Beneath the Misty Waters

by LakelightStars

Summary:

With the death of the Hydro Archon, something unusual has happened in Furina.
Her memories are gone. And no one knows why.

She has forgotten things. She has forgotten Neuvillette.

When memories fade, what remains of the self?
As the past slowly unravels, Furina faces a painful choice: to reclaim her memories or to forge a new path as someone new.

Chapter 1: Memories Fade Like the Tide

Notes:

I thought this would be an interesting idea to write. Not me adding more angst and tragedy to the already tragic stuff that happens to Furina *sobs*

There will be spoilers for the Fontaine Archon quest!
Tags will be updated as I go!

Note: This is rated Explicit because of the eventual smut tag. Though I might change it to mature? Not sure yet.

The rain had not stopped for three days.

Neuvillette stood on the balcony of Palais Mermonia, his gaze tracing the glistening city below. The pattering droplets blurred the lines of the architecture, softening the once sharp edges of Fontaine’s waterways and streets.

The rain wasn’t the torrential, earth-swallowing downpour that had nearly ended Fontaine just days ago. It was softer now, almost hesitant, like a lingering grief that seeped into the earth itself. Water pooled in the streets, reflecting the dim glow of the aquabuses coming and going. Their movements muted in the post-cataclysm.

Fontaine lived. The people of Fontaine were now absolved of sin, and he, as the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, was likely going to take over the position as ruler.

That should have been enough.

But it wasn’t.

He rested his hands against the cool stone balustrade, fingers tightening involuntarily. His mind kept returning to the execution and the clean, swift fall of the guillotine blade. Then, the silence that had swallowed her execution afterward. The finality of Foçalor’s death was a wound still fresh beneath the surface of the city’s fragile calm.

Even if the residents of Fontaine didn’t know the full story of what happened.

He had already attended the public addresses, the reassurances, the countless petitions from citizens desperate for proof that this was truly over. But beyond the formalities, beyond the titles of “Chief Justice” and “Iudex,” there was the matter that only he could address… though he did not know how.

Around him, the faint scent of wet stone and fresh rain mingled with the distant hum of aquabuses slipping through the canals. But Neuvillette felt removed from it all, as if a veil separated him from the life continuing without pause below.

His thoughts turned inevitably to Furina.

It had been a few days since he’d seen her.

She had been different these past days, quieter and withdrawn. Not in the usual way she could mask with a flourish or a sharp word, but something softer, a mist clouding her gaze like the early fog in Erinnyes Forest after a rainstorm. He had not dared to approach her, respecting the space she seemed to crave. 

Yet the distance gnawed at him, more painful than any sword.

It was to be expected. She was probably tired after everything. And yet, he felt there was something off.

Inside, the echo of footsteps against marble drew his attention. And he turned his head.

Sedene, the melusine, stood on the threshold of the balcony, her fluffy ears held up high.

“Monsieur Neuvillette.” She addressed him with a salute, “The traveler is here to see you. She says it’s important.”

His eyes widened slightly. Lumine had been a monumental force during the crisis, her strength had helped them greatly. He nodded at Sedene, then headed down the stairs with her.

Neuvillette’s boots echoed softly on the marble floors as he descended the grand staircase, the sound steady but hollow in the vast Palais. The ornate chandeliers above cast a muted glow, reflecting off the polished surfaces, but even the light felt subdued in the aftermath of tragedy.

Sedene returned to her post. Then his eyes moved from her to the traveler.

Lumine’s presence was a rare beacon amid the pall, a reminder of the world beyond Fontaine and the ongoing struggles of their intertwined fates.

As Lumine’s eyes met his, Neuvillette noticed the flicker of worry that shadowed her usual calm demeanor. He noticed her floating companion, Paimon, was nowhere to be seen.

Once her head turned, her eyes met his. A soft smile fell on her face.

“Ah, Neuvillette.” Lumine stepped forward.

“It’s good to see you, traveler.” He said, “What’s the occasion? Shall I offer you tea perhaps?”

Lumine put her hands up at the offer, “No need. I actually… I came here to check on Furina. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Neuvillette tilted his head, but nodded in response. He could sense the worry behind Lumine’s eyes. He glanced briefly at Sedene behind the counter, who nodded back. The melusine made a gesture to indicate that her lips were sealed.

“You may speak freely here. Sedene is a friend.” Neuvillette said, “But if it’s too important we could go to another room.”

Lumine shifted her weight between both feet. “It’s important.”

“Very well.” He replied. He gestured to Sedene to not let anyone disturb them before leading Lumine back to his office, not too far away from the reception area.

The door of his office shut softly behind them with a click.

“What’s this about, traveler?”

Lumine met his eyes, serious but thoughtful. “I came to see Furina,” she began, voice low, “because… something didn’t sit right with me during the trial.”

“There’s something I saw that worried me. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you or not but…”

Neuvillette stood calmly, letting her speak.

“When Foçalors was executed, I watched Furina closely. The way she moved, the way she stopped performing… It felt like she was carrying more than just grief.”

Lumine’s gaze darkened, memories pressing on her heart.

“There was a wave of Hydro energy, but it wasn’t just that. It felt like a piece of her… something vital had vanished.”

Neuvillette absorbed her words, a tightening knot forming in his chest. The Hydro Archon was gone, but the shadow it left behind was heavier than he had anticipated.

Lumine looked down briefly, then met his gaze again with resolve.

“I see…” He said, quietly concerned. “That’s concerning. The Hydro Archon is dead, that might be why.”

She placed a hand on her chin, thinking it through. “That’s what I thought too,” She replied, “However, I feel like there’s more to it.”

Neuvillette nodded slowly, the weight of responsibility settling more firmly upon him.

Lumine took a quiet breath, meeting Neuvillette’s eyes with a mix of resolve and hesitation.

“She could just be grieving or exhausted but…” she said quietly. “There’s something missing, I think. I haven’t seen her lately, but when I approached her after everything happened I sensed something wrong. She had this… glassy look in her eyes.”

Neuvillette’s eyes widened slightly. He knew exactly what Lumine was talking about. He frowned, a tightening sensation in his chest.

Lumine continued, “It’s subtle, but I’ve never felt anything quite like it. It worries me. If it’s not just the death of Foçalors, then what else could it be?”

Neuvillette’s gaze dropped. He ran a hand over his face, struggling to accept the weight of her words. There was indeed something wrong lately with Lady Furina, but he chalked it up to grief. But if Lumine had noticed it too…

“Have you tried speaking with her?” Lumine asked gently, prying him away from his thoughts.

“I will,” he answered, voice low. “She’s been distant these past few days. I need to see her.”

There was a long pause before Lumine smiled faintly. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

“Thank you, traveler.”

Lumine smiled politely, and they talked for a moment more. About the aftermath and cleanup. Apparently, Lumine had also been helping out, and she would stay in Fontaine a bit more then leave for Natlan.

Eventually, she left the Palais Mermonia and headed out. Neuvillette stood alone in his office. His thoughts turned to Lady Furina once more, and what Lumine had told him.

He had been giving Furina her space lately, so no one had really spoken with her, not even him. She hadn’t gone out, either. After the Hydro Archon’s death, Furina proclaimed she was tired and headed to the Palais Mermonia.

But she hadn’t left her room since.

He thought, perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to check up on her. She was still residing here, even after everything had happened. But he wondered if she would continue to cling to her old life, to the performance she had to put on for others by staying here.

He walked out of his office and through the corridor.

“Sedene.” He said, looking towards the melusine. “If you need me I’ll be checking in on Lady Furina.”

“Yes, Monsieur Neuvillette.” Sedene replied, giving him a salute.

With that, Neuvillette excused himself and made his way through the halls and up the elevator towards Furina’s room, his steps measured but filled with purpose. Lumine's words followed him though, up the elevator and to the upper floor.

When he reached her door he hesitated. He stood just outside it, his eyes fixed on the grooves of the wood. His hand hovered hesitantly over the carved wood, uncertainty twisting inside him. He was debating on whether to knock or leave her be.

But Lumine’s words worried him. Furina… worried him.

Perhaps, this was the least he could do after not noticing her pain after decades of spending time with her.

Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing Furina standing there, yet not the Furina he remembered.

Her pale blue hair was tousled, strands falling carelessly around her face in stark contrast to the meticulous styling she once maintained. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief and sharp wit, now looked restless, like ocean waves unable to quiet down.

The usual confident tilt of her chin was gone, replaced by a fragile uncertainty. The absence of her signature hat left her looking exposed, vulnerable in a way that stirred something protective in Neuvillette’s heart.

For a moment, she stared at him silently, lips parted as if searching for the right words, or perhaps for memories that refused to surface.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, “Did you need something?”

There was no trace of her theatrical bravado, no flippant tilt of the chin, no spark of calculated mischief. Just quiet confusion. Her gaze locked onto his, wide and uncomprehending.

Neuvillette stepped back slightly, suddenly aware of the fragile barrier between them.

“Lady Furina. I came to check on you.” He said quietly. The way he said her name rang with familiarity

Her gaze flicked to him and she tilted her head.

“Oh? I’m fine.” She said with a wave of her hand.

He couldn’t understand how she could put on a performance even now. Wasn’t she tired?

But her behavior wasn’t his to judge.

Neuvillette frowned, concern tinged his brow. “I was worried. The strain on you after…”

She took a step forward, then another, until she was close enough that he could see how uneven her breathing was. She looked at him as if she was studying him.

Her mismatched blue eyes seemed to stare through him. As she got closer he felt his heart rate spike. Either from unease… or something else. He couldn’t quite tell.

