The Second Archon War: Animula Choragi 3

Animula Choragi 3: Non più mesta

There was a horrendous screeching sound, and Furina sat up with a gasp, eyes wide and panicked. Where was she?! This wasn’t her bedroom! She had a trial to prepare for! The people were drowning, Poisson was under water, she had to-

She blinked, looking about the darkened room as someone groaned next to her and sat up with a yawn. “Mmm. Good morning,” Yennifer said with a yawn. 

“I…yes. Good morning,” Furina said softly as the other woman reached over and pressed some sort of alarm clock so that it quit its warble. That was possibly one of the most noxious noises Furina had ever heard in her life, but it certainly got you up and out of bed. 

“You don’t need to get up,” Yennifer said, standing and stretching with her hands over her head. By the window, it was still dark outside. The clock read 06:00, though Furina had no idea what that meant. In Fontaine, hours were counted after dawn, but that obviously hadn’t happened yet. 

“No, it’s fine, I’m usually an early riser,” Furina said, scrambling out of bed. Then she paused. “Though admittedly…I’m not sure what I’m getting up for?” What was she even going to do? Her purpose was complete. 

“For today, you’ll need to hang out in the apartment, at least until the documents I ordered for you arrive,” Yennifer said. “Sorry, I didn’t mention it last night, but I contacted the head of the Knights. She’s…an old friend. She’s sending over official documents so people don’t get too suspicious of you.”

“Oh!” Furina felt relieved for a moment, then made a face. “Um, is that legal, strictly speaking? I don’t want to break the law…” Breaking the law just felt…wrong. Sure, she wasn’t really the Archon of Justice, but she’d spent her whole life upholding the Fontainian legal system. Visiting a new country and immediately breaking the law felt…vile. 

Yennifer snorted and shook her head. “As a lawyer, I can definitely tell you that it isn’t. But unless you want to spend a great deal of time locked away in a lab being experimented on because you’re an alien from the same world as the Archons, then you’d best accept the free identification and history that we’re cooking up for you.”

That made Furina feel sick to her stomach. “Well…I suppose I could see it as just being another role I have to play…I am quite good at that.”

“Yes. I’m afraid you’ll have to play the role of Furina de Fontaine, Earth Bet native, for a good long while,” Yennifer agreed. “If you’re up, go ahead and make yourself some breakfast. I’ll get Charlotte up and get ready for the day myself.”

Make breakfast? Furina blinked, then headed down the hall as Yennifer knocked on Charlotte's door. 

“Charlotte? You awake?”

There was a moaning noise from behind the door. 

“Come on, it’s a school day. And you’re going to need breakfast, you have physical education since it’s a Monday.”

“Mmmph,” came the creature behind the door. A moment later, there was a thump, and then the light came on and the door was pulled open, revealing a frazzled and sleepy Charlotte, dressed in an oversized shirt. “Oh. Bonjour,” she muttered in Furina’s direction. 

“Get moving, I’m going to have a busy day today,” Yennifer said, kissing her sister on the forehead.

“‘Kay,” Charlotte yawned, then closed her door, though the light stayed on. 

Furina ended up in the kitchen, or at least, she thought it was a kitchen. Honestly, she didn’t spend much time in any kitchens. If she wanted food, she sent for it and it arrived, or she went to a restaurant. She looked around blankly, at least able to recognize the stove, but having no idea how to turn it on. That had to be an ice box next to it, right? She’d heard of those, though they were a newer invention, sometime in the last century or so. 

She did spy a basket with some fruit in it, along with a loaf of bread. Deciding that was good enough, Furina tore off a hunk of bread and took what looked like a bulle fruit. The fruit tasted a lot like a bulle as well, though it was a bit tarter and with more pulp than the fleshy bulle fruit. 

After a few minutes, Charlotte reappeared, now dressed in shorts and her glasses. “Good morning!” she said, far more chipper than she’d been a few minutes prior. 

“Ah, good morning,” Furina said, watching as Charlotte busied herself with a pot of what smelled like coffee. 

“There’s butter and jam in the fridge if you want some, you don’t have to eat your bread plain,” Charlotte said, turning and grinning at Furina. “Yogurt, too.”

“Oh! Um, ah, yes, that would be lovely,” Furina agreed, and Charlotte went to the ice box and retrieved a tub of butter and a jar of jam. 

“So,” Charlotte said, sitting down with a cup that said “Danone: Vanilla” on it and a spoon. She looked around, then leaned in with a grin. “How was last night?!”

That brought a blush to Furina’s cheeks and a chortle from Charlotte. “I-It was very restful! R-really, um, your sister is very kind, but, ah, I’m just an out-of-work actor.”

“Oh really?” Charlotte said as a door opened behind them. Furina shrank in on herself, and a moment later, Yennifer with her hair in a towel and dressed in a bathrobe appeared. 

“Good morning,” Yennifer said, pouring two cups of coffee. “How do you take your coffee, Furina?”

“Sugar and cream, please,” Furina said timidly, then gratefully accepted a cup from her hostess. 

Charlotte was grinning like a fulmar bird the entire time, practically vibrating with excitement. Yennifer took a seat at the small table and a sip of her coffee, then paused, noticing her sister’s expression. “What?” 

“Oh, nothing,” Charlotte said with a far too casual air. “But you’ll know I’ll get the truth eventually.”

