Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Furina had just left the Opera Epiclese late at night, after the premiere of a new theatrical work that had caught her attention. However, she had not attended as a simple spectator, but for work.

Recently, she had accepted a role as a columnist for The Steambird, working as a critic of film, theater, and opera. It was an occasional occupation, as she only reviewed works that piqued her interest for one reason or another, whether it was the script, the director's track record, or more specific details.

In her column, she not only wrote extensive critiques of performances aimed primarily at a more intellectual audience and as recommendations for the general public, but also made an effort to offer her perspective and possible solutions to the issues she identified, with the creators of those works in mind.

At that moment, she was sitting on a bench near Marcotte Station, away from the bulk of people who, like her, were waiting for the last aquabus of the day. Meanwhile, she tried to organize her thoughts, still fresh after having witnessed the play.

Furina had mixed feelings about what she had seen. The performance had not been bad, quite the opposite, but she felt that the elements composing the work did not quite fit together. Not because they were incompatible, but due to a somewhat unrefined execution. There was great potential, but she was unsure how to approach her critique.

It reminded her of when she would suggest to Escoffier combining ingredients that, for an ordinary chef, would be madness. However, her friend managed to successfully unite them in most cases after numerous trials, something only a cook with Escoffier's mastery and inventiveness could achieve. But the fact that it often worked did not mean she could always work miracles.

In the case of the theatrical work, instead of a cook and ingredients, it was a director who had not quite succeeded in the way they integrated the elements composing the piece.

So absorbed was she in thought while writing in her notebook that she did not notice someone had sat beside her on the same bench.

"Are you taking notes for your column in The Steambird, Lady Furina?"

She flinched at the voice, which pulled her abruptly from her thoughts.

"I apologize for startling you, Lady Furina. I was merely curious."

Furina did not respond immediately. She remained silent, carefully observing the person who had spoken to her.

He was a tall man with fair skin and fine features. His long white hair had a fringe that covered the left side of his face, while the rest was tied into a ponytail. But that was not the most striking thing about him.

His slit pupils reminded her of Neuvillette, though his were black, with bright yellow irises. Another notable feature were his pointed ears, similar to his, but longer. He also had two horns that looked as though they were made of ice, their shape evoking the ears of an Iktomisaurus she had seen in illustrations, though not as large. In fact, he even had a small crystal embedded in his forehead, similar to those creatures.

Furina also compared his build to Neuvillette's: both were slender, yet athletic. However, there were differences. While Neuvillette had what could commonly be described as a swimmer's physique, with a more developed upper body; this man was the opposite, with stronger legs, similar to those of a dancer or figure skater.

His attire consisted of an elegant suit in the classical fashion of Snezhnayan bourgeoisie and aristocracy, with a color palette similar to what Furina and Neuvillette often wore: various shades of blue combined with lilac and white elements. The most striking part of his outfit was a distinguished high collar cape, lined in a way that resembled a ruff or scarf, further emphasizing his shoulders.

The resemblance to Neuvillette, combined with those peculiar traits, unsettled and fascinated her at the same time. She wondered if he could be a dragon, despite how unlikely that seemed. However, she also considered another possibility: a fae. Snezhnaya was home to the Snowland Fae, divided into several races. There were six main ones, the most numerous, though there were also far smaller clans.

Moreover, fae liked to hoard wealth and antiquities, such as jewels. Aside from what appeared to be a gem embedded in his forehead, the man, whose hands were covered in fine gloves, wore a rather conspicuous ring on the index finger of his right hand, adorned with a set gemstone. In that sense, it reminded her of the stone Neuvillette carried, as it had the same shape, though its color revealed it was a different gem, a red reminiscent of blood.

"Lady Furina? Is something the matter?"

The question pulled her out of her reverie and back into the conversation.

"No, nothing. I was distracted. I apologize for keeping you waiting, sir. And I would appreciate it if you did not address me with that title. I abdicated some time ago and I am no longer the Hydro Archon."

"Oh, I understand. I apologize if I offended you," he said, extending his hand with the palm facing upward in invitation. "Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Viktor Stargorod. I am a great admirer of yours, although until today I had not had the pleasure of meeting you in person. I feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with you after tonight's performance."

Furina offered her hand, which he kissed courteously. A chill ran through her body, not because she found the gesture unpleasant, on the contrary, but because of the cold emanating from his skin. It was not a cadaverous cold, but rather like a frozen breeze or the touch of frost. On the other hand, his manners, clothing, and deep, seductive voice reminded her of what she had read about the Snezhnayan aristocracy of the fae, reinforcing that idea in her mind. Moreover, his name had a clear Snezhnayan origin.

"If I may guess, are you from Snezhnaya, Mr. Stargorod?"

"Please, call me by my given name. The way you address me by my surname feels somewhat… cold to me. And to answer your question, yes, indeed, my home is in Snezhnaya."

That seemed to confirm her theory.

"I noticed that my features have caught your attention. Would you like to ask me something about my appearance?"

