Chapter Text
It all happened on a normal day.
At least it started out as a normal day. The sun rose like it normally did, when it normally did. People went about as they normally did. Going to work. Going to School. Opening shops at their normal times. Getting their regular customers. Children playing in the streets. Groups walking down the streets. Like any day before the flood.
After what happened with the prophecy everyone of Fontaine was happy to still be around and not submerged in water. Furina left and so did the Traveler with Paimon. Of course they all rebuild what they needed to but luckily there were no deaths on the other hand many were hurt, it was all just destruction of property, considering how it could have gone everyone was not to upset about it.
When it happened everyone got up, thankful to still be around, people were smiling more so than normal. After all, the trial of Furina revealed a lot of things. Things people couldn't even imagine. It was all the talk as the people waited for the water to finally recede. Of course people were curious to if their "sins" were forgiven considering none of them had dissolved. It was all people could talk about.
Even after the water finally receded to it's rightful spot people talked about it. When it was seemingly over there was some people who weren't able to join the others in resting, because the question came, was that truly it? Is it over?
Thanks to the Steambird and their fast work it helped give rest to many people. Settling many minds.
And with the flood no longer hanging over everyone's head they can all finally rest. Finally continue. To rebuid what was lost. Which was mostly buildings, maybe some small things that were washed away but nothing that couldn't be replaced.
Then in the afternoon that all changed. A month after the flood. When things had settled. When the flood could be considered nothing but a natural disaster.
Wriothesley walks step by step, not fast but not slow either. Enjoying the sun hitting his skin, the fresh breeze from the water they are surrounded by. The faint scent of grass from the very distant hills. He walks around the Opera Epiclese down to get to the Aquabus station. He's no different than the others in Fontaine.
Did he makes plans in preparation for the prophecy? Yes. But that doesn't mean he wasn't as worried as everyone else was. He's as glad as anyone else that it's over. But he's the Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide, so he's got a lot of work to do to make sure everyone is okay. And he is sort of alone as most attention is on the overworld rather than a bunch of criminals. So he's doing what he can to make sure everything in Meropide is working smoothly.
He's early for his meeting with Neuvillette. Both are working so hard since the prophecy passed. Even though no one got hurt there is still things they must do. And considering Neuvillette has taken over for Furina (whatever it was she did) he's more busy than usual. Not like Wriothesley doesn't have his fair share of work himself. It's only been one month and yet it feels like it's been forever. Barely having time to send each other letters. And when they do exchange letter they are short and more of a heads up on what going on in the overworld. A friendly heads up. And Wriothesley does appreciate it.
But now it's time for a face to face meeting. With things finally settling. Wriothesley is excited, happy for any excuse to go into the overworld and feel the sun, smell the air and see a friend. A friend he has a crush on. A crush he doesn't think to much about. He's sure Neuvillette needs a break from all his work. If he's over working himself he's sure Sedene is worried about her boss and father figure.
He's on the bus just making it out of Marcotte station when he sees it. Multiple streaks in the sky. Deep red in the sky with a white tail. Wriothesley blinks because he's unsure if he's seeing what his eyes are. He's not the only one. Elphane and a couple of passengers on the bus are staring just as wide eyed as he is. Right there, making streaks across the blue sky, so many of them. Five or six from a first glance. A meteor shower is Wriothesley's first thought. He never thought he'd see one. Especially not one in the middle of the day.
Wriothesley steps closer to the edge of the aquabus. There's something wrong with the meteor shower. They don't seem as far as one would expect from something running past their world. Then like to answer his unasked question one of the rocks flies towards them, well not them per se, just Fontaine in general. It's getting closer, scarily close. A large rock flies past them, going over their heads and flying straight towards the horizon, Wriothesley can imagine it making contact with Sumeru lands. Maybe the desert and dunes, or the forest. But, while in thought, another of them flies by them but closer, hitting the mountain in the Balleau region. It's hard to see fully the damage done but it look like it hit the mountain hard. Enough they can feel the ground shaking. Wriothesley wouldn't be shocked if it destroyed the aqueduct. Or Poisson. He wonders if everyone is okay? He's sure the people of Spina, especially Navia are doing what they can to make sure everything is alright. He has no say in what's going on over there, he also doesn't think anyone would want his help. The flood was different, people were desperate and he had a large ship.
A piece of the meteor that hit the mountain had come apart, landing in the water. Wriothesley notice steam coming from where it landed. But it wasn't large enough, and it sunk in the water quickly. Maybe it didn't look big because he was so far from it.
To busy thinking about what just happened, no one on the aquabus notice they had reached the station. Wriothesley thinks for a minute then leaves the aquabus, continuing with his main objective. For all accounts it was just a weird incident. If it's something more he's sure Nuevillette would say something about it soon.
As he makes his way to Palais Mermonia everyone seems to be talking about what just happened. Makes sense, not everyday someone sees this. Wriothesley doesn't even know if he believes what he saw. It's almost unbelievable, but he saw it. But it's not like it affects him.
Yet.
Wriothesley steps into the Palais Mermonia, mind whirling with thoughts about what he saw. He wonders if there's ever been something like this happening in the past. And here he thought they were all done with prophecies, but this isn't a prophecy he's ever heard.
