Chapter Text
In nearly all of Teyvat, public transportation is a rarity. Traveling is done mostly by foot, where the average denizen would hoof it solo or with a caravan. Gliding required not just the cumbersome apparatus to be strapped onto the user’s back, but a license to even be allowed to own and use it. Words carried across nations mentioned that Natlan uses Saurians as transport, in addition to being companions to the tribes there. Even Vision users, those blessed by divine intervention, could sometimes use their gifts to make traveling more convenient.
Boats and other naval vessels are present, but the only bodies of water large enough to host these are the seas and oceans; most streams and rivers are too shallow. But, in the nation of Fontaine, the Domain of Hydro, water travel isn’t just commonplace; it is vital to many lives within its boundaries. It is here that public transportation is a commodity to citizens and visitors alike in the form of the aquabus.
As the name implies, the aquabus is a ferry that traveled along a constructed waterway aptly named the aquarail. There are two aquarail lines currently running in the nation; the Clementine Line and the Navia Line. While both lines started in the Main Station within the Court of Fontaine, the nation’s capital city, the end stations of each ended at different points; the Clementine Line’s endpoint is in Romaritime Harbor to the far south, one of the primary entry points for visitors of Fontaine, while the Navia Line’s endpoint is Marcotte Station to the east, a short walk away from the Opera Epiclese, the compound theater and courthouse of Fontaine. A third line, the Callas Line, had once been operational, but had ceased its function indefinitely once its endpoint, the Fontaine Research Institute, suffered a disaster that left its original structures… inaccessible, to say the least.
Though the aquabusses (or is the plural form “aquabi?”) are automated and self-running, they employ tour guides that help riders with information, recommendations, and fun facts about Fontaine. The tour guides, both current and former, of the aquabi (please correct me if I’m wrong here) are Aeval of the Clementine Line, Elphane of the Navia Line, and Talochard of the former Callas Line.
For a citizen, these tour guides were pretty much a common and daily sight, with perhaps a few quirks between each of them. Aeval was very perky and approachable, but sometimes spoke before thinking; Elphane was very professional, if a little blunt and rough around the edges; when she still worked on the Callas Line, Talochard had the voice of a crow, and a passion for using her whistle to announce her arrivals and departures, or to hush a disruptive passenger.
For a tourist, however, these tour guides were usually their introduction to the Melusines. The Melusines are a species of semiaquatic, all-female (or perhaps mostly female? I don’t like to assume absolutes…), colorful beings that reached to midriff height on an average adult human, if we’re counting their feelers. They have hoof-like feet and mitten-like hands, which makes going up stairs or holding objects difficult at times for them; however, they can reach rather frightening speeds in a gallop when they aren’t busy skipping and taking in the sights. They’re also just as, if not faster, in the water, and while not all Melusines had them, those with wings were easily capable of feats only dreamed of by humans. Perhaps their most notable trait, and what many others will attest to, is their eyes; they radiate with a sort of magic akin to a Vision, hinting at some divine origin, and many Melusines, especially those employed in the Court, will attest to seeing more than the naked eye of an average human could ever perceive.
While their origins were (and still are sometimes) debated among some Fontainians, they are treated with respect and dignity across the nation. Amongst themselves, the Melusines considered each other siblings. As for how the Melusines perceived humans, the Melusines considered them nothing short of fascinating. Melusines are employed in many positions you’d expect in any other nation, such as officers, staffers, and… well, tour guides.
Things weren’t always like that, though. Part of the reason they were considered dangerous in the past was specifically because their origins were unknown to humanity. It took the effort of the Iudex of Fontaine (its Chief Justice and current de facto leader), Monsieur Neuvillette, as well as the Gardes and Marechaussee Phantom (Fontaine’s law enforcement and its special law enforcement agencies, respectively) to solidify their current status.
All of this, and much, much more, were just some of the snippets of information you could hear while riding the aquarails from their Melusine guides.
Of the three tour guides, current and former, Aeval was the most eager of them. With that eagerness came a bit of nervousness, but also a sincerity and optimism that truly welcomed both visitors and citizens. For this, many riders of the aquabus had commended her, keeping her spirits high. Despite also being the most naive of the tour guides, Aeval felt confident that she had seen just about everything she possibly could from her passengers.
