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A fresh blanket of snow glittered atop on the rooftops all around Fontaine, the white crystals bringing a still and glorious beauty to the Nation of Justice. There was an air of joy and peace brought on by the coming holidays as people busted from shop to shop, laughing with friends and families as they gathered the presents they'd be giving to each other this year. When evening fell, carolers would walk the silent streets and sing in front of doors, filling a peaceful night with more joy than the hearts of them around them could hold. It was truly an absolutely glorious season, full of life, peace, joy, and a thrill only holidays could bring.Even with the numerous court trials he had to oversee, Neuvillette found himself more peaceful around this time of the year, enjoying the walks to and from the Opera Epiclese. He could see the joy on the faces of the people around him and though he found himself disconnecting from the glee on occasion, he felt as close to understanding humans and their emotions as he ever had. A few weeks before Christmas, Furina burst into his office unannounced and talking a mile a minute about music, if he'd heard her correctly. Interrupting her gently, he asked her to repeat herself and she proceeded to gush about how a famous singer was coming to Fontaine for the holidays. Coming to the point of her visit, she expressed her idea to host a show at the Opera house on Christmas Eve. It would be an evening of music and performances for any and all to participate in and enjoy. With no reason to oppose the idea, and seeing the joy it brought Furina, Neuvillette agreed and the next few weeks were spent putting together said program. The program came together steadily over the next few weeks and finally the day arrived where the famous singer Furina had gushed about arrived in the Land of Hydro. Furina sprang on the chance to ask you to sing the closing song for the Christmas program, almost forgetting to introduce herself in the process. You simply smiled at her, agreeing to sing that evening and asking when you should arrive for rehearsals. ~*~Neuvillette met you for the first time at rehearsals as Furina showed him everything she had planned. The moment he entered the Opera, he could sense another powerful presence in the building, one he recognized as draconic though nothing else about them seemed familiar which set him on edge. He gave Furina as much attention as he could manage but for the most part he was distracted in searching for this strange dragon he knew nothing of until today. That was when you walked up to them and Neuvillette swore he forgot how to breathe for a moment. You were dressed in various shades of (f/c) which complimented your (e/c) eyes perfectly, bringing an otherworldly sparkle to their beautiful depths. Hidden in the gentle waves of your (h/c) hair were twin dragon horns glowing a faint gold color, confirming that the ancient draconic presence came from none other than you. You were a gorgeous deity that had lived for thousands of years, gaining knowledge even the Archons could only dream of, and yet you dwelt among the mortals as one of them. He wondered if perhaps you strove to understand them as he did or if you already understood them and simply enjoyed living among them. Furina startled him out of his thoughts by elbowing him in the side and introducing him to you. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Iudex. I'm (Y/N)," you introduced yourself with a polite nod. Before he had so much as a chance to speak to you, Furina was pulling you off to another part of the stage, chattering away about the show and music in general. You followed her with a faint smile, hiding the fondness you'd grown for her behind a glint in your eyes, and gave Neuvillette a parting wave. He was unable to do much else in the moment but stare after you, shocked and awed, before coming back to himself and returning to his duties. He tried to speak with you several times but ultimately failed as someone came up to talk to you, ask you to autograph something, or dragged you away to discuss something related to the Christmas Eve performance. Eventually, the rehearsals had to end for a court trial, one that Furina convinced you to watch with her, dragging you up to her reserved seats and explaining how Fontaine's courts worked. You watched the trial, though seemingly unimpressed with the entire affair, and quickly disappeared when it came to an end. Like a shadow, you slipped through the crowds and into the chilly air of a Fontainian winter night, disappearing before anyone could stop you.~*~By the time the trial came to an end, Neuvillette was exhausted and ready to be done with the reporters that kept finding him to demand answers to their questions. The trial had been particularly upsetting and he found himself wondering if he'd really ruled correctly in this situation, once again missing the Oratrice's reassurance not for the first time since the death of Focalors. The streets were deserted due to the late hour, clouds obscuring the surrounding area, enough so he almost missed the figure standing by the Fountain of Lucine. Blinking in surprise, he stared at you as you simply stood in the rain with a smile upon your lips and your hands conducting a song only you could hear. Drawn to your peaceful and confusing presence, he came a stand a few feet from you, his presence drawing your gaze to him. "Are you not bothered by the rain, Madame?"That was not what he meant to say but the question was so forefront in his mind it slipped out before he had a chance to greet you politely. Clearly, you did not mind as you offered him a faint smile and stretched out a hand to catch a few raindrops within the palm of your hand. The faint smile on your lips grew slightly as the frigid drops of water sank into your skin. "Not at all. How could I be bothered by such a beautiful gift?"Whatever Neuvillette had anticipated your answer being, that was not it. His confusion must have shown in his expression because you laughed lightly, a melodious sound that caused his heart to skip a beat. "I know the legends Fontaine tells of you, dear Hydro Sovereign," you stated, a faint shimmer in your eyes. "When the Hydro Dragon weeps, so doth the sky. Rain and tears forever destined to be inextricably intertwined for the rest of time, a curse bestowed by the Creator." Those words were written by a famous poet and the poem itself is quite often read to the children in schools as one of the greatest works of our time."The shimmer in your eyes died as a sudden chill swept over Fontaine. "Never have I been as angry as the moment I read those words."He blinked, surprised by the sudden change in your demeanor. "I, personally, believe the author did a wonderful job with the poem.""I, in no way, deny that the poem is a work of art, the author did a wonderful job with their words and writing. However, it is not the poem itself that angers me, but the ideas it suggests. The weather being linked to the emotions of the Hydro Dragon was never a curse, it was a blessing.""That is not what history suggests.""No, but it is what I intended. Please tell me you don't regard my gift to your predecessor a curse?""I'm sorry, your gift?"You took a step back, seemingly surprised by his question. "I apologize, I thought you had recognized me by now. Perhaps my guise is better than I first assumed."Mumbling the last part to yourself, you snapped your fingers and summoned a form more divine than the one you'd held moments ago. Now your eyes and horns glowed a steady gold and a divine aura emanated from you as you stood before him. It took him less than a moment to recognize you as the one who'd appointed him to the throne of Hydro Dragon five hundred years ago, the Divine Creator herself. Snapping your fingers again, you returned to your mortal form and fixed him with eyes full of concern."Neuvillette, when I intertwined the emotions of the Hydro Dragon and Fontaine's weather, I did so to bless the people of Fontaine. Some of your people have begun to notice it rains after the trials you hold, though they fail to connect the reason for the rain back to you. You grieve for your people after a trial, something the rain expresses through the gift of water. Water cleanses the earth and nurtures nature just as you cleanse your nation with justice a nurture your people. When the people see the rain, they understand the Hydro Dragon grieves, but the fail to understand he grieves for them, wishes to protect them from the injustice around them. They fail to see just how much their Sovereign cares for them, so I attempted to give them a sign. Unfortunately, it does not seem to have the desired effect."You sighed. "Regardless, I hope you understand it was never a curse.""I understand and thank you for explaining that to me. It has always been something I wondered about.""Of course. I would offer to answer any more questions you have but it is quite late and rather cold."The two of you said your goodbyes and went your separate nights, Neuvillette's thoughts consumed by your words and all the questions he wanted to ask you.~*~Christmas Eve came and went, the performance going off perfectly, though Neuvillette was unable to attend. The two of you met often at the Fountain although sometimes you would venture away from the Fountain and visit places across Fontaine. Over the next year, the two of you became close friends, bonding over your night times escapades. The winter months came again and rumors popped up that you were planning to leave Fontaine, speculating that you'd disappear into the night immediately after the Christmas Concert. Neuvillette ignored the rumors, dismissing them as simply that, rumors and nothing more. However, the closer Christmas got, the more restless you seemed to grow, a tension seemingly settling into the usual relaxed stance you held. Neuvillette grew concerned and decided to ask you directly about the situation, inviting you for tea one afternoon. Unfortunately, you were unable to attend, assuring him the two of you would get together when you next had time. Weeks passed and still you seemed far too busy to meet with Neuvillette, worse yet, it appeared as though you were never home nor within Fontaine. After about the fifth week of you being unable to meet with Neuvillette, he decided the best to way to approach this was to show up on your doorstep the moment one of the Melusines he'd assigned to guard your house announced your return. He knew it was far from politely to simply show up without saying anything but he wanted answers, wanted to know if he should try and convince you to abandon your plans of leaving him Fontaine. As he approached your home, he tried to quell the storm his raging emotions had