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Chapter Text

Her heart ached.

All these people around her, some she knew for few years, some she knew for centuries, decades and some she just recently.

They all turned their backs on her when her own back was turned, she left it bare for just a moment.

For them to stab her in a instant like she was a old toy, stuffing fighting not to fall out of its comfy prison.

The mouths moving around her, the judging eyes staring at her once the walls of the box fell.

Whispers from the audience, she was fighting for her own justice.

Yet she was all alone and they had allies, even Neuvillette had abandoned her for an outsider. A spectator.

Her cold hands were sweating under her gloves, her face was irritated from the foundation under her eyes that been drying up.

Cracking away and close to revealing the dark bags under her eyes.

The insomnia over the years and incident with the Knave last night was getting to her.

She couldn't hold on but that thought was dismissed.

She needed to do this, she can't let everyone die. She can't let the prophecy come true.

She has to protect her people.

Even from the two people in this place that she chose personally.

__

"Clorinde. I accept the duel."

Furina stood her ground this time, she's watched her bodyguards over the years train to see if their skills haven't gone dull when there wasn't any crime out.

They found it odd when she watch over them when they train yet some were ever so brave to offer if she wanted to learn some swordsmanship.

It was clear to them that their Lady's body looked frail and unnaturally pale. They wanted their Lady to at least know how to defend herself if something ever happened to them.

Lady Furina knew how to defend herself, for her body has more stamina, flexibility and agility from the training.

Yet her figure couldn't grow any muscle, no matter how hard she'd train up strength, muscles never grew.

It made her feel.. small. 

"Why can't we be strong? Why do we have to be so weak?"

A soft voice sounded like it was cracking in the back of her mind, it didn't sound like it was even hers. Like it wasn't meant to be just hers.

__

The people around Furina, who were lost in thought, all the people who planned this. For answers. For something that could possibly help with the prophecy.

All were stunned by Furina's agreement. They never made a counter measure for if she agreed.

Because Furina always was being protected by another, always seemed to hide behind someone else. 

Yet Furina agreed to a duel. That was life or death. Worse of all, it's against her own champion who was the best of the best.

It was too late for anyone to think of something knew, cause they never expected it.

And the audience who sat there, had different opinions of excited, a sense of justice for the people who were taken by the water and Furina couldn't help, the slight anxious fatui spies in disguises.

__

"The duel shall begin!"

Neuvillette hit the wooden hammer on the stand, he could lie to himself enough that he wasn't worried about Furina.

He could hear the small cracking sound of the wood in his hand.

Furina was someone who was more self-destructive if you looked back on old newspapers.

__

Neuvillette ran to the scene once he heard of the incident. 

A recent new group of terrorists, who've been reappearing and disappearing every two months had attacked again.

Even with the time pattern of when they come, it was hard to find them when they constantly manage to slip through their fingers like sand.

Somehow this time, Lady Furina managed to catch one before he could escape.

But Neuvillette wouldn't stop worrying for how weak and small Furina seemed to be for a Archon.

But he knew there was another Archon who turned into the size of a child.

"AHHGHH!-"

The familiar sound of a scream got him out of his trance, he turned the next corner after corner till they finally made it to the crime scene.

Neuvillette, for the first time in his life as a dragon who claimed to not care for human life, was filled with sickness in his stomach. It wasn't clouding the rage there but it wasn't stopping the ill feeling.

In front of him was one of the terrorists, who looked around to be in his late twenties with some gray hairs from possible stress.

Skin pale but not pale like Furina's and his eyes had shown that he wasn't mentally there. Like he was on some drug.

The secret police and current prison chief had pinned him down, restraining his movements with ropes.

A different pair of guards who crouched down to see their Archon's conditions had a similar expression that Neuvillette had on his own face.

Furina was clearly attacked brutally from trying to stop him from escaping.

But how she looked was.. not even.. like she didn't feel the pain at all..

The left side of her cheek looking like it was skinned off, blood oozed out from her left eye.

Her waist was stabbed, around seven or more times before the culprit went for her shoulder. Rips and tears across her clothes but she wasn't embarrassed, more focused on the culprit's state.

It looked like he was trying to dig into her shoulder in hopes of breaking her bone. There was some odd tiny pebbles in her wounds.

Arm twisted and barely holding in place.

Her legs weren't hurt but the blood from her waist must off managed to stain her shorts.

It shouldn't make him sick like this but the final straw was the head injury. It was repeatedly bashed till hair and skin broke.

He could see bits of rock landed on the ground. No blade yet something similar to one, made out of Geo.

'A Geo Vision was used..'

She looked up, noticing him and smiled. It looked so.. eerie and abnormal this time.

"My dear Ludex! Praise your Archon for I've caught her first culprit! As the nation's Archon, it's my duty to help and I've delivered!"

That voice he was so used to gave no way for comfort but immediate dread, every time she spoke, The missing skin on her cheek made a stretching sound, his advanced hearing was making it feel like torture.

Her left eye bled, barely shifting it's gaze to him. It was mucky and coated with blood from the inside. The white of her eye turning red.

When she moved to sit up in a more suitable manner, the sound of bone cracking was heard. 

Every time she moved her head, he could see holes in her noticeable skull, flesh visible.

As they returned back to the place they lived in, he called for a doctor who did the best he could to help Furina.

The dragon still felt sick and nausea at he remembered the sight of the Archon their nation worship.

It itched at his heart all night, yet the next morning. He saw Furina. And it scared him.

Cause the Furina he saw that morning, looked like she wasn't attacked in the first place.

Who only turned her head and told him that he sent someone to give him his favourite beverages and some desserts. With a wide, welcoming smile.

