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Chapter Text

"Mirror me.... are you still there?..."

Sobbing and grieving, the Ex Hydro Archon Furina stares at the mirror once every day since her biggest fear became truly real. Trying to talk to the One who gave her this nearly impossible task, thinking what to say and how to apologise... There was no Voice and no Answer, but just an empty mirror with her own reflection in it. It slowly tired her up to continue these poor attempts to talk to her other self. She clenched her eyes in a bitter mood before turning away from the mirror, leaving it in its dusty state, again. With a bit of sorrow, she took a glance through the window.

The sight of a Soulless City, broken windows, open doors, a mess the immeasurable flood left behind, felt like a big thorn in her eye.

The art of abomination of this scene would hunt the Ex Archon every day. With an empty expression on her face, Furina put the hat on her head, grabbed the jacket and left her living room on top of Mermonia. Nevertheless, every time she came down the stairs... There was this one Door she could never look past. Her eyes always darted in this particular direction as if she hoped to see something or someone, but this tiny wish never came true. Furina opened the doors in discomfort.

"Monsieur..... "

A fancy, large room with a lot of books, a big fancy table on the opposite side suitable for hefty paperwork. Only if this lovely picture did not apply in her head, the flood would not left anything untouched, not even Palais Mermonia.

Books, papers and many other things were scattered around in the room; most parts of this room were covered with moss, a bitter sight.

The smell of wet fabric warmed by the sun's light shone through the broken windows, made the ex-Haydro Archon a bit dizzy, and she nearly tripped as she walked across the Room just to reach the table once where Iudex once was."Where are you.... "

After a deep breath, she took her leave from Iudex's office and took her walk through the main hall.

Usually, the main hall was always lively, there was always somebody, but it was utterly empty with more books, papers and stuff scattered around, an unpleasant sight.

"Sedene... " An empty counter, it's been a long time since Furina saw her most beloved Melusine, who always greeted her whenever she passed by. She placed her hand on her heart, ready to shed some tears, knowing it would not bring them back. She kept her tears back; there was no more need to cry this time. Furina continued her way until she reached the broken, ripped off Main Doors of Mermonia; these doors merely lay on the ground, an easy thing to go outside of the lonely Building.

This creepy and unsettling sight of the emptiness between demolished buildings and messed-up streets always sends a chill down her spine every day. Furina was sunken in sorrow and could never smile again. Scattered properties, the streets were never this much of a mess. Broken glasses and newspapers were everywhere on the ground. Furina could never have a calm walk without hearing the sound of crackling shards she stepped on.

The smell of rotten food slowly covers the air around many parts of the City, but the white haired Girl in Blue was unbothered, not as if she actually deserved it. Furina kept going slowly like a casual walk in a Park, fixed her gaze towards the empty sky to see if there is any cloud there. ".......... "

To know that even her subordinate, the Iudex, was gone too, was all too much to take. She stood still for a moment to digest this experience, which was anything but easy. Her body shuddered slightly as this moment dragged her deeper into painful realisation that she was cursed to be alone and lonely for a very long time. This short, exhaustive moment of Loneliness was somehow much worse than what she endured in the past. Furina knew it won't get any better at this point.

The Lone Ex Archon in Blue continued the daily travel routine to Opera Epiclese, the place where all, including her misery and the beginning of her suffering. She hoped to see somebody, as the creepy silence was unpleasant. Usually, this place was always crowded with Humans and Melusine.

Now its just an empty place like an empty water bottle, it felt like a nightmare. "Maybe.. someday somebody will come to visit Fontaine..."

Furina's head hung down in front of Opera Epiclese. A broken memory from a long time, she barely remembers anything from her first few weeks back then, but she could clearly remember the Person she spoke to before submitting herself to an inevitable demand. Even these memories started to fade day by day. Her heart ached all the more as she thought everyone was truly gone.

Maybe somebody will arrive at Fontaine, what then? Furina still had no idea of how to approach the first visitor after the Prophecy. Her fear that this somebody would immediately flee as soon as they see her was painful. Her fear that somebody will come and say at the moment on sight

You are a Hydro Archon who deceived your own People, right? Leaving Fontaine with disgust without saying anything else, leaving her alone in her misery.

"Please....  "

Furina cleared her mind and took a deep breath before closing in on the Fontain of Lucine. She still remembered the time at night when she prayed at the fountain and made a wish, but she forgot what the wish was.

A memory of a long-ago day. A broken memory of a wish she can't remember anymore.

Entering Epiclese, everything stayed the same. Nobody to see, the Rooms and floors remained silent. The Court Room felt something else; there was no light and no echoes. Only a dim light shines on the stage through the window, which somehow resisted the flood.

The Oratrice itself was silent, no motion and no noises inside the machinery between the gears since the day of Judgement.

Furina felt the growing loneliness to the bottom of her heart. She bent her face and fell on her knees.

"Mirror me.... are you still there?..."

This silence felt almost suffocating.

"What if.... i...."

She still couldn't stop thinking about her failure, every time she knelt in front of the Oratrice and prayed for any answer about what to do now.

But the Oratrice remained silent, if not lifeless.

"I'm sorry.... "

Furina failed the divine order given by her Divinity. Her only One-Time chance to save her folk, to regain her humanity and her freedom to live happily, was ultimately lost.

"It.. hurts... "

She couldn't even cry anymore; there were no tears, but a dry feeling of loneliness that haunts her every day ever since. Only one thought came to her mind every time she looked at the Oratrice.

"If only i can put an end to it.... "

Reluctantly hoping it might work this time. The Lone Ex Hydro Archon pulled out the favored sword of her missed bodyguard, who was known as the Champion of Fontain.

Furina grabbed the sword by the blade and pointed with the tip towards her heart, slightly stinging her skin beneath the blouse.

This Sword was as sharp as always since the day it was made; it could easily cut through flesh without any effort.

Furina closed her eyes once more with hope that it may work, and she strengthened her grip on the blade and pulled the scary sharpness towards herself. Cutting easily through ribs and soft tissue, until piercing through her own heart, and the grip of the sword touched her chest, while the rest of the blade stuck out from behind her back. The pain was as fierce as it could make her cry a river again, but her eyes remained dry.

Blood forced its way through the tiny gap between the blade and flesh like a tiny river; the blood painted the floor red, on which the Ex Archon Furina collapsed from her kneeling. She lost some of her strength, and her head hung down; she clenched her eyes and gritted her teeth from the cruel pain. Her legs, shoes and pure white shorts were tainted red. Her body became slowly cold, and her sight was swallowed by deep darkness. For the last few seconds of the moment, she felt relief before her thoughts faded away.

Chapter Text

Slight wind travels through the messed-up streets of Fontaine, dragging pieces of newspaper with it. A mess that would take weeks and even months to clean up. A sound of wood just hit the sand at the shore near the city.

Two Guys, a woman, and a Boy with backpacks arrived on a boat and jumped down on the shore. Their sight headed towards the city on Fontaine.

The walls are high with many cracks, and the silence inside and outside of the City was noticeable.

"You saw the giant flood that sweeps through the land of Fontaine, right? It really scared me out... I hope they found some shelter for safety.." The woman toned it with a blank expression on her face. Chill crawled down her back when she looked closely at the damaged walls of Fontaine. She took a pair of binoculars from the backpack to check the situation on the way ahead.

"No birds or any animals either.." Says Henry without any clue why.

"Do we have all we need?" Questioned slightly, the Boy and Henry just nod.

They headed towards the aquabus, just to realise it lay nearby upside down as if a large monster had ripped it from its waterway.

"Are they usually operated by Melusines? Where are they?" The Boy questioned and started to feel uneasy, while the other Guy only scratched his head and thought about the same thing.

"It's ok." Says the Woman after looking at the Boy, after a sudden worry grew into her.

"Guess we have still to take the heavier way then..." The Guy Enrico said with a glimpse of caution, unaware of what they may stumble upon.

"May some bad things happen in Fontaine, right, so let's just check it out short and quick." The Woman Margred and the Boy Kirk couldn't agree less.

A slight shiver ran through them as they set off. Slowly, they took their way to the City and prayed not to stumble upon some hostile activities. The way was quiet.

With no monster in sight, Margred was in relief, but unaware of the lonely tragedy that would hit them soon enough. "Is this really a good idea?  We never got anything from the Steambird for a long time already. We know nothing about what is going on there... and the Aquabus over there was surely a bad sign." She complains with an uneasy look in her eyes.

Enrico had no idea what to say but to pray that everything was going to be alright, and the four continued to move. "All we need is to get some info from our customers when we haven't heard anything since the catastrophe and then get the hella out of here, the silence gives me creeps."

"But just quick" Margred adds as a note while staring straight forward.

After a little while, the four arrived safely in the City and realized that this place was totally soulless. They widened their eyes after seeing the silent horror far and wide.

The City was a mess, with broken things scattered around. There was not a single clean street or corner, as if a massive tornado had swept through the City, and somehow it was even worse with nobody left here. Not even a single corpse could be seen anywhere; the four were terrified. It felt almost like a ghost town, a nightmare in which the four would turn around immediately and run for their lives.

They continued their path, looking out for anything alive. Scavenging some buildings for food, only if those weren't already rotten.

"Look, there is the Store." Kirk yelled, like a new toy had just gotten a sale.

The four took a look at the Store, which belongs to their business's customer. The reality hits them hard; nobody was there. The store is damaged beyond repair, all products are lying around, and nobody was here except them.

"That's it, let's get out of here, forget it, there's nothing to do with this mess, better we just return and start over, there is no point in continuing this shop." Margred acted harshly and wanted to leave it all behind; there are many other things to do, she thought.

"There is something to check before we leave." Enrico mentions. "Let's head to Palais Mermonia."

Margred was a bit annoyed but agreed.

"What is there you want to check?" Kirk asked Enrico.

"Maybe there is somebody? Honestly, what could go wrong to take a look at an empty city, right?" Enrico himself felt uneasy, and somehow he had the gut feeling they were not alone here.

After reaching the main Lift and using it, which leads to Palais Mermonia, only to see that this Building was not in any better shape, a shame, Henry thought.

They went inside and called out for somebody, but heard nothing but their own voice that echoed through the halls and staircases. The walls were still wet, and documents and books were everywhere on the floor. The four proceed their way to the reception without success in finding anybody.

"Hey, i don't know what u want here, but searching through this mess would take days and weeks." The longer Margred stayed in Fontaine, the greater her fear of getting into trouble grew. She was worried and looked around the room before turning her gaze to the other three, who were rummaging through the things on the floor.

"I guess there is nothing here that we need. Alright, let's go home." Henry called it out briefly while the other three joined him in relief.

The time ticked continuously. A light wind passed by, and slight noises were heard. Noises of metal and rough voices were heard from a distance.

The four were more vigilant after hearing strange things. They left Palais Mermonia.

Henry looked over a stone fence down to the residential area.

Several suspicious Guys with big hammers and guns walking through the streets out of nowhere, looking for something, looting stores and apartments on their way. One of them tripped like a drunktard because of all the scattered stuff and rubble. The other, with a big long gu,n laughed at him like a chipmunk. The tripped big guy with the hammer took this as mocking and thought to teach him a lesson. He charged up his hammer and sprinted straight at the douche with the long gun, ready to beat him up to a pulp. The other two Fatui scrubs thought one of them or both was a traitor, and they decided to charge into the mess and kill what was moving. They jumped into the mess of an all vs all fuckfest and see who dies first.

The winner takes all the treasure in this unlived city, they thought.

Soon, several inactive Garde-Mechs registered the hostile activity and stood up to join them with the last energy left, reloaded their guns and shot right into the fight of the Fatui group.

Kirk used binoculars and was scared after he saw these extra-terrestrial idiots beating each up to the death.

"The Fatui? What the hell are they doing there? Great, we can't just go down there, they'll see us if we go for the main gate." Enrico told them, already annoyed.

The thing was that the Lift was still there for them to be used immediately.

"There is an Aquabus way which leads to a place near Poisson." Margred told them in a hurry, but Henry retaliated. "No chance, look over there, the waterway has collapsed, there is no way to get to the other side." 

"What should we do?" Kirk questions with a little tear in his eyes.

"Look, there is another waterway still intact, according to the map, this one leads to... Opera Epiclesse?" Enrico suggested taking the road.

They quickly took the Lift to get to the waterway and ran for it before they were seen.

"Fair enough, at least one place these criminals would avoid." Henry sounded relieved as he continued the run with them.

Soon they reached the Opera House, but the situation there was almost the same, with no Humans and no Melusines far and wide.

"It's getting dark, let's go inside for the night, i am a bit sleepy from the travel." 

They went inside and found a room on the next floor to take a break. Enrico packed out a few sleeping bags and a few other things while Henry took a little walk through the Opera house. Kirk accompanied Margred to prepare some food.

It was quiet; the rooms were cold. The tension that something was not right here was sensible. A feeling of disturbance caught Henry as he looked around; only dim light shone through the floor, and he unknowingly took the floor, which led to the Court hall.

In a brief moment of attention, the others wondered where Henry had been all this time. Enrico took Margred and Kirk with him to go after him, searching this cold place for him. After they found him at the end of the floor, they quickly noticed something was not right.

Henry stood without any motion, like frozen in a spot, as if he saw ghosts.

Margred called for him, which pulled him out of his little trance. "Why are you staying here so weird?" She demanded an answer for his long absence; she sounded almost worried.

"Look over there..." His words came almost as a whisper.

The other three took a look down to the spot called Stage, just to see a Figure sitting in front of big machinery in the form of a Scala with huge gears and whatever was behind. This place felt silent, almost sad at the same time.

The four slowly approached the mysterious person in blue. Their discovery became quickly terrifying after they noticed a blade sticking out of a person's back, with a dry pool of blood around the person.

"Who is that?" Margred stood silent, she felt almost sorry for whoever this Person was.

The smell of blood stained the air around them; it was fresh as if something had happened a moment ago.

"Is she ....dead?" Henry asked with anxiety in his eyes. "Wait... isn't that the Hydro Archon?"

"If the tales of the prophecy are true, shouldn't she be the only one left?"  Henry wanted to leave now, he wanted to take the others and run, but wouldn't it be wrong? "We should go, now!" A slight Panic came up in his gut.

Kirk has seen enough already. The Boy was scared and ran off.

"Wait!" Yelled Margred and ran after him to not lose sight.

Her chase after the little one vanishes behind the door through which they came.

"We shouldn't be here, this is too much, I'm outta here!" Enrico suggested running after the other two.

"Wait, we can't just leave her alone, she's hurt! Don't you see it?"

"Look at her, somebody killed her, she's dead! i don't think 'hurt' is the right word to use."

Enrico turned immediately around and went back to find the others.

Only Henry stayed back and didn't run off like a scripted scaredy cat and turned his view back on the white haired impaled women. He was right about her being hurt; he didn't consider her being dead when he noticed a small motion of breathing.

Things in his mind became only more tense when he stepped closer to her; the pool of blood was a bit slippery, and he was bothered by goosebumps tingling on his skin. He narrowed his eyebrows when he looked at the grip of the sword and thought to do something that could go wrong, if it weren't for any purpose for good there.

She can't be dead. What if i... He thought and proposed to himself to pull the sword from her chest. Slowly, he moved his hand towards the grip, shakily, while his eyes darted frequently to the side of her face hidden by hanging front hair, her head hung down right above the grip.

Finally, Henry grasped the sword's grip, tightened his hold, and, with a deep breath, he began to pull the sword. It wasn't easy because the blade was stuck tight between ribs and tissue, basically glued together cold, dry blood. He felt uncomfortable as he had to push her upper body back to loosen the sword.

Finally, Henry got the blade out, and new, fresh blood began to pour out of the hole.

Suddenly, the white haired Girl's hand twitched for a second.

Henry startled. He took a few steps back and dropped the sword like a garbage bag. The Sound of a metal hitting the floor sounded like a distant thunder strike, echoing through the silence in the entire building. In short, he heard some calls from his companions, which drew his attention for a moment; he looked briefly in the direction of the door through which they came. After a second, he sensed some movements near him, and he looked back at the white haired girl.

Like an undead, the white haired girl raised slowly her head. She started to move her hand towards her face just to push her hair aside, revealing lifeless eyes.

Henry shivered as a cold chill went through his back, causing him to fall back on his butt.

After a moment of silence, the white haired girl stood up with her gaze fixed on the Scale of the Oratrice.

Henry was terrified and confused, his face ran pale of her acting like a ghost. He couldn't move as if he was frozen in a spot.

The white haired girl started to move away from him towards the exit of the courtroom.

Henry could not understand what was up with her. Didn't she see him? Was she blind? He thought first.

After the white haired girl disappeared through the door, he managed to regain some strength and went right back to the others.

Margred comforted Kirk til he finally calmed down. She took him, and Enrico decided to pick up their stuff, meet Henry and then get the hell outa of here, too many strange things happening here.

The moment they started to move towards the door of the room, the white haired girl in bloody blue just passed by through the corridor at the door without any reaction and barely audible footsteps, just like a real ghost.

As things just don't get weirder, the three stood still like paralyzed, didn't believe what they just saw for a second, their faces ran pale, this almost scared the shit outta them, ready to scream their lungs out.

Chapter Text

Henry stormed into the Room and immediately locked the door behind him, but he still couldn't trust what just happened.

The others were relieved to see him again. They've seen enough crap to make themself rest of the day. They had to give some sleep pills for the little poor Kirk, good thing his pants stayed clean. Despite the horror they witnessed, they talked a bit with each other and finally managed to get to sleep, except Margred, who stayed awake for a couple of hours, her tired eyes with a spooked mood were itchy, she could not sleep in.

Margred wonders when this room has been properly used or heated, dust-covered every corner of the room, and this place has sustained loneliness for a very long time. She was sitting and wrapped with a towel, listening to the silence and the guy's stupid snoring, her gaze scanning the room like a surveillance camera and was afraid to see another ghost at the same time. She waited, trembling, to see another sinister thing, as if she really wanted thou. The sudden appearance of the white haired woman creeped her out, and this scene was still stuck in her mind. The Sumeran women felt a bit sorry for the little white haired woman. Why was she there being impaled in the first place?, What happened?

How long has she been there on the stage with that sword... inside her. Did something bad happen that led her up to sit there painfully on the stage, maybe somebody tried to assassinate her? Margred's thoughts ventured in circles like a spinning toy; she rubbed her eyes from tiredness. She pulls out a little greenish device from a pocket.

"Hmm.... "

No lights, nothing as it seems.

The day was heavy for them, first time overnight in a ghostly city after a hell of a ride, visiting a dead country, running almost into the hands of these Fatui criminals and then getting spooked by a woman who looked, according to the description, like Furina de Fontaine.

The tiredness and boredom took the Sumeran woman Margred out, not that she needed to count some sheep to say goodnight to herself.

The dawn sets off in a windless morning without the chirping of birds. Much time had passed since Fontaine's catastrophe; fountains dried out, all the buildings, the streets, and the surface of the city itself were dry and dusty.

While the sun keeps heating up this place, without the waters nearby and oceanic air, the aridity becomes more palpable; the atmosphere of Fontaine felt almost like Sumeru's Desert. It hasn't rained for years. The rivers that have embellished the city of Fontaine for ages simply disappeared: blazingly hot days, stone-cold Nights, the sinister silence. Fontaine has seen much better days; now its story is more worth for kids' tales.

Without its citizens and their environmental warmth outtage, the night was much colder than ever. The Ex Archon's legs were almost frozen, if it was not for the continuous walk through the streets. The silent night felt almost aetheric. The wind whistled through broken windows and doors like time keeps moving forward all without her, she couldn't overhear it.

The Ex Archon looked up into the crystalline sky, her droplet-shaped eyes reflected the Starways on its surface like a mirror. Weird thoughts went through her mind about a world that doesn't exist but she wishes to escape to, a dream beyond dreams. A dead thought, restless nights, never-ending paths, sunless rides, lieless lies, countless days. She could write a child's tale in a book with millions of pages if it weren't for never-ending prays for salvation from beyond.

But who would read it anyway?

They are all gone!

The Hydro Archons' days were counted... or not?

But what's that?

The Ex Archon Furina stopped on spot, the crackling of electricity, the smell of fire, decay, burn, chill, weird objects lying on the ground. Several corpses are piling up within the circle of broken mechs.

"Huh...... Good evening... " The white haired girl greeted the weird guys taking a nap on the ground like a pile of cushions for some reason. Sadly, even artificial life forms seem to meet their end before her own could.

Neither a God, nor a Human, nor an animal.

Who or what was she?

Unsolved questions that continued to return to her mind, questions Furina wanted to forget, questions she wanted to vanish from her mind.... just like all the citizens.

But what good would that do anyway? She was now trapped, between time and life behind death, far in the past.

Unpleasant thoughts won't stop rumbling in her white, hairy head.

"What if i just decapitate myself....  would i stop living then? Surely it could be worth a try...."

Furina stared at the street with darkened eyes below her from the Starlight shining on her hair. No pain could be worse than what she already endured. But what if the curse won't vanish if the head leaves the place on the shoulders... lying on the spot day and night as a mere head without any ability to move forth or back, freezing during night and drying during day without a good view to beyond the walls, wouldn't that be a much worse fate than being already eternally lonely?

"................. "

Her body starts to tremble, and the night's chill pierces her skin. Time to go back to sleep in the dusty living room, there is nothing to do here anyway. Taking the lift up to Mermonia like every day, sustaining herself in the cycle of aimless walking on the same road every day, just how boring could that get? Entering Mermonia, as always, her gaze darts to a particular door as if there was nothing else in the main hall, and she stopped before passing by the reception.

"Hello..... Sedene... " Painful, unforgettable memory, how much she would love to grab that one Melusine and cuddle until choke, her chest ached from the mere imagination itself.

In a dim light in the hall, surrounded by silence, she unknowingly reached out to Sedene's place. Furina pulled her hand back after she snapped back to reality and continued to go upstairs with only sadness on her blushy face. Entering her room and locking the door shut, she made a little knock with her forehead resting on the door.

"How long... " She asked herself, how long this new kind of loneliness would go, being already heartbroken when she had to decolate herself away from her folk.

Now there is just nobody, nobody who could be observed from above their high seats. No sounds of daily crowds on the streets.

Furina remembers all too well the days she watched them all from behind the window of her room. Now staring through the window again merely fills her with even more sorrow. She shook her head and went to bed without any thought left, fell into the mattress without taking off her clothes and putting on pajama, her living room was already covered in dust, too dirty to clean it and getting some unnecessary rest until dawn. Her eyes remained half open, staring at the blank ceiling as if it were a hobby of hers.

