iustitians

[iustitians]

... Oh, they actually call him that? Interesting. From what he understood of humanity, "Hat Guy" did not feel like a fitting or appropriate idea for a name, but, well... he has been wrong before.

Neuvillette filed that away as a potential question for later, focusing instead on the situation at hand, most notably his chance companion's... less than enthusiastic response to the words of the scholar, who was likely regretting his choices in this moment. Sighing, he waved his hand lightly in a dismissive manner.

"Now, now, there's no need for such a violent response. Let's hand him over and allow Sumeru's authorities to handle this man, and decide on consequences for his actions." The scholar's eyes rose towards him with what looked like a glimmer of hope, and just then, he added, his tone more grim: "Of course, I will cooperate and testify as needed. The threat of someone experimenting on the Withering by causing it cannot be taken lightly."

Like that, the aforementioned hope was swiftly and brutally extinguished on the spot, as the man seemed to realize and understand that the Iudex of Fontaine of all people was unlikely to show leniency or downplay the severity of his actions.

---

For a moment, Neuvillette simply watched in silence as the guards took the scholar away, his expression reminiscent of what one may see in a kicked puppy. Once they disappeared behind the door of the Akademiya, he sighed quietly, turning to the other.

"Well, that was an eventful day, wasn't it? It was a chance encounter, but I'm glad I ran into you. I do hope I didn't get in the way too much."

He fell silent afterwards, debating silently with himself about whether or not to bring this up, but eventually, chose to go for it. The prospect of not knowing the answer felt more awkward than the question.

"If you don't mind me asking... Is Hat Guy truly what people refer to you as? All this time, I never got an opportunity to ask your name, and I'd like to know what to call you without coming off as rude. Hey, you does not feel appropriate."

Who Let the Akademiya Cook || Neuvillette & Wanderer

[iustitians]

His declaration seemed to spark some confusion and surprise at first, before settling as the Traveler appeared to realize exactly why Neuvillette did not feel a need for a Glider license. Once he did, the Iudex nodded in confirmation; the question posed prompted him to wonder for a moment, trying to reach to some past memories to answer truthfully, even if it may have been a casual, joking or rhetorical one. He still struggled to recognize these, and as such treated all inquiries with due seriousness.

"Hm, I don't recall ever thinking much of it," he finally presented as his conclusion. "Perhaps because, as you may have already noticed, the concept you call fun is still... rather foreign to me. As such, I've never thought of a Wind Glider as anything more than a method of transportation, and in that sense it is somewhat redundant for me." He paused here for a moment before adding, a hint of amusement in his tone and a sly smile on his face:

"I did, however, go through examination to determine that I do not qualify as a flying object in my airborne state."

(That was something, for sure. Alas, all are subject to the letter of the law, including - or perhaps especially - him.)

A Garde came to him with a stack of papers - reports of finished examinations thus far; upon saluting, he ran off to continue work. Neuvillette took a quick and well-trained glance, browsing them for three seconds before stacking them away and dismissing them for later. All was in order, and so they could wait until he was done with his pleasant conversation; he did not have many chances for those.

This, in conjunction with a few more participants still waiting before the Traveler's turn came about, gave the Iudex an opportunity to touch on something he took a note of - an unfamiliar emotion he sensed emanating from the young man for the first time.

"Have you wished for the ability of true flight? Or is it one you used to have, but no longer do?"

Starlit Azure Skies

(Neuvilette & Aether)

[iustitians]

It appears to be a morning like any other. No trials on the schedule for today, so the day shapes itself to be a more casual one, possibly spent entirely in his office without moving anywhere until the evening. With the sun coming down strong outside, this idea sits very well with Neuvillette.

He opens the papers prepared for the day and starts going through them one by one, just as he has done for the last five centuries. The talons of exhaustion and the fangs of time both seem forever unable to reach him, even as he, on his own, completes work that would normally require an entire cabinet of dedicated officials - and faster than they would, too.

