**CHAPTER 1**
The winds were harsh, rattling the windows as if the anemo archon had personally come to blow the whole region of Fontaine down. Clouds filled the empty blue skies with their gray hues which reflected off the water giving the whole region a dull and hopeless feel.
The soft patter of rain engulfed the empty void of noise growing louder mixing with the sounds of trees rustling and the waves beginning to roar. The once lively spur of people began to retreat, a few kids running around shouting, “Hydro dragon, hydro dragon! Don’t cry!”
The kids got dragged away by their parents into the nearest shelter that came into view leaving the buzzing grounds of Fontaine barren. The fountains shot water up in the air before coming down again to a nonexistent rhythm as it almost guarded the large building, the court of Fontaine, the Palais Mermonia.
The towering building loomed over Fontaine like a guardian, it was the guardian of their justice though. The place that the whole city is named after is upheld. Its magnificent stone structures looked like a wasteland in such a heavy rain the slate rocks weeping, along with the person inside, the person who sat in their office.
Despite not looking like it, the Iudex sat at his chair, long platinum strands of hair flowing over his back elegantly, blue horns following behind stopping short before his hair’s ending. At the end, his hair was tied loosely at the bottom held by a bow.
His front hair was mid-parted, the right side clipped back with a large turquoise feather, the left side falling over his eyes but still parted enough to see his lavender eyes. He wore a grim expression on his face though no tears fell down his pale complexion. The weather said otherwise about the Iudex’s mood.
Eyes falling over his papers, upon papers, upon papers, it could keep doing on and on, the Iudex inwardly sighed, taking his fountain pen to begin writing once more.
When would this cascade of work ever end?
Pausing briefly his lavender eyes lay upon a small letter that mismatched the whole formal writing of the other letters. The writing was a bit messier, akin to a doctor's note but noticeably better as it was readable. Picking the paper out of the stack, the Iudex held it between his fingers from the top as he read it.
‘Dear monsieur Neuvillette,
This is Sigewinne! I wanted to write to you because I haven’t been able to see you in a while and the same goes with Sedene. His grace said I won’t be able to accompany him to your next meeting. :(
Oh well, his grace and you do often discuss private matters so I guess it does make sense.
Also, there’s another letter attached to this.
DO NOT open it because it is strictly between me and Sedene.
Yours sincerely - Sigewinne’
The grey clouds immediately began to recede vibrant lights of a soft baby yellow shining through into the damp streets.
People began to walk out the streets of Fontaine again amazed at the short period of rain, usually, the weather would last an hour or two sometimes even a day but today it ended fairly quickly. Not that anyone was complaining.
The white-haired male’s gaze softened into a small smile, a small chuckle leaving his lips. Placing the paper down his mood was noticeably better.
Taking a blank sheet from a folder, Neuvillette allowed his pen to flow over the page. Each stroke was graceful and elegant, his words curving into a neat cursive reply back, to Sigewinne.
‘Dear sigewinne,
Hello Sigewinne, I hope you’re doing well. I will make sure that your confidential letter to Sedene.
I am sure maybe I can host a Melusine gathering that I’ll convince Wriothesley to allow you to attend so that we may meet again.
I also must thank you for reminding me about the meeting I had with Duke Wriothesley. Work has been stressing me out so much I believe I might be forgetting some stuff now.
Stay safe and just because I’m going to try to hold this gathering doesn’t mean that you’ll 100% go, however, I will do my best to convince Duke Wriothesley.
Yours sincerely - Neuvillette’