__

Chapter Text

Clorinde's stance changed once the duel began, ready to fight against her Lady.

The Lady she promised to protect with her life.

Looking at Lady Furina's own stance, it seems she had been trained before as well. Maybe in the past?

They stood in silence. Not a single sound from the audience either.

Clorinde wanted nothing more than for Lady Furina to not fight her. To forfeit.

It was pure torture that she's enduring, she's be fighting against her Lady.

Lady Furina would only smiled at her but did not once move a muscle, no sudden attack or tricks.

Just in the same single stance.

Lady Furina was waiting for her to attack first, she could see it in her heterochromia eyes that always made her heart beat fast.

But her heart was drumming a different beat today.

As her Lady had hoped, Clorinde dashed forward, getting close up in an instant to use her blade.

Furina blocked it with her own, grinning as she changed arm movement. Pushing the blade of hers.

She can do this. 

"Nice move, Clorinde! Getting up close and personal first thing in this dance yet you've forgotten that I've watched over your fighting style from the years we've been together."

Smirking, voice of pride after watching over all her past and present Champions training, especially Clorinde's was paying off.

The Duelist looked at her, she felt embarrassed when Lady Furina wanted her train.

But now that Lady Furina knows her style  from watching her.

This duel isn't going to be a short one.

__

The audience watched in awe how their Archon fought back, letting the realize she doesn't sit and drink tea all day.

Her movements were graceful, even if she didn't have much strength in her hits. 

The flexibility when needing to dodge the blade, The stamina from how long she's going on despite it being half a hour in the duel. Finally, the ability they witnessed.

___

Clorinde got up close once again but Furina used the wall behind her as leverage, when the Duelist got just close enough.

She jumped up, using the Duelist's own shoulder as a escape by jumping behind her.

The clapping of hands were heard from the audience, the move got their attention on her.

"You seem to be a bit rusty today, Dearest Duelist, Tell your Archon what's on your mind-"

"Why aren't you fighting back seriously?! What is so important that you, Lady Furina, would accept my duel instead of telling us anything?!"

The anger was there. She has really made her dearest Clorinde upset.

The same grin had only remained on the pale skinned Archon's face, her hand reached out to the other.

"I'd rather let you grow tired and submit than hurt you, your one of my precious citizens, my people in this nations! Even if you're my best Duelist, you're still human."

"I can go for hours without rest in this duel! Days! But you are human, you need rest! Please, submit."

Her body moved a bit, gesturing first to Clorinde before moving her hand towards the audience.

She looked at Clorinde but the place she was in is not empty.

Furina felt a stab to where her heart should be, twisting the blade.

Taste of iron coated every corner of her gums as she coughed and choked for air.

Blood.

Blood filled her mouth, causing her to cough it out violently.

She heard loud cracking noises, but it wasn't from the ribs that must have broken.

It was her own heart, the heart that was filled with love and the need to protect others.

The part of her heart filled with different types of loves she had come to felt.

It was falling apart with her vision. 

'Rest now.. I'll be the one up first, don't worry your little head~'

__

The heavy sound of a body hitting the ground echoed in the large room.

Everyone in all different states of shock.

Yet Clorinde..

Dear Clorinde.

Pulled away from the blade she used against her Lady.

Hands trembling and face as pale as it's ever been.

She's felt this way before when it was against Navia's father.

But this was different.

It was more intense. more horrifying.

She stabbed her Lady in the heart.

'I stabbed My Lady.. Who believed in me.. I stabbed her.. the one I betrayed when she needed me.. The one..'

___

Several people left to the bathrooms, it was a sickening sight for them all.

Their Archon is dead.

Their Archon is dead.

And they let her die without even trusting her.

___

Once the seats were filled against, the people backstage changed positions.

Navia calling for certain doctor in the underwater prison.

The twins felt guilty for their own actions, she wasn't meant to die.

Lumine and Paimon.. felt disgusted with themselves.

They wanted answers.. but they got this instead..

___

Neuvillette knew not to worry too much, he knew that Furina will regenerate again.

'You still worry for her. You've started to care for all life, not just Melusines, humans as well, because of her.'

'Even if she'll come back, it doesn't mean it will erase that you, the Ludex, the former Hydro Dragon, that she went out of her to find and confidently pull to her side without harming your kind, is hurt, always getting hurt and you're too scared to protect her because of your own principles.

But he's never felt calm or comfortable every time she needed to regenerate.

His fingers gripped at the wooden table, small cracks forming. Yet these cracks are nothing compared to the ones he's seen on Lady Furina's skin when a cryo vision had frozen her. 

Clawing and demanding others to get her out, even when her frozen eyes hauntingly smiled at him.

Pain was a mere existence to Lady Furina, he always thought, because even if she regenerates, she'll go out to save her people.

Till it went too far, and she was no longer allowed to get involved with criminals personally even when she demanded to go.

He hasn't seen He didn't dare wish to know how the process goes but.. just seeing the before was.. killing him.

__

Lady Furina's? fingers twitched, not noticeable but it was there. Like a spider stretching it's legs.

Click. Click. Click. Click.

Clicking sounds from the bending fingers, knuckles cracking against the floorboard.

Then came the sound of breathing returned, heavy, groans of breath from her mouth.

It was loud. 

SNAP.

That it echoed in the room.

Everyone that wasn't Neuvillette was baffled.

The dragon himself, prepared tried to watch what how the regeneration will finally proceed for the first time.

__

snap. 

The sound of cracks being pushed together forcefully was heard, flesh mashing, pulling and tightening.

splat.

Bones slowly felt itself being pressed and glued back together.

