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As the sun began its descent, its golden light draped across the water like a blanket ready for sleep. A gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, stirring grains of sand and signaling the ocean's retreat as day turned to dusk.
Yanfei felt the breeze dance around her horns, not strong enough to dislodge her Xiezhi Guan, but enough to send a chill down her spine. Beside her, Furina sat quietly, watching Fontaine's famous waters settle into their nightly rhythm, her hands wrapped around a cup of Silk Flower tea that Yanfei had brewed just for her.
Yanfei and Furina occasionally enjoyed small "tea parties" during Yanfei's visits, since they both were huge connoisseurs of the drink. This time, the legal advisor was in Fontaine to review its laws and help Neuvillette simplify them—ensuring they were easier for foreigners to grasp without being too vague. She was perfect for the job after all, she always complained about their meticulousness and confusing rules.
In her free time, Furina would excitedly drag Yanfei around the city, eager to show her everything Fontaine had to offer, from the cute local shops to the huge performances she directs. But today, they opted for something more low-key: tea, sweet treats, and the peaceful comfort of each other's company. Simple and informal, yet perfectly fitting for the more relaxed, post-Archon version of Furina.
The air was filled with the scents of blooming flowers, salty sea spray, and the warm aroma of freshly baked tea cakes. Their small table, nestled under the shade of a gazebo, was adorned with a compact Adeptal contraption—a portable stovetop keeping a kettle of water warm.
Each time they met, Yanfei brought something new from Liyue to share with Furina. Whether it was her Serenitea Pot, a gateway to another realm, or a seemingly endless codice book made possible by adeptal arts, Yanfei, though living as a mortal, delighted in sharing these marvels with her friend.
The Silk Flower tea, a delicate balance of sweet and bitter, steamed gently in the porcelain cup Furina held. The soft pink liquid warmed her hands as the floral scent filled her senses, bringing a rare calm to her usually racing thoughts.
“How do you like the tea?” Yanfei asked, placing her own cup back on the table, her eyes bright with curiosity.
“I love it!” Furina responded, her voice bubbling with genuine delight. “It has such a unique flavor, very light and fragrant. I enjoy its texture too, and it soothes my nerves very well.”
“Great! Do you think it’s sweet enough? Do you need more sugar?” Yanfei inquired, ready with packets in hand.
“Nope, not too bitter at all,” Furina clarified, “Maybe I should cut back on sugar now that I’m human and my diet actually matters anyways, but it’s perfectly balanced as it is.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Yanfei replied, her smile deepening, her dimples appearing.
As they sat, Furina’s gaze drifted back to the sea, watching the waves lap at the shore. A small crab, caught in the surf, struggled to regain its footing before scurrying away, prompting a soft laugh from Furina—a sound she rarely made these days, her time with Yanfei being an exception.
“Where did you get this tea?” Furina asked, her attention returning to Yanfei.
“I got the flowers from Director Hu. She grows them at the parlor to decorate her hat and had some extra to share,” Yanfei explained, refilling their cups.
“Oh! I remember meeting her. She’s quite the character,” Furina said, her eyes lighting up at the memory.
Yanfei chuckled. “She is, but she’s also incredibly talented. Always fun to be around.”
“I agree,” Furina nodded, her tone softening.
Yanfei’s expression became tender. “My mother used to make this tea for me when I was younger. That’s where the recipe comes from.”
“That’s so sweet!” Furina exclaimed.
“Yeah,” Yanfei’s voice grew wistful. “When she passed, she left me a book of recipes. I don’t cook much, so I donated some to the Wanming restaurant, but I kept the tea recipes. I didn’t want them to gather dust; she worked so hard on them.” Her gaze became pensive, lost in memory.
Furina’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry if I brought up something painful.”
Yanfei shook her head, her attention returning. “No, it’s okay.”
A quiet moment settled between them, the gentle hum of the ocean filling the space. Furina always loved how the wind teased her pearl-white hair. Now that it was shorter, the breeze gently brushed against her shoulders and the nape of her neck, making her shiver slightly. Yanfei’s salmon-pink curls always looked their best in the ocean's winds. If only Furina could run her fingers through her friend's beautifully soft hair, the way the wind so effortlessly did...
“Actually,” Furina began, hesitating slightly, “Could you tell me more about your family? If you don’t mind, of course.”
Since stepping down from her throne, Furina had come to realize just how vast the world was, full of lives she had never truly known. She was eager to learn about others, to absorb their stories like a proper actress studying a role.
“I don’t mind,” Yanfei said, her glowing expression returning. Talking was something she enjoyed, especially when it came to her loved ones.
She started with her father, the most important figure in her life. To Yanfei, he was the embodiment of justice. A loving man who had ignited her passion for law, he often brought her to trials, allowing her to watch him in his element.
