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“If only you had the complete authority over another element.”
Neuvillette wishes he could argue against that, reaffirm that nothing in Teyvat is capable of making him question or complain about his nature as a successor to the Hydro Sovereign, but he can’t.
Another shock travels down his body, violently making his muscles contract and even his vocal cords lock, only allowing him to let out a chocked hiss as he uselessly pulls at the chains keeping him in place, incapable of finding even the smallest piece of comfort by curling his body.
“Hydro is not so nice right now, don’t you think?”
He once more wishes he could say something, even defend himself, but his mind feels close to collapsing on its own as he continues seeing this horrible creature enjoying every single second of his suffering, relishing in the way electro travels across his body drenched in hydro worsened by his own distress.
The least Neuvillette expected to happen that morning while returning from Merusea Village was to get attacked.
The humanoid creature came down from one moment to another, striking down with a kind of spear that seemed to be made of electro and that left a crater where it landed. It barely gave Neuvillette the time to jump out of the way and block the next attack by raising a wall of hydro that at least weakened the speed and strength of the next hit.
He first thought he merely happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, an unfortunate situation of disturbing a dormant enemy with his own nature, but as the fight continued, he started to notice things here and there that said this wasn’t as normal.
It possessed a level of consciousness that didn’t even fit with the one shown by the smartest enemies, every single movement had a purpose behind it; calculated to reach a very specific thing and Neuvillette understood too late it was part of a plan against him.
It wasn’t the first time he was hit with electro, wasn’t the first time the electro-charged reaction had his muscles twitching and protesting in pain, but it was the first time it hit him so hard he felt he couldn’t breath. It was as if Neuvillette had turned into a Phantasm made of hydro that could only channel electro and had no chance of getting rid of it.
After that came a blow to the head that left him struggling to remain conscious, muscles still spasming under the current, but it had been useless. He passed out when that thing kicked him on the side and made his body fall all the way down the small slope he had been standing on.
He isn’t sure how long it passed between that and waking up again, he only knows life has turned into a nightmare.
He is kneeling, thick chains wrapped around his wrists and pulling his arms taut between the two sturdy rocks they have been bolted to, another pain securing his ankles to the floor. He can feel the rocks digging on his legs, crushing his knees and the tips of his fingers going numb for the lack of proper circulation, but it all is pushed to the back of his mind with the mind-consuming pain of his torture.
“No wonder your predecessor was so easily defeated,” it continues, the mechanical voice making his ears ring. “Being defeated and used as a power cell was a favour that spared you all from the humiliation.”
Despite the pain, Neuvillette does manage to glare at the creature. He can accept whatever this thing has against him, maybe accept the mocking words that try to ridicule everything he has done as Fontaine’s ruler, but disrespecting his species makes his anger towards Celestia burn stronger.
“You had to be a coward to… finally get me,” he manages to hiss out. “Couldn’t expect less from a servant of Celestia.”
Because that’s what that thing is. Nothing but a servant of his enemy that came with the purpose of killing or wounding him irreparably.
“What would you know?”
He isn’t really expecting the sudden spark of anger the creature suddenly shows. So far it has brushed off anything that has to do with who it is and who sent it, but this not only confirms what Neuvillette already knew, but shows it somehow is a sensitive topic.
Still, there’s no time to dwell too much on it, the tip of the weapon is pressed to his side and Neuvillette feels the current running down his body, his skin burning for the prolonged contact, his muscles once more tensing and contracting, making him believe they’re a step closer to finally breaking.
“Pathetic creature who thought could outsmart any of us.”
Neuvillette knows they actually were, Focalors outsmarted them and that’s why he’s a complete Sovereign now, but the otherwise moment of positiveness is clouded by the pain that reminds him of his current situation.
Defeated once more by the heralds sent for him, his full dragonhood only being used to ridicule his inability to defend himself.
Such a failure.
“Anyone who thought you would be good enough to do something is a fool,” it continues, further pressing the point on his side, soon piercing his skin. “Your own element is harming you!”
He fails to hold back the cry that mixes pain and anger, electro burning him inside with the thing now stabbing him. In response, the rain falls harder, falling on top of him from the strategic hole in the ceiling of the cave he was dragged to.
“If only you could use another one.
“No…”
“If only your full dragonhood actually meant something.”
