An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
99 Years, 11 Months, 27 Days
Cloud Retainer gripped her hairpin as she felt it suddenly pulse, the gem glowing faintly as a tremor of power rippled through her. Each stone pulled from the hide of Rex Lapis was unique and gave off a distinct tactile melody when resonating with another gem. Even from half a city away, she felt the gem in Unbound Flame’s ring ripple through the air, pinging off Xiao’s amulet before bouncing off hers.
What is she doing here? Cloud Retainer thought. Curiously, she flicked the gem, sending another pulse in response. Cloud Retainer had promised Focalors that only she and the Conqueror of Demons were in the city. Lying to an Archon rarely ended well for anyone, especially when a notorious reaper of divinity showed up unannounced.
She was about to return her attention to the swirling ball of interlocking gears and energy in the middle of the square when a woman in a blue garde uniform nervously approached. “Uh, excuse me…you are Madam Cloud Retainer, correct?”
“You are correct…may one be of assistance?” Cloud Retainer asked, her eyes drifting to a small group of officers that lingered a few paces behind the woman.
“Lady Furina would like you to meet with herself and the Iudex at the Opera at once,” the officer said, her hand resting on the butt of her pistol.
“One sees…and does your Lady send armed officers to deliver all of her messages?” Cloud Retainer asked, a chill of unease washing over her as she noticed another line of gardes on the balcony above the plaza, muskets cradled under their arms and all staring down at Cloud Retainer.
“Lady Furina will explain everything once we are at the Opera…b-but the Archon insists that you accompany me at once,” the officer said, growing more anxious the longer the conversation dragged on.
“Insists, does she?” Cloud Retainer mused, watching one of the musketeers flinch as she reached up to adjust the pins securing her hairpiece. “Well…in that case, one would be happy to accompany you.”
Cloud Retainer flicked her gem twice, paused, and then flicked it a third time before following the officer’s lead. A strong, steady pulse flickered through her hairpin, a sensation that Cloud Retainer knew almost as well as her own heartbeat. There were a handful of people that Cloud Retainer had known for millennia; people whose form she could identify in darkness and sense across great distances. She knew Rex Lapis was there before she turned to look at him, his tall frame sticking out like a mountain in the crowds of partygoers that surrounded him.
As the gardes moved to box her in, she saw his jaw tighten. Having the affection of a god was a heavy responsibility; if she so much as cried out he would drop a mountain on the entire Court of Fontaine or split the foundations of the earth. Cloud Retainer had seen the lengths to which he would go to in order to protect those he cared about, and incensed as she was, she didn’t want to spill any unnecessary blood.
Her god looked to her, and Cloud Retainer shook her head. Hard as his jaw was and sharp as his eyes were, he did nothing as the small pack of gardes passed him and led Cloud Retainer towards the Opera.
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