Wriothesley shakes his head, it's no good for him to try to think about it. He's just a warden, there's not much he can do about it. So with that he decides to focus on the meeting with Nuevillette.
Nothing much has changed in the Fortress, but it wouldn't be bad to go and see if Nuevillette needs help with anything. Sigewinne is worried about him so that's why he's really here.
Neuvillette would never tell him out right that he needs help or anything but after all this time he wants to believe he's got a good at read on Neuvilette.
Looking around Palais Mermonia people are talking but it doesn't seem to be busy. He gives a smile and wave to Sedene who is busy talking to a couple. It seems serious. She gives him a polite nod letting him know he can continue and walk in.
"Good afternoon." Wriothesley say as he walk in, heading straight to the Iudex's desk. He catches the way Neuviltte snaps his head up, being caught off guard. Wriothesley feels himself grin at the minute reaction. Any reaction from the usually passive man is interesting.
"Ah, your grace, is it already that time?" Neuvillette wonders, watching the man walk to him. Relaxing in his seat seeing it's Wriothesley, someone he deems as safe and not someone that he needs to be on guard for.
"That busy? Did you forget?" Wriothesley tilts his head. Eyes on the man. He knows Neuvillette can go days without sleeping and continue to work, he wont get tired or grow dark circles under his eyes like normal humans do. Which is why Sedene and Sigewinne worry about him. Wriothesley worries too. No one should work that much.
"I did not." Neuvillette says quickly in rebuttal. The duke just crosses his arms, raising and eyebrow. Neuvillette looks away, focusing on his work, trying to ignore the weight of those steel blue eyes. Wriothesley grins almost Chesiree like at getting the other man. It's cute when Neuviellette tries to lie, lie out of embarrassment.
"Alright, since our Chief of Justice is so busy, should I volunteer my time to see what happened at Poisson?" Wriothesley wonders, taking note of two large piles of paper. It's never ending. Something Wriothesley can understand to an extent. But even for him it comes to a steady flow. But that's the underworld, the overworld is different. And Wriothesley feels for his friend (are they friends? He wants to think they are but that could be wishful thinking on his part). There always seem to be something going on in the overworld. That is not something he will ever be jealous over.
Neuvillette snaps his head up, eye wide. "Pardon?" He wonders voice wavering. Wriothesley blinks.
"Y-you... didn't see... it?" Wriothesley asks. Nevillette stands from his chair. Well now Wriothesley feels bad. He was half teasing and half serious, willing to step up into Neuvillette's shoes just so the older man doesn't have to much on his plate.
"See what?" The Iudex questions. His narrow, looking at Wriothesley critically. And Wriothesley knows he can't hide it from the man. It wouldn't be right to hide it. Not that he would be able to. So Wriothesley gives Neuvillette his own look, serious and honest.
"Meteors fell from the sky. One seem to hit around Poisson, at least in the area. I was on the aquabus when it happened so I couldn't get a good look at where it landed." Wriothesley answers watching Neuvillette reaction. He didn't think the man didn't see it. But if he's been busy with his work he wouldn't have looked up. Guess he just assumed. Should have known when he saw Neuvillette not rushing to figure out if Poisson is okay. The white haired man may not seem it but he's got a large heart. He worries. Sometimes too much.
"I have to go." Neuvillette says rushing around his desk.
"I'll join you." Wriothesley joins in step with him. Neuvillette doesn't answer as they rush out his office, passing the the hall of desks and to the front door. The Iudex's mind going around, imagining the worst. This was not something they forsaw. "There wasn't just one meteor. I'm assuming the other nations got hit by them as well."
"Are you sure?" Neuvillette looks over his shoulder for a second to the duke.
"One look like it hit in the Sumeru nation. If I'm correct the desert area." Wriothesley says as they make it out the front door just as something rushes past them overhead. Wriothesley and Neuvillette look up with wide eyes to see another meteor rush past them. It's large. Both getting a bad feeling in the lower part of their gut. This can't be good. The two rush to the edge, following it with their eyes as it heads towards the Opera. Wriothesley eyes widen more, heart pounding in his ears as he watches.
It's like it all happens in slow motion as all he can do is watch from where he is. There's nothing can do.
But it doesn't hit, it lands in the water, still it hit close to the Fortress. "More?" Neuvillette questions, attention turning to another one going pass them, far enough it must be heading to Sumeru. Those two aren't the only rocks, there are more hitting, flying overhead. How many are falling?
"I- I have to go." Wriothesley looks at Neuvillette whose attention isn't on him, turning quickly away to get back to the station to catch an aquabus back. He has to push and run around as people are loosing their minds. That one was closer and that can't be good. It's one think to prepare for something that's happening, to be able to be calm under pressure. How can one be calm about something he never expected. For one thing to happen after the other. Things were suppose to be okay now.
He runs as fast as he can.
By the times he's on the aquabus he's taking deep breaths, waiting for it to get to it's destination. The air gets foggy. Or not foggy. The air is sweet. Fog isn't normally sweet. He doesn't have much time to think about it as he worries. Hopefully nothing has happened in the Fortress.
He's not too worried as he's sure his gardes and Sigewinne would make sure everyone is safe. But he's worried for his people. His workers, inmates and especially Sigewinne.