Her mother, on the other hand, was more traditional, a brilliant woman with a sharp mind. She was a creator, always inventing or crafting something new. Together with Cloud Retainer and her mother-in-law, Streetward Rambler, she contributed to countless innovations. Her death left a void, but Yanfei kept her mother close in her heart, thinking of her daily.
Furina listened intently with her cheek against her hand, captivated by Yanfei’s beautiful tales, each story offering her an escape from her own troubled thoughts.
“My mother actually helped the adepti create my codice book,” Yanfei mentioned, placing the hefty tome on the table with a solid thud. She flipped through its pages, which seemed to go on forever. Furina watched in awe, fascinated by the adeptal artistry.
“That’s amazing!” Furina exclaimed. “You should show that to Neuvilette; it could be really useful for recording all our laws.”
“Interestingly enough, a good portion of this book contains your laws.”
“Of course it does,” Furina laughed, recalling the meticulous care she’d taken in crafting them, particularly those designed to protect her secrets and reinforce her divine persona. Some of her favorites included “No dogs shall be named after the Archon” and “One shall not eat the Archon’s cake.”
“Your laws are the most complex I’ve ever studied,” Yanfei remarked, closing her codices. “But understanding your past helped me make sense of them, especially the more intricate ones.”
“I’m glad to be of help, Lady Justice,” Furina said, offering a playful wink.
Her tone shifted to a more concerned voice after a moment. “Just promise me after you and Neuvilette reassess the Laws of Fontaine you’ll at least keep a couple of the silly ones? In my memory at least?”
Yanfei gave her a sympathetic, loving expression, “I totally think we can make some exceptions for you. After all you’ve done, it’s absolutely warranted.”
They continued to talk as the last rays of sunlight disappeared, leaving the sky dark except for the glow of the moon and the twinkling stars. Furina always loved the stars, especially when she could see them all at once.
In the Palais Mermonia, her room had a window that opened to the night sky, offering her a small comfort during her loneliest moments.
Now, as she glanced up at the stars, she wondered if Focalors watched over her, ensuring that happiness was coming her way.
But happiness was elusive, even with the pressure of her divine role lifted. The prophecy was draining enough, Furina was unsure if she had anymore determination left to give. It was frustrating her to no end.
What made Yanfei’s visit so meaningful was that it gave Furina a much-needed distraction. From the moment they met, Furina was captivated by Yanfei’s passion for law and her dedication to helping others. Somehow, the legal advisor already understood the full extent of Focalors' sacrifices, while most of Fontaine's citizens believed Neuvilette had simply given Furina a “get out of jail free” card as a favor.
Furina was all too familiar with the feeling of eyes watching her every move when she ventured outside, the fear that kept her from leaving her home, and the exhaustion that often trapped her in bed. Despite periods of progress, depression always returned. The worst part was the overwhelming guilt she carried, knowing deep down that this was the last thing Focalors wanted for her. But did she ever think about the toll those 500 years would have on her when they first met?
“When Focalors died, she made me promise to live happily as a human, because that’s what she always wanted for us.” The blue-eyed girl confessed, “But it’s not as easy as she made it sound. It feels like the world despises me.”
Yanfei listened quietly as Furina poured her heart out on the table. “I can’t forget the trial, the feeling that everyone wanted me gone, that I was nothing but a burden. How can I be happy with this life?”
Tears welled in Furina’s eyes as she recalled the nightmare of the trial, the memories of her suffering haunting her even now. The weight of her mortality only deepened her despair.
Yanfei, who had lived a good life despite her challenges as an adeptal beast, understood. She had spent years learning to control her instincts, to see the world in shades of gray rather than black and white. She had worked hard to find happiness, to make her father proud. Now, Furina needed to do the same, to honor her other half.
“Yanfei, could you teach me how to be happy?”
Though rhetorical, Yanfei already knew the answer. She had known it ever since learning the truth behind the Hydro Archon's death sentence. Sitting across from her was a woman so committed to justice that she would play god for centuries just to defy fate. To Yanfei, Furina wasn't just pretending to be a god—she became one that very day, and Yanfei would give her everything she asked for.
“I have a question for you first,” Yanfei responded, “Do you want to be happy because you feel you deserve it, or because Focalors told you to?”
Furina took a moment to fully consider the question, her mind was split. Focalors had saved Fontaine, so of course I owe it to her. But don’t I also have a right to feel proud of my own contributions to her plan? But what about those helping civilians to safety, do I deserve this more than them?
All this thinking was giving her a migraine.
Yanfei chimed back in, “Because personally, I think after everything you’ve been through, you deserve a peaceful, loving life. And honestly, I don’t think I could fulfill my contract without seeing your smile as often as possible.”
