“No!” Furina shook her head, gaze averting from Neuvillette’s as it fell back to the floor. “It was always my burden to bear. It… It is not your fault, Neuvillette.”
“It never should have fallen on your shoulders alone.” Neuvilette murmured, voice soft yet firm. “Five hundred years of acting is an immense burden for any being, let alone a human.”
“I…” Her voice trailed off, the words of protest on her tongue dying as Neuvillette stepped forwards, crouching down before her in order to meet her gaze.
“But regardless of that burden, you did not fail, Lady Furina.” He whispered. “You are the reason Fontaine was saved; if you had not fulfilled your role in Focalors’ plan, Fontaine would have been lost to the Primordial Sea by now.”
“..huh?” Furina’s voice came out as no more than a whisper. “But- the water… the people didn’t vanish…?”
Neuvillette’s expression flickered, a glimmer of sorrow appearing in his gaze. “Because you succeeded Furina. That is why they didn’t vanish. Your ‘trial’ was the last step in the plan.”
She stilled, eyes widening in shock. “You mean…”
“You saved Fontaine, Furina. You succeeded.”
Her vision blurred almost instantly, but Neuvillette paid it no mind, continuing to talk.
“So please, Lady Furina. Give yourself some credit. You were, and always will be, the true Archon of Fontaine. You have always been worthy enough for that title.”
Wordlessly, she threw herself forwards, barrelling straight into the taller one’s chest as sobs overcame her. The older did not move for a moment, muscles tensing at the sudden action. But then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around Furina’s shaking frame, holding her in a gentle embrace.
“I-I… I thought I had failed.” She spoke between the sobs that were wracking her frame. “I-”
The skies above darkened, grey clouds forming rapidly above the pair, but Neuvillette did not move, only choosing to hold Furina tighter.
“I’m sorry I could not tell you earlier.” Neuvillette murmured, his own voice shaking as Furina pressed herself impossibly closer to him. “You are not a failure. In fact, you are far from it.”
The first droplets fell, hitting the ground around the pair with light thuds.
“I promise, that from now on, you will not have to be alone anymore, Furina.” Neuvillette’s voice was low, the words whispered like an oath. “I will always be here if you need me.”
A muffled sob escaped the smaller girl’s mouth, tears soaking into the fabric of his cloak. And all through it, he held her, apologies and promises tumbling from his mouth like a broken record.
And when the rain eventually did begin to pour down, heavy and fast, neither of them paid it any mind.
(And if, in the morning, Neuvillette walked past children playing in the leftover puddles and singing to the sky, he would only smile, continuing his journey towards a certain someone’s apartment for tea)
Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, Don't Cry