Approve local festival funding, reject a form due to lack of signature, handle the forms trying to rent out Opera Epiclese for plays and spectacles for the rest of the year, sort case records for the trial in three days - one after another, documents pass through his hands, and it only takes him a few minutes to decide each one's fate. Review revitalization project draft, approve this, reject that, send the project proposal back for further review, wait for the corresponding papers for the next case - ah, there they are. As though right on cue, there is a knock on the door before Sedene walks in, the required and awaited papers in hand.

In the couple seconds she needs to approach him, Neuvillette takes a moment to process a detail his mind got stuck on. Not related to any of the matters he had been processing or intends to, however...

Though his mind naturally accepted her arrival in her office, given it was both natural and expected due to the circumstances and schedule, he realizes that he nearly failed to recognize her knocking. To humans, such a detail may sound silly, for who would bother with such things? Of course people can knock differently depending on the day or random factors...

But Neuvillette's ears and instincts alike tell every Melusine's way of being apart, and a single detail would be enough for him to pinpoint her identity on the spot.

This is... out of the ordinary. It is wrong, and if something involving a Melusine feels wrong, he is always quickly to react.

"Thank you," he nods slowly; his hand accepts the papers given to him, but his eyes ignore them entirely, fixed on Sedene instead.

"If you don't mind me asking... is something the matter? I had thought you only just returned from vacation, but you look more tired than you were before your break."

4th cup of coffee at 9am

[iustitians]

Neuvillette smiled softly - and a hint apologetically - as he quietly took the admonishment, before nodding. "I apologize for causing you concern. I do try to take breaks and rest as much as my work allows, and I assure you I'm in good health. I do hope the same goes for you - the feelings are mutual, as they always have been."

Of course, Wriothesley had assured him that, in spite of being the Fortress' sole nurse in an official capacity, Sigewinne did have assistance in the form of knowledgeable and experienced inmates; just as he would always claim and promise she was well, safe, and thriving in her job. The personal correspondence from her backed those claims, bringing Neuvillette some degree of relief - and yet, somewhere at the back of his mind, the concern for her well-being remained, ever since that faithful, rainy day all those years ago, when he first sent her down there.

For that reason, he wished to remind her that she was not the only one doing the worrying here. Still - she did look both healthy and happy, so he let the matter go for the time being, shifting his focus to the other individual present, who did not fit this description in full.

"A young one, huh... Yes, very cute indeed," he nodded his head a hint thoughtfully, taking a closer look. "However, I believe that there is something missing..."

"... Has he not found his shell yet?"

Serenity of the Seas || Neuvillette & Sigewinne

Otter Shell Search || @romaritime-flower || Commission Season: Abundance

[iustitians]

The recent days have brought a stream of good weather to Fontaine - or, at any rate, the human definition of such. As far as Neuvillette was concerned, a bit less sun and a bit more moisture would not hurt anyone, but of course, these were his personal thoughts that he could not really disclose to most people, and certainly not out loud. After all, they did not befit the definition of a "normal person".

... Setting aside the philosophical question of what defined normalcy, he supposed that, at the very least, this weather was beneficial to the recently announced and organized activities of utmost importance. Adventurers, Gardes and other people from all walks of life - everyone in possession of a Wind Glider license had gathered on the hills and mountains not too far from the Court of Fontaine to retake their examination, as ordained by the authorities and approved by his own hand. Fontaine was not the nation that had recently seen the highest number of unfortunate incidents or dangerous circumstances that led to increase in safety measures, but when the news reached them, joining the trend was a foregone conclusion.

As he walked around, chatting with an organizer here and there, a familiar head of gold caught his attention and brought a faint smile to his face - just as he, too, was noticed in turn.

"Traveler," he greeted, coming closer. "Good to see you. I see you're preparing to renew your license?..."

The youth's presence here, in conjunction with the decorative Wind Glider by his side, gave his question a somewhat rhetorical note; when it was reflected on him, however, he shook his head.