“Aww, you’re too sweet”, Furina felt butterflies pester her chest, faintly lightheaded with joy. She loved the feeling of receiving heartfelt compliments without the power imbalance that came from her role. There was no fear of the divine behind her joyful expression. Just genuine, raw appreciation for Furina.
Yanfei reached out, and Furina took her hands, their fingers gently intertwining. Even beneath her glove, Furina could feel the sensitivity in her right hand, where a scar from contact with the Primordial Sea water still lingered, dangerously close to her nerves. Despite this, she noticed how careful Yanfei was, holding her hands with a tenderness that avoided causing her any pain. It made Furina blush slightly.
They sat in silence, gazing into each other’s eyes, as if the beauty of the setting sun over the water was nothing compared to this moment.
Furina felt the warmth of Yanfei’s palms, as if her pyro energy was seeping into her. Tentatively, she pressed a gentle kiss to the back of Yanfei’s hand, then looked up at her with shy, hopeful eyes. Yanfei responded with a reassuring squeeze.
“Riri,” Yanfei began tenderly, “I think what would really make you happy is to lay down all your burdens on this table. I wish to do the same, if you’re willing.”
Furina was puzzled by the request, but before she could ask, Yanfei stood and guided her to her feet. Lifting Furina’s chin, Yanfei met her eyes, and the air between them grew thick with tension—until it was broken by a kiss.
Furina melted into it immediately, her mind finding a peace she had never known before.
In all honestly, she had long harbored feelings for Yanfei. Originally she mistook those nagging butterflies that came whenever she looked into those etherial, green eyes as simple excitement to have a friend outside of her old, divine self; somebody new to her entirely. However, as their lips parted, she found herself smiling giddily, her cheeks warm with a blush, flush like ripe sunsettias.
“Do you feel better now?” Yanfei asked.
“Yes,” Furina laughed softly. “But, how did you know I liked you?”
“Furina, I’m a xiezhi. There’s no lying to me,” Yanfei replied with a smug grin.
They settled on the soft sand together, cuddling close as the cool night winds began to sweep across the earth. Even though the city never slept, the rest of the world sure did. There was a peaceful hush in the air, only occupied by chirping bugs and the ocean’s waves crashing on the shore. Furina felt herself breathing in slower and deeper than normal. She started absentmindedly tracing patterns in the sand with the heel of her shoe when Yanfei’s voice broke the silence.
"I guess I could give you a short little lesson now, since we're here," Yanfei said, her hand gently finding its way into Furina's.
Furina looked up at her, trying to give her full attention and not get lost in her serpentine green eyes.
"I look at my emotions like laws," Yanfei explained. "Some laws seem stupid, some are complex, and some are just plain annoying, but every law exists to contribute to a system of checks and balances that ultimately serves to protect people and give everyone equal opportunities. Emotions might feel inconvenient or overwhelming at times, but they're part of that balance. If someone were to break a law just because they found it 'annoying,' it wouldn't be fair to everyone else and would have a negative impact. It's the same with emotions—feeling them, all of them, brings you to a steady state of mind.”
Furina stopped to really absorb those words, and she smiled lightly to herself, “I actually really like that analogy, I think Focalors would too. “
“Exactly, because she knows you deserve this,” Yanfei replied, “Now you need to tell yourself the same.”
As they decided to call it a night and pack their things to leave, Furina found herself lost in thought. It was a strange feeling, but something about Yanfei reminded her of Focalors. Both of them shared a deep respect for justice, finding innovative ways to uphold it. Walking beside Yanfei felt almost like walking alongside her other half.
It was all so confusing, yet at the same time, deeply fulfilling.
"Hey, Yanfei," Furina began, catching her gaze as they walked toward her home. "How much longer are you planning to stay in Fontaine?"
"Well, my internship with Neuvillette wraps up at the end of the month, so I’ve got about a week and a half left. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking... could I come back with you? Just for a month, at most!" Furina fidgeted with her gloves nervously. "I want to know what it’s like in the city—I didn’t get a chance to go last time. And, of course, I want to be with you."
Yanfei beamed, her tail tip wagging subtly, dusting away sand like a fluffy pink feather duster. "That would be great! I’ll still have work, but I’ll take it easy so I can show you around."
Furina clapped her hands, eyes sparkling. "Yay! Thanks, Fei!"
"Of course, Riri."
When they reached Furina’s home, they exchanged goodbyes at the door, but not before Yanfei leaned in for another loving kiss. Furina flopped onto her bed once she was fully indoors, feeling weightless—happier than she’d been in her entire life it seemed.
Needless to say, Yanfei’s first lesson was very much productive.