caused to fall over Fontaine for the past few weeks. Nervously, he knocked on your door and waited for you to answer. He was just about to knock again when you opened the door, apologizing for not being quicker, though your words died the moment you noticed him staring back at you, a darkened sky backdropping his presence. Concern fell over your expression and you ushered him inside, insisting he remove his overcoat before he caught a cold. He usually would have engaged in some playful banter as he reminded you he was an immortal being immune to such illnesses but after seeing the dark shadows under your eyes and the tired glaze in your eyes, he decided against doing so. He took a seat in your living room while you prepared some tea and brought it to the living room. The silence that lingered between the two of you was tense and awkward, extremely different from the peaceful atmosphere usually brought by your presence. Finally, you seemed to have had enough as you set down your teacup and met his eyes. "I'm not leaving Fontaine."Your words caught him off guard but he couldn't deny the warmth that settled into his soul upon hearing you say that."Or rather, not permanently."Ice gripped his heart as he attempted to speak, to ask why you were leaving at all. You cut him off with a gentle sternness in your eyes and a raised hand. "I've heard the rumors circling around the Court and I can't say as I blame them for the assumptions, but they are incorrect. I do not plan on moving away from Fontaine permanently, I am simply temporarily moving to Sumeru. A friend of mine has . . . has taken a turn for the worse with an illness they're battling and we're the only family either of us has had for quite some time."You seemed to want to say more, but didn't trust yourself to continue. Neuvillette caught the faint shake to your voice and the uneven breathing, immediately regretting believing the rumors as quickly as he had. You placed one of your hands over his, drawing him out of his thoughts."I don't blame you in any way for believing the rumors. They were not without foundation and my absence has clearly left an impact. I apologize for not communicating as clearly as I should have before now, but I haven't been thinking the clearest these past few weeks.""It's quite alright, I was simply worried."He did not express what he was worried about but you didn't press the issue, instead insisting that he tell you everything you'd missed over the past months seeing as he came all the way out here. So he regaled you with all the events, interesting and not, of the past few months. By the time he finished, you'd fallen asleep, the dark shadows under your eyes suggesting that you'd gone far too long without proper rest. Neuvillette couldn't help but smile at your peaceful form slumped against the sofa in an awkward position seeing as you never could seem to sit in chairs correctly. Rising to his feet, he repositioned you so you would be able to sleep comfortably and draped a blanket over your form. Taking the tea cups to the kitchen, he wash and dried them carefully, setting them on the counter carefully so you'd be able to put them away when you woke up. After a short search for pen and paper, he wrote you a quick note to apologize for being unable to stay until you awoke and set it on the table by the sofa so you would see it as soon as you woke up. Staring at your sleeping form, he brushed some of your hair out of your face gently, letting his fingers brush over your cheek gently. You sighed in your sleep and leaned into his hand causing him to step back as though he'd been burnt, a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he calmed his racing heart and quickly left. ~*~About a week later, you managed to meet with Neuvillette for a few hours and to explain your plans. He wasn't particularly happy that you had to leave Fontaine, especially around Christmas, but you promised him you'd be back before Christmas Eve. So, he went with you to the aquabus station and wished you farewell and safe travels to Sumeru. He counted down the days until you returned, silently hoping you'd be earlier than your predicted return. Christmas Eve arrived and the Christmas Concert went wonderfully, the final act performing and coming to a close, yet you hadn't returned yet. For what had to be the hundredth time, Neuvillette glanced around the crowds, searching for you among them. Disappointed yet again, he turned his attention back to the stage just as you, of all people, walked out to the microphone. You offered the cheering crowds a smile small, one full of grief but determination and spoke, quieting them all."I lost a dear friend of mine earlier this week so, I'm afraid there's been a slight change of plans. Tonight, I will be singing Mary, Did You Know? It was my friend's favorite song and I hope that wherever she is, she hears this.""Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you!"
Your voice echoed through the opera house, bouncing off the walls with a chilling power and a beauty that sent shivers down his spine.
"Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God."
The crowd rose to their feet, swaying in time with the music playing softly behind your voice, standing in reverent awe of your beautiful song.
"Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?"
Tears glittered in your eyes as you closed them, tilting your head towards the sky as you gave your all to the song.
"The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is the Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding, is the great I Am!
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Oh."
You held the last note, fading perfectly into silence that was immediately interrupted with thunderous applause. With teary eyes and a sad smile, you bowed before disappearing back stage quickly. Furina stepped up and closed out the night, allowing you to quietly slip out the back undetected. Neuvillette saw you slipping away and quietly made his own exit, hoping to catch you to make sure you were alright. Just as usual, you were standing by the Fountain, arms wrapped around your figure as if you were trying to hug yourself. The moment you heard him approaching, you whipped around, relaxing upon realized it was only him and not some fans. He took note of the tears glittering against your cheeks and desperately tried to recall what he could do to comfort you. Before he had a chance to come up with a solution, you were hugging him, arms wrapped tightly around his torso and face buried in his neck as your body shook with silent sobs. Startled, he froze for a moment before returning the embrace, carding a hand through your hair to soothe you. After a while, you released him from your hold and stepped back to wipe at your eyes, apologizing for catching him off guard like that. He assured you he didn't mind at all and only wanted to make sure you were okay. The soft and grateful smile you gave him had his breath catching and heart stopping, feelings and an emotion he was unfamiliar with, though he'd read about them. Humans called it love and as he took your hand to walk you home, to make sure you weren't alone in such a vulnerable time, he realized that all the descriptions of it couldn't ever do the true emotion justice. Love was what you'd taught him that first night you told him you considered the rain a gift.
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Locked away within the Sanctuary of Surasthana for just over five hundred years lead to you lacking some knowledge on certain things. One of those things was Christmas and the many traditions associated with the holiday, so when Kaveh burst into the office of the grand sage, your office until you could elect a grand sage personally, and begged you to be his partner for the gingerbread building contest the Theater was hosting you were completely confused. "Gingerbread house contest?" You repeated, confused."Yes, the Theater is hosting one this year and I signed up without noticing that you have to do it in pairs.""You . . . build houses out of cookies?"You were still stuck on the fact that building a house out of cookies was impractical at the very least, not to mention it seemed difficult. Kaveh blinked, staring at you for several minutes as if trying to understand just what you meant. Eventually, something seemed to dawn on him as he crossed the room and placed both hands on your desk, leaning closer to you with a disbelieving look on his face. "Have you never heard of the tradition to build gingerbread houses around Christmas?"That only confused you further as you parroted the word "Christmas" back at him with a look of utter confusion written across your face. "You don't know what Christmas is?!""No...," you admitted, hesitantly. "You had five hundred years so spy on all us humans and you don't know what Christmas is?"Now slightly embarrassed, you twirled your Dendro green streak of hair, a nervous habit of yours. "I was more concerned with finding a way to get out of my prison. Besides, I don't like spying on people without permission, it's . . . rude."Kaveh stepped back and shook his head, surprised. He zoned out for a few long moments, enough for you to start putting away some of the books you were reading, before clapping his hands and facing you with a determination you'd become familiar with since becoming friends with him. "I'm going to teach you about Christmas!"~*~Teach you, he did. He taught you all about the premise of the holiday, the traditions surrounding it, and explained as much as he could in ways that would make sense. You enjoyed learning all about the holiday and loved a lot of the traditional things done around the season. Now, the two of you were working hard on the gingerbread house Kaveh wanted to make for the contest. He was utilizing all of his architectural skills to create the picture perfect replica of the Sanctuary of Surasthana and you, not understanding the fact that it was supposed to be a simple house, went along with his plan whole heartedly. When the house itself turned out perfect, you took charge of the decorating. Having been trapped in the palace like prison for five hundred years, you knew the place like the back of your hand and decorated it impeccably. When it was finally finished, the two of you took a step back, covered in sugar and frosting, to survey your work. Pleased with the outcome, you clapped happily and pulled Kaveh into a hug, thanking him for teaching you all of these things. He flushed from the praise and mumbled a thank you, practically melting into the hug. The next day when you presented your house for the judges to examine, needless to say, everyone was speechless. You two won first prize and ended up hosting a small party of your friends to get rid of the all the gingerbread.
