It was just a normal morning day when Neuvillette, who had reached his office to begin the day, received alarming news from one of the Melusine, Sedene.
"A building appeared out of thin air?"
"That's right Monsieur Neuvillette. As of right now, the building is currently being swarmed with concerned citizens and journalists from the Steambird although a small contingent of Gardes is stationed to guard the area."
"Very well. I shall bring Lady Furina with me to investigate this matter. Tell the other Gardes to be ready if something happens."
"As you wish Monsieur Neuvillette."
With that, Neuvillette went to get Furina.
.....
"My dear Iudex, does this matter really need us to investigate it?"
"I apologize for the abrupt notice Lady Furina, but this matter is of utmost importance."
"Apologies accepted. Now let's see what all the fuss is about, perhaps it will give me some entertainment."
When they reached the site, they saw that the citizens had mostly dispersed with the area being guarded by the Gardes along with one reporter from the Steambird interviewing a few people.
A pink Melusine skipped to the duo to deliver her report. "Monsieur Neuvillette, Lady Furina!"
"Ah, Kiara. It's good to see you. Any new development?"
"No. Everything has been the same. I did do some questioning on a few citizens and from what I gathered, before this building appeared, this location houses an abandoned building."
"And I assume that this building has replaced the previous one."
"You got that right Monsieur Neuvillette."
"Thank you for letting us know. Please take a rest if needed.."
Kiara nodded, "Oh and say hi to Carole if you see her." With that, she walked away from the duo with a smile on her face , oblivious to the solemn expression on Neuvillette's face.
"Monsiour Neuvillette, Lady Furina." A voice called out to them.
Neuvillette recognized the person as a journalist from The Steambird. "You must be Charlotte was it?"
"That's right, I am here to interview the people here regarding the situation. If you could, what are your thoughts on it, Monsieur Neuvillette?" Asked Charlotte.
"Hmmm... As of right now, this situation is unknown to us. For that reason, Lady Furina and I will personally be investigating this matter ourselves."
"Is that right?" A random person asked. It was then the trio noticed that a crowd had formed around them. It seems they have attracted a lot of attention.
Furina boisterously walked up to the crowd and attempted to calm them down. "That's right, do not worry citizen of Fontaine, I, Furina de Fontaine, will make sure no harm shall come and judge the owner of this establishment should they be guilty."
With her declaration, the crowd goes wild with the sound of cheering and clapping.
"Ahem. Lady Furina, sorry to interrupt your moment, but we must make haste. The sooner we are done, the sooner we can continue our duties."
"Monsiour Neuvillette, Lady Furina. May I come inside with you two? I wish to get a closer look. And don't worry, I have a Vision to defend myself should anything go awry."
Neuvillette took a few seconds to think. "Very well." Perhaps her experience as a journalist may be of some use.
Furina who had been patiently waiting at the entrance waved at the two. "Splendid. Now then, let us see what secret this oh-so-mysterious building is hiding shall we ."
With that, Furina opened the door and went inside followed closely by Neuvillette and Charlotte. The latter of which had her Kamera held firmly in her hands.
When the trio entered, the first thing they noticed was the cold that assaulted their senses.
"Brrr... I was not ready for this." While Furina was busy getting adjusted to the cold, Neuvillette on the other hand, had other concerns.
'A dragon?' His eyes dart around, looking for the source of the scent before landing on a very draconic-looking boy.
Whereas his own feature of a dragon was subtle and further masked by his human appearance, with the boy, there is no mistaking him for anything other than a dragon. Not only that, he could sense the boy was no vishap like the Melusines. Instead, he seems to be a pure dragon.
Just like him.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, it is rude to stare at a stranger." He was taken out of his inner thoughts by Furina.
"My apologise. Now let us see the owner of this establishment."
"Lead the way."
While Furina was busy admiring the architecture within and Charlotte was busy taking photos with her Kamera, Neuvillette was once a gain deep in thoughts.
The closer he gets to the boy, the stronger the feeling that comes from the boy. With each step, Neuvillette could discern more and more of this young dragon.
Yet the most puzzling of all these feelings was the boy's scent. It was definitely not one of the seven elements. In fact, the scent seems otherworldly in nature . Had another Descender come to Teyvat?
"Welcome to my humble Gaming Cafe. Judging by the appearance of the Chief Justice of Fontaine along with its Archon, I take it you are here to investigate this place? The name Aiden by the way."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Aiden. I will cut to the chase, Mister Aiden, is this building yours?" Asked Neuvillette.
"The pleasure is mine and yes, this is my own building. Hopefully, it is up to your standard."
"I see. Well then, may we ask how did you acquire this building? I believe there was an abandoned building in this place beforehand."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. If there is any problem, we can discuss it privately. Any more questions?"
Before Neuvillette could ask another question, he was cut off by Charlotte who seemed to be more excited than usual. "Are you the Hydro Dragon?"
The question seemed not to surprise the boy as he answered in earnest. "No Miss Charlotte. While I am a dragon, no doubt about that, I am not the Hydro Dragon. I doubt that if it does exist, it will look like me."
"I see, I see..." Charlotte then began to write on her notepad.
Furina also interjected with her own question. "My dear Aiden, I must ask. What does this fine establishment do? It seems rather unusual."
The owner then tells them that this place is a Gaming Cafe where people can pay 5000 Mora an hour to play a videogame called 'Genshin Impact'. He then begins to list off all the amenities this place provides and even offers to help with medical assistance should there be any. Along with it, he also tells them about the linked door which piqued Charlotte's interest in its application of information travel.
"This 'Genshin Impact' is rather interesting I dare say, may I try it out for an hour kind sir?" Asked Furina.
"Very well. Let me set up your account first and assign your computer's number."