Sighing, Yennifer set her cup down and glanced at Furina, who could only shrug helplessly. She had absolutely no expertise in this area. 

“...Furina will be staying with us for a while,” Yennifer began, which prompted a sequel from Charlotte. “No, Lotte. It’s not like that.”

“Oh you say that, but I know,” Charlotte said, her eyes sparkling as her Vision began to glow brightly on the pendant around her neck. “I've seen your browser history. And those romance novels stashed in your room you think I don’t know you have.”

Yennifer’s ears went as red as her hair, and she cleared her throat. “Um, yes, well…then I suppose…never mind. Look, Furina is just a poor lost girl from out of town that I’m going to be helping. Professionally.” 

“As a lawyer, or as a cape?” Charlotte demanded instantly. 

Yennifer hesitated, then said, “Both, actually. Though Furina herself isn’t a cape.”

“Rrrrrealllly,” Charlotte purred, her gaze slowly shifting to Furina. “And those eyes are completely natural, then?”

“They are where she comes from,” Yennifer said flatly, which made Furina start. They most certainly were not. Her eye had been a marking that indicated she was of supernatural origin and had been one reason no one had ever questioned that she was indeed Focalors. 

“Which is?” Charlotte pressed. 

Rubbing her forehead, Yennifer frowned at Furina.

“A small town called Fontaine,” Furina said, slipping into her role. She didn’t think of it as lying, simply as playing a character again. “In the Loire Valley.”

“Funny, you know, I looked up places named Fontaine last night,” Charlotte said casually. “And none of them are near the Loire Valley.” She leaned forward, her expression now serious. “So where are you from, really?” 

“It’s a very small village,” Furina said defensively. “I’m not surprised it’s not on most maps.”

“Hmmm,” Charlotte said, leaning back, her eyes narrowed. “You’ll have to describe it to me.” 

“Some other time. You get into the bathroom and get ready for school.  You can grill Furina on her history after school,” Yennifer ordered.

“You mean after you’ve cooked up a proper cover story. Don’t try and hide the truth from me, Yen! I will find it, and when I do, I will bring it to light!” Charlotte said, her gaze locking on Furina. 

Furina’s mouth went dry. Why was Charlotte always like this? It was useful most of the time, but it had been she who had been instrumental in bringing Furina to trial. That had ultimately paid off, but it had been harrowing.

“You got your Vision for refusing to let the truth hide, and bringing it to light, didn’t you?” Furina said quietly. “For always digging deeper, and never being willing to let lies cover something over?” 

Yennifer’s eyes widened slightly, while Charlotte grinned triumphantly, standing and striking a dramatic pose. Archons. She was exactly like the Charlotte Furina knew, right down to the way she tilted her head to one side when she knew she had found a juicy story. “Indeed I did! And the Crystalline Truth will never rest while a lie lays bare on the table! Come on, Yen! You’re a lawyer, you care about the truth too!” 

“I care about Justice, Lotte, which isn’t always the same thing. The way the truth is presented matters,” Yennifer said, an edge to her voice. “I said-”

“It’s fine,” Furina said, closing her eyes. She sighed. “If I’m going to stay here…she should know. You both should. How about this: When you get home today, if I’m still here…you can ask whatever questions you want, and I’ll answer them as honestly as I can.”

“YES!” Charlotte crowed in triumph, even as Yennifer’s expression grew horrified. 

“But,” Furina said, holding up a finger. “You have to swear to only reveal as much of my story as your sister deems wise. Does that sound fair?”

“What?! But the truth has to be KNOWN!” Charlotte wailed in despair. 

“That is more than reasonable,” Yennifer said firmly. She pointed at her sister. “You. Shower. Now. School time.”

“Ugh, yes, mom!” Charlotte fumed, stomping off to the bathroom and slamming the door. 

Furina and Yennifer sat in awkward silence for a moment, before Yennifer growled, “Spasti teenagers. God save us from hormones.”

“Ah, yes. I’d forgotten how…intense…she was at that age,” Furina sighed, rubbing her forehead. 

“That’s not the first time you’ve implied you know my sister,” Yennifer said, frowning at Furina. “How, exactly? You clearly didn’t watch her videos.” 

“Er, no. And really, it’s not the same Charlotte, but a friend of mine when she was younger. It’s just…they look nearly identical, and my Charlotte was a Cryo Vision Holder as well,” Furina admitted. “Though she didn’t get her own Vision until she was…twenty? I think? So she wasn’t quite this intense.”

“Oh, so, an alternate universe version of my sister?” Yennifer said, her eyes widening in understanding.

“...maybe? They theorized about alternative worlds at the Fontaine Research Institute, but that inquest went nowhere,” Furina said with a heavy sigh. That had been one of her ideas on how to avert the Prophecy, but it hadn’t ever panned out, even after several million mora in funding and years of fruitless research. 

“Oh? Were you a researcher, then?” Yennifer asked curiously

“Ah, no no!” Furina said hastily, shaking her head. “Merely someone who kept up with scientific literature out of curiosity, nothing more. I did, ah, contribute some funds to that particular study, but I was never actually involved beyond that.”

“Some funds? By your clothes, I’d hazard you were rather well off,” Yennifer mused, sipping at her coffee. 

“Ah, yes,” Furina admitted. “I was…quite successful, on the stage. I even starred in several of those new films, though not quite like what Charlotte showed me. They didn’t have color, and there were no lines; those appeared on screen in text form.”