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The one thing Kaeya never expected the Anemo Archon herself to enjoy, was ice skating, yet you'd managed to surprise him. A few hours ago, you'd dragged him away from the Knights' HQ and out to Dragonspine, eyes sparkling with excitement the moment you laid eyes on the small lake you'd finally managed to locate. Turning to him, you politely asked if he would freeze the water for you.
He would have done anything for you in that moment if it meant keeping that shimmer of pure joy in your gorgeous eyes.
Summoning the power of his Cryo Vision, he thrust his sword out across the water and watched as a thin sheen of ice covered the dark surface. The small noise of excitement that you let out when he stepped back did strange things to his heart and he was rendered motionless as you strode forward, power emanating from your very stance. The single teal streak of your hair started to glow, along with your eyes, and the fake Vision dangling at your hip. Raising your hand, a small black hole appeared in your palm and began to spread the ice across the water. He watched on, in speechless awe, as your used your dominion over the power of Anemo to create a thick sheet of ice spanning the entire lake. As the power drained from your being, you clapped your hands and rushed over to where the twin pairs of ice skates you'd acquired were waiting. You strapped the blades to your boots and motioned for Kaeya to do the same as you stumbled over to the ice. It took him a few moments to figure out how to put on the blades but after a moment, he was standing by the edge of the ice, watching you with a soft and affectionate gaze as you glided across the ice with a grace you didn't usually pertain on land. You noticed him staring after a moment and glided over to him, offering your hands to help him onto the ice. With his usual pride, he gently waved away your hands and stepped onto the ice, only to fall over the very second his blades touched the surface. He blinked and stared at the sky for a moment, confused on how he, an expert with his Cryo Vision, was unable to keep his balance on ice skates on ice.A quiet giggle broke the silence around him and your face blocked out the sun above him, a tiny smile painted across your lips, along with worry shining in your eyes. "Are you alright?"Your gentle voice broke the fog of his thoughts and he smiled at you, assuring you that he was perfectly fine, just not anticipating the slipperiness of the ice. This time, he accepted your hands and let you pull him to his feet. To his embarrassment, the moment he was on his feet again, he was practically clinging to you in an attempt to not fall over again. You didn't say anything nor did you give him the usual look you would have if you'd proven him wrong, instead you only gently adjusted his posture before grasping his hands and carefully leading him around the ice. After a few moments of you showing him how to skate, you glided a distance away and motioned for him to try it on his own. The feeling of clumsily trying to shuffle towards you on the ice was one that was foreign to him and made him flush in embarrassment slightly, yet you only encouraged him as he drew closer. Of course, he made the mistake of gaining confidence too quickly and looked up from the ice to your bright smile, causing his heart to flip. In that moment, he lost his balance and panicked in an attempt to regain it, which only resulted in him knocking you over onto the ice as well. Fortunately, he was able to place his hand behind your head before you could slam into the ice and the two of you remained against the freezing surface for a few moments, absorbing what had just happened. You laughed lightly and fixed him with sparkling eyes before teasing him."And here I thought that you, a Cryo user, of all people, would have been a pro at ice skating."He could only laugh along with you, silently admiring the sparkle in your eyes, the joy etched across your face, and the peace that seemed to envelop your entire being. It had been a long time since he'd seen you like this. Ever since Signora had stolen your Vision, though you'd assured him it was fake, there seemed to be an invisible weight holding you down. That weight brought a darkness to your eyes, turning the once vibrant teal to a dull turquoise, and had enveloped you in a sense of restlessness. Being able to see you so happy and so free, it only made him regret hiding his true feelings from you all the more. For so long, he wished he could be by your side as more than a friend, be able to take some of the weight from your shoulders, bring a spark of life and joy back to your eyes. He wished he could give you the sense of peace you'd lost that day and seeing you like this only made the confession he was withholding from you weigh ever heavier on his heart. He longed to tell you, but he feared your reaction.So, even if it continued to cause his heart to twist with invisible pain, he kept silent. He wanted you to enjoy this moment for as long as it would last.
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Capitano had never seen you like this before. You were always a paragon of grace, elegance, beauty, and sheer power. Never once did you let your perfect mask of ice crack or slip, always maintaining a distant and cold persona, at least around the Harbingers and palace staff. As for the moment, it was as if you had taken off your picture perfect mask and let your true personality blossom. Signora's little sister was standing in front of the crystal coffin, the tears that had been streaming from her eyes since the moment the funeral began slowing as you draped your coat over her shoulders. Almost immediately, the shivers that racked her small frame began to still and she turned wide, innocent eyes in your direction. That was the exact moment the mask of ice seemed to slip from your face. You, the Cryo Archon, a paragon of authority and power, knelt before the child in the snow to open your arms and offer her a hug. With a hiccup, she collapsed into your arms and Capitano could only watch with sheer reverence and awe as you hummed quietly to the little one, smoothing her hair with your hand. You rubbed small circles on her back as she buried her face into your shoulder and curled her small frame closer to you. He expected you to grow impatient with her after a while, to push her away and tell her you had more important things to attend to, but you simply held her until she drew away on her own. She scrubbed at her tear stained eyes, stopping when you caught her hand and gently wiped away the tears with your thumb. Quiet words he couldn't hear were exchanged between the two of you ending with you offering her a soft smile and gracefully rising to your feet. Taking her hand into yours, you allowed her to lead you to her home, a strange warmth emanating from you as you followed the small child. He followed the two of you silently, standing like a guardian behind you as you returned the girl to her guardians and offered your condolences for their loss. Just as you turned to leave, the little girl lunged towards you, causing the Harbinger to begin to draw his sword, only to realize the girl had only been giving you one last hug. You smiled and knelt to hug her, whispering something into her ear before using your dominion over Cryo to craft a sparkling tiara that you set gently upon her head. She gasped and thanked you before running off to find a mirror. Her guardians thanked you profusely and offered you well wishes before you turned on your heel to begin the walk back to the palace. Once again, you surprised him, this time by walking by his side. Usually, the Harbingers would walk a distance behind you out of respect, but instead of following usual protocol, you fell into step beside him. The two of you walked in silence, snow gently falling from the sky, wind sweeping across the land of eternal winter. When you shivered against one of the stronger gusts of wind, Capitano took notice of the fact that you had not retrieved your coat from the child and were left in the thin black outfit you'd donned for the funeral. Crossing your arms over your chest, you rubbed at your arms, in an attempt to warm yourself, even as the god of ice, you were not immune to the cold.You were startled by the sudden feeling of warmth engulfing you and blinked in surprise as a weight was settled around your shoulders. Glancing at the Harbinger beside you, you realized he'd given you his coat after seeing you shiver. For a moment, concern was the first thing that occupied your thoughts, concern that he'd get cold or get sick because of the wind. However, the gentle hand that shifted the jacket closer around you seemed to express that he would be fine and even with the mask obscuring his face, you knew he'd be staring at you with eyes that left no room for argument. With a lack of energy to argue with him, you simply thanked him and pulled the coat closer, sighing quietly in content with the warmth. The rest of the walk back to the palace was filled with a comfortable silence and the two of you were pulled in separate directions immediately after returning. A few days later, Capitano would find his coat returned to him with a stamp of approval from the Cryo Archon herself on his request to handle the situation of the Pyro Gnosis.