"What if i just leave Fontaine?.... what if i move out to Sumeru or.... Liyue, but what will the others think of me?... An Archon who got her own folk killed, suddenly entering their territory without any permission or request, would they tolerate my presence there? Yes... i got my own people killed.. because i wanted to play with that one... cat at night.. Very first time i didn't hide in my room... Somebody must've seen me.. an Archon playing with a cat like some ordinary child... it was too much i guess.. The suspicion about me has spread like wildfire..."

She still stared at the ceiling as if she drew a painting with her glare alone, remembering her waver once again, it caused her headaches.

Steambird: Newspaper -

Furina de Fontaine is NOT the Hydro Archon she should be.

- Ignoring heavy-duty,

- She never showed her Archon Power for once,

- Ignores every incoming warning of the Prophecy,

- Nobody has ever seen her Archon activities beyond Opera and or her abode in Mermonia,

- There was never actually any solid proof that she was our righteous God,

- Somebody witnessed her playing with a cat like only a Child would do.

- She has never taken any active measures to protect her people from any instance that has any connection

   to the Primordial Sea, NOT A SINGLE TIME,

- The death counter, because of her negligence towards her Nation lies currently at 284 citizens.

And the list of accusations goes on...

"Too much time has passed... I was unable to uphold my masquerade... I knew the day would come when people wouldn't buy my Archon ramblings anymore, all of my efforts, suffer and endure in vain... "

Continuously, Furina talked with herself while the night proceeded to cool down her room even further to the point of freezing, particles of dust flying around her room like snowflakes in the sky. She stood up from the bed, picked up some trash'n stuff and made a campfire out of it. The cold bothers her. She sat in a fetal position at the campfire, her eyes fixed on the crackling fire. Nothing that would really concern her, since this country is of no use anymore.

No one could possibly bring her back what she once lost...

Furina fell emotionally into a hole of sorrows again. But something felt not in place. She gazed down to the spot where a sword should be in place and just realized the sword was gone. She tapped with her fingers at the hole in her chest but was surprised, there was no hole, the injury had already sealed, and she didn't know or notice when.

".....Where?... "

She thought she had dropped the sword somehow and looked around herself, hoping the sword might lie here somewhere, but there was none. Barely anything cares for her anymore, and shortly after she fell asleep.

The clock stayed quiet, and dim light pierced a room in the Opera.

Enrico was the first to wake up, and he woke up the others.

"Is it already morning?"

Yawns Margred, still half asleep.

"We spend too much time here, time to go home before we run into another trouble, let's cease the little business here and start a new one."

Enrico and Henry couldn't agree less.

They packed their stuff back in backpacks, ready to leave Fontaine.

"Wait.. what about the Hydro Archon?"

Margred questions.

"You mean the white haired one? No thanks, i'm not interested in Ghosts."

Enrico retaliates.

"Hey, i wouldn't put it that way."

Henry explained to them what happened in the courtroom after they ran off.

Margred crossed her arms.

"Maybe we should stay a little longer and find out what's up with her, i think Gods can't just die with a mere blade in their chest. This could be a great tale to tell, or?"

"Are you out of your mind? Wasn't she the one who was responsible for the deaths of all the People here in Fontaine?"

Enrico retaliates again.

"Let's be honest, she didn't look like someone who would murder a whole nation for fun. Something must have gone wrong. Why would she stab herself then? Out of regret?"

Margred tried to convince Enrico to join them and figure out the cause.

"We came here for a particular matter. If you want to stay here, it's your choice; i'll return just as planned." Enrico continued his cries, like a coward running away from adventure.

After a long discussion, Enrico made up his mind to return home. Margred and Henry looked with annoyance at him, but guessed there was no help for him. Kirk stood there and watched their bla bla bla.. thingy like an episode of South Park.

"Kirk, you'll come with me. This place is too dangerous to stay in." Enrico took the boy and fucked off of the Sumeran's sight, while Henry and Margred stayed in Fontaine for another interest.

They took the road back to the center of the City and tried to find the white haired Girl. The group of Fatui must become rat food today.

"What do you think where she could be now?" Margred started to question after the moment they arrived back in the City within the big walls.

"I'm not sure, but Mermonia would be a good point to start the search." Henry pointed out while scratching his head.

Both kept going, taking the lift to Mermonia again in the hope of not running into another group of Fatui. The temperature rose again, and the air was dry.

Margred and Henry stopped at a spot as a picture of snow white fabric with a curved hair strain at a bench fell in their sight.

"It's her, there she is.. sitting." Margred was a bit stunned just to see how wonderful and perfect the girl's short hair looked.

The two slowly and curiously approached the Ex-Archon, who was sitting with crossed legs on a bench with a hydro Crystalfly resting calmly on her finge,r and she stared over the wall. They looked at her just to find an empty expression on the face of the white haired girl.

"Excuse me....." Margred placed her hand on her chest and chatted formally with the Girl.

The White haired girl gave no reaction for a moment until the hydro crystalfly flew away. She looked after the fly and shifted her sight towards these two weirdos; her expression remained unchanged.

The two Sumerans were immediately nervous when they made a direct eye contact with the white haired girl.

These droplet pupils... they felt like the Girl stares straight in their Souls. Margred had goosebumps crawling everywhere on her skin. Henry thought about a freakin Tsunami could just break upon them and drown them in an instant.

"Leave.... There is nothing here.... " Furina's voice faded to a mere whisper as she spoke to the two.

The Sumerans widened their eyes, her voice was so clean and pure but weak, it felt like they were talking to an actual Angel from the heaven. The serenity in Furina's voice was remarkable. Margred was moved and wished to have such a voice for herself.

"You... may remember me back in the Court room or?" Henry pointed out as a horror picture still didn't left his mind.

Furina gave no answer and watched him motionlessly.

Was she on autopilot when she left the Building? Henry scratched his head and asked another question. "You must be Furina de Fontaine right, the mighty Hydro Archon, heh?"

Furina keeps staring at him like a mannequin. "Furina.... Just call me.... Furina... the title of hydro Archons here has no worth anymore." She immediately replied to him as if she had waited her entire life to get this Answer off her chest.

Henry was a bit surprised at the quick answer like wuuuut?

"We came here out of a previous reason, but after we've seen you since yesterday, which... was... terrifying for us, we couldn't just leave anymore"

Surely Margred could just take her legs in her arms and get the fahks outa here, simple. She attempted to chit-chat with Furina, see where this would go.

Furina sat on the bench with an unchanged, empty expression, returning her gaze to the view over the wall. "Leave.... There is nothing here.... " She repeats it like a parrot as if she wants them to leave her, as her voice fades into a mere whisper again.

Confusion slowly kicks in, and the two Sumerans wonder what happened to make her act like that.

Chapter Text

The reflective surface of the ocean was a beautiful view when she took the path across the mountains. The waves, the air, everything here was at its finest and a blockhouse cozy enough for a weekend's relaxation and drawing paintings. She opens her eyes, and the dream fades in an instant. A blank ceiling blinds her sight. She was thirsty and she desperately wanted. She stood up and took a bottle to take a drink; it was refreshing. She put the bottle away. Her face was pale when she looked out of the window."Gods..... why is the city submerged? Why.. am i submerged? I need air... fresh air... Gods... I don't want to drown... I can't drown... why?... what's going on here?..."

An hour has passed, but what is a single hour to Furina, who has lived through millions and millions of hours and will live another million hours? A single hour holds no meaning for a restless girl. She would live as long as the Ocean would do, and watch like a Moon above the sky how her people continued to grow.

They were born and died over and over again; there was no ending in Starways that kept to amaze the Ex Hydro Archon. She watched them; she had her own interests, and her eyes were not blind at all. She had... her Favorites. She watched them grow from a far place with passion, and later, they rested in death when old age demanded it. Every time I watched them crumbling away, joining the earth felt like a piece of her body was ripped off. She couldn't talk to them, she couldn't visit them, she couldn't trade interests with them, she couldn't play with them. They came and went generation by generation.

This existence was like a Prison.

Oh.. what would she give to escape it.....

It pains Furina a lot every time. Every day, it felt like a nightmare. She covered her ears tightly; she didn't want to hear anymore. A high-pitched noise was getting louder; she saw imaginary things, faceless people. She watched them as they spoke to her, but she couldn't hear them.

It wears her out.

She was tired.

Tired....

Tired....

Tired....

The clock rang.... Barely awake, Furina clenched her fist and knocked that annoying thing out of the nightstand.

Another day...

Which props do i need now for today's performance?...

Why do I feel strange... my lips... why?.. they smile on their own... they don't need my will or joy... not anymore....

Furina remembers these things, like shackles on her being. The empty expression on her face was stiff as she watched silently the way the Sumeran women tried to chit-chat with her; it felt strange.

They were not Fontanians, not her people she'd like to watch grow.

They were just strangers...

They came for loot.. for treasures..

She didn't care what they wanted.

She remained silent.

Why even bother to talk to them? What for.

Soon.... they too would disappear.

The Sun kept shining on the Sumeran pair, Furina was neither comforted or discomforted.

The light lit up every surface. It was like a Sauna (for free), no need to find one.

Henry sweated from just standing around and watching Margred attempting to get some info from Furina like a crazy journalist, but without success,

he swiped some sweat drops from his forehead.

"Eh.. Miss Furina, can we please go inside before the sun roasts us? heheh.. "

Being a bit funny when Margred tried to cheer Furina up.

Whatever, Furina thought and joined them for a cooler place; she had no interest in being roasted below the Sun anyway.

"Finally, some shadow, time to cool down, right?"

Henry smirked like a jerk.

They took a pause in the reception, the main hall was huge in which a party could be thrown.

The Sumerans threw their backpacks on the ground after taking deep, cool breaths and checked out the room. They were fascinated. Unlike Sumeru buildings, this one is quite expensive.

Like out of nowhere, a calm voice echoed through the space.

"Hello Sedene... "

The Sumerans looked at the direction from which the sound came; it was just Furina who went upstairs.

"Who is Sedene?"

Henry was confused.

"Did she talk to a ghost?"

"What the hell..."

Margred stares with widened eyes.

The Sumerans looked almost disturbed at each other.

Making a space was not easy among all the junk; they had to clean up a bit, preparation for another overnight sleep. Late evening approaches, covers the room slowly with darkness and celtic air.

"I'm really tired, trying to get something out of this Furina was something else... How long do we have to stay here? Are we gonna starve here before Furina starts to listen to us?"

Margred sounded as if she was at her limits, no wonder why.

"At least we can confirm by ourselves that Steambird is dead, we would need a whole new cast to get it to work, but i don't think that anything in this country will work for a very long time."

Her Sumeran companion spoke swiftly.

"Camera? check, battery low... great... guess we'll leave sooner than expected. Food.... very low, fantastic... this damn coward Enrico took most of it with him, i consider this the last overnight... Tomorrow early we'll set out. The road back to Sumeru through the desert is very long. We'll drop dead of starvation before we even reach halfway to the Forest, so we'll take a detour through Liyue Port instead."

Henry continues to talk like there is no tomorrow and sets up a lantern.

The time passes like on a flight.

The night got colder.

"Hm... I'm wondering how Furina got along all without food, or... maybe she has a whole basement full of eatables? What do u think?....... do Gods actually eat human food?"

Margred stood up to check on Furina.

"Huh?.."

As if Henry knew, he had no idea about Godhood.

"I'll be right back."

Margred looked at him for a second. She took the stairs Furina had taken. The steps were all high. She was impressed by the construction and the details. Only a royal family would be allowed to live here. She came to the upper floor, a small corridor with a few double doors. She took the closest one, and she knocked at the door.

"M-miss Furina?"

No answer, nothing to hear, which means green light. She opened the door by herself and stared inside. A cold wind came towards her, pure goosebumps. Slowly, she went inside and looked around. A pile of burned woods, junk, scattered stuff, and damaged furniture, this room was a mess. Moonlight shone through the broken windows; there was a large bed nearby. She took a closer look to a spot where the luminous blue light ends, lighted up snow white short hair.

No doubt, there was the Archon, sitting motionless on the bed, opposite the window, enjoying the moonlight.

"Miss...?" 

Cautiously, Margred approached the Hydro Archon from the side, asleep she seemed and stared at her questionably for a moment.

The Hydro Archon's sleeves were rolled up, and she held a bloody knife resting on her knee. Her arms, although resting on her thighs, were soaked with blood. Half of her legs were covered in blood, and there was a small pool of blood around her shoes. Tragic traces followed the scene.

Margred gritted her teeth, almost shrieked.

"What the....."

In a whisper, she covered her mouth and suppressed a scream that was about to pass her lips. The Hydro Archon looks fine, so where does all this blood come from? She questions in her mind. She was terrified, a bit of sadness washed over her, but she chose not to wake the Archon up. Slowly and quietly, she backed up and closed the door without making any noise. She rested with her back against the door. What just happened to her to do those things to herself? Her thoughts were puzzling in her mind. She couldn't handle it anymore and needed some help from her client.

Things weren't going according to their plan.

The Sumerian women were too afraid to ask the Hydro Archon certain questions directly, because it could have gone wrong. She went back to Henry with slight disappointment.

"How is it going?"

He was calm, reading a book in the meantime.

"Not as we expected, but she's sleeping right now, time to scout out the area."

Margred sighed with a small portion of disappointment.

Henry understood her worry, he reached into a pocket and pulled out something that looked similar to a Dendro Vision and handed it over to his fellow companion.

Margred took the object and went on to search certain rooms. She went from room to room, checked the floor, the main hall, even an office that was once used by the Chief Judge, and even the neighbor buildings without any success, no food, no stocks, nothing. She wondered what Furina was doing all this time. When did she eat food last time? When did she do anything useful instead of wandering around since the Prophecy? She looked outside once again to the residential area; the mess within Fontaine was clearly not a hallucination.

Nothing has changed in the slightest since the Flood that swept through the Nation. The situation was dire, and the Hydro Archon herself refused to talk.

Margred pulled out the little device from her pocket, which she always carried with her, and pushed a button; the device lit up like a Christmas tree ball. After a little moment, she pulled the device closer to her mouth and startet to speak into the thing.

"She's kinda isolated, but we tried."

The woman used the little device to talk to someone.

"Something about Focalors?"

A childish voice was heard from the object.

Margred shut her eyes after she was reminded of how well the questionnaire went.

"Nope, she just refuses to talk, it felt like i was talking to a wall. Overall, the country is in a very bad state and we are running out of stock as well. Apparently, she doesn't have any food either. I can't even imagine how she's still staying here; it must be horrible to feel alone without her people."

"Alright, no need to bother her anymore, come back, we'll figure out something else."

The little device shuts down with a little creepy noise.

Margred sighed again and tilted her head as if she had lost a bet.

"Alright then, time for a return."

In time, she returned to Mermonia while Henry already slept, she wrapped herself with the towel again since the night got really cold, set up a campfire for some extra warmth and awaited falling into dreams.

The night was a little brighter than last time, a Celtic wind wandered through Mermonia, traveling through gaps between door and floor just to caress the white haired girl in red and blue; this soft, icy, cold touch on the skin of her thighs felt almost like a knife stab. She slowly lifted a bit of her head, opened her eye very slowly and exposed her heterochromatic eyes to the luminous moonlshine once more.

Pretending to be asleep.

Things like this were a mere cakewalk for the lonely girl, although the pain of cuts could not make her sleep at all. Such as an eyering already building up, showing her restless demise. Furina dropped the knife beside just to reach out for the window, she lifted her arms and bathed in the gliding moonlight, the skin on her arms was pure and smooth. It amazed her how quickly the injuries vanished, leaving no traces behind. She glanced directly into the bluish shiny moon to remember the time she dived deep into a sea during the night to watch the wavy piercing light.

"I may do that again.... i want it.... i need it...."

Whispering words left her over the lips as she lost her mind in etherity.

Chapter Text

Times when Furina enjoyed standing before the window, having a cup of tea. Brushing her hair with a comb every day and making sure the strain at the top of her head stays in place. To care for her blue clothes, all that while wandering in a fine white silky dress before she goes outside, time was racing independently. Sometimes she had even rushed to not miss her daily plan; even a simple task became a full-time job, the life of an Archon was definitely not something for enjoyment.

But today, it doesn't matter anymore. Furina stands, careless and empty in front of her window, with dry uncombed hair; the lack of tea at the place was almost contemptuous, the unkempt, dusty archon clothes; the feeling of emptiness was a part of a price she never wished to come true. It was unforgivable how extremely her life had deteriorated.

What would Neuvillete say if he were still there, if he is still here or there? She never wondered where Chief Justice had gone, and she would probably never go looking for Neuvillete, at least not as the little monstrous criminal she became. There was absolutely no one left that she could go to and beg for forgiveness after all the overwhelming hardship. Not even Mirror Me was there anymore.

The sun rose, and the rays hurt her eyes upon touch so much that she even had to move away from the window. Furina rubbed her eyes with her dirty hand, leaving bloody marks on her eyelids. Depressed by countless sleepless nights and forgetting when she had last time macaroni sauce. This new lifestyle was a mental disaster in her post-life after the Prophecy. She rubbed her eyes again in a displeased mood after remembering the good old times. A moment ago, she went out of her room. She went down the stairs and stopped at the last step, catching a glimpse of the Sumerans preparing to leave Mermonia and Fontaine.

"Miss Furina? Would you like to accompany us on our homeway back to Sumeru?" Margred called after the Hydro Archon and made a request, which sounded weird to her.

Should Furina disagree? They weren't Fontainians, but still... There was nothing to do anyway, so Furina just nodded and joined the two Sumerans. The two were joyful and gave a little cheer, although it was also depressing at the same time to Furina's current mental state, of which the two weren't fully aware.

Furina knew by herself very well how she felt back then when she gave cheers to others via Stages, but now, standing here with nothing but sadness and sorrow written on her face.

The main door of Palais Mermonia were open as always, they didn't need it to use, a simple walkout was enough, and the Sun smiled at them with a summer mood, making them feel like they were traveling to a shore at the ocean. The three took the main lift to get to the aquabus station, from which they could take the route to the east entrance.

Furina didn't dare to think or believe she could ever possibly meet and walk along with somebody since the national disaster. Something just rose deep in her heart, something she had forgotten long ago, and it felt weird for the little lonely maiden. Unconsciously, she twirled some of her dangling hair near her cheek with one finger as she stared at the floor.

Margred stopped suddenly and took the weird device out of her pocket, the same device she used to talk to somebody; it glowed again.

"Hm... " Henry was a bit surprised as he thought about a possible change of plans.

beep beep...

"Hello, can you hear me?" Questions a person with a young voice.

"We hear you clear and loud." Margred replied in curiosity.

"Is the Hydro Archon there with you?"

"Ehm.. yes, she is, we just took together the road to leave Fontaine, at least she's just accompanying us."  The Sumeran women stared at the device and already knew what would come next, while Furina stood before them without any reaction.

"Great, heh.., I'd like to talk to her"

"Understood." Margret replied without questioning her. "Miss Furina?.. eh... take this device, she wants to speak to you." Margred went to the Hydro Archon to give her this weird green object..

Furina first stared at the weird thing without any motion on her face, her eyes as dead as ever, not knowing what she was supposed to do with it as she had never seen something like that before.

"Miss Furina?" Questioned the mysterious person.

Furina twitched a bit after the second, and a voice came out of it, and pulled her head cautiously a bit away from it.

"Miss Furina, can you hear me?"

Furina startled again; she didn't know who it could be. "Who is that? Who are you?" She replied. What could go worse than talking to an unknown person? She scratched her head.

"Hehe.. nice to meet you, Miss Furina, you can call me Nahida" 

A name she had never heard of, surely there is much more behind that call. Furina remained empty but curious.

"But if you like the longer version of my name, you can also call me Lesser lord Kusanali, Dendro Archon, God of Wisdom."

Furina would like to fall back on her butt, her eyes widened and slightly separated lips, her glare on the object has intensified. What could an Archon from another Nation want from her? Her thoughts circled like crazy in her mind. Is this fate? Her heart flushed a bit by this sudden introduction. She was talking to a real Archon, unlike herself. What could be the Honor to meet a true Archon, even if it's just through a device?

"What does an Archon from another region wants from me? Why are you calling me?" Furina started to talk like a real person.

A conversation between two Archons, the Sumeran pair watched with amusement the more lively side of the extremely depressed Hydro Archon, her sorrowful but gentle voice attempted to stay forever with her, it sounded almost as if a Big Picture Business thing was coming in.

"I don't want anything from you, but i do know there are Answers you want. I'd like to help you achieve these answers." The Dendro Archon was willing to help. This made Furina even more curious; it drew her almost magically just to find the Dendro Archon.

Furina couldn't trust her ears. The chance to receive a treatment from an Archon as she wished to get from Mirror Me, a tiny spark of hope lit up deep in her heart.

"Meet me in Sumeru, i will know as soon as you step into the Forest, see ya, hehe..."

And the device stopped glowing.

Unlike Mirror Me, this Dendro Archon truly sounded very lively, like a Flower that just bloomed yesterday to enjoy the Sunlight. This could be the super chance to say goodbye to the dead Fontaine once and for all. Nahida's words moved Furina; her eyes were fixed at the device in comfort, she had never met her before, and was already willing to help, and the sudden urgency to run to Sumeru to this Dendra Archon almost immediately was not bearable. The white haired Ex Archon finally sees a reason and an opportunity to leave this hell on earth she knew as Fontaine, but would she be able to stay forever in Sumeru was for her another mystery. She took the device with both hands and allowed it to rest right on top of her heart; it meant a lot to her.

The Sumeran became almost worried by watching Furina standing quietly without any motion, not knowing what's currently sparking in this white haired head. But the blissful silence around them was not for long to hold...

"Who is there?!" A rough, manly voice shattered the one moment of comfort for the three, especially for the white haired girl. Creaking chains, heavy pounding, loud noises approached them. A group of men seemed to find their way in unnoticed.

"The Fatui?! They again, cmon, you are kidding me right now." Henry could cry louder if he were here alone.

"Great.... they are probably here to take revenge for the other losers who killed each other" Margred pointed out and was already annoyed, to have their peaceful moment to be ruined by those Snezhnaya jerks.

The situation became quickly dire, their only chance to escape is just to run away, or... the two Sumerans thought the Hydro Archon could just wipe them out, surely these nitwits are no match for the Girl in Blue.

Like the fuck they knew who Furina truly was.

"Run...."  Like a whisper, Furina told them and stayed in between to block the Fatui from chasing the Sumeran pair.

