Having just woken up from her dream, Furina slowly opened her eyes, fluttering them open.
The sun had rose up above the skies by now, casting down its warm golden radiance upon the world. That very sa luminance shined through the windows of Isaac's bedroom, casting them upon Furina who was still lying on the bed.
Getting up, she looked around and noticed that Isaac had already gotten up before her. anwhile, over her was a blanket, and not far, a set of new clothes were neatly folded in a file and were ready for her to wear.
Holding up the blanket to cover her bare body, Furina looked around for a bit, dazed and lost in thought.
The mories of her eting with her other self were still as clear as day in her mind which included the new prophecy, as well as the plans they have.
Afterwards, a soft sigh escaped her lips as she quietly mumbled with a bittersweet smile, "I should have expected this. I was naïve to think that I've escaped the clutches of the prophecy..."
She bathed in that anguish for a re mont, before...
- Slap!
She slapped both of her cheeks, shaking her off her thoughts. The slap left behind a faint red mark over her face, but they only served as a testant to her resolve.
It was the resolve to keep going.
"No, I can't have those thoughts. What matters more is what I should do now that I know them..." She murmured to herself.
Nothing has changed drastically thus far, she knew that. From her initial dance with Isaac months ago, under the moonlight in the open adow, to now in the present. Fate was still being deceived, but so has the prophecy stayed.
That botherso burden that had always silently weighed upon her shoulders as if the whole pressure of the ocean itself was contributing to it had returned.
Her responsibilities and duties, which she had never discarded but have temporarily ceased doing, were now back in full swing.
Yet, despite everything...
"I can't allow those tragedies to co to pass." She reaffird to herself as her gaze drifted to the window, and to the world beyond it. "This nation, and its people, whom I hold dear... Such judgent is too cruel for their sins they do not even know of."
"And to Isaac, who shared his wonderful world with ..."
She has far too much to lose now more than ever.
She spent the next few monts in silence, followed by her eyes drifted downwards and on her torso that was covered by the blanket.
Then, lifting her hand, she placed her hand atop her lower abdon, where she felt a faint soreness present.
It was there, last night, when...
"Life..."
She whispered to herself, imrsed in a thought. "The first Hydro Archon, Lady Egeria, promised that all life deserves fair judgent and the right to live however they wished..."
"If Fontaine were to survive this predicant and continue to exist, then perhaps..."
Her voice trails off as a wondrous thought blossod in her mind. It was an idea that she had never thought of before, let alone the possibility, but now, it wasn't an improbable prospect.
And once that thought set, her eyes dilated as her resolve strengthened even more.
"A family... a child..."
Inevitably, she had pictured such an idea in her mind.
A house she could call hers, together with those whom she loved dearly. One where she could drop all the façade and be whatever she wanted to be at her leisure, and where she could be accompanied by her very own family.
A life painted in rest and happiness she had long wanted.
It was a fleeting thought... yet sothing so wondrous that she couldn't ignore it as is.
If such life were to be incepted, she needed to first lay down the groundworks for it. For such life can never happen if Fontaine itself and Isaac were to disappear from her life.
And as such...
"Other ... I can only rely on your plan..."
It was the only hope she last left, now that she has an even stronger motivation to see the plan co into fruition.
After making up her mind, Furina soon washed herself up and changed clothes, and soon departed to go downstairs.
---
The mont Furina walked down the stairs and turned the corner, she had initially anticipated Isaac to be doing his usual business such as cleaning and preparing for the eventual opening of the café.
...instead, she was t with the sight of a child, staring back at her.
"...Nahida?" Furina asked as she looked down at the radish. She then bent down to her level and asked, "You're quite early, aren't you? What's the occasion?"
"Good morning, Miss Furina." Nahida greeted her in a polite manner as she always had. Then, answering her question, she replied, "It's a bit of a long story, but to sum it up..."
She then began to explain what was happening and what had led up to it to her, as well as what was going to happen.
After she spoke, Furina nodded as she had caught up. "I see, thank you, Nahida. That helped a lot."
"Ehe, no problem." Nahida humd as she nodded. Then, she pointed at a certain corner of the café. "If you're looking for Mr. Isaac, he should be over there, together with Freminet."