“Interesting, so silent movies. I take it Fontane and Teyvate were on a different technological level than Earth Bet then,” Yeniffer said with a thoughtful sip. She shook her head. “Time enough for that later. I’ve got to get Charlotte out the door, then we’re meeting a courier with your documents.”

“Oh! Ah, thank you,” Furina said, fidgeting somewhat nervously. 

“Come on,” Yennifer said, standing up. “Let’s get you dressed. You can probably fit into a pair of my jeans and one of my shirts. We’re about the same size.”

Yennifer was a bit curvier than Furina, who in turn was slightly taller than the other woman, but it was close enough that Furina easily fit into a pair of the “jeans” and a blouse. The jeans were made of a sturdy cotton fabric, and while quite snug, were very comfortable. The blouse was somewhat shapeless, with print that read “Oxford University Debate Club.” Only, the language on it wasn’t French. But Furina could still read it. 

“What language is this?” Furina said, looking down at her shirt and holding it out to read the text. 

“English. It’s where I went to school, with- never mind. You’ll hear my own tragic backstory later, but now there isn’t time,” Yennifer said, pulling on a much more flattering blouse and pair of black pants. “Can you read what it says?”

Furina hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, it’s very odd. Maybe I do have some sort of powers now, but ever since I’ve arrived, I’ve been able to read and understand everything. I did speak several languages back home, and read a few more, but I was hardly a scholar. Mostly, I spoke the local dialect and the trade language.”

“Hmm,” Yennifer said, frowning. “Maybe it’s a side effect of you coming to a new world. Any ideas what sent you here?”

“Well…” Furina hesitated, then winced. “I…I think I died. Like I said…I drowned.”

“Oh. Huh,” Yennifer scowled thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her chin. 

“Do you know something?” Furina asked hopefully. “Are there others from Teyvat who’ve experienced something similar?”

“Well, the only people I know from Teyvat, and I use the term ‘people’ loosely, are the Raiden Shogun, Lord Barbados, Nahida Saeed, and the Tsaritsa,” Yennifer said.

“Oh. So, Lord Morax is dead here too? What about the Pyro Archon? I admit, I don’t know much about them, but I think it’s Kiongozi again? They change so frequently,” Furina admitted. 

“No….” Yennifer said, turning slowly to Furina. “The Geo Archon is Lord Morax, then?”

“Well, he was. He died, quite suddenly actually,” Furina said with a shrug. “The Fatui were involved somehow, and there was a major crisis in Liyue. Sorry, sorry, you probably have no idea when it comes to any of these names.”

“Oh, I can hazard a guess,” Yennifer said darkly. She went over to the wall, taking down her sword, and raising it up before herself, studying her reflection in the blade. “I fought the Fatui at Riga. Saw a lot of good people die there, too. I also saw the Great Storm, when the Tsaritsa fought Lord Barbados for control of Eastern Europe.”

Furina felt suddenly dizzy, and she sat down on the bed hard, feeling stunned. “The Archons…went to war!? And you survived it?! Lady Egeria preserve us, does this mean that a Second Archon War has broken out?!”

“Let us hope not,” Yennifer said grimly, lowering her sword. “Having seen them fight…you’re not wrong that such a clash could very well destroy the entire world. For now, the Tsaritsa is contained, and Lord Barbados is ever with us.”

Gulping, Furina nodded. And resolved to stay as far away from those Archons as possible. The Raiden Shogun had a fearsome reputation, the Dendro Archon was largely an enigma, even if she had recently emerged from her sanctuary, and Barbatos…well, not much was known of the Archon of Mondstadt in Fontaine, but there were stories that he’d once altered Mondstadt’s climate through the expedient of carving off the tops of its mountains and casting them into the sea. Anyone who could do that wasn’t someone to be trifled with. 

And the less said about the Tsaritsa the better. The Knave was frightening enough. Her master was the sort of being that would give Furina nightmares. 

Shortly after they were ready, Charlotte emerged from her room, dressed in a smart jacket, knee-length skirt, and odd-looking colorful shoes that seemed suited for sports. “I’m off! Looking forward to hearing your story, Miss Furina!”

“Have a good day, hawk,” Yennifer said, stepping forward to kiss her sister on the cheek. 

Charlotte returned the kiss, then blushed. “Um, sorry, about earlier…you really are a good big sister…and kind of like my mom. I wasn’t trying to be a chieuse.”

“At your age, it’s natural,” Yennifer said with a chuckle. Then she hugged her sister. “I love you, Lotte. Don’t forget it.”

“Me too,” Charlotte whispered, her eyes squeezed shut. “More than anything.”

Then they separated, and Charlotte hastily took off her glasses and wiped her eyes. “ ‘kay, bye! Have fun!”

Then she was out the door and gone, swinging a bag onto her back. 

Shortly after that, Yennifer and Furina left, heading down into the street. 

“This time, we’re taking the Metro. Ever been on a train before?” Yennifer asked as they headed down the street. The sun was just up, and there were plenty of people moving about and more of those vehicles whizzing along. 

“Ah, no,” Furina admitted. She looked around, but tried not to make it too obvious she was a complete bumpkin. “Thank you, again. You didn’t have to do all this for me.”

“Sometimes, doing the right thing is its own reward. Besides, you are quite cute,” Yennifer said with a wink.