After Furina had paid, the owner then gave her the account information, and an instruction manual and showed them their computer. After which Furina and Charlotte go to their assigned computer.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, why don't you watch us play?" Charlotte suggested.
Before Neuvillette could follow the two, a hand stopped him on his track.
Neuvillette looked at the owner in understanding. "You two go on ahead, there are things that Mister Aiden and I need to discuss. Privately."
Aiden leads him to his personal room which only consists of all the things a bedroom needs along with his personal computer.
With the two of them alone, they both got into a staring contest for some time before Aiden decided to break the ice.
"I think we both know what it is you want to ask oh Hydro Dragon. So, go ahead."
While he may not seem like it, Neuvillette was a little disturbed at his secret being nonchalantly revealed. It seems Aiden was fully aware of what he was from the beginning. "Are you an outlander? You may be a dragon like me yet you reeks of otherworldly scents."
"You are worried I may be another Usurper don't you."
The silence that permeates the room answers Aiden's question.
"Your worries, while well-founded, are for naught for I have no desire to seize the authority of The Seven. I merely came to this world to shed the past and future of this world to its inhabitants."
"Past and future?"
"I will tell you now. The game that I have set up in this place has much knowledge ingrained in it. From the well-known to the most obscure."
"Isn't this dangerous? A lot of unscrupulous people will use it to their advantage."
"And a lot of lives will be saved by this. Especially regarding a certain prophecy that you might have heard about."
Neuvillette cups his chin. "The prophecy... You know how it will end, don't you?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, I cannot reveal to you how to avoid it. Only by playing the game will you be able to uncover the mystery regarding the prophecy and perhaps about yourself..."
Aiden then raised his hand toward Neuvillette. "So, how about it?"
Neuvillette regarded Aiden's outstretched hand with a mix of caution and intrigue. The weight of his responsibilities as the Iudex of Fontaine bore heavily on him, and the prospect of uncovering truths about himself along with the prophecy was tempting.
His gaze met Aiden's, searching for any trace of deceit. He found none, only an unwavering confidence and smile.
"What you are offering is no small matter." Neuvillette began, his voice calm but firm. "Knowledge, especially knowledge of the future, can be a double-edged sword. You claim this… 'Genshin Impact' contains knowledge about Teyvat's past and future, yet you provide it as entertainment for the masses. How do you justify such an act?"
Aiden chuckled softly, retracting his hand. "Because the knowledge, Monsieur Neuvillette, must be discovered. Besides, not everyone will understand the significance of what they uncover. Only those who comprehend it will truly understand."
Neuvillette's expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, he mulled over the implications. A tool that could grant insight into the prophecy and perhaps even his own origins was invaluable. Yet, it came with risks, especially in the hands of those who might misuse such knowledge.
"If what you claim is true, I will need to assess this for myself." Neuvillette finally said, his tone resolute.
Aiden smirked. "As I expected. Very well, but be warned, Monsieur Neuvillette. The truths you seek may or may not be the ones you wish to find."
Neuvillette stirred at those words, but he pushed the feeling aside. "That is a risk I am prepared to take."
Aiden inclined his head, gesturing toward the door. "Then let's not keep Lady Furina waiting then."
As they exited the private room, Neuvillette felt a sense of foreboding, but also a flicker of hope. Perhaps, through this enigmatic stranger and his otherworldly game, the answers he sought were finally within reach.
When they exited, Neuvillette realized that only a few seconds had passed judging by the fact that Furina and Charlotte were still making their way to their computer.
He side eyes Aiden who in turn, gives him a smirk.
Neuvillette's mind churned with the implications of his interaction with Aiden. Time manipulation? The enigmatic dragon had left him with more questions than answers. Yet, as they rejoined Furina and Charlotte, he masked his thoughts with his characteristic calm expression.
Furina had just settled into her seat, her excitement palpable. "This 'Genshin Impact' had better be as fascinating as you claim, Mister Aiden. I demand only the finest entertainment."
Aiden chuckled, his draconic features softening in amusement. "I assure you, Lady Furina, the experience will be... memorable. Whether it's to your liking or not is something only you can decide. Now then, I shall take my leave, there are other customers I must attend to."
When Aiden left the trio, Furina hit the Enter Key, a cutscene plays with a narrator, showing them the nations of Teyvat one by one.
"Wow, this is more advanced than the film in Fontaine!" Charlotte said.
Furina and Neuvillette agreed, no doubt the researchers and engineers will looking forward to this device.
ACT.4
Masquerade of the Guilty.
The God of Justice lives for the spectacle of the Courtroom, seeking to judge all other gods.
But even she knows not to make an enemy of the divine.
It then shows a pair of twins which Charlotte recognized. "Oh, those must be the twin magicians. Lyney and Lynette if I'm not mistaken."
Furina meanwhile, was unusually quiet which caught the attention of Neuvillette. "Is something the matter, Lady Furina?"
Furina snaps out of it and quickly reassures Neuvillette. "Ah, nothing to worry about my dear Neuvillette. Merely thinking."
That got a suspicious look from Neuvillette.
When the cutscene ends, the screen then changes to a location which caught their interest.
"Is that..." Furina gasped.
Charlotte meanwhile was rapidly taking pictures with her Kamera. To see the palace of the gods up close.
As for Neuvillette, anger overcame his eyes. He barely managing to rein it in so as not to alert the others.
It definitely didn't help when they properly started the game and saw the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
"Usurper..."
Furina, noticing this, is quick to calm the angered Iudex. "My dear Iudex, please do not scare the other customers away." In over 500 years, she had never seen Neuvillette ever angry before.
Neuvillette took a deep breath although his eyes never left the Sustainer for even a second. "My apologies, Lady Furina."
While the two were distracted, Charlotte was busy alternating between taking pictures and taking notes. This was definitely the best scoop of her whole career.