(Chapter 84 Hydro and Dendro Archon)
"Who is this charming little one you've brought with you? She looks quite interesting."
Furina's gaze flickered to the young girl cradled in his arms.
"My Lady... This is, Kusali... Someone I'm looking after for now... She had a long day."
Tempest said to Furina, he shifted slightly, feeling the weight of Nahida.
"Why don't you come in? She looks quite exhausted. It might be wise to let her rest indoors for a while, don't you think?"
Furina suggested, her tone softening just a touch, though her eyes still sparkled with curiosity.
Tempest hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with the need to return to the Fontaine Research Institute, but... He really cannot say no to her.
"Thank you, My Lady."
Tempest said, offering her a slight bow.
"Umu! Clorinde, I'm sorry, but you're dismissed for today. It seems someone decided to show up unannounced."
Furina said with a playful smirk, her voice carrying a lighthearted tone as she turned toward Clorinde.
"Understood, Lady Furina."
Clorinde replied in a measured voice, before bowing slightly and stepping aside.
"Well then, shall we go in?"
Furina asked, turning to Tempest.
"I'm right behind you, My Lady."
Tempest, still holding Nahida carefully in one arm, gave a small nod, his expression calm and composed.
Shortly, Tempest entered Furina's office.
"Set her down on the couch over there."
She instructed, pointing toward a plush couch near the corner of the room.
"And then, come sit here."
Tempest nodded without protest, carefully placing Nahida's dormant vessel onto the couch, ensuring she was comfortable before turning his attention back to Furina. He strode over to the chair in front of her desk. As he sat down, Furina leaned forward slightly, her expression expectant yet playful, as though she was both a judge and a spectator eager for a story.
Furina leaned back in her chair, her eyes sharp with curiosity as they lingered on Nahida's vessel resting on the couch.
"So."
She began her voice casual yet carrying an underlying demand for the truth.
"Who is she, Tempest?"
Her gaze shifted back to him, awaiting his answer.
"As I mentioned before, her name is Kusali, but what I didn't tell you... is that she's my sister, Father's bastard."
Tempest's tone remained steady, but the significance of his admission hung in the air. Furina's playful expression faded, her eyes widening in genuine surprise. She rarely found herself at a loss for words, but Tempest's revelation left her momentarily stunned.
'I don't feel good about this... Lying to her feels wrong, like I'm committing some sort of taboo...'
Tempest thought to himself, the weight of the deception gnawing at him. His gaze shifted away from Furina for a moment, as guilt crept into his mind.
"Tempest."
Furina called out, her voice taking on a serious tone that commanded his attention.
"My Lady?"
Tempest replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"You're not lying to me, correct, Tempest? I trust that every word you utter is absolutely honest, right?"
Furina pressed, her heterochromatic eyes locking onto his with an intensity that felt almost palpable. The weight of her gaze bore down on him, a reminder of the bond they formed and the expectation of truth that came with it. He could feel the gravity of the moment, and a flicker of doubt ignited within him, challenging the narrative he had spun.
"I... I am... My Lady..."
Tempest admitted, he really cannot lie to her.
"Wait, really? I must admit, I didn't expect that from you at all. This is quite surprising..."
Furina replied, her voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and intrigue. Her eyes softened for a moment as she processed the revelation, a hint of admiration flickering across her features. It was rare to see someone in his position admit to such vulnerabilities, and the unexpected candor caught her off guard.
"Are you willing to me the truth, Tempest?"
Furina asked, her expression softening as she leaned in slightly, genuine concern etched across her face.
"I will, My Lady. I sincerely apologize for lying."
Tempest replied, the weight of his words heavy in the air.
"But how did you know?"
He was curious, genuinely perplexed by her insight. The tension between them began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of understanding as he realized the importance of transparency in their relationship.
"It was merely a guess, truthfully. I have read a book about Proudmoore's history before, and it mentioned that all of their children, even illegitimate ones, share distinguishing features like golden hair and eyes."
Furina replied, her tone thoughtful. She paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to the serene figure of Nahida on the couch.
"However, I must say, she looks nothing like you. She doesn't possess golden hair, and I doubt she has golden eyes either."
Furina said, her gaze flicking back to Nahida's still form on the couch.
It's rather curious, don't you think?"
Furina said, her voice laced with subtle suspicion.
