ether sat across from Neuvillette in his office with Paimon floating beside him, the air filled with the subtle scent of parchment and ink. He'd try to visit the Chief Justice when he could to do what he could to ease his workload. Neuvillette was certainly capable of balancing his own duties as Iudex as well as those of Furina's as Hydro Archon but it was still a lot for a single person, elemental dragon or not.
"Thank you for visiting, both of you," Neuvillette began. "I do appreciate the time we spend together but please, do not feel you have to set aside your travel plans to assist me. Your preparations for Natlan surely take priority."
"Nuh-uh, Paimon wants to appreciate Fontaine some more," Paimon replied. "There are a whole bunch of novels Paimon's interested in and they'll be available here before the other nations so we gotta be here for those. Oh and just thinking about a nation full of fire makes Paimon wanna stick around here longer and enjoy the water." She sighed. "Paimon's going to miss lying on the beach with the blubberbeasts."
"You've done a lot for us, Neuvillette, and since we're going to be here a little longer, I'm happy to help out a friend," Aether replied. "Fontaine has a lot more to offer too now that we can relax a little."
A smile tugged at the corner of Neuvillette's lips. "That reminds me, how did you find the Fontinalia Festival? I was unable to make an appearance but I had fruitful discussions with Mr. Kamisato."
"Oh, it was great," Aether chuckled softly. "Furina took me all over the place to see everything once we were done with the film festival. A couple snags during the filming of course but nothing we couldn't deal with."
He nodded. "Indeed, that case has now been dealt with but I am pleased to hear you enjoyed yourself." His eyes softened as he smiled faintly. "I suppose I should say that Furina approached me to ensure she could plan a perfect festival for the both of you. And, though she was reluctant to admit it, she did share with me news of your relationship."
Aether blinked, slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Furina to tell Neuvillette about them, but at the same time, it made sense—Neuvillette was one of the few people Furina trusted deeply.
"Wait, huh?!" Paimon turned to Aether, eyes wide. "When did that happen?! Paimon thought- but you- a-and Furina-!" She crossed her arms firmly, pouting.
"Since the first tea party," Aether admitted, feeling slightly guilty.
"So that's why you kept giving Paimon Mora or sending Paimon to Fleuve Cendre. Don't leave Paimon out of the loop on these things!"
"To be honest, I kinda thought you were pretending not to notice. Furina also wanted to keep it quiet."
"Hmph! That doesn't sound like Paimon," Paimon huffed. "You owe Paimon a real fancy meal for this one and Paimon gets to choose what to do for the next few days."
"Your likely upcoming financial issues aside," Neuvillette spoke up. "I must say, it pleases me greatly to see Furina this way. She is... perhaps better now than I have ever seen her. Happier, more at peace with herself and I believe this to be your doing, Aether.
Aether shifted in his seat, feeling a mixture of humility and warmth from Neuvillette's words. Hearing how she was doing from someone else so close to her brought a certain quiet satisfaction. "She's... really special."
Paimon sighed and shook her head. "I suppose that means you've already got birthday plans for her then. Where are you sending Paimon for that then?"
Aether blinked. "Huh?"
Paimon looked at him unsure if he was joking. "What do you mean 'huh'? Her birthday is next week." Aether continued to stare at her blankly and she realised he was genuinely clueless. "Come on, Paimon can't be the only one looking at festivals and holidays in the papers! Everyone gets the day off, there's big parades and celebrations, you know, the kinds of things Furina would do."
Aether blinked again. "She, uh, didn't mention it."
"Ugh!" Paimon groaned. "Neuvillette, you gotta help him or Furina's gonna... actually Paimon doesn't know what Furina will do... but it'll be bad!"
"In all fairness," Neuvillette began, stoic as ever. "Given what we know now of Furina and that she didn't tell you, I can imagine her not wanting to draw attention to it. Her birthday celebrations were a public spectacle designed to reinforce her divine image. The parade was a symbol of celebration for all of Fontaine to see her in her glory as the Hydro Archon."
Paimon opened her mouth to respond to his initial defence of Aether's not knowing about it only to look downcast. "O-oh, right..."