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Winter had consumed Mondstadt and turned the Nation of Freedom into a land much like Dragonspine. The winds that would usually be gentle and warm were nothing but frigid as they swept across the hills and through the trees. It was probably the worst possible time for you to have come and visit, considering how used to warm climates you were as Pyro Archon, but at least you had the advantage of the power of Pyro running through your veins, making it so that you were never cold.Unfortunately, the Anemo Archon didn't have that gift and was practically shivering after taking you to Windrise. Earlier, you'd told him he didn't have to show you Windrise today and you could wait until the weather was warmer but he'd insisted. Now, he was clearly regretting that decision, but there wasn't much he could do about it now. However, there was something you could do about it and you were determined to make sure he didn't catch a cold from being out in this weather for your sake. Distracted with telling you the history of the giant tree before you, Venti was oblivious to you slowly approaching him from behind and only noticed your sudden closeness when you set a hand on his shoulder and he could feel the warmth radiating from you. He paused in speaking for a moment, blinking up at you in surprise before inching slightly closer and continuing on with his story. By the time he finished, the two of you were sitting at the base of the tree and Venti was practically wrapped around you like a third arm. From then on, it was far from a strange sight to see Venti glued to your side wherever you went. You didn't care about it much, simply glad to offer protection from the cold, but to Venti, it meant the world. Christmas time came and the two of you surprised each other with gifts. You'd returned to Natlan earlier and commissioned a weaver to make him a sweater from alpaca wool, a thoughtful gift that was sure to keep him snug and warm in the frigid Mondstadt winters. Venti, in return, had gotten you a bracelet with a small sun charm dangling from the cool metal band. You loved it and wore it everywhere, especially when you returned to Mondstadt for a longer stay. Venti had been extremely happy when you'd told him you were going to be able to stay in Mondstadt for a few weeks and promised to take you anywhere you wanted to go. This time, you didn't feel bad about asking him to take you places because now you knew he'd be warm with the sweater you'd gotten for him. However, when he met you just outside Stormterror's layer to show you around, he wasn't wearing it. You didn't say anything, simply assuming he'd forgotten to put it on seeing as it was still so new, and let him cling to your side the entire time you explored the deserted dragon's home. Over the next few weeks, you couldn't help but notice the fact that every time Venti would met you to show you a new part of Mondstadt, he wouldn't be wearing the sweater you'd gotten for him. For a while you tried to brush it off by thinking he'd only forgotten, but after several weeks of this, you couldn't help but wonder if maybe he didn't like the gift. However, that was quickly disproved the moment you accidentally stumbled upon him in Angel's Share, overhearing him gushing to the Traveler about how much he loved the sweater when they asked where he'd gotten it. You were thoroughly confused. He loved the sweater, but never wore it when you around, and you didn't understand why so you decided to ask him.The two of you met up again at Windrise with the intention of going to Starsnatch Cliff, but you stopped Venti before he could start leading you there, fixing him with an intense but confused look."Do-Do you not like the sweater?"Venti looked surprised. "No, no, no, I love it! It's great!""Then why do you never wear it when I'm around?"The bard's eyes widened and his cheeks flushed bright red as he looked away from you, mumbling something you didn't quite catch under his breath. When you asked him to repeat himself, he sighed and looked at the ground."I don't wear it around you because I like cuddling with you," he admitted quietly.You couldn't help the breath of laughter that escaped you, hurriedly apologizing when Venti's cheeks turned darker and he glared at you."If you wanted to cuddle, all you had to do was ask, Venti."He blinked at you, clearly not expecting that answer but his eyes lit up with mischief as he immediately scurried over to you and pressed himself against your side, arms wrapped tightly around your waist. You only smiled and rolled your eyes, pulling him down with you as you sat down against the trunk of the tree. He squeaked in surprise as you collapsed to the ground but readjusted the second he realized what you were doing. Later, the Traveler would stumble upon you and ask why Venti was practically sleeping on top of you, you smiled and told them it was because he was tired. When you returned to Natlan a few weeks later, you'd "accidentally" leave behind a blanket you'd brought with you and write to Venti, asking him to keep it safe for you until you returned. It wouldn't be you, but you figured it would be a decent substitute. If Venti ever noticed your little plan, he never said.
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What do you get a god who could get anything she ever wanted simply by asking?
That was the question that had been occupying Alhaitham's thoughts since the beginning of winter. Ever since explaining the concept of Christmas to you, Sumeru's beloved Archon, the Nation of Wisdom watched on in surprise as you did your absolute best to celebrate the holiday to the utmost of your abilities. Besides that, it seemed like everyone around you was giving you presents every ten minutes. It wasn't even Christmas yet and you already had more gifts than could comfortably fit in the Sanctuary of Surasthana, to the point where you had to formally ask people to stop giving you stuff. Of course, no one listened, but at least this time all the gifts were tiny little things that could be stashed somewhere in your endless pile of gifts or food, which you didn't have to store. Alhaitham was not one to be particularly bothered by not knowing what gift to give someone, almost always finding something the person would like, or something that would at least be good enough. However, the thought of not finding the absolute perfect gift for you was, for some strange reason, truly worrying him. He didn't understand why suddenly it was the only thing he could focus on and why it seemed like the most important part of the holiday all of a sudden. Casually, he started inquiring with those closest to you on what they'd gotten you for Christmas, but unfortunately nothing seemed to give him ideas. "Haitham?"He snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing your voice, surprised to find you standing across from him. Last he knew you'd been mingling with the people of Sumeru, making some last minute preparations for the parade you'd set up for this evening to mark the beginning of the holiday week. "Lord Ashkashadevali*," he greeted with a slight bow.You glared at him without much malice behind it, having told him a million times to use your name, but ignored it and your glare faded to concern as you put your hands on your hips. "What are you doing here?""I was finishing-""Didn't I give you the week off?"He blinked in mild surprise. You never interrupted or cut people off, considering it one of the worst forms of offense and reserving it only for when you were trying to shut down an argument or trying to get your point across. "You did, however, I was only trying to finish some things so I didn't have them hanging over my head during the holiday."You hummed, narrowed eyes questioning the lie he'd told you. "I see."Tense silence enveloped the two of you for quite a while before you relaxed and crossed the room, coming to stand on the opposite side of his desk. Gently, you set a small wrapped package on the desk and slid it over to him, eyes glittering in excitement. Taking the box, he glanced at you briefly, silently asking if you wanted him to open it now to which you nodded. Undoing the bow and paper, he opened the package to reveal a brand new set of ear pieces, the pattern almost identical to his previous pair. A few weeks ago, he'd taken his ear pieces off and they had ended up getting broken when Paimon accidentally flew into them, knocking them onto the floor, while trying to escape from Traveler who'd been chasing the fairy with flour. The guide had apologized profusely and the Traveler and her had spent days searching for another pair to make up for breaking them, only to discover that the person who'd made his original pair no longer made them. Worse yet, there was no one else that made them, leaving the pair empty handed and him without protection from noise, leading to one too many uncomfortable scenarios.Shocked, he looked up at you, almost immediately looking away when your glittering eyes and soft smile made his breath hitch. "Try them on," you encouraged.After a moment of examining them, he put them on and was pleasantly surprised when they worked even better than his old ones. You clapped, smile growing as he thanked you and informed you they worked."Wonderful! I was worried I'd done something wrong and they wouldn't work the way they were supposed to."At his raised brow and questioning look, you elaborated, informing him that you'd actually made them by hand, utilizing the knowledge you'd accumulated over your five hundred year imprisonment and your dominion over Dendro. Hearing that you'd made them, specifically for him, did strange things to his heart and emotions, but he thanked you again regardless. Of course now his worries about finding you the perfect gift only increased."I wanted to give them to you today so you'd be comfortable attending the parade."Something in him lit up when you said that, realizing that you knew him well enough to know he would've been uncomfortable at the parade without