Almost everything…
——
Today started out like any other; I was doing a swift but thorough check of the aquabus before dawn. I was definitely still tired; the coffee I drank hadn’t fully kicked in yet, but I got to meet up with my sisters Elphane, Menthe, and Talochard, and we all exchanged some inspirational words to get through today. It’s been about a year and a half since the Great Flood, and thankfully we hadn’t ever seen anything as bad since then.
I strolled to the Main Station with Elphane; again, all part of the routine. We talked about our routes for the day, Elphane mentioning that today was one of the rare occasions where there were no trials scheduled, but instead just a few shows at the Opera Epiclese. I hoped it meant we could possibly catch a magic show tonight and not get stuck with the bum seats again…
After we parted ways to get to our ferries, and I did my check with help from our dutiful greeter, Grosley, I was ready to set sail! Every day, I’m ready a bit earlier than the opening time of the aquarails, so I was a little surprised to see someone waiting in the wee hours of the morning on the bench. It was admittedly still a bit dark out, so I couldn’t tell who they were when I skipped towards them.
…eh… once I got close enough though… I couldn’t believe who it was! Monsieur Neuvillette was sitting there! I still remember my body shaking when I saw the Iudex himself there, and my sleepiness went away just like that.
“M-Monsieur Neuvillette!?” I remember squeaking out.
“Hmm? Are you alright, Aeval? You seem to be trembling. Is it perhaps too cold out this morning? Perhaps I could lend you my jacket.” The fact that he knew my name, let alone that he instantly recognized my nervousness was even more embarrassing. I mean… I’ve never really even had the chance to speak to him more than just a simple greeting.
“H-huh? Oh! N-no no no no! I-I’m not cold!” In fact, I think I was sweating from the sheer amount of anxiety. Monsieur Neuvillette may be Fontaine’s Iudex… but to every Melusine, he was a guardian to us. Some could even say he was like a father to us, and we were all sisters! Still… he’s such a busy guy, sometimes we forget that he really does care about us this much. I guess it should have been obvious, though… not too long ago, he personally took on an investigation where one of my sisters, Kiara, had received a letter that threatened her to leave the Marechaussee Phantom. He had resolved it with the help of the Traveler, and Kiara could continue her duties as usual.
“Ah, my apologies then.”
“I-it’s just that… well… I’ve never seen you ride on the public ferries, s-sir. I was told by Elphane that you and Lady Furina each had a personal ferry for travel.” Although since the flood, I didn’t really see Lady Furina in her usual spot in the Opera Epiclese as often as before.
“Indeed, that is true. However, it appears that the ferry has some difficulties starting. I have left it to the experts on maintenance to take care of it. Though repairs would not take too long, it is rather important that I get to Romaritime Harbor as soon as possible.” I suppose they tried to get the ferry going immediately without warming it up first. It was probably an honest mistake, we all make them sometimes!
“Oh dear… was there an incident?” I remember covering my mouth in shock. After all, if Monsieur Neuvillette had to be there immediately, it had to be important.
“No, no incident as far as I am aware. I had no cases scheduled today, and Sedene offered to give me a hand with my paperwork. Thus, I did not need to make an appearance at the Opera Epiclese or stay in the Palais Mermonia. So I figured it was a perfect opportunity to make it to the harbor and meet with Manaia in person.”
Manaia is another of my sisters. Last I heard, she made her way to Natlan, the Domain of Pyro and Nation of War! It was definitely scary when I first heard that. But it was also a relief to hear she was meeting with Monsieur Neuvillette today. “Manaia’s returned? That’s great news!”
“Yes, and with her return a vital package I’ve asked her to deliver.” Neuvillette then gestured to something on the bench next to him. “As a personal thank you to her, I myself have prepared a care package for her.”
It was hard not to be curious about the crate next to him, but discretion was of utmost importance to the Iudex, after all. “So… y-you wish to ride the aquabus, Monsieur?”
“That is correct, Aeval. I hope it is not too much trouble for this request.”
A lesser Aeval may have been cowed by such a monumental task, but this Aeval has never backed down! Neither rain nor sleet nor tasty tidalga algae could stop me! I put my right hand over my heart, and nodded at him. “I-I am at your service, Monsieur Neuvillette!”
