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When the person you once knew by heart is strayed by the ways of the law and order, how should you fare?
Navia had thought, with all her heart, she could place her trust in Clorinde. It had been that way for years. ..Now they were both adults, and had their own lives, in different layers of the hierarchy. Except, other than being a “common” person, Navia had done well for herself. She’d taken on the Spina Di Rosula, became their president and led with valor and strength.
Things had gotten a bit better for Clorinde since the rules of justice had taken up every waking moment of her time- at least that was what she thought. When there’s nothing else to worry about, including questioning your morals, being the Champion Duelist suddenly feels much easier.
Well, her job would’ve gotten easier, because she would’ve been able to see Navia again after every trial. But instead, fate shoved its cruel hands on her shoulders. It had been brought to her attention that Navia’s father messed up greatly in the face of the law, and had to face her in court. And because he wouldn’t go to the Fortress of Meropide, nor did he surrender when he was already down-
Clorinde had been forced to murder him with her own sword, as justice demanded. He died believing everyone hated him, and the same for Clorinde. But no one ever saw how fairly she treated her opponent. How when he stumbled, she’d waited for him to get back up and plead for mercy, praying he’d realize what he was doing..
And when all else failed, her fingers shook around her sword’s hilt before dealing the final blow.
The eyes that looked to her with adoration and friendship before had turned cold and bitter. Navia avoided her presence now, quickly getting out of any situation with her in it. That elegant, infectious happiness she would’ve fought every criminal mind to see again quieted whenever she was around. And yet Clorinde watched. Not constantly, but whenever she could. She fought forces behind Navia’s back, broke the enemies she could’ve handled herself. Because she’d never wanted to be the one who killed her father.
She’d only wanted to protect her.
Three years of silence. Of bitter stares from the girl she knew to quiet, yearning stares from her own sharp eyes. and a part of her knew it was pathetic. She’d never lost a physical duel in her life, and she shouldn’t have this strong drive in her heart to pursue the lady that haunted her anymore.. But this emotional back-and-forth was killing her. Every time she tried to say something, she saw the grief in those blue eyes, and it closed her chest again.
“Please, just don’t hurt me any more than you already have. Go. I can take care of myself.”
The words Navia had said to her were cold, and she knew they were. But they were also fair. How could she do something like that? Just one move would’ve saved him. One opportunity to speak up, a refusal to continue the duel- and it could’ve saved him.
At least, Navia thought that way up until the bitter end. No one did anything when it really counted. And if that was justice, how could anyone in this nation live with themselves?
But after a while, she realized how much becoming the leader of the Spina in the lost ones’ stead had changed her, not just her appearance. Instead of burying her head in her arms and feeling helpless whenever she thought of the family she couldn’t save, she began to forgive herself. And in forgiving herself, she forgave others. Whenever someone curious would bring it up, maybe not even intending to resurface such strong memories, or perhaps intending to start drama-
“You’ve had such terrible things happen to you, and yet you’re still the President. How do you do it?”
Navia would smile, and not with practiced elegance- with pride that her accomplishments were paying off.
“You’ll put too much stress on yourself if you think of those things all the time, you know? Honestly, I’m just lucky i have all this love from everyone.”
Love.. it meant a lot of different things in Fontaine. It meant drama- lovers meeting out in the rain just to clasp their hands around each other and confess everything in their heart. It meant romance, that beautiful, connected moment that only happens when all the stars align- and scandals. So many scandals that, admittedly, far too many Fontainian court cases were from unhappy marriages or sweetness turned bitter or withered.
She wasn’t sure what it meant to her yet. But every time she thought of the woman she turned narrowed eyes to in its context.. her heart ached.
Navia wanted to forgive her too.
Because no one saw what she saw after the duel was over. That carefully concealed droplet after Clorinde had coldly turned away to the audience, and the Hydro Archon had clapped her hands with a merry laugh as the scales tipped even.
A tear falling onto the stage.
..It had been pouring all day. Navia had been walking alone on the outskirts of the Opera Epiclese, feeling the cold water hit her nose when her ruffled parasol wasn’t quite enough.. It was on gloomy days like these that she always thought of her father. Despite all the progress she’d made, her grief came in waves, and on days like this it almost threatened to dissolve her entirely.