First, the bones needed to reconstruct. Blood clots formed and wrapped around the bones.

Then the soft callus would grow, similar to a bridge being built, to pull the bones back in place.

Finally special cells come in like moths to injury. Inflating in order to protect and increase the healing process.

A heart trying to puts flesh, vitals and cords in the right order. Trying to start prepare blood flow into her veins.

The inflammation had instantly began when she was stabbed.

Fighting and killing the dead cells.

In her case, unlike humans, her body provides its own tissue to be recreated.

The muscle and new tissue usually took longer than her skin but this regeneration was faster this time.

___

Nauseating.

That's what it was.

That's what Neuvillette always was ready for.

But seeing it happy made him sicker than before.

Made him feel guilt for this trial. 

That she had to end up like this.

___

Eyes opened wide, no longer the beautiful different shades of two different blues.

'I want to play with the traitors..'

They were lively but dull with the lack of spark. 

'Lively I'll be for them~ I'll put them into their roles again, dress them up and then rip their disguises off later!'

She sat up, hopping onto her feet with a wide smile. 

'I'll be the ringleader!~'

The new eyes looked at the room of faces they craved to be the attention of.

'I do not fear these stares like our dear Lady does, rather.. They'll be the ones that will watch my show and decide who's the best performer!~'

The new colour of gray, pupils in the shape of a tiny swirl.

Lady Furina? felt the need to perform and take charge of everything increase.

It was her stage after all!

"Let the show begin once more! This Justice will be served on a divine plateau!~"

That creepy and childish voice was there. It was in control. 

Those odd eyes have found their dolls, and they needed to push them down one by one.

__

Chapter Text

Lady Furina? had returned to the stage, it seemed to be cleaned up while she was away.

Before she returned, she had gotten two allies who knew laws almost as such as she  did.

They were in charge of the Fortress of Meropide, Fontaine's own underwater prison.

The Duke, Wriothesley, in charge of the helping exiled criminals change their ways, serve their ways and work in the time spent there.

The Nurse, Sigewinne, the only nurse in that prison. Who inherits Melusine blood, who evolved to look more human. Yet the intelligence from her Melusine origins remains.

She, who heals the prisoners yet also finds human life interesting.

Furina herself was helped by Sigewinne, cleaning the left over blood and managing to get her a new outfit identical to her original one.

The Duke offered her tea, even in such a situation, she couldn't pass down having tea. It should calm her a bit.

Yet, the whole time, she hid her eyes with her hair and hat. Like there was a big secret under there.

___

"I have returned!~ And this time, I brought some fr-ie-nds!~"

Her hands gestures to the two besides her, the new change of her voice when she woke up from her injury was there.

The two besides her didn't find it creepy at all, at the very least, it wasn't annoying for them.

She walked back up to the stage, gesturing for the two to find a place comfortable to sit.

Going as far as patting their heads like children before walking off.

Beforehand, she said she'll call for either of them if she needs their help. They were part of Justice and Law.

___

The group come out from the curtains, seeing Furina back.

Clorinde flinched, feeling shame that she could have killed her Lady.

Seeing her Lady's body put itself back together was haunting, the sounds that flooded her ears as blood, flesh and bone fixed itself like some kind of puzzle.

"It seems the duel was a fail as you saw, I, Your Archon, can never die!~ isn't that something to acknowledge?"

Her poses changed, more playful like rocking on her feet and put one of her hands in the air for dramatic effect.

Even after the duel that terrified them, the audience knew that it wasn't something a normal human could do. But maybe a god could as they have divine powers.

"But what if it's not just being a Archon, as there are demi-humans that can do similar things to themselves."

Lumine spoke, walking a closer out the curtain.

She was determined to get answers just the rest of them.

Their plan can't just be for nothing in the end.

"As someone who's lived under The House of the Hearth, some of the children have had fatal injuries or.. something different."

Lyney, smiled at the Archon, who looked at the two under her hat. 

"Such as, Famous Magician of ours?"

Her tone was mischievous and a bit forcing for a answer from the teenager.

He looked at her with the same smile, yet he knew he had to pick his words right so he doesn't expose anything about Father while trying to pressure Lady Furina.

"Maybe.. A curse of some sort? People can be easy prey to curses when not looking over their shoulder~"

Silence fell the room.

Leaving the audience thinking, even if it sounded far-fetched, it could be possible that Lady Furina is cursed.

"H.. Ha.. Haha.. HAHA! C-Cursed? Is that the best you can come up with? Yes, Divine beings get cursed yet.. Don't they usually lose their own self the moment that curse spreads their body?"

She laughed before her voice changed after mentioning the other part of a curse, poking and pushing at their own words.

If this was the normal Furina, she'd panic internally but this wasn't the normal Furina.

One of the new fragments of herself to protect her, to destroy the ones who want to destroy everything she's been doing in secret, one who needed to show that she's the one in control of how the script is written.

__

She lifted her hat to reveal the gray eyes and red tiny swirls.

Now everyone got a fresh look of the new eyes.

The way they were shaped, how they appear, was like they were taunting them for such foolishness.

"Dear traitors of your own Archon's heart, Boo Hoo!~ To even dear call someone who loves you all so much, C.. Cursed!?"

A fake tear fell down her cheek, using her gloved hand to wipe it away. 

She needed to be more dramatic. She needed to be seen and heard for her Justice.

"I was just giving my thoughts, I apologise Lady Furina, my words never meant to offend your grace."

Lyney took off his hat, putting it to his chest as he bowed to show he was sorry.

"Oh.. That's what it was.. I'll forgive you, as only good to forgive someone unless they did something.. wrong."