Neuvillette continued, his expression growing more solemn. "The holiday will still be observed of course, but I suspect Furina herself would rather let the day pass quietly."
Aether frowned as he processed Neuvillette's words, thinking about how Furina would feel. The weight of her past still lingered heavily on her shoulders and though she had made significant steps forward, her endless performance had not long concluded.
He thought for a moment, then spoke. "If she doesn't want a public celebration, then maybe… we can do something more private. Something that's just for her, something she would actually enjoy."
Neuvillette nodded. "I agree. She may not wish to acknowledge her birthday in the way she once did, but it is through both her and Focalors' actions that all of Fontaine was saved. I myself have much to thank her for and I have made time to visit her on the day."
Aether considered Neuvillette's words carefully, his thoughts drifting to his own experience with birthdays.
Upon first arriving in Teyvat, his own birthday served only as a reminded of his separation from Lumine. When the day neared, he hadn't seen the point in planning anything, just to continue with his journey. It felt wrong to celebrate without her.
It came as a shock then when Paimon, having remembered when he said his birthday was even though it had only been mentioned in passing, organised a get-together of the friends he had made at the time in Mondstadt. He'd been dragged to Dawn Winery to find Paimon had been in talks with Diluc and Jean to bring everyone together to celebrate.
He'd barely been in Teyvat long and he already had countless friends who wanted to be there for him. Since then, Paimon always made sure to bring people together to celebrate a proper birthday in each nation they traveled to. And thanks to the Serenitea Pot, he always found a pile of letters and gifts waiting from everyone who couldn't be there.
Maybe something on that level would be a bit much for Furina but she had to know that she wasn't alone and that she had people who cared about the person she was now.
"You sure know how to keep things interesting, huh partner?" Navia hummed, looking over the recipe. "It fits Furina perfectly but opera cake wouldn't have been my first choice."
"Define 'interesting' in this case," Aether asked, setting out the ingredients they'd gathered beforehand. Having read up on cakes he thought Furina would like most, it seemed like the best option. He mostly just saw 'opera' and 'cake' and knowing Furina's love for both, it made sense in his mind.
"It's known for it's difficulty and is quite an ambitious choice considering our combined experience in making it," Clorinde replied. "Which raises the question of why I was brought here."
"I might not have made it before but I'm pretty sure I've got the gist of it." Navia replied. "Opera cake is all about precision and who's more precise than our Grand Duelist? That and the extra hands will help."
"I'm afraid said precision doesn't quite extend to cover culinary arts."
"Don't worry, Paimon's in the same boat. Paimon's usually just here for the eating part." Paimon gathered the flour and sugar needed for the first steps. "We're just going with the normal variety, aren't we? La Lettre a Focalors probably gives off the wrong message."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," Aether said, having already considered that option.
"Understandable," Clorinde nodded. "While I'm sure she would appreciate our efforts, it celebrates the people's love for the Hydro Archon, not the Furina she wants to be."
"So that's why we make it 'La Lettre a Furina' instead," Navia concluded, a bright smile on her face. "We can take a few liberties here and there and if we're going to change some things about it, it'll need a new name to match, right?"
Aether held his chin and nodded approvingly.
"Paimon guesses that makes sense," Paimon said, taking the same pose. "See, even if it is difficult to make, things are working out already."
"That's the spirit," Navia gave a thumbs up before winking to Aether. "Gotta make sure my partner's partner has a happy birthday." Catching Paimon's expression as she said it, she corrected herself. "My partner's non-floating partner that is."
Paimon shot Aether an unimpressed look. "Yeah, the partner Paimon only found out about recently."
"I already promised to make it up to you," Aether shrugged nervously.
"Well, from when I saw her last and what Clorinde's been saying, I figured it was something like that," Navia said, looking over to the recipe to get started on the cake.
"Clorinde, you knew too?!"
"I wouldn't quite say I knew," Clorinde offered. "Though it's hard to not notice how much Furina lights up and how hard it is to get a word in edgewise when she gets to talking about Aether."
"Mhm, and you can see how happy she is standing next to him in the film festival picture," Navia chuckled. "I've started joining Clorinde in seeing her and I asked Furina about it. I'm pretty sure she thinks no one else has noticed."