She’d wanted to be mad when lightning crackled from behind her and Clorinde quickly struck down the band of treasure hoarders sneaking up on her for the jewel hanging from her hat. She should be mad at her still, she knew that..
But under the cold droplets of rain..
“Hydro dragon, don’t cry.”
The words she and a younger Clorinde used to chant at the sky when it rained rang in her head. The thought of scorning her again made her nauseous. And instead of saying the words her brain told her to say..
her heart spoke instead..
and she said what she’d wanted to say for months whenever she saw her gaze drop and turn away, heavy with a want to be better.
“..I forgive you.”
She couldn’t tell if it was rain or tears falling down her jaw under that wide brim of a hat. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
Navia could barely bear to look at the duelist beside her. Her words were soft and slow, like she couldn’t believe she’d actually said them.
She saw Clorinde pause. She knew she hadn’t been expecting this, and if she could laugh like they used to and play around about it.. she would’ve. But the rift between them was deep, strengthened by painful time apart. there was no laugh in her voice now.
“I forgive you.”
Clorinde was stunned. she blinked once, twice-
This can’t be real. How can she forgive me, after what I’ve done?
That quiet mercy.. she always was so understanding.
The duelist brushed a strand of darkened hair from her face, not for presentation, but because it was blocking her eyes from what was truly important. Navia had forgiven her. She couldn’t just stand in silence and wait for her to take it back. “Are you.. truly certain about this?”
Dampness from the sky causing her starch white gloves to cling to her skin, she stretched out her hand, like she wanted to touch her- and didn’t follow through. didn’t dare, because she didn’t know if it was allowed.
“I think I understand now.” Navia laced her fingers in Clorinde’s instead of just letting her hand hang there like a scared child’s, and stood strong under the weight of her parasol. To tell the truth, she’d never been happy with herself for holding that vengeful feeling within her. She’d never enjoyed seeing Clorinde walk on eggshells around her and sidestep around her just to protect her, though she should’ve.
At least that was what everyone else said. ”You should hate her for what she did. She’s so heartless. She’s never made exceptions for anyone. You can’t when you’re that interlocked with justice.”
And for a while, she’d agreed. Why would Clorinde do it? Why wouldn’t she drop everything to save him, if she truly cared about her so much?
But after so much time finding herself, she understood. Justice was everything in Fontaine. it was what she fought for every day- justice for those who weren’t as fortunate in this huge city where every day felt like a dramatized play.
“If you made even just one exception, even for my father, it would ruin everything and tip the scales. You can’t just have one exception in your kind of job.”
She knew that despite how hard she tried to hide it, Clorinde felt deeply. She saw it every time she looked at her.
“Now, I don’t agree with that logic,” she admitted, because how could she? It went against everything she stood for- save those who needed it most, no matter what the law said. Even if they considered her gang notorious for it.
“But I.. well, i understand why you did it. And I miss when you felt like you could talk to me about these things. I still wish you would’ve done something. but if I’m as right about you as I think I am, I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.” She closed her eyes, finally feeling safe enough to do so, and just.. thought. Of everything Clorinde must have felt around her.
She must have seen something in her to keep following her after all this time.
Her free hand shifted the parasol over both of them, protecting them from the falling tears soaking them through. And when she felt a slight tug on the one in Clorinde’s, she didn’t pull away at all.
In a familiar gesture, Clorinde brought it to her chest.. and closed her gloved palm around it. Her sworn oath of loyalty from now on, for as long as she had it.
Strangely, Navia found herself laughing. Not because she found the situation any form of hilarious, but because she was just so full of joy.
Maybe they could learn to love each other again. No matter what type of love that entailed.
“I missed you too.”
Finally, that smile Clorinde had always wanted to see again was back. Navia had forgotten how much she missed having her close and attentive like this. “And I’m sure if I missed you this much, you missed me twice the amount, didn’t you?”
Clorinde smiled gently at being called out, and Navia’s heart felt warm all over again. “I’m not sure if I should say how much.. it might scare you off again.”
Navia laughed again and squeezed her hand, pulling it closer instead as the rain hit their arms. For a moment, it really felt like all of Fontaine had shown a spotlight on them- this perfect, melodramatic moment captured in one of the bubbles underwater forever.
And then she found her voice. “You’re not scaring me off, partner.”