The Sumerans took the chance and bolted off like rabbits without even looking back.

"What? It's just you, how sweet! Allow me to do this, just one swing and you'll be gone," Spoke the big guy with a big hammer.

 Oh dear, surely Furina couldn't take on that one, she was simply no match for these guys, and she can already feel the incoming pain like Cho.. Cho.. Motherfu****!

From a warm moment to a life-or-death situation, things swiftly changed and got serious.

"I guess you did this... judging from your clothes, you are from this country. What happened to the other Fatui group before us? GET THE OTHERS!" The big guy with a hammer demanded that the other two Fatui members to catch the others. Two of them took the pursuit of the Sumerans and quickly ran after them.

Furina took a deep breath. There was no escape for her at all; she merely blinked towards the Futai guy.

"Anyway, say goodbye!" The Fatui prick loaded up his hammer with electricity and charged straight towards Furina; his attack was too immense to be blocked or even dodged for the little white haired woman.

Fearless and Careless, there was nothing Furina could do but just close her eyes and pray to get it done as soon as possible. The hammers blow launched the ex-Hydro Archon with brute force through a wall straight into a building... Silence surrounded this place after the last piece of wall debris fell.

"Tsss.... what a waste of breath.." He was bored with the woman's poor performance and ran on to catch up with his comrades.

Furina's vision fades almost immediately, the sound of breaking bones and crushed flesh sends a terrible shudder through her chest, and she is once again enveloped in darkness.

My my.. You really caused a lot of mess for me.... You managed to break their rules, now you managed to break my rules, even despite your absence, just how did u do this? lemme gues... gamble? Challenging the unknown Future or your own luck?

What did you predict in the face of armageddon??? Or simply, did u try to outsmart them? No? Were you jealous? committing such a crime without expecting any consequences, hah.. You were truly so careless. But anyway, time is up... you failed,

you failed me, you failed them all... but i'll keep what i wanted to do, I'll break your rules then and see who will win and stay.

.......I failed you, I'm sorry Furina, my little girl......

...........I am on a mission, but it failed... .......I don't get it.. what is this place...  .........it's really dark here............

The night set in, and the sky was covered in starways as usual. Blueish eyes open slowly, white hair covered in dust and rubble. Buried beneath, slowly crowled out of the dust and debris like a Phoenix from its Ashes. Her clothes were more torn than ever, it still hurts. She scratched her skin and clothes by climbing out of the pile of debris. Luckily, the debris were not heavy. As lonely and sad as ever and every day she glanced at the beautiful starry sky for a moment again.

"What a buttpain..." Annoyed and bored, Furina stood up as nothing happened and wondered if the two Sumerans managed to escape.

It gets even more annoying by staying in this dead country, despite current circumstances on her being, she still needed some breaks; these Fatui jerks would return anytime and continue hurting her as an act of revenge for their fallen comrades. She needed some fresh air, sea air..., she had to get out of here.

The one place where she always had a picnic was always a good place to take a break, as if someone had made it especially for her.

"Wait... where did i wanted to go? Su.. Sumeru?.. the Sumerans.... where are they?... I need to leave for a little while... I need to find them..." Furina felt off but familiar since she met these two Sumerans, but couldn't describe it by herself, maybe because she forgot something she once had. She pulled herself up on her legs, still shivering from the approaching night's cold, and it would get colder. Slowly making steps towards the beyond of the country's walls. Taking a thin path through the lands, it was a long way to get to her lovely picnic place. This place was something exceptional for her, she couldn't deny it and neither could she ever forget it.

A strong wind blows out of nowhere, which almost throws her over. The environment around her felt lively, rattled trees ' bushes, and the meadow danced along with the wind. It felt like something was watching her, causing her a little shiver. She narrowed her eyebrows and looked around in suspicion just to check if somebody was stalking her, as if she cared about it.

"......."

She shook her head and continued the little trip to her favorite shore.

The Ex Hydro Archon just thought about what she could do this time. Once she gets there, she has nothing with her, no basket no fruits and no tea this time, her mind was basically puzzled in a circle. A break at the shore to clean her mind, to forget worries, to calm herself from all the endless performances and court sessions. Now it was too much that bears her heart, too many bad memories stuck in her mind, way too much pain to relax. What could she possibly achieve once she is there...

Watching a shiny Starry Sky turning to a fascinating Sunrise while breathing fresh air from the oceans, listening to calm waves. Furina was there now, it was just as she thought, everything in place. She took a calm walk along the long shore.

The only place in Fontaine where she could always smile, no matter how cruel or deep her suffering was.

The waves were knee-high and lovely, cool, her shoes soaked through and through with water, no need to be worried about getting a fever. Even if she gets a fever, it would only last for a blink of an eye, if she could survive an impaled heart or getting smashed into a cake, then a fever should surely not be a deal for her. She stopped as she saw a pretty seashell hanging around, half buried in wet sand. She picked it up and cleaned it in waves, which kept banging against her legs. She closed her eyes and rested the seashell with both hands against her cheek as if she were making a wish.

Random things only Humans would do.

The waves suddenly calmed, and a distorted water noise came from the ocean; something felt not right.

"Lady.... Furina?... is this really you?... I thought the Prophecy had taken you too...."

A familiar, clear voice pierced her ears, a voice she could remember very well. Furina opens her eyes again as a sudden chill rose in her back... She took a glance in the direction where the voice came from. Her eyes widened in horror. " .....Neuvillette??...."

Her once regained smile turned instantly into a mere emptiness. He was the last Person she ever wanted to meet. She simply didn't want to face him, not after what happened to Fontaine, not after what she caused. Her body ran cold and trembled; she didn't trust her eyes, but it was simply the reality. The Chief Judge of the lost Fontaine was staying right there on the water's surface.

She wanted to run.. just to Run. Furina didn't want to face the consequences for what she did to Fontaine, not after all she went through; she wasn't ready for that. But now the Chief Justice was in reach to catch the biggest criminal of Fontaines Historie. He would seal her away into the pitch dark depths of the Ocean and guard this place all by himself for Eons.

No Sunlight. Eternal Darkness and Loneliness till the World dies or Time breaks. A fate far worse than Death for the white haired maiden.

Her heart felt heavy, every single fiber in her body screamed at her to run, RUN! Furina didn't want to meet him again, not as the criminal she was now, her body shivering in terror. Furina could not run away from him; the Anxiety to face consequences felt almost suffocating. Her body trembled even intensely, and almost crushed by despair, the longer she tangled herself in his glare. Her face shifts swiftly into pure sadness. Tears started to build up in her eyes for the first time ever since the national disaster.

The overwhelming Anxiety had reached a point where she was not able to move her body anymore and stood in a spot like petrified. She urged to say something, but she kept her mouth shut; she didn't want to make things worse. All she could do in this very moment was just to stare at him with pure fear and sadness, while cruel guilt roiled her heart; her heart ached as if it were impaled. A tear, after countless days have passed, ever since the Prophecy has finally slid down across her cheek. She was way too afraid to pay for the Sin she committed.

The Chief Justice, of course, didn't forget the Prophecy and Furina's betrayal; everything that had passed was for him like yesterday.

Chapter Text

More tears poured out of Furina's eyes as she and Neuvillette glared continuously at each other; she knew the day would come to pay Justice for her misdeeds. The Chief Judge has already shown a cold shoulder towards those who stand very close to him, and they weren't criminals, so why wouldn't he show a cold shoulder towards the Person who was once his Boss, a Criminal who abused the Archon's luxury and privileges for his own pleasure.. The white haired girl sank deeper into despair.

Furina summoned all of her remaining strength and attempted to run away, crying and sobbing. She slowly started to back up, taking steps backward in heavy breaths as her sight slowly blurred by her own tears.

"Lady Furina..."

The Voice with a strong sense of Justice has reached out for her once more and intimidates her to the Bone marrow, she could just faint from his voice alone and drop to the ground like a wet paper, waking up in restraints and shackles behind prison bars. Distrust and sadness left a visible mark on her face.

"Lady Furina...!!"

The Iudex's voice got louder and sharper, almost piercing the White haired Girl's heart like an arrow in the knee. Her body shakes in an almost uncontrollable manner, and it deteriorates her control over her shaky legs. The sense of reliving the Flood that once destroyed Fontaine's future was buried deep in her chest and mind.

"Furina..!!!"

The Iudex's voice sounded almost like a thunder, a flood that struck her directly and pulled her down into the depths of Primordial Horror, suffocating her once and for all.

Furina couldn't bear the dire reality of facing the consequences any longer and wanted to scream at the top of her lungs just like an ordinary human woman would do in the last seconds before Death. The anxiousness has reached its boiling point, unwillingly she shut her eyes before the plea. "Please don't seal me into the depths I BEG YOU!"

She screams with a distorted voice, and before she turned away to run, she tripped over uneven ground and fell backward. She even screwed her own escape right after bat as if she believed to escape a Being who could move faster than the speed of Sound.  Before she hit the ground, something prevented her from falling and hitting the ground with her back. For a few seconds, Furina thought that was it, the remains of her life just gone, but then she felt something warm stuck to her body while her feet were still touching the ground and her arms hanging down. Slowly, she opened her watery eyes and saw the Chief Judge standing there, an arm length away, caught her from falling to the ground. Nevertheless, her tremble didn't stop, and she definitely felt his palms resting on her back and hip. She was scared to death and confused to the point of disbelief. What is going on? She thought as next.

"I will never ever seal you away, there is no need to be scared.. Lady Furina.." The Iduex's voice suddenly shifts from thunderous echo to a gentle call.

It was an awkward and strange feeling. Furina didn't get it, since when is Neuvillette this touchy... loud her memories he always avoids physical contact, why now laying his hands on her, what's the purpose of this?. All her good and bad emotions were mixed like a Vortex, and she couldn't decide how to react. Her thoughts circled in circles in circles nonstop; her mind was broken, and she couldn't think properly anymore.

The Chief Judge lifted her back on shaky legs and wrapped his arms around her trembling body, leading straight to an embrace.

Furina couldn't even look at his face anymore as he tightened the hug to tenderize her suffer, still the fear dug way too deep inside her, she sees the Sun rising, catching her vision with warm light, touching her face half hidden behind his shoulder. It took a little while till her shiver faded into a calm breeze, which made her heart pound faster, and fear fades away slowly but surely.

What is this?... I don't get it... She closed her eyes halfway as the Sun heats up the Droplet-shaped irises, still unsure what is going on right now. What got into the Iudex's mind? What is this sudden warming change of event when she expects her own Verdict, her own punishment? She should have met consequences and not this.

Did Furina misjudge Neuvillette?? Did she misjudge her own Fate??  Her mind stirred in puzzled thoughts.

"Lady Furina.... do not fear... i have no intentions to punish you for anything..." Iudex's gentle voice caressed her ears as gently as the waves of the sea lapping against the shore, all while her vision remained at the rising Sun. A bit of peace finally rose, the anxiety in her heart to face Justice fades, and her heartbeat stabilizes. This made her jaw drop a little. This warm feeling felt foreign in her tortured life.

Neuvillette released the little Miss Furina from his hug and stepped back, returning to see her face and returning to his casual gesture, which even made him fluster a little. A very awkward but wholesome moment, and it was worth it to see her normalized state again, despite the dead look in her eyes. The Chief Judge's mind stirred in cycles, more questions after questions. He finally met the girl who caused the disappearance of Fontaine's people, but he did not bear anger or disappointment towards her. Instead, he felt joy to see her again, yet if only this meeting hadn't started up in such a painful situation. He could tell through his own eyes that Furina was clearly in poor condition, almost in a critical one; the shivering alone was more proof than enough for him to figure out she was not ready or wanted to meet him in the first place. Of course, she blames herself for the disappearance of the people of Fontaine and expects to be punished sincerely. Her despair and fear of seeing him after the disaster were quite natural.

The Iudex stepped back to face the calm Ocean beneath the Sun's dawn. "Do you remember Lady Furina?... This was the exact place where we first met, you gave me a letter from hand to hand, an Invitation to join the Court of Fontaine and become the Chief Judge, the Iudex Neuvillette i am today. I must really thank you.. You gave me value in my partial human life and i still haven't figured out how to repay you..." His gentle words traveled across the small distance between them.

Furina gazed at him with no expression and unchanged lifelessness in her eyes, listening to his words silently while her hand rested below her chin, her still blushy cheeks from the embrace felt almost like a burn on her face. "You are not mad at me?... not after what happened with Fontaine?.." An almost silent whisper escapes her lips as she keeps her gaze fixed on him. Confused and curious, she didn't changed her gesture, her heart imperceptibly beat a little bit faster.

Iudex turned back to meet her lifeless eyes again, which kinda pissed him off a bit. He was quiet and was thinking for a moment.

"I don't.... actually i do also feel guilty, Lady Furina.. as the Sovereign of the Waters and Chief Judge of Fontaine at the same time, it was well within my responsibilities as well to take care of the Primal Force such as Primordeal Water, but i didn't... I was sleeping deeply because of the tiring daily work, and i didn't notice the way the Flood broke into our land. When i woke up, it was already too late, the City was already beneath the water with no humans left... including you... i have searched everywhere, but i couldn't find you.... i believed the flood took you too, and so i decided to return to the Ocean with all the Melusines."

His voice was almost distorted from the pain during his speech. "But here you are..... in front of me.... alive.." 

The Iudex couldn't picture out what the little woman was doing after the Flood had reseeded. She was utterly alone; the loneliness she must have felt was probably unforgivable. He drove his sharp sight carefully at her from feet to the antenna hair strain at top her head once more. The stench of dry blood was sticking to her shredded clothes. Poor thing must have gone through cruel encounters with other humans or perhaps even worse, Monsters; she had to defend herself this whole time, suffering from physical injuries. Neuvillette felt something he hadn't felt since the Old World. Wrath stirred deep in his chest.

"I will return to the city now, have a nice day, Mister Iudex.." Furina was still unsure how to react or speak; her emotions were all over the place, walking away from the Chief Justice as soon as she cut off eye contact with him. Her thoughts were now distorted, and she honestly didn't want to disturb the Hydro Dragon. Furina took the path back to the City with her hand still resting below her chin, and her blushy cheeks still burned on her face. She could not disencrypt this feeling; this was something completely new to her, her thoughts went almost crazy in circles trying to comprehend what had just happened.

The road back to the city was long. Furina didn't hurry. Why even? She has all the time to return to her dusty, messed-up room, well, as long as Palais Mermonia doesn't fall apart entirely, she could still live there.

Not knowing the Iudex was right behind and following his Ex-Boss from a certain distance. It didn't take long for Furina to notice her follower. She stops at a spot and looks back over her shoulder right at him with wondrous eyes, in which Neuvillette also stops on the spot, just in case to leave some space for her. She didn't react any further since she was too busy calming down her mind from all the stormy thoughts and chaotic emotions. As she continued to walk without opening her mouth to say something, she didn't even blink, lol.

A morning breeze followed them both; the scent of meadows, trees, and flowers was wonderful, although Furina felt sleepy. The sudden reunion with her old ex-colleagues had robbed her of much of her strength. Her eyes wanted to rest as well, but she kept reopening them like Jessss lemme go back to my bed first.

On the way back to her bed, another strong wind blows which again throws her almost off of her feets but she didn't had the strength to catch herself from the fall like the last time and landed into a pair of arms again, she looked up, Neuvillette, she blushed again, she could feel his breath on her face, he was much closer this time than last time like as if he intendet to ki-

"Ohohoh... Bonjour, you two, taking a little walk over here? ehe... " Shouts out a strange Person.

Neuvillette helped the little maiden to get back on her legs, and both glared at the mysterious Person sitting on a Branch with a half-empty bottle of wine and a thing that looked like a lyre.

"Ehehehahaha...." This Person laughed like a drunktard as he seemed. He plays the lyre, creating a tune from mere notes to almost a whole piece of music. This was likely his art of a way to greet somebody before he gazed back at the sweet Pair.

Furina was to tired to greet back, and simply went ahead. Without any response to the mysterious Figure in green-white clothes, Neuvillette simply continued to follow Furina.

The Drunktard took another sip from the wine bottle. He swipes swiftly with his fingers over the strings and creates a wind with sheer force, sending it towards the white haired girl, launching her to absurd highs. The Drunktard watched with pleasure the way Neuvillette moved swiftly to catch Furina from a serious impact with the sturdy ground and enjoyed the lovely scene.

Out of little panic, the scared Furina opens her eyes widely as she finds herself being held by Iudex like a Princess. Her lips parted, her heart began to pound a bit faster, she was flustered but blushed again. This was a bit way too close, but she couldn't deny loving this warmth. She truly felt like she was back before the Prophecy, lying in her bed and cuddling with her fluffy blanket. It felt too good to be true, but was this truly the reality she was now in? The warm feeling which she still couldn't disencrypt yet stirred in her chest once again and slowly closed her eyes shut, submitting herself to this very new feeling, not as if she truly loves it, but it felt too great to ignore it.

"You'd better leave, we are not in the right mood to play after your tunes, Barb!" The Sovereign of the Waters spoke with a serious tone in his voice and glared back with narrowed eyes, the sharp sight of the Hydro Dragon's slit eyes could cut steel if he really wanted thou, but the mysterious Person was already gone. His sharp sight swiftly scanned the entire area around him, but the Drunktard was nowhere to be seen or sensed. The Dragon calmed down, he turned his watchful eyes back to Furina, still holding her in his arms to release her back on her legs, but she had already fallen asleep with her head resting on his chest.

"............" A truly strange situation for the Hydro Dragon. As she's now asleep in his arms, he simply can not put her back out on the street; he has to carry her all the way to Mermonia back to her room, where she probably still lives. The Chief Judge shakes his head, sighs, and lets out an annoyed growl, not knowing the Bard watched them from afar.

Just as he thought, nothing changed, but it looked worse than before. The Hydro Dragon returns like a soldier back to the City of Fontaine. The air is dry and smells of rotten food. This Ruin. He didn't want to come back here; it is not his cup of tea to live in Ruins on land. He hates this place. Unfortunately, he has no hands free to use the Lift as he didn't want to wake up the white haired girl; she looked so cute when she slept on his arms. So he simply uses his powers to levitate to the upper levels where Palais Mermonia stands.

Slowly, he approached the Archon's abode. It had been a long time since he had been here. All the hard paperwork he did for Fontaine, all the courts he sustained, all of it destroyed within a single day. Nothing but a mere memory now.

Palais Mermonia, which was once magnificent, now stands as a mere ruin, dysfunctional and riddled with stuff. A disgusting look, the Hydro Dragon would rather stay underwater than be back here again, but he is still here again... for her.

This Ruin is her home....

He could have simply given Furina the ability to breathe underwater, but whether she would agree to live underwater... with him... was another questionable story. He walked across the main hall, the mess... this insulted his senses.... his eyes wanted to bleed from the way alone the inside of Mermonia looked like. He lowered his eyebrow while lifting a corner of his upper lip, revealing his teeth; the anger boiled almost over his mind. The disgust, the stench, the mess scattered everywhere, he would like to tear this shitty building down from the ground and bury it on the seabed.

But this shitty building, the Hydro Dragon would love to reduce it down to Atoms, is the building she currently lives in. He clenched his eyes before he continued up the staircase and went all the way up to the etage where her living room was supposed to be. At least the doors were still in their place. He already had no desire to go in there, judging by the overall condition of Palais Mermonia, Furina's room should be no less tidy.

It is just as he thought, a pity she lives here nowadays. How far did her mind break into pieces to leave this room in such a pathetic condition? His brain starts to ache; he hates it. "You are sleeping in this dusty clutter..... Furina?.."

As if things weren't bad enough, before he could lay the white haired girl on her bed, Iudex noticed a large puddle of dried blood on the floor, like what the fuck is this bullcrap. He immediately went back outside. There is no fucking way he would leave her in this grotesque room. The air outside was much cleaner, at least.

The Hydro Dragon took a place to sit on the bare ground and rested with his back to a wall while keeping Furina in his arms. He felt an incredible pity for her that it almost hurt his own being. She was here all alone the whole goddamn time shortly after he left. He gritted his teeth in rage, nearly driving him into madness and washing away his bad mood in his mind in which it almost made him feel guilty.

Does Furina still consider him as friend or something alike after he fucked off of the city so easily, leaving her in dust and rubble??. His mind ached from this horrible discovery. He took his hand off of her hips to see what was on his palm, "Just what exactly happened... she should be utterly dead and yet she's still alive somehow... what kind of God's work was that.. just what the hell went wrong and why.... i don't get it."

The Hydro Dragon always took a glimpse into her emotions during her time as the Hydro Archon; he could always tell about her daily mood, whether it was bad or good, for proper engagement. The fact that Furina always felt bad despite putting a smile on her face every day...

Now this time it's just different, the Hydro Dragon cannot look into her emotions anymore not even if he uses the Hydro affinity on its full capacity. He simply can't, why he wonders. What happened to Furina during the Flood before he magically met her again on the beach? He looked up to the sky, the dry air bothered him, he cast a hydro hocus pocus as a shiny blue light burst out from his palm to summon a few rainy clouds. Let some Rain wash the ground of this city. Let the Rain get rid of the bad smell. He placed his hand back on her hips and cast a hydro shield to block the rain over Furina to make sure she doesn't get soaked.

"Heheh.. you really look adorable with the girl in your arms... Monsieur Neuvillette" Sedene just came by and seemed happy when she saw Furina again. The Hydro Dragon was always pleased whenever a Melusine was nearby, with a happy smile, he greeted Sedene as she approached Furina closely and looked straight at her face.

The cheerful Melusine became quickly saddened when she sensed a bottomless grief within Furina. Neuvillette noticed the sudden mood change in the Melusine in an instant, which leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. He clearly didn't like it, and not only that, the Sovereign of the Water absolutely despises it whenever a Melusine gets sad, and Furina was Sedene's best human friend ever.

"It will be alright, do not worry, Sedene." Mentions the Hydro Dragon as he keeps his eyes shut and stirs in his mind about what to do with Furina, the healing process will be aggravatingly hard. Nonetheless, the Iudex also wondered if this had some specific reason why Furina returned after the Prophecy passed by, who knows, perhaps there was no reason he thought.

Seden watched the Hydro Dragon first for a moment before turning her sight back to the white haired girl in Dragon's care and forced a smile on herself.

Soon, a few other Melusines joined the cute Hydro Dragon, cuddling with the human Girl and giggling around him. He shut his eyes for a moment as he felt a bit embarrassed.

