The icy halls of Snezhnaya echoed with the clatter of Arlecchino's heels. The Knave of the Fatui, her crimson coat a stark contrast to the frosted walls, stalked towards the House of Lamentations. News had reached her of Furina's transgression.
Furina, once the Hydro Archon, now a human pawn hidden within the Fatui ranks. A fascinating, infuriating puzzle Arlecchino had taken a peculiar interest in. But defying orders? That was a different story.
The heavy oak doors groaned open, revealing Furina kneeling in the center of the sparsely furnished room. Her once-celestial eyes were downcast, a stark contrast to the fiery defiance Arlecchino had witnessed before.
"You disobeyed," Arlecchino stated, her voice a cold caress.
Furina flinched, but met the Harbinger's gaze. "There was an injustice. I couldn't stand by."
A cruel smile played on Arlecchino's lips. "Justice? A concept unbecoming of a pawn, Furina."
The tension crackled in the air. Yet, a flicker of something akin to...admiration sparked in Arlecchino's icy heart. This defiance, this flicker of the divine trapped in a mortal shell, was strangely captivating.
"Perhaps," Arlecchino conceded, her voice softer than usual. "Tell me, then, what justice demanded your disobedience?"
Furina spoke, her voice quiet but strong, detailing the transgression, the abuse of power. As she spoke, Arlecchino listened – truly listened – a rare occurrence for the Harbinger.
When Furina finished, a heavy silence descended. Arlecchino paced the room, the click of her heels the only sound. Finally, she stopped, her gaze fixed on Furina.
"A pawn challenging the game," Arlecchino mused. "Intriguing. However, a pawn who disrupts the board risks removal."
Furina met her gaze unflinchingly. "Then remove me. But know this – I will not be a silent pawn, manipulated for your ends."
Arlecchino stared, a strange warmth blooming in her chest. This audacity, this defiance...it was unlike anything she had encountered. A spark of something akin to respect ignited within her.
With a sigh, Arlecchino broke the silence. "Very well, Furina. You've made your point. This time, I'll overlook your transgression."
Furina rose, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "Why?"
Arlecchino smirked. "Perhaps because," she said, her voice softer than Furina had ever heard, "a pawn with a will of its own is a far more interesting piece to play with."
The air crackled with unspoken possibilities. The icy halls of Snezhnaya held a new tension, not of fear, but of a strange, simmering intrigue. The pawn had challenged the Harbinger, and the game had just begun.
