Furina

"If you don't plan on hurting me... W-What do you want..?" The Hydro Archon spoke, her voice quaked and cracked as she did so. In front of this person at this time her act would not hold. Bubbling within her was pure fear. Every part of her body rang like an alarm telling her she needed to run. To get as far as possible away from this man...

No, this monster before her..

"I do not plan to hurt you, Lady Furina." His previous words shook across her mind in which raced with all the possible things this man might want from her. One thing in particular stood out. The Hydro Gnosis. But, she was just a human playing a part for her archon. She had no clue where the Gnosis was...

"I simply have a few questions.." The monster spoke, his voice was soft yet unnevering, gentle yet cold. Like a distraction made only to lower her defenses. His eyes, full of a vast emptiness, pierced through her with ease. It was as if it already knew everything. As if he was only here to make sure Furina told the truth.

"A-About w-what exactly..." Furina asked stuttering on her words. While her defense may be up her body language and the way she speaks were enough of a message to the monster that he held the advantage.

"Simple really, how about we start with your plans on the prophecy." Furina's entire being shook, and all it took was a one question. She tried to speak but the monster continued. "During this disaster many humans died. So many people lost their parents, children, lovers, all sorts of family. I'm sure they're all relying on you, Lady Furina." His words sunk into her like the fangs of a serpent, slowly they injected a degrading venom into her very soul.

Furina had no words, in which she could respond. Her entire world shattered like a delicate glass ball when struck with the hard realization of the many deaths of the people she was meant to protect as an Archon.

"I-I know how many people died..." She muttered weakly under her breath, "I'm s-sorry I didn't save them..." She finished, her words sounding more like a cry for help then a real apology.

"Your apologies mean nothing. The disaster has already happened and countless lives have been lost. Do you truly believe a simple apology can forgive your carelessness as an Archon?" The monster attacked Lady Furina with its words, it masterfully used them as weapons, weapons that will carve deep emotional damage and cause unrepearable scars.

Furina, who had a steady flow of tears falling from her eyes, feebly she shook her head. Even if she could refute what it had said, which she couldn't, She believed she had no right anymore, because essentially, the monster Noctis was right.

Furina was frozen, the booth was completely silent. Sounds only from the opera down below were audible. The tension in the room was building to a point a knife wouldn't be sharp enough to cut it.

"Lady Furina, you can help prevent anymore deaths really quite easily." The monster shifted, it's tone was much more gentle than it was just a second a go and the alarms going off telling Furina to run slowly started to die down.

"R-Really? There is a way I can prevent more deaths...?" She asked weakly while slowly lifting her head to look into Noctis' eyes. The lifelessness and emptiness were magcially gone, it's rather terrorying to Furina how quickly he can switch.

With a gentle, welcoming smile he spoke once more, "Yes! You can help very easily. You just have to tell me everything you know. If you do so you'll be free of carrying the burden alone and your people will be safe." He was completely different then he was just moments ago and for some reason Furina felt her defenses deteriorating, she thought about how nice it would to release the burden she had been carrying all these years. She yearned for someone who could help her, someone she could dump all of her sorrows and suffering onto.

With tears still slowly sliding down her cheeks she felt inclined to release her burden onto him. However, she couldn't. Memories of her talk with her mirror self flashed in her mind.

"You must never let anyone suspect your identity... If you can keep it up, then I shall have my way at defying this prophecy." Her mirror version's words were absolute and forced her to pause her speech.

"I-I cannot..." She answered Noctis, to which he sensed something off. To Noctis her reluctance shows that there truly is some reason she cannot disclose the information she witholds. Any regular being would've otherwise soon submitted the information. Especially after such a conversation.

"I see..." Noctis said aloud as he delved into his mind. He begun to piece together things he already knew. For one he knew that Lady Furina was most likely not the Hydro Archon thanks to his own and Arlecchino's testing. He also knew that whatever reason she had to play the part of Archon had to have been serious. After all she had been suffering alone as a "God" for five hundred years. And, what could be a serious enough reason. One that puts the entirety of Fontaine at risk he can only assume, The Prophecy.

"I see now." Noctis said aloud once more this time with a new found realization of the situation. Furina eyed him curiously.

"You play the part of an Archon to draw Celestia's focus away from the real Archon. Though I don't really understand why my best guess is that it has something to do with the sins committed by the previous Archon and her people. Could the flooding of Primoridal Sea be divine punishment from Celestia?" Hearing Noctis' words Furina froze not even she knew why she was told to play as Archon but this man seemed to effortlessly guess that she was acting.

Noctis noticed Furina frozen and quickly assured her, "You need not worry Lady Furina, I will not tell anyone you're acting as the Archon. I'm not quite sure what the true Archon is planning but it seems to be against Celestia so I will sit back and relax." He said with a smile. For some reason Furina was actually slightly calmed down by his assurance despite him just basically mentally breaking her down.