Chapter Text

The Sun's resplendence fell through the window softly with a gentle warmth on the surface of the girl's face. The familiarity as she moved her hand between the surfaces of silky fabrics. Memories of the past good old times caressed her senses, the clean air filled her lungs like a glide through morning clouds and no trace of the nausea that plagued her every morning.

Furina woke up in her bed like every day and was tired of sleeping in the same spot for an eternity. She opens her eyes and realizes the shifted atmosphere, the dust is gone, the air is just as clean as a cloudless sky, and her bed was clean like a diamond. The whole room was surprisingly clean, and all the junk had been removed; she felt like she had fallen deeply into a blessed dream. Strange, now she thought about it, who in the world took care of her room?

Good times that existed only when she was still the Allmighty Hydro Archon of Fontaine, or maybe not? That was like a Year ago or two Years, or even three Years, the white haired girl didn't count the number of days since the ruins with which she was surrounded, looking just the same as every day. Her current life felt like Time itself had stopped.

All these Days and Nights shifts felt like countless Lights and the Stage being turned on and off again and again and again and again and again. Furina clenched her teeth in frustration and realized she could possibly never be able to escape this dreadfull nightmare, a scream nearly bursts out through her throat. Her face shifted straight into a mess of sadness as every day.

The Ex Hydro Archon pushed the blanket aside and saw herself dressed in pajamas, like how?! Did somebody care for her? If yes, then who? Neuvillette himself? Unpleasant pictures about her and Neuvillette in gentle touch traversed through her mind, and she felt immediately embarrassed; dizziness tugged her mind flat.

She jumped from the bed like a drunken cat, tripped by the blanket and fell face-first, bumping her knee against the marble floor, but she didn't mind the cute little pain though; instead, she liked it. Pain, a memory of her still being alive, more or less. But just how awkward could this morning be? She was displeased and pleased at the same time. Nonetheless, she went to the window to look outside, and her lips parted shortly after.

Melusine wandering around and cleaning up the streets around Palais Mermonia, Furina has never seen so many of them. Where did they all come from? Did Neuvillette brought them all here? And far ahead at the edge of the wall, there the hydro Dragon stood, gazing down at the residential area.

A few thumpy footsteps went into the room. "Good Morning, Miss Furina."

And immediately echoed a greed through the room, a very familiar soft voice tickled her ears. Furina turned her gaze from the windows to look over her shoulder and see who it was. Brown hair followed by violet eyes, a small figure approached her, a figure she hadn't seen for the same amount of time as her people. Furina almost felt joy at seeing her old friend back again as she desperately tried to put a smile on her face. She runs to the figure and kneels in front of it to adjust the body size evenly.

"Sedene..... heh.. long time no see right.." Furina couldn't believe meeting her again, her lovely little Melusine friend and immediately reminded her of good old times.

The Melusine recoiled as the human girl came closer; this felt almost like a nightmare. This... fake smile below the lifeless human eyes, it just felt wrong and creepy as hell when Sedene's senses slipped into Furina's being. This Melusine could not smile in return but rather step away in disbelief; a chill rose on her back. This human girl was yesterday in a pleased mood, but today, there were no traces left of her joy, but an Ocean of the worst feelings she ever had.

"Miss Furina... are you really alright?" With a shaky voice, Sedene widened her eyes after she asked the human girl in a way as if she was talking to a corpse. She uses her senses again to confirm she didn't accidentally go through her worst emotions, but it was the cruel truth. This young Lady was far far far from being well.

Sedene felt the urge to run back to the Hydro Dragon and report to him about the bizarre discovery asap. "Heh.. I just wanted to see if everything was alright here, because i heard a weird thumping in your room. Please take a rest and do not worry about cleaning up your place, I and other Melusines will take over it." The Melusine turned away and ran immediately off with a bitter face, leaving the Ex Hydro Archon alone again.

Funny, Furina never thought about cleaning up anything; she sees her life as ruined, just like the ruins of Fontaine. She stood up on her bare feet, and the emptiness swallowed her face as always. This Melusine was cheerful, acting as if she had been with her for weeks, which made her give Sedene a simple hug for this little reunion but the Melusine was already out of reach. She went back to the window to look outside again and empty her thoughts. The colors of brown and green fell straight into her gaze, Sedene. She watched the little Melusine running towards Neuvillette and telling him things.

What were they talking about? Furina thought after she closed her lifeless eyes for a moment before returning to her bed to lie down. She stares at the ceiling again, staring at it all around the clock forever if it has to be, the Melusines would take all the care for her, wouldn't they? She turned her gaze towards a particular spot, and strangely, it wasn't there anymore, a specific piece of furniture. A cold shiver ran through her back as more sadness and sorrows built up in her heart.

Was Mirror Me now gone forever? Even if Mirror Me had died, wouldn't the Curse stop functioning? But the Curse is still here with her, which means Mirror Me is still alive? And if Mirror Me was still alive, why doesn't she respond to Furina's plea, maybe because she is sincerely disappointed and mad at not being able to fulfill her own part to defy the Prophecy?

"Where?.... where is the Mirror?..." Her voice fades into a mere whisper just like before, her lips felt almost frozen, she was losing everything piece by piece as time passed, it hurts, it burns, but who was she to complain about it, she is a criminal after all, who committed mass murder in on go as a price for satisfying her own desire. All that was left for the timeless human Girl is to accept the reality she lives in.

"It was broken and of no use, so we removed it." Responded a voice right to her silent question. The Hydro Dragon just came into her room and saw her lying on the bed in her lifelessness again. Gazing at the broken presence of the Lady felt like a deep punch in the gut. The more time he spends with Furina in this given freedom, the more he hates seeing her this heavily unhappy.

The Sovereign of the Waters would break the Heaven to make her happy again; he would freeze the Ocean to see her smile again, just like from his past memories, slowly covered by the sadness of her crumbling well-being.

This Morning, he was supposed to feel better after a joyful reunion with his most known human Person, this one special Human Being who stood far closer to him than any other human in this world. Even Vautrin, a human person he had long ago developed trust and empathy for, was a mere joke compared to this young Lady.

He hugged her, he gave her warmth, he gave her a sense of home, he carried her all the way back to her living room, and she knew and felt the warmth to the bottom of her heart. She seems not to remember all of the given warmth anymore, like a candle's flickering flame vanquished by a sudden wind's blow. His mind was tangled in puzzles and ruthless thoughts again, and a sense of ruin covered his heart.

Furina looked at him for a second before she turned away again, which got his mood chewed in discomfort even further since she never did this in the past five centuries. It was a completely new bitter experience, which he immediately despises.

"Lady Furina.. Is something wrong with it?" He asked Furina gently with a shaky voice.

"This mirror.... was special to me... It's a pain that it has been removed." Furina's voice sinks in distortion.

Her broken voice felt like a tremendous volcanic heat from Natlan, drying out every sea and ocean around him. The Hydro Dragon did not really understand what she meant by Special but it caused more questions overlaying other questions. Did he just tear a much bigger hole in her heart by removing this special furniture?

He could punch himself for that. How could he make decisions, removing stuff without even asking her about that, not as if she wouldn't mind it anyway, but still. The Dragon's face soured as he remembered that humans can develop a particular bond with objects, and on the other hand, he understood the purpose of what she meant by Special. The mirror should still be somewhere in a storeroom.

Furina turned back towards him, sat on the bed edge while resting her hands on her thighs and piercing his gaze with her lifeless eyes. The Hydro Dragon stumbled back. He could not stand this emptiness in her eyes, but what could he do about that? What could he do now for her after what he heard from Sedene? His mind circled around puzzled thoughts. Is there anything that could be done to erase this emptiness from her being, knowing Justice would do nothing here, but just what, answering questions with questions?

Furina clearly spent too much time alone and felt incredibly lonely after the national disaster, detorieting her already broken being much further to a point her mind became almost incurable. The only thing that keeps her alive... is the Curse... of course. She has fallen into an Ocean of Loneliness, Sorrows and Guilt long ago. Neuvillette was truly worried about her, but he was not helpless, at least not now. The only way to cure her mind is to stay here with her, to give her the sense of ...Family, may this pull her back from her dive into the void. Neuvillette could only assume what to do and pray it would work out somehow.

"Mister Iudex... why did you stay here with me if you could just return to the Ocean, you would be better there than here with me. I have nothing to offer..." The little Lady's voice became a mere whisper as she lowered her head, loosing a tear to slide down her cheek and stared at the floor beneath her feet. This question of hers felt almost like a backstab, he startled.

Nothing to offer.

This sounded almost as if Furina doesn't value herself anymore. She wants to be abandoned just to rot alone. Does she blame herself for the disappearance of the people of Fontaine so much that she doesn't even want to live anymore? The Guilt and Blame have dug way too deep into her being, leaving a huge trace of Devastation which could last for Eons and worsen over time.

Neuvillette lost almost his balance of bitter thoughts rushing through his mind, a deep pain stirred in his chest. Not only has Fontaine died, but apparently, he was about to lose Furina as well. Surely it won't be fun to talk to a corpse. Her question hits him like a scorching comet.

It was all way too bitter for the Hydro Dragon; this is not the Furina de Fontaine he once knew. It felt like she was entirely somebody else, a reality he wanted to wash away with a beam of water.

Many dark clouds have gathered together, swallowing the crystal clear sky and unleashing Heavy Rain. A Rain that covers every corner of the city and beyond the walls, turning Poisson into an Aquarium.

The Melusines outside became unsettled and could only think of one thing.

Is the Hydro Dragon crying again?

Shortly after, Sedene rushed into Furina's room in a panic to see what the hell was going on. Furina is just sitting on the bed edge with a hanging head, and Neuvillette is just standing motionless. The greenish Melusine nudged Iudex's leg. "Monsieur Neuvillette?... are you alright?" 

"Bring back Furina's mirror, which you removed." The Hydro Dragon gave an Order.

The Melusine did not waste a second to get the Mirror back and placed it back on the spot where it once was. Brocken with holes and many cracks on its surface, shaping many sharp edges, this Mirror was barely usable.

"Monsieur Neuvillette....?" The cherishing and cute voice of Sedene reached out for him again and could always make him smile, but now he does not respond this time, and his face remained in silent discomfort.

"Miss Furina....?" Sedene turned to Furina and sensed her well-being to be much worse than it had been the last time. She came closer, sounding desperate as she tried to ease Furina's sadness. But she managed only to make her own tears to pour out of her eyes.

Furina opened her lifeless eyes again and gazed at the centuries-old mirror, the only thing in her room that she never replaced it like all other furniture. Even Melusines always wondered why the once called Hydro Archon never removed it or replaced it with a newer mirror.

Furina stood up and walked straight to the mirror without giving any attention to Neuvilllette or the few Melusine in the room. She kneeled before placing both her palms and forehead on the mirror, sliding slightly down, cutting her skin on palms, fingers and forehead by the sharp edges of the shards. Blood slides down, creating a horror show.

Neuvillette's eyes pained just by looking at it.

"Leave.... There is nothing here.... " A whispering voice left the young Lady's lips as she rested at the broken mirror like a lonely, silent wind above a stagnant lake.

Neuvillette's eyes trembled in disbelief, and shocked by this unhealthy scene. What got into the girl's mind to be like this? Has she fallen into her own darkness to a point where she doesn't recognize our presence anymore? It is easier to fall from the wall than to climb to the top. He couldn't picture the grade of deterioration she went into, but he surely figured out this was not an Act; it was real.

The Actress, the bright star of Fontaine, died as the Hydro Archon long time ago. This here is the Furina he'd never known to exist, a broken being, a lost child, a torn Soul which could never get to bloom and covered by freezing snow, sitting here crushed and impaled by Guilt and Grief.

The Hydro Dragon was never worried about Furina this much.

Sedene couldn't believe her own eyes either. Just what exactly happened to her to be this broken within, this Furina was unrecognizable. "Furina.. please don't be this sad... you don't have to.. we are here now with you.. you don't have to feel alone and lonely anymore, and we won't leave you, we promise!" The Melusine tried in rising despair to comfort the little Lady with words unsuccessful; those words quickly vanished in the dark pits of the Lady's Sorrows.

Furina tilted a bit away from the mirror, showing them a few cuts on her face and stared for a moment at the saddened Melusine, who ended up hugging her waist and crying her pajama wet.

Do Humans with Families always hug each other in comfort whenever they feel bad and alleviate their sorrows? This sight of these two made the Hydro Dragon feel a bit outleft. "If there is anything you want, anything that could make you feel better, go ahead and ask. Go for it, no hesitations... Lady Furina" The Hydro Dragon gave her basically a free wish.

A wish for the broken Soul, for the sake of Furina's well-being. She doesn't need politics, courts or laws anymore; what she needs now is somebody at her side to lift her from the disastrous weights of her past burden, and he saw himself at this spot, thoughts circled in his mind.

Furina stared with a trace of blood on her face at him without any motion, showing a tiny bit of interest in his offering. Neuvillette was terrified of a simple self-harm the Lady could do to herself, yet she didn't even react to the cuts and blood, but he sensed a tiny change in her eyes. Did he potentially awaken something within her?

"He's right, Miss Furina... if there's truly something you want, then ask us." Soon, the Melusine released Furina from her hug and stepped back to give the Lady some space, while a few other Melusines stood in the room like the Audience.

Furina was a bit lost in her mind and stood up after long, calm thinking, placing her bloody hand on the pajama fabric above her heart. "Anything i want..." A quiet whisper passed her lips as she stared between Neuvillette and Melusines. She starts to move slowly towards the Hydro Dragon.

Every Melusine in the room has widened their eyes when the situation has turned into a very sweet moment.

The Ex Hydro Archon Furina grabbed onto the Hydro Dragon in a sense of homesickness and wrapped her arms around his torso, buried her hands in his hair and pressed her face against his chest. She tightened her grip around him, rubbed her face against him and smeared the bloodstain on his coat.

A spark of hope and blissful warmth stirred deep in the heart of the Ex Hydro Archon; a delightful heat built up in her chest. Slowly drawing her from the deep darkness of the void's ocean, flowing her toward the light, breaking one of the many chains of despair and loosening some of the imaginary shackles from her wrists and ankles.

The young Lady snapped back from her lonely demise and found herself in this sweet moment; she blushed all over her face. A moment she could only wish to come true, and now here the wish actually came true. Her eyes raised up to meet Dragon's eyes as her lips parted to release some heated breath, her arms ached from the hug, and she loosened her grip, her lips smiled unconsciously...

It was obvious that a human would go for a hug, her first own hug the little Lady could have after centuries of uncertain struggle and suffering, centuries of isolation over centuries away, her heart must have run icy cold.

The Hydro Dragon was flustered for a few seconds and felt weird. This smile she shows was no different from the one she had last time when he carried her since their reunion at the beach. Would this little warmth of her own hug last long enough in a frozen lake before she slumps down into the sorrowful void again? He stared for a moment into her droplet-shaped iris's nothingness and unexpectedly grabbed her by the back and thighs, lifted her up, so she could be a princess again. His princess, like she had been once before.

He tightens his grip as if he were holding his treasure in his claws, his treasure, she was his treasure, his own alone, tightly in his grip, like a Dragon keeping a pearl and never letting go, never. This was his now, his treasure, Furina, his Furina, his little humanoid Pearl.

Her heart stroked faster, she felt embarrassed, but Furina could not avoid this Heaven's given moment, rather she pressed her face hard into his chest, did she maybe wish too much? Just a wish but she already loved this so much. Her cheeks blushed even stronger the deeper she scumbed to the wonderful embrace.

"I honestly never expected you to be this kind, Neuvillette, but thank you for holding me this high." A serene voice passed Furina's lips with a warm air that heated up the clothes on his chest, her heart was literally melting. Nothing Neuvillette could ever miss. Her gentle voice was music in his ears.

No words were needed this time, but a simple move. The Hydro Dragon found another way to calm his own sadness.

The Rain vanishes slowly.

Sedene noticed the positive change in Furina's mood and could calm herself down. The Melusine felt relief as the anxiety in her heart retreated after seeing her human friend internally less depressed.

Now the Hydro stood there with his little Lady in his arms, with newly founded reason to stay on the land, a reason to return to Hollowed Fontaine. The ex-Chief Judge pressed her body tightly to his chest to confirm her bodywarm and there was no mistake; he felt her heartbeat. She wasn't dead, just slumbering deeply, and it would be time to wake her up. If there was anything valuable from the Human World to claim for his own treasure's hoard after he traversed once as the Chief Judge' Iudex Neuvillette, it would surely be this little white haired Lady.

Sedene stood by, watched them in amusement at Nuveillette's old, determined expression written on his face like in old days and giggled as she gazed with glittering eyes at the pretty, cute lady when she rested her blushed face on the Dragon's chest again and pictured them as a Family. Another giggle left her side.

"What's there so funny?" Neuvillette asked with a more serious tone.

All other Melusines in the room have understood Sedene's giggle, and soon, more giggles filled the room. Neuvillette flustered.

After a few days, Furina rested in her fresh room, having at least two Melusine for small talk, for the sake of her well-being. Sedene went on to find new clothes for the Lady; her old Archon Suit was nothing more worthy but to be used as a cleaning rag. Since Furina never really shared about her taste for clothes, Sedene had to decide for herself what clothes the Lady should wear and found a white short dress, which she found in her performance belongings, which she thought would fit her.

Either way, it was a long way to rebuild Palais Mermonia, which was mostly cleaned up but still far from over. Some important rooms of Palais were turned into a storeroom to keep some usable clutter. The main hall was completely emptied, redecorated to make it look more like a living room than anything it was before. The former government building Palais Mermonia was completely converted into a Residence, while the residential area below slowly decayed.

The less depressed Lady in white finally came out of her newly shaped private room. Furina had to move on. She realized that sticking to the past was pointless. If Mirror Me decides not to talk to her anymore, then there was no use for this broken piece of furniture, so she decided to trash the Mirror out of her room once and for all. Their new Residence, where Palais Mermonia once stood, after Furina was spending days and weeks inside the building for the sake of her well-being and helping sometimes Melusines to rebuild their new abode.

Furina still couldn't get the burning warmth off her chest after the lovely cuddle with Neuvillette. She finally took a proper step out of the new Residence and came across Neuvillette, who stood at the edge of a wall staring down to the residential area again. The sound of light footsteps draws his attention immediately.

"Hello, Lady Furina, it took quite a while for you to step outside, i was waiting for you to give you another little gift." Neuvillette didn't waste a second to greet the young Lady; he was stunned to see the young lady in a new white dress, which made his lips smile.

The young Lady waves back to him. There was still some traces of lifelessness on her face left but the Hydro Dragon didn't bother, no need to ruin this sunny day but his mind still stirred in fear, when is it gona happen again? to know about her tendency for self-harm, just like with the mirro,r was something that would remain in his mind for a very long time.

"Another little gift?? N-now, w-what is it??" Furina sounded curious, resting a hand on her heart and wondering what it could be this time, another hug?

"Palais Mermonia sounds a bit outdated in these new circumstances, i give you all the honor to give our Residence a new Name"

Furina was touched by another gift, it was like a holy day. Renaming their new abode, a new name, and the choice was all hers. A choice that she could take from the bottom of her heart without being forced. She turned towards Palais Mermonia in a new form, took a deep breath, and thought long and hard.

"Fontaine à Souhaits" Furina smiled after she gave their Residence a new name, a name that would last for eternity.

"Fontaine à Souhaits......" Neuvillette repeated the name in a cheerful tone, feeling as if he were floating in a calm, sunny, crystal-clear ocean.

"But.. you are not going to leave me anymore.. or..?" With a hint of doubt in her voice, the young lady asked with a sad look and a gentle tone.

"Do not worry, Lady Furina, i won't leave you anymore like i did last time." Neuvillette assured Furina with a gentle smile.

The young Lady took a calm breath; no fear was needed to draw the day. She closed her eyes in relief when she nodded.

"Now then, I wanted to go to Opera Epiclese, there are a few things to check out, and I'll return in no time, Lady Furina, enjoy the day."

"Thanks, but it's alright, Neuvillette, take your time. I wanted to take a little walk around our new abode." Furina retorted with a gentle voice and gave a smile before she went across the streets around Fontaine à Souhaits, enjoying the fresh day.

Fontaine was now past even despite the massive loss. A great Misfortune plagued the land, and what was left was is to take the Future that now stands open for them. Furina took a little walk, seeing Melusines playing around. The sky with clouds (thanks to Neuvillette) was a wonderful picture, the air was fresh again, and the dryness was gone. The Day's heat was no more, but a calm breeze on her skin.

Furina heard a little weird laughter. She stopped after something weird fell into her sight, a Figure in green white clothes, had she seen it somewhere? Now she remembers a bit while crossing her arms.

"You.... are the Drunktard from before, right?" Furina sounded already annoyed, the creep who launched her into deadly heights, she assumed.

"Eheh.... just call me Venti, my apologies for the weirdness back then at the forest, now then i see you are finally free huh..? I have here a bottle of wine for you as an apology, maybe you'll join me for a drink? nothing personal"

Noisy wind is circling constantly around the Barb like a tiny tornado.

Furina could feel the fresh wind swirling around her body and making her short hair float. What is this sense, it felt like she was about to be dragged up to the sky in a soft manner; her thoughts circled as her expression remained empty.

Furina stared with less lifeless eyes at the Barb, making him shudder back a bit. "No thanks, I have currently different worries, maybe later."

The Barb glanced at her in amusement as he shook the wine bottle a bit.

What is the creep up to again, Furina thought, now Neuvillette ain't here in case to catch her if he launches her into the sky again, but does it matter anyway? If she could survive an impaled heart and a devastating blow from a Fatui then what could a mere fall from the sky do?. She came closer to the creep and accepted the apology after she reached her hand towards him like GIMME! While she stared at him suspiciously.

Barb was sober and calm, he slowly floated about an inch above the ground towards Furina and placed the bottle in her palm. Slowly and gently, he released his grip on the bottleneck. Retreating his hand back without a sense of causing a Storm after the Calm.

So far so good, nothing has exploded either. Furina stirred in her mind after looking at him, after she secured her grip on the bottle with both hands.

"Alright, glad you accepted but i'll have to go now, seeya" The Barb gave a quick smirk and flew off like a scared Pigeon. It took a moment till he was out of sight.

"Seeya too..."

Perhaps the creep was not all that bad as he appeared the first time. However, Furina was stunned at his ability to fly all without wings or anything else and the sheer speed to vanish in the distance so quickly. After a moment had passed, she stood in a spot to think about who he was and what he was doing here. She has never seen anybody like him, for once and before, where did he come from? Another nation, and if yes, then why? She was lost in her mind.