Instead, he shook the feeling off.

They hadn’t seen each other since that day.

Neuvillette’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, confused at her behavior. 

He half expected her to leave the Palais Mermonia. He had already gathered some melusines to help with such a task if that was indeed what Lady Furina wished.

As much as he didn’t want her to leave.

He would respect her choice.

She was human now. She would have to live her new life somewhere far from here. Far from him.

The way she was looking at him now unsettled him.

“What’s the matter?” He asked.

But Neuvillette wasn’t quite prepared for what he was about to hear.

Her lips parted, and the words came out barely above a whisper.

“...Who are you?”

Neuvillette’s heart dropped. 

The words hung in the air like a cruel joke but there was no humor in it.

He almost felt his knees give away. Oh, the sight of a man such as him brought low by three mere words.

Once, she would have swept into the hallway with a dramatic pose and some cutting remark about his solemn face

But now...

She doesn’t remember me.

His breath hitched, and a cold weight settled deep in his chest. 

For centuries, he had stood by her side, through triumph and torment and now, in this quiet moment, she looked at him like a stranger.

“No,” he whispered, voice breaking. “You… you don’t remember me?”

Furina blinked, confusion clouding her eyes as she took an unsteady step back, as if afraid to touch a past that had slipped away.

“I… I-I know who you are,” she said softly, panicking slightly, “but who are you to me? I feel like I just woke up from a long dream, and I ended up here somehow.”

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the pain sharp and raw, like ice slicing through flesh.

This is no dream, Neuvillette wanted to say.

You live here. We’ve shared a lifetime.

But the words lodged in his throat.

He swallowed hard, the fragile mask of calm shattering. “I’m Neuvillette,” he said, voice trembling, “I’m… I’m the Chief Justice of Fontaine.”

Furina’s brows furrowed slightly, as if the words meant something but not enough.

The world seemed to still in silence. He looked at her carefully, this wasn’t a jest of hers, she looked genuinely baffled. His eyes met her in equal confusion.

“Oh.” She said simply.

He stared at her, unblinking. She looked back at him with no recognition, only polite confusion, as though he were a stranger she’d met on the street. And not the Chief Justice who had stayed by her side all these 500 years.

His mind filled with questions. 

Perhaps this was his punishment for not noticing her suffering all those years. Perhaps it hadn’t been enough to absolve every Fontanian of their sins. Oh how cruel Focalors remained, even in death. Was this her doing? Furina was human, he didn’t feel any elemental energy from that fake vision of hers, but it wasn’t supposed to end like this.

It was his fault. His fault for never noticing before. Perhaps he could have prevented this too.

Now, with his dear treasured Furina friend in front of him saying she didn’t remember him, he didn’t quite know what to feel.

The quiet between them was heavier than the rain.

If she truly didn’t know then he should tell her the truth. But he also didn’t know how much she didn’t know. Perhaps she just forgot him specifically? Or maybe all the trauma built up after all those years weighed too much on her mind?

You were once the Hydro Archon, he wanted to say.

But perhaps it wasn’t his place to remind her of that burden she carried, one not meant for mortal hands. Or of the decades of loneliness, and the strange companionship they had forged in the shadows of duty.

“Where am I?” Furina asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

Neuvillette forced his emotions down and spoke calmly, “This is the Palais Mermonia. You live here.”

Furina tilted her head. “Since when?”

He remained quiet, not sure how to respond.

He stepped forward, examining her eyes. “Do you know who you are?”

“Furina de Fontaine… right?” She asked.

His lips thinned.

At least she remembered her name.

But she was looking at him with those unknowing eyes, and he realized that whatever she had lost, it could not be returned at that moment.

“Yes, that’s you… Lady Furina.” He replied.

His chest tightened, he felt like a blade was being twisted inside of his flesh. He was trying not to show his pained expression to her, but he was doing a poor job of showing just how much this affected him.

If her memories were truly gone, he would do whatever it took to protect her. He vowed to do so. It was the least he could do.

“As for what I am to you,” he said finally, though the words came out quiet, “I am… someone who will make sure you’re safe.”

Notes:

When ur wife doesn't divorce you
instead she just forgets you 😭

Chapter 2: A Bittersweet Reunion

Notes:

This story will mostly be abt Furina and Neuvillette but some Fontaine characters will make some appearances here and then
This chapter: Navia cameo

Let's see how much I can write before I start college next week-
I dont wanna go back but I have to lmao

Also: thank you everyone for the support on chapter 1 💙

edit: I have fixed some details i got wrong!

The day after.

Neuvillette sat on the couch in his office, hands folded, gaze fixed on the surface without really seeing it. Lumine and Navia sat across from him. In front of them laid a platter of macarons stacked up high, ones that Navia had made herself, along with three cups of tea.

The teapot sat in the center of the desk, emanating the scent of black tea. It filled the air, swirling in the room and settling deep into his bones.

He had been fortunate to find Lumine soon after the events of yesterday, so she had joined him today. She had brought Navia along with her as a confidant.

Neuvillette’s solemn face reflected on the smooth surface of his tea, that weary look in his eyes hadn’t left him since yesterday.

Outside, the rain kept pouring. It had briefly stopped yesterday morning, but it had picked up again in the evening. It streaked against the glass of the tall windows in his office. The room was cold, the air unsteady between them all. The sight of tea and macarons felt like an afterthought in his mind.

Lumine lifted her cup of tea gently, looking over its rim and finally broke the silence. “Neuvillette. You said you had something important to discuss?”

He nodded, looking between her and Navia.

His voice was steady, but it carried the weight of something he had not yet learned to name. “It’s about Furina.” He said, “You were right about what you saw, traveler.”

Lumine’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“It seems…” Neuvillette said, his words forced. “...It seems Lady Furina does not remember me. Or anything about the last five hundred years, for that matter.”

Navia choked on her tea, nearly dropping the cup and coughing into the crook of her shoulder.

“I’m sorry what?!” She exclaimed, her eyes wide.

Lumine beside her looked equally confused and shocked, her brows drew together. “She doesn’t remember anything?”

“Wait, wait!” Navia interrupted, “Are you serious? How did you find out?!” She stood up from her chair, her mouth open.

“I’m serious.” Neuvillette replied. "When I came to check on her yesterday, she asked me who I was."

Navia’s mouth closed, her lips forming a thin line. She was quiet for a while, and neither Neuvillette nor Lumine said anything as they waited for her to take in the information.

Her expression twisted with a flurry of emotions, and then… she finally sat back down in her seat.

“Both of you look way too calm about this…” Navia murmured, “If Furina doesn’t remember anything … that’s horrible. She gave up so much for Fontaine.”

Neuvillette said nothing. Despite his calm exterior, the swirl of emotions beneath his eyes betrayed his demeanor.

Lumine, who had been quiet, let out a long sigh. With the bombshell Neuvillette had dropped on them, the macarons and tea were the last thing on everyone’s mind.

“You said you found out yesterday, do you know how much she forgot?” Lumine asked.

Neuvillette shook his head. “I don’t know to what extent, but whatever you sensed back then, traveler… It seems like you were right.” He replied, his hands digging into the plush material of the couch. 

Lumine searched his eyes for answers, but it seems like he was just as confused as her.

“I-I’m sorry, what do you mean exactly?” Navia asked, leaning forward. “What did you see?” She asked, her head turning to Lumine.

Lumine intertwined her hands together, her gaze lowered to the floor. “When the Hydro Archon died… I thought I saw something shift in Furina.” She looked up to both of them. “I saw her memories, I saw her performance across 500 years, but in that moment I felt like something disappeared.”

Neuvillette’s lips thinned into a fine line. Yesterday he wouldn’t have believed it without sufficient evidence, but he had seen it for himself. He had been racking his head for reasons why, but he had not come to a conclusion yet.

Navia stirred in her chair, crossing her arms. “That’s troubling. Are you sure she doesn’t remember?” She asked him.

“Yes, I’m positive.” He replied, leaning back on the couch. “I… asked her a few questions yesterday, she knows her name. And nothing more.” Neuvillette replied. 

“No history. No sense of what she’s been through, what she’s done.” His eyes narrowed, “It is as though the… performance, the burdens, the trials, all of it were wiped clean.”

The air around them stilled into silence, neither of them spoke as they absorbed his words. He didn’t look at them, his gaze fixed on the far off distance. He watched the droplets of water slowly trail down the windows of his office as they left long streaks in their wake.

The torrent of rain should have stopped after the cataclysm just days ago. And yet, the rain wouldn’t let up. It wasn’t the heavy rain that flooded the nation, but it was a somber, melancholic rain that seeped into every street, every narrow alleyway.

Neuvillette’s heart felt heavy. An unspeakable emotion written across his face, his brows were creased together. He thought they had passed the worst of it, but this turn of events complicated things. Why did she have to continue to suffer?

He didn’t even realize how hard he was gripping the armrest of the couch until Lumine spoke up.

“Do you think it’s because the Hydro throne was destroyed?” Lumine said quietly.

Neuvillette glanced at her, relaxing his grip on the armrest. “That’s my only working theory. Her bond to the divine power of the Archon was severed. Perhaps… her memories were too.”

Navia closed her eyes, thinking deeply, then spoke up. “Wait, what if it's like… trauma induced amnesia?”

“That’s a thing?” Lumine asked.

Navia nodded, “When… I lost my father years ago, I went through something similar. I’m alright now but Lady Furina may have blocked out memories that were too painful.”

Neuvillette’s eyes widened slightly.

