Chapter Text
Had it been days, or weeks since she was sent out for the mission? It sure felt like years on her, being a guard for a princess like Furina is no easy task. Always getting into mischief, wanting such hard-to-find things…
Clorinde you can't get lost in thought again. You're daydreaming again, wake up Clorinde!
A harsh gasp escapes the knight as she immerses herself into her surroundings again. The crackling of firewood bursting in her ears, the howling of the wind draping over her so comfortingly. Setting down her blade, the violet haired knight would stand and stretch out her body. Sunrise rapidly approaching while the firewood is slowly drowned out by the echoing chimes of birds. Clorinde finds this sound quite comforting.. listening to the forest come alive again while adjusting her armor and gathering her things.
Once her camp had been safely packed up and erased, the knight sets off once again. Her quest was to slay the dragon that haunts the “Corpse of Elynas”. Which, had just been a scary name for an ancient, drowned city. That is now nothing but ocean water and a cave, that's where the dragon had to be hiding of course.
Though, her mind was more so confused as to why she needed to kill the dragon. He hasn't done anyone any harm, other than threats there's never been any cases recorded of harm in the kingdom. “Oh well, the princess wants his scales for her new dress, guess I'll just have to suck it up..”
She said that out loud, fuck.
Maybe it was quiet enough for nothing to hear?
Silence…
Grabbing the hilt of her sword, Clorinde stands guard, cursing at herself internally for speaking. Typically, she's good at keeping thoughts to herself. She is the princesses royal guard after all, Clorinde had to bite her tongue more than she'd like to admit.
…
Nothing heard her, and sunrise was here. The sky painted with blues, pinks, and oranges, one can't help but admire the view. As if she was suddenly a little girl again, Clorinde rushes to the top of a nearby rock, standing on top and spreading her arms open. Welcoming the beautiful hues and the gentle breeze that now hugged all the curves of her armor, a smile now spreading across her face. She might be a royal guard, but how can someone not appreciate a beautiful morning in Fontaine?
“Getting sidetracked again Clorinde?” An effeminate male voice calls out from behind, and a figure approaching along with it.
The knight swiftly draws her blade and her expression changes, her purple and pink eyes burning through the shorter males skull before she has realized who it was.
“You… you're one of Queen Foçalors jesters, are you not? Why are you here, and what in the world do you need from me… How, did you even find me?”
“First things first, it's Lyney, not ‘One of Queen Foçalods jesters’. Second, you seem quite tense, I only came here because your highness, Furina, had sent me to.” The blonde before the knight would bow, hat in his free hand as he chuckles softly.
That Lyney, something is.. not quite right with him but, I just can't pinpoint what. No matter, he's here now and I can't change that.
“I am completely okay, you on the other hand shouldn't be here. I don't have supplies for another companion to tag along nor do I work alongside people. I don't do partners.”
“Hahaha! Same old Clorinde I see. Here, these are from our lovely princess. I only dropped by to check in and drop this off. Au revoir~ ” And before Clorinde could even get a thought in, Lyney had disappeared into smoke.
Her violet locks of hair flow with the breeze as she stands there almost frozen for a moment before bringing her attention to the bag given to her. Opening it she finds a note from the princess herself.
“I do apologize I had to send Lyney of
all clowns to deliver this to you.
But I suppose he does get the
job done properly. Anyhow,
I was worried and decided to help
you out as much as I can!
~ Furina”
“Oh what am I going to do with you Furina?” The knights eyes seemed to glow as she beamed from reading the letter. Setting it down she sees that food had been packed, along with a single pillow on the bottom. A soft sigh of relief escaping through her nose as she noticed the pillow. She had plenty of food, but she had been in dire need of—
Dammit I'm off track again.
Fixing herself up she hops away from the rock and continues her journey onward. The crinkle of leaves under her feet walking down the path, footsteps of different wildlife could be heard against the sounds of armor jingling with every step.
“Is this going to be worth it? Why am I so worried about this dragon, I'm not afraid I just… don't know.” She thinks to herself while taking another look around. It has been the same as it was just a moment ago, rows of trees with falling leaves, but the sounds weren't the same.. there was almost…
“Water? I can't be this close already.”
The knight would pick up her pace, now sprinting to reach the noise she has heard. Passing through what felt like a hundred trees, she makes it to a sandy beach. The change from Forest to sand was quite drastic… it feels almost man-made. But this isn't the time for daydreaming again, shaking herself off the knight fixes her hair, pushing it back and adjusting it to all fit into her helmet. Clorinde didn't know the exact location of the dragon, but her gut told her to go right. Following suit, her body moved towards the right of the beach, rocks and lifted up areas here and there but surely there wasn't some gigantic cave.
Eating her own words she stands in front of a large mound of rocks and bushes that had formed quite a large cave. It was almost formed to look like a dragons skull… Walking towards the mouth of the cave, the knight begins to notice translucent blue walls closing the gaps between each ‘tooth’. Gently pushing it with her armored hand, she notices the force against her palm. “Is this some sort of… magic wall? Maybe there's an opening or…”
A low grumble would echo throughout the deep cave, it was dark so Clorinde wouldn't be able to see anything, but she takes her hand back and stumbles a bit. Putting a few feet between her and the opening of the cave.