She was looking at Lyney, her head slowly turning to the side before stopping, the young boy twitched a bit but the others behind the curtain, who was in on this plan and Lumine knew it was also directed to them as well.

"On the topic on forgiveness, my dear traitors on this stage. As well as the one up on the stand."

Standing back up right and spun on her heel, clapping like a child as she looked up at Neuvillette with a wide grin.

"Maybe I should forgive my dear Ludex for leaving me with one of the different Fatui Harbinger, leaving me to go with only the Traveler and their floating companion!~"

The Ludex felt stunned that she'd bring it up on her own trial.

Audience gasped in fright that their Archon was left with a Fatui Harbinger with two foreign people instead of her bodyguard, Clorinde.

They know experience that Lady Furina doesn't trust the Fatui, but for the Ludex to leave her in one's presence. How disheartening!

The Duke looked up at the Ludex, to put one Fatui Harbinger in the prison but let another interact with their nation's Archon with foreign people that haven't even stayed long in Fontaine to go with her?

'Does he not remember that the Fatui are going after Archons across Teyvat!? For their gnosis?!'

Yes, He knows that Fatui Harbinger the Archon had met has Fontaine origins but she's still part of the Fatui for Archon's sake!

'Is this was one of the reasons our Archon chose us to come? We both work in the prison so of course we know criminals and the laws of crimes like the trials have their own laws. Everything and every nation have their own laws but this is the Nation of Justice!'

'You left the very Archon, who is the beacon of our nation, with a criminal without her professional bodyguard but with two foreign strangers who don't know all the laws of this nation!'

The Duke felt a small hand on his, looking down to see Sigewinne holding it. She almost looked like she knew what he was thinking just from his behaviour language.

Very being together for so long, she probably knew more about him than he could think about himself.

Both could see that, even as people who mainly stay in the prison, the crimes in the trial needed to be identified.

__

The Furina, The Host, had been put to sleep as the other Furina was out. The other two looked at the Host in awe, each of them had their difference but the Host looked so small in the blankets they put in her in.

The mind can make up anything, even different existence of one's self. Who have their own ideals and thoughts.

One brushed their the Host's hair, it was so fluffy compared to hers.

They couldn't really feel their own bodies, yet.

The other smiled, patting down the blankets.

Their Host must have been so disheartened and broken by others around after all her hard work, that they were born into her mind.

They didn't pity her, cause how could pity someone who gave them life and didn't control them.

Their Host had her's own strings attached to someone else but didn't continue that cycle towards them.

She truly is the perfect existence.

They know too well that their Host could never ever see herself in human anymore.

That was okay though.

They'll protect her.

Since the one pulling their Host's strings cannot.

Chapter Text

'Ah~ These reactions are what I needed. Distrust in the traitors must be creating for audience. I know that some of the Fatui members are here in disguise as citizens. It be obvious that The Knave wants her beloved children to protect in her absence.'

'Perfect. Bringing up the meeting is just the top of the iceberg, dear traitors~'

__

Neuvillette could feel countless eyes on him, especially Wriothesley's eyes. His neglect of letting Furina meet with the Fatui Harbinger, with people not of Fontaine, to protect her.

Fatui Harbinger were a serious deal, as there is one handed inside the underwater prison.

Those harsh feelings of those eyes burning into his skin finally disappeared.

Looking down to see Sigewinne calming the Duke.

'I should have gone with her to meeting with  The Knave.'

His gaze moved down towards Furina, who stood in the center of the stage.

Her expression was none his ever seen before, as for when their eyes met. Those eyes smiled at him, but it wasn't with warmth. It was with deceit.

___

"Dear Traveler, Dear Traitor. Come forward, Come forward! I don't bite!~"

The eyes dyed in gray looked at gold with glee, Lumine felt uncomfortable with this  change. With those eyes. With those words that sounded too sweet.

She listened and walked closer, uncertainty in her veins. None of the Archons she's met before acted like this.

Never would suddenly change mannerisms, behaviour, tone, motives that to hide something.

The last person, who actually hid herself away and replaced herself with a puppet, was the Electro Archon. 

That was a physical battle, this was a logical and lawful one.

There was no opening anymore for her actually pressure Furina now. Instead, it felt like Furina was the one pressuring her now.

She stopped once she thought she was close enough.

Furina looked at her, hand on her chin as her heel tapped against the wooden boards.

"Dear Traveler, Dear Traitor. It's come to my very attention that you'veeeeeeee.. been messing around!"

Hands moved to her hips, chin up a bit with her chest out. Voice sounding childish with a hint of pride at her statement.

"I have.. but I mean no harm to anyone. All I want is to help with the prophecy! I said I want to help you.. but you seem like your hiding something from us."

Lumine acted out, trying to match with Furina's new behaviour. If she was going to act like this, Lumine had to act differently without making the audience feel anymore suspicious of their own.

Like a prince against a villain, someone filled with righteous and honesty versus someone who caused misfortunes and secrets.

"But.. As a Archon in general.. Why do I have to tell you anything?"

The Archon got open close and personal yet never touched. The red swirls expanded and became a crimson shade.

"I understand your concern once you heard of our prophecy.. But why should I tell YOU, who's origins aren't of Teyvat? I've seen newspapers about you, did you think I wouldn't know the praise you'd get for your 'heroic' actions?"

Everyone felt sudden heavy pressure on their shoulders. 

'So this.. is the voice of their Archon under her kind and grateful behaviour.'

The citizens felt the commanding and stern tone. 

They've never heard such a overwhelming voice from their Archon and now it's here. And it felt like she was demanding their attention, demanding their respect that they have no option to give this time.