the ear pieces. Fortunately, before you could continue to make his heart flip, Nilou burst into the office to announce that the parade was about to start and they were waiting on you. With a rushed apology, you practically sprinted out of the office, leaving him to calm his racing heart and ponder what in Teyvat he was going to give you. ~*~Alhaitham was not one to be stressed and yet he found himself experiencing the stress level he was certain you experienced on a daily basis. He had absolutely no idea what to get you for Christmas, despite traveling to Port Ormos multiple times, visiting the Grand Bazaar almost daily, and even going as far as to ask the Traveler for advice. Lumine had been extremely kind, though unhelpful, offering to ask you if there was anything you really wanted or something that meant a lot to you. Unfortunately, she'd come back empty handed, explaining that you'd said there wasn't anything you particuarly cared for nor was there anything attainable that would mean a lot. However, Lumine had emphasized the word "attainable" causing him to pause and ask just what that meant."Well, she said there was nothing attainable that would mean a lot to her and Paimon asked her what that meant. She tried to avoid the subject for a little while before finally admitting that there was a particular flower she used to love that no longer exists anymore. After a little more pushing, we figured out just what that flower is; the Inteyvat."Lumine had shown him the flowers she wore in her hair, explaining that they were Inteyvats, probably the very last of their kind. Alhaitham had made a mental note of what they looked like, thanked the Traveler, and returned home where he was able to make a detailed sketch of the flower. After some debate and some complex arrangements, he finally had the perfect gift for you and just in time for Christmas Day. He'd watched you run around all Christmas morning, visiting friends of your and constantly speaking with people who stopped you. After a few hours, he could see how uncomfortable you were becoming and intervened, claiming you were needed at the Akademiya. Truth be told, the Akademiya was completely deserted, but he figured you'd appreciate the break and it was the perfect time to give you your gift. You seemed surprised when he gave you the box containing your gift, but thanked him and carefully opened it. Alhaitham would never forget the look on your face when you saw it. A tiny gasp escaped your lips, tears gathering in your eyes as you gently lifted the necklace out of the packaging, a perfect resin Inteyvat dangling from a simple silver chain. You blinked back the tears and clipped it around your neck before walking over to a window where you could see your reflection. Covering your mouth with your hands, you examined the necklace from a few different angles before spinning around to face him, tears slipping down your cheeks. Before he had a chance to ask what was wrong, you were hugging him, thanking him for the perfect gift. Your embrace took him by surprise but he returned it after a moment of hesitation, assuring you the gift was no problem. Regardless, you thanked him multiple times and promised you'd cherish it forever. Later that evening, during the small holiday party you'd thrown for all your closest friends, you were wearing a beautiful outfit and one, at that, that highlighted the necklace. You happily explained who'd given you the necklace whenever someone asked, eyes shimmering with utter joy every time the piece of jewelry was mentioned. When Paimon asked what Alhaitham was smiling at some time later, he'd brush her off and claim her eyes were playing tricks on her. If he were to tell the truth, he was smiling at you because you looked absolutely perfect.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
WARNING: This will contain depictions of a panic attack.
~*~Six months was all the time you'd had to adjust to your brand new position as Electro Archon before you were sudden swept into the fast paced current of the Christmas season and all the responsibilities you sudden had.Let's start at the beginning.Twelve months ago, the Legendary Traveler, now named the Liberator of Inazuma by your decree, had set foot in the Nation of Eternity. The Raiden Shogun had turned Inazuma into a closed and stagnate nation, change of any and all kind forbidden. You, an ordinary person previous to this, had saved the Traveler from Kiragi and taken them to your humble home to bandage their wounds. When she'd awoken, the Traveler had found you carefully taking care of her. You listened to her plight of how she was searching for her brother and only wanted to meet the Electro Archon so she could continue her search. Unlike Thoma and Lady Kamisato, you hadn't asked her if she would be helping with Inazuma's crisis because of all the other legendary acts she'd preformed else where. Instead, you had expressed your sympathies, explaining that you knew the pain of losing a brother. To her surprise, you had immediately offered to share your home with her, saying that you were more than happy to offer her shelter while she was within Inazuma's borders. Hesitantly, she'd accepted your offer, and the two of you had bonded immensely over the next few months. Lumine shared with you her troubles over what to do about the Vision Hunt decree and how she wanted to help, but also didn't and just wanted to find her brother. You never offered a suggestion on what she should do, simply stating that you understood her dilemma and that the problems of Inazuma were not hers to solve.In the end, she ended up asking you to accompany her to the Kamisato Estate so she could have a second opinion on what Lady Kamisato was asking her. You were extremely hesitant, wishing to stay out of the eyes of the nobles of Inazuma as much as possible, but willing to help her regardless. When Ayaka had started trying to pressure Lumine into helping Inazuma, you were unable to stay silent, rising to your feet and, with righteous anger blazing in your eyes, declared that even her, as one of the highest nobles in the nation, had no right pressure anyone, much less an outsider, into a decision that involved the affairs of Inazuma.That was the moment that solidified your bond with the Traveler and what had lead to your new position as Archon.Of course, that was only one of the many actions you'd performed that lead to becoming the Electro Archon, but it was the moment that marked the beginning of your divine path. In this universe, Ei refused to acknowledge her mistakes, claiming that only she was allowed to make decision for Inazuma and it didn't matter if her people suffered, only that eternity was upheld. Try as she might, the Traveler was unable to convince the ex-archon otherwise, leading to two options.1. Allow Ei to live and leave Inazuma to suffer under her rule foreverOr2. Kill her and free Inazuma from a rule that would surely only bring the nation to its kneesIn the end, Lumine was forced to bring the Electro Archon to her knees, her sword raised to end the life of the god to free a suffering nation. Closing her eyes to steel herself for the action she must take, the Traveler was unable to see the Electro-powered sword coming for her, but you saw it and you took action. Exhausted from battling the Archon, you'd been resting a few yards away from where Lumine was standing, but the moment you saw the blade coming for your friend all exhaustion was purged from your body. Sprinting forward, you shoved the Traveler out of the way, gasping quietly as a blade pierced your left side and Electro crackling across your body. The last thing you'd seen before your vision went dark was Yae Miko and Lumine rushing towards you, both covered in blood you could only assume to be the Archon's.You'd woken up a few weeks later, strangely enough you felt perfectly fine, rising to your feet without issue. Curious and confused, you crossed the room to look in the mirror at the foot of the bed. To your surprise, Electro scars curved up the side of your face, stopping just under your left eye, and reaching all the way down to your left fingertips, a faint purple glow emanating from the scar. In addition to the scar, you now had a streak of Electro violet in your hair and your eyes were a lighter shade of purple. When you ventured out of your room upon hearing voices, you were not expecting to learn that Yae Miko had given you the Electro Gnosis to save your life, nor were you prepared to learn that your body had fully excepted the Gnosis, officially crowning you as the next Electro Archon. Unfortunately, you weren't left with much of a choice and after many discussions with the Traveler, you assumed the position, determined to bring Inazuma into the age of freedom it so deserved.While you were completely prepared to usher Inazuma into an age of freedom, what you were not prepared for whatsoever, is the utter chaos the nation was during their first Christmas of freedom. Decorations were everywhere, in the streets, trees, houses, shops, everything that could possibly be decorated was and you were beyond happy to see everything so bright and festive. But then came all the requests for official celebrations and it felt like you were practically living at the Kamisato Estate with how often you were there to make arrangements for your people. You were relieved that you'd come to know Ayaka and Thoma so well over the course of the revolution and could easily speak with them as friends, even if it was for official business. Over the course of the holidays, you got to know Ayato as well, but the person you saw the most often was definitely Thoma. The two of you became very close, sharing similar interests and backgrounds, as well as enjoying the other's company and presence. What only a few people knew was that often times when you'd request for Thoma to come to Tennshakaku, in addition to the orders he bring back to the Yashiro Commission, you would often ask him what his childhood in Mondstadt had been like, even going as far as to ask for advice on how to bring forth peace and freedom to the Nation of Eternity. Thoma himself was surprised you trusted him enough to give you advice, but you waved away his concerns, simply saying that a good ruler listens to her people when they have wisdom to share.As Christmas drew closer and closer, you become more and more overwhelmed with everything you were required to do. Running a country so used to tyranny was far from easy, especially when you were trying to change practically every third law every other day. The breath of relief you released when you finally finished working on Christmas Eve was visible in the chilly air of your office and only then did you realize how cold it had gotten, seeing as your fireplace had died. Rekindling the fire, you took a few brief moments of peace to warm up and breathe before you were inevitably dragged out into the party taking place within the palace.Sighing, you closed your eyes and tried to relax.