A small but warm smile crossed his face. “I am very grateful, Aeval.” He grabbed the crate, placed it in the ferry’s cargo hold, and took his seat.
I think I was still in a bit of disbelief from him riding on my ferry, because I had nearly forgotten about any other passengers when I prepared to set sail. I turned the ferry’s engine on and placed it on standby. By the time the station had opened, the usually empty seats seemed to be slightly busier than usual. Some had entered the elevator that led up to the Navia Line, while a small group of passengers for the Clementine Line approached. When they got closer, I instantly recognized one of them as another of my sisters, Sigewinne.
Unlike the rest of our sisters, Sigewinne more closely resembled a human than a Melusine, though her feelers and tail gave away her true identity. She was also blessed with a Vision. Despite the occasional question from either another sister or a human, Sigewinne adamantly confirmed staying in her current form. She helped our sisters and humans alike through her medicinal practice. “Sigewinne? Wow, I didn’t expect to see you here today either!”
Monsieur Neuvillette nodded. “I’m glad she made it. She had helped me to prepare this package for Manaia.”
Sigewinne nodded. “Yep! I’m also going to meet with Manaia so she can give me a report on any potential dangers for Melusines in Natlan, and I can prepare any sort of medicine for such situations.”
“Well, Manaia will definitely have a great welcome home!” I took my whistle out, blowing it to alert any other passengers, and waited for everyone to be on board. The riders watched as the ferry pulled away from the station, before turning their attention to Monsieur Neuvillette and Sigewinne, fascinated by both.
I cleared my throat, not only to get their attention but to also divert prying eyes from the Iudex and my sister. “Hi hi hi! Tour guide Aeval is at your service! Our destination will be Romaritime Harbor, and we will reach it in approximately six hours, give or take!”
My idea worked, as everyone turned their attention to me. Sweet! The ferry was soon pulling out of the Court of Fontaine, and gave us the view of the nation’s waters and green islands. “Please keep your head, hands, and other body parts, as well as personal belongings, inside the ferry at all times!” After so many trips I made sure I didn’t forget the disclaimer this morning, especially with esteemed guests. “If you have any questions, concerns, or curiosities about Fontaine, whether it be about persons, places, or things, please feel free to ask me! I’ll do my very best to answer them!” Luckily, a certain blonde-haired Traveler wasn’t here for me to scold for jumping and gliding off the aquabus for the third time… this month!
One of the passengers, a man wearing what fashionista Chiori would call the “Sumeru Akademiya rags,” raised his hand. I nodded to him, and he asked, “As a Sumerian, I must admit it’s a shame to be leaving Fontaine so soon. I’ve been having an exceptional time studying the laws and regulations of all nations, and Fontainian law has been exceptionally more unique than any other nation’s. Is it true that you preside over every trial, Iudex?”
“Hey, I-” I stopped myself before getting too agitated. Bad Aeval! Never antagonize the passengers! Even if you can tell them the answer yourself! “Think that’s a great question, Monsieur Neuvillette!”
Monsieur Neuvillette nodded. “Why yes, I do indeed oversee every trial in Fontaine, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”
Again, I could have told him that, but it’s alright, Aeval, it’s just a question. “An excellent answer, Monsieur Neuvillette!”
The Sumerian man scribbled into a notebook. “I must learn more on my return. Thank you, Iudex!” He placed the notebook away, and took out a small box, opening it and eating… wait, are those lava rocks!? I’m not sure if I imagined it, but I could see just a twinge of a grimace in Monsieur Neuvillette’s face when he saw them. Humans really are quite the curious bunch.
Another passenger, a woman wearing Inazuman robes, raised her hand. I smiled and pointed at her. “Yes, please, go ahead!”
The woman bowed her thanks and asked, “I’m a first time visitor to Fontaine. I had heard of the wonders of the Court of Fontaine after reading an advert while picking up a book from my favorite series, A Legend of Sword .”
“Oh my gosh, I love A Legend of Sword !” I think my tail was wagging just thinking of that novel!
“Glad you think so too! Anyways, the city was pretty great! I just wish it wasn’t so far away, the travel is such a hassle. I’m not sure if you’d know, but will Inazuma ever be graced with the likes of Lyney and Lynette? Or perhaps a show directed by Miss Furina?”