He hadn’t considered that.

He was suddenly glad Lumine had brought Navia along. Three heads were better than one. However, Navia’s theory didn’t align with what Lumine experienced during the Hydro Archon’s death. Still, he wouldn’t rule it out entirely.

“Perhaps you should bring her to Sigewinne?” Navia suggested.

“I’ll do just that. I’ll have Sigewinne come here this week to check on her.” He replied.

They could talk endlessly in circles about what caused the amnesia, but the truth of it would remain. But perhaps taking Furina to a doctor wasn’t a bad idea at all.

Then, Lumine shifted in her seat.

“Is she here now?” She asked.

Neuvillette nodded, “She’s barely left her room. I thought that perhaps Lady Furina would leave the Palais after… everything, but her condition complicates things.”

Navia and Lumine looked between each other, then back at him.

“Can we see her?” They asked at once.

Neuvillette remained still, his expression unreadable. It would be the right thing to do, they were her friends. And yet, Furina was in a vulnerable condition. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust them, he did, it was more of fear of overwhelming her.

He remembered how she looked at him yesterday, the expression when she asked him who he was wouldn’t leave his mind. Meeting him, a stranger now in her eyes, after she didn't remember anything… he figured that it had been a lot for her to take in.

Neuvillette hesitated at their request. “Not yet,” he said at last, voice quieter than before. “She’s… fragile. I fear too many faces at once may overwhelm her.”

Navia leaned back, frowning. “She’s not a prisoner, Monsieur Neuvillette.”

Navia’s gaze dropped to the table for a moment.

She saw the sheen of the porcelain teacup and, unbidden, another image replaced it: a shallow bowl of seawater shimmering under the Opera Epiclese lights. She remembered holding it out to Furina, her own voice steady even as her stomach turned. Diluted or not, the Primordial Sea was still poison to a human. And Furina had trusted her enough to dip her hand in, just to prove she spoke the truth.

Navia’s jaw tightened. The memory was sharp, and so was the guilt that came with it.

“I know,” he replied, sharper than intended. Then, softer, “But she doesn’t remember anything, I don’t want to overwhelm her. But I also want to figure out the extent of her amnesia.”

Navia and Lumine looked at him, concerned but they said nothing.

Lumine raised her teacup to her lips, sipping gently. She remembered standing there beside Navia during that trial, watching Furina’s fingers tremble before they broke the water’s surface. She had done nothing to stop it. She told herself it was necessary, told herself there was no other way... but the sight of Furina’s flushed face and short breath afterward had lingered far too long in her mind.

If they had been wrong about the dilution… Lumine shut her eyes for a moment and let the thought go. Guilt creeped up in her chest and she set her cup down, unable to drink the now lukewarm tea.

Neuvillette seemed to notice both of the guilt behind their eyes, but he said nothing about it. Though he understood it all too well.

He straightened his back, “I know the eyes of Fontaine. Even within these walls, there are whispers. She deserves space to breathe before the questions start.”

Neuvillette raised his hand to his chin, his gaze lowering to the tray of macarons. Furina was adored by the people of Fontaine. Even after she stepped down from position as Archon. If anyone outside her friend circle found out she was in a vulnerable state…

Neuvillette’s thoughts were interrupted by Lumine.

Lumine set her teacup down with care. “What are you implying?”

Neuvillette exhaled slowly, lifting his head to look at her. “I was thinking… the public need not know the extent of her condition. For now, they will be told she is… taking a leave of absence to rest after the events of the cataclysm. Nothing more.”

Navia’s brows knit. “I guess that’s kinder than letting them know the truth.”

Then, she leaned forward on her chair, “Is she going to stay here, then?”

His hand curled loosely on his knee, his words came out quickly. “For her safety, yes. At least until I understand what has happened and whether it can be undone.”

He wasn’t lying when he said that, but there was a deeper reason. Her safety was now his priority. However, there was more to it.

He felt compelled to keep her at the Palais Mermonia. Safe. Secured. Somewhere he could keep an eye on her. Not as surveillance, and absolutely not as a trap… but as protection. He knew it was a selfish desire, she wasn’t an object for him to hoard like a treasure. 

Perhaps it was guilt for not noticing her pain sooner, an attempt to make up for centuries of obliviousness to her pain.

Perhaps that was why he couldn’t let go of that desire.

Lumine studied him. “You want her here,” she said, like she could read his thoughts. It wasn’t an accusation, she spoke like she was stating a fact.

His jaw tensed, but he didn’t deny it. “I do. But if she wishes to leave when she recovers, I will not stop her. I will not cage her in the place where she suffered all those years.”

Neuvillette’s hand tightened slightly around his knee. “At least for now, she’ll remain here at the Palais Mermonia.”

“I suppose that’s the safest option,” Lumine said, “but it could start to feel like a prison.”

Navia’s eyes flickered to him. “A gilded cage is still a cage, Monsieur Neuvillette. If she stays, you’ll have to make it feel like… home. Not like an office.”

He inclined his head, accepting the point. “I will speak with the staff. She will have full freedom of the Palais, and the gardens. No one is to restrict her movements unless there is danger.”

Navia’s brow furrowed. She could hardly bear to sit still. She wanted to see Furina, not tomorrow, not after more discussion, but now. It was for Furina’s peace of mind, she told herself… but deep down, the truth was sharper: she needed to see with her own eyes that Furina was still here, still breathing, after she had once asked her to risk her life.

It was for Furina's peace of mind, she told herself.

Navia pursed her lips, “I want to see her eventually."

"Me too." Lumine added, "Perhaps seeing us might trigger some memories in her."

There was an added irony to Lumine's words. She hoped Furina would recall happier memories, not the trial, not the seawater. But she knew that was a selfish hope.

Neuvillette nodded at both of them, "You will."

That seemed to make Navia relax slightly. Then she crossed her arms, "I guess since she doesn’t remember… this place to her doesn’t mean anything anymore.”

She spoke more quietly, “I still can’t believe it. What if… she never remembers?”

The question hung in the air, still and vast like an ocean stretching between the three of them. The steady patter of rain outside filled the silence.

It was a real possibility, but not one either of them wanted to think about. But then the question crossed his mind. Given everything Furina had experienced, was her memory loss a curse… or a blessing in disguise?

He lowered his gaze, jaw tight. "Then she’ll live freely… whatever that means for her."

“Maybe the amnesia… is not entirely a bad thing.” Lumine said, her voice was low. “I’m just saying, I saw her memories. She carried that role for centuries so I… don’t know if remembering all of it would be kindness or cruelty.”

Navia and Neuvillette turned to her at the same time. Navia’s head snapped toward her, eyes narrowing. Her jaw tightened until the muscle jumped in her cheek.

“With all due respect,” she said, voice tight but controlled, “you don’t get to decide that for her. None of us do.”

The sharpness in her voice came not only from conviction, but from the thought that if Furina never remembered, she would never recall the risk Navia had put her through. That should have been a relief... so why did it feel like a weight on her chest?

Lumine blinked, caught off guard, but Navia didn’t look away.

“I’ve experienced it before,” she went on, softer now but no less firm. “Back when I lost my father, people told me it was for the best. That forgetting was mercy.” Her hands curled loosely in her lap. “It wasn’t. And I did everything to remember him. And now that I have, I'll never let my memories of him go. I don’t... ever want to forget the people I lost.”

If Furina ever remembered the life or death situation she put her through, a small part of Navia hoped she could forgive her.

Her voice was quiet, laced with unspoken grief.

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Lumine said, “I was just thinking out loud.”

Silence fell again, heavier than before.

Neuvillette understood both points of view. Neither of them were wrong, per se. But Navia was right, it wasn’t their decision to make. They could talk in circles forever, but at the end of the day it was Furina’s decision. She had been puppeteered for so long, she deserved to be given the grace of having to choose.

Though, he wondered, how someone that had lost their memories, their identity… would choose.

What would Furina decide when she didn’t even know what she was choosing?

Neuvillette finally spoke up. “I cannot ignore the possibility that those memories are part of who she is. If there’s a way to restore them… then it’ll be Lady Furina’s choice.”

Navia’s shoulders relaxed, but her face was still stricken with worry. She didn’t like that she couldn’t see Furina. She understood Neuvillette’s reasons. And when Lumine had suggested that perhaps Furina’s amnesia was for the best… it stirred something deep inside of her. The guilt was too much.

She suddenly rose from her seat, the chair scraping against the marble floor.

“If she’s here I want to see her.” Navia said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

“Navia-” Neuvillette’s tone carried a warning. He rose steadily from his seat but Navia was already making her way to the door.

“I know you don’t want to overwhelm her, Monsieur Neuvillette…” She said, “...But I just can’t sit here while she’s out somewhere in this building. All alone.” Her voice softened with emotion.

He relaxed when he heard that. He just hoped that meeting another stranger so soon wouldn’t overwhelm Furina.

Without waiting for a reply, Navia crossed the room in brisk strides and reached for the door handle.

Just as it creaked open from the other side…

A small figure stood there, pale hair tousled with messy strands. Her mismatched blue eyes were immediately recognizable. She was wearing loungewear, a rare sight for someone who styled her appearance so meticulously.

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

It was Furina.

Standing there, eyes wide as she looked between all of them. 

Neuvillette had not expected her to nearly collide with Furina in the doorway.

The two froze, eyes locking. Navia’s wide with a rush of relief, Furina’s wide with something closer to alarm. Tears welled up in Navia’s eyes as she saw how Furina was looking at her, without recognition in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She was alive. Seeing her again made the guilt twist inside of her chest.