"Oh, no. I'm just a part of organizing and inspecting the area and the examinations, for the purpose of order and safety." He paused there, then stirred, realizing the unspoken question still hanging in the air after his previous words.

"I never had a license, so there is no re-examination for me to take."

Starlit Azure Skies

(Neuvilette & Aether)

[iustitians]

ooc; plotting call (Destruction)

New season, new prompts, you know how it goes. Here's what my trio would be interested in taking up this time around :3

Neuvillette ( @iustitians )

As far as the commission board is concerned, he will not be picking up much, but I think the Wind Glider exams prompt would be funny. I personally handwave Genshin's gameplay aspect where every playable character can use a Wind Glider and I honestly don't think he has a license. He hasn't... had much of a reason to get one. Maybe he can watch your muse training/taking the exam, and either they just chat about it, or maybe your muse ropes him into trying it (without the "I can just levitate" cheat, that is).

Dan Heng ( @renascinem )

I've mentioned it before, but as a reminder - with the exception of potential plotted interactions with the Express Crew or Amphoreus muses, I currently write Dan Heng's interactions with the assumption that they take place before the Amphoreus missions, handwaving the fact he's supposed to be currently trapped there.

Ochkanatlan exploration (requires Teyvat muse) - exploration? Research? Information? Dan Heng is in. Of course he will help look for the pieces of history Natlan is currently researching, but he'll be satisfied with pretty much any new data bank content that he walks out of here with.

Tsurumi Island exploration (requires Teyvat muse) - exploration? Research? Information? Dan Heng is in. Even if the time flow fuckery does make him a little alarmed. Well, if he can help solve it, he's happy to. At the same time, he's very interested in this forgotten piece of Inazuma's history.

Borisin refugee - he's wary, of course, a Borisin's a Borisin - but he'll watch over him, sure. He knows a thing or two about being judged simply for being himself, so he'll try, at least, to keep an open mind.

Exploring Empyrea - alarmed at the news of what had happened there, Dan Heng would have responded to the distress call to lend a hand in the search. While I'm happy to take this up with anyone, I'd be most interested in doing it with someone who took part in the lore event and can fill him in on what happened.

As always, all of my muses are also always open and happy to take up threads and interactions outside of the commission board.

Ping me in GH's plotting channel or DM me if you're interested :3

[iustitians]

It was not often that Neuvillette got to enjoy a longer break from work. More often than not, even when he did find an opportunity to get some time off, it was still a few hours at most - followed by a deadline or an item on his schedule that he absolutely could not afford to be late for or miss. To be able to leave and not be expected to return until the next day was a rare opportunity indeed, and one he believed he should not squander.

Though he did not mind working day in and day out and the mundanities of the Iudex' life left no sign of fatigue on him, he nevertheless enjoyed having a chance to avail himself to the peace and harmony found in wild nature.

And it was an especially rare gift to run into a certain person most precious to him in these parts - just like him, busy with her duties most of the time, and not blessed with many opportunities to visit the outside world. Neuvillette stirs at first in mild surprise at the unexpected sight, and yet, there she is - sitting on the ground beside a young Leisurely Otter, the animal looking somewhat sad.

Gladdened by the sight in some ways and mildly concerned in others, the Iudex comes closer - regardless of what is happening, it would be remiss of him to not greet his daughter.

"Sigewinne," he calls out as he approaches. "Good day to you. Is something the matter?"

Serenity of the Seas || Neuvillette & Sigewinne

Otter Shell Search || @romaritime-flower || Commission Season: Abundance

[iustitians]

The boy's good intentions are met with quite the blunt refusal, and Neuvillette cannot stop the pitiful smile that forces its way onto his lips as he watches the scene unfolding before him. Based on his previous human interactions, some would consider it funny, cute, or perhaps both; he recognizes the fleeting shadows of these emotions attempting to form within his heart, but they fade just as quickly as they appeared, without ever giving him a chance to grasp them.