“Well, although they are Fontainian and do mostly perform local shows, there’s always the possibility of their talents branching out to the other nations! Never say never, as they say!” I know the Melusine Philharmonic Orchestra has ventured out to other nations to perform, so it was definitely possible for Fontainian talent to expand their horizons, especially with the Iridescence Tour and Fontinalia Film Festival.
These back and forth questions did make an hour pass by, as we soon made our way to the first bend in the aquarail, with the Opera Epiclese on the left side. I gestured to it. “On our left, we can see the Opera Epiclese. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you just how influential this building is not just to our law, but to our arts as well! Over the past year and a half, we’ve had such an influx of new productions that have become hits such as The Little Oceanid , The Lost Puppet , and recently, even films such as The Two Musketeers !”
Sigewinne nodded. “It was so nice to have a chance to catch those shows with the Duke!”
“Indeed,” Monsieur Neuvillette responded. “I too found myself captivated by the new talent we are hosting in Fontaine as of late. Certainly better than the wild ramblings of that tabloid.”
I giggled. “You mean the Seven Nations Gazette?”
“Yes. When it comes to print, I would sooner use the Gazette as a tablecloth than as reading material. But I would feel compelled to apologize to the table afterwards.”
“Hahaha! Monsieur Neuvillette, you’re hilarious!”
“Please, you don’t need to be so formal with me, Aeval.”
“But… I must, Monsieur Neuvillette. You’re our Iudex. Our nation’s representative!”
“I am no less and no more a servant of Fontaine than you, Aeval. Do not minimize your contributions to the nation.”
I figured if I kept trying to say that I was just a tour guide, it would get a bit embarrassing in front of everyone. Sometimes, it’s best to take his graciousness, even if you don’t deserve it. So I bowed. “Thank you, Monsieur Neuvillette.”
When I stood up, he seemed to stare at me a bit longer, before humming and nodding, turning to Sigewinne. “You know, Sedene had offered to provide a slice of that limited edition cake for the care package.”
Sigewinne giggled. “Leave it to her to want to look after everyone. Even you sometimes, Monsieur Neuvillette!” That was true. I’m not entirely sure, but most of our sisters, even Serene, believed that Sedene is our oldest sister, as even Sigewinne considered her wisdom valuable. She was also the first to know of any major news from Monsieur Neuvillette, such as Lady Furina leaving her official position as Archon or the rare occasion when the Iudex takes a day off.
“Yes, she does scold me from time to time. But I know her intentions are nothing but good. But her daily slice of cake need not be sacrificed for the care package.”
“She’s so thoughtful.” I’ll admit, I had my own questions I wanted to ask, especially about Natlan.
Sigewinne turned to the other passengers. “Have you ever visited Natlan?”
The Sumerian man shook his head. “No, never.”
The Inazuman woman also shook her head. “I haven’t either.”
Sigewinne hums. “Well, if you do plan on visiting, the first thing you should be mindful of are the Saurians! A relatively new patient in the Fortress spoke about how he was ambushed by Saurians, but… he most likely was just exaggerating.”
The last letter that Manaia sent home talked a bit about the Saurians. They were the collective name of the dragon descendants of Natlan, with variations between each species of Saurian. Many were companions to the people of Natlan, and Manaia said she even got the chance to get to know one too! “I honestly couldn’t imagine a Saurian alongside a companion attacking anyone…”
Sigewinne wagged her finger at me. “That's not to say that wild Saurians wouldn’t, or that a mean person with a Saurian buddy wouldn’t think twice about bullying you. It’s important, just like in any nation, to always be mindful of your surroundings.”
Monsieur Neuvillette nodded. “Even in Fontaine, we must be cautious of malfunctioning meka, aggressive wildlife, or the occasional hilichurl here and there.”
Another hour passed, and soon we reached Poisson Tunnel. Passing through here always made me a little sad. I cleared my throat, trying my best to not let my voice crack. “We are now passing through Poisson Tunnel. Going through Mont Automnequi, we will be passing by the Great Flood Memorial when we exit. This memorial was built a few months ago, finished a year after the Great Flood that devastated Poisson. It commemorates the victims of the Primordial Sea, who were dissolved when the tainted seawater made contact with them. Please join us in a moment of solidarity when we come into view of the memorial.” Over the months, I finally managed to hold back the tears that came with making this announcement.