Time passed like on a flight. Furina pulled herself out of her thoughts as soon as a familiar pixel of hair color caught her gaze. She didn't think long and moved her legs quickly to see who was there now.

Two Melusine, Serene and Sedile, walked randomly towards her, followed by a Human Woman.

Furina stopped immediately at the spot the moment she saw them with a Human Women. Her breath became heavier, her face turned slightly sad again, and she almost let a tear loose.

Those dark Violet hair in long shape, clothed in Liyue style, the Human Women had noticed the Lady in a white dress and droplet-shaped iris below white hair too and paused her walk. Violet's sharp gaze fixed on the young Lady. Furina almost lost a tear out of confusion, relief, fear, guilt, and sadness.

"C-Clorinde???.... h-How?" Furina remembers her too well, her lips almost trembled from calling her name, her heart stopped for a second, followed by a sheer cold shiver went straight through her spine in pure disbelief. She rubbed fiercely her eyes and looked again, there was no mistake, this Woman should not be alive.

Chapter Text

A dungeon torch rarely burns longer than it needs to guide a person through the dark path; the Dragon's Lady was lost in disbelief. Like a miracle's work, where did Clorinde come from all of a sudden? She came closer and circled around her to take a closer look. Her old friend, her lost bodyguard, vanished like all other citizens, but she's here in front of her, alive in front of her. Clorinde should not be alive after what happened to Fontaine, she was convinced. She suffered sincerely after the disaster just to see her ex-bodyguard pop up here without any explanation. What kind of cruel joke is that? Furina's thoughts circled ruthlessly, her irises trembled like a flickering flame.

"Miss Furina?.. heh.. good morning."  Sedile greets cheerfully. "We were down there to check out Aquabus as suddenly Clorinde came across our way."

"Hello... Miss Furina..."  Clorinde casually greets her Ex-Boss, after she rested her hand on her heart and smiled in serenity. She was almost unrecognizable by her peaceful voice.

"Clorinde... Is that really you?" Confused and insecure, Furina tilted her head as she asked with doubts on her lips. Just in case, she pokes her ex-bodyguard a few times on the face, shoulder and on the back just to confirm she is not a ghost.

Usually, Clorinde always gets a bit angry when Furina teases her, but this time she was calm and wasn't bothered by Furina's silly behavior; rather, she liked it. It was like she was still scared to death from the flood and tried not to blow in panic or anger. She could assume her ex-boss was very surprised to see her again.

"It's me, Miss Furina, no need to be so doubtf-"  Before Clorinde could finish her line, her ex-boss suddenly jumped giggling on her. 

Furina was so sorry for her disappearance that she forgot for a moment who Clorinde even was. She hugged her like a lost Sister returns, the relief was heavy and almost unbearable. The Dragon Lady hugged and tightened her grip around her torso, and almost choked the violet-haired Woman.

"Fu..rina, please.. i can't... breathe!" Clorinde had to use some strength to tear Furina off her by grabbing at the cloth behind her neck like she would do it with a naughty cat, literally holding Furina with one arm in midair and was still a bit surprised by the immense strength of the petite white-haired little Lady. Typical.. The Furina was still somehow the same, a bit childish. She couldn't celebrate this little reunion either, as she sensed the lifelessness on Furina's face; this sight was horrible.

Clorinde's mind vanished for a moment in her thoughts. I could not find her. Did she returned to Fontaine after Neuvillette returned to his ocean when he couldn't find her? My god.. she was here all alone. Her thoughts sank even deeper into despair about Furina's health and mind.

It took quite a moment for the ex-champion to realize Furina's shattered being. The one who suffered the most due to the Prophecy was none other than Furina herself. The ex-champion tried not to break down in sadness for the sake of not ruining the mood of the day.

"I'm happy to see you too, Miss Furina." A gentle smirk passed her lips. The ex-champion of Fontaine was pleased to see that not everything was lost to the damn Flood while resting her hand on her heart. She observes Furina's blank expression, assumes Furina still has some questions and puts her back on the ground.

"I assumed you were..... anyway, where were you?" Furina asked with a glimpse of worry in her voice.

"I was surprised by myself when i woked up at Liyues shore, all i remember after the Flood ripped me apart, it was Neuvillette who brought me back, my body was still stiff like wood when i was laying nearby him, he told me to seek a shelter at the Liyues port, he has already provided a hotel room for me and told me there was no point to return to the ruins of Fontaine"

Clorinde chanted cheerfully. She was way calmer than in her old days as the Champion of Fontaine; she sounded almost like a different Person.

Furina didn't mind the change as she closed her eyes as she enjoyed Clorinde's return, an old friend's return. She was not the only human Fontainer left; she soon felt the sensation that the family might grow bigger with a new face among them, if only there were more survivors. Furina felt the urge to run back to Neuvillette and ask him how he brought Clorinde back and if there were also others whom he had saved.

Furina gazed in mysterious imaginarity at Clorinde. "But why exactly did you come back here? Did somebody told you about me??"  She asked gently after she formed a doubtful smile. What is the exact reason for Clorindes' return after so much time has passed, when Furina was clearly the whole time here, did she had no interest in Fontaine after the folk was washed away? The Dragon Lady saddened a bit.

"Not directly, i heard it from two Sumeran travelers who passed by and phrased about Fontaine and the Hydro Archon stuff, so my guts told me to go back to Fontaine and see for myself what they talked about. Now that I'm here, i don't see any point in returning to the hotel. Miss Furina, it fills me with joy to see Fontaine was not entirely lost."

Clorinde sounds peaceful as she watches with curiosity at all the bunch of Melusines wandering around a strange Building where Palais once stood, wondering if they turned Palais into a Residence as much as it looks like.

"Two Sumerans?.... Sumeru... Kusanali.. Nahida... the Forest.. Answers..." A weird whispering escapes her mouth. The Dragon Lady's mind was sunk swiftly in deep thoughts, remembering she wanted to go to Sumeru out of an important matter, a reason which she had to leave this broken ruin. This Dendro Archon, who introduced herself, she mentioned Answers, answers that could blast her sadness and sorrows away, answers that could tell her truly, answers that could show her what her own eyes couldn't see.

Her reunion with Neuvillette and all that happened after that, the cuddle with him, delightful warmth, all of it went so quickly that she almost forgot to go to Sumeru to find this Dendro Archon. Even if she didn't forget, after she met Neuvillette again and rebuilt their new abode, she couldn't just leave Fontaine à Souhaits so easily. Neuvillette came back from his natural habitat to Fontaine just for her sake and her well-being and would not allow her to go away so easily. She was sure about that. Not only that, the burning feeling in her chest, deep in her heart, flared up again as she thought about her Hydro Dragon, her cheeks became a bit blushy again, and yet she couldn't truly understand what this feeling was. An unknown temptation caused her heart to beat faster, her head was spinning again.

An old Melody returned to her senses, a melody of a whispering lake searching for a seashell hidden on a forest's shore. Step after step deeper into the forest till she came to a mysterious place with a hollowed Tree on a tiny island in the middle of a luminous, calm pond, the chill water was knee-high, her bare feet sank beneath wet shiny blue colors, echoes from the past filled her ears, her eyes were weary.

A small journey through the unknown, they called her name with a faint whisper, a tree leaf fell on her knee as she sat there in a hollowed tree, she took the seashell closer to her ear and sang a lullaby with a serene voice, calling for spirits from beyond. The tunes of the piano were perfect if the wind wasn't too cold to freeze her fingers while her life faded.

Her eyesight was blurry as she opened to spectate through the submerged space, catching a glimpse of massive pure crystal blue Dragonscales sough past her blurred presence while the space shifted and vibrated by its tremendous aquatic force, countless of bubbles surrounded her in on go as a faint voice echoed through time and lifted her towards the gleaming light.

The colorful iris between blue and cyan was a remarkable discovery, like a dream merged with reality. The body was light as a feather among waves of wishes behind giant wings of vibrating fabrics beneath the luminous ocean surface. It shifts and waves like thunderous traces of countless lines; the depths were always unfathomable.

She has seen things beyond fantasy, accepted for eternal etherity, perfection in its own form, for the sake of unmatched purity. Wet sensation filled her lungs as she couldn't close her mouth to hold breath after she glimpsed into the bright void of shiny blue eyes in its opposite rift. Distant sonority reached out for her name.

"... in..  ...rina?... Furina!"

The Dragon Lady snapped back from the dark underwater depths of her mind as a call pierced her ears, pulling her back to her senses. She blinked a few times before she fixed her gaze back to Clorinde.

"You were just lost in thoughts, i see, hihi.. why don't we just take a walk, I'm getting a bit tired of staying on spot"

Terrible memories still haunted the poor Justice upholder. The dreadful experience of being dissolved into water was stuck in her mind like a heart in her chest; the sight of watching her hand turning into water in front of her eyes filled her with despair, which she still couldn't remove from her heart. She felt greatly relieved at seeing her old friend also alive; nonetheless, the lifelessness on Furina's face bothered her deeply. A familiar expression that happened to her as well. The sight alone when the Colossal Tsunami of pure Primordial Water broke silently over the walls into the Country was the most terrifying thing ever. The brave Champion of Fontaine stood like a petrified statue, the immense trepidation froze her entire body as she stared with widened, scared eyes at the tons of water that wrecked on her. It was the very moment when the Champion wanted to drown first before the soul-destroying sight of her being dissolved took its place. Such a hope-shattering memory was still stuck at the top of her being. But maybe Neuvillette couldn't find Furina when he missed out on some place where she possibly was. 

Furina and Clorinde went on to enjoy the rest of the day as Furina offered Clorinde to stay in her room until the Melusine prepares a private room for the Ex Champion in their Residence, followed by Serene and Sedile, who spectated these two silly human womans talking to each other non-stop like siblings, soon their ears got tired of the ramblings.

Evening as no other since a new member joined Fontaine à Souhaits, a new flower among withered meadow. Furina hoped that Neuvillette wouldn't mind seeing a new face in their Residence since he went to Epiclesse and didn't know about Clorinde's return, wondering what the Hydro Dragon wants there, there are tons of fancy furniture left.

Bathed in fresh air paired with the flower's breeze, which floated through calm wind, disobedient to the current state of its surroundings, the two womans traveled freely around Fontaine à Souhaits, tempted to get used to the new depressed age of Fontaine. A weird thought crossed Furina's mind.

"What if I ask Neuvillette to fill the entire residential area with water? it would be amazing to have a giant pool for swimming right in front of our doors..."

Furina silently spoke while she stroked her cheek with a finger as she stared into space. A hilarious idea after what happened to the city, but who would care about the ruins in the lower levels anyway?

"Hm? Did you said something?"  Clorinde swears she heard something.

"Hah? ah.. It's nothing, i just thought to flood the ruins down there so we could have a giant pool here for fun, hehe..."  Furina repeats her thoughts.

Clorinde widened her eyes as she heard such a crazy idea but couldn't deny it how cool it sounded. The idea of turning an entire city into an aquarium and swimming in there like a mermaid? She was flustered as a little chill rose in her back.

"Say Clorinde, do you still have your Vision?"  Furina asked gently.

Clorinde was mute and paused the walk for a moment. Now that Furina mentions, she didn't remember that she still had her Vision with her and checked her pockets, her Vision was indeed missing. "Nope.. i must have lost it when i was-"

"No need to say anything anymore, i'll help you to find it, surely Neuvillette would join us too." Furina nodded while suggesting her help to find her friend's Vision, which must still be somewhere in the residential area if only the Fatui hadn't already taken it.

"Can you at least remember where you were the last time before you know.."

"I.. can't.. my memories are all blurry from the last few hours... sorry, I don't remember where i dropped it.."  Clorinde sighs as her voice shifts slightly sadder.

Furina's mood slightly changed to a worried state, like an overwatered flower. "Then I suppose we ask Neuvillette to help us out hihih..."  She put a smile on her gentle lips to give her friend a sense of companionship.

Clorinde couldn't help herself but to like her friend's smile, it was to adorable to avoid seeing it.

The Dragon Lady suggested taking her ex-bodyguard for a walk to Epiclesse to meet Neuvillette. Surely her ex-bodyguard hasn't seen him for a while when she lived at Liyues port. Glittering water trickled onto pretty flowers in a bed as a Melusine watered them as they watched a Melusine taking care of a flowerbed, they took the leading road to Epiclesse. Furina was calm and pleased, going beside her violet-haired friend. Soon she felt a dreadful feeling rising up in her heart, she felt unsettled as her expression became serious, but could not picture out exactly why, something bothered at the back of her head.

---

This Court is now in session!

The Chief Judge stood like a personified Fortress at his spot and glared with razor-sharp slit irises to file every single detail of the process. Yet the picture of the Hydro Archon sitting with crossed legs and resting her chin on her fist, on a high position, a position above him, a position he could barely contradict. He was always amazed by the luminous gaze of heterochromic eyes. It felt almost like she wanted to be a part of his memories for a very long time.

This picture he may never forget, the beauty in white and blue has never left, watching every Court to the end, except that one Court which she quits sooner, before the Judge could carry out his Verdict for a particular Boy. He couldn't believe himself that this was the first time the Hydro Archon was dissatisfied and left the courtroom with a saddened face. Did she feel empathy for the Boy? Was it all wrong to drag him into this situation?

She was the Goddess of Justice after all, her ambition and sense for Justice were unmatched even for the Chief Judge. Iudex Neuvillette felt ashamed at this scene as he sentenced an innocent kid to be guilty and locked away to the Fortress of Meropide, meanwhile, the true criminal was left out on free feet. A terrible flaw.

He realized she could not stand the sentence for the boy, so she simply left, he had no idea what was going on in the minds of the Audience after they watched how the Goddess of Justice herself left the Court. The sudden silence among the Audience felt like chill air in his lungs, Injustice. Did he losed his face? the face of a Iudex, he felt terrible as he spoke Guilty for the boy and locked him away in the Fortress of Meropide. Will times come in when the Hydro Archon stops trusting his sense of Justice and eventually banishing him?

Disturbing pieces of dried red traces paved his path, but he did not mind yet. The Hydro Dragon continued the walk to a spot where he built his respect with pride.

The buzzing noise, the metallic sounds of surfaces hitting each other behind his back should be an answer, his answer which he came for. He was not satisfied. Opera Epiclesse.... He did not believed in himself that those times became now part of the past. Fontain Lucine, he stood right in front of it, dry like Sumerus desert.

He passed by to take a closer look at the Building of Fontaine's mighty Glory, now covered in silence like a bum's shelter. He let a little growl out while shutting his eyes. The Dragon continued the path. He could not draw his attention away from the red pieces of traces as it became more and more visible; he already hates it.

He passed through the main doors, looking around, not much changed except this place is a mess, the ominous silence made him shiver for a moment as he proceeded on his way to the courtroom. The smell of blood, which tainted the air, he couldn't avoid anymore, and he was now more serious than calm.

Upon taking the steps down to the stage while his gaze fixed at the Oratrice and the dark silent gears and machinery behind, he was unsettled as soon as he realized something was completely wrong here. The picture of a blue color in the middle of massive dried redness, which resembles the hat Furina always wears, caught his attention immediately.

The stench of blood became heavier in his nose the closer he got until his shoe landed at the edge of the massive redness, and he gritted his teeth as a little threatening knurr left his throat. That Furina's blue hat was tainted with dried blood pool. It has to be her, it has to be Furina's blood, who else could be here after his judgment from her demolished life and all the blood and shredded Archon suit on her.

Oh dear Gods of high Heaven, what the hell happened here to his dearest Furina? What kind of slaughter fest was that, so much blood, too much blood, how many times was she bleeding out just to create such a massive red pool? Ten adult human beings alone would be enough to create a blood pool of this size.

His instincts went out of control, the bloodlust to find the criminal in his chest as he thought more and more about what kind of demonic torture Furina had to endure, became more radiant.

He stepped into the dried blood pool, which he assumed it was Furina's. After a little chill, his body trembled as he picked up her blood-tainted hat, a piece of her former Archon clothing. He held the hat fiercely and pressed it against his chest; he could not stand this bloody scene.

Who hurt Furina? Did somebody tried to kill her after she lost her divinity? Did somebody tried to ruin the treasure before he could claim it for himself? The Dragon's thoughts raced like a goddam storm on a ruthless ocean, tearing Galleons to the depths one by one.

The ex-Chief Judge was furious about this dreadful discovery. In lands like Fontaine of Justice, he would split the world in half to find the criminal for this bloody hell. But none of that matters, the criminal who tried to butcher Furina could've already escaped far over the mountains and erased all traces behind.

As Nevuillette tried to calm down and save his energy, another suspicious object fell into his soured sight. An object in the form of a sword lies nearby. A sword that could be the weapon used for the slaughter fest. He recognized the weapon quickly. The sword that belonged to the Champion of Fontaine.

Clorinde.... "This wretched Woman..." His voice was bathed in sheer wrath, struck like a multiple thunder through the courtroom, he had never felt this much unsettling as ever. Wrath clouded his mind; it was the very first time he felt truly the intent to kill.

Usually, Neuvillette was not somebody who would jump to a conclusion, but his time as Chief Judge was over for quite a while. This time he would not mind using violence straight against the one who had ever hurt his Pearl at this unforgivable degree.

Neuvillette had seen enough; he was no longer in any good mood to check the rest of Epiclesse and decided to return to Furina as soon as possible to ask her about this misery; she had to know who was responsible for this bloodshed on her.

The Hydro Dragon flew quickly by using his elemental powers and immediately stopped the moment he was outside of Epiclesse as soon as the familiar beauty of snow white hair above a fine white dress fell into his sharp vision.

Furina.... followed by this... thing named Clorinde. But something felt odd and out of place, and he landed on the ground before the woman pair noticed him.

His Wrath starts to fade into oblivion when he watches Furina and Clorinde, both going side by side, chatting to each other in peace, towards him. There was no sign of hostility or fear. Furina should've run away from Clorinde while Clorinde should've chased Furina, instead these two looked happy.. at each other, almost as if there was never any hostile or bloody activity between them.

The Hydro Dragon rested his hand on his head as his mind started to ache heavily. His head was spinning around in circles of dizziness. Did he misunderstand it all?

"Look, there is Neuvillette." Chanted Furina like a singing bird, but her mood immediately vanished as soon as she saw her bloody hat gripped tightly in his fist. He seems not to be alright at least. Now seeing this, Furina realized why she felt bad when they started to walk to Epiclesse, she remembers it now, my gosh, did he seen the horror scene at the Oratrice? This must have driven him into pure madness.

Even Clorinde was confused and clueless after she saw Furina's bloody hat; what was all this about? Either way, she was terrified when she sensed a world-shattering aura radiating from him, as if he awaited a death battle.

Quickly, Furina realizes what could have got into Neuvillette's mind; he most likely wanted revenge for whatever happened to her in front of the Oratrice, the blood pool she created in an attempt to escape this meaningless life.

Days went on, Days to Weeks. She pierced her chest and heart, and spilled blood all around herself. Then again, and again, and again. She continued impaling her body and limbs, and cutting her skin and muscles. Weeks turned to Months as she never stopped, to hurt herself and went on to pierce other vital organs, impaling her lungs to drown in her own blood. Months went on, and eventually she began to pierce her head through her eyes, ears and mouth and from other angles. Months continued ticking, and the ex-Hydro Archon didn't stop to hurt herself. Countless times impaled through, countless cuts, and created a massive dried bloodbath.

Time went on, Furina kept repeating impaling and cutting herself like there is no tomorrow, and she almost lost all her hopes to break the Curse until wide and far emptiness embraces her Soul.

She screamed and cried in pure indescribable agony, but this merciless life couldn't find peace.

Loneliness... Sadness.... you shall be my Family..... forever...  Dim voice floats through the disturbing atmosphere, mixed with blood particles and sweat drops, the shined light in the courtroom turned red, her eyes fell lifeless like eternal darkness of the bottom of the ocean itself, creating a hellish nightmare that soon became her Second Life.

Furina remembers all of it as a deadly chill grew into her heart and replaced the burning feeling. Her eyes fell into lifelessness once again. She moves towards Iudex once more to give him a hug, to give herself a hug one more time, wraps her arms around his waist, tightly, while rubbing her face against his coat, waking him up from his headaches.

"It was me, Mister Iudex... it was me... my bloodbath was my work.. I'm sorry if u had to see that.."  The Fraud was no longer here; there was no need to hide anything as truth came to light. A broken voice echoed from her frozen lips again, catching up to his ears.

Neuvillette couldn't describe his own rising sadness anymore. His mind went blank, and his expression was cold and stiff from the revelation. He looked down on the surface of pure white fabric of her hair as he gave her his own embrace in return, resting his hands on her head and back. Hiy Lady attempts to break the curse and mercilessly end her life, which had driven him so far out of his sanity. He wanted to say something, but his mouth and his words were frozen in the face of the agonizing truth.

All that bloodshed for the sake of breaking the curse.

Heaven fell quickly into the darkness of massive dark clouds, unleashing a hefty rain like never before. A happy day turned instant into a flooding nightmare.

Clorinde was clueless about what bloodbath Furina spoke of; she could only assume the worst had happened inside the Opera Epicless. That scene, where they both embraced beneath the merciless rain, felt strange and heartbreaking. The Ex Champion clenched her eyelids before she joined them in embrace, leaning on Furina.

Luminous Sky in the dark shines with glittering stars again, creating a goodnight tale. A kid's tale for the small. Wandering clouds as a sign of wind in its ordinary duty above and below their unbound freedom.

His eyes shines like a gem among pebbles. Enjoying the time while it lasts as long as the cycle holds before the inevitable change occurs.

"Hm... i have never seen such tremendous weather above Fontaine. Did something tragic happen in Fontaine?"

"The Sovereign of the Waters is back to Fontaine?... interesting.. and apparently he's not alone? He has a reason to be back, right?"

A tall Man spoke through the space as Stars glittered to gift the night gloss. While holding a cup to enjoy wine, a colloquy traverses through the calm night. Thousands of thousands of flickers can tell the truth as much as his wisdom holds.

"Heheh... i could tell so, he found something interesting in this little white haired woman, or maybe he'll just kill some time before he gets bored and returns to his chamber."

A tone traveled through its free gap, another tone played in a cheerful mood, then another tone left its own creation. The Figure sounded as if much wine was not enough to be more drunk than ever, and so another tone met its free.

"Don't underestimate a Dragon's desire, my friend; its longing is mostly... unfathomable and timeless. A human heart but grows as slow as a Dragon's soul, a good idea for a tale to be written."