Lumine immediately sat up from her chair, eyes fixed on both of them. Her mouth opened, but she said nothing. What could she possibly say after what they did to her during that trial?

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?” Furina put her hands up, slightly panicking at all the people in the room. “I-I… smelled fresh macarons.” She said, almost bashfully.

Navia stepped back to give her some space, clearing her throat and trying to push the tears away.

“Lady Furina…” She said, “It’s good to see you again.”

Furina smiled politely, as if greeting an overly familiar stranger. “Y-yes, it’s good to see you…” She was about to say her name, but her words trailed off.

Furina’s eyes went to Neuvillette and her face screamed ‘please help me’. Out of everyone in the room, he was the one she was most familiar with, even if the familiarity only extended to ‘she knew his name’.

Then, without wasting a second and before Navia could reply, Furina stepped sideways and placed herself just slightly behind Neuvillette’s arm.

It was not quite hiding, but the motion was instinctive, like someone clinging to their only friend at a crowded gala. Neuvillette felt the faintest brush of her sleeve against his. His chest tightened unexpectedly at the contact.

“You…” Navia’s voice cracked with emotion and she couldn’t finish her sentence.

Lady Furina really didn't remember. Navia and Lumine didn't know if it was a blessing or curse, but the guilt in their chest was overwhelming.

Furina tilted her head, her expression polite but unsure. “I’m… sorry. Do I know you?”

The words landed heavily in the air, hitting Navia right in the chest. She averted her eyes, blinking away her tears. Neuvillette kept his face carefully composed, though his jaw tightened.

His eyes flickered down to Furina by his side. He wanted to avoid this, he had wanted to ease her into meeting new people. He hoped she wouldn’t be too overwhelmed right now. But this wasn’t a pleasant situation for anyone, especially after what they had done to her during the trial. Even if Furina herself didn't remember it.

Navia’s smile wavered for half a heartbeat before she forced it steady. “We’ve met before,” she said softly. “But… it’s alright if you don’t remember.”

Lumine, who hadn’t said anything, grabbed a handkerchief from the table and walked over to Navia. She handed it to her, as the other girl proceeded to dry her eyes.

Then she stepped forward. “It’s nice to see you, Furina. Do you remember me? I’m Lumine.”

Furina looked at her for a long time, and for a split second, a flicker of hope crossed Lumine’s eyes, but then Furina shook her head slowly.

Lumine had been one of the last people Furina had seen. And if Furina ever remembered, she would recall how she didn't stop Navia from offering the bowl of primordial seawater. Or how Furina didn't hesitate to put her hand in it.

She could have died.

Lumine had seen her memories, she more or less understood what Furina had gone through.

Now all of that was gone.

Just like that.

She bit the inside of her cheek, pushing back the tears that threatened to spill. How could she ever apologize to someone who didn't remember what they'd done to her?

Lumine looked to Navia for a moment, the other girl was still crying softly. Then, she looked back at Furina.

Neuvillette remained quiet, but he could sense the turbulent emotions in the room. He clenched his hands by his side.

Lumine finally spoke up, “Can I ask… what do you remember? About yourself?”

Furina’s gaze darted between them, then to Neuvillette, as though searching for permission. He inclined his head slightly, an unspoken assurance that she could answer, or not, as she wished.

“…My name,” she said finally. “I like sweets. And music.” Her brow furrowed slightly. “I think I like being on stage. Or… maybe I just like the attention?” She tried for a wry smile, but it looked fragile around the edges.

Navia chuckled softly, though there was an ache behind it. “That sounds about right.”

“I remember lights… and people clapping. Or maybe… it’s just the way it felt? Not sure.”

Furina continued, “It felt… warm? There was a stage… maybe called the Opera Epiclese? And someone… I think they were beside me. I’m not sure.”

She looked up at Neuvillette. “Similar to him, I think?” She gestured vaguely toward him.

Neuvillette’s breath stilled, just for a moment and he froze on the spot. Navia and Lumine looked equally as surprised.

But the way she spoke indicated that she was grasping at straws. It wasn't a true memory, just the feeling of one.

“...Really?” He asked without thinking.

Furina nodded fervently, but he could see the uncertainty in her eyes, even now. Like she wasn’t entirely sure of the memories.

He was torn on how much to tell her, or if she wanted to know. He wanted to tell her that it was him that she remembered up there with her. But if he told her that she was right, that she used to perform at the Opera Epiclese then would it trigger painful memories in her? Would she remember the trial?

The last time she had been at that stage…

Neuvillette’s jaw tensed up, and he remained quiet.

“Do you remember Fontaine?” Lumine asked gently.

Furina shook her head. “Only… that it’s where I am now.”

“I don’t know what happened, when I woke up… I felt like I had just woken up from a dream. I’m not sure who I was before.” Furina admitted.

You are important to all of us, Neuvillette wanted to say. Everyone in Fontaine adores you.

“And then I woke up here in that room. I… think it’s my room.” She said, “But when I tried to explore I got lost. And then I met Neuvillette yesterday.”

Everyone was quiet, a heavy silence settling over the room. The scent of black tea had now long left them, it had gone cold, just like the air. Furina’s words laid suspended between them.

Neuvillette felt her shift minutely closer to him, as though the uncertainty of the moment might swallow her whole. He found himself talking before anyone else could.

“You are safe here,” he said finally, his voice carrying the quiet authority of truth. “That is what matters for now.”

Furina glanced up at him. Something in her eyes, like tentative trust perhaps, caught him off guard. His gaze softened as he met her eyes, his purple eyes holding that quiet strength she didn’t know she needed.

“Careful, Monsieur Neuvillette,” Navia said, “You’re going to burn a hole through her the more you stare.” She teased.

Neuvillette wasn’t sure how to respond to that, instead he averted his eyes and cleared his throat. “My apologies…”

Lumine chuckled, finding the sight of him flustered somewhat amusing. Furina’s cheeks dusted a faint pink, but she soon found herself giggling softly alongside Lumine.

The heaviness in the air seemed to dissipate slowly, at least for now. Outside the room, the pitter patter of rain had slowed down to a steady drizzle.

Navia then cleared her throat, in an effort to further lighten the conversation. Her eyes turned towards Furina.

“You know,” she began, “once you, well, the you I knew stormed into Café Lutece in the middle of the lunch rush…” She gestured dramatically with her hands.

“You ran in there because they’d run out of your favorite mille-feuille. You gave a speech so dramatic, half the patrons thought it was part of a performance.”

Furina blinked at her. “…Did I win?”

Navia laughed outright at that. “Of course you did. You left with the last two slices."

Furina’s lips curved faintly, but there was no flicker of recognition in her eyes. She looked at Navia, almost as if ashamed of the blank space where the memory should have been. She chuckled, but it was clear she didn’t remember that.

Neuvillette watched her quietly. 

He had been there that day, at a table in the corner, listening to her command a room without even trying. The sound of her voice had filled the café like sunlight spilling through a window. He had grown used to the way Furina’s presence charmed people like him, but the way she looked now… it was hard to get used to the difference.

“We can always make new memories,” Lumine offered, voice gentle.

Furina hesitated, then glanced at Neuvillette. “I… think I’d like that.”

Something in his chest loosened, though the ache remained. He folded his arms, his voice steady. “Then we will.”

The words were simple, but they carried the weight of a vow, one he had not planned to make, but could not imagine breaking.

They could figure out everything later. Right now, he needed to think about everything and do his best to keep Furina safe.

“But first,” he added, forcing his thoughts into order, “I’ll have Sigewinne come to the Palais Mermonia later this week.”

With that, the conversation slowed to a lull.

Navia bit her lower lip. She wanted to apologize for everything, but the words stuck like splinters in her throat.

She finished drying her eyes and finally spoke up. “Lady Furina… I know we’ve already talked a lot today, but there’s something I should say. Something we both should.”

Lumine glanced at her, then nodded, her own expression tight. “Back then… during the trial, we asked you to do something dangerous. We didn’t know what would happen. And you—” Her voice wavered. “You did it anyway.”

Navia’s fingers curled against the handkerchief. “If you can’t remember, maybe that’s for the best. But I need you to know I’ve… I’ve wished I could take it back. A hundred times over.”

Furina blinked at them, head tilted slightly. “You… feel guilty?”

“More than guilty,” Navia admitted with a strained smile. “But I thought you should hear it. We’re sorry, Furina. Truly.”

For a heartbeat, there was only the light drizzle of the rain hitting the windows of Neuvillette's office.

“I… don’t know what you’re talking about,” Furina said softly, her gaze flicking between them, “but… thank you. I think.”

It wasn’t forgiveness, not really but it was something.

From his place beside her, Neuvillette’s eyes narrowed just faintly, as if committing this moment to memory. He didn’t interrupt. Some wounds were not his to speak over. He needed to give her his own apology one day, but he sensed if he did so now it would be too much. The most he could do, right now, was watch over her.

Navia forced a lighter tone back into her voice. “I know the tea’s probably gone cold, but… would you help us finish the macarons, Lady Furina? I made them myself.”

There was the faintest flicker in Furina’s eyes. It wasn't recognition, but something softer than the uncertainty she had been wearing all this time.