The question took Furina by surprise, as she had not considered doing so out of politeness, despite her evident curiosity.

"If you don't mind me asking, are you a fae, Mr. Viktor?"

Viktor let out a laugh that was audible, yet restrained and polite. As he did, he revealed small and pointed fangs, very similar to Neuvillette's, as well as his tongue, whose appearance also evoked that of a dragon due to its size.

"I must admit I do have a very distant connection to the fae. But no, I am not one of them."

That answer, blunt on one hand yet measured in the information it offered, Furina interpreted as a sign that she should not probe further. That led her to reconsider the hypothesis that the man was a dragon. She could not ignore his resemblance to Neuvillette, nor the sensation he emanated, so similar to what she had felt when she first met Neuvillette centuries ago. Only, instead of the wild aura Neuvillette had carried back then, Viktor's was entirely different: that of someone fully integrated into human high society.

At that moment, memories of a trip to Liyue during the Lantern Rite a couple of years ago surfaced in Furina's mind, where she had met Hu Tao and a man named Zhongli.

«At that time, I noticed something strange about Zhongli, similar to what I perceive now. Could it be… that he is also a dragon? Could he even be the Geo Sovereign? Although there is also the possibility that he was Morax, the former Geo Archon, who took on the form of a dragon… But didn't he die? What if it was all an act? Hmm… now that I think about it, Zhongli was absent during the time Neuvillette was in Qiaoying Village. Was it a coincidence, or did Zhongli avoid him on purpose? If so, it would make sense for him to be the Geo Archon; after all, Neuvillette is a Dragon Sovereign who has regained all his authority, and it would be natural for Zhongli to fear him…»

Furina did not realize she had once again drifted into her thoughts until Viktor spoke again.

"Miss Furina, would you like to discuss the play we just saw? I have some opinions I would like to share with you. I believe it would be an enriching exchange."

She agreed, as she had nothing better to do while waiting for the aquabus, and perhaps it would help her clarify her ideas for the review.

To her pleasant surprise, Viktor turned out to be a true expert in the arts, with uncommon knowledge and a critical eye worthy of the great masters. Furina rarely had the opportunity to converse with someone of his caliber, and their dialogue flowed naturally. Viktor managed to put into words what she herself could not define: what worked, what failed, and what could be refined in the work she was meant to review. From there, they drifted into other related topics, until the starting point faded into the background.

Furina was enjoying herself, until, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the aquabus departing along the aquarail toward the Court of Fontaine. She ran toward the station, but it was already too late. She brought her hands to her head in frustration.

"I must apologize, Miss Furina. The conversation absorbed me just as much as it did you. I should have paid more attention to the time."

"No, we were both careless. It is not your fault."

"Is there any lodging nearby? Or perhaps a private vessel that could take us to the Court?"

"Before the construction of the Navia Line, many ships offered private transport services between the city and the opera. Even now, there are still vessels that provide such services or pick up stragglers, though at exorbitant prices. But today does not seem to be the case. The only refuge nearby is the station itself, or asking for lodging from a local resident. The Opera Epiclese does have rest rooms, but they are reserved for law enforcement and authorized personnel."

"What will you do then, Miss Furina?"

"I have no intention of spending the night here or asking for charity. So the only option is…" she sighed wearily, looking toward the water in the direction of the city, "to walk."

Activating the power of her Vision, she stepped onto the surface of the water.

"I apologize for leaving you behind, Mr. Viktor. I will head to the city as quickly as possible and see if I can find a sailor willing to—"

She did not finish her sentence. Viktor also stepped onto the water with complete ease.

"You can walk on water as well? Why didn't you say so?"

"Because it would have been discourteous to leave a lady behind in a place like this."

"Oh… that doesn't put me in a very good light, does it?" she admitted, slightly embarrassed.

"There is no need to apologize, Miss Furina. It is perfectly understandable that you would not wish to spend the night in a station, especially not in the company of a stranger."

Those words were reasonable. No matter how much she had enjoyed the conversation, that did not mean she could trust him without reservation.

Then she had an idea. She summoned the Salon Solitaire, her entourage of Hydro Mimics creatures that, among other functions, acted as bodyguards. They possessed a sharp instinct for detecting threats, sometimes even excessively so.

Usher, Chevalmarine and Crabaletta observed Viktor carefully. After a brief silent exchange, they unanimously concluded that he did not pose any danger to Furina.

"These Hydro familiars are fascinating. Not many can claim to create true life through their elemental power," Viktor remarked, as each creature introduced itself in its own way and he responded with courtesy.

"Thank you for the compliment," she replied, casting a brief glance toward her Hydro Vision.

Viktor also fixed his gaze on it, his expression turning slightly more serious.

«It seems their dynamic remains the same. He provides the raw material, and she is the potter who shapes life itself…»

"Your Vision is quite unique. I have never seen one like yours before."

