Chapter 19: A chance meeting 2

Bewildered, I looked around trying to make sense of the situation. 

One moment, I fell asleep in the theater and found myself in this...magical place.

Chairs and tables were floating, big walls, broken windows, and floating debris.

Outside of it, is nothing but a white storm. 

"I'm probably dreaming,"

How could I explain this if not a dream?

Everything here is something you could only find in fairytales.

"May I ask? How did you get here young man?" A voice behind me called.

Convinced that this is a dream, I instantly looked at the direction of the voice. Hoping to see something bizarre. But instead, what I saw shocked me.

There I saw an eerily familiar woman. She wore a majestic dress; it was something I'd never seen before. 

It was elegant but modest. It carried a feeling of majesty and wealth but it also looked simple. The dress fits her perfectly as if it was made just for her.

Her eyes, hair, and figure are the same as Furina. 

After my eyes caught her figure, I instantly realized this wasn't a dream.

I could never forget one of the most important, if not the most important person in this nation.

Before me stood none other than the true Hydro Archon, Focalors herself.

The shock prevented me from speaking.

'How did I get here? Why am I inside the Oratrice? What does she want from me?' Questions and doubts entered my mind as I couldn't make sense of the situation.

"Young man, I shall ask you once more. How did you enter my domain?"

Her question pulled me out of my thoughts. 

"I don't know..."

From the way she questioned me, I could tell she also didn't know how this happened.

Perhaps Furina sent me here, but that shouldn't be the case. She doesn't know what Focalors plan is or even the purpose of the Oratrice. Also, she's practically powerless as of now.

"Then, did someone send you here?" She asked with wonder and curiousity in her eyes.

"No, I don't know" I could only answer her truthfully. I didn't want an Archon as an enemy.

"That's strange. This shouldn't be possible..." I could hear her mumbling and her face wore a huge frown.

She then paced around for a few seconds while I just stood frozen in place. With a sigh, she said. "Young man, for now, have a seat."

She gestured over at a nearby chair as I followed and sat beside her.

My eyes were still glued to her all this time as I marvelled at her beauty.

"Forgive me for not asking, but may I know your name?" She asked.

I said in reply."My name is Leo, I'm from Snezhnaya."

"It's nice to meet you, Leo. I am Foca-...Focars." Looks like she didn't want to reveal her identity yet.

In reply I asked, trying to make her reveal the truth. "Are you the Hydro Archon?"

"..."

"Only an Archon can do this, right? I've read from books that you're all-powerful."

She seemed shocked. I decided to play as the naive kid for now and see how this plays out.

With a sigh, she said. "Yes, you are right. I am Focalors, the Hydro Archon"

She didn't want to deny it. Maybe because I'm just a child or she can wipe my memories? Only she knows why she revealed it so easily. "You, are one smart kid. This one rarely meets people with such intelligence, much more are kids such as you."

I stammered as I replied. "T-thank you,"

A smile appeared on her face and I could hear a slight anticipation in her voice as she said. "Now, be not afraid. I am not mad nor do I find you at fault for such a situation we found ourselves in. Truth be told, I am quite amused."

The loneliness must be unbearable. Despite all that, I can tell that she is holding herself back. A single mistake would make her plan fail.

"Lord Hydro Archon, can I ask where this place is?" I asked despite knowing that were inside the Oratrice.

"You may just call me Focalors, or Lady Focalors, whatever that you find appropriate. As for where we are. We are inside this one's domain. A private space if you will." She replied nonchalantly.

"Then, how did I get here, Lady Focalors?"

"That, I don't know. Perhaps it's the hand of the heavens or a mere chance of fate. But don't worry, I shall send your consciousness back to your body once the hearing is over." She assured a she pats my head.

"T-thank you..."

She then offered. "Here, let's watch it together."

In front of us appeared a floating bubble and inside is the whole courtroom! But the angle of it is different. It doesn't face the court but the people. I could even see my own body! It was silently sleeping on Papa's shoulders...it's even drooling.

"Ahh, I assume that is you? Ahaha, you are as cute as you look in here." SHe said as she chuckled.

I didn't know how to respond to that so I just said. "Thank you, Lady Focalors, I-it's an honor to be praised by you."

"Don't be formal, I prefer a more...casual way of talking. You see I rarely meet anyone these days so I would like to keep it relaxed."

In reply I said. "Alright, Lady Focalors."

She seemed like an agreeable person. Not so eccentric as Furina and as stoic as Neuvillette. Her tone and way of talking is still quite bizarre. Maybe the way they speak during her time is like that. Maybe in general gods just talk like that, something like a trait only gods have.

I then heard her weak whispering voice. "Sorry, Furina..."

"..."

We watched as the hearing became more and more heated. The defender started hurling insults and he started to turn red from anger. It looks like this won't end anytime soon.

Time passed. We watched the whole hearing while coming in hypothesis and weighing the pieces of evidence. 

It was fun talking with her. The amount of experience and knowledge she's got in court hearings, laws, and body language is astonishing. 

I also noticed that she was smiling the whole time. I don't know if that's just how she is or if she is genuinely enjoying talking with someone after centuries of being alone. 