“Get out of here. I have no business with you mortals, you've done enough to me and my daughters.”
The tall woman's eyes widened in shock, hearing the voice was haunting enough but.. this dragon, he had daughters? She looks in the cave once more, using her magic she was able to conjure a small ball of electricity. Using it as light to see how deep the cave went, and despite being able to hear the voice so clearly the cave was so long, maybe the dragon had his own magic to make his voice travel? No matter, she had to find a way to get into the cave without harming the dragon.
Clorinde begins to walk around the entrance, taking notice of the design in the middle of it, alongside what lied at the center of the design. It was almost like something belonged there, a crystal sort of shape? She paces around trying to think of anything she could use to break the seal, while doing so she ends up by some rocks beside the cave. Digging around for a little while mostly just finding normal rocks.
Then, picking up an almost circular stone Clorinde brings it to her face. Studying it for a few moments and deciding to break it open with a hammer she had stowed away in her stash of necessities. Finding a flat rock to place it down on, the knight gently begins to tap on the rock before bringing it down, and with one good slam the rock had been split in two.
It glistened in the light of the sun, while it was blue it was like small rainbows danced inside each shard of the geode. Grasping it in her palm gently, she stands and places the hammer back into her bag, making her way back towards the entrance.
“I hope this works…” she mutters to herself, holding up the geode and placing it in the slot, turning it as if it were some sort of key.
The blue wall would transform into water in response, almost like rain before they eventually made a puddle. Clorinde stands there stunned for a moment before picking up the geode that had fallen onto the ground. Lifting it up towards the sun again and noticing that it had suddenly gotten cloudy.. feeling droplets on her face and realizing it had started to rain. Quickly stuffing the crystal into her bag she begins to move deeper into the cave, the walls decorated in art. Looks like they were made by kids… and then there's the crystals growing on the sides of the cave walls, big and small. As it got darker in the cave, Clorinde summons that ball of electricity again for light, this time grabbing a stick with wrappings on top to make a torch. Lighting it she would hold it in her hand, now noticing the amount of water on the ground. It was almost like two streams on either side, even a few ocean creatures had taken a liking to the water.
The violet haired woman would stop in the middle of it all, taking in the beautiful scenery and heartwarming art adorning her surroundings. She felt so oddly welcomed here… how could a bloodthirsty heartless creature live in a place so full of life and joy? Something had to be off, this whole mission felt wrong and it only continues to feel worse as she goes on. Though the dread and guilt eat her alive the more she thinks about it… was this right? Killing another whole being for the satisfaction of some royal? What even was the reason, just to show off? What am I even thinking? Why did I accept this mission this is just cruel—
Her train of thought is cut off by the echoing sounds of sobs booming through the cave, they were still somewhat distant but she saw light. Increasing her speed the knight would make her way towards the noise, it took a minute or so before reaching the source of the sobs and light. Peering into a rather large “room” of sorts, noticing the sobs had stopped.
“Hello? Is somebody there?” she calls out, finally seeing a large reptilian in the corner of this makeshift cave. Only illuminated by a sort of glowing algae on the walls, and the dragons bright lavender eyes, following the knight as she approached. Clorinde stops when she feels a deep rumble in her chest, echoing throughout the cave as the dragon spreads out his large wings.
“What did I tell you…” He snarls, turning to face the knight with his wings completely opened now, making him appear a lot bigger than he actually was. Clorinde goes to speak but the dragon growls again, opening his mouth to roar but he’s interrupted, the sound of feet echoing through the room as two fuzzy short creatures run up to the dragon with paper in hand. “Daddy! Daddy look! Me and Aeval drew you!” A short purple one would exclaim, bouncing up and down while the blue one, presumably Aeval appeared more nervous.
The tall male would tense up, not knowing how to react for a moment before his wings closed, kneeling down to look at the artwork as a smile beamed on his face. “Oh girls, these are lovely… I’ll hang these up but you two must stay in Merusea, you know how dangerous it is above water…” he sighs, walking to the wall of art Clorinde must’ve missed due to the others wingspan. The more she sees the more she regrets even coming here, removing her helmet and holding it under her arm. The two creatures would turn and see the tall woman, their eyes lighting up as they take her hands. “Dad who’s the pretty girl? She looks human, we haven’t seen humans in forever!” The purple one would bounce up and down, while the blue one seems rather skittish. “She.. isn’t here to hurt you is she dad?”
“Girls step away from her, she’s not a friend!” He runs and rips the girls away, running behind Clorinde and setting them down, telling them to run and they follow. The dragon whips his head back, snarling as his tail lashes violently. “Tell me who you are, and why you’re here…” He stops, looking at the knights face and noticing her rather beautiful features, her face seemed so soft yet sharp. Her eyes glittering almost like jewels, but this is no time to observe her features… except that now she’s smiling.
Clorinde softly laughs, hand on her hip and looking rather relaxed, waving her hair out of her face. “Clorinde, knight of the Hydro kingdom. What about you?”
“… Neuvillette. My name is Neuvillette.”