Tamed || Wriothesley x Reader

Chapter 63

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It was a sunny day over Fontaine, not a cloud in the sky. Everything felt lively, especially since today was a rather special day for the nation's Archon. People were everywhere around the city, preparing celebrations for Lady Furina's annual celebration of becoming the Archon, setting up various booths and other decorations around various buildings.

But of course, news was still spreading like wildfire everywhere about the Fortress of Meropide exploding underneath the waters.

It came as a shock to many people; especially those who had loved ones there. The Fortress was built many years ago, back when Fontaine had just become a nation, and now that pieces of it were scattered across the ocean floor and still being recovered, those who had high regards and official ranks over Fontaine were stressing about the situation.

Especially Neuvillette.

"Fourteen missing, two dead." Clorinde spoke, her voice as professional as it could be. "There are currently six search parties on different areas of the coasts keeping an active lookout for any survivors."

Neuvillette held a grim expression as his eyes skimmed over the report given to him by Clorinde. The uneventful day had happened over a week ago now--the chances of finding any survivors were slim. "And Wriothesley?"

She shook her head, her expression growing a bit solemn. "He is still considered one of the fourteen listed."

Neuvillette placed the report back down on his desk, letting out a small sigh. "Then let's-"

"Excuse me...?"

Both him and Clorinde looked back at his office door at the interruption, seeing as Sigewinne had poked her head inside. She looked more than just under the weather--she wasn't taking care of herself at all.

"Come in." Neuvillette nodded, clearing his throat.

She walked inside, her steps small and slow. It hurt his heart to see her so... down. Her once energetic and kind expression was morphed into a grieved and dark appearance, which only added to the underlying depression in the room.

"This is your fourth visit today, Sigewinne." Neuvillette spoke gently, "I'm afraid there's not much more I can relay to you."

"...I know." She replied with a cracked tone as she stood next to Clorinde. "But I was hoping you'd have some more news..."

Clorinde sympathized with her--she really did. But she knew as good as Neuvillette that there was barely any hope left after the days that have passed. "...Unfortunately, there isn't. I apologize, Miss Sigewinne."

Both of them could tell that she was still trapped in the first stage of grief; denial. Though deep down she knew the truth, it seemed that she only rejected it the more she was told. "...Nothing new, huh..."

"I'll be sure you're one of the first people I tell if anything new occurs." Clorinde said, trying to keep her tone light. "I'm sure something will happen soon."

Sigewinne didn't seem to take that lightly at all. In fact, it only appeared to make her look worse. "...Okay."

"In the meantime..." Neuvillette spoke, addressing Clorinde. "Let's deploy another team to search the deeper waters surrounding the sight of the explosion. But have them looking strictly for signs of others, not for the damage or collections."

"Understood." Clorinde nodded, "I'll be joining one of the teams myself after organizing one for that purpose."

Silence fell over the room again, giving Clorinde the chance to depart. Now that it was only Sigewinne and Neuvillette, he gazed at her with nothing but sympathy in his eyes. "...I know this is hard on you, Sigewinne, but I can promise you that I'm doing absolutely everything in my power to find him."

She let out a slow exhale, closing her eyes for a moment before reopening them. "...He's gone, isn't he?"

Neuvillette's breath slowed as her teary eyes met his. He was never good with handling emotions, as he could barely handle his own, but he knew to never disregard the chance of hope in times like this. "...No, he isn't. We both know him as a strong and good-willed individual, Sigewinne. I'm sure he's... alright."

"And Y/N..." She choked, tears streaming down her face. "...I tried to save her, I really did, b-but she..."

"I know." Neuvillette spoke softly, feeling his own sadness start to well up inside him. "...I know."

She sobbed, realizing all hope was lost. She knew from the moment Neuvillette hesitated in his words that what she had been trying to avoid was coming to the surface; the truth.

"...I'm sorry." Neuvillette said.

And that was the confirmation she needed.

— Later —

"We've covered ninety percent of the ocean that we can obtain access to. Nothing has turned up."

Clorinde stood on the coast with a few other Gardes, drying off her hair from the dive and search. She let out a low sigh at the Gardes' report, nodding her head in understanding. "It's been nine days now, a day past the official declaration. I'll go ahead and call it."

"Understood." The Garde replied, nodding his head as he approached the others.

Clorinde sighed once more, feeling lost within the situation. Fourteen missing, two dead. That would now turn into sixteen... dead.

"Miss Clorinde." Another Garde approached, his face grim. "Excuse my... straightforwardness, but it is likely that those fourteen are dead, correct?"

She gave him a grim expression of her own, nodding her head. "That is correct. It is Fontainian law that after searching for eight days and the individual hasn't been found, then they must be declared deceased."

"It's just that..." The Garde hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "I found something strange during our search."

"...If you discovered something, why did you not say anything sooner?" She questioned, crossing her arms.

"I did, but it was brushed off by the majority." He replied, "So I took the liberty of recovering a piece of what I found."

She watched as he pulled out a small shard from his pocket, the color resembling something of ice. Taking it from him, she inspected it thoroughly, her mind raking over possible answers. "...This would have melted under normal conditions if it was simply ice."

"So it's possibly a crystal of sorts?" He asked. "Meaning it's nothing of importance..."

"I wouldn't say that." Clorinde responded, "I can feel something emitting from it. More than likely... this was the result of cryo."

"You mean... a vision?"

Her face hardened as she looked back at him, her expression growing stern. "Quickly tell the others to put their suits back on. You will direct us to the source of this shard."

"Y-Yes, of course." He nodded, scampering away towards the group of Gardes.

Clorinde watched as he alerted the others of her command, returning her gaze back to the shard in her hand. If what she was thinking was right...

Perhaps there was hope.