"Hi there! Welcome aboard the Callas Line Aquabus! I'm Muirne, your guide for this splashy Ride!"
"For those returning to the Court of Fontaine—welcome back! We hope your journey was a pleasant one. And for our first-time visitors from Plaisir, a warm and heartfelt welcome to the Court of Fontaine, the crown jewel of our nation!"
"If you've got questions, need help, or just feel like chatting, don't be shy—me or the staff members are happy to help!"
"She's got a lot of energy, huh, Sis?" Lucien whispered to Clorinde.
Clorinde nodded in agreement, too busy munching on a piece of cake to reply.
"Now, please remain seated until we come to a complete cozy stop. And if you drop anything, don't dive after it—just give us a wave and we'll grab it for you!"
As she chatted, the Aquabus glided smoothly along the aquarail, skimming across the sparkling water.
"In just a moment, you'll get a fantastic view of the Court of Fontaine on my right—get your Kamera ready! Oh, and if you want all the hottest news, don't forget to subscribe to The Steambird!"
Lucien held his breath as he took in the breathtaking sight.
The Court of Fontaine rose in the distance, its massive outer walls gleaming under the sun. Though he couldn't yet see within the walls, the grandeur of Fontaine's exterior alone left him in awe.
Oh, and look—he can just make out another aqua line in the distance, stretching in a different direction toward some shadowy structures, though it's hard to tell from this far away.
"See that other aquarail way off to the left? That one's the Navia Line! It goes straight to the Opera Epiclese—that's where we hold all our trials and, of course, the plays! Both are super entertaining, but I recommend catching a trial—they can get pretty spicy sometimes!"
Trials? Entertainment? And spicy, too? I guess this is their version of TV dramas—how interesting. Now he was curious to see one of these trials firsthand.
"Alrighty, hang onto your hats! We're heading toward the back of the magnificent Palais Mermonia! That's where Monsieur Neuvillette's office is located. It's also home to our Archon—Lady Furina, the Hydro Achron of Fontaine!"
Lucien perked up at the mention of an Archon.
Furina… That name didn't exactly sound godlike to him. And who was this Neuvillette fellow?
He pushed those questions aside for now, turning his gaze back to the breathtaking building as the Aquabus began to slow, gliding toward the grand silhouette of the Palais Mermonia.
Home.
Fontaine was his home now. And he wasn't alone, with his sister at his side, and with their wildly irresponsible guardian who had no idea how to raise children.
With all that, he felt something warm inside—a quiet certainty. Like this was where he was meant to be.
And for the first time in a long while… he could say he was happy.
He stole a glance at Clorinde, his sister. Whether or not this body truly belonged to him, one thing was certain: he would watch over her. That was a promise.
As for this place… it was his home now. And he was willing to protect it—with everything he had. If he was going to spend most of his time here, he might as well serve this nation with pride.
Many might call that foolish, but he didn't care. He wasn't chasing piles of money, though, hey, a little extra wouldn't hurt. Still, just enough to live comfortably was more than enough for him. What truly mattered was living a happy, peaceful life.
But then, a sudden shiver ran down his spine, as if someone—or something—was watching him.
He glanced around, but he didn't notice anything odd.
Shrugging it off, he turned back and waited, ready for the next chapter of his life to begin.
His dark blue-purple hair flowed with the wind as he stood there, eyes closed, taking it all in.
"Master, something's wrong with my brother," Clorinde said, pointing at him.
Lucien opened his eyes. "What?! There's nothing wrong with me. I'm perfectly fine—just enjoying the wind on my face."
"Like a dog?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He choked on his breath. "You—! I'm not a dog!"
From the shadows, an unknown figure watched the two children clash, their playful scuffle growing wilder.
"Curious…" the voice whispered, laced with a chilling undertone, her gaze sharp and unblinking as one child tackled the other.
The boy's soul is not of this world—the original has vanished to the ley lines, and in its place lingers one unbound to this world.
"How interesting, indeed."
This was not her doing. She held no dominion over the threads that bound worlds, nor the power to draw wandering souls across them.
Another issue.
What would become of that foreign soul when death comes?
Would the ley lines reject him? Would he be left to drift… lost and aimless in a land not its own?
Then… there was a question—who, or what, was capable of such transgression?
Only one possibility came to mind: a Descender.
She had seen firsthand what Descenders were capable of—and that alone was reason enough to warn the others.
With Phanes still in slumber, unaware of the circumstances, they would need to remain ever cautious.
As for the soul from afar… she would leave him be.
Unless instructed otherwise by him.
With one final glance, she vanished without a trace.
Both Lucien and Clorinde found themselves soaked from head to toe, their little scuffle ending with them tumbling into the water, just in time for the Aquabus to arrive at it.
Clorinde shot him a deadly glare, her eyes sharp enough to make him flinch.
Oh, she was definitely plotting her revenge—after all, he was the reason they ended up in the water.
"Alright, you two, we're heading into Palais Mermonia to get your identification papers sorted," Petronilla said, leading the way inside.
Without a moment's hesitation, they both grabbed their belongings and ran after her, entering the massive building.
Okay, if I had to rate this building, it'd be a 10/10—an absolute masterpiece. Honestly, it kind of makes America look like a third-world country in comparison, no joke.
He looked around, observing all kinds of people in uniform, while standing in line for what felt like ages.
After a while, they finally got to some real paperwork, though no last name was required. Still, if he had to pick one, he'd probably go with Chevalier. It had a nice ring to it.
Maybe down the line, he gets himself a last name.
"Alright, now that's settled, let's get that sword forged for you so you can finally stop borrowing my spare," Petronilla said.
Lucien's eyes lit up with excitement—he was finally getting his sword! And maybe, just maybe, he'd get to properly fire his gun soon, too.
"Brother, prepare to be defeated," Clorinde said, her gaze like daggers.
"Yeah, we'll see," he replied, matching her glare.
"Save that energy for your training. It starts soon, before sunrise," Petronilla said, her tone serious.
"Yay," Lucien said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as they stepped outside.
What the hell? What's all this commotion about? Lucien wondered, eyeing the huge crowd, most of them waving kameras around.
Curious, he edged closer, trying to catch what everyone was shouting about.
"Lady Furina, Lady Furina!" the crowd shouted, eagerly calling out to her to grab her attention.
"Lady Furina, when will your next performance be?" they asked, bombarding her with questions like journalists hounding a celebrity.
Lucien couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Isn't Furina supposed to be an Archon—a god?! And yet here they were, treating her like some kind of superstar, there even people scrambling to get her autograph.
Then something lit up in his mind — this was his chance to see a god up close!
Without a shred of hesitation, Lucien dove headfirst into the crowd, squeezing and weaving through the sea of people like his life depended on it, determined to catch a glimpse of what a god looks like.