Notes:

We've been sticking to Neuvi's POV but im excited to write some Furina POV in the future to get into her head

Also I headcannoned some stuff for Navia regarding her father, i hope its not too jarring! I thought it would be a nice way to connect it to her own theory of Furina's amnesia

Chapter 3: Reflection

Notes:

Okay so since I go back to college in a few days I'll try my best to be consistent with updates!
Idk if i'll have a schedule but I'll try not to go too long

The first thing Furina noticed about the tiny lady poking at her temples was the cute little nurse hat on top of her head. A neat little hat, white in color, with a pink stripe that ran across the upper top. Far too cute for a nurse , she thought, though perhaps in Fontaine even the healers dressed for theatre.

Sigewinne hummed, her tall blue ears twitching as she adjusted the stethoscope against Furina’s chest. “Deep breath, please.”

Furina let out an exaggerated sigh but she obliged, sitting still in her chair. “How dreadfully boring.”

She resisted the urge to grab the nurse's ears, they were just so cute. And they looked so fluffy. She wondered how they would feel underneath her palms.

No. Bad Furina. Do not assault the nurse.

Instead, she directed her gaze to Neuvillette who was standing near the door. His hands were folded behind his back as if holding himself in place. The weight of his gaze pressed against her more than the stethoscope. He hadn't said much this morning and Furina couldn’t decide whether it was comforting or infuriating.

She noticed he had that somber look in his eyes again. She had known him for a few days, give or take, yet that look never quite faded. She wondered if it had something to do with her.

The past week had been so confusing. She felt a nagging fog in her head, like part of her had just been… erased. 

Her lips pursed together. After savoring those delicious macarons with Navia and Lumine, Neuvillette had informed her that she would be staying at the Palais Mermonia. She had overheard him talking to those cute little fluffy creatures about her, and that she couldn’t leave.

Who was he to tell her what to do?

And yet, she couldn’t deny the feeling of disorientation hadn’t left her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall anything specific about her life. 

The way Navia and Lumine had looked like they recognized her, the way Navia had cried when Furina asked her who she was, and that look in Neuvillette’s eyes… it all made her heart twist with pain. She shouldn’t feel it, she didn’t know these people, but it was like her body recognized what they meant to her before her mind did.

Furina wasn’t stupid. Whatever memories she lost, she sensed they were painful ones.

Her eyes lowered onto the floor, lost in thought.

Then, Sigewinne moved her stethoscope off her and wrote something down on her clipboard.

“One more and then we’ll be done,” the nurse said with a tiny smile.

Furina perked up at her words, before adjusting herself on the seat.

Sigewinne put her hand up, not touching her, as elemental energy radiated off it and curled around Furina’s body. Then, after a moment, she took her hand back and wrote something else on her clipboard.

Furina pouted.

She wanted to know what Sigewinne was writing.

“I’ll put it simply.” Sigewinne said, looking at her then Neuvillette, “Lady Furina is fine. There’s no signs of physical injury and her reflexes are okay. I couldn’t find anything wrong with her brain, physically speaking…”

“I see.” Neuvillette said, stepping forward.

“It seems… that she just has memory loss. I’m not a psychiatrist, but I can refer you to someone I know in Inazuma.” Sigewinne offered. “But it’ll probably be a while.”

Furina’s brows knit together. She figured it was likely the case but… hearing it from a professional themselves hit differently. She really did have memory loss. Whatever it was that she forgot…

Her eyes moved to Neuvillette.

“I will think about it.” Neuvillette said, “Right now, Lady Furina needs to rest.”

Hmph! Who was he to decide that for her? Furina thought. Sure, her memories were gone but her energy was just fine.

After Neuvillette spoke with Sigewinne more the two of them stood silent in the room, now alone with each other. Neuvillette shifted slightly, the silence stretching between them. 

He finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. “Lady Furina… I should apologize.”

Furina blinked at him, tilting her head in mild curiosity. “Oh? For what, exactly? I don’t remember doing anything wrong.”

This entire time Neuvillette had looked at her with guilt behind those beautiful purple eyes. It was just like Navia and Lumine…

What exactly happened to her? Furina wondered.

But she pushed that away and focused on Neuvillette.

He swallowed, choosing his words carefully. “I apologize for not… noticing sooner. For failing to see what you were carrying, even when it must have weighed heavily on you. I… I am sorry.”

Furina studied him, her expression a mixture of confusion and faint amusement. “That’s very mysterious. I’ll have to take your word for it.” She gave a small, wry smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“In any case, it’s alright.” She replied.

Neuvillette’s jaw tightened, and he looked down at his hands. He wanted to explain more, to tell her how much he had regretted not seeing her struggles, but the words felt too heavy, too tied to memories she no longer had.

How was he supposed to apologize to someone who didn’t remember?

Instead, he let the silence do the work. Furina, for her part, squirmed in her chair, restless. She crossed and uncrossed her legs, then leaned forward, propping her chin on her palm.

“I suppose staying here is supposed to be… safe?” she asked, voice light but edged with impatience. “Do I get to explore the gardens at least? Or am I chained to a chair like a prisoner?”

Neuvillette’s lips twitched, despite himself. “You are free to walk in the gardens. The Palais is yours, within reason. But… I must insist you not leave the premises until we understand your condition fully.”

“Within reason,” Furina echoed, tapping a finger against her chin. “Sounds like a very polite prison.” She let out a small laugh, though there was a trace of genuine frustration in it.

She understood well it was for her safety. But she wasn’t a child.

Neuvillette met her gaze, the weight in his eyes softening slightly. “I do not wish to imprison you. Only to protect you. You are… vulnerable, and I cannot risk anything happening to you.”

Furina’s eyes narrowed, but the edges of her mouth twitched in amusement. “Vulnerable, am I? I feel fine. Perfectly… un-vulnerable.” She punctuated the word with mock indignation, though her gaze flicked to the window. The gray sky and quiet gardens beyond were tempting.

Neuvillette sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know you feel that way. But even the smallest misstep could have consequences. I cannot ignore that.”

Furina’s gaze softened slightly, though the frustration didn’t leave her entirely. She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. “You take your job of guarding me very seriously, don’t you? I suppose I should be grateful. Perhaps even… slightly impressed.”

Neuvillette allowed himself the faintest smile. “Gratitude is not required. Only… your safety.”

Furina smirked, tilting her head. “I see. And if I decide I want to sneak off for research purposes, what then?”

He froze, though only for a heartbeat. His chest tightened, and he straightened. “That will not be permitted.”

Her smirk widened, playful and mischievous. “Ah, a challenge, then. Very well.” She leaned back, resting her hands behind her head.

Neuvillette’s hands clenched slightly at his sides, his heart tightening in ways he wasn’t ready to name. “You may test my patience,” he said softly, “but not your safety.”

Furina was about to say something in reply, but the softness in his voice and the intensity in his gaze caught her off guard. 

Her lips faltered, parting slightly, as if she had forgotten how to speak for a moment. Her eyes traced his, and she realized… his irises shimmered faintly, almost like the glint of a vishap’s eyes. There was something magnetic about them, something that stirred a strange flutter in her chest.

Had those eyes looked at her like that before she lost her memories?

Her heartbeat skipped, a warmth creeping into her cheeks she couldn’t explain. For a fleeting instant, the weight of the room, the memory loss, the confusion, even Neuvillette’s quiet warnings all slipped away. 

All she could focus on was him, the way he seemed both familiar and impossibly distant.

For a moment, the tension between them softened, and Furina let out a small, breathy sigh.

Furina cleared her throat lightly, as if trying to reset her composure. “Well… you’re staring quite intently, Monsieur Neuvillette,” she said, tilting her head with a faint, teasing smile. “Do I have something on my face?”

Her fingers fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, a small, unconscious gesture betraying the slight flutter she felt in her chest. 

Neuvillette didn’t move for a moment, and then his eyes averted from her. He cleared his throat.

“My apologies.”

She forced a chuckle, attempting to lighten the air. “I suppose I could stand to be watched while I sit still like a model… or a patient,” she added, her tone lightly sardonic.

Even as she spoke, a small part of her mind whispered that there was something familiar about him.

And as she gazed toward the window again, the thought of the gardens, of freedom, of the world outside the Palais… began to bloom quietly in her mind.

And yet, this was for her protection.

Neuvillette spoke up once more, a bit more hesitantly. “Lady Furina. Do you wish to regain your memories?”

Furina was quiet, the sass long gone from her demeanor.

How was she even able to reply to that?

Instead she asked in a soft voice, “Are they painful?”

Neuvillette didn't say anything, his gaze directed at the window beside her.

“Yes.” He said simply.

Furina’s fingers drummed lightly against her lap, her mismatched eyes fixed on the floor. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted softly. “But… I think I’d like to try. Even if it hurts.”

Neuvillette’s gaze flicked toward her, surprise softening the tension in his expression. “... Even if it means facing the memories you’ve lost?”

She tilted her head. “Yes. I… I don’t know who I was, but I want to remember.

“I want to know myself, truly.”

There was a small pause, heavy but gentle. Then she added, almost whispering, “I don’t want to forget me… even if I’m scared of what I’ll find.”

Neuvillette nodded slowly, a quiet understanding settling over him. He smiled gently. “I understand, Lady Furina.”

︵‿୨⚖️💧୧‿︵

Furina spent the rest of the day by herself, exploring the Palais. Occasionally, she would interact with a few melusines or go out to the garden. Neuvillette had said that he would be busy for today.

It was now evening, but the sun had yet to set.

And honestly.

Furina… was bored.

Did Neuvillette just expect her to sit here all day?

And so, it ended with her going back to her room. The small room still felt foreign to her. She should recognize the delicate lace of the curtains that hung over her canopy bed. And the stuffed animals of sea creatures that littered its surface. But she didn’t.