"But all I've come to understand from those newspapers, through the lines and words that have different meanings. That you have a massive tendency of getting involved in everyone's business. Especially a Archon's Business."

For once, Lumine felt fear from the Hydro Archon. Paimon and her always thought she was too arrogant and irresponsible.

But right now.

The eyes that looked into hers, that smiled with twisted sense of glee, indicated that she was going to rip her, piece by piece, bit by bit, either from this trial or with her bare hands.

Chapter Text

Furina? smiled widely, hiding it behind her hand as she brushed past the Traveller.

She could see the other blond, the current President of the Spina di Rosula, that damned woman who sent a mob on the Host to attack her.

'Why don't I deal with her? I feel like I can relate to some of her morals!'

Oh great. The annoying one wants to come out. She would refuse but that offer was good for once. Something sensical came out of the other's mouth.

Since she'll mostly like mess up with the girl, her personal opinion of the girl was not great at all.

'Fine. You can deal with her, she's too pesky for my taste. If the Host isn't comfortable when I go back to the Void of her mind, I'll make you pay.'

'Don't worry, FuFu!~ She's safe and resting!'

'How troublesome you'll be for them, Furi. But don't slip up.'

' Don't worry about a thing!'

Eyes closed as she held her breath, letting her heart slow down before the feeling of water pouring like tears washed over came.,

Letting it consume her before briefly passing out where she stood.

Her body looked locked in place from the outside. But the inside she faded into the Host's mind.

Opening her eyes, new and different. Filled with foreign emotions that aren't meant to be part of her own.

Now a dark gray with several shades white and very light blue spirals that overlapped each other.

__

Navia was distracted, processing everything.

'Lady Furina accepting the duel.. being killed.. only to come back to life.. eyes changing.. behaviour changed.. revealing Neuvillette not going with her.. The plan.. Lumine.. Furina..'

So distracted that the feeling of being pulled from outside the curtains went unnoticed till blinding lights covered her.

Several gasps came from the audience.

'Is that President of the Spina di Rosula?'

'She's here? Is she with the Traveller as well? Why would she be here?'

'Is she going to try and investigate the Hydro Archon? But our Archon isn't in the best mood..'

Audible whispers came from the seated crowd. 

Being in this stage shouldn't be frightening but she wasn't confident and the water they brought was useless cause of Furina choosing the duel earlier.

__

Furi patted the taller girl's shoulder, unlike FuFu who was more forceful, she was casual with her want for attention.

If she wanted more attention, she'd just have to grab it as if it came out of thin air.

"Miss Navia, Very nice to see you here. Did you come with the Traveller as well? You've decided to be a traitor as well?"

Voice calm, laid-back, optimistic as she talked to the younger girl.

"I.. Lady Furina, Yes. I'm on the Traveller's side, as The current President of the Spina di Rosula, it's my duty to help in tasks that others can't fulfil."

She should her ground, Navia had her own morals for Justice. She has to help, she can't sit back and let more people dissolve into the water.

Even if she has to go against the Hydro Archon, who is the source to the prophecy.

Furi backed away, putting her hands up in admiration.

"Ah, I'm glad we both are on the same page. You have to understand, I, The Hydro Archon, also understands our predicament but I promise all my people that we'll be saved. I won't let the prophecy pass."

Her smile was so calm, even her posture wasn't filled with tension. 

It irritated the girl, she doesn't have much of a relationship with the Hydro Archon but how it seems, the Archon always is pushing work onto the Ludex even if he did leave her with The Knave.

The Knave helped with the people while Lady Furina was elsewhere.

"You don't seem concerned.."

"Pardon?"

"You don't seem concerned. I've only ever seen Monsieur Neuvillette do all of the work while you play around!"

She snapped at the Archon, the Audience messed reactions.

Some supporting her in silence, some didn't, some shocked that she snapped at the Archon who targeted both the Ludex and The Traveller who were still in shock.

".."

A sharp breath left her breath once she realised her own actions. Looking down at the Archon who had a stunned expression.

She made a mistake. In first of a audience.

But a wide smile with excitement appeared on the shorter girl's face.

"I see! I'm glad you've been looking out for me, even Archons make mistakes!"

Everyone else knew that Archons made mistakes but one to consider their people's word so quick, it was strange.

Navia herself, was bewildered at the positive reactions.

"What should I do then? Use my power against criminals? Maybe let my immortally be used by the people for my people? Or should I order people to chase and attack someone as I have something against them so drastic measures are necessary?"

Her voice was still optimistic but too optimistic at the last suggestion.

Navia's eyes widened, Lady Furina was going to use her morals against her.

__

Furi gestured for Wriothesley to stand up, doing as told. A stand light flashed on his body for him to be seen.

"Duke Wriothesley, In the book of law and order, what does it mean to send a mob on another possibly mean?"

The Duke chose to ignore the change in formalities as he spoke out in the court.

"To send a mob on someone can be considered illegal. If someone has organizes a mob to attack someone else, it's a form of mob action, a complete criminal offense."

He stated calmly, he can't let his emotions of injustice get to him now.

'Did The current President of the Spina di Rosula actually send a mob on Lady Furina? Someone who helps the people decided to commit a crime for someone involving Lady Furina? As Lady Furina stated, A Archon doesn't have to share everything with their people.'

'I understand the situation but being a crime fighter to use crime for something.. It's like a cycle of the past with her father..'

"Thank you, Sir Duke."

She bowed, gesturing him to sit down as the light turned off above him.

"I understand people have different morals, but using a mob against your own Archon isn't quite polite. But I'm glad you're still looking out for me as a Archon, so I forgive your crime!"

Furi smiled, even patting the girl's back as if to encourage or comfort her.