"For someone who's supposed to be your sister, she bears no resemblance to the Proudmoore lineage. No golden hair, no golden eyes... nothing that connects her to your family by blood. It makes me wonder..."
She paused, leaning forward slightly as her heterochromatic eyes bore into his.
"Just who is she really, Tempest? If she's not your sister, then what is the truth you're hiding?"
Her words lingered in the air, drawing out the tension between them.
"She's not my sister, My Lady... Her name isn't Kusali, either. She's actually the Dendro Archon, Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Furina's eyes widened again, but this time with genuine shock.
"But I-"
"Tempest, you went ahead and invited a god into my nation, without informing me? What, exactly, are you trying to accomplish here?"
Furina cut him off sharply, her tone shifting from surprise to one of barely restrained displeasure.
Her heterochromatic eyes locked onto his with a mixture of indignation and disappointment, the playful air around her all but gone.
"Nothing, My Lady. If you desire, I could get rid of her immediately, this isn't her real body, but just a vessel."
Tempest said with a solemn tone. He straightened his posture, his golden eyes unwavering as they met Furina's. To Tempest, his relationship with Furina was of utmost importance, far more important than the connection he had with Nahida. If Furina commanded it, he would dispose of the vessel without hesitation, no questions asked, and without the slightest regret.
Furina let out a long, measured sigh before finally breaking the silence. Her voice, though calm, held an edge of expectation.
"Explain then. And remember, I trust that every word you utter is the truth, Tempest. Do not make me regret that."
She said, her heterochromatic eyes locking onto his with unwavering focus.
"Of course, My Lady."
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"That's quite a story..."
Furina mused, leaning back in her chair as she absorbed everything Tempest had just recounted. He had detailed his encounter with Nahida during his expedition in Sumeru, how they crossed met with the Akasha Terminal, and how circumstances led to the current state of her vessel. As the Archon of Fontaine, Furina was no stranger to grand tales, but this one seemed to stir something deeper within her.
Her usual sharp demeanor softened ever so slightly. She gazed at Nahida's inactive vessel resting peacefully on the couch. A trace of pity flickered in her eyes, though she tried not to show it.
"I'll be honest with you, My Lady. She's rather pathetic, a pacifist through and through. I offered her a chance at freedom, but she refused, unable to bring herself to harm another even if it meant securing her own liberation. In the end, I chose not to dwell on her decision, she made her choice, and I was prepared to leave Sumeru without any regrets. Yet, she came to bid me farewell. It was a pitiful sight, and I felt a mix of emotions, disgust, pity, and perhaps even a trace of admiration for her resilience in the face of her own choices. So, I gave her this vessel."
Tempest gestured to Nahida's vessel, a mixture of frustration and compassion evident in his voice.
"It may not be the perfect solution, but it's a chance, however small, she has a chance to explore the world beyond her confines."
Tempest said, and shortly Furina spoke.
"Those are some strong emotions you're expressing, Tempest. Very well, she can stay, but only in Stormwind. You will be responsible for her at all times. Since this is merely her vessel, it means she doesn't have access to her powers, correct?"
Furina's voice was firm, yet there was a hint of understanding behind her stern demeanor. She crossed her legs, her expression a mix of concern and authority.
"Thank you, My Lady. And yes, her powers are limited, however, she can still read minds, but re-"
"WHAT?!"
Furina interrupted, her eyes widening in shock as she jolted upright. The sudden intensity of her reaction filled the room with an unexpected tension.
"My Lady?"
Tempest inquired, sensing her sudden shift in demeanor.
"Oh, uh! It's nothing, nothing at all."
Furina replied, her voice slightly strained as she quickly masked her concern. She coughed lightly, attempting to regain her composure. The pretense of nonchalance felt almost forced, and a flicker of worry danced in her eyes.
'Mind reading? This is troublesome. Wait, should I be speaking in my mind right now? What if she can hear my thoughts at this very moment?!'
Furina's thoughts spiraled into a frenzy of paranoia. The weight of her carefully guarded secret felt heavier than ever.
The thought of Nahida accidentally uncovering her real identity sent a shiver down her spine. What if she were to expose her? She can't trust anyone with the potential to find out the truth.
Furina cast a sideways glance at Tempest, her mind racing.
'Blindly loyal...'
She thought to herself, remembering Merlyn's words.
'He'll choose me over her, right?'