Chapter Text
𝒴ℴ𝓊𝓇 𝒥ℴ𝓊𝓇𝓃ℯ𝓎 𝒾𝓈𝓃'𝓉 ℴ𝓋ℯ𝓇 𝓎ℯ𝓉, 𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇 𝓂𝒶𝒾𝒹ℯ𝓃 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓌𝒶𝓉ℯ𝓇𝓈.
ℱ𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓂.
Furina woke up sluggishly, her hair was never as beautiful in the morning. Her pillows strewn around her bead, rather unlavishly. She didn't sleep in the undignified pose her body choseher to wake up in, but who would care for that at 7am? She yawned, stretching her arms infront of her as sunlight streamed in through a window. For a moment, she thought she was back in her old room, decorated with beautiful ornaments and lush curtains. But no, she was instead in an apartment given to her.
"Good Morning... Furina..." She said to no-one but herself as she moved upwards.
Stepping out of bed onto creaky floorboards, Furina reached for her vision, laying on her bedside table. It hadn't been too long after receiving it, and she was still figuring out the... Quirks of having one, many of which included nearly flooding her apartment, or slipping on constant puddles. She traced her finger around the sapphire's rim, and let out a sigh. She equipped it by her side as she opened her wardrobe.
"A casual outfit today... Like most days..." The voice in her mind would echo as she chose her outfit. A ruffled blue skirt and matching shirt that rang summer out loud. A pair of neat pair of white socks and black shoes, and since it looked sunny today, she wore a hat, decorated with a feather plume. She would be eternally grateful for the gifts she was given as an archon, and would continue to wear them for as long as she could.
Putting her vision onto her hip, she took a fruit from the few fruits left from a basket that the traveller had given her as a passing gift. To Nod Krai, or wherever it would be now. She briskly wished them a good trip in the back of her mind, taking a bite from an apple. Oh, how she did often find herself missing those meals she once had. But, it was no longer her life, and she must move on.
But... had she truly stepped off stage just yet?
She sighed yet again, setting her apple down and looking outside. The sun rippled through a window, casting water-like shadows onto her body. Furina found herself moving towards the window, putting a hand on the cold glass.
"I must move on... Someday..." She whispered to nobody but her sapphire as she pulled away, and started her day.
○•~ ○•~
"Get the latest scoop from The Steambird!"
"Have you seen the newest Escoffier Inspired Creation?!"
"Did you know about the High Affair Scandal?"
Morning chatter echoed throughout the Court of Fontaine, most of it was high noble gossip. Only the best and highest of people knew about all of the affairs going on around Fontaine, and word would spread quickly. A quick remark, a silent gesture, or a newspaper article from The Steambird, were all forms of communication. And communication was key for gossip.
Furina tried evading her ears from it all, she needn't step into uncharted buisness yet again, especially rumors, which she had a habit of being involved in nowadays. She lifted her head, strolling down the street with her shopping bags.
As she walked, she was glad to not feel any eyes on her, although there may have been a chill in the air as she picked up a Steambird Magazine. Idly flicking through the pages before leaving some cash on the shop front, to purchase it. There wasn't anybody at the shop front at the moment, but she was relatively sure nobody would steal it.
Flicking through the pages yet again, she found more and more information.
"Oh, Miss Escoffier is mentioned in the cooking article. Sir Neuvillette has an interview. And Miss Chiori has a design in fashion, as per always..." She muttered to herself, she knew these people somewhat well.
Madame Escoffier was known for looking up to Lady Furina, Archon or not, she looked forward to having her at her restaurant. Which Furina often felt flattered by. Who doesn't like her World Famous Gateau Debord?
Neuvillette was close to Furina once, they sometimes keep in touch, but other times it's left as an open current of water, unexpected, and cannot be predicted. Sometimes they meet, sometimes they don't. Furina herself wants to see him more often, but would rather stay distant as to not hurt the Sovereign's feelings. She hoped it wouldn't rain after their meetings.
And Chiori. Her designs were spectacular. In fact, spectacular was an understatement to the beauties she produced and created. Most of her old clothes were designed at her hand, and perfected even to the smallest touches. She was cared about when it came to that.
She smiled to herself, feeling a warmth inside of her Bloom a little as she walked.
As she did so, a certain whisper on the wind made her ears prick.
"Have you heard about the Ghost Of The Lost Waters?..."
A posh voice with an accent said not too far away from where she was walking. Furina halted, but not abruptly so.
The warmth faded.
What was that voice on the wind? How could she hear that from so far away? She tried to cover hear ears briskly and walk away, but...
"No! Pray tell..."
Another voice asked the question she'd been wanting to.
"Well, people are saying that there's a ghost looming around Fontaine's water features... Spotted nearby!"
"Really? Is it a spirit?"
"Reports say that if you get too close, you'll become a ghost too!"
Furina felt her heartbeat reach her ears. She shouldn't be here. Not at this time. Not right now.