For some reason, that made Furina blush furiously. It wasn’t like she hadn’t received compliments before. It was just that this one felt more…real. Intimate. Like Yennifer was complimenting the real Furina, not the national mascot or the Archon. 

The train turned out to be a mixture of utterly terrifying and supremely mundane. It was underground and was a massive carriage that rolled along on strange tracks at breathtaking speeds. Still, everyone on the train looked utterly bored, so Furina did her best to be blase about the whole thing.  

The train itself was smelly and overcrowded, filled with what Furina assumed were people going to work, or in the case of some haggard faces, coming home from it. Having had a good night’s sleep, Furina was in a better frame of mind to study her surroundings. What she found surprised her: despite being on another world, these were just…people. They reminded her of the Fontainians she had known in how they held themselves and what they spoke of, though most were quiet on the train. They had a certain self-assuredness and carriage that was quite Fontainian, though the lewd jokes and leering gazes Furina witnessed were rather new.

 Or, well, perhaps they were simply new to her. Very few people made the mistake of cat-calling the Archon more than once. The Garde were more than a little protective of her, and Furina rarely went anywhere without them. 

She hadn’t quite realized how stifling that had been. 

When they emerged from the underground train and back into the light, Furina had hoped it wouldn’t look so much like Fleuve Cendre. To her relief, the area they were in now reminded her more of the Quartier Lyonnais, with plenty of shops and a sea of people washing around them. They wore clothing of makes that were similar to what Furina had already seen, and indeed what she was wearing now. After a bit of observation, she noticed something intriguing: She didn’t stand out. Her blue hair was odd, but she had on a hat the Yennifer had given her, and her eyes were behind sunglasses. Besides which, there were plenty of people with hair outside of the normal human spectrum, and not just Vision Holders. Dying one's hair seemed to be in the vogue, so someone with blue hair wouldn’t be completely out of the ordinary. 

They ended up not far from Ling’s restaurant if Furina remembered their location correctly; her sense of direction had always been somewhat vague. Yennifer took her into what was obviously an office building, and they ascended up to the sixth floor. The hallways were neat and tidy, but had an air that they were a bit past their prime, with somewhat sad planters and lighting that was just a bit off, along with some chipped paint and worn rugs. 

Yennifer’s office was in a back corner, with a sign on the front that said, Yennifer Lustria, Attorney at Law. Specializing in Cape Law and Labor Law. 

“It’s not much, but it’s what I can afford right now,” Yennifer said, taking out a key and opening the door. Inside, the office was decorated with a couple of tasteful potted plants, a few landscape paintings, and had a few chairs of that odd material that seemed to be everywhere. Furina would have to ask what it was. 

“Our appointment with the courier is in about 10 minutes,” Yennifer said, going into a back room with a desk piled high with papers and setting down her attache case. Then she stepped over to another room with a small kitchenette. “Coffee, while we wait? I have some snacks as well if you’re hungry.”

“Coffee would be lovely,” Furina said, stepping into the office. There was a bookshelf with a number of volumes on it with names like About the Law, and Elsevier's Legal Dictionary. On impulse, Furina plucked up About the Law, as it seemed to be a smaller, introductory volume, and began to read through it. She had barely gotten through the introduction when someone cleared their throat, and she looked up, blushing. 

“Oh!” Furina said, hastily closing the book and making to put it back. “Sorry, I should have asked first.”

“No, no, if you’re interested, please. There’s a more comfortable chair in the room over there where I see clients,” Yennifer said, handing Furina a steaming cup of coffee. 

“Thank you,” Furina said, eagerly taking the book and cup and going to sit down. The chair was lightly padded and around a small wooden table, so she sipped at her cup and poured over the text. 

This book is a brief introduction, with a minimum of technical terms, to the problems the law presents and how lawyers go about solving them. 

What the initial chapter presented was more of a basic overview of foundational legal theory, and Furina found herself nodding along as she read. This all made sense to her, and while it differed slightly from Fontainian legal theory, it was broad enough that what she knew still largely applied. 

After a few minutes, she looked up to find Yennifer intently gazing at her, cup of coffee clutched in her hands atop the table. 

“Ah, sorry! I am ignoring you. It’s just, the law has always fascinated me. In Fontaine, the stage and the law are both considered high drama, and are often intertwined,” Furina said, hastily setting the book aside. 

“You understood what you read?” Yennifer prodded. 

“Yes, mostly. I found the discussion of the Law and morality the most interesting, especially the point about not everything that is legal being a moral obligation, and vice versa. I think I disagree on a few points, but, well, this is a very new world for me, so it’s to be expected. And besides, I hazard a few people wouldn’t see things quite the same way as the author,” Furina said, tapping the book cover with one finger. 

“Interesting,” Yennifer said, sipping at her coffee. “We’ll have to discuss your thoughts on it later.”

There was a knock at the door, then it opened, revealing an older gentleman with a black hat under one arm, and a black suit and tie that would have been acceptable even at the Opera Epiclese.  He had a grey mustache and light blue eyes, and carried a cane and briefcase. On his lapel was a glowing Anemo Vision, and he nodded to Yennifer. 

“Good morning, Captain Lustria,” the gentleman said, nodding politely to Yennifer. “And to you as well, Mademoiselle.” The first he had said in German, the second, in French, but Furina’s mind translated easily on the fly, though she could tell that he had a slight accent to his French. 

“Captain von Dresch, thank you for your speedy arrival,” Yennifer said, standing and going over to salute the man, who returned hers crisply. 

