You guys are insane. Like literally insane. Over 150 favs and nearly 200 follows?! AND the most reviewed of this side of the fandom?! Honestly, now I'm starting to feel like I'm not providing enough for you guys. Might have to step it up then.
Again I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed the story thus far. Sticking with my madness as long as you guys have means everything to me as a writer and I couldn't be happier to check for any updates. Every follow and every fav is just another incentive for me to see this monster through to the end.
Alright let's drop the sappy stuff for a bit.
Note at the end, let's begin.
Disclaimer: Genshin Impact and its characters belong to Mi-hoyo and Hoyoverse; I own nothing.
A gentle breeze caressed the grassy knolls that hugged the cliffs of Fontaine, and the sound of rustling grass accompanied by the scattered cries of a few sea gulls. Along the beach, there walked two figures, one small and the other statuesque though their pace was measured to match the other's. The sun was slowly beginning to set and there wasn't a cloud in sight, providing a window to the glittering sky above.
For a time, they walked with only the natural ambience as a backdrop until the smaller of the two broke it.
"What's so great about water anyhow?" the smaller of the pair scoffed, peering disdainfully at the water.
"Do you not like it?" the taller one asked gently, glancing down at the girl, bemused.
"It's cold and wet and full of ugly beasts, a lot of which we end up eating. I don't see what's so special about it."
The older woman gave a giggle at that, earning her the ire of the girl.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh dear, I apologize. It's just that your way of expression is so refreshing compared to the others at court," the woman said with another titter. Spotting a clearing nearby, she laid a hand on the girl's shoulder and eased her along. "Let's rest ourselves for a moment."
Despite her petulance, the younger of the two complied and soon they were both sat on a knoll overlooking the marvelous capital of Fontaine.
"You speak the truth however that is not all that water is. In truth, it's one of the most mysterious and wondrous elements of the seven in this world. In a way, it is like justice itself."
"How? They're so different!" the girl exclaimed, dubious.
"On the surface, perhaps, but you could say the same for water itself, no? As it is with justice, there are many facets to water that even gods are still in the dark about."
"I thought archons dominated the elements."
"Govern is a more apt way of putting it, I believe. Just as I govern this land, and so shall you when the time comes. And thus, let me tell you the truth of water."
"But you just said you didn't know," the girl pointed out, skepticism coating her words.
Another giggle. "Quite. However, just as one's justice is based on a certain point of view, the same could be said for the truth of such matters. So let me tell you my truth and one day, when your time comes, you will find your own."
"I might take you a bit more seriously if you didn't have that gaudy-looking hat," the girl replied with a huff, only to yelp when it was then placed on her head by the woman.
"Then it shall be yours, child. I believe it suits you more anyhow..."
"…rina… Furina!"
A rather undignified groan escaped her lips before she could catch it, her eyes starting to slide open only to shut them with a hiss due to the blinding light.
"My head's throbbing…" she muttered miserably, starting to get up only for a hand to gently push her back down.
Aether's hand, specifically. The familiar weight of the blond's palm was like a balm to her weary soul. "Thank goodness you're ok," the blond said in a rush, but Furina's eyes were still adjusting. All she could make out was a brown and white blob with a crown of gold.
The next second, however, everything became white which was followed by an ear-piercing wail.
"FURINAAAAA!"
"GEH!?" the god gasped, nearly smothered by the fairy girl clinging to her.
"You saved Paimon! Paimon swears from here on she will never utter another bad thing about you ever again!"
"Alright, alright, now get off – wait a second! And just what things have you been uttering about my divine self, little one?" the archon said, switching gears from exasperation to outrage as she caught the tail end of the girl's statement.
Slowly her vision began to clear, and she could see Aether and Paimon properly once more, the two wearing faces of relief though Paimon was now peeking nervously out from behind the blond.
"Furina, thank you for saving Paimon," the boy said gratefully, bowing his head slightly to her. "Everything happened so fast I couldn't react to it in time. I guess it's a good thing you beat me at those races earlier after all!"
Furina was torn for once. On one hand, the praise hadn't gone unnoticed and her first instinct was to preen at such admiration. This time however, she felt awfully self-conscious all of a sudden in the face of the blond's honest gratitude. It wasn't mere lip service like so many others had done before.
Aether truly meant every word.
So all she could think to do was reach up and touch her-
All at once, she froze.
Her hand patted her hair which might've seemed normal from an outside perspective, but it was much different for her. The only time she ever touched her bare head was if…
Panic slowly started to set in.
No… no, no, no…
"Furina?" Aether called out, but she completely ignored him.
"Where? Where is it? Where is it…?"
It had to be here! It had to be! She couldn't have lost it! How could she?
Furina's mind raced, her thoughts spiraling as if she were being sucked down via a whirlpool. With an anxious gasp, she began to scour the area for any sign of it. She didn't even care about where they ended up, only about finding her-!
"Furina?"
"WHAT?!" she screamed at Aether, only to freeze as she found him holding a familiar article.
Her hat.
"Lose something?" he tried to tease, but she cared little for his levity right now.