She frowned, now sitting on the edge of the chaise lounge in her room, fingers tracing the elegant embroidery of the cushions.

The sunlight spilled through the tall windows, falling in thin golden strips across the floor, but it didn’t warm her. She could feel the emptiness inside her, like shadows curled around her chest, pressing lightly yet insistently.

She knew something was gone. Something vast. Something important. 

Her mind was fogged, a jumbled puzzle missing half its pieces. She knew she had lost memories, though the details were locked behind a door she couldn’t find the key to. And yet… she remembered enough to feel the absence.

Perhaps she needed tea. Or some sweets. The Melusine, Sedene, had offered her cake earlier. So Furina wasn’t hungry, but she needed something to distract her from the growing void that was her memory.

As Furina lifted herself to head towards her door, a soft draft rustled her curtains. It carried the faint scent of the Fontaine gardens, the very same gardens where she had tea with Sedene earlier today. It was familiar, comforting almost. But at the same time, it felt like it belonged to someone else.

Certainly not her.

As she walked by, she caught her reflection in the large ornate mirror close to her dresser. Firstly, she noticed her hair was slightly ruffled.

No, that would not do. Furina de Fontaine would not have a single strand out of place.

And secondly, she recognized this mirror. Even though her memories of it were lost, it was like she knew it instinctively. Though she did not know why.

She walked closer to it to inspect her hair, and promptly fixed it. As she did so her reflection stared back at her. It followed her every movement. It was her. The same pale hair, the mismatched eyes, the delicate curve of her face… all hers. 

She blinked. 

Her reflection in the mirror now wore deep blue robes that faded into white at the bottom. She had longer hair. There was an open cavity in the front of the dress, exposing her skin.

Furina did not remember owning a dress like that.

But before she could register it…

Its eyes moved.

Then its hand.

Towards the surface of the mirror.

Its palm pressed firmly against it.

And all Furina could do was stare back in horror, her mouth agape.

Her reflection blinked once, her same mismatched eyes staring back at her. Furina was frozen in place, her knees nearly giving out from underneath her.

The figure in the mirror shifted with a fluidity that no reflection should possess, tilting its head in a way she hadn’t. Furina’s chest tightened, a flicker of fear rushing through her. She gained control of her legs again and slowly took a step back.

“Who… who are you?” she whispered, though the sound barely left her lips.

Furina received an answer, not by the reflection, but by her own mind.

Mirror-me.

The figure’s mouth hadn’t moved. It simply tilted its gaze towards her, and for the briefest moment… something flickered in those eyes.

Familiarity.

Not recognition. Not memory. Just a whisper of something that tugged at her chest, like a key brushing against a lock that it couldn’t open.

Furina’s hands clutched at the fabric of her dress. Her pulse thrummed painfully in her ears. She had no power here, and no understanding. And yet, even in her fear, a tiny spark lit in her chest. Something was trying to reach her through the fog. Something she had lost.

The figure’s lips parted, though no sound came. 

You must leave. You must find yourself.

Furina’s heart raced. The walls of the Palais suddenly felt stifling, the walls felt like they closed in. The gardens outside, the streets beyond, freedom and possibly the world, all pressed at the edges of her mind. She could taste it, just barely, and it was intoxicating.

And yet… she was afraid. 

Afraid of the unknown, afraid of being weak, of being vulnerable. Afraid of stepping into a world that she didn’t recognize. Neuvillette’s words from earlier today halted her thoughts.

She had no memories, no sense of self. Staying here was for protection. And yet the figure in the mirror looked at her so insistently.

Did she want to find herself?

Neuvillette hadn’t hesitated to tell her that her own memories were painful.

He was but a stranger. But he cared for her. She could sense it.

Furina swallowed hard, a lump forming in the middle of her throat.

“I-I don’t…” She said, backing away from the mirror.

She closed her eyes, hoping the visage would disappear. And when she opened them again her reflection was gone. Instead it was just her, the real her, staring back at her in shock.

She wasn’t sure what to feel after that, but her heart wouldn’t calm down. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, the sound too loud in the silence of her room. She pressed her hands against her dress to still their trembling, but the fabric only seemed to echo the frantic beat of her heart.

Had it been a trick of the light? A dream with open eyes? A hallucination?

Archons, she was going crazy.

Furina tore her gaze from the mirror and fixed it on the window instead, on the pale stretch of sky framed between the curtains. She clung to that sight, as if the world outside might anchor her, to remind her that she was still here. That she wasn’t crazy.

And yet, in the corner of her vision, the mirror gleamed faintly.

Without wasting a breath, Furina took a blanket off her bed and draped it over the mirror.

There.

She didn't feel like eating sweets anymore. Instead, she sat on her bed and wrapped the covers around her. Her throat was dry, her mind buzzing with questions she didn’t dare give a voice to.

She closed her eyes again, trying to relax in the comfort of the blanket. Perhaps if she pretended long enough… the world, the mirror, and that strange, nameless fear would leave her be.

But deep inside, where the silence pressed too close, a thought stirred. A whisper with no voice.

Was that truly gone… or only waiting?

Furina shuddered. She pulled the blanket up to her chin, heart pounding. She didn’t have an answer.

︵‿୨⚖️💧୧‿︵

The following morning broke pale and cool over Fontaine. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Palais, scattering across marble floors like fragments of glass. Today, there was no rain.

Skies were clear, not a cloud in sight.

Perhaps that’s why Neuvillette found himself awake before the city fully stirred. The weight of yesterday’s obligations still pressed on his shoulders. His workload had grown exponentially since the flood. Unanswered letters, disputes, the press.

He could manage it fine, that wasn’t the problem.

There was one thought that had occupied his mind far more persistently than anything for the past week.

Furina.

Yesterday’s doctor’s appointment still rattled in his head.

Her words still echoed with clarity he could not escape. She would want her memories back, no matter how painful.

He had long grown accustomed to the cadence of sorrow, but hers struck a note he could not bear. For centuries, he had failed to see through the mask she wore, failed to offer her the compassion she deserved. Even after her fall from divinity, he had stood as a witness to her solitude and said nothing. 

He had judged her, sentenced her guilty and to execution.

His apology had been spoken. Yes. But… was it enough?

Could it ever be enough?

As he walked down the halls of the Palais Mermonia he thought about these things.

He had turned over theories about her condition late into the night in his chambers here at the Palais. The death of the Hydro Archon, the dissolution of that divine essence and the destruction of the Hydro throne was still the strongest theory he had.

That explanation aligned with what little he knew, and yet it provided him no comfort.

Sigewinne’s gentle insistence had not left him either: that a specialist from Inazuma might be brought, though she told him it would take a while. Inazuma was quite far from Fontaine. 

Neuvillette had resisted at first. Furina’s dignity was a fragile, precious thing and not to be handed to a stranger. Well, he supposed he was also a stranger to her. But even so… could he allow her suffering to continue when there was a chance of remedy?

His gloved hands pressed against the cool marble walls of the Palais. It was early and most of the Melusines and other workers who worked at the Palais hadn’t arrived yet.

His office was not only located at the Palais, but so were his chambers. It made work easy.

Today, he had special plans in mind. He resolved upon something yesterday afternoon, right after he last spoke with Furina.

He wanted to grant her a reprieve, however small.

Yesterday he had seen her gaze drift too long toward the windows, her expression softening at the mention of gardens and sky. If she wished for the world beyond the Palais, then he would give it to her. Carefully. Discreetly. No gossips, no pointed fingers. 

Though the people of Fontaine adored Furina, some of them were not yet ready to forgive its former god, and he would not expose her to that cruelty.

So, in the quiet hours before the day’s burdens reclaimed him, he made his way through the corridors. His pace was steady, a faint current of resolve carrying him toward her chambers.

He had made his way to the reception area and was about to head to the elevator… before he saw a familiar face.

Sedene.

She was here early.

But something was wrong. The Melusine was waving her hands in visible distress. And when she caught the sight of him, she immediately walked up to him.

“Chief Justice,” she said quickly, bowing her head. “Forgive me. I was just about to look for you. There’s a problem, when I arrived here this morning the front door was unlocked!”

Neuvillette froze, his eyes narrowing.

“I-I don’t know what happened. I swear I locked everything. But- there's-”

“Breathe, Sedene. I’m here.” Neuvillette forced himself to remain calm.

Sedene swallowed, her eyes lowering. 

“Lady Furina… she’s gone.”

Notes:

Sorry to leave everyone at a cliffhanger 😭

Yes, Focalors is dead. No that wasn't her in the mirror. It's a hallucination
I'm thinking... Furina's lost memories are trying to emerge and the mirror triggered it (since it's likely the one she used to see mirror-me in before)

also i got some details wrong last chapter and they have since been fixed! i think i'll rewatch the Fontaine AQ as a refresher soon

Idk if it's specified where in game Neuvi lives so i just made him live at the Palais Mermonia for this story
I hope my characterization is accurate!

Chapter 4: Between the Waves

Notes:

So this chapter takes place during the night Furina disappeared (so before the last scene of the last chapter)

I took some creative liberty with some stuff, you guys will see!

The Fontaine streets were quiet, but not silent. 

Furina pressed her palm against the metal railing, listening to the faint creak of her slippers on the stone path underneath. 

The Gardemeks patrolled in rhythmic steps, their glowing eyes cutting through the shadows. She counted each one as it passed, timing her movements with the faintest pause of their metallic clatter.

She had left her room deliberately slow, almost as if savoring the taste of freedom before it vanished. 