"Ugh! Paimon thought that's just how Furina's been since she got her Vision!"
"Can we please focus on getting the cake done now?" Aether said as he shrank away from Paimon's continued glaring.
October 13th
"How can my people celebrate my magnificence if they're working? Don't you know what day it is? Everyone gets the day off. This is law as of today!"
"Come, the parade starts soon. Ahaha, I can't wait to see how grand an affair it is this time!"
"Thank you, thank you, my adoring citizens. Another year goes by and it truly is a joy to see so many familiar faces along with the new. Here's to many more to come!
"Mirror-me, how many more centuries do I have to keep this up? Please... just give me a sign... anything..."
Furina's eyelids fluttered open as the dream dissolved and her room slowly came into focus. A faint light filtered through the curtains signalling the beginning of another day.
Her birthday.
She lay still and let out a soft, tired sigh. It should have been different this year, she told herself. She was no longer burdened with the role of Archon, no longer trapped in a cycle of performance.
She supposed it was ingrained in her now to dread her birthday.
How many years had it been since the day just became one to add another mark to the tally of years she had had to keep pretending for?
How was she supposed to celebrate something like that?
She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Let's just get it over with," she muttered to herself. "Maybe next year I'll feel different." As much as she wanted to lie back down, she felt like she'd probably just spend the rest of the day in bed.
Furina slid out of bed, moving slowly. She didn't have any plans or anywhere to be. She hadn't even told Aether about her birthday. She didn't know why. He'd undoubtedly find out one way or another.
Maybe it was because she didn't want him to see her like this again. He'd seen enough of her despondency.
She'd be fine tomorrow.
She looked over to the window. It was already late in the morning. Even if she had no plans, maybe she'd feel a little better if she tried to make it look like she didn't intend to head straight back to bed.
A short time later and looking more presentable, she absentmindedly combed her hair as she let her mind drift. A soft knock on the door drew her out of her thoughts. Furina paused for a moment, straightening her posture as best she could before walking over and opening it. Standing there as composed as ever was Neuvillette.
"Good morning, Furina," he greeted her with a gentle bow. "I wanted to come by to wish you a happy birthday."
Furina managed a small, faint smile as she stepped aside to let him in. "Thank you… though I'd rather not make a fuss about it this year."
Neuvillette nodded, his face understanding. He entered the room, standing by the window for a moment. "I understand. It's different now," he said, glancing back at her.
Furina sat down in one of the lounge chairs, gesturing for him to do the same.
Neuvillette settled into the chair across from her, folding his hands in his lap. "I apologise if you wanted to let the day pass quietly without visitors however I feel Fontaine and I owe you too much to not acknowledge this day as the birthday of the Furina you are now."
She nodded, letting her gaze drop to her lap for a moment before glancing back up at him. There was a comfort in his presence, a familiarity of the only constant she had had for most of her time as archon.
"You've been with me through so much, haven't you?" Furina said softly, her voice distant as she reflected on their long history. "I suppose I can always count on you, Neuvillette."
"It has always been my honor, Lady Furina."
There was a brief pause before he continued. "I've brought something for you." Neuvillette cleared his throat gently and he took two ornate cards from his robes, handing them to Furina. "I wasn't certain what gift would be appropriate for this occasion," he admitted, "so I thought this might suffice."
Furina took the cards from him, unsure of what to expect. Opening the first, she saw the signatures of those who worked in the Palais Mermonia, each one accompanied by short, kind messages. She saw names she didn't expect—old colleagues, friends, people she had barely interacted with in recent months. The signatures sprawled across the card, each in its unique style, giving her a sense of warmth she hadn't anticipated.
"These are… from everyone?" she asked quietly, her voice catching slightly as she ran her fingers over the signatures.
"And I asked Aether for help for this one," he said as he gestured to the other card. "I was under the impression that he would accompany me at this time but he told me there was one last preparation he had to make. I imagine this means he intends to arrive later."