It would take about another thirty minutes until we reached the end of the tunnel and saw the memorial, so I tried to lighten the mood. “This tunnel is named after the town of Poisson. Once a large port for trade and traffic, it now serves as the headquarters of the Spina di Rosula. Currently headed by President Navia Caspar, the organization today has seen drastic structural improvements, and serves as an auxiliary support group for the Gardes!”
The Inazuman woman nodded. “Miss Navia is definitely not what comes to mind when I hear of the title ‘Boss,’ but that’s honestly a good thing. She genuinely seems to care about those she helps, and I got to try out some of her macarons at a bake sale! Sooooo good!”
The Sumerian man clicked his tongue. “Ah, I missed a bake sale? Darn it!” As he reached for another of his lava rocks, a violetgold angler gull squawked loudly, and flew towards him in an attempt to grab it. Well, I wouldn’t have chosen a lava rock, but those birds will eat just about anything. It tried to grab his snack while squawking angrily, and he seemed to panic before falling off the aquabus!
“Oh no! I gotta stop the ferry!”
Monsieur Neuvillette stood up, shaking his head. “No need.” He saw the gull still flying around, before waving his cane to shoo it away. “Settle down!” he boomed at the gull. The command, helped with the echoing of the tunnel, promptly sent the gull in a retreat. He then focused on the Sumerian man in the water of the aquarail, focusing intently before he pulled a large stream of water towards him, all the while keeping the man’s head above the waters to allow him to breathe. “Be sanctified.” Soon, the Iudex gently placed him back on his seat, made the water retreat back into the railway, and even drained the water from his clothing, as if nothing had happened.
The Sumerian man, clearly bewildered by the events and how quickly they happened, slowly turned to the Iudex. “Th-thank you, Iudex.”
Sigewinne looked the man up and down, using her eyes to inspect him for any sign of injury. “Thankfully, just a bit of a scare and a soak. Nothing to worry about, sir!”
“Thank you, Sigewinne. And think nothing of it, sir. I would have done the same for anyone.” Monsieur Neuvillette stared at the direction the gull escaped. “Quite fascinating. Birds usually do not shelter in this tunnel. It must be raining.” Sigewinne and I glanced at each other subtly.
The Inazuman woman cocked her head to the side. “Raining? But it was so bright and sunny outside when we entered this tunnel.”
I cleared my throat. “Yes, Fontaine does seem to experience quite the sudden downpours.” Tourists wouldn’t know, and even Fontainians thought nothing of it more than a simple local legend, but a few trusted by Monsieur Neuvillette knew what that meant; the Iudex was somber.
Perhaps the occasional and observant individual would notice the lack of Vision on his person, but they would assume that he still had one on him. But my sisters and I, a majority of his confidants, knew that he had no such mere blessing; rather, he had complete authority over the element of Hydro as the Hydro Sovereign. His power over the waters was so grand, the skies could summon a downpour with just a thought; Fontainians had actually summed it up a bit simply, if slightly inaccurately, with that silly little ditty they shouted to the skies on a rainy day.
Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don’t cry.
I turned to Monsieur Neuvillette. “Raining, is it? I can bring up the cabriolet.”
“Yes, that would be best for these passengers.”
Sigewinne glanced at the Iudex. “Will you be alright, Monsieur Neuvillette?”
He stared at the approaching exit to the tunnel as I started to activate the roof of the ferry. “…a lot is on my mind, admittedly. In truth… because the private ferry I take follows the quickest route to and from my destinations, I don’t have much of a chance to visit places I’ve been meaning to. One of those is the memorial.”
I rubbed my shoulder a bit. “Monsieur Neuvillette… you’re very busy, so I completely understand. After all… without you, Fontaine would grind to a stop.”
“An explanation, yes. But… I would like to change that. Being insoluble may help to be impartial in the court… but I do not wish to maintain that position outside of it. It blinded me to the reality of the present once… believing no one else would help Kiara besides her sisters and I…” He glanced at the waters of the aquarail, watching them shift and flow. “Just as water remains stagnant in a puddle… my conceptions would have never changed. My mind must flow, like the streams, and adjust to where we are, here and now.”