The silk of her nightdress rustled against her legs, and she held her breath as a patrolling guard paused just a hallway away. When the footsteps receded, she moved again, careful not to glance towards the streetlamps whose light would make her shadow sharp and obvious.

Reflections dancing in the shallow puddles left by earlier rain. Every corner felt alive, yet she was invisible to it all. Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she ducked into a side alley, careful to avoid any lingering eyes.

She wasn’t sure what would happen if those giant robots caught her, but she didn’t want to find out. Something told her it was best if she stayed hidden.

Even though the Palais was hers, or so that’s what her intuition told her, it didn’t feel like it tonight. 

And so, she had resolved and left to find answers. Or maybe just to explore. Perhaps all Furina wanted was to see the world outside the Palais, to feel the soft breeze against the curls of her hair and deep inside her lungs. 

She hadn’t spent long there, a few days she figured, but for someone who couldn’t recall her memories… it felt like a lifetime. She wouldn’t leave permanently, she would be back in the morning!

Now, out here in the streets late at night, it felt much more freeing. The walls weren’t pressing in on her. She needed the streets, the sound of the city, even if it had been a rather impulsive decision.

Freedom. That was what this felt like. Every footstep was a victory, though small. The city that had once been hers, in ways she could not remember, now felt infinite. 

And she wanted, desperately, to explore it.

The visage she had seen in the mirror still concerned her, with its striking appearance so similar yet distinct from her own. There was something… important she had forgotten.

Her fingers brushed the stone balustrade of the staircase as she descended, each step deliberate. She wasn’t quite sure where she was going, but her feet seemed to be taking her somewhere specific.

The city beyond the Palais gates whispered in her mind. She heard distant laughter, faint music from buildings, a dog barking somewhere down the street. It was all a melody of a life she no longer remembered, and yet… she recognized the rhythm.

The first encounter came as a murmur when she was behind a wall; two passersby were talking quietly in the lamplit corner of the street.

“Did you hear? She left her throne to save us… can you believe it?”

“She did what she must,” the other replied. “Even if we don’t understand why.”

Furina pressed herself against the shadow of the stairwell, heart thumping. She scrunched up her nose, puzzled. There was a strange tug in her chest, a flutter she didn’t recognize, and she couldn’t place why the words mattered so much.

There was another voice, harsher, just a hint from the alley.

“Phony goddess,” a voice spat. “Lying to us all. I never trusted her anyway.”

“Shh, don’t let the Chief Justice hear you say that…” The other man warned.

“The Chief Justice wasn’t there when Poisson flooded. And what did she do about it? Nothing.”

Furina’s stomach tightened, a chill crawling up her spine. There was… something in those words. Something sharp, like a memory trapped behind glass, just out of reach. Her pulse quickened again, and a flicker of unease tugged at her.

Whoever this “phoney goddess” was, she was clearly important, and clearly controversial. She frowned, tilting her head. Why did the mention of her, or whoever they were talking about, stir something so vague and so insistent in her chest? She didn’t know. She didn’t know anything, and yet… the words felt familiar, like a song she once knew but had long forgotten how the notes of.

The men shifted, taking a few steps closer. Shadows fell over Furina’s hiding place, and the air felt suddenly heavier, charged with something she couldn’t name. Her hands clenched at her sides, and she realized she didn’t have more time to linger.

She turned and moved, swift and quiet, letting the city streets swallow her figure. The strange pull in her chest didn’t disappear; it hovered, whispering, though she could not understand its meaning. She wouldn’t let it stop her. Not now.

Her mind buzzed with fragments she could not name.

Furina shook her head, pushing the questions aside. She had other things to do. Other places to reach. She let the night carry her forward, past the lamplight and the whispers, further away from the city and whatever truths it held.

She wouldn’t let that strange feeling in her chest stop her.

She continued through the streets, her feet knew the patterns exactly even if her mind didn’t. The moon shone brightly in the sky, casting a blanket of quiet over the world.

After some exploring here and there, she reached the easternmost exit.

A lone Gardemek stood at the archway, scanning the street with glowing optics. Furina crouched and timed her breath with the subtle pivot of its head, and slipped through the shadow of the outer wall.

Once outside, Furina felt the sea breeze hit her. Her eyes caught the faint shimmer of the water beyond. The scenery was beautiful. A steep hill that lead to a sprawling expanse of water.

She felt it… call to her.

And though she did not yet understand what it was, Furina felt the first spark of something she had been missing.

︵‿୨⚖️💧୧‿︵

Furina found herself standing on the pale sands just beyond Fontaine’s walls, where the sea lapped in quiet rhythm. The night was cool, and the water shimmered faintly.

The breeze slipped through her hair like a gentle hand, carrying a crisp freshness that made her close her eyes in brief contentment. It was cool, but the air didn’t taste salty.

Despite being called the nation of Hydro, Fontaine’s waters were more akin to a vast, placid lake than a restless sea. Furina hummed softly to herself, letting the sound mingle with the rhythmic hush of the waves as she strolled across the narrow strip of beach. Pebbles crunched beneath her feet with every step.

Tiny stars dotted the sand, glowing in hues of violet and blue. Lumitole shimmered faintly under the moonlight like fragments of constellations fallen from the sky, scattered at her feet. She was awestruck by their beauty. She felt drawn to them, in a way, enjoying how they painted the beach in a dim blue color.

She stepped closer, the hem of her nightgown brushing against the damp sand. The waves rolled lazily to shore, clear enough that she could see her reflection sway with each ripple.

For a fleeting moment, she felt… like herself.

Not the amnesiac girl who awoke in a strange bed. Not the object of whispers in crowded streets, perhaps she wasn't the object of those whispers but she certainly felt like it. Right now, she was just a person, here and now, watching the night settle across Fontaine’s waters.

The feeling lodged in her chest like a fragile, precious thing. Beautiful and comforting. Yet the longer she held onto it, the heavier it became as if she were trying to embrace a warmth that would only slip away.

Unease bled in at the edges of her calm, spilling slowly from the cracks beginning to form.

She bent closer to the water, searching the ripples for reassurance. Her own face gazed back at her, distorted and shifting with the waves. She recognized the curve of her cheek, the pale blue of her eyes, the familiar shape of her mouth and yet, none of it rang true.

It felt wrong. Like she was staring at a portrait of someone else wearing her skin.

A stranger who only looked like her.

Her chest tightened, the fragile warmth breaking apart.

Who am I?

The thought echoed sharply in her mind.

The question should have been simple. She ought to have known her own history. But when she reached for it, she found nothing. Just a blank stretch of silence. No childhood memories, no family faces, no sense of who she had been before waking up in that gilded cage of a room. She pressed a hand to her chest as though her heart might remind her. It beat calmly, but gave her no answers.

For a moment, the air around her stilled like a curtain before it was drawn. She raised her head and looked around. There was a strange energy in the air, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint it.

Then, she saw with her very own eyes as the scenery changed in an instant. Like a ripple breaking across the water. The world felt muted now, almost like a thin veil of fog had shrouded the area.

Now… there was another her standing on the beach. 

But her color palette was muted in neutral greys. She looked different from the reflection she’d seen in the mirror before she left the Palais. Furina narrowed her eyes and took a slow step forward. But the other her didn’t seem to notice.

Just what was going on?

Furina followed the other girl’s eyes to the shallow tide and her eyes went wide.

There was a young man there, chest-deep in the shallows. Water ran gently across his pale shoulders, the tide swayed his hair back and forth. His silver hair caught in the moonlight, cascading down his back. His eyes, she couldn’t see them well in this distance, glowed with an inhuman flicker.

He was also colored in a muted gray, and he didn’t seem to notice Furina.

Furina got closer, her steps more confident now.

Oh.

Oh.

The man in the water was completely naked.

She caught the flash of bare skin above the clear water. It was hard to see in the night, but the clouds above moved and the moonlight caught on the young man's exposed chest. Bare, clear skin shone in the dim light. Furina could swear she saw... scales. Blue and purple in coloration, and they scattered certain places on his shoulders, arms and the sides of his neck.

There was a faint appendage coming from the water, it almost looked like... a tail?

Furina stopped in her tracks. She blushed a deep red at the sight of him naked, but before she could even begin to process things the figures finally moved.

It felt like she was watching a movie as an observer, and the dulled figures were actors.

The other Furina crossed her arms. “You there! Have you no shame? Put some clothes on, you… you indecent lizard!”

The man blinked, startled, then actually turned as though to see who had dared speak to him. His expression was calm, but there was no hint of offense taken. Just confusion.

“I did not realize I had an audience.” His voice was deep, resonant, and… oddly measured, like someone choosing every word carefully.

Furina crossed her arms with a pout. “Audience? Ha! Fontaine is no place for streaking water-dwellers. Do you not even know our customs?!”

“I am newly arrived,” he admitted, dipping his head slightly, as though her scolding were a formality to be answered with dignity. “I was… called here. But I have not yet been instructed in every manner of your people.”

“Clearly.” Her nose wrinkled. And yet, beneath the indignation, there was curiosity. He was no ordinary foreigner. His presence rippled with something vast, something she couldn’t name.

He studied her then, not with offense but with quiet interest.

“And who might you be, little one, who lectures strangers on propriety?”

Furina flinched at the words, puffing herself up. “I— I am no ‘little one!’ You should be grateful I haven’t dragged you before the Gardes already.”

“Mm,” he hummed, unbothered. “Then perhaps I should thank you.”

He stepped forward, unhurried, as though surfacing from another world. The water broke around him reluctantly, clinging to his frame before cascading down in shimmering trails. Each rivulet caught the moonlight, silver tracing over the lines of his chest and shoulders, highlighting every sharp angle and smooth plane of his body.

