Papa and Neuvillette entered the room. Their faces seemed satisfied, I wonder what they talked about?
"Papa!" Leon rushed to hug Papa.
"We haven't been separated for so long, did you miss me?" Papa asked as he lifted up Leon.
In reply Leon said. "Yes!"
I walked up and joined in. We looked like one happy family.
Furina noticed Neuvillette and approached him with a frown. "Ehem! Neuvillette, I assume you're done with your talk? Now, my time is precious and you let me wait! Do you have something to say?"
Neuvillette made an apologetic face and bowed; this seemed like a routine to him. "My apologies lady Furina, I didn't know that you arrived so early."
"Of course! I can't be late, it would give a bad example for my people!" Furina shouted, her voice full of irritation. Her gaze then shifted to Papa. It looked like she's trying to evaluate him.
"I assume you are the envoy from Snezhnaya?"
"Yes, Lady Furina, I thank you for your patience, I hope my sons didn't offend you in some way," Papa replied in an apologetic tone.
"Worry not, they have kept me company and I quite liked the stories that they speak. However, I would like to recommend you give us a heads-up before visiting. It doesn't sit well with us to receive you unprepared." Furina replied calmly.
"Looks like we have a misunderstanding Lady Furina. I am not here as a dignitary, but merely as a tourist. We happened to meet after the trial earlier and it came to this. My apologies, I never knew you had important things to talk about with Monsieur Neuvillette. The time of an archon is precious, I will pay you as compensation." Papa tried to reason, reluctance and discomfort evident on his words.
Furina looked shocked and perhaps because of this, she didn't accept the compensation.
"Oh..hehe no need for compensation. Even if I Furina, the Hydro Archon's time was wasted, I wouldn't be so cruel as to take the mora of the Ludex's friend. For that, I will turn a blind eye and pretend this didn't happen."
"Praise you, Lady Furina, such a magnificent and benevolent god. Fontaine is really lucky to have a god such as you."
She then looked at me with a complex expression and said. "Looks like the apple does not fall far from the tree. I can see that the sweet tongue of your son was inherited from you."
"To be praised by the god of hydro is an honor," Papa bowed and continued. "We wouldn't want to take more of your time, I wish you the best, oh Hydro Archon."
Papa never once changed his expression. I wondered if he has some immunity towards speaking with gods because of the Tsaritsa. I didn't know if the Fatui regularly meet with the Tsaritsa, but surely they've met at least once.
As we were about to leave, a voice from behind stopped us. "Wait!"
Turning back, we saw Furina approaching us. "U-um...Oh! Leo and Leon have yet to receive the reward for entertaining me, so I would like to invite you, yes, to the trial tomorrow free of charge with the best seats there are."
'Why? She never said anything about a reward earlier, why now?' I thought in confusion.
"We wouldn't want to take advantage of your kindness Lady Furina, I'm afraid whatever it is that you find the need to reward my sons is nothing special." Papa replied.
But Furina despite Papa rejection, pressed and insisted."But I believe that it is worth the reward. You see, they have told me things about Snezhnaya that I, a god, do not even know about, and are you implying that my judgment is wrong?"
Papa's face twitched. I could see the irritation starting to build up inside him. "My apologies if it came out wrong. I would never doubt the words of the god of justice. We shall accept your reward, Lady Furina."
"Good! Good good. Now, me and Neuvillette have things to talk about. adieu!" Furina said as she left and waved at us.
Questions filled my mind as we travelled back to the hotel. 'What was Furina planning? It's very unnatural the way she acted. There doesn't seem to be any other implications that Leon said anything. More likely that he doesn't know anything.'
We rested back at the hotel but it was short-lived. Papa called us and asked us about what we talked about with Furina. He's not convinced about her lofty excuse and believes that she has an ulterior motive.
"So you only talked about stories and Snezhnaya?" Papa asked with a strict and angry tone.
"Yes," Leon answered with his head hung low.
He looked at me as if asking me to confirm it. So, I nodded.
With a sigh, Papa said. "Alright, I believe you, but tomorrow make sure you don't say anything at all."
"But why?" Leon asked.
"Leon." He said; his voice filled with authority and anger.
Leon became silent. The wrath of a parent is something. Papa then continued. "Tomorrow I want you two to stick to me. If they ask you to sit close to them don't agree, understood?"
"Yes, Papa," I answered while Leon just nodded.
"And Leo, make sure you wake up early tomorrow, If you get late I'll take the present I gave you." Looks like Papa is really angry.
****************
Morning came. I tried my best to wake up early but I barely made it in time.
"You barely made it Leo!" Leon was waving at me while holding Papa's hand. They didn't even wake me up.
"Looks like you're ready, shall we get going?" papa said as I held his other hand and made our way to the aqua bus along with the guards. They're accompanying us today.