Resigned, he abandons that train of thought, and instead swims downwards, towards the two.

"Hey now, it's rude to respond like that," he speaks to the otter, his voice gentle yet firm, akin to a parent directing a misbehaving child, but with no intention to berate or punish. "He was just trying to help."

The baby otter looks at him with a tilt of its head, before letting out a somewhat sad-sounding squeak and giving Misha a soft bump of its head against the boy's own, as if as a means of a playful apology.

Only then does the Iudex return to the question posed by Misha earlier, as he recovers the shell the otter had rejected. The gentle shifting hues of color are pleasing to the eyes, and bring to him something almost akin to a feeling of home; if the little critter does not want it, perhaps either he or Misha may hold on to it instead.

"The criteria by which the otters pick out their favored shells are known only to fate, I'm afraid. Not even they know at first exactly what they seek, when they set out on this journey - only when the perfect shell is in their hands do they realize it."

Will this premise of a road with no known end discourage the young companion? He does not know, but it would not befit him to be dishonest.

With their charge continuing the search, Neuvillette follows suit, gesturing for the boy to swim along as well. The sea of kelp soon comes to an end; green and gold soon give way to nothing but varying shades of blue, and just like that, it almost feels as though the water has grown a hint colder, even if, in reality, it has not changed temperature at all.

"Let's continue to the northeast for now," he suggests. "If we do not find it here, we may visit Loch Urania and the Weeping Willow - many otters find their shells in those waters."

bliss in blue

⏱︎ [ misha & neuvillette ] ⏱︎

[iustitians]

Neuvillette did not, indeed, catch it, and until Wriothesley spelled out the word jokes for him, he stared at the Duke with a - stifled and subdued as his emotions ever were, but noticeable nonetheless - mixture of confusion, horror, guilt and maybe a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. Only afterwards, as the realization dawned on him, the expression faded, replaced on the spot with a look of exasperation. And yet, also relief at the same time.

Understanding that His Grace was not, in fact, actually that upset with him and this situation that Neuvillette dragged him into he was helping Neuvillette with, his body let go of tension and relaxed on the spot, his eyes closed halfway and his lips pressed ever so slightly closer together, as he gave Wriothesley his third unspoken Seriously? of the day, which had to be some sort of record.

Leave it to the Duke to make jokes even in a situation like this. And yet, somehow... somewhere deep beyond his comprehension, he felt the breath of an emotion that proved too difficult for him to name on the spot. He knew only that it was refreshing.

It was only in situations like this that he truly got to feel firsthand just how unaccustomed he was to being offered help out of more than what he believed to be pure obligation. Was it still so? If not, when did it cease to be? He did not know, for it escaped his notice, possibly quite a long time ago.

You're no longer that outsider you were before, Wriothesley told him directly that one day, but Neuvillette was still in the process of contemplating these words - and, perhaps, too afraid to comprehend and face their true meaning.

This was something for him to dwell more on later. As the Duke posed his observation and question, the Iudex remained silent for a moment longer, his brow furrowed in thought.

"With regards to their goals, all I have heard was the spread of destruction and annihilation of life. Usually I'm inclined to think there is more to forces and factions presented a nothing more than pure, destructive evil, but... I have nothing to go on here." A case with no more evidence to present - forcing him to reach a verdict based solely on what little he had available, and simply accept the possibility that it might be inaccurate.

Whatever the case was, however, their hostility was without question, and had to be stopped at any cost. He paused for a moment as he rubbed his shoulder one more time - the wound was now completely healed, the damage to his clothes was something for him to deal with later. There was no point in wasting energy with optical illusions in front of Wriothesley; there came a point where one could no longer pretend nothing had happened.

He then continued.

"From my experience with them, if we could take out their leader - the one in silver armor - the minions are thrown into disarray and easier to round up. Its presence also boosts their power."