Neuvillette isn’t someone prone to becoming irrationally angry, even with things that make his blood boil, he remains as collected and controlled as he can, only allowing himself to show a bit of what he feels with those extremely close to him, his Melusines and Wriothesley, in reality, but right now he feels the sentiment growing inside of him.
The anger at the disrespect reaches levels that even manage to dull the consuming pain so he can only focus on that sentiment. So many people rely on him, so many found comfort in seeing him as the new ruler after feeling they were lied to and deceived by their own archon, what would be of them if he failed? What would be of Wriothesley and his melusines? Of his friends?
“They will all pay for placing their faith in who they shouldn’t.”
And that’s the turning point.
He isn’t sure how he manages to deal with the pain as he manages to break the chain on his right hand and uses it to send his hydro to the creature still standing there thinking he’s a defenceless creature who doesn’t know any better. Neuvillette finds satisfaction in seeing it scramble to control the situation once more, in noting his big mistake, but he’s not about to let that happen.
Still struggling to get used to his powers as a full sovereign, still dealing with blinding pain, he makes sure to obliterate his enemy entirely.
That, however, seems to be his limit.
Each step is a struggle, the rain that normally brings so much comfort now makes him feel heavy, his feet can barely lift themselves enough to avoid tripping, the left one still dragging the chain he couldn’t break behind him; his arms are incapable of holding his cane, his right hand hanging limply at his side while the left tries to get a hold of anything that keeps him from falling to the floor.
Blood stains the water around him when he collapses to his knees on the edge of the small beach and Neuvillette’s lilac eyes stare at it as if he’s incapable of understanding where it comes from and what it means to him. His body still is shaking as if electro is still running down him and he can’t help but question if he will die.
He shivers when his hands make contact with his own element and his mind takes a moment to remember what he’s supposed to do, fearing the rush of electro will come in any minute. The emotions he lets flow into the water are probably fatalistic and will maybe send the one who receives it panic and think the worst, but he can’t bring himself to do anything about it.
He collapses into the water, disconnecting entirely from the work…
Unlike before, he finds no comfort in his own element.
°—°—°
Neuvillette doesn’t die.
Or at least, he hopes he doesn't as he wakes up and is received by a wave of pain that makes him hiss and bring his hand to his head, an automatic movement that ends up sending a new throb of pain from the tip of his fingers to his shoulder.
“No, no, don’t move Monsieur Neuvillette, please!”
The voice level is reasonable, even leaning to the soft side, but it still makes his head throb, yet another layer of pain that seems keen on making him feel as miserable as possible. Neuvillette is incapable of holding back the pained whine that forces him to open his eyes, regretting it almost instantly because the light of wherever he is seems to burn his eyes.
“You’re alright, we promise,” the same voice continues soothingly. “You’re at the hospital, no danger in here.”
As reassuring as that is, the pain and momentary blindness is everything his mind needs to feel the anxiousness that can only mean yet another enemy is coming to torture him further and the only thing keeping him from lashing out is the soothing voice.
“I’m here, Neuvillette.”
His panic, however, abruptly stops when hands take a gentle hold of his face, the colder touch not only grounding him but also telling him who he is there with him.
“W-Wriothesley,” he whispers, blinking until his eyes hurt just so he can see the face of his mate. “I-I…”
“Don’t get stressed, we found you, you’re safe,” he says, still holding him, his thumbs caressing his cheekbones. “Sigewinne tended to you, Sedene and Clorinde are taking care of the rest, just stay calm, yeah?”
It’s not a magical solution, of course, his heart still feels close to bursting out of his chest, anxiety telling him he can’t rest, can’t be calm because someone else will be sent to finish the job… but Wriothesley’s touch and presence is soothing, comforting, and his breathing starts to even after what feels like an eternity, but evens.
“What… how?”
“They sensed you, the melusines,” Wriothesley says. “They called me and we followed that trail until… we found you.”
He looks so disturbed while talking about that part that it makes Neuvillette’s stomach turn. When he steps back to sit on the edge of the bed, Neuvillette looks down at his body, finding the bandages around his arms, strange marks on certain portions of skin that are uncovered and when he rests his hand on his side, he feels something thick tightly wrapped around it.
“What happened, Monsieur Neuvillette?”
When he looks up again, he finds Sigewinne standing next to the bed, her eyes filled with worry as she clutches a blanket.