Decorum be damned.
"GIVE IT TO ME!"
The blond's eyes widened in shock, unable to stop her from snatching the hat back and clutching it to her chest protectively.
Thank Celestia… It's still here… I didn't lose it…
"Furina…" Aether called out again, softly this time. She chanced a glance over towards him but refused to let go of the hat, clutching it like a lifeline. "When you took off after Paimon, your hat came off in the current. I managed to snatch it before it was lost to the waves."
"Where were you keeping that...?" she asked quietly, staring at him in disbelief.
Aether managed a small grin and held up a small pouch, the seemingly mundane object appearing to glow as the light hit it. "In my travels, I came across a special carrying bag that can hold much more than what it looks like it can, sort of like Lyney's magic pockets but not quite."
Of the many, many questions Furina suddenly found herself wanting to ask, only one came out:
"Isn't something like that cumbersome?"
Paimon chose this time to chime in with her two mora, giving an annoyed groan. "You would think what with all the junk this guy comes across. Paimon swears if she'd let him, he'd take an entire hilichurl camp down to the foundations!"
"Who says I haven't?" Aether deadpanned.
"Why you-!"
"Pfft."
The two shot a glance at the god who had let such a simple noise escape her lips, but by then she was already giggling at their antics.
These two… just when they had wormed their way into her good graces she was unsure, but she was glad for it all the same.
After all, unfortunate happenstance aside, they'd let her relive a sweet memory she'd thought long buried after all these years.
Though with that warmth came a wave of sorrow, knowing such times were since a thing of the past.
"But in all honesty, Paimon didn't expect you to be so attached to a hat like that, Furina," the fairy girl remarked.
"I can see why you might presume such, yes," the god nodded, holding the hat up to inspect it for anything missing or damaged. Fortunately, apart from being soaking wet, it still retained its pristine state. "After all, as this nation's archon, there is very little that I can't get simply on a whim and fashion is certainly no exception. This, however, is. This hat was not mine originally but was... a gift, you could say. One I've since learned to treasure."
Both Aether and Paimon exchanged glances at that but didn't comment on that, much to Furina's relief. She was already divulging enough secrets as it was. If she had to speak of her, she wasn't sure she could keep her composure.
Speaking of which, the Traveler had done her a service for this so the least she could do was thank him appropriately.
"Traveler," she addressed him, causing the boy to stiffen. A smirk threatened to tug at her lips but she forced it down for the now. "Your valiant efforts of ensuring my modesty shan't go unnoticed. Thus, I shall grant you a rare opportunity to ask me anything you wish, be it a request or simple information. This service I shall repay on my name as Fontaine's archon."
Aether quickly threw his hands up, shaking them side to side as if to ward her off. "You don't have to do any of that! I didn't do it for some reward but because I figured that hat was important to you."
More than you will ever know, Furina admitted to herself.
"Nevertheless, I am a deity of integrity and will not let a debt go unsettled. So ask Traveler. I'm waiting."
Given what she knew of his exploits, there were quite a number of things Furina expected him to ask. If he wished to be compensated in any way, she would fulfill such a request. After all, mora and the like were all the desires of mortals so he couldn't be any-
"Then, could you let me put it on?" he requested nervously.
…or he could completely defy her expectations once more, throwing her mind into a frenzy with the implications that statement arose.
Her face began to boil as if someone dipped her into a pot of freshly cooked soup, and she swore her heart started performing cartwheels in her chest.
"You… y-you mean…" she trailed off, glancing down at the hat before looking back at him.
The blond nodded slowly before throwing up his hands again, "T-that is, if you don't mind!"
The archon of Fontaine just stared at him, contemplating this boy once again.
Time and again he seemed to completely uproot any preexisting notion she had of him, unveiling a side that she hoped few people had ever seen. Was it selfish to think that? Perhaps.
But she was the hydro archon – didn't she have the right to be selfish about matters like this?
So why was she so hesitant? Was it because of the hat itself? Gift or no, she never let anyone touch it let alone put it on her. That was a privilege reserved solely for herself.
But if it was him…
It's ok, that mysterious voice soothed her and this time she didn't do anything to shut it down.
She ran a hand lovingly over her most prized possession before giving the Traveler a sharp glare, causing him to flinch. Finally, after letting him fret for a few moments, she sighed and muttered, "Very well."
"Wait, for real!?" Paimon exclaimed, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.
"But let me be abundantly clear, Traveler," the god said slowly, venom seeping into her tone. "Should you cause any sort of damage to it, forget a trial – I will ensure you receive the death penalty, of which I will carry out. Am I clear?"
"C-crystal my lady!" Aether stammered, very real fear on his face for once.
Furina held his gaze for another long moment before glancing back down at the hat, lifting it up and holding it out. "Then you may proceed."
She waited anxiously, keeping the hat held firmly in her grip until she felt a tug on it. Instinctively she resisted, her hand tightening like a vice until she remembered who it was that was taking it. With sheer force of will, she allowed her grip to slacken until it finally left her grasp and at once a feeling of emptiness swept through her like a tidal wave.