"Yes… I ceased being the Hydro Archon, and shortly after, I was granted a Vision of the same element I once governed. It almost feels like a joke from the heavens, doesn't it?"

"Ha! The heavens…" he laughed, with a barely concealed hint of sarcasm. "I suppose you could say that."

That reaction caught Furina's attention, as his words carried a clear disdain toward Celestia. Furina knew perfectly well that her Vision had not been granted by that entity, but by Neuvillette, who now held absolute authority over the Hydro element. However, he had never revealed the truth to her, so she had kept that secret.

Still, her intuition told her that this man also knew the true origin of her Vision.

"Well… you also seem to possess unusual power. What are the chances of encountering another person capable of manipulating the Hydro element like I do?"

"I'm afraid I must disappoint your expectations, but my power has nothing to do with the Hydro element."

"Oh? Then how is it that you can walk on water?"

"You can see for yourself."

Curiously, Furina crouched down and touched the water's surface with her hands, surprised by what she discovered.

"It's ice… so transparent that, if I hadn't touched it, I would never have detected the trick. I assume then that you control the Cryo element."

Something she should have deduced earlier, in hindsight, given the man's horns.

"Indeed."

"You must have excellent balance to avoid slipping while walking on ice," Furina remarked as she stood back up.

"For me, it is only natural."

The way he said it made Furina wonder whether it was simply due to his Snezhnayan origin or something deeper.

She pushed the thought aside and looked toward the long path still separating them from the Court of Fontaine, letting out a sigh.

"It's going to be a long walk… We shouldn't delay any further if we want to reach the city before dawn."

Furina took a few steps forward, followed by the Salon Solitaire, until Viktor called out to her.

"Miss Furina, may I suggest an idea that could shorten our journey?"

She, clearly intrigued, nodded. Viktor used his power to create an ice sled that slid over the water by freezing it instantly, pulled by what looked like a large deer made entirely of frost, and invited Furina to get on.

"Snezhnaya is famous for its railway, but there are other traditional means of transport like this. It will be much faster than walking."

Furina, excited at the prospect of reaching home sooner, accepted the offer and climbed aboard. The Salon Solitaire also settled in, showing enthusiasm for this new mode of transport.

But a doubt crossed her mind.

"If you could create something like this from the beginning, why didn't you mention it earlier?"

"For me, walking to the city is no effort at all. Besides, one of my hobbies is nocturnal strolls. However, I sensed your fatigue and your urgency to return home, so I thought this method of transport would be more suitable now."

Although his words sounded sincere, Furina could not help but wonder whether he might have deliberately prolonged the journey in order to spend more time with her.

Before she could add anything, Viktor ordered his Cryo familiar to move, accelerating abruptly. The motion caught both Furina and the Salon Solitaire off guard due to the sled's sudden speed. Furina managed to hold onto Chevalmarine before she was thrown off; Usher clung on with his tentacles, visibly shaken; and Crabaletta, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the ride, urging the deer to go even faster.

In no time, they arrived at one of the ground-level entrances to the walled city. Furina stepped down from the sled with slightly unsteady legs, holding Chevalmarine; Usher floated nearby, nearly limp as if dizzy; while Crabaletta was, without a doubt, the most enthusiastic of the group.

"It seems I overdid the speed. I offer you my sincerest apologies, Miss Furina," Viktor said politely as he made the sled and the beast disappear. "I thought you would wish to arrive at the Court as quickly as possible."

"There's no need to apologize. It was just… unexpected, that's all."

They entered the city, its streets nearly empty at such late hours, until they reached a crossroads.

"This is where we part ways. I have greatly enjoyed the time I spent with you tonight, Miss Furina, despite the circumstances."

"The feeling is mutual. Where are you staying, Mr. Viktor?"

"At the Grand Hotel Pale Starborn."

That establishment was a luxury hotel frequented by the elite, and the preferred choice of many Snezhnayan visitors. Among them, numerous Fatui. The hotel belonged to the Northland Bank, and was therefore under the influence of Regrator, one of the Fatui Harbingers.

There was a possibility that Viktor was a Fatui, but it remained nothing more than an unproven assumption. What was clear, however, was that he was a man of considerable means, as otherwise he could not afford a stay in such a place.

"If I may propose something, Miss Furina, would you accept having lunch with me tomorrow? I would like to make up for what happened tonight, for missing the last aquabus, even if you insist it was not my fault."

The request took her by surprise. She could not decipher his intentions. If he truly intended to court her, the usual choice would have been dinner, not lunch.

After a few moments of silence, realizing she had taken too long to respond, she finally accepted the proposal as a simple gesture of courtesy.

"I accept… Where should we meet?"

"Would the Hotel Debord restaurant be suitable?"

A neutral location, well known to her. Nothing out of the ordinary for a social or business meeting. Furina nodded, and they parted ways.

Once home, exhausted, she prepared for bed with the help of the Salon Solitaire. She went to the bathroom, washed her face, and looked at herself in the mirror.

"What am I doing?"