"Ah, thank you for telling ."
Furina then patted Nahida's head with a satisfied smile, cherishing the little girl quite fondly as she did so. The latter, anwhile, didn't mind it and rely played along, finding it amusing.
When she was finally satisfied, she finally bid farewell to Nahida, intending to go to Isaac.
As she walked along, though, she couldn't help but beco self-conscious. She was currently wearing a set of casual clothes prepared by Isaac, completely different from the usual elegant and bespoke clothes she had often worn in public.
But upon closer inspection of the café, she realized that it had yet to open, and the people present inside were only the frequent custors of Isaac who were also his close friends, as well as his employees.
'Hm, I wonder what made them suddenly want to help Isaac with his café?' She thought to herself as she observed. She was quite interested, to say the least.
After a while, Furina finally saw Isaac sitting down together with Freminet, and approached him.
But instead of talking to him, she suddenly had an idea and decided to silence herself and sneak up on him. And with asured silent steps, she approached him.
But just as she was about to grab hold of him, Freminet, who was talking to Isaac, suddenly noticed her.
She imdiately started making gestures with her arms, such as a cross, and a finger on her lips, frantically signalling him to not say anything.
And to Freminet, who was witnessing his Archon act this way, was left in a stupor.
"Hey, Freminet, are you alright bud?" Seeing him suddenly zone out, Isaac snapped his finger in front of him. "Why are you suddenly zoning out? Have you not had enough sleep?"
Freminet lingered for a mont before shaking his head. "No, I'm fine, Mr. Isaac. I was just... distracted."
"Heh, distracted with what?" Isaac probed.
But just as he posed that question, Furina suddenly jumped from behind him and blocked his vision. "Distracted by this!"
"Ah..." Suddenly blinded, Isaac was montarily stunned. But after hearing whose voice it was, an amused tone soon laced his voice. "Oh, oh my... Whoever is this person who has blinded so?"
Furina scoffed. "Take a guess~"
"Hmm..." Isaac thought for a mont before coming up with an apt and playful response. "Is this mysterious fiend who had blinded also the very sa one who leaves behind leftovers of the food she doesn't like?"
"Wh, what? I would never!"
"Hmm, then is this person the sa person who likes to secretly sneak out to talk to cats?"
"Well, they are just there and they are very cute..."
"Aha..."
Already knowing who it was, Isaac's smile widened. "Then is this person also the sa person who took all of my affection?"
The mont he said that, the hands that were blocking his vision parted, and what soon followed was a gentle yet firm hug from behind him.
"Correct!"
"Ah, what's my prize for guessing so accurately?"
"Aren't you too greedy?"
"I suppose I am."
The two of them laughed as they had softened around one another, completely ignoring Freminet who was still watching them while eating his french toast.
When they were finally finished with their chatter, Isaac once again greeted her, this ti properly.
"Good morning again, Furina. Did you rest well?"
"Hm. I did."
"That's great to hear."
After saying that, Isaac lingered for a mont before lifting his hand and caressing her face for a mont.
Upon receiving this gesture, Furina roughly knew what he was thinking, and before he could do it before her, she took on the lead herself.
She lowered her head and t his lips.
"...oh." Seeing such a scene, Freminet couldn't help but look away, a bit surprised by the brazen action.
Behind the counter, Paimon and Lumine silently judged Isaac. "Ugh, look at our boss, traveler! Such shalessness!"
"..." Lumine didn't say anything and rely looked at the scene, her mind drifting sowhere else.
All the other invited custors had more or less the sa reaction. Klee and Nahida weren't present, so they were safe from such a scene, whisked away by Xiao, while Yae Miko was also doing the sa as Lumine.
It was only when the two of them parted and smiled at each other with affection flaring between them, those who were watching knew what it had implied.
They all had a collective conclusion:
'They're going official...'
In the past, Isaac and Furina's relationship was more like an open secret that neither of them actively shared. Sure, there were tis when they were obvious about it in public, but not to the point that they openly flaunted it.
But now, with such a brazen act in front of many viewers, it was clear as day what they were declaring.
"They're... officially together now."
[New mission....]
[New mission...]
[New mission...]
And at that mont, Isaac received simultaneously new missions out of the blue, startling him.
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