The sclera in her eyes were gone, iris expanding till there was none at her. All was just the iris and pupils that were mixed with appreciation, hopefulness and.. searching.

Searching her for something in her that she didn't know. That she didn't want to know.

Navia wasn't comforted at all, frightened. The Furina now was scary just by stating, confirming a crime commited on her and only to forgive the culprit in front of her.

The younger girl's hands trembled, she was scared. So scared. Oh so very scared.

__

Fufu watched over the Host's body once she arrived, the other girl watching the Host let out a silent squeak at the arrival.

"It seems you've been taking care of her, good. Furina better had not tried to sing to her, she's a loud singer for someone so calm."

"Y.. Yea.. We got her blankets.. T.. The bags under her eyes won't g.. go away.. but she isn't tense anymore.."

FuFu looked at their Host, so small and fragile in her mind. Soft to the touch but never truly human. Being separated from one's own spirit for her to suffer.

Their birth was not too long ago, yet they couldn't help at the time since they were still trying to develop.

Now the Host is weak but always covered in layers in order to protect herself.

Fake personality, merely created for her purpose, A name only she owns, no family as she was the other half of a Divine being.

How can this body be human, if in her veins, she as well has reminiscent of Oceanid blood?

The Host will never be human no matter what others say.

They're fine with that, their beloved Host, who gives them freedom, even if she won't remember what they do, the moments of watching over her resting body in her mind is worth it.

It means that the Host is comfortable and safe in this place while they take care of the rest.

__

Chapter Text

Lumine watched the performance she found  in Furina's mind. Her memories from beginning to end.

How she used her immortality to save her people, to stop criminals, to let pieces of her break, burn, rip off, freeze, be cut, stabbed and more.

Her heart ached for the girl but she couldn't afford to such emotions to be felt right now, She needed answers. She needed something to help everyone outside.

That was her goal as she watched on, till the large, heavy breathing from behind her came.

Deep, low and hot against her back.

She couldn't move, only facing forward.

Whispers began.

"You weren't meant to be here.. you weren't meant to see this.. you aren't supposed see this. You aren't ALLOWED."

She could hear the anger in it's voice. It knew she was intruding. Lumine had done this before, but nothing like this had ever happened.

The guards from before that she took down in order to turn off the lights to watch this seemed like nothing compared to what ever was behind her.

"You aren't welcomed here. You aren't welcome anywhere near her. Intruders, Traitors, Filth, like you, shall be punished."

As Furina's memories on the stage ended and her dance stopped, Lumine was pulled from under her seat. Blacking out from the sudden impact of being grabbed.

CRASH.

__

The blonde woke up in a empty fish tank, looking around for signs of life.

She couldn't stay still if the thing that had been talking is after her.

The sound of overly loud footsteps invaded her ears then the sound of something being pulled out and pushed back in.

'Why is everything so much louder here?'

Opening her eyes and removing her hands that covered her ears. 

Looking around again but this time.

Someone were here.

That person was gigantic and looking over her.

A forced smile on her face while looking at Lumine.

"F.. Furina?"

Lumine was baffled at the sight of her.

But this Furina looked different.

Eyes different of course but it wasn't like the other two colours she's seen on that stage.

These eyes were bright red with yellow stars for pupils.

This Furina also had Oceanid features. The fins of a Hydro Oceanid's arms were on her back instead of replacing her arms.

Her palms were the blue colour that Oceanid's had with white patterns which were on their body.

"You finally woke up. I was getting ready to do this while you were unconscious so when you wake up min way through the process, you'd feel more excitement! But the other two said I should wait."

The blonde noticed two Furina in the background not far from them.

'They have the eyes we saw on the stage!'

The other two also had Oceanid features. But different.

The gray and red eyed one had a white crown with a light blue gem, similar to the core in a Oceanid's face. Tear drop like marking under their eyes. 

The gray, white and blue eyed one had the collar of a Oceanid around their neck, the two fins connected to the collar.

But all of them had the same blue diamond on their waist that a Oceanid had. And one gem on their forehead like the center of a Oceanid's face.

"We all thought about how to punish you for inviting yourself into our beloved Host's mind. So I hope you still know how to swim~"

Lumine didn't know what that means till the water filled the tank.

The same water that was cursed by the prophecy, yet she wasn't dissolving.

Well, not quickly as she be dissolving that is.

She turned to swim for air as the water levels lowered, taking in oxygen needed before noticing the water's temperature was turning up. Burning her skin.

"I thought the water was too cold for you, so I warmed it up~ Or is it too hot now? I'll change it then."

Suddenly the temperature was freezing cold, the burning skin didn't react well.

The blonde realized her mistake of going into someone's mind again, thinking it would be safe like with Nahida.

Furina's mind wasn't as merciful, whoever these versions of her were clearly have a grudge against her.

And the torture they had in mind was using the cursed waters in her own mind to their advantage.

This was Furina's mind. 

Lumine didn't have control of someone else's mind or what they think up.

'She's not going to let me go unpunished..'

___

Lumine didn't know how long it went on before the tank was pushed to the ground, the impact 'killing' her.

It wasn't the first time she died in here, she just doesn't remember. Why can't she remember?

Then she woke up back in the real world, she made sure it was.

Cause she doesn't want to go back.

She couldn't go back.

Not if she's going to be punished again.

___

The prophecy was stopped. Fontaine's sins were forgiven.

That's what Furina learnt. 

She was confused. Cause she doesn't remember anything happening after she passed out on the stage.

Mirror-me, Focalors, had sacrificed herself for Fontaine.

After giving her a kiss on the forehead to her lips, telling her to live as a human as she wished they could have while she licked Furina's tears and soon vanished.