A light breeze passed by them, carrying with it tiny water particles, giving the impression that the air flickered or sparkled lightly, and it reminded him of something else that, at this point, he was probably fine admitting to the Duke.

"... Up until now, I've been mostly overpowering and drowning them. Something else I've found out is that none of them can swim, and after prolonged exposure to pure elements, they die and disintegrate."

He was not sure whether this was anything that Wriothesley could use to work out an idea, but it was the best he had.

When Dark Meets Light

Wriothesley & Neuvillette - Crystallize | Antimatter Legion

[iustitians]

The questions she poses are laced with fear, which of course he expected. Cannot claim to truly understand or empathize with, but he knows by now the natural reaction of humans about to face the unknown, especially in a situations like hers - dangerous yet necessary, life-saving and potentially life-changing as well.

In the face of her circumstances, he tries to aim for a mixture of honestly and at least some subtlety, albeit prioritizing the former.

"The energy and malice that plague you will be annihilated and cease to exist. The Sea's corrosion power may also be referred to with kinder-sounding words such as purification, although few purifying powers in the world are as ruthless in their effectiveness," he elaborates, a light sigh passing through his words as he speaks. The serenity and silence of Loch Urania listen along, the softest of breezes passing by them, as though trying to offer Kokomi a reassuring embrace as it runs its invisible hands along her shoulders. The air around them continues to glimmer gently, filled with the tiny particles of Sourcewater.

"If it has been... accompanying you for some time, speaking to you and influencing your thought and spirit, you will probably experience a sense of emptiness at first. If any of your memories were infected... they may also be lost, or become incomplete. But you reached to me not long after this incident occurred, so I am hoping that this hasn't happened." A few of the sparkling droplets begin to slowly congregate around him as he finishes.

"... Other than that, there should not be any negative side effects. The wound left behind will be able to heal. As for this empty feeling I mentioned... It will pass naturally over time, especially if you can surround yourself with a supportive environment and return to as normal a life as possible."

He looks at her more attentively afterwards; he will not begin until she declares herself ready, for now continuing to focus only on relieving her pain to what extent he can. She will need it, he feels, as he finally has no choice but to speak of his main concern.

"The purification itself should not be overly painful to you - what will corrode is the contamination, not you. My concern is that, if this malice tries to fight back, you will be the one bearing the brunt of that. Take as much time as you need to rest - you may need your strength for this ordeal."

Gaze of the Ancients

[iustitians]

The main hall is mostly cleaned up and dealt with by the time they return; last couple attendees present their documents and testimonies to the Gardes as they take notes, a few Special Patrol officers here and there look through papers and quietly discuss their observations; one of them is speaking with a member of Nahida's guard, as well. Some random participant seems to wish to speak to Neuvillette, but one look from him can silence the entire court room, let alone a single curious youth.

It does, however, prove not quite enough against Mr. Auguste, if the stream of accusations from the struggling man is anything to go by. Neuvillette stands still, hands behind his back as he listens; another might perhaps laugh or sneer in his place while hearing such pointless drivel, but the Iudex' facial expression is still, unmoved, giving the impression that the guy may as well be snarling at a wall.

Before he can answer, however, Nahida steps in front of him, and only then does the Chief Justice stir in mild surprise. For a moment, as she snaps and unloads her anger, a series of vague, blurry images pass through his mind in quick succession. Darkness, barriers, seals, more darkness, chains, darkness - it is unclear, and if he had not the context and knowledge for the Dendro Archon's past predicaments, it would have been completely confusing -

but he does, and in that brief moment, he comes one step closer to understanding her feelings on what this man did.

For that reason, he makes no effort to stop her; he needs not, anyway, for - just as she has always done - she regains control of her emotion on her own.

Only then does he move, offering her a small nod, before turning back to Mr. Auguste, his eyes just as cold and unfeeling as most of Fontaine believes him to be.