"It's about to end. Looks like he is truly guilty." Focalors said, satisfied. The hearing was about to end.

Neuvillette stood up and said. "We shall now turn to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale to render the final verdict on the charges."

"Looks like it's my turn." Focalors stood up and reached her hand forward, then elemental energy was slowly released from her palms and it traveled into the bubble. Hydro element traveled on the gears and mechanism of the Oratrice and it started moving. Finally, after a few moments, Focalors retrieved her hand and the gears of the Oratrice stopped moving.

Neuvillette reached for the paper that came out of the Oratrice. Everyone in the room waited with bated breaths and no one made a single noise.

Neuvillette opened the paper and read the verdict. "According to the judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale the defender Louis is...guilty."

The whole theater then exploded with applause and laughter. Tears of joy spilled from the eyes of the victims and everyone was overjoyed.

"It's time for you to go back, Leo," I could feel a tinge of sadness in her voice as she said. "I trust you to keep this a secret. I don't want to find myself tampering with your memories. It is not something I... enjoy."

"Lady Focalors I-" I was about to approach her for reasons unknown to myself. Maybe it's because of pity, but I felt the urge to comfort her. The stinging regret banged in my heart loudly. 

Suddenly, I felt my body became heavier. I am still fully conscious and mobile but I felt something entered my soul.

"Hmm? !!!" Focalors noticed it as she rushed to my side with eyes wide in shock.

An unknown energy entered my body as I felt strained and heavy.

"Leo! How can you absorb Indemnitium?!" She exclaimed.

'Indemnitium? I felt like I heard that somewhere before.' I thought.

I had no time to think more as the force made me stagger back and ultimately fell on my knees. There was no pain, just a feeling of discomfort and dizziness.

"Are you alright?" Focalors asked worriedly.

"I'm... fine Lady Focalors," I said as I tried to act tough.

She then held my hand and I could feel a foreign energy enter my body once more. Unlike the discomfort that I felt before, this time it felt subtly cold and refreshing.

"You absorbed a small amount of Indemnitium. It isn't supposed to be absorbed by humans." She then put her hand on my chest and channeled elemental energy again and her face grew darker and pale. "This is quite the conundrum,"

"Is there something wrong with me Lady Focalors?" I asked.

Her eyes filled with worry and fear as she said. "Leo, What I am about to tell must be kept secret at all costs."

"You have a unique body and soul. Even to us gods, nothing could compare to yours," 

She then looked at me in the eye while gripping my hand tightly; channeling her elemental energy.

I felt a huge suction pulling all the Indemnitium that entered my body. Unlike before I could feel slight pain.

"Endure for a few seconds. I shall extract all the Indemnitium that's inside your body."

Gritting my teeth, I held her hand tightly. Seconds passed by and the pain became ever so painful. 

Then, like a thief in the night, the pain suddenly stopped. Focalors wiped the sweat on my face with her hands.

"It's alright now, you did good for enduring." She said as she let go of my hand.

I gasped for air and my body felt so tired. I tried to stand up but I felt my body's weight increased.

Focalors managed to catch me before i fall and said."The tiredness will be gone once you return to your body,"

"Thank you, Lo...Fo...ca...lors" I was gasping for breaths. My mind was cloudy and I was unable to think straight.

"Leo, listen," She helped me sit up and gave me a floating ball of water to drink.

"Your body and soul are unique. From what I saw you can house different sources of power. I don't know the limit as I only got a glimpse at your...baffling soul."

Despite having a clouded mind I tried my best to listen to her. "Lady Focalors, what do you mean by baffling?"

"Your soul...it has traces of someone else's and a huge container. I can't find the right words to explain it. Maybe it is also the reason why you found yourself in my domain. But one thing I am sure of. Do not let the heavens see you, they... to use simpler words, they'll be upset, especially the Heavenly Principles."

A few minute passed as we waited for me to recover.

She caressed my head and helped me stand up. "Go now, your family is waiting for you."

"Thank you, Lady Focalors,"

She lays her hand on top of my head and slowly channeled elemental energy refilling my lost strenght..

My chest felt heavy. I know it was not any foreign energy. It came from the depths of my soul. I knew that I couldn't leave just like this.

"Lady Focalors, may I ask a question?"

"Yes, what is it, Leo."

"What's the purpose of this much Indemnitium? I now remember that it's used to power Fontaine, but this much Indemnitium is..."

I finally understood what the white storm outside was. It was all Indemnitium.

Focalors smiled. I felt like my heart was crushed. Her smile is nothing like the genuine one she wore earlier. 

It's forced. Her eyes looked despaired and I knew she would cry the moment I left.

From the memories of my past life. There are kids that would say they're okay without parents but when they're alone their gaze always lands on the other kids that have a happy family. And when you ask them about it they would wear the same expression. I know, because I was like them. 

"Leo, go now, it's not gentlemanly to ask a woman her secrets."

"Lady Focalors," I held her hand and a tear escaped my eyes and my voice hoarse. "I'll come back... one day." 

Focalors smile turned into a knowing and loving one. The picture of her smile was forever etched into my mind. "Then, I'll wait for our next meeting, young Leo."