But how was she supposed to do that? Her body didn't feel human, she didn't feel human.

She wasn't human. She can't be. She can't. She can't. She can't. She can't. She can't. She can't. She can't. She can't. She can't.

__

Furina moved out in silence, when no one was looking.

Scared of the people who betrayed her, who she thought she could trust.

She managed to get a apartment, requesting for no one to know she lived here.

She couldn't trust anyone fully.

__

Furina spent her days alone.

Isolated from everyone.

Just like how she wanted it.

Everyone outside was after her, how could she not know that?

She was a fake Archon. The people probably are looking for her address.

Hunting her down. 

'Shh.. Rest.. Don't worry.. we'll protect you..'

Oh. That voice again. 

It always made her feel comfy.. like the multiple blankets she uses to make her own little bunker.

She always feels sleepy in the end..

Maybe she should rest..

__

Someone found her address.

She panicked at first. Muffled speech as the beating of her heart echoed in her ears.

Only when she heard footsteps, the sound of walking away, that she opened the door a bit.

A gift on the floor, looking around, she pulled it inside and locked the door again.

She lifted it up, turning it to look at each angle before putting it down on the table.

Getting metal tongs, she opened it from a distance before hiding behind the couch.

Hearing nothing and seeing none of the furniture being destroyed.

She got close to the box, moving the lid with the tongs and looking inside.

".. Cake?"

She was immediately curious, someone left her cake.

'Maybe it's poisoned!'

Panicking, fidgeting with her hair.

She backed away for a moment as she thought.

'But maybe.. maybe I could.. maybe I see if..'

She got back closer to the box, breaking a piece of the cake with her hand and eating it.

"It's tasty.."

Not poisoned. Unfortunate.

___

The gifts continued coming, all safe and pleasant but she still was scared every time someone came to her door.

Still scared of going outside, anyone seeing her felt like a threat.

So she only accepted the gifts when she thought no one was around when she took them in.

'Humans are scary.. aren't they..?'

A different voice spoke in her head but she could agree.

Humans are scary. 

She's not human.

So she's not scary.

Humans are the scary ones.

She's not human.

She doesn't need to eat much.

She does get thirsty but even things that aren't human get thirsty.

Her appetite isn't like humans.

She's not human.

Maybe she's actually something pretending to be human.

Underneath her skin, maybe whatever she is, decided to use a human's body as a disguise.

She doesn't know much about herself.

Focalors wasn't originally the Hydro Archon, She was a Oceanid.

So she must be a Oceanid as well, just hiding in a human shell.

All she has to do is.. break out of it. She's broken her skin before. It should be easy if she does it again..

Chapter Text

Wriothesley walked the streets above, the sunlight was never his thing but it was good for his health.

Without it, one goes pale from lack of what it gives off.

'Pale..'

He wonders about someone pale. 

She had explained to him everything, why she left his trial earlier.

'I didn't hate you for what you did.. I had no ill feelings or disgust for a crime you committed as a child. I left.. cause I couldn't let anyone see the tears form from how my heart ached.. Humans are cruel, even to their own kin.'

She patted his head, the woman was much smaller than him but sounded more mature for once.

'I do not blame you for what you did.. yes, it was a crime.. but it was also something you felt you had to do so you could protect yourself.. I'm sorry that the ones who were meant to love you loathed you instead..'

His hand brushed through his hair at the spot he'd remember her touching, the feeling still there.

'She took off her glove for the first time I've ever seen her take them off.. her skin was too cold but the touch made me feel warm..'

He wondered where she moved to, she left when no one was looking.

The Duke hasn't spoken to Neuvillette either, still feeling conflicted with the man who had ignored the laws in that trial.

He hadn't realised how far he walked still he noticed the scenery change, less people.

__

On his walk, he heard information from the locals on the woman.

"Lady Furina lives in a apartment, she hasn't answered her door to anyone. Honestly, we're worried for her.."

"Our poor Lady, We end up leaving the gifts at her door step.."

"Gifts?"

"Yes, We knock in hopes to give them in person but she never answers. It's clear that our Lady has sacrificed a part of herself for us.. if she's still here, it means that she had to possibly killed a part of herself for our sins.. So The Ludex could forgive them.."

"Some of us might seem to be only in rose tinted glasses, but we're smart enough to know Lady Furina didn't betray us after that trial.."

"I'm glad you haven't chosen to harm her."

"Never! Such a ill thought, Duke! Harming her.. She seems hurt enough.. A while ago, one of the people left a gift but hid in the distance in hopes of seeing her.. She opened the door when she thought the person was most likely no longer there.."

"Oh how he described her.."

"What did he say? I'm on my way to see her, I wish to know if there is anything I need to bring.."

"Well.. He said she looked more pale than before, she was already unnaturally but he said it was much worse. As well as saying she was a bit skinner, heavy bags under her eyes and claimed she looked as if she hasn't taken care of herself.."

"Hm.. Thank you, Ma'am. I'll go to the market before heading to her apartment."

"You welcome, please tell her I wish for her to get well."

"Will do."

__

He carried one bag in each hand.

One was of simple necessities, like food and while in the other bag was things such as a med kit and medicine in case she was ill. 

She was human now, from what he had heard.

'Perhaps she sacrificed her divinity for us..'

He thought as he made it to the location he hoped was the right place.

Standing at her doorstep, he saw a box on the ground. Picking it up.

"Maybe this is another gift for her, it seems a bit old though.."

Taking note of some dust on the wrapping.

Knocking on the door firmly.

"Lady Furina, It's Wriothesley. I came to see you."

