Rosaria already suspected Tubby had bad news before she floated to the podium. During the morning meeting, her friend Mona had been acting strangely. She smiled and made half-hearted small talk, barely touching the breakfast Xiangling made them all.

Then, Tubby entered the mansion, heavy-eyed and somber. Assuming her position at the podium, Tubby swallowed.

"Friends," she said. "Yesterday, Natlan's Judicial Representative Chuychu passed away."

Tubby explained the full story: how Chasca's sister participated in a war against the Abyss Order. Many lost their lives. Chuychu rescued those she could, but ultimately, she succumbed to Abyssal Infection. Chuychu died in the arms of her sister Chasca with Aether and Paimon present. Her death awakened the final hero and saved Natlan.

Silence.

"We've lost UHA judges before, but never like this," said Tubby. "I propose a day of mourning. Those who wish to speak in her memory may do so at the wake."

They set up a memorial. Chuychu's photograph sat on a podium surrounded by candles. Some of them made speeches. Cryo Cincin Mage recalled a time when Chuychu helped her apply for a veterinarian license. She'd been so patient and encouraging. Dehya remarked on how Chuychu had once patched up a minor injury of hers.

Rosaria was sad, but not devastated. Chuychu hadn't been their justice for long, so Rosaria didn't feel like she knew her all that well. Anyway, Rosaria didn't go out of her way to talk to people. She and Chuychu probably never even exchanged hellos. Even so, Rosaria offered a prayer to the Anemo Archon.

As Dehya finished, Raiden Ei went up to the podium.

"I understand you are all grieving in your own ways," said Ei. "Let no one here think that Chuychu's death is her fault. That's not how she would want any of us to feel. None of us could have stopped this."

Mona turned, retreating into the mansion. Rosaria opted to give her some space.

The memorial finished and everyone went their own ways. They all experienced loss of some kind. They all had ways of coping. That's the way you get through life, Rosaria knew from bitter experience. You fill your life with something—anything—to fill the void. She went back into the mansion.

If she went home now, Sister Gloria would probably make her perform services. She wasn't in the mood. Crossing up the threshold, Rosaria wandered upstairs. She found Mona on the upstairs couch. Eyes fixed on the floor. Shoulders sagged. Mona looked so old and bone-weary.

Rosaria sat down beside her. Not knowing what else to do, she tried thinking of something reassuring she could say.

"The Raiden Ei is right, you know. It's not your fault."

Mona gave a dry, humorless chuckle.

"Yes, she was right. 'None of us could have stopped this.' I knew that the moment I laid eyes on her."

"Knew what?"

Mona's voice cracked with emotion. "Fate decreed her death was the price for Natlan's salvation. She was doomed, no matter what we did."

"You foresaw her death," she said. Mona didn't deny it. A horrible thought crossed her mind. "Mona? If you told us, we would've gone to help Natlan. Would that have saved her?"

Mona nodded.

"If she lived, would Natlan have fallen?"

Mona looked away.

Rosaria's heart panged. Trading one life for the lives of a nation… Rosaria couldn't begin to imagine how Mona kept such a painful secret.

"I'm sorry, Mona," she said. "I really am."

"Me too," she said. "I suppose one day, I'll have to tell her family that I—."

"You didn't kill her: the Abyss Order did."

Lacing her fingers into Mona's, Rosaria gave her friend a gentle squeeze. The astrologist sunk onto Rosaria's shoulder. She didn't cry. Rosaria sensed she'd already done her crying soon after she met Chuychu. Mona probably made the tough decision even way back then.

Maybe one day, she'd face Chasca and admit what she'd seen. Rosaria swore that when that day came, she'd be right by Mona's side.

RIP Chuychu by Charlotte

Following the memorial of Chuychu's passing, President Tubby nominated Mama Coco to assume Chuychu's position in the judicial branch. The motion passed. Mama Coco pledged she'd do her utmost to serve the UHA.