"We will speak of it at the court. I certainly hope you will prepare better defenses than just your social standing. Given the amount of evidence found in a matter of minutes, to which I was direct witness, you will need them. And if you can't..." He half-closes his eyes and lets the threat hang in the air unspoken for a moment, before he finally finishes, the words echoing akin to a prophecy.

"Down there, in the Fortress, to each comes what he deserves."

He gestures with his head towards Nahida to follow him, before heading towards the exit, indicating that the conversation has ended.

Shadows in the Court

[iustitians]

Promise to cover for them, huh. It would seem, then, that Lyney had some sort of plan or scheme in mind, that Neuvillette promptly thwarted with what one would call an unfortunately timed arrival; a conclusion strengthened further by the observation of the young man's not entirely enthusiastic reaction.

His first instinct in such a situation would normally be to offer an apology and remove himself from the area he had disturbed, but... To do that here, leave those Fatui to their devices, and have Lyney handle the situation alone? Much as the Iudex would never doubt the magician's abilities, it nevertheless does not sit well with him.

Many a time - too many - he has to sit silently in the background and allow a situation to take its course naturally, dealing only with the aftermath. Cold, unfeeling, uncaring - just like the letter of the law itself. In the face of personal tragedy, no one wants to hear his explanation of his inability to react; no one cares for claims of bound hands when they cannot see the chains. And so, he says nothing, withdrawing back to his office and merely picking up papers for the next case, ignoring the raindrops trickling down the decorative window.

Many a time, he is not permitted to do anything - so when a situation comes along that allows him to take action, it feels... unusual, almost unnatural, to the point where his first thought is in fact to just run. And yet, it feels even more wrong to leave it behind, when he knows exactly how the regret afterwards is going to feel.

With that in mind, after a brief deliberation, he nods. His options here must be weighed carefully.

"I'm willing to play along with that. I wish to get into the bottom of this situation and help protect the people of Inazuma, but of course, not at the cost of putting you in danger. Remain hidden if you need - and if worse comes to worst, you are welcome to claim to them that I forced your hand. I'll handle the situation from there."

(After all, the "role" of the antagonist is one he is well accustomed to playing.)

He pauses there abruptly, frowning lightly as an unpleasant feeling tugs at his senses; the tips of his horn begin to emit a faint cyan glow, and just then -

the deafening roar of thunder shakes the island anew as it strikes nearby, tearing the sky in twain. The air fills momentarily with the crying of birds and the flutter of wings as startled flocks flee the area. A strong gust of anxious, irregular wind follows right after; ruffling his hair, kidnapping the tails of his coat for a momentary yet wild dance, and nearly blowing Lyney's hat off his head.

The silence that follows this spectacle is suffocating.

"The flow of energy is being disturbed again," Neuvillette informs after a brief pause, though he is certain the young man could figure that one out on his own. "The distortion's source came from... there," he continues, pointing with his cane in the same direction where the Fatui earlier dispatched by Lyney had departed.

"I believe that would be our first clue."

　🌢　judgement calls.

crystallize , tatarigami.　⸻　neuvillette & lyney

[iustitians]

It is an admission made in a moment of weakness she exposes of herself, perhaps not entirely willingly - but Neuvillette lets go of it as soon as he catches it. "I know," is his only response, and the only explanation she most likely needs.

The sins of her people made against her were of no mystery to him, after all.

"That would be appreciated. I can help accelerate communication," he says, before a realization dawns on him, and he crosses his arms with a quiet huff. "I'll arrange for one of the more experienced judges to handle this case. After all... I will be the one prosecuting this time around, it seems."

When was the last time he did? A hundred years ago? Two? He finds it hard to remember for sure. The fabric of time is all too slippery in the hands of one who pays it as little attention as he.

But that is his problem to solve, not hers. Kusanali's request is met with another nod, aimed at both her and the concerned guard standing by her side.