She didn't need another chance.
She suddenly picked up the pace and hurried away, continuing with her shopping as usual.
As she continued, trying to shake off the feeling, she nearly tripped over something. About to fall face first if she hadn't caught herself. Stumbling forwards, she heard a voice.
"Oh! My apologies Ma'am! Just trying to get a photograa..." She heard the voice trail off for a moment into silence.
Furina rubbed her head, turning around to see Charlotte, A Steambird Reporter, looking awestruck. Furina blinked for a moment, a little awkward.
"Good Morning." She nodded her head and walked away.
Charlotte stared, before scrambling upwards to Furina, who kept walking speedily in order to avoid her.
"Lady Furina! I- I noticed you were reading my scoop! Do you like it? Any feedback? Tell me if so i-"
Furina stopped, turning around.
"Please, call me Furina." And she stopped to listen to what the young news reporter had to say.
Charlotte stopped as well,
"My apologies La- Furina! And I didn't mean to trip you up." Charlotte turned her head over to a pop up food chain, which was operating at the moment, "I'm just getting my latest information."
Furina tilted her head,
"Hasn't that restaurant been up for a while?"
"It's not the restaurant I'm bothered about." Charlotte put hands on her hips, "There's these seabirds that seem attracted to it's shop. And they're very rare. Speckled Frost Pelicans. Very rare indeed. So I've been waiting till I get a hit."
Furina smiled softly, entertained.
"Well, perhaps you can set out some food? A trap of sorts." She suggested, folding her arms.
Charlotte paused, then clicked.
"Brilliant idea Ma'am! But er- I don't have any on me at the moment... I guess I'll have to think of something else..."
Furina blinked, looking down at the shopping bags on her arms.
I suppose it couldn't hurt to give up a little something for her scoop...
After giving some thought into it, she dug into her shopping bag and brought out a loaf of bread, already cut into slices. She brought out a slice, and handed it over to the young reporter.
"Here, it's not much, but.."
"This is perfect!" Charlotte grinned, butting in, "I guess I'll just have to wait for them to come now."
"Alone?" The performer tilted her head,
"Looks like it."
"I don't have much happening today." Furina shrugged, wanting to get her mind off of the chill she felt anyway.
Charlotte stared, blinking very slowly.
"Oh. Okay!" And she crouched down beside a bush, Furina crouching too.
It was a strange job, but, the reporter seemed quite happy.
That put a smile on the performers face too.
After waiting for not so long, there came a flapping of wings, and a small group of silver, large billed birds perched where Charlotte had thrown the food. They pecked at it carefully, making exotic sounds as they communicated. Charlotte snapped a selection of photos excitedly.
"Perfect, perfect! Thank you Furina." She smiled, the actress smiling bak in response.
"Wonderfully executed. I have to credit you."
"Haha.. Gee, thanks!" Charlotte nodded.
The warmth was nice until the sound of footsteps rushing over alerted them. A young man, with a wild expression on his face.
"E-excuse me! Are you a reporter?!" He looked over to Charlotte, who seemed confused.
"I mean, you can call me that, yes. But-"
"Come over to the Bridge, quickly!" He ran in the other direction, scrambling wildly.
Charlotte ran off immediately.
Furina, less so.
As soon as they got to the bridge, they both noticed the beginnings of a crowd beginning to form. Shocked whispers and gasps crawling among the chatter of people and the sound of The Fountain Of Lucine bubbling away in the background. Furina looked around to assess the situation, but struggled to see beyond the crowd. Charlotte however, was diving straight into the group of people, pushing past with her Kamera.
"Excuse me! Coming through!" She yelled as she pushed past, then recoiled in a startled gasp as soon as she got on the other side of the wall of people.
Furina approached, trying to keep a low profile, but also trying to find what Charlotte had seen.
Upon arriving, she was met with something colder than she had ever imagined.
A young and frail body, dressed in clothes that didn't seem Fontainian. It's body was too washed up to tell if it was female or male, and it's somewhat short black hair was let loose, covering their eyes with soaking strands. What caught her off guard was the stillness that the body radiated. Although, it was almost like it was still breathing, just barely, like a baby bird fallen from a nest. It's chest moving, but with no breath to confirm life.
Medics, Police, and Reporters crowded around, shocked and startled expressions melting into one unmistakable message.
Somebody had been killed here.
Furina stepped back, trembling slightly at the shock. She shook her head, once or twice, trying to confirm what she saw. She had never seen a body in this state before.
So cold. So silent.
As she stepped away from the crowd, she saw a glimpse of a faded figure in the moonlight, looking around with confused and terrified eyes. The Actress caught their gaze for a moment, locked in place. Her feet didn't move, and neither did theirs.
It was the same young body, standing now, their body rippling like light reflected on water.
As soon as they stepped forward, Furina ran past them, keeping her vision in clutch as she did so.