~*~Lumine was confused when you hadn't been present at the holiday party and hadn't made an appearance over the course of the hour it was going on. When she asked Miko where you were, she'd shrugged and suggested looking for you in your office. After asking for some directions, the Traveler had made her way to your office, rolling her eyes upon seeing light coming from the door. Acting like the sister she knew you regarded her as, she kicked open the door and stormed into the room, glaring at you when you turned, slightly startled, towards her."You're working on Christmas Eve?"You took a breath and Lumine began to regret how harsh her words were. Of course you were working on Christmas Eve, you were desperately trying to do everything possible to help a nation you were now responsible for, trying to help a people you now considered yours. Before she could apologize, you offered her a smile that said you knew she didn't mean anything by how harsh she sounded. "I was, yes. I just finished some last minute things so that, hopefully, I won't have to work tomorrow."Lumine nodded, happy you would at least take one day for yourself. "That's good. Are you coming to join the party?""In just a moment. I'm not quite dressed for the festivities at the moment," you stated, motioning to the pajamas you were wearing."Have you been in here since you woke up?"The sheepish smile said more than you did. "Probably."She sighed and shook her head, telling you to hurry up from over her shoulder as she returned to the party. ~*~You smiled faintly as Lumine left and hurried back to your room where you quickly changed into the outfit you'd had commissioned for the event. It wasn't particularly tradition, definitely not something a woman would wear in tyrannical Inazuma, but you were hoping it would symbolize your hope for change. It was a beautiful suit in black and violet, more black than purple, but that was how you preferred it considering how . . . traumatized you were by specific shades of violet. Turning to glance in the mirror, you hesitantly traced the faintly glowing lightning scar tracing down your face and neck, wondering if perhaps you should cover it just like you always did.
Images of lightning striking you from within flashed through your mind.
You flinched for a moment before staring back at yourself through the mirror. You had survived what would have otherwise been a lethal lightning strike from an ex-archon, symbolizing just how strong and determined you were. If you were ashamed to wear your scars in front of your people, afraid to show your true strength, just what else would you give way to because of fear. Glaring at your reflection, you pushed away all negative thoughts clouding your mind and proudly adjusted your shirt so it would highlight your scars more. Fixing your hair, you nodded at your appearance before turning away from the mirror, preventing you from changing your mind, and confidently strode out to the throne room where the party was being held. Silence swept over the crowd as you confidently strode forward, power and authority emanating from you as you held your head high and ascended the dais. Turning back to the room full of your people, you greeted them and wished them a wonderful holiday season before ushering them back to the festivities. Standing proudly atop the dais, you watched the people mingle and laugh together with a faint smile on your face. After a while, you stepped down and joined them, instantly being drawn into half a million conversations. People had dozens of questions, hundreds of requests, wanted to know some scrap of your plans for the future, and before you could stop it, you felt the overwhelming sensation of panic consuming your mind.
You were taken back the Plane of Euthymiya, watching as Ei lifted her sword, glittering with the power of a diving throne, and thrust it towards Lumine. You reacted without thinking, again, taking the blade for the friend you could only see as a sister now. Blinding pain took over your senses as lightning snapped across your skin again.
The sensations of you digging your nails into your arm drew you back to the present as more and more waves of people began surging towards you, calling for your attention. Your gaze snapped between all of them and you could feel restless power, the power of the divine throne you now held, shifting nervously under your skin and you knew you had to get away before that power could make itself known. Your breath was caught in your throat as you shoved through the people around you, hurrying towards the door and blindingly stumbling through the halls of the palace until you made it outside, cold air only making it harder to breathe. You'd hoped the frigid air would clear your lungs, make it easier to draw breath, calm your frantic mind, and yet somehow it only made it worse. Tears slipping from your eyes burned your cheeks as they froze against your skin and you found your mind becoming fuzzier and fuzzier, panic seemingly consuming all you could sense.
You were drowning in an ocean of endless darkness, with no hope of rescue.
~*~Thoma had just barely spotted you when you were suddenly rushing out of the room, a look of sheer panic on your face as your practically sprinted for the door. Concerned, he maneuvered his ways through the crowds to follow you, soon after finding you outside. You were pacing back and forth rapidly, chest heaving with uneven, sporadic breaths, and eyes glowing a faint violet as the panic you were experiencing summoned your powers. Something in Thoma broke upon seeing you like this. All of his memories of you were of how strong you were, how powerful you were, even before becoming Archon, how unstoppable you seemed to be.
He saw you, jumping out in front of him and grabbing his Vision when the Shogunate was taking it in, his memory.
You summoning your swords, hooking his Vision onto your belt, and standing between him and the Shogun.
You staring down the Shogun, a fury none could rival shining in your, then, (e/c) eyes.
You grabbing the Traveler as she fell and passing her to him, deflecting the Shogunate's blows as she came after you.
You jumping to your feet to protest against Lady Ayaka's insistence that the Traveler help Inazuma.
The power your voice had held and the anger in your eyes, but the quiet assurance that you'd stand by the Traveler's side even if it were to cost you your life.
The way you'd walked into the room after the Shogun had tried to strike you down, glowing violet scars covering your skin, but a determination lighting your eyes when it was announced you were the new Archon.
The way you'd commanded the room when you'd stood before your people for the first time.
And the way you'd laugh with him whenever you would turn up at the Kamisato Estate.
He had so many memories of you protecting him, protecting the Traveler, protecting your people and now, all he wanted to do, was to protect you from this panic that seemed to be consuming you from the inside out. Avoiding the small lightning storm you'd summoned unaware, he hurried to your side, hesitating only a moment before pulling you into a hug. You stiffened instantly, eyes flicking to him and raking over his form for several moments before you seemed to recognize him. The way you melted against him, pulling his body flush against yours, using your slight advantage of height to rest your head on his, had his heart skipping beats. Tension slowly bled out of your form and after a few moments of silence, the lightning storm calming, you sighed, breath brushing against his ear slightly.You lingered in the embrace a moment longer before drawing away and inhaling slowly, eyes falling shut, allowing yourself a moment to fully calm. Then you gave him a tiny smile, one that caused your violet eyes to glitter faintly, and thanked him for his help. He assured you it was no problem, frowning as you glanced back at the palace with an anxious expression. For a moment, his mind raced, before he asked it if would be helpful if he stuck close by you. You agreed and surprised him by taking his hand before re-entering the palace. ~*~You could sense the jealous stares and lingering eyes as you practically clung to Thoma's hand the entire rest of the evening, but you couldn't have cared less what the others thought. Right now, the reassuring warmth and weight of his hand in yours was the only thing getting you through the crowds of people trying to talk to you. By the end of the night, only a few people remained, and they were your friends. Goodbyes were quick, easy, and painless, but you kept your grip on Thoma's hand regardless, unsure if you'd spiral again if you let go. Finally, it came time for him to leave and you were forced to release him, if only for a moment so you could hug him again. You thanked him profusely when you pulled back, thanking him for everything he'd done that evening, before Miko was dragging you away with the instance that you needed to sleep so you could properly enjoy tomorrow. With a smile and short wave, you wished him a Merry Christmas before Miko pulled you out of the room.
