Chapter 22: Au revoir Fontaine

Author: The title Chapter just means Goodbye Fontaine XD

****************

We were both scolded by Papa after that. He wasn't angry, but he was disappointed. 

Papa confiscated the water gun and the toy gun that we bought. He said we were too young to play with such crude weapons and should stick to the traditional ones. I couldn't help but ask why he said they're crude. His answer answered my question on why guns are not very popular. 

He said that guns take too long to reload are not very compatible with elemental energy and take too much time and energy making them inefficient in actual combat. There's also the problem of its complexity. You have to guide elemental energy to the right places to be able to charge it properly. Maybe that's why some Fatui take time to charge it before shooting. Overall it's not a very good catalyst for using elemental energy.

On the other hand, bows are ancient but efficient. It only takes a few seconds to charge it and you can add more utility and forms on the arrow. Guns can't do that, they can only come out as a bullet. That explains the unique charge attacks of some characters in the game.

We are a few days away from going back home. 

In these past days, we visited the House of the Hearth a couple more times. I got closer to the kids, especially Clervie; she's easy to get along with.

Meanwhile, Peruere was very silent. I don't know why but she has this closed-off aura around her.

We also explored a few more places like the Poisson. It's the place where Navia was supposed to be living but I couldn't find her. Considering the timeline, she should still be very young and unaware of the surroundings.

There are also times when Papa would just let us roam by ourselves. One time, I heard the guards talking about Papa's involvement in the Fortress of Meropide. I've read from a post before that Pantalone has some influence on the Fortress though I don't know how true it was.

"Leo! Buy this!" 

We are currently alone again. We're in the market spending our remaining mora, well my mora, Leon already spent all of his on candy.

He pressed his face on the glass of a toy store. Inside are some miniature Gardemek.

"I'm not buying that." 

"Come on! We'll play it together please!"

"If I buy that would you stop asking for anything?"

"Yes!"

"Deal."

I bought the toy for 30,000 mora. Quite pricy but I'm getting very annoyed with him. At least now he'll be busy with something and shut up. 

"Hehe, thank you."

****************

A day has passed.

We are on our way to visit the House of the Hearth one last time before going home. Papa is with us along with a few guards. I wonder what the rest of them are currently doing.

"Say your goodbyes to them, Leo, Leon. It'll be a long time before we can visit again."

"Yes, Papa." We both answered.

Upon arriving at the gates, we instantly noticed a crowd of children lining up in front.

"Welcome, Regrator, I assume this will be your last visit before going back to Snezhnaya so I gathered the children to say their goodbyes and play one more time."

Crucabena said as she approached us.

"Such a dramatic farewell is unneeded. But we appreciate the gesture." 

Papa let go of our hand and walked with Crucabena to one of the rooms leaving us with a few of our guards.

Leon upon seeing the crowd of children, rushed to them, dragging me along the way. 

"Leo, Leon. Are you really leaving?" One of the kids asked.

"Yes, but we'll be back don't worry!" Leon affirmed.

"We'll miss you guys. Make sure to come back okay?"

"I promise we'll come back!"

This is too much for me. The crowd of children is starting to get noisy. Clervie and Peruere were watching at the back along with the older kids. I was signaling to them to help me get out, but they just ignored me.

As I tried to find a way to escape the crowd, a voice from behind took our attention.

"U-um, Leon!" one of the younger girls called out, drawing everyone's attention.

"Please take this!" She leaned forward, holding out a small flower to him.

"Uh, hehe, thanks."

"Tsk, you're going to be every man's enemy in the future."

"Huh? Did you say something, Leo?"

"Nothing," I replied sarcastically.

Having enough of playing outside, they led us to the usual place where they played around. Despite being an orphanage full of kids, the place rarely had anything that a child could play with, not even used or broken toys were there.

The older kids didn't follow us inside, and only some Fatui along with some of our guards joined us.

When we arrived, Leon stood across everyone like a king with his hands on his sides. He looked at me with guilt.

Confused, I observed and waited for whatever he was about to do.

"I have something for you guys!" Leon then asked one of our guards something.

One took out a tightly sealed bag and handed it to Leon. Leon opened it and inside is the Gardemek toy I bought for him.

"Here! A gift from me." He placed it in front of everyone. The toy has no damage or any sign of being used at all.

The kids around were shocked and wore complicated faces. Their eyes darted between Leon and the toy. 

"Huh? What's wrong? You guys don't like it?" Leon asked, his confusion evident on his face.

He looked at me as if asking for help but I was as confused as he was.

"Is this really for us?" One of the kids asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Leo and I bought this for you guys. You don't like it?" Leon replied, trying to reassure them.

Silence hung in the air as they studied our faces, their expressions shifting from disbelief to curiosity. Finally, one of them stepped forward and cautiously approached the toy. 

"It's... really really for us?"

Leon nodded, a smile breaking across his face. "Yes! We wanted to surprise you."

Slowly, the tension began to fade, and a few kids stepped forward, their faces lighting up with excitement. "Can we play with it now?"

This time they looked at me.

Feeling the pressure of the room I spoke.

"It's yours now, it's up to everyone if they want to play with it."

A ripple of excitement spread through the room as they exchanged eager glances. Slowly, each of them approached the toy, their initial hesitation melting away.

"Hey, this is a Gardemek right?"

"Yeah, I saw them once and it looks exactly the same."

"Hey! Be gentle with it!"

The children played with it, their anticipation and excitement were clear on their faces as they took turns holding and playing with it.