Sigewinne nods. “There will always be problems, Monsieur… but Fontaine, as it is now, is better off than where it was four centuries ago.”
“That much is true, yes.”
Both Sigewinne and I nodded, going up to Monsieur Neuvillette and hugging him. “…we miss Carole too, Monsieur…”
Monsieur Neuvillette smiled softly. “…if she could see it now… I think she’d be very pleased.” He turned to the other passengers. “Forgive us for bringing up these personal matters.”
Both passengers shook their head. “No need to apologize, Neuvillette. She must have been wonderful if you speak fondly of her.”
“If it isn’t too much trouble, I could tell you about her after we pass the memorial.”
“If you’d like to, of course.”
When we reached the exit to the tunnel, we heard the rain pound against the roof of the aquabus. I gestured silently to the right of the ferry, where the memorial, a set of well-adorned, white marble pillars arranged in a circle, with a name plaque dedicated to each facing the center, stood visibly, despite the rainfall. Everyone on board the aquabus stood quietly, closing their eyes and offering their condolences and respects to the memorial. The only sounds in the air were the drops of rain pounding on the roof, and the parting of the waves by the humming ferry. After a few moments, everyone slowly opened their eyes, and took their seats.
——
Hours later, we reached Romaritime Harbor. Monsieur Neuvillette told us all about Carole, a tale new to the visitors but all too familiar with Sigewinne and I. Throughout his recounts, the rain still poured for awhile, until it stopped when he told us about the fonder memories he had of her, and how the Traveler had reassured him that Kiara would be safe.
“We have now reached Romaritime Harbor! Please wait until the aquabus comes to a complete stop before attempting to disembark. Thank you very much for visiting Fontaine and traveling with us today. We really do hope to see you again soon!” Sometimes, there were passengers who made saying that line prove to be very difficult. But this trip was a genuinely pleasant one.
As the ferry pulled to a stop at the port of Romaritime Harbor, the giant elevator that led down the waterfall port opened up. Another of my sisters, Siora, waited inside for the guests. I waved to her, and she waved back, as the Inazuman woman and Sumerian man both disembarked carefully, walking towards the elevator. I hopped off the aquabus, and opened the cargo hold, before both Sigewinne and Monsieur Neuvillette approached me.
“Are you alright, Aeval?” Sigewinne asked.
“Hmm? I’m fine, Sigewinne, why do you ask?”
Monsieur Neuvillette hummed. “We noticed some slight discomfort earlier in the trip, when the gentleman asked me a question.” Oh no, they noticed that!? “So we wanted to check on you.”
Well, admittedly, I felt a bit ashamed hearing that. But… both probably weren’t going to drop the issue unless I reassured them. “…Monsieur Neuvillette… this is the first time I’ve… well… really gotten the chance to spend a decent amount of time with you. I wanted to prove to you that I was working hard, just like you always do. But…” I felt myself slump, trying not to let him see the tears in my eyes. “I tried not to be upset when that man ignored me at first. But that didn’t work… you two noticed it. And it was very shameful of me to feel that way over something so trivial…”
He knelt down in front of me, putting his right hand on my shoulder and lifting up my chin with his other hand. “Aeval… you are still minimizing your own efforts again. Just because you may not be the Chief Justice of Fontaine…” He nudged to Sigewinne’s direction. “Or the head nurse of the Fortress… doesn’t mean that what you do is not important. You’re a wonderful woman, with a heart as strong as the tides. What you do for Fontaine is something I could not. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Sigewinne has said it. Your other sisters, especially Elphane, have said it. The Traveler, and even some of her own friends from abroad, have said it.” He smiled. “And this trip made me look forward to seeing you and Elphane more often.”
I know I shouldn’t have… but I couldn’t stop myself from hugging him as tight as I could. And I probably, definitely shouldn’t have said this, but I did. “I love you, Papa.” Having realized my unprofessional behavior, I felt my face flush. But thankfully, Papa didn’t seem to mind when he hugged me back, and Sigewinne joined in. After a moment, my eyes widened. “M-Manaia! We shouldn’t keep her waiting!” I turned back to the elevator, seeing it close. Darn it! Bad Aeval! Bad! That elevator takes forever to go up and down!