“If you are with a client, I can wait, though the Grandmaster did say it was urgent,” von Dresch said in German, with a nod to Furina. 

“Actually, she’s the subject of your mission. Cookie didn’t tell you?” Yennifer said, nodding to Furina, who had stood and come hesitantly to the door. 

“I was told it was a mission of utmost secrecy and urgency, and to deliver this personally to you,” von Dresch said solemnly, holding up the briefcase, which Furina noted had a lock on it. 

“Thank you, come in, we’ll take delivery together,” Yennifer said, and then locked the front door behind von Dresch, before closing and locking the conference room door behind them as well. 

They all sat, and von Dresch set the briefcase on the table, spinning a series of dials to pop the locks open. He didn’t open the briefcase, instead passing it over to Yennifer, who opened it at an angle so that Furina could see, but von Dresch was blocked. 

Inside were several sealed paper envelopes, which Yennifer popped open. The envelopes contained a series of documents, which Yennifer looked over before handing to Furina. 

“Birth certificate?” Furina read. It had a description of a child being born, one Furina de Fontaine, listed as a “home birth,” as well as two parents, José and Marie de Fontaine. That was somewhat amusing, since Furina certainly didn’t have any parents. Not that she could remember in any case. The next was a small red book with the title Republic of France: Passport, and a crest in gold on the cover. Inside was a picture of Furina, though this version of her had blonde hair. It also gave her height and weight, along with a date of birth. She had no idea if 165 cm and 50 kilos was correct, but she hoped it didn’t make her sound fat, and she would have to find out when 1983 was in relation to the current day. 

There were various other documents that appeared to be more forms of identification and an envelope with colored bits of paper with numbers on them. 

“What are those?” Furina asked, peering at one of the papers, which had a picture of a man and a seascape behind him on it. 

“Francs, about 5000 of them in small notes,” Yennifer said with a small smile. “Not enough to make you rich, but certainly enough to live on for a while. Cookie didn’t stint for once.”

That prompted a raised eyebrow from von Dresch, but he didn’t utter a word. 

“I…I don’t know what to say,” Furina said, feeling the urge to cry once more. Initially, she fought it off, after all, Archon’s didn’t cry. But then she realized she didn’t need to. Not anymore. 

Yennifer helpfully got her a box of paper tissues, which Furina used to blow her nose and dab at her eyes. It had started to rain again, though it tapered off as Furina blew her nose and tossed the tissue away. “Thank you both. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such kindness. I…I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this.”

“Oh!” Furina gasped in surprise, then turned to von Dresch, who had politely become very absorbed in the painting hanging on the wall. “Captain, I can’t possibly thank you enough either. Please, I’m Furina de Fontaine. And you are?”

“Captain Otto von Dresch, though you may know me as Vornehm. Or perhaps not, if my guess is correct,” the man said, taking Furina’s offered hand and brushing his lips against the back of her hand like a proper gentleman. 

“I am afraid the name is not familiar to me, but I won’t forget it. You are also of the Knights of Favonius?” Furina asked, glancing at Yennifer, who nodded in confirmation. 

“Indeed, though I am an old dog at this point,” von Dresch said, fingering his Vision. “I never thought I would be so blessed, but, it seems my service is yet needed in the name of Freedom.”

Furina’s eye brows furrowed, a question coming to her mind. “Are the Knights very active in France, then?”

“Ah, no,” Yennifer said with a shake of her head. “The major French cape group is the Mousquetaires, or the Musketeers. The Knights are primarily German, though we’ve expanded into the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland, as those are Lord Barbados’ major lands.”

“I see,” Furina said, and shrugged at Vornehm. “I’m afraid I am…not very familiar with current events. Or, er, any events, really.”

“It is not my business to inquire, my Lady,” von Dresch said, bowing his head. “I am certain you will reveal yourself at the appropriate time.” 

Reveal herself? Did he think she was the Hydro Archon too? “I…might not be who you think I am,” Furina said, giving von Dresch a small, sad smile. “I’m just an ordinary mortal woman, really.”

“As you say,” von Dresch said with a slight shrug. 

“Thank you, Otto,” Yennifer said, standing. “This was most timely and helpful. Pass my regards on to Cookie.”

“I will, though it will be some time before I return to Berlin,” von Dresch said, standing with the aid of his cane. “As a cover, I will be meeting with Iron Mask and several other Mousquetaires leaders to broker a treaty between us, should the war reignite. The Tsaritsa is everyone’s concern, and she will not sleep forever.”

What sort of world did Furina find herself in, where Archons warred? It made her shiver at the very thought. 

After some goodbyes, von Dresch departed, leaving Furina and Yennifer alone.  Yennifer put a “closed” sign on the door, then ushered Furina back into the conference room.

“Right,” Yennifer said, taking up the contents of the briefcase and pushing them in Furina’s direction. “I’m taking off the ‘I’m your friend’ hat, and putting on the ‘I’m your Lawyer’ hat. Normally this would be a conflict of interest and a breach of legal protocol, but we’re going to set that aside for now and I’ll do my best to be objective in advising you.”

Biting her lip, Furina nodded, glancing down at the passport and birth certificate. This was the role she had to play now. 