“Some kind of herald sent by Celestia attacked me,” he starts, closing his eyes because he can’t bear to see their expressions. “I… failed to defend myself.”
When he opens his eyes, he can see Wriothesley frowning, his displeasure more than evident at what he’s hearing, but he can’t bring himself to say anything because it’s the reality, the only truth.
“What kind of creature… we should look for it!” Sigewinne says, now more stressed than before.
“I ended it,” he admits with a sigh. “We do need to keep an eye for others, however… they could come.”
He hates to stress them with that, hates to be incapable of saying they will be safe because he will keep them safe, but he can still feel the electro, can still remember the defeat, the burn of humiliation.
“Then we will keep an eye on it, but for now, you need to rest,” she says, forcefully shaking her head. “Your injuries were serious, even with your abilities, they will need time.”
Neuvillette can’t help but look down at his injured body once more, flashes of the torture appearing on his mind. Something that doesn’t go unnoticed by Wriothesley who reaches to hold his hand in a silent way of comfort.
“I’ll stay with him,” he says. “You can go tell the other melusines and the rest that he’s awake and will be tended to.”
Sigewinne nods, moving to check on his injuries once more before extending the blanket over Neuvillette’s body, making sure nothing is left uncovered so he’s not cold. “We’re here for you, Monsieur Neuvillette, don’t worry.”
He only nods, he doesn’t really have the strength to add much more. “Thank you, Sigewinne, you’re always so caring.”
“Of course!” she smiles, her happiness doesn’t fully reach everything. “Anything, let me know immediately, yeah?”
Wriothesley nods, both having that level of understanding that doesn’t really need words. Neuvillette sees both probably agreeing on more things before she pushes a small table with things closer and sends both a slightly more encouraging expression. She’s still looking at both before closing the door.
“Want something?” Wriothesley asks when the silences left by her remain. “I can bring you the water you like.”
“No, it’s alright,” he says with a faint shake of his head. “I just… need you here.”
“And I’m here,” he says with a nod. “I’m tempted to never leave you again.”
Hearing his voice trembling due to the fear and seeing the pain in his face moments before he’s hugging him makes him feel the despair and pain that dominated his entire mind during that time rushing back to him. Rain is soon hitting the window, the loud noise making his body tremble as he holds Wriothesley back, that ringing noise of electricity filling his ears, ready to use his own rain to torture him further.
“Neuvillette—”
“It used my own rain to make the electro cause more damage,” he whispers, wishing he could stop the rain but instead making it worse due to his stressed state. “I can’t…”
Wriothesley lets out a shuddering breath in response and his arms tighten around him a bit more, still making sure he’s not hurting him, but as if he’s a kind of lifeline that will send him to his death if he lets go of it.
“You’re going to be alright,” he says, Neuvillette isn’t sure if he’s saying it to him or if it is for both. “I know you’re the strong Hydro Sovereign or whatever, but I’m not going through this again.”
“Wriothesley…”
“There was so much blood, the water was red and— I didn’t even want to get close,” he breathes out, pulling back to look at him. “I thought you were dead.”
“I felt close to dying,” he admits even when he knows that’s torture for him. “But it wanted to hurt all of you and that’s all I needed to do something, to keep trying.”
“Goddammit, think a bit more about yourself,” he hisses, but doesn’t really sound as if he’s scolding him. “I would be so lost without you, we would all be… so please don’t think like that again.”
Rebellious tears are running down his cheeks, tears he tries to wipe away with almost fury, his other hand still holding him close. It breaks Neuvillette’s heart and that worsens the rain which, in return, worsens his tremors as his mind tries to prepare for the electro-shock.
“I’m sorry…”
“Don’t,” he pleads, pressing a kiss to his lips. “I’m never leaving you, and we will get over this, together.”
Neuvillette nods, closing his eyes and burying his face into his chest, the noise of the rain too loud in his ears, making his entire body tremble but only being stopped by Wriothesley holding him once more, accommodating his large body on the bed beside him to keep him safely there.
“I’m sorry for being so weak…”
“You’re not weak,” he says as firmly as he can. “You’re still getting used to your own abilities as a full sovereign, there’s not a single thing inside your body that is weak.”
And he’s right, of course, but doesn’t really do much for a wounded body and mind. His only response is hugging him back, focusing on everything that has always turned Wriothesley into the unyielding support he needs.
The day he can rely on his element will come again…
Right?