A tall Man in a brown suit spoke with experience as he slowly swirled his cup of wine beneath the endless sky, the golden reflection in his eyes shone like a timeless shooting star.

A boat stopped at the port as the night proceeded beneath a glittering sky, with the flow of time without any worry.

"You took quite some time to arrive, Miss... eh.. i guess the Eternity has deteriorated your sense of time flow a bit."

The vision of gold never misses it's target as the tall Man gazed at the violet-haired Woman while the serenity of mysterious music play surrounds them in peace.

Chapter Text

The Hydro Dragon stares at the ceiling with nothing in his mind but a headache and bloody picture shitshow, a memory that will remain for a very long time in his mind. "It was supposed to be a simple day, and she should recover, not the other way around."  But a simple day which ended probably in one of his most saddest day he ever had, he has never been this excessively sad as ever. The white haired girl wanted to slaughter herself, Herself, Herself. This abomination of a memory would haunt him every day.

Someone must have dragged him here. He stood up from the sofa and went out of his room, circling in his pained mind while having another horrible thought: did she also harm herself during her Archonhood? Are there more bloody and painful self-harm instances she committed? He gradually became paranoid; he would have liked to curse these days and felt the need to ask Furina about other possible self-harms in case he could stumble upon one again.

"Hello, Monsieur Neuvillette, .....are you alright?" A cheerful voice of a Melusine caught up to him. 

"Sigewinne.... good evening.." Neuvillette responded in a tired way, having a bad day last time, as if he wasn't in his ocean like a random fish, but felt the need to settle this realistic nightmare while he was tilting to one side like a psycho as he spoke to Sigewinne.

"Furina.... where is she? I need to see her... to talk to her..." Weak words tugged by his headaches escaped his mouth, acting like a possessed being straight from a creepypasta show.

"She and Clorinde went upstairs after they dropped you here. Furina looked as if she had been hit by a speeded aquabus a moment ago... not really healthy but in one piece, at least."

Something snapped in his mind, followed by a monstrous growl. "Cut those damn jokes, Sigewinne! She was actively suicidal just because we thought nobody was left in this empty country; it's not funny."

"Sorry.." Sigewinne murmured silently and didn't properly catched what he meant about actively suicidal, but surely it was something terrible if the Dragon himself was this downhearted.

An Archon or not an Archon, the damsel beneath the divine title has to rely a lot on the Iudex, her subordinate, if it came to duties and occasions. The ideality of seeking help from the Hydro Dragon was still there within her and caused a shortcut to her sanity after a long time of his absence. Guess those attempted suicides weren't the only things that happened to her while he was taking a sweet, calm nap in his ocean. The Hydro Dragon went upstairs to reach Furina's private chamber, the only place where she could possibly be sleeping right now. He had to see for himself how far she was fine or broken this time. The Hydro Dragon knocked at the door, but there was no response from within her room.

"L... Lady Furina?" He stutters while calling her name and knocks at the door again and again, but there is still no response. "She must be sleeping right now, i guess."  Slowly, he opened the door by himself. His gaze flew directly to her bed, but the bed was empty. "Didn't Sigewinne told me Furina should be in her room and possibly sleeping?? Where are you, Lady Furina..?" The sense of missing her grew quickly in his chest. The Hydro Dragon clenched his fist with a flashed sense of worry.

At the next moment, he heard several piano notes suddenly echoed from the other room on the opposite side, and then a few more notes flew by, dragging his attention like a magnet. Did he already hear those piano tunes from somewhere? he did not remember. He knew these melodies from a piano that Furina used for her performances. She was fascinating when she played music, of course, she was. It would be absolutely ridiculous and pathetic if she, Furina de Fontaine, the greatest Actress of Teyvat, couldn't play a single musical instrument.

A few Piano notes echoed through the space from the door gaps. He closed her private room doors and went straight like on autopilot into that one room where the piano playing comes from. Opening the door and seeing immediately Furina in her snow white short dress sitting on a chair and playing the old piece of Piano with closed eyes, this stuffed him with joy. He knew she was an exceptional musician. The audience always cheered her up and rumbled in amazement, if only he could hear it all by himself and not spending every day in his office on never-ending paperwork, but now he has the best opportunity to witness her playing the piano from this close.

Furina did not notice him entering the room and continued to play her piano thing like in old Hydro Archon days. Fine tunes of melodies wandered across the room as if she were playing for the audience. The Hydro Dragon was amazed at the way she tipped with all her fingertips on piano keys, he forgot to close the doors and took a seat nearby to listen carefully and quietly to her honed skills as a musician, which echoed through the space from out of the room from upstairs to downstairs across the main hall, reawakening peaceful memories.

Not knowing, a tiny tear slid down his cheek. He never knew that he heard such magnificent music and realized how unmatched she was; no wonder she practiced the art to play for nearly five centuries. This was like a lucid dream, not his but hers. He would hate if such a magnificent talent would go to waste; he would hate if he accepted her death, rested in peace, if only the entire World would listen to her piano melodies.

The melody would have lingered a little longer if Furina hadn't, for some reason, pounded both her palms on the keys, causing a loud, unpleasant noise to race past him and making him fall off the seat as he staggered. The Hydro Dragon instantly snapped back to his senses from the dreamlike listening, seeing with widened eyes her head tilted towards him with half-closed eyes, her gaze fixed at him in a razor-sharp tense.

"Ehm.. good Evening, Lady Furina..." His ears are still ringing from the loud noise.

The little Woman in white stood up on her shaky legs and rings below her eyes and walked slowly towards her beloved Hydro Dragon.

"Heheh... Monsüüür Nüüüvleett..."  Furina chewed his name out in a weird, disoriented voice as she proceeded to walk waggly towards him. The sad lifelessness in her eyes was still present and unchanged since the last daylight.

Her lifeless eyes, a thorn in his eyes, Neuvillette hates to see her being this lifeless when instead he wanted to see her lively, pretty face with an angelic smile, but this kind of dream was still far from reality, at least now. He could only assume she would need a whole century of rest just to turn back normal again. How many hugs would she still need to flare up out of her depression once and for all?

Should he hold her every day in his arms? Cuddling with her all around the clock for days, weeks, months and even years, knowing she could live for all eternity when the curse was still merged with her very Soul.

Should he invite her to his underwater domain instead of staying on land? She was meant to be a mortal Human, but she had already exceeded her natural lifespan, and her mind had grown far beyond a normal human lifestyle. What if she were to ascend to a higher being, like an ordinary human to an allogene? He dwelled deep in his considerations as new doors of possibilities were in his reach, a door that he simply needed to open and let her go through.

The waggly walk made her trip over her own feet and fall straight at him. Luckily, he was attentive and caught his little Lady in time, ended up in his embrace and shoveling her face into his chest. Neuvillette was edgy; little did he know what to do in such situations when he held her slender arms. His mood distorted, her arms were thin enough that he could feel bones beneath her skin and that by his weak grip alone.

"Lady Furina?.. you are... famished..." His worries grew even further beyond his tolerance level, and he grits his teeth. "Just how worse can it still get?!" Ready to punch a barrel till it rolls.

But instead of an answer, Furina raised her face from his coat towards his face and gave him a smugish expression. Triggered him to give a sweet little awkward growl in response.

Furina stepped away from him and made a sweet twirl, stopping by reaching out her hand towards him. He thought first she would fall from that sudden twirl, but this sweet twirl ended in an absolutely perfectly solid legs crossed stance, with a stretched out wavengly hand, the coordination in her movements was just too perfect, what was that just now? Was she acting again? Either way, he was partially stuck in his mind and tried to figure out why she was acting this weirdly.

Furina stood on a spot with a surprisingly blushed smile and was waiting for him to take her hand, but Neuvillette was clueless about what she wanted from him and gazed at her as he always did.

"How aboütt ae Daance, Möööns Nüvlettes?" Another chewing speech passed by her parted lips, and the longing look in her eyes seems almost seductive. Neuvillette staggers a little. Things just got weirder.

"Excuse me?? Do you mean Dancing? ....With me?" The Dragon became nervous. Why is she talking in such a distorted tone like that? Did she hit her head somewhere? Neuvillette considered it in his mind but was unable to find a reason for her weird behavior.

Furina signaled him with her outstretched hand to come and grab her hand, while looking at him with an overjoyed expression on her face, which made him feel even more awkward. Dancing... The Hydro Dragon had no skills in dancing and stood there like a mannequin, slightly embarrassed.

It took way too long for the Dragon Lady to wait for his response and ran straight towards him, locked her hand with his instead and pulled him straight towards the middle of the room grabbed his other hand and placed on her back like a romantic dance pair, causing the Hydro Dragon quickly to sweat, the embarrassment grow further into his head, he blushed and was speechless.

"Juss lets Daaanc, hehihi.." Furina chewed some words again as she moved her lips very weirdly. As these two started to dance on the floor like an Actress and an Actor on the stage, he did not really likes such human activities.

"I was thinking about the one thing that happened at Oratrice, Lady Furina. Please promise me to never hurt yourself anymore.." Like what would actually happen if she did, spilling her own blood was a cakewalk for the white haired girl.

"Huehh??... Wat doh yo mena? hah.. Yo rellyyy thiink i illl diee evntully?¿?¿ Eeveeen so... i goth nothinnn to losee... heh..." The white haired girl tried to form words with her distorted voice as her eyes rolled sometimes while she watched as his face in amusement.

He hated to hear this kind of stuff, words that hurt his ears. Nothing to lose. What is that? What kind of crap went through the mind of this girl to throw such a disturbance? Why is she in such a wretched state? Anger slowly rose in his chest, but something was indeed off her act; this behavior was very familiar to him.

The clock ticked and time passed, Neuvillette sensed her moves getting more incalculable and erratic, she lost a bit of control as if she was half asleep.

The Hydro Dragon sensed a possible reason for this strange behavior of hers as a strange smell came out from her mouth with each breath.

He focused his gaze towards her parted lips while he sweated more and more as they moved back and forth in twirls and more twirls in hand-to-hand like a dancing feather in sleepless wind. With each breath, a strange faint smell escapes the gap between her lips. He twitched with his eyebrow, a familiar smell which he knew from somewhere before but couldn't properly remember.

He focused tensely on this smell and soon, his senses drove his attention towards an object on top of the Piano, an object that looked like a bottle with some strange fluid inside, with a wine glass that was next to it.

The open Bottle of Wine was already almost empty as he looked closely with his sharp draconic eyesight.

"Wine??!........ wait a minute... Lady Furina?.. by the holy waters, please do not tell you are drunk..." The Ex Hydro Archon merely gave a silly mix of laughter and giggles as they continued to dance randomly through the room when Neuvillette couldn't properly catch up with her steps and moves.

The Situation became more embarrassing for him while Furina seemed to have quite some fun. The Hydro Dragon danced around with his drunken little Lady, these sudden emotional shifts between sad and happy these last days felt like a rollercoaster, a Volcano that wants to erupt. He clearly misses the days when everything was normal and wishes these days to return.

It was all awkward for him; he wasn't meant for such human activities. The Dragon, being deep within him, flounders like a lost fish on the shore, trying to get back to the ocean. He wanted to run away, far away; it was way too embarrassing. But he hesitated to run away from his little Lady; he couldn't run away, not without hurting her well-being if he just vanished. He promised to stay at her side, so unfortunately, as it was for him, he had to go through this weirdness. He might assume how bad she feels if is not like scratching at the surface of a frozen lake, no, he can't even assume how far her mind has already deteriorated, a little spark could be enough to kick her being back to the bottom of her depression.

No wonder she was acting like that, she drank almost the entire Wine bottle empty. A very very weird Night below a Starry sky. The window was open just to keep fresh air in the room, while sometimes a strange wind traverses through the room, a familiar feeling he had not long ago, which raises some suspicion in him.

"Möns... wah ar u dænc l-ike a renwőrm?¿?¿?¿"  Her mind was spinning and tilting her head like a jello, while losing noticeable strength, it was like she was about to fall asleep UwU.

"Excuse me Lady Furina, i do not understand? Could you please talk a bit more clearly?" Neuvillette could already tell that Furina was about to collapse as her movements became more and more sluggish, all while her eyes were almost shut.

"Lady Furina, would it be time to get some sleep? I wou-" Yet before he could finish his sentence, the white haired Lady gave a loud burp and collapsed right in his arms. Now, the sweet evening was almost finished, he obviously needed some fresh air to breathe in, while he couldn't take his eyes off the porcelain skin of her pretty face as he panted.

Well at least it was out and over now, a little relief for the Sovereign of the Waters who was caught and tangled in this foreign activity. Yet before he could release himself from the locked hands with Furina, his gaze shifted towards a palpable presence at the door. "Clorinde.. ??¿" stayed with a blushy and hesitant face at the door frame and stared in awe at the adorable pair.

Even though Clorinde felt off for some reason, the Hydro Dragon didn't mind yet and carried Furina gently like a princess back to her room, slowly passing by Clorinde, who stepped aside to make some space for these two lovers. Clorinde then suddenly took a stance and saluted.

"HOyyy!!" Clorinde shouts as if she were ready for a war.

Neuvillette glared at her with disdain, the face of a drunktard. ".... Not you too, CLorinde....."

As in response, Clorinde gave a mere hiccup, as her breath also stinks after alcohol, with a spinning mind not really aware of what Neuvillette and Furina are doing right now, maybe an escort? "Hooooooooooou!!" She gave another howl-like shout before Neuvillette gazed back at her for a second with a blank look and went quickly to bring Furina back to her bed.

Neuvillette himself felt tired and finally placed Furina's body softly on her bed, much cleaner without a bloodstain on the floor this time. He let a breath of relief venture out of his lungs. Pulled the blanket over her delicate body to make sure she doesn't catch a cold.

Suddenly, a loud thumping noise emerged near him. He swiftly gazed at the source of the noise, ah.. It's nothing, just Clorinde who throws herself at the chair to take a nap. As before he took his leave outside to take a break from this unhinged situation but couldn't disagree the little time of enjoyment he spend with Furina, he took a closer look on her porcelain pale skin to admire the cuteness of her face. The way she breathes gently through slightly parted lips and most her face covered by wavy snow white hair, he felt almost infatuated but quickly avoids any other sight and went quickly outside to catch some fresh air, sweet feelings he just felt belonged to his part as human body which he was reincarnated in.

He snapped back from his longing, which he felt deep in his chest after he took some fresh air outside and cooled down. Surely the Melusines were busy all over the place repairing some damage from the crazy rain he delivered a short time ago and helping them out.

"Heheh... finally out here, Monsieur Neuvillette?" The Woman with violet hair just appeared and sounded in sweet harmony.

"Miss Clorinde?.. Didn't you went to sleep?" Neuvillette returned to his casual mood as he sighted out his surroundings, looking out for any Melusine who would require some help. "You are really a bit different from before, perhaps the air of Liyue affected your thinking a bit?"

"I'm fine. And maybe I've spent too much time in the Ocean.. but who knows, at least i can dearly say to be happy to be back here again." Clorinde nodded in as she responded in much tranquility and still heavily drunk. Barely any trace left of the once serious Justice upholder, perhaps the Ocean has affected her thinking in a more gentle way. "May i request you to be able to stay at the side with Miss Furina if you allow?"

The Hydro Dragon gazed into the distance while the stars flickered in the darkest nights. The return of a worthy bodyguard for his dearest Pearl, one of her closest and dearest human friend, the Hydro Dragon had no objections. "Of course, Miss Clorinde." The Hydro Dragon was calmly present as always, knowing he could wash away all his fearful thoughts about the horrible scene at Oratrice and his suspicion of his Lady's harm over Clorinde's hands.

"What was it that bloodbath Furina talked about earlier?" Clorinde chanted and was curious, wanting to know the reason for his emotional collapse.

The Hydro Dragon growled in a whisper. Not that again. "Just let us say, she wanted to finish off herself, in a cruel way. To execute herself as a punishment of her own. But because to a certain immortality she couldn't rest. Which is probably the cause for her lifelessness in her eyes."

"Basically, she is dead inside?........." Clorinde shuts her eyes as she feels a stabbing pain in her chest after hearing such heart-wrenching news.

But the God of Justice had her principles and would deliver the punishment to any criminals... including herself. On the other hand, the deal was to defy a goddamn Prophecy, something that even Gods can fail at. First, Khaenri'ah was struck by a Disaster, and now Fontaine, Teyvat was slowly breaking apart. Clorinde murmured deep in her unpleasant thoughts.

"But, i have a plea on you, Mister Iudex, if you don't mind." The Woman with violet hair was suddenly in request with anxiety.

"Yes??... What can i help you with?" The Ex-Chief Judge nodded.

"At the time when the Flood tore me into water pieces, i had lost my Electro Vision somewhere in the residential area. If you could help me to retrieve it, I'd be very thankful."  Clorinde stood near him as she made her request, staring past him into the far distant. "Furina had the funny idea to turn the residential area into a big pool up to the main doors."

The Hydro Dragon widened his eyes as he heard such a crazy idea, and that idea came straight from his Lady. He made a worried noise about why Furina would request such a thing, submerging almost the entire city? Anyway, these redundant ruins were better if nobody saw them and sighs nervously in agreement.

"Ehm.. why do we have to be here? I mean, Nahida clearly states Fontaine was lost to a Prophecy.." A floating small figure moans unpleasantly. "Oh, wait, are we here to picture some Ghost Stories, right? hehehhe."

Floats relentlessly beside the companion and chants about stuff and food all day.

The path ahead was empty, and the stench of sadness was all around them. "I'm getting some goosebumps here, no birds, no animals, this place feels so desolate."

"You heard Nahida, right? The Hydro Archon seems to be the only one left, and according to her worries, things about the Hydro Archon went really dark. It won't hurt to say hello at least."  Spoke the floating figure's companion while staring up ahead.

Crossing a few hills below the silent wind, finally saw a building up ahead.

"Look over there!" The floating small figure chanted with joy. Approaching a big fancy building, but soon their cheerful mood dropped slightly after seeing debris, clutter and other stuff lying around covered in dust and moss. 

"It is how she said... this place looks sad and empty."  The floating small figure felt depressed after sensing this cheerless and desolate atmosphere around them.

"Look, the City of Fontaine over there, but there's still a long way to go. Maybe we'll take a break for now?"  The floating small figure took a seat to rest its weird scarf-looking wings.

The blond-haired boy went to a pretty small fountain to take a seat and get a little breakfast. He looked suddenly suspicious behind his back as something was watching him.

MY BODY HURTS!!... MAKE IT STOP!! PLEASE!!!

The gold-haired boy jumped off the bench of the dry fountain as if he was jumpscared by a shady Ghost after hearing some drowning cries, creepy echoes from a past.

"WAAAAH! What is with you?! don't just scare me with that jump." The small figure creeped out, but couldn't look past her companion's frozen mood. "W-What's wrong Traveler?"

"It's.... nothing, i thought i heard somebody cry"

"You mean, there are truly some ghosts here?" The small figure floats up again with a chill in her back.

The Traveler took a seat on the ground in caution to continue his breakfast, and soon the floating got to rest beside him. But those cries or whatever it was, sends him a cold shiver down his spine, this drags him down in a displeased mood as soon he slowly realized how terrible the disaster which annihilated Fontaine could be, and only the Hydro Archon remained.

Chapter Text

The ticking sound of the bookshelf clock woke her up, having headaches as she opened her heterochromatic eyes. Calm moonlight stroked her face. After all that she went through. Furina looked at her hand and smiled; the sense of his fingers between hers was still present.

A night when she didn't expect Neuvillette to come by to listen to her piano play, especially sharing a cheerful dance. She didn't think to lose so much self-control after drinking so much of that wine the Barb gave her.

"I need more of this... wine, the Barb." Being drunk and having a dance with the closest Person she could imagine, and experiencing for the first time what it could feel like to be like a Human. Soon, she longed for more of such amusements. But who was she to be a Human in the first place when she lived a life that was anything but Human?

She cleared her mind and took some steps to the window to look outside. A beautiful Moon's glittering reflection upon the vast, calm blue surface where the city once was, like a dream come true, yet she didn't believe. It was the pool she considered asking Neuvillette to create, just like a calm sea touched by the moon's shiny light crossed her gaze.

An urge ceressed her will to spectate this wonder more closely, and she ran out of her room past several Melusines like a stray cat out of the Residence. A flashback of her worst memories of a flooded city crossed her mind, which left a painful sting in her chest. There was nobody left down there. The prophecy was gone, everyone was gone, and she stopped running with her hand on her heart after an unexpected tear left her eye. There was nobody down there, so who cares? She took a deep breath before continuing.

Despite the silly wish, Furina couldn't quite be joyful for that and slowly took the path ahead to reach the sea pool.

Neuvillette stood at the stone fence, like a guard, guarding his princes' Home. Gazing upon the wide pool, he seems to enjoy having this much water right in front of their Residence. A whole sea for himself, a pool more than big enough for his Lady. As much as he was associated with the human world that was called Fontaine, he didn't mind rebuilding this little piece on Fontaine for the sake of his Pearl, his Lady; her well-being was most important to him.

"Neuvillette....." Furina could never miss the sight of the gorgeous long white wavy hair adorned by two blue streaks from anywhere and whispers while approaching him to join the view of the Moon's embraced sea.

“Hello, you’ve been sleeping for quite a while. It's a pleasure to see you this much more alive, Lady Furina.” Of course he heard his Lady from behind him, who else could it be with such light footsteps heading towards him if it's not a Melusine. His breath became softer after seeing his Lady, his Pearl, in such a good mood.

Neuvillette was still somewhat amused by what had happened last night; being surprisingly tangled in Furina's grip wasn't bad after all, except that these kinds of emotions were very new and foreign for him, but he knew that soon he would get used to it, and he wouldn't feel wrong if at least his Pearl had fun.

"My pleasure too Neuvillette, and please, stop addressing me as Lady, there is no need for formalities, not anymore. Just call me Furina." She almost forgot that formalities were never her best part, she was always a bewildered one. Yet there was always a place for a calm smile. Such a night for sleeping well, this was one of the most blissful nights she ever had. She would love to keep this memory forever and never forget who it was to be thanked for giving her such joy.

The white-haired girl took a deep breath to release some of the warmth that had built up in her lungs and giggled slightly.

Neuvillette took a look at her smile for a second. "As you wish, Furina." Even if it was her wish not to be called that way, he still couldn't agree with himself and returned his gaze to the sea.

Clorinde was actually terrified to dive into the little ocean that deep to reach the bottom which was once the residential area all without swimming back to the surface to catch some air. On the other hand, it was an amazing experience to be in a place where humans cannot survive. The thrill was with her and it was lovely. 