"You both remember what I told you yesterday right?" Papa asked. His smile is back to the usual unreadable one.
"Yes!" We both answered in unison.
The ride was smooth and we arrived earlier than expected.
We were guided to one of the VIP seats reserved for us.
Inside, Lady Furina is already waiting.
It's unlike her to arrive quite early; suspicious.
"Good morning lady Furina. We didn't expect to see you here this early." Papa asked.
Furina turned at us when she heard Papa's voice. "Oh my, you guys are quite early yourselves. I had nothing else to do so decided to come early. Commonly, I should ask you the same question. Why are you yourselves early?"
"There's not much people going around and we got into the aquabus quite easily. I assume you have a hand on this, Lady Furina?" Papa replied.
"Nonono, I wouldn't do such a thing, it would not be appropriate to give preferential treatment, especially for someone such as I." Furina reasoned.
"I see, Lady Furina is such a fair Ruler. I, someone who values fairness the most, can't help but admire you Lady Furina." Despite the clear annoyance, Papa never forgot to be reasonable and still gave the respect she deserved.
Furina replied. "You flatter me. Now, this is your seat, there's still time before the trial starts so, I would like to hear more of Leo and Leon's stories. I find myself amused by how they view the world."
'I see, so that's why she arranged this. But I don't understand why she would want information from young kids like us. No matter how much you look at it, it's better if she just captured a Fatui agent and got information out of them.'
With her request, Papa replied cautiously. "I see, then my lady you don't mind if I listen in? You see I am always away from home and could rarely meet my sons so I don't know much about them."
Furina stuttered as she replied. "O-oh, I see... you are quite the busy man then, Pantalone, haha, then listen in all you want."
I didn't understand why she was doing this. Papa was listening, the amount of information she could extract out of us was little to none. And if we say something we shouldn't, I'm sure Papa would butt in. She won't gain anything here.
She asked multiple questions as Leon and I answered them. Most of her questions have subtle wordplay. She was trying to get as much as she could.
Soon, I could see her frustration. Despite not showing in her face, her hands and feet are getting restless.
As we talked, people started to enter and before we knew it, it was time for the trial to start.
"Looks like the trial is about to start. I hope you have a wonderful experience with this performance." She said as she left.
Our eyes never left her figure until she disappeared behind the door. Each of us has different reasons.
"Both of you did well." Papa praised as he stroked our heads gently.
"Papa,"
"What is it, Leon?"
"Can we meet lady Furina again?"
With a smile, Papa replied. "That would be hard, but if you're passionate enough, maybe she'll come herself and meet you."
Leon beamed as he said. "Really? Then I'll become the strongest and make her like me!"
In his declaration, we can't help but smile in his innocence.
***
The hearing started with Neuvillette's order."Everyone, please take your seats. The court hearing is about to start."
We watched as the court proceeded. Unlike where we sat before, the murmurs and exclamations of people around could not be heard. We had a clear view of the courtroom along with the people below. Furina and Neuvillette sat at their usual seats.
As time went by, I felt my eyes getting heavier. Like a current, I felt myself pulled along. Soon after, my eyes finally closed as I slept silently without anyone noticing.
****************
In a majestic courtroom-like palace. A lady sat as she watched the spectacle. Like a show, she watched eagerly as both parties presented their evidence.
She wore a majestic dress that resembled tranquil water with glistening stars at the end. She was barefooted yet the hard floor didn't bother her. Above her, is a giant blue sword spinning graciously.
As she walked in circles with her hand holding her chin, the sword followed her like a ball and chain.
"If he was at the party during this time that means he should..."
Solving the crime and murmuring to herself as she watches the hearing is the only entertainment she has left. Being alone for five hundred years made her lonely. But the unrelenting fate that awaits her people is enough reason to not give up and continue her duty, as that is what her predecessor left.
She looked at the sword above her head. Her eyes were resolute yet a hint of fear was mixed.
"A few more years and we'll be done. I hope I will be able to gather enough energy for my... execution."
Despite all these years knowing that only she can do this, there's still a hint of doubt and hope. Hope that maybe, the prophecy won't come true, and doubt that she won't be able to get enough energy for her eventful execution.
She shook her head and watched the hearing once more. Her eyes landed on a girl on top of the whole courtroom.
"Furina, just a little bit more and we'll be able to save Fontaine..."
Her gaze was full of affection and envy. She too wanted to live a normal life of a human. Yet this huge responsibility was left for her to handle.
As the courtroom was filled with bathed breaths and shocked faces, a ripple in her domain emerged. Soon, it turned into a wave and her whole domain shook.
"What's happening?"
Dread filled her whole being.
"Could the heavens realize? No, it shouldn't be possible."
The shaking continued for some time until it came to a half. A crack opened in space and with it emerged a young boy.
"Huh? Where am I?"