Papa seemed to wheeze a bit, hiding a laugh. “Heh… do not appear so distraught, Aeval. Sigewinne… are you properly prepared?”
“I am, Papa!” Both seemed to be on the same page, but I was clueless.
“Prepared…? For what?” I saw Sigewinne grab the crate in her hands, as Papa lifted me up. I saw us all walk towards the edge of the station’s balcony.
“Are you afraid of heights, Aeval?”
“Not particularly. I mean, I’ve seen this view before but- wait, why are you standing on the ledge?” Both Sigewinne and Neuvillette, carrying the package and me, respectively, stood facing the vast sea separating Fontaine and Sumeru. “Uh… w-why are you nodding at each other…?” THEY THEN STEPPED OFF THE HECKING LEDGE!
I felt a bit faint during the fall, but what I do remember was feeling us plummet towards the bottom platform of the port. I… may have screamed my lungs out… and may have prayed to the Archons… but before we went splat , we went whoosh instead! Papa and Sigewinne opened gliders on their backs, sailing their way onto a spot on the end of one of the docks.
Papa set me down gently, as my body trembled. It wasn’t out of fear anymore, though. That was probably THE most awesome thing I’ve done! No wonder the Traveler did this all the time! I gotta ask them to take me gliding sometime!
Sigewinne laughed triumphantly. “I told you she’d love it, Papa! You owe me a year’s worth of tidalga!”
Papa chuckled. “I’ll arrange that with Wriothesley, I promise.”
Soon, we heard a loud voice calling to us, followed by a strange noise similar to a blubberbeast. We turned towards it, and saw Manaia wave at us, standing next to a creature unknown to me. OK, Aeval, back to professional mode. We walked towards her. “Monsieur Neuvillette! It’s so good to see you again!”
Monsieur Neuvillette nodded to her. “The feeling is mutual, Manaia. And who might your acquaintance be?”
Manaia patted the creature next to her on their back. “This here’s Moo! He’s my Saurian companion, a Koholasaur! Say hello, Moo!” Moo let out an eager roar, a bit high pitched and squeaky, appropriate for a young, growing Saurian.
The Iudex bowed. “The pleasure is mine, Moo.” He and Sigewinne both presented Manaia the package they brought over. “Before anything else, we wanted to give this to you, Manaia.”
“Oh boy, I love presents!” Manaia eagerly opened the package, and soon let out a squee of excitement. “Oh my goodness! Is that… Poissonchant Pie!?”
No way! I peered inside the package, and there it was. Sitting in a pan and covered with a clear layer, the delicious fish heads stared at us as they poked out of the succulent pie. Around the pie were other goodies, such as cooked tidalga affectionately called “mystery meat” by Sigewinne’s patients, bottles of Fonta soda, and canteens of Sigewinne’s specialty milkshakes! “Aw, you’re so lucky, Manaia!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll share some with you all!”
Monsieur Neuvillette nodded. “Better than those Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cakes that gentlemen was… ‘eating.’”
Cakes? “Wait, those were cakes? I thought those were lava rocks!”
“With how dry they are, they may as well be.” He then turned expectedly to Manaia. “May I open the package you have brought over?”
“Of course, Monsieur!” As Monsieur Neuvillette eagerly opened the package she brought, he reached inside. “Just as you requested! Natlan Spring Water! I got a ton of bottles!”
I swore I heard Monsieur Neuvillette gasp when he took one of the bottles out. He summoned a glass he usually conjured at will, pouring the contents of the bottle inside and, savoring the moment a bit, finally took a sip. He hummed deeply and pensively. “Natlan’s water is comparable to a roaring rapid. The rush is sudden, but leaves me wanting more. I must visit the springs myself someday.”
I chuckled watching him taste the water. It was one of his hobbies, and he frequently requested deliveries of spring water from all corners of Teyvat. I turned back to Manaia. “By the way, did you and Moo travel here all by yourselves?”
Manaia shook her head. “Nope, I’ve brought over a new friend who wanted to visit!” She gestures to a boat, as a girl with a visor hat and fuzzy ears skipped toward us from it. “I’d like you to meet Kachina!”
Kachina smiled widely, and waved just as eagerly. “Hi hi hi!”