The violet-haired woman continued swimming at the dark, cold bottom of the submerged country, streets bathed in dim moonlight. Her sight was slightly blurry, but that didn't bother the ex-Champion of Fontaine.

Her chest was glowing with blue lines in mystic signs as she swam endlessly through the depths, focused on the tension of her powers she once wielded. Clorinde could sense the energy of her inner being when she was on the verge of attaining her Vision. She took time and searched through the area where she remembered being last time before the Flood took her.

She looked inside buildings, behind fences, and didn't leave any corner out. She could sense her Divine Vision from a distance, but not track its precise position.

It was obvious by the mess the Flood left behind that her Vision was now hidden somewhere between or beneath all the clutter. She followed the tension of the connection between her and her Divine Vision, and soon she could track its location and knew she had almost reached it when her body surged with elemental energy.

Clorinde stopped at a spot and stared at a pile of clutter where a dim violet light shone from beneath. Clorinde cleared out a pile of trash and whatever to see the glowing symbol of an electrical element. "Fuck yeah!.."  She yelled with joy a muffled voice when her throat and lungs were full of water and immediately grabbed the Vision.

Being temporarily blessed by Neuvillette with the ability to breathe underwater was genuinely fantastic, and Clorinde couldn't help but love it.

"Ah.. it seems she found it." The Hydro Dragon smirked after sensing a gathering power at the bottom of the little ocean.

Clorinde shuts her eyes in serious concentration while holding her Vision tightly near her face to remember the little God she once was. Violet lightnings began to strike, sparking and wandering around her in a wild manner like a hurricane.

"She found it? Who?" Furina stood calmly and curiously, wondering what he meant. She dragged her steps closer to him to look in the same direction he did. It was indeed what she wanted when she was chatting with Clorinde.

Just then, a violet lightning bolt shoots from the oversized pool's surface into the air and changes its direction in midair to land near the Dragon Lady, which leaves her in shock. Looks familiar, remembering she once was whacked by a discharged hammer of a Fatui maggot, from brute blunt force to deadly electrocution and then being fatally crushed by the building's debris. Only that this violet lightning was five times bigger and louder.

But her little fear quickly vanished. Furina recognized the violet hair that appeared on the spot where the violet lightning struck. The ex-Champion of Fontaine, with an Electro Vision tightly held in her hand, and all the violet lightning and electric arcs continued zipping around the woman's body. "Clorinde? My greatness, you found your Vision." She formed a satisfied expression and applauded in relief after seeing her ex-bodyguard in good old shape again.

Clorinde was soaked through and through, puked out a lot of water and breathed deeply before the blue glow on her chest vanished. Furina gasped when she saw all that water come from her ex-bodyguard's mouth. "It's alright Furina, she is okay."  Neuvillette quickly ensured Furina.

She heard her ex-Boss staying nearby Neuvillette and cheering. Her old, sharp senses as a victorious champion of Fontaine have returned. "Furina?... you are awake. Hah.. Hello. I see you're quite well."  She stood up while her violet eyes glowed for a moment and smiled, spoke in delight as the night reached its luminous peak.

"Excuse me, but I need to go inside to dry myself out, hehe.."  The Woman sneezed and ran immediately inside to change her clothes and to warm herself up.

Furina wanted to run after Clorinde to give her a good, strong hug for retrieving the Divine Vision, but she stayed beside Iudex, as she had other thoughts. She gazed towards the sky again when she noticed a faint blue glitter behind the clouds. Without any other reaction, almost as if she forgot that Neuvillette stays nearby.

A recall from his deep memories. Neuvillette often saw Furina watching towards the sky during her Archonhood and wondered whether she ever wanted to look up to the Moon from above the sky in fascination, or if it was just to take a breathtaking view of the scenery. He joined Furina's side just like in the good old days, and talked about stuff as much as he preferred, and the good old Furina always listened to him.

"The Moon looks great tonight, doesn't it? I could fly us both up above the sky and watch the Moon a bit more closely until sunrise." The Hydro Dragon sounded quite kind.

"Yes, the Moon is really beautiful."  Furina murmured with a giggle. A whisper followed the traces of her voice."If only...." 

The good old days were now nothing but a memory. Now he too has all the freedom to enjoy the time with her more as ever without being bothered by the public folk or constant paperwork every day. A good time to share some mesmerizing views with his Lady was now this close, as the good hearer Nuvillette was, he could hear any so tiniest sound of her voice."Shall we?"

Furina couldn't overhear him and looked curiously at the way he opened space for her to be carried again. The temptation to be held again whirled in her stomach. She stood for a moment and stared at him while a fresh breeze caressed them both, waving their hair in the wind. Placing both her hands on top of the place where her heart beats, it beats faster while looking at his pleasant gesture.

Furina was almost stunned by how polite the Hydro Dragon truly was. Did he really care so much, or had he other reasons? Knowing now that nothing stood between them anymore, no duty, no paperwork and surely no never-ending Masquerade that could keep her away. Instead of figuring out, she let her emotions speak, and forced her legs to step forward to take the place in his proposal.

The Hydro Dragon picked her light body up like a princess and smiled. Some long parts of his coat lit up in blue light, and he flew up to the sky. He tightens his grip on his Lady to make sure she doesn't fall off. Ascending like a shiny blue star back into the sky.

Furina was locked in his hold, and she could only feel a blazing warmth crawling within her. Her sight darted to lakes, forests, and seas, all in a breathtaking view as the rise continued above the mountains, while at the same time her body began to tremble as fear slightly crept over her. The white hindrance of clouds swallowed her sight.

The air was much colder than on the ground; the air among clouds was cleaner. But her breathing became heavier, she clenched her eyes, and her anxiety rose quickly in her heart due to trembling from her fear of heights. Looking down was the last thing she would do now. Her clothes and skin were slightly wet from the clouds when they arrived at the Moonlight, surrounded by a sea of clouds.

Furina knew she was never this high up, nor did she expect to be. But she definitely felt the surface was far away now.

Neuvillette felt his Lady's anxiety, that slight shiver, her closed eyes, and heavy breath. He knew that something was not right. "We are finally here, Furina.. you can now open your eyes and watch the Moon."

Furina opes her eyes slightly and flew wide in an instant and her lips parted after watching the art of beauty that exists only above the clouds. A vast sea of clouds with slight darkness beneath, so far the eye can see, bathed by the luminous dim blue light of the shiny Moon. A scenery she couldn't find words to describe its majestic beauty. She breathed deeply and was amazed by how clean the air was.

She was unusually silent; the normal Furina he knew would always find something to say if she were still the Hydro Archon, but this silence of hers felt almost foreign to him. "Ehm... Furina??" Neuvillette wondered what was currently going on in her mind as she fixed her gaze on this sapphire-like panoramic view. He wanted to say something, but he was afraid to ruin this moment for her, so he let her enjoy this wonderful moment and calmed effortlessly.

The Sovereign of all Waters felt relieved after she relaxed, her breathing normalized and shivering stopped. All that was left was a motionless Girl in his arms, locked and muted by the undying beauty of this noble Moon's Night.

Time passed as the dim blue-veiled sea of clouds continued to flow past them. Furina rested her head and hand against his chest. He felt slowly tired from keeping the levitation, but the Dawn was not far from as the gleaming horizon was already visible and he didn't want to miss this with his Pearl either. This shall be his and her paradise to enjoy.

"I love this sound.."  The peaced out Pearl finally said something.. But Neuvillette didn't quite catch what she meant. "Sound?"  He asked calmly.

"Your heartbeat, Neuvillette... I love this sound."  An almost whisper passed her parted lips as she kept pressing her ear against his chest.

In all the times he ever knew her during Archonhood, he could never imagine getting her this close enough that she would actually hear the sound of his own heartbeat. Not that a Melusine managed to be this close as far as he could remember. It felt almost as if she were a part of him. Soothing feelings stirred in his chest when he got red cheeks after hearing her charming words. An ex-Hydro Archon with a whole different kind of acting, not the one with a high voice who tends to annoy him every day.

He stares at her in Moonlight-bathed hair, unable to see her face, unable to see her smile, which hurts him a bit, but he knows hit was worth it. He turned his gaze to the Moon, and turned with his side towards the Moon so that at least Furina could still see the Moon's glimmering light without turning her neck. Although he had to admit it, it was pretty delightful to enjoy this precious moment with his Pearl, and he considered inviting her more often to admire this remarkable night.

The wind was almost calm, a smooth voice caught his attention while he was sunk deep in his own delight about how to spend these times with his precious Pearl more often. A smooth voice that could be meant only for him to hear, a soft humming caressed his pointy ears.

"hmmm. mm hm..hmmm hmm......" Furina was humming with her soft voice after a snow white feather fell out of nowhere and landed on her hand beneath the Dragon's gaze. She kept listening to his heartbeat, like when she listens to her own hum. Neuvillette felt surprised by the sweet harmony of his Pearl; her humming was so serene and precious that it even soothed his mind, like an old melody of a music box from the old World. A sacred melody that could calm any Dragon.

"hmm hmm hmmmm hm hm hm, hm hm hmm hmm hmm hmm hm hm.........." Furina's humming continues for like an hour, additionally shifting the intensity of her voice to match the perfection of the melody, as if she were writing an imaginary text long and carefully. As for Neuvillette, it feels like she made this humming a long time ago; it sounded perfectly done.

Neuvillette couldn't help but fall in love with her lovely humming while closing his draconic eyes to listen to her soothing voice. His draconic spirit relaxed relatively quickly and could listen to this soul-calming piece every day like a child to a goodnight story. A perfect melody for a Dragon's desire.

"HM!..."  Furina cleared her throat from a bit of exhaustion; it also pulled her Hydro Dragon out of his own silence. "Heheh... Did you like it?" She asks in amusement.

"It was indeed delightful. I never heard you humming so amazingly before. Where did you learned this from?"  Neuvillette sounded amused and highly curious.

Furina knew he would love it, and she smiled like an angel. The once Hydro Archon prefers to sing to achieve fame; humming was not an option for the bright star of Fontaine. Neuvillette smiled cheerfully to match his Pearl's smile.

Furina was silent for a moment when she circled in her memories. "After the Prophecy, when i was left all alone. She met me when i wandered around the empty streets of the city, and she taught me this humming. I used this humming to cheer myself up, a good distraction against all the loneliness and sorrow. Well, it didn't helped much, but still..." Furina's voice sounded almost normal again as she tried not to pull herself deeper into her agonizing memories than necessary, even though she wouldn't mind feeling bad again, not as if she had actually grown accustomed to it.

A joyful music in his ears to hear her normal voice again, as a flickering life was visible at the corner of her eye. But at the same time, it was a gutwrenching dread to hear her talking about the past again, and where this humming came from and for what.

"B-But now, you don't have to feel alone anymore, now you have me, Melusines, and Clorinde. And i'm sure soon more people will join us." Slight sadness scratched his smile after she talked about the worst times again. Oh no... will she fall into her lifelessness again?

Remember Mister Iudex, her mentality is in a very bad condition, almost unstable. I highly recommend that you refrain from mentioning Miss Furina's past to her. According to Sigewinne's diagnostics, he could already smell her tears coming out of her eyes.

"She? Who is she? If I may ask." The Hydro Dragon tightens his grip a bit more and pressed her body to his chest. Furina felt his strong skin-tight grip. She could feel his empathy, his worries; he must feel as bad as she did due to what the Prophecy did to them, she puzzled in her mind. She felt a little happy about this amusing reaction. She wanted more, she wanted more of it, his grip, his grip to be tighter, as tight as possible, beneath the Moon's glow. A mixed feeling of happiness and pain caressed her heart.

"Ngh.. heheh.. A girl in a fine white dress and long black hair, I didn't know her name... We hummed and drank tea together for a while. We had a little chat about all the bad stuff that happened here. She was really kind i must say, but then she left, and i haven't seen her since then, anyway. There is something i'd like to ask you, Neuvillette." She sounded like she had something on her heart.

Neuvillette heard a little sound of her displeasure. Did he tighten his grip too much? he loosened a bit in response. "My apologies. Ask whatever you want, La- Furina." Neuvillette still couldn't agree to skip the Lady part, but he didn't want to annoy her with it either.

"Clorinde meant, you saved her somehow. Are there also others you saved?" Her voice slightly faded into a whisper.

Neuvillette stared for a moment at the vast, blue-veiled cloudsea. "Well, thanks to you, I managed to save a bunch of common citizens. Also, Navia, Lynette and Freminet, they residing in Monstad now if they didn't move elsewhere."

Furina looked at him weirdly. Thanks to me? Did she missed something? What did he mean with it? Furina couldn't know, but she didn't paid too much attention to that weird statement. What counts is that some are saved. She breathed deeply in relief and didn't even ask how he did it, but as Sovereign of all waters, he surely had a way, and as long it worked, she was totally fine with it.

"Look, the Sun is rising." The Hydro Dragon glanced at the Sun as well to see how gorgeous such a dawn is while a soft voice left his side.

Furina took a look towards the shiny horizon; golden rays arose and lit up the cloud sea, creating a stunning picture. "It's.... Beautiful...." Her porcelain-pale skin felt almost like burning from the gliding warmth on contact. Her eyes almost hurt from the blending reflective sunlight, a wholesome moment to enjoy with him, which made her growl very cutely for a moment and moved slightly reactively when the morning light bathed her delicate body. She was so deeply sunken in delight that she almost forgot they were still above all clouds.

Neuvillette sensed a life stirring within her and could definitely tell she was on the right track to recover; the little motion of her was way too amusing under his Dragon's touch. And, being as careless as ever, Furina tried to stretch as usual. "Haaaah... " Stretching her limbs as if she were still lying on her bed.

The Dragon loses a bit of his hold on her, which causes him almost to drop her. "Furina, please be careful, we are still very high up here." Growled the Dragon, but the little Dragon Lady wasn't really listening.

The golden rays kept gliding among clouds and bathing the two in warmth. The white-haired girl's gaze wandered across the field of white clouds, covered in goldness, as the sun rose higher. She giggled with joy while being carried by her most known person, Iudex Neuvillette. "You see this Neuvillette? How beautiful that is?" She reached out towards the sun as if she wanted to grab it, to keep such a precious moment and share it with him. Somewhere deep in her heart, another spark of light flared up, causing her body to rumble in joy.

But the joy lasts only for a short moment.

As the clouds started to fade one by one by the sun's warming light, revealing Fontaine beneath.

Just then, Furina realized how terrifyingly high they still were when her gaze fell upon the vast landscape and oceans of Fontaine. She felt quickly uncomfortable. She fidgeted a bit out of fear, and grabbed at his coat, her fingers dug deep into the fabric of his top clothes just to hold on to something and bumped her face back into his neck to avoid this fearful sight. Despite her immortality, it seems there was still something for her to be scared of.

"Please let me down, i'm scared!" Clenching her eyes out of panic, the damsel in distress demanded to return home, causing the Iudex to growl in worry and displeasure.

Neuvillette could feel her body trembled again and couldn't do anything else but listen to her plead and quickly descend to the ground with an exhausted growl. "Alright, we are going down to the ground, Furina, don't be scared." And sighs as his Lady was saved from falling after she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Not knowing the extent of physical damage she could suffer if she slammed down into the ground from this height. He let a deep breath out in relief, but was still annoyed as another blissful moment ended in discomfort, and already feared that she might have another mental breakdown.

They were back at their Residence and Furina could finally touch the ground again."Are you alright, Furina?" Neuvillette reaches out to wipe her tears from her scared face while questioning, worried about her declining mental health again.

"I'm alright, Neuvillette. I didn't know i had a fear of heights. Thanks for asking."  Still sobbing a little, she rested her hands on her heart and gave a joyful smile. Willingly rested her face and rubbed her cheek against his palm.

"Mmmm.. Perhaps we should do this again if you don't mind." Furina hid her hands behind her back with a shy look as she stared at her Dragon, who seemed a little bit weary from the hours-long flight.

"It would also be my pleasure, but only if you promise not to stress out again." Sightly, Neuvillette looked directly in her eyes. "I.... don't want to see you like this again.. Take into account that you have to take care of your mental health." Slight sadness covered his face.

Unpleasant flashbacks of bloody scenes rumbled in his mind again. "I can't stand seeing you be this unhappy, nor seeing or hearing you hurting yourself again, nor your bleeding......." Merely thinking back to what she did to herself back in the past year was beyond his tolerance limits, and he couldn't find peace for himself because of it. "Breath and Smile...." A worried tone of his voice escaped his mouth as he looked at her face.

Furina could tell where his worries came from; he had a sincere concern for her well-being. He wants to protect his little precious Lady, caring for the heart of his ocean. She could feel all his worries, and a soothing warmth stirred in her heart. She couldn't help but enjoy herself with a sunny-like smile and blushed face in the gracefulness of her Iudex and didn't even tried to retaliate against his touch; it felt all too great for her to avoid, and she unknowingly wanted more.

Murderer!

Something screamed at her from the bottom of her mind. But the white haired girl didn't paid attention, it was just a shady memory, and she continued to enjoy the sweet company of her Hydro Dragon. Days of her God play were counted, even if she was at fault for what happened, she was just a mere human-like figure.

Traitor!

How can you allow yourself to enjoy all this after what you have done to us? Murderer!

Furina grabbed at his wrist to press her face harder against his palm. Literally tried to bury her face in his palm. A God of Justice should have saved them all, but nothing is really guaranteed. This whole ordeal was like a gamble; you play you lose, the thing was, Furina didn't even had the Mora to even start the play, despite winning. Was her destiny already sealed before she played the God?

You can't run away from your Sins and Crimes! Traitor! Murderer!

The echoes of the past in the deepest parts of her mind became louder and louder. Furina gritted her teeth as her smile soured. She raised an eyebrow as if somebody had stabbed her back. She did not want to lose the warmth the Dragon was giving her.

Sinner! Traitor! Murderer! You cannot hide and will always be GUILTY!

"Who are you?!" Furina almost screamed while her face was still resting on Iudex's palm. She knew what she did and knew whatever she did wouldn't bring them back, no matter how loud she would cry.

"Excuse Furina?" Neuvillette was almost startled by this weird tone and Question. The tension in his chest grew when she tightened her grip on his wrist. He could already feel that something bad was about to happen. He fixed his gaze on Furina.

You KILLED US! MURDERER!!!

The white haired woman started to tremble all over her body. Tears began to flow from her eyes.

Fake Archon! Hope you suffer for your misdeeds! Fake Archon! Fake Archon! Fake Archon!

"Stop that!!"  Her voice almost ended in a scream. Her body tremors intensified. All the warmth she received in the past days fades. The girl in white dress threw more strength in her grip, her nails almost buried into the Iudex glove.

Neuvillette's mood soured at this reaction. "Furina? What's wrong? Speak to me!" The Iudex tried to speak with her, but his attempts were still unsuccessful, she did not listen.

You call yourself God of Justice?! You let us all die to this goddamn Flood YOU Allmighty Hydro Archon Focalors!

FRAUD!

TRAITOR!

MURDERER!

DIE!

"STOP THAT!!!" Furina did not know where all these memories came from, and she screamed at the top of her lungs in an attempt to get rid of them.

"FURINA!" Neuvillette sensed her distress and tried to get her attention, but she did not respond to his call. Speaking of the devil that haunts his beloved Pearl, she collapsed to her knees. He quickly sat down with her and placed the other side of her face on his chest, and stroked her back gently.

Another sweet day was ruined. Neuvillette's pleasant mood was shattered in a matter of seconds. He couldn't describe the dread she was in and had never seen such a mental break as she had right now, as if somebody tortured her right here and now.

Furina raised her face towards Iudex Nauvillette to show her face, overwhelmed by guilt and grief. "Neu...llette please.. help me.."  Distorted, weakened voice left over her trembled lips. As helpless as she sounded, a desperate plea that pierced his ears. 

A little red piece was dropped for her right eye.

His blood ran cold when he looked uncomfortably at his Lady's flushingly pained face, a blood tear slid down past her nose. A Celtic tension ran down his spine. "It's alright Furina, i am here with you." Once again he was deeply horrified by the sight of his Lady, his precious Pearl, succumbing to the malicious grief of the past yet again.

Nearby Melusines heard the commotion and dashed by, watching worringly as their Dragon tried to comfort his Pearl.

Clorinde, warming herself up at the fireplace and sipping zaytun peach tea in the dining room, couldn't overhear the distant scream either. Her mind snapped, and instinctively pausing her tea time, went on to grab a sword from a storeroom and used her Vision powers to fuse her body with electricity and dashed at high speed outside to check out the circumstances and seeing her best friend broken, sitting on the ground and crying.

"Furina...."  Sigewinne and Sedene came closer to check out Furina's mentality just to confirm another hefty mental break, not far from similarity to her lifeless state before. Sigewinne lowered her eyebrows, scuffing at this situation but no patient she couldn't treat. She usually prefers to use medics to treat her patients, but this was something else, she decides to use her Vision powers to ease Furina's condition. It wasn't much, but the Lady in white still feels better and she calmed down a bit.

Clorind totally didn't like that; she hates that. She hates to see her former Archon being hurt. Her own protective instincts as a well-trained bodyguard scuffed at her for being this useless, but what could she do in such circumstances, her friend was fighting an inner demon that was nothing but her own guilt and grief. She watched with half-closed eyes, feeling pure frustration at Furina, and noticed a red line across her face. She sat beside her to share some company.

Poor Hydro Dragon had to suppress his own sadness to make sure the rain didn't spawn in. "Furina?"  He called for her name again.

"I'm alright, thanks Sigewinne. And Nevillette... I don't think i could handle my past suffering alone. But I'd be glad to accept your all help and support, Neuv.... Please, if only you could carry me a little while longer, i'd be grateful." A faint, crumbling voice traverses the small distance between them.

"I...... will..."  The Hydro Dragon yet felt another pain stirring in his own chest after watching his little Lady broke in pain and summoned all his strength to suppress his own cry.

"Look at all these bunch of weird figures, Traveler. Something is happening there."  The small floating figure spoke.

"Helloooooo!" An unknown voice grabbed the attention of the Melusines. Two strangers, a gold-haired boy in exotic clothes and a small flying humanoid creature.

Sedene and few other Melusines ran quickly towards the newcomer.

"Uhmm... Hello there.." Sedene greeted them with her usual tone. "Can we help you?"

"Ehm.. yes...I am Aether by the way and that here is Paimon."

Paimon waved at the Melusines with a bright smile.

"I am Sedene. What brings you both here Aether and Paimon?"  She questions them with a sweet voice for the reason they came, since she doesn't expect any visitors and not only her but all of them.