"Of course. Let's go back up - the rest of your guard is likely worried by now, too. If you'd like to rest outside of the city noise, I can recommend some pleasant spots for you to visit at your leisure."

Shadows in the Court

[iustitians]

Neuvillette listens to her explanation carefully, taking in and analyzing each word. He does indeed know about the recent Tatarigami outbreak, what with the news brought through multiple diplomatic channels. A few engineers and experienced workers, such as Mr. Xavier, were dispatched to Inazuma in the fallout, to help reconstruct some damaged wards.

However, it would seem that it was Lady Sangonomiya who actually dealt with the root problem, at a cost to herself.

"Few would withstand the malice of a fallen god for more than a handful of minutes," he mutters quietly; whether to her or himself, it is a little hard to say.

He shelves, for now, the question on how she first found him and realized his identity so quickly; it was an inquiry for a better time, and one he could probably figure out the answer to himself if he wanted. Here and now, the important matter is figuring out how he can relieve and alleviate her suffering.

The answer comes quick and feels fairly obvious. The Primordial Seawater, which purges all filth of this world.

It would, likely, be why she sought out him and no one else, even if reaching out to them would not require a journey across all of Teyvat.

He closes his eyes; the tips of his horns and coat begin to emit a light blue glow as he summons his power to him. The azure leaves of the Weeping Willow and the other trees around them respond in kind, and a soft hue illuminates the area. The air grows in moisture as it fills with particles of the Sourcewater, hardly visible to a naked eye as anything more than particles glittering in the sun. A first step, for now merely aimed at hopefully giving her some relief.

She is not Fontainian - she is not of the Sea; but she is, nonetheless, a daughter of the waters, and should be able to find peace and escape in their embrace, even amidst the agony.

"I will try to use the Primordial Seawater to purify the god remains from you. If this works, you should be left with a normal wound that will heal naturally over time," he explains to her. "However, I cannot promise that the process won't be... somewhat unpleasant - the Sourcewater cleanses through corrosion and dissolution of the filth it comes across. Try to rest and gather strength for a moment first."

Gaze of the Ancients

[iustitians]

Kusanali gets to the prisoners and their cages, while Neuvillette takes his time to look around, his eyes - cold and calculating, just how most people of Fontaine know him - analyze the structures around him. What used to be a simple basement and storage of Hotel Debord had been transformed into a prison for those who had heard too much of the dirty secrets of the nobles organizing their lavish parties to celebrate their "grand achievements," seemingly right under the owners' noses.

Assuming, of course, that it was done without their knowledge.

The Dendro Archon's men soon arrive, accompanied by his own. As the leader of the unit reports to him, Neuvillette points to the disabled Gardemeks. "Shut them down for good. We will have to confiscate them and find out how a private person was able to gain access to them. What of the situation up there?"

"The gala has been shut down. Mr. Auguste and his lackeys were arrested. We've already found incriminating papers in his office and illegally acquired firearms in his men's possession. Other participants have been identified and are waiting for developments."

... Well, that is a few interesting individuals he will be, presumably, sending to Wriothesley in the near future.

"Understood. Well done. Get to work here now."

A few Gardes set out to do just that; the others begin to tend to the hostages. Luckily, someone happened to have water and emergency rations with them, which now come in handy. Neuvillette remains in the back now, aptly aware where his place is in these situations; before long, he is addressed by Nahida, and turns his attention to her.

"We will have them examined at the Court of Fontaine hospital first. Their health must be the first priority." He speaks loud enough for the Special Patrol to know that they are meant to hear this as well, for his answer to her doubles as their next orders. "We must also see about locating their relatives. After they have sufficiently recovered, we will take their testimonies... before the interrogation." He crosses his arms, his expression serious - the kind that intimidates even the most rebellious criminals into their proper place.

"Investigating nobles is always a particular pain, what with their connections - but we have our methods as well. I guarantee you that justice will be served, and the hostages cared for and compensated for what they had gone through." A pause, followed by a sigh, as he looks around again. "We will also have to investigate the Hotel itself. This place should not exist, not in this shape. We will have to find out what happened here."