Little did you know that you'd left Thoma with the feeling of your hand pressed against his etched in his mind forever and memories he'd cherish for the rest of his existence.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Mavuika winced in pain as she accepted the hand offered to her. Struggling to her feet, she cast a glare at the Harbinger standing across from her, recovering from his own injuries. She moved to confront him, ready to continue this fight, but was stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder. Turning her gaze to the woman standing beside her, she blinked, surprised to see you, her twin sister. Rarely did you ever appear in front of people, even rarer that you had chosen to do so in the light of day, and with a Harbinger standing opposite you. Staying in the shadows was your job in this five hundred year war, hiding away from the spotlight to use as Natlan's most powerful advantage at the hour of its most dire struggle.Yet, here you stood, a hand on her shoulder as you silently told her to stand down.Too confused to argue with you, she took a step back, nodding at you though her eyes remained glued to you warily. Satisfied with her allowing you to do what you wished, you summoned your sword, a rich golden blade enveloped in holy flame. She watched silently as you fixed the Harbinger with a glare that held the fury of a thousand suns and strode confidently towards him, boots silent against the concrete of the Stadium, but holding all the power you contained.Mavuika's hands tightened into fists as you engaged the Harbinger in fierce combat, sunset eyes full of concern. Between the two of you, she'd always been the strongest fighter, nearly breaking every sword she wielded in battle for longer than five minutes. However, you were far from incapable of holding your own, excelling in the arts of speed, agility, and strategy. The Archon could see you chipping away at the Harbinger's guard with every well timed strike and expertly placed swipe, slowly breaking his guard without him even noticing that was your intention. The two of you broke away from the fight for a moment, you sliding back to where Mavuika stood. As the Harbinger recovered, you shot her a sideways glance and smirk, the expression communicating what a thousand words could not. With a sharp nod, the Archon braced herself to wait for your signal, and watched as you jumped at the Harbinger again. You leapt high into the air, arcing downwards with a flaming blade that shattered the Harbinger's guard with the surprising brute strength you'd utilized. Jumping to the side at the very last second, you barely managed to avoid Mavuika's blazing fist, as she took down the Harbinger. She glanced at you as you strode to her side, glaring down at the Harbinger as he withdrew a bloody hand from his chest, having suffered what would likely be a fatal injury if he didn't surrender now.Though he struggled, he rose to his feet and once again drew his sword, staring down the twins in front of him without a moment's hesitation. Mavuika scoffed and began to stride forward to meet him, but was promptly stopped by you grabbing her shoulder. As much as she wanted to shrug you off, to engage the man who dared to try and steal her Gnosis, she gave way to your will, knowing it was for the best. She'd always been the fighter, capable of taking anyone down without effort, but you had always been the one able to talk a situation down in seconds, appeasing both sides, even if you had to threaten them.Head held high and weapon put away, you approached the Harbinger, catching his blade of ice with your hand as he swung it towards you. Without much effort, you pulled the blade from his hand and tossed it towards one of his subordinates. "Escort your commander back to your camp," you stated, before turning your attention to the Harbinger. "You are in no condition to fight, nor will you accomplish your intentions through violence. If you are who I believe you to be, I advise you rethink your course of action and be patient, Sentinel Knight."The Harbinger seemed to respond to the name, freezing for a moment before hesitantly nodding and walking off with his subordinates. Mavuika gaped at you for a moment before attempting to catch up with them. She wasn't about to let the Harbinger off the hook just because he was injured and apparently associated with Natlan somehow."Mavuika."The Archon froze upon hearing your tone of voice; empty but commanding. Turning to look at you, she caught your sunset eyes, full of unreadable emotions, staring after the departing Fatui with a conflicted expression before you turned to look at her. The emotions in your eyes vanished, replaced with a warmth reserved for her, and your conflict turned to a tiny smile."Leave them be."You said no more before turning on your heel and disappearing back into the shadows of the Stadium, leaving Mavuika to question what she'd witnessed and just what sort of plan you had running through your mind.~*~When The Captain joined the forces of Natlan, it was surprisingly easy to explain to you as you merely nodded when Mavuika told you. She was a little surprised you didn't react differently, but didn't press the issue, not when she could see the anxiety and stress rising in you with every passing day. You knew the Abyss was coming, you'd always had a sixth sense for Abyssal movements, and you'd said as much to her. At first, she'd simply assumed you meant another attack and brushed it aside, figuring it'd be over soon enough. However, you were insistent with the information, eventually stating that you were almost positive this was no ordinary attack. Mavuika immediately began preparing for a full scale invasion across all of Natlan, doing her best to assure you that when the time came for you to act, that everything would go exactly according to plan. Sure enough, the Abyss attacked again, this time in extreme numbers and with surprising strengths. When Gosoythoth appeared above the Stadium, Mavuika turned to you and made you promise that, regardless of what came, you would do your best to make it back to her. The two of you had lost your family, your friends, and much of your beloved land. If you lost each other, neither of you may ever recover.You promised, clasping her hand tightly and making her do the same. The two of you exchanged small smiles and began bustling around the Stadium. Mavuika left the Gnosis with you and ventured out to fight off any forces that came too close to the Stadium while you ran around within the Stadium, attending to the survivors and reassigning returning warriors. When Mavuika strode into the center of the Stadium with Chasca, Ororon, Kinich, Mualni, Xilonen, Iansan, and the Traveler, you knew it was time.
It was time for you to embrace your inner flame and rise to meet the sun.
~*~Mavuika watched on, heart swelling with hundreds of emotions, as one by one each of the present heroes summoned the spirits of heroes past. Memories of the past flashed through her mind for only a moment, reminding her of all she'd lost to the Abyss and she could feel her power growing with the rage rising in her. Turning to face you as the heroes began to gather their power together, she set her hands on your shoulder, ready to act as a conduit to set you ablaze with the flame she hoped would lead all of Natlan to victory.There was worry in your eyes, a concern that when the time came, you would fail Natlan or that you wouldn't be enough. You'd always had these thoughts and she could understand them. Often times even she doubted that she was strong enough, wise enough, or even powerful enough to save her nation. She could only imagine how much more stressful it must be for you to know that you were to hide from the eyes of the Ruler of Death and Heavenly Principles from the moment you took the throne of Pyro Archon with her until you were called upon to save Natlan."FOR NATLAN!"The cry rang out through the Stadium and Mavuika drew the entirety of the power the union of the heroes gave into the depths of her soul, utilizing as much of the flames within her as she could to add to the power before gripping your shoulder tighter and transferring a power greater than the sun itself into your soul. For a moment, she panicked, worried the power was far too much for you considering you were barely allowed to interact with the element of Pyro for the past five hundred years. Your eyes glazed over, turning a pure liquid golden color that glowed with the light of the sun and your entire form went still, unmoving for several moments to long. Mavuika inhaled sharply, worried eyes scanning you for any sign that this had been too much for you to take. She could hear the worried gasps of the heroes behind her, even the silent question from the Traveler, but all worry was erased as you snapped back to the present, gently removing her hands from your shoulders. Without another second to spare, you nodded at her and shot up into the sky, hovering hundreds of feet above the Stadium. Then, in that tense moment, the power of a million suns exploded from within you and cast brilliant light across the Nation of War. "Hearts set ablaze, flame ignited, power of a thousand suns, Natlan calls the aid of the Sacred Flame."The words echoed through the eerie silence and Mavuika could feel the power the sparked in her heart, a roaring fire ready to consume any and all who stood in her way. Looking around at the other heroes, she could see the power she felt reflected in the sharp glints in their eyes as their signature glows turned the color of flame, weapons blazing as they strode forward to join the fight once again. "LET US SET OUR HOME ABLAZE WITH THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS SUN AND RETURN THE ABYSS TO THE ETERNAL NIGHT!!!"A fierce battle cry echoed over the peaks of Natlan and warriors charged forth, imbued with a power never seen before, gifted to them by your outstretched hand and watchful eye. Although she knew you weren't looking at her, Mavuika smiled at you with pride shining her eyes, pride for having seen her younger sister rise to the glory she deserved, before joining her warriors in what she hoped was the final battle for her home.~*~With the Abyssal Tumors destroyed and their numbers thinning, fighting began to die down, causing Gosoythoth to approach where you stood in the sky. Mavuika finished off the enemy in front of her and turned her gaze to the sky, momentarily blinded by your light, but watching you with concern as the monster drew closer. She watched you close your eyes and take a deep breath, gathering to you all the power you'd stored within your soul over the centuries. With a shout that could rival the anger of the Ruler of Death, you released a blast of pure Pyro energy, shattering the shield Gosoythoth desperately projected to protect itself and tearing open a hole in the fake sky. You lingered in the sky for several moments longer, hair burning like liquid flame and eyes glowing gold, waiting for the monster to reappear. A breath of relief passed through the crowds as nothing happened and you began to float back down towards the ground. Mavuika dismissed her sword and sprinted forward, reaching the arena in the Stadium just in time to catch you as you dropped to the ground, exhausted after spending that much energy after having never experienced that much power. You smiled at her, tears of joy sparkling in your eyes as the people around you began to rejoice, celebrating their long awaited and much deserved victory. As the sky cleared and Mavuika drew you closer, the two of you shared joyful tears and smiles. This was the final step before confronting the Abyss and driving it out of Natlan for good. If you'd both survived this much, you were sure to survive whatever else was thrown at you. Forever, the two of you would be remembered as the Sunset Twins, the ones who drove the Abyss from Natlan and turned the Nation of War into the Nation of Peace.