"We came currently from Sumeru, for the.. Hydro Archon?.. for some company." Paimon gazed curiously back at the Traveler. "Wasn't that... the plan?"

The Traveler just nods. "We heard about the dark stories of Fontaine, as for our info, the Hydro Archon seems to be the only one.... left..........." He looked around, a huge, magnificent Residence, a giant pool, everything seemed clean and normal. A bunch of those weird figures and among them, three humanoid Persons, one tall man and two ladies.

The Melusines behind Sedene are talking now to each other in a strange language that only they could speak.

"Well, things here are different. To put it simply, Fontaine is no more, and the Hydro Archon is... well, not the same anymore. We are the only ones left from the disaster. And you seem fine as far i can sense, why don't we continue inside? We have some good teas there."

One of the Melusine poked Sedene in a serious expression. "Oh.. right, one more thing you need to know before we go inside, Aether and Paimon." Sedene raises a finger.

The Traveler and Paimon had to listen to what Sedene wanted to say.

"Our Hydro Dragon Monsieur Neuvillette is kinda overprotective of our ex-Hydro Archon, and our ex-Hydro Archon Furina took a deep trauma from the Prophesy. So whatever you may question, do not bother her with the past."  Sedene finished her talk and waved at them to follow her.

"The Hydro Dragon?.... wait a minute..." Paimon already ran nervously as she scratched the side of her forehead.

"C'mon, let's go." Traveler spoke to his floating companion. "Didn't you just say Hydro Dragon? You mean the Elemental Hydro Dragon?" Traveler spoke to Sedene in a frightening tone.

The Melusine just nods. "Yes, he is the Hydro Dragon Sovereign." Sedene pointed out while gazing at the Traveler.

Paimon heard that and floated right to the Traveler and pulled at his sleeve with a scaredy face. "Maybe we should go to Natlan instead?"

"Relax Paimon, we gave Nahida a promise, don't you remember? Don't you want to meet this ex-Hydro Archon Furina too?"  Traveler sounded safe. He had already met other Archons before, and wouldn't forget Shogun Raiden, who caused him a lot of buttpain. But these guys seem more friendly, at least we didn't see any mad Harbinger yet, but the current state of this Nation was still a chill for the Traveler who is willing to help out the Nation with their Crises, even when they came way too late to save anything they could.

The floating small figure sighs. 

Clorinde stood up and turned her attention towards the newcomer, and joined Sedene. "Is everything alright here, Sedene?" 

"Mhmm.." Sedene nods calmly. "Can you please prepare some tea for our Guests here?" 

Clorinde stared at the two strangers with a sharp eye first. "Of course. Leave the matter to me."

Soon, everyone except Furina and Neuvillette came inside and took places at the dining table. Sedene went to Clorinde to help her out with the teas. The living room was quite stunning from it's design, apparently the Melusines put a lot of effort into organizing decorations, furniture and other stuff. After Sumeru, Traveler and Paimon felt like they landed in a Royal Palace.

Soon after, two important people came in to greet their guests.

"Greetings." The Hydro Dragon spoke to the newcomers and took a seat at the dining table. Leaving an intimidating impression on Traveler and Paimon. His voice sounded like a distant thunder.

Traveler and Paimon sat bravely at the table and greeted the tall man in return. This was something else the Traveler thought: those slit irises, like the sharpest blade in Teyvat. The Traveler already figured out that he has to be this Hydro Dragon and didn't even feel the need to ask.

A medium-sized woman in a white dress wanders into the room and pauses. "Neuvillette.. I'll go up to my room, I need a little rest." 

"It's alright Furina. Rest well." Neuvillette spoke calmly.

Furina. It was just like Nahida told them, the sadness on this woman's face almost fits the description, the Traveler thought. While Paimon sat there intimidated by the Dragon's Presence, this was like the crazy Shogun Raiden all over again.

Sedene and Clorinde came into the room to serve the tea. "Ehm... where is Furina?" Clorinde questions calmly.

"She went upstairs to her room to take some rest. Could you please watch after her, Clorinde?" Neuvillette requested in a flight of worry.

"Of course, Neuvillette." Without any objection, the ex-Champion went after Furina to see if everything was alright.

"Alright, fellows, enjoy the tea, shall we?"

The ex-Hydro Archon finally climbed up the last steps of the stairs and paused her walk before continuing to reach her room. Something familiar fell into her sight at the other end of the floor.

A familiar appearance she hadn't seen for a very long time, stood at the window. "Who...."  Furina stared for a moment and tried to recollect herself after seeing a very familiar image.

Furina rubbed her eyes and looked again; it was still there. She then slightly gasped. The air around her felt thin, her eyes trembled as the pressure in her neck built up. "I am sorry..."  She could didn't even realized what she just said. She twitched and snapped with her fingers at her lips, not knowing what just went out over her lips.

The wavy white similarity with the same body height. Furina's mind slowly went dizzy, but she did recognize the picture she had once seen before. "What happened??" Her eyes pained the longer she gazed at the figure at the window beneath the sunshine. She felt the urge to run away, her back felt cold.

Furina widened her eyes; she couldn't speak anymore, as the appearance felt like a blade piercing her heart. She just wished that the end didn't occur as the appearance became more crystal clear in her eyes. She never wanted it, never, never, never, headaches spread in her head widely. She bite her lips to say something.

White long hair with an anthena on top of her head shone in the light that came through the window. Furina wanted to run, to run away, far away, far away and never return. The Chief Judge did forgive her, did he? or did he not? She forgot what his answer was. Her chest hurts as if she were impaled by a sword a hundred times. She could smell blood in her mouth as she stood quietly like an ice cube.

Furina started to tremble in disbelief; her breath felt almost suffocating. Her past life caught up to her. She wanted to run away dearly, but her legs didn't reacted to her will, nothing reacted to her will anymore. Tears began to run from her redened eyes. Dread and Despair slowly covered her mind. She wanted to run away and never return.

A delicate dress she saw only once many centuries ago, and she knew there was only one person in such beauty. Furina wanted to scream, to scream at the top of her lungs, her lungs felt like being crushed, and another blood tear slid down.

The picture of heterochromatic eyes that matched hers caught her in a petrified lock; the figure looked with sadness at Furina. Furina couldn't take this anymore; the weight and pressure began to crush her willpower as a second blood tear slid down.

"M....Mirror.. Me?"

Her mind went blank, her thoughts froze. Her own body disobeyed her command. Darkness covered her eyes and she fell to the ground.

"But so much we know from the Geo Archon Zhongli, if the current Archon dies, doesn't that mean you will receive your Authority back?" The Traveler questioned in all curiosity.

Neuvillette was silent for a moment. "Indeed, the Hydro Authority returned to me when the Prophecy passed by. Which left me the impression Furina was no more, well until i.... met her again at the shore not far from here." He looked at his palm again with a mixed feeling of relief and sadness that tugged at his mood.

"FURINA!"  Out of nowhere, a scream echoed through the building, which sounded like Clorinde's voice.

Neuvillette snapped at the scream, did she screamed after Furina? What is it this time? He instantly hated to hear Clorinde's desperate call after his Lady and immediately went like a raging tiger upstairs to check what the hell had gone wrong this time.

Sigewinne, Sedene and a few other Melusines followed quickly the Iudex.

Traveler almost froze, and Paimon almost choked, spat out the tea and coughed terribly as she drank it. Both end up unhappy as they heard that something bad might happen.

The Hydro Dragon made all the way up and was already painted blue in fear, just to see his precious Pearl lying unconsciously in Clorinde's arms.

Chapter Text

Fine rain covered the entire Fontaine after finding his unconscious Pearl rested in Clorinde's care.

Two blood tears after the first one.

The Hydro Dragon was restless; his eyes remained staring at the crackling noises of the fireplace at the opposite side of his chamber. Guilt clouded his mind for the sole reason that he was not there when she clearly requested him to carry her.

All his good mood and joy sank into the drain. The sweet moments with the moon and sunrise he had with his Furina made him almost forget about her current mental health. Then she collapsed and hadn't recovered from this since, which felt like a fever after the unthinkable scene.

"You...."  A bitter whisper left his thoughts. He never felt this bad. Neuvillette had to carry her; instead, he let her walk on her own legs after that one blood tear she cried out, and even allowed her to walk back to her room all alone.

His Pearl made one simple request, nothing to be ashamed of, and he fucked it up straight after bat. Now that's what he got in return: three blood tears. He narrowed his brows head-shookingly; he felt sick of such negligence. Was he really unknowingly willed to make her look pale and lifeless again, like the day he met her again after the prophecy?

"Furina..."  The Hydro Dragon took a glimpse on her porcelain adorable sleepy face that was slightly tugged in sadness. Another whisper escapes his thoughts. With rings beneath his eyes, he gave himself the guilt for not being with her even after she required him to carry her. He was sure she felt healthy enough to walk on her own, just like she had for the past whole year. He gritted his teeth in disdain.

What happened after she reached the top of the stairs? What kind of abomination of a mental disease struck her to end up like that? Had she really grown this weary of her own life? He couldn't rest at all and let a distorted weak growl out as he raised his gaze towards a wall.

Three blood tears, short after the sweetest moments he had with his Furina, all of it disappeared into the air like nothing. Dark memories about her self-harming behavior over the past whole year, the bloody mess at the Oratrice flashed back through his mind. His Pearl sought peace in a brutal way.

Furina was wrapped in a thick fluffy blanket, while the Hydro Dragon sat on a couch and was covered in his own favorite blue blanket while keeping his sleepy Furina like a princess in his own embrace.

Fool. He even promised himself to take care, and he really didn't. The sense of negligence roared through his draconic mind; he almost dropped his precious pearl that he wanted dearly to hold tightly in his treasure hoard. "How careless..."

Sedile came into Neuvillette's room and carried a pile of firewood with her and used it to reignite the fireplace. Short after, the Melusine came closer to Furina to look at the sleepy face, who was almost buried and covered in blankets; only her face was still visible. The Melusine could feel all the built-up heat from within Furina's sleepy coziness and smiled with cheer.

Sigewinne felt almost tired; the Melusine gave all her strength into her elemental powers to ease Furina's suffering as much as she could. "Alright, that should be more than enough, it didn't got any better."  Exhausted and ready to take a nap, the human child looking Melusine took a seat to recover herself.

"Hm... She had symptoms of a cold. We should give her some proper clothes, not this dumb thin short dress." Sigewinne scolded in front of herself.

His room was mostly silent; the crackling noise of the fireplace filled the room. Everyone waited for his Pearl to wake up, the day was still far from its end.

Sedene stepped into the room with a pot of tea. "Sigewinne, here, take a tea." She placed the stuff on a table, filled the cup with tea and gave it to their Chief Nurse.

Some time had passed as everyone in the room sat silently before the stillness broke.

"Neuv...."  A faint voice echoed through the room.

"Furina??" Neuvillette called out of reflex after her name.

Sigewinne felt relieved as she gazed at Furina's face. Sedene and a few other Melusines in the room stood up and rushed closer look. Thanks to Sigewinne and her effort, Furina's health was gradually improved.

"Mi...rror Me..." Calm voice once again passed her lips, calling a name, nobody had an idea of.

"Mirror Me" A Mirror? The Hydro Dragon repeated this strange vocal line; he was unsure about what it was supposed to mean. "Furina!" Neuvillette called out for her again after sensing some movements beneath the blanket she was within.

The white haired girl pulled her hand up to reach out for her face and rubbed her blueish eyes softly.

"Nevuillette?" She tried to move and look around, but there wasn't enough space to do so. All she noticed was that she was wrapped in blankets and held by her Dragon. It was cozy, warm, and comfortable, which made her giggle a little.

"Furina.. how do you feel right now, any better?"  Sigewinne's question reaches her ears.

The Dragon Lady looked with a calm smile to the cute Melusine. "It's quite warm here, i like that." Her calm voice puts a smile on the humanoid Melusine's face.

Yet Neuvillette couldn't adore her sweet voice this time. The Hydro Dragon still felt sick because of her recent mental health collapse.

A few knocks on the door dragged their attention. Clorinde, who sat nearby, resting her chin on her arms on top of the sofa's side and gazed with tilted head quietly at Furina's sweet awake. She stood up and went to see who it was, letting them come in.

Traveler and Paimon came in to share some company.

The Hydro Dragon shifted his gaze towards these two. "Ah, my apologies for the awkward tea round earlier. Things got quite out of hand."  

"It's OK. No need to apologize." Paimon waved his apology off.

"You still haven't quite told us why you are here. Or is there any specific reason?" The Hydro Dragon spoke to the two guests.

The Traveler gazed at the adorable Furina first, who was supposedly the Hydro Archon, was almost hidden in all the blankets except her face, as if she had a bad cold catch.

He took a seat and cleared his mind of all unnecessary thoughts before coming to the point. "We came here to escort Furina to the Dendro Archon, Nahida." The Traveler spoke short to the point.

Everyone in the room gazed suspiciously at him.

"An escort??" The tired Sigewinne toned while sipping her tea. The Melusine was totally on Neuvillette's side and narrowed her brows. "Why?!"

The Traveler sighs. "Not long ago, the Dendro Archon Nahida sent two of her agents to find the Hydro Archon in this... dreariness. She wanted to help Furina by giving her a new home, a new place to live." Traveler spoke calmly and unhurriedly. "You must've met them right, Miss Furina?"

Something rang in her mind when he mentioned about two people. "Two? two Sumerans?... Margred and Henry, i suppose." Furina gazed so straight towards a shelf on the wall while resting her head on her Dragon chest. "Yes.... i remember these two Sumerans, they had a device with them, through which this Nahida spoke with me. She offered me help, helping me to find answers, answers about..... Mirror Me... answers..."

There was this Mirror Me again. Perhaps another Person whom only Furina knew? Neuvillette listened calmly and curiously while keeping his eyes shut.

"And since that call, the two agents went missing. Nahida hasn't heard anything about them and you anymore when she awaited your arrival. She assumed that something bad had happened. Since you were alone here back then, Nahida asked for our help. And that's why we are here, to accompany you to Sumere, to meet Nahida. Miss Furina." Traveler spoke the truth as much as Sedene and Sigewinne could sense via their superior instincts.

Furina turned her gaze towards the blonde guy.

"Miss Furina? You were lastly with them, right? You must know what happened." Paimon asked cautiously.

The white-haired girl was silent for a moment before she spoke. "A group of Fatui caught up to us and separated our ways, one of these Fatui members attacked me while other few ran after the two Sumerans. I fell unconscious before i lost the sight of the two. My apologies, i do not know what happened to them."

The Traveler shut his eyes and lowered his head in frustration and assumed the worst case for the two Sumerans.

"Argh!! The Fatui again?! God, these dogs are really everywhere! So annoying!" Paimon scuffed and swore angrily by merely hearing this cursed name, kicked and smited with fists into the air.

"My Lady... was attacked and hurt?.. unconsciousness?" The Hydro Dragon felt disgusted and felt how pure hatred whirling in his guts. He clenched his eyes to swallow the anger that surged in him.

"And how exactly is Nahida going to help Furina to find answers?" Clorinde crossed her arms while asking the blonde guy.

The Traveler has already seen this question coming.

"There is a place in Sumeru called Irminsul. A repository that contains knowledge, including memories, but only Nahida as the God of Wisdom can access it. She can use Irminsul to deliver you knowledge and memories that are related to you, which you are not aware of."

"That means... I can finally get to know what happened to Mirror Me and why i'm still acursed?" A glimpse of hope written in myth flared up in her heart, and a bright smile formed on her lips. "Of course i will come. Hhihihi." Furina yelled immediately.

Two most unsolved qustions in her heart that plagued her life for so long were now this close to be solved. Answers that could probably elevate most of her suffering once for all.

The Hydro Dragon's mood went stiff and felt sour. Why was she speaking about the Mirror Me thing again, it was the third time already. And what does she mean by being acursed? Her questions beyond his knowledge. Words that taste like muddy water in his mouth.

Furina started to move wildly in his care. "Neuvillette please, let me stand up.."

"Let me help you Furina." Clorinde came quickly by to lend her a hand and removed all those blankets.

"Are you really feeling fine, Furina?" Sigewinne asked in a worried tone. "Yes, i am, for now." Furina exhaled warm breath after being unwrapped from all the blankets and nodded with a calm smile.

However, this 'im fine' speech of his Pearl didn't really convienced him this time that she wouldn't fall into another mental break any time soon. Mirror Me and a Curse? Probably her deepest memories, which could cause another mental break like a lightning strike. So the Hydro Dragon kept out of worry a sharp eye on his poor Lady.

Lutine and Laume ran into the room, two Melusines. "Monsieur Neuvillette? We have another guest outside who was asking for Miss Furina."  Neuvillette and Furina looked at the two Melusines. Thought of who it could be this time.

"For Furina?..... Furina, please stay here, let me handle the Guest." Clorinde responded immediately and took the small matter into her own hands.

The Hydro Dragon also wanted to know what the whole deal was about his Pearl's terms of Mirror Me and Curse, he wanted to know that, obviously this had something to do with the Prophesy. But bothering his Pearl with her deepest memories that surely could cause another mental shitshow, that would be the last thing he'd ever do. He shrugged those two questions out of his mind.

"Mirror Me? Curse? What do you me-" Paimon just asked randomly but before she could finish the questioning, the Hydro Dragon immediately glared with briefly glowing eyes and threatening intent at the small floating figure. The sudden suffocating tension in the air was palpable. Paimon shrieked in terror and quickly hid behind the Traveler.

The Traveler stood calm and unprovoked; he knew despite being Guests here, they weren't fully welcomed, nobody here would cover him if something goes wrong. He was entirely on his own here.

"So, Furina, what do you think? Should we head to Sumeru?" Neuvillette asked his little Lady gently.

Sigewinne jumped immediately out of the seat to between Neuvillette and Furina and crossed her arms. "Not yet! First, Furina needs better clothes, i won't let her go in this thin rag! Hmpf..." Furina gave a giggle at the kind Melusine. "She's right Neuvillette, its quite cold in this dress."

"Let me find something better then. Sigewinne, take a rest, you are surely tired of curing Miss Furina."  The Melusine Sedene went through every wardrobe to find appropriate clothing for Furina's journey.

"How about another tea round?" Sedile proposed that everyone take a place in the dining room. And went on to prepare the finest tea they had.

The violet eyes could not drag her sight off, a peaceful appearance yet something threatening about her whirled in her guts but she couldn't figure out and remained calm and cautious.

The angelic figure, which looked very calm and stood with a basket with various foodstuffs inside, held in by a porcelain clean hand. She stood between two Melusines who seemed to guard.

The pale young woman looked very peaceful and smaller than Clorinde herself. The Melusines were calm and gazed with peaceful eyes at the women in fine white dress.

The ex-Champion of Fontaine stared at the extraordinary guest who came prepared to share some food and tea. "Have you... asked for Furina?" She doesn't remember her at all, yet this person seemed to know Furina.

"Yes, we have already met some time ago, and i would like to see her again. I brought some tea with me."

The tranquility in the young Lady's voice felt almost unreal. Clorinde didn't had a reason to send her away. "Alright, this way." She spoke calmly.

The young-looking Lady followed silently the violet-haired woman inside the Residence.

After reaching Neuvillette's room, but found it was empty except for Lutine and Laume sitting and enjoying the fireplace. "Huh..? Where are they all?" Clorinde asked.

"Miss Clorinde? Oh.. they went to the dining room for tea." Lutine chanted.

The pale young woman followed Clorinde silently like a shadow to meet the others and soon stepped in the dining room, seeing everyone sitting. "I'm back and here we have another guest joining us"

Everyone looked at the new guest curiously.

A pale young woman in fine white dress with a basket. "Hello everyone. I brought some tea with.... Oh and hello Furina."

"You are back. Hello, long time not seen." Furina gave a cheerful smile and waved back. "Come here and sit near me."

The pale young woman walked over and sat on the chair near Furina, where Clorinde was supposed to sit. "I know, my apologies Furina, i had my own things to take care of first, sorry if I let you wait this long."

Clorinde sighed and didn't complain about the stolen place and sat on another chair near Neuvillette instead.

Neuvillette fixed his gaze on the newcomer. Fine white dress, long black hair and the way Furina reacted towards her, isn't she the one whom Furina mentioned during their flight at the Moon's night? "And.. you are?" He asked calmly.

Meanwhile, the black-haired woman took a few teas out of the basket and placed them on the table, looking at Neuvillette. ".......call me Columbina." She smiled softly and shared some tea with Furina. "You like tea too, Mister?"

Columbina. This name sounds familiar. Aether's and Paimon's faces ran instantly pale, and their eyes flew wide after they remembered where they had heard the name; both turned slowly their faces to each other. Wondering in dread on account of what the other of the top four harbingers means to be here. 

"Monsieur Neuvillette, and yes, gladly." The Hydro Dragon looked amused to see that Furina and Columbina knew each other already, to think that this woman taught his Lady this wonderful humming amazed him even more about this singular guest.

After she had given Iudex a tea bag, the black haired woman shifted her uncanny perception that was hidden in her closed eyes covered by a weird blindfold, towards Aether and Paimon. Paimon just melted down to the chair like a falling pebble from the sky. She also gazed for a moment at Clorinde and then returned her attention to Furina. "Glad you met some new friends, Furina. That makes certain things less problematic, right?"

"Yes it does, and i also need to go to Sumeru. Would you like to accompany me?"

"Of course. I do hope my absence didn't bother you that much." Columbina spoke softly

The ex-Hydro Archon fell suddenly silent, her hands clenched tightly around the teacup. Her sight was lost in zaytu-colored tea inside the cup.

The Traveler still couldn't trust this black haired harbinger at all, which comes from the perception of the Wanderer's view. Was there really something sinister about her or just deception?

"Miss Furina? i found some clothes for you to replace your current ones. Please follow me." Sedene jumps into the room and takes Furina away to redress her.

"Excuse me, everyone." Furina sounded pleased after drinking up her sweet tea.

Neuvillette quickly finished his tea; he and Sigewinne stood up to follow Furina without any questions. Clorinde and few Melusine went outside to check out a few things.

Only Columbina and Aether with Paimon remained sitting at the table.

The Traveler couldn't get his gaze off Columbina's appearance, as much as his lungs slowly ran cold. Thinking of the amount of encounters with the Fatui organization in an opposing manner, Aether was too afraid to make any sudden move that could potentially lead to another deadly battle. Paimon layed still on the chair, too scared to look over the table.

Eitherway, Columbina continued unbothered by the Traveler's presence, to crunching on the waffles she brought with her.