He stops here again, before turning his full attention to Nahida.

"I should offer you an apology, Lesser Lord Kusanali. I do not imagine that this is how you imagined this evening to go. I am grateful for your assistance today."

It comes out a bit more stiff and formal than his previous words - but, nonetheless, sincere still.

Shadows in the Court

[iustitians]

Unsure just how much time on his schedule he should allocate to the matter that the Divine Priestess had raised to him, Neuvillette has, luckily, been able to ensure a whole free evening, night, early morning and even, should it prove necessary, time slots in the next days. When one was uncertain on the resources necessary, it was generally better to be overprepared than underprepared, as he has found.

From his last trial of the day, he takes a walk through Erinnyes to reach the agreed upon location. Many a tourist have been, in the past, lured into this place by the picturesque landscape stretching out into the north and west of the Statue of Seven - only to be forced to turn back by the dangers of the wild nature guarding carefully its secrets. Just as even the most placid of lakes can produce tumultuous waves when given enough reason, so too can the most beautiful of Fontaine's gems conceal an aggressive side that it reveals if provoked.

Loch Urania, in the end, welcomes only those accepted by him and his brethren.

Today, the Divine Priestess finds herself among those invited guests. As Neuvillette approaches, he soon spots the two figures waiting for him. The Melusine, upon spotting him, waves towards him eagerly, a smile brighter than the sun on her face - one he returns, even if he is not capable of equal radiance.

"Thank you for your help, Evie," the Iudex nods, patting her head lightly. "You're free to leave, now."

Evie nods in return with a giggle, waving goodbye to both him and Kokomi before she hops away. With that, Neuvillette turns his full attention to his guest.

To say she looks much worse than she did last time they met would be a major understatement. And it does not take him long to sense the potential reason, frowning as he does.

"... Infection of god remains," he mutters. "Is this the matter you came to me with? Please tell me what happened."

Gaze of the Ancients

[iustitians]

Though this is far from his first time seeing such a scene in person, what presents itself before them is a harsh reminder to Neuvillette that there is a considerable difference between hearing of the cruelties of those he sentences, and witnessing them firsthand. Nahida pauses abruptly as well, the moment of shock, horror and hesitation that prompts all her thoughts to briefly halt hitting the Hydro Dragon with a strange sensation, akin to a tide going backwards on itself.

He wonders if, perhaps, this scene reminds her of something.

Still, she regains her bearings once again, and Neuvillette nods in confirmation to her reassurance. In the cages, he notes that one of the caged hostages has realized their arrival; the Iudex moves sharply, finger quickly placed on mouth to command the man to remain quiet, no matter how desperate he may be.

With this matter settled, his focus turns to the Gardemeks patrolling the area, and a frown creases his brow as he focuses. The Pneumousia powering each of them is hardly a challenge to determine, between the golden hue of one type of power and the indigo glow of the other. For every machine, he silently shapes a blade of the opposite alignment - invisible outside of his mind -

at least, until it strikes.

White and gold sparks fly from each Gardemek as they abruptly cease any and all coordinated movements, replaced only by hopeless twitching, before they all crumple to the ground akin to puppets with snapped strings. The noise of metallic steps that filled the air before just a moment ago is replaced with complete and eerie silence.

Neuvillette gestures once again for the hostages - who, of course, have now all noticed the two of them - to remain silent, before nodding to Nahida.

"This is only temporary, but it will disable them for long enough for us to just shut down before they get back up." Just as he finishes sending this message, it hits him - an abrupt, strongly negative, shift of emotional waves above them.

"The Special Patrol has arrived and taken control," he informs her. "If you can, guide your men here - and have them bring some of the Gardes with them."

With that, he jumps down, light and agile in spite of his appearance, in order to examine the situation more closely.

Shadows in the Court