“First off, it’s imperative that you don’t tell anyone where you are really from. We’re going to have to nail down your cover story,” Yennifer opened a case, which turned into one of those glass boxes, with a typewriter attached. She tapped away at it, and pulled up a map. “Fontaine is a small commune in Isère, which your documents list you as being from. The odds of you running into someone from there are small, but you can claim you grew up outside of the commune in a very rural location. So not the Loire Valley.”

“Alright,” Furina agreed. “That doesn’t help us with Charlotte. If this world’s version is anything like the one I know, she won’t rest until she’s uncovered the Truth.”

Yennifer groaned and scrubbed her face with one hand. “Yes. My adorable and infuriating little sister. If I know anything about Vision Holders, it’s that they’re stubborn as mules and twice as hardheaded. Anyway, there are a few ways we can approach this. We have the foundations of an identity, but it’s going to be important to start to generate a paper trail. Cookie left a note that Tessa Richter created a digital paper trail for you that includes a baccalauréat and a history of employment with a non-existent theater troupe that toured through Germany, and we’ve got a few people who will swear you performed at their theaters.”

Yennifer handed over a paper that listed Furina’s various accomplishments, along with a Curriculum Vita that included several references from what looked like theaters and actors, mostly located in Germany. 

“That’s…quite an elaborate backstory, but nothing I can’t handle for my new role,” Furina said. She gave a small laugh. “I suppose playing Furina de Fontaine isn’t too hard of an ask.”

“Good. You’ll want to memorize it. Chaim and Malka are good people, and I’m not surprised Cookie got them on board so quickly, but it will help if you can namedrop a few places as well. Also, you’ll want to wear these contacts,” Yennifer handed Furina a small case with lenses in them. “I hate to make you have to hide your eyes, but as you’re not a Vision Holder or a parahuman, people will ask questions if they see them.”

“Simple enough, I’ve done that before,” Furina agreed, slipping on the lenses. Yeniffer pulled a mirror out of her case, and Furina inspected herself. The effect was quite good: her irises now looked like normal round ones, and her eyes were both the same shade of blue instead of heterochromatic. 

“We’re also going to be dying your hair. You can pick the color you want, though your passport lists you as a blonde,” Yennifer said. Furina agreed, and Yennifer sighed, shaking her head. “Now to the money. It’s yours, and you can do as you wish with it, but I do have some advice.”

“Of course, please! I, ah, well…Money was not something I thought a great deal about in my previous life,” Furina admitted. 

“You’re going to need clothing. I suggest second-hand stores,” Yennifer said bluntly. “Not fancy boutiques and high fashion. You’ll want one good outfit we’ll splurge on, but the rest of it should be gently used.”

“Yes, of course,” Furina agreed, feeling a sense of relief. “Frankly, I have very little attachment to physical possessions. What about, well…a place to stay?”

“You’ll be living with me and Charlotte, at least for the foreseeable future. Three Thousand Francs is enough to get you set up, but until and unless you find good employment, you’ll not be able to find an apartment in Paris. If you plan on staying in Paris, that is. There are other options,” Yennifer explained. 

“No, no, thank you for taking me in,” Furina said hastily. “You’re the only people I know, and it would be a comfort to at least have some familiar people around.”

Plus, despite their short acquaintance, Yennifer probably knew Furina better than just about anyone, even Navia and Charlotte. It wasn’t like she was ever very close with anyone, or open about herself. The only person who might know her better was Neuvillette, but they had always had frosty if polite relations. The Hydro Dragon respected the Archon, but he did not love her. 

“Let’s get to it then. We’ll get you some clothing and basic items today, then figure out the rest of it tomorrow. Though I do have to ask if you have any marketable skills,” Yennifer said. 

“Aside from my good looks and charming personality?” Furina quipped, though Yennifer didn’t smile in the least. She sighed. “Likely not. Anything I did know, it’s completely useless here in this new world. Perhaps something could be done with my newfound facility with language, but I’d like to avoid drawing attention to that.”

“That would be for the best, I think,” Yennifer agreed. “Parahumans are not well regarded in France, and while some countries have begun to lift the laws barring them from using their powers in a career, France is not one of those nations.”

After that, they departed Yennifer’s office and visited several stores, the first of which was a ladies' delicates shop that Yennifer frequented. While the rest of Furina’s clothes would have to be used, neither of them even considered buying a second-hand set of undergarments. 

Feeling much more comfortable and confident with her new bra and underwear, the bra being an invention that Furina particularly liked, especially compared to a corset.  They found skirts, pants, blouses, jackets, and shoes. It was all quite a lot, and resulted in a rather full day. Still, it had been fun, chatting with Yennifer and the shopkeepers and seeing all of the new styles this world offered. The clothing was very different from what Furina was used to, being much less ornate, but the freedom of movement it offered was rather refreshing. 

Finally, Yennifer took Furina to a small cafe near her apartment for a late lunch. “Get the onion soup,” Yennifer recommended. 

Furina happily complied and was delighted to find that the onion soup was nearly identical to the dish she was familiar with from Fontaine. It came with caramelized onions, melted cheese, and a slice of bread atop it. There was a light salad to accompany it, and afterwards, Furina treated herself to a slice of Opera Cake. It turned out to be a wonderful layered sponge cake with notes of almond, coffee, and plenty of chocolate. 

“Ah,” Furina sighed, resting a hand on her stomach and leaning back in her chair in contentment. “I must say, I am glad the cuisine is up to snuff. If there was one thing I would have missed about the Court, it would be the wonderful cuisine.”

