Rainfall painted the cobblestones of Fontaine a darkened hue, filling the city plaza with a dreary atmosphere that mirrored the heavens. But deep within the city's courthouse, the mood was anything but dark and dreary. For what could be more exciting, more dramatic, than a TRIAL?!
"Preposterous! You're saying my client sold you expired milk? But that's absurd! The Magain De Lait always uses the freshest of products! I'll have you know I shop there myself!"
"It's true!" the client cried. "He does!"
"Then explain the date printed on the bottle! This milk's one-month past expiration!"
Murmurs and gasps echoed through the halls of the renowned Opera Epiclese. Expired milk? A month past?! Why, that was practically rotten!
"A false accusation! False, I say!" the milkman cried, wagging his finger. "Y-You have no proof!"
"I do have proof!" the prosecutor pulled out a slip. "This receipt shows the purchase of three cartons of milk! Three! And an examination will show these cartons were purchased today! This morning!"
He slammed the slip on the desk, prompting gasps to surge through the opera house. Impossible! The Magain De Lait?! Selling rotten milk?! Truly?!
'Borrrrr~ing. Anyone could tell that that milk was already rotten! The smell alone gives that much away! Can we really call this "exciting?"' From her podium, the mighty Focalors watched over the proceedings, lips pulled into a knowing smile despite her innermost thoughts. 'What happened to the juicy stuff? The betrayals? The rebellions?! How are my people supposed to stay faithful if we're only judging old milkmen?! I need action! I need excitement! I. NEED. DRAMA!'
"Guilty…" Neuvillette sighed, stamping his cane on the floor underneath him. "The Oratrice had decreed it to be, and so it shall be. Men, please escort Mr. DeLait to the holding quarters. Issue a fine for selling… expired milk… and send him on his way."
"But it wasn't mine! It wasn't mine!" the milkman cried out in protest. Tears streamed down his pale face as the guards dragged him away.
The audience yawned.
"Long trial today…"
"Not as interesting as the last one."
"Expired milk? What's next? Expired meat? Juice?"
"Hush, you two! My apologies, Lady Furina! We'll be going now."
"Hmhmhm…" Furina giggled.
'See?! Even they're getting bored!' she thought.
The chatter in the opera house began to wane as the attendance slowly walked out. Despite their smiles and cheers, Furina could sense the unease swirling in them. Their expectations were sorely unmet, and to be honest, hers were as well. When she donned this persona, she was supposed to be mighty! Magnificent! Masterful!
And she was.
But that didn't matter when the trials provided were trash!
Like an actor given bad lines, there was only so much she could do! And god forbid - wait, that was her - that people just stopped doing crime! No, no, no! That wouldn't do! She needed a trial. A good one! One that would relight the fire within, and spark a new wave of drama!
But what could she do?
She bit her lips.
Where was good news when she needed it?!
The doors to the Opera Epiclese swung open and a familiar face strode inside. Dressed in the azure regalia of her very own elite guard, the figure walked forth, unbothered by the massive crowd leaving around her.
"My Lady Furina," the figure said, kneeling as she spoke softly. "Our spies have returned, as you decreed. They bring news from Inazuma!"
"What?!" Furina coughed. "Ah! I mean… Clorinde, what good timing!"
She glanced around, hoping that none of her subjects saw her… "display."
"Always the bearer of interesting news," she said once she saw they were clear. "Tell me, what news do you bring."
"Terrible news. Awful," Clorinde said. "There is a decree, my Lady. They call it… the Vision Hunt Decree. Her Excellency, the Almighty God of Thunder Narukami Ogosho-"
'WHO?'
"-aims to seize all visions and have them mounted upon her statue. This… "Raiden Shogun" is tormenting her people in pursuit of ill-conceived eternity!"
Furina nodded, acting as if she had already known all along.
"And tell me, Clorinde, what do the people's visions do, once mounted?"
"Nothing, my Lady. Their bearers are left powerless, bereft of ambition."
"I see, I see…"
"This is exactly the type of big news I've been looking for! Thank you, Clorinde! Thank you, Raiden Shogun, Almighty whatever!'
She rose to her feet.
"Hmhmhm! Clorinde, my dear and loyal subject, do not feel the need to bow before I, the great and mighty Focalors! You have done me a most excellent favor this day in bringing this news!"
"I… I have?"
"Indeed," said Furina. "'Tis a deed most worthy of praise! Have I not said it time and again? We shall judge even the Gods, and if this "Raiden Shogun" deigns to terrorize her own citizens, then she, too, must stand trial, lest she be announced guilty! Hmhmhm! Hmhmhm! Hahahahahaha!"
'Yes! This is perfect! I'll leave Neuvillette in charge of things here, and hold a trial for the eons!'
"Wait, my Lady, you don't mean to say you're leaving Fontaine to go there? It's too dangerous!"
"Hmhmhm, but am I not a god, myself?" she inquired. She stepped outside, basking in the glorious sunlight to gaze upon her people. "I, Focalors, the almighty God of Justice, shall bring this so-called Narukami Ogosho to heel in a duel for the ages! Hmhmhm! Hahahaha!"
'Raiden Shogun, prepare yourself! Because you and I… are about to have the greatest trial Teyvat's ever seen!'
She puffed out her chest, laughing wildly as her people stared wide-eyed upon her, knowing that, if nothing else…
Inazuma wouldn't know what hit it.