Furina opened the second card finding signatures from Neuvillette and Aether along with those of their mutual friends. Messages from Clorinde, Navia, Charlotte, Wriothesley Siegwinne, the siblings from the House of the Hearth, Chevreuse and Chiori were inside, all wishing her the best.
Neuvillette watched her with a steady gaze."I appreciate that these might not be much, but I thought that perhaps they would show you how many people care about you, Furina—as the person you are now."
Furina met his eyes, feeling a lump form in her throat. She tried to smile, but the emotion of it all made it difficult. The gesture, simple as it was, touched her more than she'd expected.
"I... they're perfect," she said, her voice soft and genuine as she clutched the cards to her chest. "Thank you."
Aether ran down the stairs towards Furina's apartment building, trying to balance the cake and his other gift as he did. He was already much later than he expected to be but an idea struck him as he headed out in the morning. He knew he was pushing his luck with fitting it all in to the day but with the idea in mind, he thought it'd be something truly special.
Standing outside Furina's door, he shifted everything in his hands to awkwardly knock on the door. Furina opened the door not long after, a relieved smile on her face. Though she was happy to see him, she'd clearly been expecting him for a while since Neuvillette seemed to have already left.
"Uh, something came to mind," he tried. "Can I come in? I can feel the balance going on these."
"I suppose so," she said, offering to take the boxes he had in hand. Her hand lingered as it reached his and her expression softened, unable to maintain her playfulness for long.
They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment as Furina asked that he wait until she collected her thoughts before he said anything regarding her birthday.
"Aether, I..." she began. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my birthday. It wasn't to shut you out, it... I..." She looked down at her hands. "You probably know why I don't really look forward to it much. This year has been the closest to how I've wanted my birthday to be for a long time but... I still can't enjoy it the way everyone else does."
Aether wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her in. "I'd be lying if I said it's a quick and easy adjustment. When it's been something that's been a part of your life for so long, it's not easy to change how you feel about things."
Furina looked up at him, her expression curious but soft. "You're speaking from experience?"
Aether gave a small smile though there was a hint of sadness behind it. "Yeah. Since I got here in Teyvat."
"Oh, you said you always traveled with your sister."
"We're twins so same birthday and all that." Aether nodded. He felt Furina shift, seemingly about to apologise for reminding him of his own sore spot. "Hey, don't go blaming yourself for what's happened to me. It was hard at first and sometimes it still feels wrong to celebrate without her but I've learnt to find meaning in them again. It took time, the people I've met here and a lot of reminding that even though I'm not from Teyvat, I'm not alone, but it's possible."
He gently cupped her cheek and guided her to meet his eyes. "And that goes for you too. You're free now. You can be the Furina that you want to be and there's no shortage of people who want the best for you."
Furina felt a warmth bloom in her chest. There was a sense of comfort washing over her that he understood her pain. For so long, she had had to bear the weight of her former role alone and, though it still hadn't left her, with Aether, the burden of her past no longer felt as overwhelming as it once had. Even though the day had started with the weight of old memories, Aether was there for her and the heartfelt messages from everyone in the cards Neuvillette brought were proof that she could still have hope for her future.
"Thank you," she said simply.
"You're welcome." Aether replied. He then gestured to the card he had taken all over Fontaine to be signed that was sitting on her table. "The others were all up for arranging a little get together but we thought we should probably see how you were feeling about it first. We thought we could sort something out another time if you wanted and settled on a couple things for you for today at least."
"Knowing you, I'm sure you've been busy," Furina turned to the new boxes Aether had brought with him. "You didn't have to get anything, really."
"I wanted to though," Aether replied, taking the smaller of the boxes and handing it to her. "Happy birthday, Furina."
Furina opened the box to find the opera cake inside.
Furina's eyes widened as she looked back and forth between Aether and the cake. "Y-you made this?" In place of the token of the Hydro element of what she initially thought was La Lettre a Focalors was her name written on top.
"Ah, well, this is from a bunch of us," he chuckled. "It was a group effort and it took a couple of attempts. Going in, I just thought it would be perfect because it's two of the things you love put together but I didn't know what to expect when actually making it. With that and the little changes we made, Navia came up with the name La Lettre a Furina instead."