“Court? Were you some sort of nobility?” Yennifer asked, her tone low so as not to carry.

Furina instantly sat up, flushing. “Ah, no. I was an entertainer, so I did hobnob with the upper class, but I was not truly one of them. I promise, I’ll tell you everything later.”

Not quite everything. There was no need to muddy the waters and say she’d spent her rather long life impersonating the Hydro Archon. 

By the time they returned to Yennifer’s apartment, it was getting on towards late afternoon. They were just hauling the bags onto the lift, when a familiar voice called, “WAIT!” 

Charlotte skidded into the elevator, red-faced and panting, but grinning from ear to ear. “Thanks! Looks like I timed it perfectly!” 

“Hmm. You didn’t skip any classes, did you?” Yennifer said, frowning as she hit the button from the lift. 

“Oh no, of course not!” Charlotte said, looking offended. Then she blushed and looked away. “...though I did skip the Journalism Club. I told Mr. Lambert I was investigating a story and he let me go.”

“Very well, you’d have been insufferable, and I’m curious anyway,” Yennifer said with a shake of her head. 

Charlotte practically vibrated inside the elevator, grinning at Furina in a rather familiar manic way. “So, how was your date? Lots of shopping, I see!”

Furina’s ears felt like they’d catch fire, while Yennifer coughed and glared at her sister. “Charlotte! It wasn’t a date, and it’s not your concern.”

“Oh come on, we’re sisters, and she’s staying with us, right? It’s totally my business!” Charlotte protested. 

“I don’t know that I’d call it a date…but it was quite pleasant. Actually one of the most relaxing days I’ve had in ages,” Furina said, smiling at Yennifer, who seemed rather pleased at the admission. Charlotte let out a little squeal. Yes, this was definitely Charlotte. She’d never been one for proper etiquette either. 

Back in the apartment, Charlotte didn’t even wait for the shopping to be put away before she had a cup of coffee made for each of them, and a notepad and pen for herself. Furina sighed and sat down, with Yennifer coming to sit as well. 

“I want to reiterate that you’re under no obligation to reveal anything you don’t feel compelled to, and that my sister is under strict orders NOT to turn this into a video or breathe a word of it to anyone without your permission,” Yennifer said, glaring at Charlotte. 

“What? I promise!” Charlotte said, holding up her left hand while placing her right over her heart solemnly. “My word as a journalist!” 

“That’s probably the best oath you’ll get out of her,” Yennifer admitted to Furina. “I am interested in hearing the full story, so take your time.”

“Where to begin?” Furina wondered aloud. She couldn’t very well start at the real beginning. So, instead, she started somewhat closer to the end. 

“I was an actress in Fontaine,” Furina began, and Charlotte instantly started scribbling down notes. “That is, I was an actress in the Court of Fontaine, the capital of the domain of the Hydro Archon in Teyvat.”

To her credit, Charlotte didn’t interrupt, though her Vision gleamed as she mouthed, “I knew it.” 

“Before you ask, no, I was not the Hydro Archon. That was Focalors. And while I did meet the Hydro Archon once or twice, I myself was simply a human woman, not a god,” Furina continued. “Anyway, I won’t go over my entire history, just the pertinent bits. You see, there was a Prophecy. One that said all of Fontaine was to drown while the Hydro Archon wept alone on her throne. Focalors…well, she tapped me to help her avert this prophecy. I can’t get into all the details, but you see…it involved me sacrificing myself.”

Charlotte’s pen stopped scratching and she looked at Furina wide-eyed for a moment. Yennifer had a neutral expression, but she seemed to be listening intently herself. Taking a deep breath, Furina continued, “Part of Focalor’s scheme required that I be arrested, and put on trial. The Prophecy was beginning to come true, and the town of Poisson…” Furina hiccuped, tears coming to her eyes. “...the town of Poisson was drowned. Many…many died, lost to the primordial waters. 

Yennifer had already brought a box of tissues over, and Furina took out one, dabbing at her eyes as the emotions overwhelmed her again. “I knew those people. Some of them, they were my friends. And so, when I arrived in Poisson…I was arrested. The charges don’t matter, but essentially it was claimed that I had engaged in a deception that resulted in the activation of the Prophecy, which everyone was well aware of. This was all according to Focalors plan…I think. She never really informed me of what I was to do, so I tried desperately to prove my innocence.”

“And I…failed,” Furina said, hugging herself. “Or…succeeded? I’m not sure. I was declared guilty by the Iudex, and the verdict rendered by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale was…death. Only…not for me. For the Hydro Archon.” 

She thought back to exactly what had happened, trying to come to grips with it all. “Somehow, the Prophecy began to come true. A great beast of the Primordial Sea emerged, and began to drown everyone, myself the first victim. The Iudex battled the beast, but…”

A masked man of lightning and power, emerging from the Void to battle the narwhale… 

“One of the Fatui Harbingers, Ajax, known as Tartaglia-”

“Wait, did you say Fatui Harbinger?!” Yennifer interrupted, her eyes suddenly wide. “But, Ajaks!? He’s not a Harbinger! But, wait…Cookie said-”

“Yen, it’s obvious she’s talking about another world. Clearly the Tsaritsa tried to destroy Fontaine too,” Charlotte said, making a shushing motion towards her sister. She turned back to Furina and nodded solemnly. “Please, continue your story.”