"I must be on my leave now, Lady Furina. I do hope you can enjoy the Opera still." Noctis said with a warm smile as he left her booth and eventually the Opera Epiclese.

---

Noctis

Shortly after leaving the Opera Epiclese I had made my way back to Neuvilette's office in the Palais Marmonia. The Melusine outside was looking a light calmer and I gave them a light wave and smile as I walked into Neuvilette's office.

"Sadly enough I couldn't get any information out of her." While it did feel horrible lying to my brother I think he would understand this one time.

"A shame indeed then I suppose we will have to follow through.." He answered with a disappointed sigh.

"Follow through?" I questioned him.

"Yes, I with the help of the Traveller and a few others that he is gathering intend to force Lady Furina to release the information she holds through a trial." He explained causing me to raise a brow in surprise.

"That is indeed quite the step-up from simple questioning, don't you think?" I asked sarcastically but Neuvilette nodded instead.

"I too believe it is quite the step-up but this is a serious matter. The people of Fontaine may all die without the information Lady Furina is hiding from us." He explained seriously.

"Very well, I trust your judgement and will stand by your side for the trial ahead." I responded, Neuvilette gave me a light smile and thanked me.

After a bit more small talk and discussions with Neuvilette I headed back to the hotel where Arlecchino should be. It didn't take long at all and I walked inside towards the living room area where I assumed she would be.

"Ah I see you're back dear. I assume you have some information on a certain trial with Lady Furina?" My eyes widened in a amazed shock as I heard her words.

"You already know about the trial?" I asked incredibly impressed by how fast information gets to her.

"Well it's only natural after all the Traveller asked Lyney, Lynette and Freminet for the help organizing it." She explained with an amused smile.

"I guess I should've figured, huh." I said slightly embarrassed that I got that impressed about her knowing one single piece of information so quickly.

"So, my dear. What do you plan to do for the trial." She asked curiously as her crimson eyes focused on me with intrigue.

"Well if I'm going to be honest I kind of mentally attacked Lady Furina and found out she physically can't tell us about what she knows and that she definitely isn't the Archon but i will still stand by Neuvilette's side during the trial.

Arlecchino stood up from her chair and gradually walked towards me, the clothes she was wearing beautifully accentuating her figure as she walked. She placed a single finger on my chest and moved it in a circular motion.

"So you mentally abused the Archon to get information?" She said looking up at me slightly with a grin.

"Yeah I did.." Hearing my answer her smile only grew.

"My oh my. You've made me quite proud, my love." She said in a seductive tone. "If only I had been there to see you do so~." I could only help but fill a small well of happiness bubble up inside of me, it truly made me happy knowing that I had made her proud.

"Will you be at the trial?" I curiously asked Arlecchino. She frowned slightly before answering, "probably not, my dear. The house of hearth has many important matters to focus on and as the head I'm probably going to be occupied."

I nodded gently in understanding, "That's fine. I was just wondering." Arlecchino quickly took this opportunity to make an offer.

"How about after all this trial and prophecy nonsense is over we go on a nice romantic date?" Sudden thoughts of Arlecchino and I in a dimly lit resteraunt flooded my mind, the images were all rather wholesome and I genuinely liked the idea.

"Sure!" I quickly agreed with content and happy smile. A date would be a nice distraction from all my thoughts about Celestia and such, and it would also some calm alone time that I could enjoying spending with Arlecchino without her being so work focused.

As Arlecchino still stood close in front of me I held out my arms and gently wrapped them around her waist, pulling her towards me.

"I'm getting rather tired... I think it's time we go to bed." Arlecchino, who's face was pressed against my neck looked up at me and smiled gently. "I'm not completely finished with my work but if that's what you want, I suppose I can put my work aside, just for tonight.

With a relieved smile I released her from the hug and we walked hand-in-hand towards our bed to enjoy a night of gentle sleep in each other's warm embrace.

When i was with Arlecchino I truly felt happy, warm and loved. There was not a single thing that could ever ruin the time I spent with her.

In my eyes everything about her was just perfect. She truly loved me, her eyes were mesmerizing, her hair was beautiful, her face while cold was also soft, and her hands they too were magically alluring.

I could take my time to search the depths of the seas and the vastness of the sky but that would be pointless because no matter how far I searched I would find no imperfections.

(A/N) This chapter was a lot of fun to write, especially the first part. Sory Furina lovers... It was nessceray! I swear! I had to find someone to remind you all that Noctis is a Harbinger and not a good guy...

Also Idk about this but if any of you want me to make a little tiny discord server for the people who read these books I could try. It could be a small place where you can talk between yourselves, asks me a few questions and even make suggestions. Idk Abt this tho depends on if you guys want it.