Leon wore a gleaming smile across his face. He looks satisfied.

****************

Hours passed and it was time for lunch.

Before arriving at the dining table Leon asked me to go to the bathroom with him. I could feel the guilt in his voice.

"Leo, I'm sorry I lied. I know you're mad. I said we'll play it together, but I felt like they needed it more."

Leon apologized, he clasped his hands and lowered his head.

"I'm not mad, quite the opposite actually. Why did you say you felt like they needed it more?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, after you bought the toy for me I just feel like I should give it to them." Leon held my hand, his eyes looked at mine. "Actually, I felt sad when we first got here the first time. There's something inside me that's telling me to help them, but I don't know why or how."

Is Leon the same as me? No, that can't be right. His actions looked like a literal child and there was no way a grown man would do embarrassing things like he did.

"Don't worry, if you feel like there's something you need to do, just do it. If you mess up I'm here, just make sure you tell me first next time okay?"

"Okay."

"Promise?" 

I held my pinky finger out. Leon giggled and hooked his pinky with mine.

"Promise!"

***

We came back to the dining table and ate our lunch happily.

The kids shared their food with us. Leon is surrounded by girls, while I ate along with some boys. He's really going to break hearts when he grows older.

Leon kept chatting with the girls while I had to talk with the boys.

They asked me things that typical young boys asked. Most of them are even boasting about how fast they can run. I'm not really that athletic in this life nor in the past, though I wished I was more proactive in outdoor exercises and activities.

"Leo, can we sit beside you?"

Clervie asked behind me, with her is Peruere, they're both holding trays of food.

I scooted over and gave space for them to sit and for some reason the boys that I was just talking to left.

"I heard you gave them a toy," Peruere asked.

"Yes, it was Leon's idea."

"Thanks, Leo, tell Leon that we appreciate your kindness," Clervie said as she put some meat on my plate.

"You don't need to, this is your food," I said as I tried to put it back on her plate.

"It's fine Leo, this is the least we can do,"

I didn't press it anymore. I feel like she won't back off.

Time passed as we continued to eat. We chatted about our normal lives, they even told me about their usual routine.

I can tell that they're being trained as soldiers from just their everyday routine. Even their diet is controlled.

Most of them are being treated as expendables. There's nothing I can do about it, but if I don't interfere there's going to be many deaths, one of them will be Clervie. But I need to make Peruere the new knave.

Doubts started to form inside of me.

Would she even get her vision without a sacrifice? Is it fine to let things go the way they are?

There are also Papa's orders I need to consider. I don't know what Papa would want from the House of the Hearth. He already has a lot of power and is very busy, if he wants to absorb this orphanage he needs to pay a lot of attention; a single negligence and everything could go in smoke.

Clervie: "Leo? Are you alright?"

"Sorry, I zoned out a bit."

"Maybe you should take some rest. I know you're not very fond of crowds."

"No, I'm fine, it's almost time for us to go too."

We went to the kitchen where we put the dishes to be cleaned. On the side, there are a few Fatui that are patrolling.

Upon seeing this, I remembered the promise I made to them. I got close to Clervie and whispered in her ears.

"Did you already meet the spy that Papa put?"

Startled, she stepped back and looked at Peruere.

Peruere, noticing her gaze, walked beside me and whispered.

"We got a letter in our room, it says a pattern on how we could send letters and contact you, but only once a month, anything more and Mother might notice."

Filled with gladness, I smiled happily. It's true, Papa kept his word.

***

It's already past noon and we're about to leave the orphanage. Crucabena sent us off the the gates of the orphanage along with the children following behind.

"Have a pleasant trip back to Snezhnaya, Regrator. I wish your travels to be safe."

"I wish the same for you and your kids Crucabena. May they grow to be healthy and reliable people."

Crucabena frowned. Papa was insulting her with those words. Something might have happened.

"Say your goodbyes, Leo, Leon."

We waved at the crowd of children behind Crucabena, with Clervie and Peruere standing in front of them.

"Get ready, one, two—Have a safe travels! We'll miss you!"

With Clearvie leading them, they shouted their goodbye to us.

"We'll miss you too guys!" Leon shouted back at them.

"We'll be back," I said with anticipation for our next visit.

****************

It's three in the morning and we are getting ready to leave.

The guards are already managing our baggage that increased. Leon and I bought a few things and it made the carriage that holds all our belongings full.

I don't see the water gun or the toy guns we bought. Papa must have thrown them away. I never got to play with them, that's just unfair.

"Leo, are we there yet?" Leon asked while scratching his eyes in drowsiness.

"We're still on Fontaine Leon, we haven't even left yet."

I'm also quite sleepy myself but Papa insists that we leave early in the morning.

"Looks like everything is ready, get on you two, it's quite a long ride back to Snezhnaya."

We boarded the carriage and left the city.

***

A few more hours passed and the sun finally rose. We are now on top of a mountain. Papa ordered everyone to stop and get off.

Reluctantly, Leon and I stepped out and we were greeted with a majestic view.

We could see the entirety of Fontaine. From the Busy streets, the areas where the rich go, the plains, to the harbors of the city; everything of Fontaine is in our sight.

The rising sun amplified the scenery and gave it a healing view. Its light seeped through the trees as the animals started to wake up. The gentle breeze of the cold wind along with this amazing view made me remember our long yet short stay in Fontaine.

"Wow!" Leon and I exclaimed

"Papa it's beautiful!" 

"It is."

We watched the sunrise with smiles on our faces, reliving the memories of the one month we spent in Fontaine.