Fidelle gazed at her brother's tightly pressed lips and slightly trembling fingers, her voice soft. "Thank you, Freminet, for preparing so meticulously."
Freminet finally lifted his head, glanced quickly at his sister, then swiftly averted his gaze to the hazy horizon.
"Natlan... has been very turbulent lately. The Abyss... it's dangerous." His voice dropped even lower, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible plea. "Sister, do you... really have to go?"
Fidelle paused, then gently straightened Freminet's collar, ruffled by the sea breeze.
"Yes, I must go. Some things... someone has to do them."
"...Promise me."
He spoke again, his voice hoarse, his determination almost breaking. "No matter what... you'll come back. We'll... we'll be here waiting for you, always waiting."
He didn't plead further, nor did he weep bitterly. Instead, he simply gazed at Fidelle with his blue eyes, brimming with worry and fear, channeling all his unspoken words into this simplest yet most profound request.
Seeing her brother's strained composure, Fidelle felt an overwhelming tenderness rise within her.
She stepped forward and gently embraced his slender frame.
"Alright, I promise you," Fidelle whispered into his ear, her voice gentle yet carrying an unmistakable strength.
Releasing him, she gave him one last look, then turned resolutely and walked toward the ship docked in the harbor.
The sea breeze whipped her long hair and the hem of her robe, her retreating figure radiating unwavering resolve.
Freminet stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the spot where the ship had vanished into the morning mist and the horizon.
-
Fontaine, at Furina and Focalors' home.
Neuvillette arrived and knocked on the door.
Furina opened the door, her face shadowed by a palpable gloom, her lips downturned, and the usual sparkle dimmed in her heterochromatic eyes. It was clear she was in low spirits.
"Neuvillette?"
Furina's voice had lost its usual liveliness, carrying a faint undercurrent of melancholy. "What brings you here?"
"My apologies for the intrusion, Lady Furina," Neuvillette said with a nod, his gaze passing over her to Focalors, who sat quietly by the window inside.
Hearing his voice, Focalors turned her head and nodded gently. Her face retained its customary warmth, but a faint, lingering sorrow hung between her brows.
"Is this about Fidelle?" Focalors asked softly, her tone knowing.
"Yes," Neuvillette replied. Stepping into the room, he stated tersely, "I must depart immediately for Natlan to address a critical crisis caused by the Abyss. Time is of the essence. I understand Fidelle has already left Fontaine for Natlan ahead of us."
At the mention of Fidelle's name, Furina's fingers unconsciously tightened around her skirt. Focalors sighed softly, the light from the window casting a faint shadow in her eyes. Both women worried deeply for the girl with the Pure Soul.
Neuvillette observed their emotions and continued in his characteristically calm and measured tone:
"I have made provisional arrangements for Fontaine's affairs. However... during my absence, the daily governance and maintenance of order in Fontaine require someone with sufficient authority and experience to oversee the overall situation."
"Lady Focalors, I implore you to temporarily assume this responsibility."
He paused briefly, then added, "I have already notified Wriothesley, Clorinde, Navia, and others. They will provide you with their full support to ensure Fontaine continues to operate smoothly."
Focalors quietly observed Neuvillette, sensing the gravity of the situation in Natlan and the weight of this entrustment from his concise words.
After a moment of contemplation, her gaze swept over the anxious Furina beside her before finally nodding slowly, her voice gentle yet resolute: "I understand. Please depart with peace of mind, Neuvillette. I will do my utmost to care for Fontaine."
"My gratitude."
Neuvillette offered Focalors a solemn bow, then cast one last glance at Furina before turning decisively and striding away, his footsteps swift and resolute. His figure quickly vanished at the end of the street, heading toward that unknown and perilous battlefield.
-
The Sumeru Desert blazed under the scorching sun.
Fidelle dragged her weary feet across the scalding dunes, each step a painful effort.
A day and a night of relentless travel had nearly drained her strength, her lips cracked from thirst.
Just as she spotted a sparse patch of shade ahead and quickened her pace to rest, the light above her dimmed. A figure descended from the sky, carrying a refreshing mist, and landed gracefully beside her on the sand without stirring a speck of dust.
Fidelle looked up in astonishment, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes as she recognized the newcomer. "Mr. Neuvillette?"
The Chief Justice still wore his impeccably tailored formal attire, utterly out of place in the sweltering desert, yet radiating an aura of detached authority that seemed to isolate him from the harsh environment.
The natural moisture emanating from his presence cooled the searing air around Fidelle, making it noticeably more refreshing.
"Miss Fidelle," Neuvillette inclined his head, his serene azure eyes fixed steadily on her. "I have come for you. The situation in Natlan is critical, and your assistance is required."
Hearing this, Fidelle let out a soft breath, as if Neuvillette's arrival hadn't been entirely unexpected, more a confirmation of what she had anticipated.
She nodded. "I understand. Shall we depart immediately?"
Neuvillette didn't move right away. Instead, he fixed her with a deep, searching gaze and asked, "Before I arrived, you had already set out for Natlan alone. Could you tell me what prompted this decision? You must be aware of the risks involved."
Fidelle fell silent for a moment, then raised a hand to brush a strand of sweat-dampened hair behind her ear. Her gaze drifted toward Natlan, her eyes holding a solemnity and conviction beyond her years.
"It was intuition, Mr. Neuvillette," she said softly, yet with remarkable clarity. "A... very strong intuition, a feeling that kept urging me onward, telling me I must go to Natlan."
"If I don't go... if that 'key' is missing..."
She paused, as if searching for the right words, before finally declaring firmly, "...Natlan, and perhaps all of Teyvat, could face an irreversible catastrophe. I must go. There's no logical reason, but I'm absolutely certain."
Her words carried no hesitation or exaggeration, only an unwavering conviction born from the depths of her soul.
Neuvillette listened quietly, his expression unchanging, yet a faint flicker of contemplation crossed his piercing eyes.
"I understand," Neuvillette said, ceasing his questioning.
"In that case, there's no time to lose."
Neuvillette stepped forward, a gentle yet immense Hydro Elemental Power enveloping Fidelle, shielding her from the scorching heat and swirling sand.
"Hold on tight."
Before the words had fully left his lips, their figures transformed into a streak of light, soaring skyward with a speed far surpassing any conventional means of transportation. They hurtled toward Natlan, leaving behind only a wisp of dissipating mist.