"La Lettre-" Furina blushed. She didn't care if they made changes, or that he admitted it took a few tries to get right, not to mention that she hadn't even tried it. She loved it. Just the thought alone was enough. The words however just didn't want to come out of her mouth. "I-I should see the other one first before giving an opinion! I'll... evaluate them as a collective."
"Sure, if you say so. They're your presents after all." Aether didn't stop her as she reached for and opened the other present.
Furina's gasped and her eyes widened with wonder. "My own wind glider?" She turned it in her hands, admiring the familiar blues of Fontaine's signature glider. It didn't take her long to stand and pull at Aether's arm. "Come on, I have to try it out!"
Her birthday cake would be alright to leave for a little while.
She hadn't been gliding since the first time and hadn't gotten around to arranging lessons.
She also didn't care if she didn't have her license yet.
"Wait, wait!" Aether laughed, gently resisting her eager tugging. "There's actually one more thing." He then took another letter from his bag.
"Another card?" Furina said as she took it.
"Uh, yeah, last one though" Aether replied.
Furina opened it, scanning over the contents. Four separate messages, each written in a different style, filled the inside. She tilted her head in confusion upon reading them all. "Aether, these are lovely but... who are these people?"
"This was my last minute idea," he began. "They're kinda colleagues, I guess you could call them."
Furina pursed her lips, looking back at them with the new knowledge. She still didn't see what he was getting at. It didn't help that two of them appeared anonymous. An unnamed bard and citizen of Liyue weren't much to go off and she was fairly certain she didn't know a Raiden-
Wait.
Hadn't the others from Inazuma mentioned the name recently as their archon?
Furina looked back at Aether, the gears in her head starting to turn and reread them.
'To the Brilliant Star of Fontaine,
Oh, how I've heard the tales of your grandeur, your wit, and your sparkle! Our mutual acquaintance told me your birthday was today so I hope you're doing something fun for your special day! True freedom is something many take for granted but I'm sure you fully appreciate it. In fact, why not use it to attend the next Weinlesefest? Plenty to see and do and Mondstadt welcomes all walks of life. We can share a drink, or if wine's not your thing, I'll drink for both of us!
Cheers to you,
Your Bardic Colleague'
'To Lady Furina,
Time, as it flows through stone and water alike, shapes us all in ways we do not always anticipate. Though your role may have burdened you with expectations and responsibility, you have carried the heart of your nation with grace and resolve. Fontaine is a reflection of the strength you've provided, as resilient as its currents. I wish for you the same endurance and tranquility that the mountains of Liyue offer me. May you find peace in your journey and know that your legacy is one of great honor.
A humble citizen of Liyue'
'Furina of Fontaine,
The path of an Archon is not an easy one, nor is the burden of eternity something to be carried lightly. Yet, it is not the title that defines one's worth, but their actions and the legacy they leave behind. Though you may be human, the determination and willpower you have demonstrated are truly those of a god. May this birthday remind you of the strength you hold within.
Raiden Ei'
'Dear Furina,
Happy birthday! I've heard so much about you and I feel like there's so much to say but I'm glad that you've found a new path forward. Sometimes, it's okay to let go of the things we think we have to be and just... be ourselves. I know what it's like to feel trapped by the expectations of others, and I want you to know how proud I am that you've been able to step away from those pressures and live freely. Remember, wisdom isn't just knowing; it's understanding and living your truth.
Nahida'
Furina's eyes widened, realisation dawning on her.
"Th-these are- They... and you-" She continued to sputter and try to get a sentence out, eventually settling with just staring at Aether in astonishment.
"They've got an idea of what's happened," Aether said. "They don't really convene or anything like that so it took a good while to get to them all but I thought you ought to know that you've done more than enough for Fontaine, Furina, and that others see it too. Even the friends in high places I've made on my own journey."
Furina's heart felt lighter, a smile spreading across her face as she held the card close to her chest. She glanced up at Aether, her eyes shining with gratitude. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly without even trying to vocalise anything, thinking she would just embarrass herself.
Being able to appreciate her gifts as herself and sharing her true feelings with someone; she couldn't have asked for a better way for the day to have gone.