Silence.

He waited, listening for anything on the other side.

Knocking again, no response.

Moving his hand to the doorknob, a click come as it opened.

"Why is her door unlocked..?"

Pushing it open, he spoke.

"Excuse me, I'm coming in."

Entering the doorway, paying attention to his surroundings.

He noticed how bare, vacant the room looked. As if no one actually lived there.

The smell of rotten food came from the open kitchen invaded his nose, causing him to block it.

He continued his search for the woman, putting the things down on the sofa.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

He moved quietly before moving to each room. Opening it till the last one.

"I apologise in advance.."

He opened the door widely before his heart started to race.

__

Sigewinne heard loud footsteps coming from outside her office, door kicked opened as she looked up from her files.

Wriothesley had returned with a familiar woman in his arms.

"Ready a bed! Lady Furina needs urgent medical attention!"

She stood up and signaled the Melusines hiding in the room to prepare for a new patient.

"Get ready a Manual resuscitator and Monitoring equipment."

Telling two Melusine who ran out the room, turning to another two.

"You both get me Crash Carts, our patients is in critical condition if Wriothesley had to run all the way here."

The other two followed their order as Sigewinne gestured for Wriothesley to follow her out and into the room next door.

"Put her on the bed, make sure to elevate her as well as you inform me what happened."

She spoke, putting in a new set of gloves and a mask.

__

Wriothesley walked in on Lady Furina.

Who had passed on the floor of her own blood.

Immediately, he picked her up but noticed something.

There were small bits of the top layer of the skin on her arm cut off. Or preferable peeled of using a knife, which was on the floor where she was previously laying.

Her loose clothes being a simple shirt and long pants were stained by the blood.

His eyes lingered on her arms, seeing what could be older scars which were slowly forming on their own pace.

"Lady Furina, Can you hear me?"

Putting his ear to her chest, a unsteady heartbeat. But it was still a heartbeat.

"Stay calm.. Let's get you to Sigewinne, She's the best nurse I know."

Carrying her was disturbingly too easy, he was strong but her weight was like almost nothing.

"When you wake up, you're gonna need to eat.."

Trying to stay calm, if he panicked, he won't be able to focus on the situation at hand.

He ran out the room, grabbed the bags in one go and started using his cryo vision to skate his way back to the prison.

Using it to sped up his movements is easier instead of just running alone, he knew how to work with it.

__

"I see.."

The Melusines had already returned and started attaching the equipment to Furina's body.

It was good that Wriothesley used his vision to get here, Furina's physical condition was only on the outside.

The inside didn't seem to have any problem..

Wait.

Sigewinne looked at Furina's wounds.

Her eyes widen, slight awe at what she saw.

Blue.

There was some blue flesh visible in Furina's arm. And it was spreading!

And the tips of her fingers were starting to take on a blue colour, but she has no signs of hypothermia as Wriothesley wasn't using his vision against Furina.

'.. What is this..? It's.. something so.. I must know what it is. Lady Furina, You're not human.. That's for sure.'

Even as a nurse, Sigewinne was ever so curious.

Lady Furina was her patient. She'll have to treat her right.

__

The host was covered in blankets again.

The three were keeping her stable, touching her more as if to anchor her.

"Lucky we got her in time."

FuFu said, the Host was too much of a danger to herself.

The three had to fight the self-hatred in the mind before they could stop her.

Their markings were spreading to the Host, keeping her close to them.

"Those bastards.. none of them care for her.. But the man who brought her to this new place and the tiny nurse.. We can maybe.. try them?"

Rina was angry but soon calmed down, a bit meek now.

The two looked at each other, nodding before they agreed.

"Yes, Let's hope they aren't as blind as the ones before.. our dearest Host could use some loving.. Once a puppet's strings are cut off, it's hard to tied them back together.."

Chapter Text

The waters. The sea is a mother’s embrace. It once was a mother's embrace.

Then it changed. Sin was commited and the waters were turned into something frightening.

The sea is a battlefield of waves. It transformed into a battlefield.

Sinners given human forms turned to their inhuman bodies at the touch.

The Archon of Hydro, Archon of Justice, had fallen for her sin and gave her powers to one of her most precious Oceanids.

When Focalors created Furina, the heart that should no longer be in her chest. It ached.

They were identical, what humans would call identical twins but her feelings for her creation was much too strong.

She was engrossed at how beautiful the unhealthy pale skin felt so cold yet so warm against her.

How the lips were soft and how she'd kiss them more than she'd should.

The hair was softer, feeling like what humans call "cotton". Yet it was curly in places, giving her a cute charm.

Even if she hadn't awoken her yet, Focalors wanted to savour every chance she could cling onto her beautiful creation.

Her hands moved around the body with ease, like a serpent sipping nectar from a flower that only could be worthy on being on it's tongue.

How precious.

Focalors never truly left, she'll always be there. Furina will never be alone in her dreams.

Or what she thinks are dreams. She doesn't know if Archons dream.

it always feels like she's floating underwater, her body remembers things she doesn't completely understand.

Opening her eyes was the worst part of it.

Cause she's always faced with mirrors. Mirrors she's broken and begged and plead and cried to.

Maddening outbursts, what she assumed when she was alone in her room. Breaking off the glass and letting scars latter on her skin.

Yearning. Yearning for what?

She was frustrated. If it wasn't death she was silently waiting for, it's love.

Not just love.

Understanding.

But Furina was the perfect human. Crafted by pure divinity.

Love is unbearable for both beings. Making them disturbingly devoted to one another.

Furina's eerie selflessness was Focalors's curse.

As Focalors's whole existence was Furina's curse, making her continue this masquerade.