It was like she had just given a piece of her soul away...
Then, a familiar weight settled itself gently on her head, sending a wave of relief unlike anything she'd experienced before. More than that, she soon found her eyes locked with the blond's who stared right back at her, a slight red tint in his cheeks. Given the heat warming her own, she was sure she mirrored much the same.
He was so close, close enough that she could detect a faint scent but one she couldn't for the life of her describe. All she knew was that it was his and somehow, that was enough.
No… no it wasn't enough.
"Is that ok?" Aether asked worriedly, starting to back off only for Furina to reach out and grab him by his collar. "F-Furina-!?"
Yanking him close, she pressed her lips to his cheek quickly before backing off, her face glowing as red as a crab's shell.
It wasn't even a thought, nor was it something she ever imagined herself doing. But when she did it, it felt oh so right.
That said, her mind quickly caught up with her actions and subsequently melted down.
WHAT IN CELESTIA'S NAME DID I JUST DO?!
Oh my, how bold of you Furina! the voice giggled.
S-Shut it you! It was just to thank him!
Your heart tells a different story~ …and so does his from the looks of it.
Furina blinked at that remark, quickly coming to realize that Aether's face was also bright red, but his eyes were boring into hers with an intensity she had yet to see from him. Not even when he spoke of his battles earlier did he appear so focused.
More than that was he leaning in towards her... and was she doing the same?!
"Hey guys, where are we exactly?"
That brought the two back to reality, the two springing apart as if stricken with electro.
Furina's heart was running a marathon twice over; and her breathing threatened to speed up, one hand clutching at her chest as if that would deter such ministrations.
I…I just k-k-kissed him…
On the cheek, so it doesn't count I'm afraid.
C-count to w-what precisely?!
Arguing with her subconscious might've seemed silly, but at this point it was all she could manage without losing her sanity.
Aether on the other hand was the first to recover, slowly standing up - albeit robotically, like he didn't have full control over himself just yet - and walking around a bit with Paimon close by. "Looks like we ended up in some Remurian ruins, but it doesn't look like a domain."
Furina's ears perked up at that, glancing around herself and gasped.
"…I know this place."
"Huh? Have you been here before?"
"I-I don't know… I can't put it into words, but this place is familiar to me."
Something tickled at the back of her mind but before she could investigate, it was gone.
It felt eerily familiar indeed… and not in a good way either.
"Well sitting around isn't going to do any good. We should get moving," Aether stated, turning to her with a familiar smile. All the same he offered her a smirk. "It's not the domain you asked for, but I think this place might hold a few secrets yet."
There was a large part of Furina that told her that this place was all wrong, that it felt off and that they should find the quickest way out as soon as possible.
But, as she'd been want to do recently, she was won over by her escort's smile.
"Then you should be honored to lead me through it," she said flippantly, offering the Traveler her hand once more.
"That and more, my lady."
Furina could swear the heat in her cheeks was enough to boil water by this point, but still let him help her to her feet.
"Uh… Paimon's not so sure about this place actually," the little fairy remarked nervously.
So even she could tell this place was unusual? How interesting, but perhaps it would explain why Aether worked so well with her.
"Is that so? Then I guess we'll keep all the treasure to ourselves then," Aether told her deviously.
Of course, she had also proven to be extremely gullible when it came to such material matters.
"Bwuh?! Hey, Paimon didn't say she wouldn't come just… just… oh fine, let's just go already."
Furina fell in step with the two, her steps measured and cautious as she gave her surroundings another once over. That familiar tickle returned but again it slipped her grasp, though this time, it didn't go quietly.
The very next second, another voice - one that filled her with immediate dread boomed through her mind.
"...ject 238, begin the test."
"AH!" Furina gasped, grasping her head in shock.
What... what was that? That voice...!
Be prepared, the voice - the one she was used to - warned her sternly.
Prepared for what? What is this place?!
But the voices were gone, and she was left with more frustration than satisfaction.
"Furina, are you alright?" Aether called back to her, drawing her back to reality.
"Y-yes, just catching my breath. I'll be along shortly."
This place was no domain yes, but one thing she was sure of:
She would emerge from here changed irrevocably.
Only time would tell if that was for good or ill.
There we go. Alright, full disclaimer. As I stated in the last update, 4.2 basically shot any preexisting plans I had for the story into orbit. There was even one theory I was going to use while crediting Minsleif on YouTube for the idea, but everything just got out of hand. And I'll admit... what comes next might throw some of you guys, but bear with me.
To this I pose a question to you. It's been all but confirmed by now that Furina will be able to use both Pneuma and Ousia in her skills, but how exactly? Is it just the staple of the Hydro Archon or is it something else? So long as Hoyo doesn't retcon that, I have one theory that might be stretching things a bit but hear me out.
And I'll give you one hint: Fontaine Dottore.
Hopefully I don't lose too many people with what comes next. There is a method to my madness, just bear with me. I'll do my best to make sense of it all.
Till then,
Take care.