“Well, after that, the Iudex, the Travelers, and the two Harbingers, the Knave was present at the Trial as well, all battled the Primordial Beast. There was little I could do, being a mortal woman, and I was locked in the defendant's box anyway. I could only watch and hope…”

Then, a grin spread across Furina’s face, and she let out a little squeal. “I died, of course, but they won! In my last moments, Focalors showed me a Vision! Of the waters receding, of the beast defeated, of the people of Fontaine living, the Prophecy averted! I died on the Hydro Archon’s throne in the place of Focalors, or something like that, and it worked! Fontaine was judged innocent by the Hydro Sovereign, and my people were saved!” 

Furina grinned at Yennifer and Charlotte, who both stared at her, gobsmacked. 

“So, wait. You died on the Archons throne? In her place?” Charlotte said, frowning at her notepad. “And what’s the Hydro Sovereign? Is that another term for the Hydro Archon?” 

“Oh, um, the Sovereign is the Divine Dragon whose power was stolen and forged into the Gnosis by Celestia, his power turned into the Archon’s Throne,” Furina said. “Or, at least, that’s what I think it is? I’m not entirely sure, it’s a very complicated theological matter that I never fully understood.”

“Why did you die on the Archon’s Throne, and how did that avert the prophecy?” Yennifer asked, her brow furrowed.

Furina sighed, then reached up, removing her contacts. She hadn’t meant to share this, but… “You see…I was cursed to resemble the Hydro Archon. That’s why I look like this. Combined with my skills as an Actress, the plan was for me to fool everyone into thinking I was the Hydro Archon, so I could die in her place. At least, I think it was? Focalors never did tell me, only that I had to fool everyone into thinking I was her.”

“So…you’re not the Hydro Archon, you’re her body double?” Charlotte said, scratching at her hair with her pen and frowning at her paper. 

“Er, I suppose? We did look like twin reflections in a mirror,” Furina admitted. “But I must hasten to add: I had none of her powers! I couldn’t control Hydro at all, and I have no divinity whatsoever. I’m not even a Vision Holder! Just an ordinary, mortal human. Honestly, the two of you have more power than I did.”

“That is…quite the story,” Yennifer said when Furina trailed off. “Perhaps you did such a good job at pretending to be the Hydro Archon, you fooled whatever power is bringing Archons to Earth Bet.”

“Oh, I did want to ask about that,” Furina said. “You’ve mentioned several Archons, but don’t seem familiar with the Hydro, Pyro, or Geo Archons.”

“There are only four here right now, plus you,” Charlotte said, pointing to her own Vision. “The Raiden Shogun was the first to arrive, five and a half years ago. She slew the Leviathan and saved Japan. Next was Lord Barbados, who arrived in Germany about two years after the Raiden Shogun. He toppled the Nazis and slew Khonsu. Then came Nahida Saeed, Lord Buer. She went to Baghdad and defeated the Simurgh.”

“And last was the Tsaritsa, who battled Scion for control of the world…and lost,” Yennifer said grimly. “She also fought the Twins. Though I’m quite certain you have no idea what these names we’re throwing around are. They are the Endbringers, giant monsters who were slowly driving humanity extinct, at least until the Archons came.”

“Not that slowly,” Charlotte said with a shiver. “I’ve seen pictures of Cologne. A million dead in a single day.”

“A…a million!? Furina gasped, feeling sick. “Fontaine’s population was only about five million! Merciful Archons, a million dead in a day!? That would drive humanity extinct! …maybe you should have gotten a real Hydro Archon after all…not just a fake.”

“I’m sure they’ll arrive eventually,” Yennifer said with a smile, taking Furina’s hands in her own. “For now, we’re glad you’re here, and not dead. And we certainly won’t be telling this to anyone. Right, Lotte?”

Charlotte groaned, but nodded and set her notepad down. “No one would believe me anyway. But yes, I’ll respect Furina’s wishes. But someday, the light of truth really does need to be shed on your story, Furina!” 

“Honestly, I’d rather leave it all behind. I had to pretend to be Focalors for a very long time,” Furina sighed, resting her head on her hands and looking off into the middle distance, her eyes unfocused. “It would be nice to just be a regular human, for once. To just be me, Furina.”

“Well, just Furina is good enough for us,” Yennifer said with a smile. Then she turned to Charlotte. “Now. Homework.”

“Ugh, are you serious!? I have a million questions!” Charlotte protested. “Like, what is life on Teyvat like!? What about how she impersonated the Hydro Archon, or a description of the other Archons, or how-”

“Homework,” Yennifer repeated. “You can badger Furina when she’s ready.”

“Uggggghhhhh,” Charlotte moaned, but she got up from the table. “Fiiiiiine. I’ve got a maths quiz tomorrow I need to study for.” 

“Mhmm,” Yennifer said. “Get to work.”

“Slavedriver,” Charlotte said, but she did so with a smile and a wink, and went off to her bedroom to study. 

Yennifer came around the table, hesitantly putting a hand on Furina’s shoulder. “Do…do you need a hug?”

“You know,” Furina whispered, her eyes full of tears. “No one’s ever asked me that. But yes. Yes, I do need a hug.”

And for the first time in 500 years, she got one. 

Author’s Note: 

Do not forget to hug and love your Water Jesus. She needs it. 

PHILO: She finally got her hug. Also, I ship Yennefer and Furina now. Join me, my brethren, as we Defend the Yuri. Crusaders of the Cuddle, Rise UP! Praise be the Lily!