He was all sharp edges, both his muscles and jawline, and yet he carried himself with a poise and softness that contrasted it.

The night breeze stirred, carrying the faint scent of the lake as it tangled through his damp hair. His pale strands glistened, each one catching the faintest glimmer of starlight. For a moment he looked less like a man and more like a figure painted in liquid silver, the kind of vision that seemed too unreal to touch.

Now that he was out of the water, his scales gleamed with clarity in the light. They were scattered around his flesh, growing near translucent as he got closer.

Furina’s gaze slipped downward before she realized it, following the curve of his collarbone, the flex of his arms as he pushed the water aside, the lean muscle defined with every slow step he took. The sight left her throat dry. Her eyes went down his chest, down his stomach and down his...

Archons above, was he entirely without shame? To emerge from the sea like this, as though he were some ancient god risen from the depths, entirely unconcerned by how the world saw him?

Her heart lurched, thundering in her chest, and suddenly it was too much. The sheen of water sliding lower, the deliberate and unbothered pace, the weight of his presence pressing in on her... she couldn't take it.

“W-Wait! That’s enough!” Furina yelped, throwing her hands over her face as heat climbed her cheeks. “Stay where you are! Don’t you dare take another step!”

Meanwhile the real Furina also hid her face behind her hands, too flustered to keep watching.

The man froze in place, thankfully before all of him was exposed to the open air. Yes, his privates were thankfully still beneath the water.

He tilted his head, he sensed he had done something wrong.

“I apologize if I’ve offended you. I was surfacing to thank you.”

She couldn’t believe him. Is this who had been called to become the Chief Justice of Fontaine?

Furina lowered her hands but refused to look at him. She stomped a slippered foot on the sand. “Surface, yes but must you greet Fontaine’s shores naked? At least pretend to be civilized and put on clothes!”

The man tilted his head, utterly unbothered. “Clothes…” He glanced down at himself, then back at her. His tone was thoughtful, as though considering a custom from a foreign tongue. “Ah. A human requirement.”

Her face burned hotter. “Requirement? It’s common sense! What sort of barbarian shows up unclothed before a lady?”

Instead of taking offense, he lifted his hand. The tide itself stirred, droplets gathered and weaved around his body like threads. Before Furina’s astonished eyes, hydro energy shifted and took the form of a robe. It was a rather elaborate and dignified garment, with several layers and pieces to it.

The real Furina, who had finally lowered her own hands, watched in awe. He looked exactly like Neuvillette. In fact, that was the same robe he had worn the other day. The same cravat, the same delicate embroidery that was stitched into the sleeves of his robe.

Her breath halted, just for a second. A perplexed look crossed her face and she pursed her lips. Now there was another Neuvillette?

The other Furina and Neuvillette were completely unconcerned with her and the scene kept playing, despite her confusion.

“There,” Neuvillette said softly. “Will this robe suffice for your peace of mind?”

Furina gawked, caught between indignation and reluctant awe. “…It— it will do.” She crossed her arms, chin tilted high, as though she had won some small battle.

But when she risked a glance back at him, his violet gaze was still upon her, steady and unreadable. It wasn’t mocking, not warm either but searching. As if measuring her against something she could not see.

“You have a strange tongue, stranger,” she huffed, trying to shake off the weight of that gaze. “And stranger manners still. Just who are you to appear out of nowhere, summoned by… whatever force, and act as though the sea itself belongs to you?”

Neuvillette made his way out of the water, his figure loomed over her. He raised his hand and dried his robe in seconds. He paused for a moment.

Then, simply, he answered: “I am no one. Not yet. But I was told I would find my purpose here.”

Furina blinked. That calm, unflinching tone unnerved her, as though he spoke of something far larger than either of them. For a moment, the irritation fell away, leaving her unsettled and almost drawn to the gravity in his words.

Did mirror-me call him here?

She decided not to think too hard about it. All she needed to do was play her part.

She shook herself, forcing a dramatic toss of her hair. “Hmph. Well, purpose or not, you’d best learn quickly. Fontaine has no patience for vagabonds who can’t even follow the simplest of courtesies.”

His lips curved the barest fraction, not quite a smile. He bowed his head slightly. “Then I shall rely on you to teach me.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Me?!”

“You are the first to greet me,” he said simply, as though that settled the matter. His gaze softened, only slightly, with what might have been sincerity. “If I am to learn to be… civilized, then it seems only natural to begin with you.”

Neuvillette paused, as if searching for the words. "...Were you the one who sent me that letter?"

Furina was quiet. And suddenly, she knew who he was. "Yes, it was me." She said softly.

Neuvillette's eyes softened, a faint smile on his face.

Furina was flustered beneath his face. “But don’t mistake my generosity for charity. I have important duties..." She cleared her throat, "And no time to babysit some overgrown lizard." 

“Of course,” he murmured, and yet his eyes lingered on her, patient and unreadable. As if he knew she would indulge him despite her protests.

"As for being a lizard..." Neuvillette said as he crossed his arms, "I am not."

Furina gawked at him, eyes wide. The way he said it, matter-of-fact, almost made her laugh. But she didn't. When he was in the water, she could have sworn she saw scales on his arms and on the sides of his neck. And a tail. But perhaps her eyes had been playing tricks on her. Neuvillette's eyes didn't move off her.

She faltered beneath that gaze, suddenly aware of the strange gravity around him, like a tide pulling her in whether she resisted or not.

Archons, what was he?

The real Furina’s heart skipped in her chest. Watching from outside the memory, she felt that pull too... the calm, inexorable weight of him. The way he looked at her other self made her breath hitch, though she didn’t know why.

Her reflection-self seemed to rally, stamping her foot into the sand. “Very well! I suppose I might teach you a thing or two, for the sake of Fontaine’s dignity of course."

“I am grateful,” Neuvillette replied, voice even and sincere. "And I sincerely apologize for earlier."

"I am Neuvillette. As for you, it's a pleasure to finally meet you ███████ ." 

Furina didn't quite catch the string of words, they faded as soon as they left his mouth. She held her breath, trying to recognize the words but they escaped her grasp.

What name had he called her?

The scene just lingered there, offering no answers. Her heart began to race in her chest.

Their gazes were locked. A strange balance between the other Furina's indignant posturing and Neuvillette's calm, ocean-deep patience. The air shimmered faintly around them, heavy with something Furina couldn’t name.

The real Furina watched as they continued to talk, but their words faded in and out of her ears. She couldn't hear them anymore. Like someone had muted the actors on the screen. 

Was this some kind of elaborate play?

A cruel jest?

But who would stage something so precise, so uncanny, in the dead of night?

And whoever it was, did they know who she was?

Archons, perhaps Furina was going crazy.

The other her looked, acted, breathed just like her. And Neuvillette… the way he had spoken to that version of her, so familiar and so certain. It was not the Neuvillette she had met. The distant and untouchable one. But one who had stood at her side like… like what? A confidant? A guardian? A partner?

Her chest tightened. She wanted to shout at them, to demand answers but the words vanished on her tongue. Even if she did, they wouldn't take notice of her. The scene dissolved before her eyes like mist burned away by the dawn. Their figures melted into nothing, leaving only the empty stretch of beach.

The waves still rolled lazily to shore, silver with moonlight. The lumitole lay scattered in the sand, still as they were before. It was as though nothing had happened, except the hollow ache in her chest insisted something had.

Her head throbbed. It was as if her mind had been forced open and made to glimpse something forbidden, a puzzle piece snapped into place against her will.

Why show me this?

What am I meant to understand?

Was this what her reflection in the mirror meant when she needed to find herself?

The pain blurred into dizziness. She reached forward, desperate, as if her hand could hold the fading vision in place. She wanted... no, she needed to know what came next. Who she was. Who Neuvillette had been to her.

Her reflection in the water flashed in her mind. That same wrongness. That same stranger’s face.

A word echoed, one she had not spoken aloud: impostor.

And then came the others, murmured in the city’s streets, clinging to her like burrs she could not brush away.

Poisson… phony goddess… throne…

Her pulse hammered. If the world saw her as a fraud then what was the truth? If the other her was real, what did that make her?

Her knees buckled. The beach tilted, the stars wheeled sideways. She was important. She was no one. She was—

A groan slipped past her lips as the world vanished into darkness.

Before she could hit the ground, a pair of gloved hands caught her gently. Her eyes fluttered closed before and her body went limp.

“Lady Furina…?” A voice echoed, their hands steady against her.

In the distance, the elemental energy of the ley line had begun to surge. It was drawing monsters towards the beach from the wilderness beyond it. It always happened when someone stepped into the ley lines or tampered with them. Fortunately, no monsters had noticed Furina’s presence. Slimes and hilichurls would soon be drawn to this ley line, but the nightly patrols usually took care of them around this time.

And... why was Lady Furina alone on this shore, in the middle of the night... why had she not been seen in days?

Clorinde didn’t know what to think of any of this.

Her eyes remained on Furina's now unconscious face. She assumed Furina was resting after... the recent events. And yet here she was, in a nightgown, alone, defenseless and in the middle of an active ley line. She was just a regular human now, and she carried no vison nor any traces of elemental energy. Thank the archons she had found her before any monsters did.

She pursed her lips. She wasn't one to overthink things too much, but for some reason, she had a terrible feeling about this.

Right now though, she just made sure she had a steady hand on her and she began to carry her back to the station.

Hopefully someone had some answers for her.

Notes:

I have so much fun writing their banter hehehe