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Neuvillette has seen this scene unfold multiple times.
It's been a recurring thing lately - every time he falls asleep, he finds himself trapped in the same, old, melancholic dream. Night after night, the cycle repeats, ensnaring him in an endless loop of haunting familiarity.
Despite having experienced it repeatedly, the pain never dulls, and the gnawing ache in his chest remains as sharp as ever.
The dragon sovereign supposes that maybe he's partly to blame, and despite this whole thing being a dream, he, like before, doesn't feel like looking away.
He had done that before and now regrets it terribly. Neuvillette knowingly averted his gaze during Furina's trial, while she desperately begged for everyone to believe in her - to believe in their Archon.
Much like the others, he too played a part in her downfall.
He had betrayed the only person he considered to be his constant. Although he knew the trial was necessary, he still regretted not being there when Furina - his Archon - needed him the most
And thus, Neuvillette had vowed never to take his eyes off Furina again. No matter what.
Regardless of whether it was a dream or not.
“It’s time ” He muses quietly to himself.
---
Furina stands before him, and in front of her lies a basin filled with the primordial sea.
Neuvillette recognizes this scene instantly.
He had witnessed it enough times to know precisely what would happen next.
Furina's heterochromatic eyes sweep over the audience, filled with deep hurt and betrayal. She searches desperately, hoping to find someone - anyone - to tell her this is all just a cruel joke.
But no one moves.
The room remains silent, the people who had revered her for five centuries as the Hydro Archon now watching her with suspicion and disdain. Once held in the highest regard, Furina now stands accused of being a fraud, her divine status questioned by those who once worshiped her every word and action.
Then, her gaze lands on Neuvillette's amethyst eyes.
Unlike the others, he doesn’t look away. He meets her gaze directly, his heart aching to reach out, to say something - anything - to stop this cruel trial and comfort her. Every instinct screams for him to act, but each time he tries to speak, an invisible force chokes his voice, rendering him powerless to intervene.
And when he finally manages to fight it off, it's always too late.
"Lady Furina, I understand if you want to ba-" Before Neuvillette can finish his sentence, she turns to him, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and resolve. She smiles apologetically, a faint, bittersweet curve of her lips, before plunging her hand into the basin.
In an instant, Furina begins to dissolve right in front of him - her body transforming into the primordial sea. The liquid form ripples and shimmers, cascading downward. Her clothes and accessories fall away, hitting the wooden stage with a resounding thud that echoes throughout the crowded opera house.
The audience collectively gasps, the sound of their shock filling the air. Each piece lands heavily, the noise magnified in the stunned silence, serving as a poignant reminder of what has just transpired.
Neuvillette - despite seeing this multiple times - feels as if it is happening again for the first. Each time it happens, it’s as if a part of him disappears the moment he sees everything unfold.
Suddenly, the darkness shifts, and he jolts awake, heart pounding and drenched in cold sweat.
In the stillness of the night, Neuvillette takes a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. The vividness of the dream lingers, but as he closes his eyes and focuses, he feels an unconscious pull. His regained authority, almost acting on their own, reach out into the silence, searching for something tangible.
Slowly, he senses the gentle tug of Furina's hydro vision. It's faint but unmistakable - a comforting reminder that she is still very much alive.
The weight of the nightmare begins to lift, and Neuvillette finds solace in the quiet assurance of her presence. With each passing moment, the tension in his body eases, and he surrenders to a calm, knowing that the horrors of his dream are not his reality.
After calming himself, the dragon sovereign gazes out the window beside his bed. He vows with all his heart to protect Furina, determined that such things will never come to pass and that she will never have to sacrifice herself for Fontaine ever again.