Into the Light, Once Again | FOCALETTE

part 2

"You should not have bothered yourself with this. Your visit is more than enough, Iudex."

Old Lady Fu said after she received the box of medical herbs Neuvillette procured an hour before his visit in the Jade Chamber.

Neuvillette shook his head lightly. "I'm ashamed to visit empty-handed. Besides, we haven't seen each other for so long, Lady Fu."

"Right," Lady Fu nodded in agreement. She had a gentle look on her face as if she was reminiscing about the old days, and Neuvillette somehow understood her sentiment.

"How many years have passed?" The old lady began to muse. "I could still remember the first time I welcomed you in the Jade Chamber. Although it has been decades ago, seeing your face made me think we have just only met yesterday."

Neuvillette joined her in her nostalgia, and smiled as he instantly recalled the very scene Lady Fu was describing.

He nodded. "Hm, it still feels like yesterday for me as well. You bear the same energy and elegance you had on that day to this day."

Lady Fu suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "My, where did you learn how to flatter, Iudex?"

"I assure you I still haven't learned that," Neuvillette also chuckled.

As their conversation stretched on (with a couple of changes of topic and tons of drinking tea), the time didn't feel long and rather short for Neuvillette.

Eventually, his time to depart has come. The lunch was sumptuous and filling, much to Neuvillette's appetite.

Lady Fu's hospitality has never changed. Neuvillette made a mental note to bring Fontaine specialty dishes with him on his next visit.

After his lunch with the Tianquan, Neuvillette took his time to head to the next place. He still had 30 minutes left until his meeting with the director of the Opera Troupe, Miss Su Ji.

The street had become more bustling with crowds as the day of Lantern Rite draws near.

Most people Neuvillette passed by had a lantern or two on their hands. He couldn't help but think about buying one, but on second thought, maybe he shouldn't yet. The lantern might end up damaged while trying to weave through his crowd.

Considering that possibility, Neuvillette looked away from the lantern stall and proceeded to walk faster.

When he got out of the busy street, only then he slowed down and walked at a leisure pace.

He spent a few more moments sightseeing the Liyue Harbor from afar. Opening his pocket watch, Neuvillette decided to end this rare moment of simple leisure.

Arriving at the Heyu Teahouse, Neuvillette greeted Miss Su Ji of the Opera Troupe.

The beautiful 30-year old lady is the current director of the Opera Troupe, who's also the in-charge for today's performance.

It was her third time meeting the Iudex of Fontaine, but she was still impressed every time she met Neuvillette, who always had an air of elegance around him.

"Thank you for taking off some time to visit us and watch our performance. We'll make sure to give our best performance as a compensation." Su Ji said with a confident smile on her face.

"How have you been, Mr. Neuvillette, by the way? Are you finding your stay here in Liyue enjoyable?" She then changed the topic naturally.

Neuvillette easily gave a nod. "Liyue has always been hospitable to me. Everything is a lovely sight."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Then the lights on the stage turned off all of a sudden.

Everyone immediately whipped their heads on the stage after that. Neuvillette also looked towards the stage, anticipating the beginning of the performance.

"Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don't cry."

His eyes immediately widened upon the familiar words he always hear back in Fontaine.

A bit of excitement and a tinge of nostalgia were all he felt at once. Neuvillette continued waiting for the performers to appear, only to fall silent at the sight of a performer... who looked exactly like her.

"Foca...lors."

Neuvillette didn't realize that he called her name out loud.

"Pardon, Mr. Neuvillette?"

Su Ji somehow heard him utter something, but didn't quite clearly catch that.

Neuvillette looked a little bit confused when he glanced and shook his head at Su Ji. He replied, "I am just thrilled about the performance."

"Ah, yes," Su Ji couldn't help but smile sheepishly after she thought that he was still talking to her.

'He must've recognized that it's inspired by a popular tale in Fontaine,' Su Ji thought.

Focusing on the performance again, Neuvillette began to wear a relaxed expression on his face, although on the inside he was hardly relaxed.

He needs to get a grip on himself and stop hoping that the performer is the Focalors he knows.

After the introduction of the female performer, another performer, a male, came out.

He had the same long white hair as the female performer, only that his hair had blue on its tips.

The male performer, who somehow resembled his appearance, stood quietly across the female performer as she smiled at him with tears on her eyes.

Gradually, bubbles appeared around the female performer until it completely hid her person from the audience, as well as from her fellow performer.

Unlike how the bubbles appeared in a gradual manner, the female performer vanished within a matter of seconds.

The male performer, who had reached out his hand as if to stop the female performer from disappearing, was left silent and unmoving.

A few seconds later, uncontrollable sobs erupted from the man as reality began to sink on him.

The girl she loved was no more.

The curse that had been plaguing her finally claimed her, turning every fiber of her existence into nothingness.

That was the beginning of the play. The next parts were about the Hydro Dragon and the girl who resembled his first love.

All that time, Neuvillette silently watched as his past life unfolded before him.

The weather outside began to grow dark and gloomy, much to people's dismay.

30 minutes later, the performance was finally wrapped up. For the sake of formality, Neuvillette stayed for a few more minutes to compliment the performance and the performers.

After that, Neuvillette left the Heyu Teahouse with an incredibly heavy heart.

The rain then started to pour down along with his tears.

'What a terrible timing to be sad.' Neuvillette thought as he wiped his tears, frustrated that he was also ruining other people's day.

He mindlessly walked in the rain, completely alone in his own world.

Neuvillette only stopped when someone tugged his sleeve.

Lowering his gaze, he saw the female performer who played the role of the heroine.  The girl who looked exactly like Focalors.

To his surprise, the girl smiled somewhat sadly at him.

"Take better care of yourself, will you?"

She closed their distance as she shared her umbrella with him.