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There was an old legend that circulated around Fontaine, one that was only told in grieved whispers and somber gazes.The legend told the tail of how the Divine Creator had been slain in a great battle against an unknown descender. It said that the Creator had given her life to protect the people of Fontaine and, as a result, she was given a resting place among the waves of the sea by the first Hydro Archon, Egeria. Rumors circled that this was more than legend and that the Divine Creator did indeed rest beneath the sparkling water of the Nation of Justice. Few even suggested that the Creator had awoken and joined the Oceanids as the mermaid queen another legend spoke of. However, as far as everyone was concerned, these were just stories, and nothing more.Though no one would ever believe him even if he ever told someone, Freminet knew otherwise.The few people who'd looped the Divine Creator's rebirth into the legend of the mermaid queen weren't far off from the truth. He had met you several times while diving, hoping to escape the harsh realities of the House of the Hearth back before Arlecchino had taken over, and you had immediately corrected him. You didn't prefer the term "mermaid" to describe yourself, referring to yourself as an Oceanid. Of course, you only had the tail of an Oceanid, but you'd explained that you had created Oceanids and then created Egeria from one, later one gifting the Hydro Archon the power to transform your believed Oceanid companions into humans themselves.He had suggested, several times, that he correct the legend, seeing as how it annoyed you, but you'd assured him that you really didn't mind. If the legend started slowly changing soon after he met you, well, he didn't know anything about that. To his own surprise, Freminet found a friend in you, the kind that he felt he could trust more than anyone else and one he often found himself sharing the darker details of his life with. Often times when he'd start venting about something, he'd cut himself off midsentence and look at you in surprise, as if suddenly remembering you were the Divine Creator herself. It took quite some time for you to finally convince him that, yes you might be the Divine Creator herself, but you really were just an ordinary person. Eventually, after much convincing and reassurance, Freminet regarded you as he would any other person, much to your relief and joy.The days when he was able to visit you grew further and further apart the older he got and the more the years passed, but he never abandoned you, always dropping down to the depths of the waves where the shadows would hide you to share all the stories he could with you. You appreciate his company and adored his gentle and sweet nature, always welcoming him with open arms to the underwater haven you'd constructed with your weak abilities. The two of you found companionship and comfort in one another, a strange sense of peace settling over both of you whenever the other was around. Little did you know that your precious sense of peace would soon vanish.~*~When Freminet had told you about the mission he would be apart of, there was a part of you that was worried for him. You were more than confident that he could handle himself and would return perfectly safe, perhaps with a few new bruises, but there was an odd feel about this mission that set you on edge. Not wanting to discourage him, you kept your mouth shut, in part because you didn't even know if your damaged, and sporadically healing, senses were correct. How you wished you'd spoken up before he'd left.Freminet and eleven other people went to Snezhnaya and Freminet was the only one to make it back. You heard the tragic news while swimming close to shore, absentmindedly wondering if you'd catch the boy on his way back to Fontaine. Horror struck you and you couldn't help but wish you had the ability to walk again, wanting nothing more than to find him and at least try to comfort him. You waited by your usual meeting spot for weeks, waiting and waiting for him to return, to confide in you about the mission, like he always did. He returned to the waves two months after the mission. As he let himself sink to the floor of the ocean, you silently swam up to him and began observing all the changes you could see. The life his eyes once held was gone, replaced with a far away look of regret and grief. His quiet, but endearingly sweet, personality had been replaced by a distant and cold persona you didn't recognize. There was a cut here and there on his arms, back, and face, one deep gash trailing from his shoulder down. Your heart squeezed as he hit the ground but didn't bother to move, eyes listlessly finding you as he offered the weakest smile he could manage. Having lived for thousands of years, the feelings of grief and regret weren't foreign to you, and, as much as you struggled to know how to help others through theirs, you knew what it was like to experience both. Instead of offering words of comfort, a gesture of sympathy that could all to easily be mistaken for pity, you drifted down to the ocean floor and laid next to him. For a while, the two of you were silent, simply staring up at the waves above. Then, a school of beautiful turquoise fish swam past, and you pointed out the one teal fish in the group, making some idle chatter about how special it was compared to the others.Freminet didn't react like he usually would, only a silent nod, instead of an interested hum and a plea to know more, but you weren't phased by it. He would need time to heal, time to recover, and time to move on. Many people would push him to get over it, but you knew that the only thing he needed at this very moment, was time. Maybe sometime in the future he'd want to talk, to vent and receive comfort, but for now he simply needed time to understand what he wanted. You'd be here when he'd had enough time, even if there was never enough time in his mortal lifespan. ~*~Christmas was fast approaching and you'd prepared a gift for Freminet, hoping to give it to him sometime after Christmas, figuring he'd be busy the entire holiday week. To your surprise, the sun had barely risen on Christmas morning when Freminet was knocking on your door. He'd gotten his old spark of life back after a few months, but you could still see the weight on his shoulders. You hoped your gift would help remove some of that. You asked what he was doing here, stating that he should be with his family to celebrate. He simply shook his head and asked to come inside, to which you moved aside to let him in. The two of you chatted for a bit and in that time you began to realize that whatever had happened all those months ago, had suddenly been dug up. The holiday had probably reminded him of everything that had happened and everyone he'd lost, an unpleasant feeling. Deciding to take his mind off of whatever was bothering him, you handed him his gift. He thanked you and opened it, staring in surprise at the water drop bracelet that lay contained within. "So you always have a piece of the ocean with you," you'd told him, watching as he smiled for the first time in months.The two of you decided to head out and enjoy the cold water, swimming around peacefully, and though you did most of the talking, Freminet was no longer completely silent.You'd see him go through many changes, observed all the differences as he'd grown as a person, and yet, you were confident that nothing would ever tear your friendship apart.
Freminet watched as a Blubberbeast distracted you for a moment, causing the two of you to swim around in a elegant dance for a moment. As he watched, he could only that someday, maybe you'd want to be more than friends, just like he'd wanted for the past few years.