"Nod-Krai, huh...?"
Later that night, Isaac deeply contemplated the new quest issued to him.
To be honest, he didn't find it half bad. He gets to travel to another nation, learn a thing or two, and maybe set his thoughts straight and finally make up his convoluted mind.
Holding on to the ticket that was given to him that would allow him to instantly arrive at Nod-Krai, he took his moment to contemplate.
After a while, he finally came to a decision.
"I guess a little break won't hurt anybody..."
Surely being away from his café for a few days or so won't cause anything bad to happen. If anything did, he was quite confident that it won't be serious.
Surely.
His eyes shifted and looked at the pale moon hanging outside in the night sky, unobscured by any clouds, shining in all of its full radiance.
"Nod-Krai, huh?"
A land teeming with primordial forces as old as phlogiston itself, and even older than the current elemental system. One that utilized the power of the primordial moons themselves.
It also housed many people from all walks of life, from varying regions such as Inazuma to even Fontaine. No matter who they were in the past, once they were in Nod-Krai, they would be free to do whatever they wished.
Such is the benefit of an autonomous region. Of course, with it comes an equal downside.
Humming to himself for a bit more with his face resting on his palm, Isaac soon stood up.
"It's decided then. I'll take a few days off and find this supposed mentor figure... and hopefully get help with my thoughts."
"But before that..."
He then turned and looked at a certain part of the Court of Fontaine, the Palais Mermonia.
He then smiled faintly.
"Gonna tell the missus first."
---
In the dead of the night, in the Palais Mermonia, the Archon of Fontaine, Furina, slept peacefully in her private quarters.
Her luxurious bed was excessively larger than her, and quite a few pillows lay around her.
Suddenly, the darkness around the room suddenly started surging without making a noise.
They contracted and gathered before eventually coalescing and solidifying into a form that resembled a human, rising from the floor beside the bed.
From the darkness, Isaac emerged.
"...oh."
But seeing his lover already asleep, Isaac paused.
He originally arrived here to discuss his plans with Furina, but seeing her already asleep way before her usual bedtime, he stopped.
'I guess it's also my fault for going here so late at night.' He lampooned inwardly. He then leaned closer to her. 'But...'
"Hnnh... hnnh..."
Hearing Furina's audibly soft breath as she slept, Isaac felt somewhat at peace. He didn't dare do anything to her while she slept, but just seeing her again today made him feel at peace, and that was enough.
Truly, how could he ever let a person like her go through that destined tragedy? She was far too precious to him.
He could never forgive himself if she was hurt.
That's why he has to take these necessary actions to ensure her happiness.
He reached out and held her right hand for a brief moment, before whispering gently.
"Sleep well, Furina."
He unfurled his fingers from her palm, and stood back up straight. Yes, this alone was enough, and he didn't need anything else but her fleeting warmth.
Just as Isaac was about to leave the room through the darkness, however, he suddenly heard a faint groan.
"Hnngh... Isaac?"
He shifted his gaze back at her and saw her still half-asleep.
Not wanting to disturb her rest, he quickly leaned closer and whispered gently, "I'm just a dream. Go back to sleep, Furina."
"..."
Furina's heterochromatic eyes were half-open, looking at him in a daze as if she was truly still in a dream.
Just then, she raised her pale white hand and held his face. And, without any ounce of fluster or shame present in her face, she spoke back to him.
"...Come here."
"..."
Isaac didn't know what to say. He wanted to refuse, but seeing how precious she looked right now, especially with her nightgown, resisting was a battle in and of itself.
He reigned his thoughts, thought for a moment, before appropriately replying, "I need to go."
"Are you... leaving?"
Her voice cracked midway, as if his words were a threat. Her grasp on him grew tighter, as if afraid that if she let go, he would slip away forever. "Don't go..."
"Stay with me... Come here."
Isaac didn't say anything immediately and merely thought about it for a few moments.
He truly wanted to go back now and let her rest, but seeing how much she wanted him to stay, as a man and as her lover, how could he ever refuse now? That would be rude.
As such...
"Alright."
He gave in with a soft sigh, removed his boots, and lay down on the luxuriously large bed.
The moment he laid down next to her, Furina wrapped her arm around him and brought him closer to her, burying her face on his chest, letting out a soft, triumphant giggle.
"Ehe..."
Isaac didn't resist it and let her do as she wished, seeing how she was practically half-asleep, merely letting out a soft groan. "Mmghm..."
Following that, he pulled the blanket over and covered the two of them, and wrapped his arm around her too.
"...Goodnight, Furina."
And so, the two of them slept under the same roof once more.
---
The following morning, Furina woke up with a light yawn as usual.
"Hawn~"
She did a light stretch on her bed while getting ready to start her day, when suddenly, she noticed something beside her.
There, a furrow was present, as if another person had been lying there not too long ago, and in the middle was a piece of paper.
"This is?"
Curious, Furina took the piece of paper and read it.
A few seconds passed in her room with nothing out of the ordinary. But just then, Furina's hands trembled.
"Going out indefinitely...?!"
Just now, her lover just dropped a letter saying he was going somewhere alone for an indefinite period of time, leaving his café closed for the time being.
This one sentence alone baffled and scared her.
The first man she loved in centuries, who she had grown attached to and cared so much for, was suddenly going who knows where without her knowledge.
Any woman in her shoes would know what emotions she was feeling right now.
Although she trusted her partner, knowing him, he would undoubtedly draw some kind of trouble to himself.
Worse yet, another woman.
And she already knew how natural he was with attracting them.
However, she reigned in her thoughts and tried to remain calm. This wasn't how someone like her should act.
"No, no, calm down. This is normal." She reasoned with herself. "Trust is an important factor in a relationship, is it not? That's right, I trust him."
"I can trust him..."
She then pulled out another paper that was with the paper she picked up. It was a Polaroid film, with an image of what seemed like Isaac and her on the same bed she was on right now, with him caressing her head.
Holding on to this picture, her face turned red faintly before speaking softly, "That's right. I know what kind of person he is."
"He will never betray me."
---
Meanwhile, in Nod-Krai.
- Thud.
"Five hundred cigarettes."
In a local bar in Nasha Town, Isaac placed a hefty sum of money down on the counter, eyeing the barista behind the counter straight in the eyes.
The barista glanced at the loads of cash placed down on the counter before looking back at Isaac. He then shook his head. "We don't have that much."
"Plus, although we normally don't meddle with our clients... Five hundred? In the morning? You might want to rethink this one, pal."
Isaac shrugged. "Worth a shot. Can I at least get a coffee?"
"It'll be ready in ten minutes."
"Got it." Isaac nodded. But he had three thoughts. 'I can do it in less than five. Step up your game, man.'
With that, Isaac walked over to a table and sat down, waiting for his morning coffee.
Truth be told, that five hundred cigarettes wasn't just for show. He originally wanted to buy that much to bribe some Fatuus stationed in Nasha Town, after all, a cigarette was complementary with the cold weather here.
Why? It was simple. He wanted to steer clear from their shenanigans. But alas, he has to postpone that endeavor.
Of course, that was not the only reason.
Sitting down, he seriously contemplated what to do now that he was in Nod-Krai.
"Someone with an unshakeable resolve..." He muttered to himself.
There was only one person in his mind who fit that description without any shadow of a doubt. One whose convictions are so strong that it challenged the very gods of this world.
Looking at the Fatui Recruiter at the sides, Isaac's eyes glinted for a brief moment. He then stood up, walked over, and with a courteous smile, spoke.
"How can I join?"
The recruiter scrutinized Isaac with suspicion. "Not just anyone can join. What's your track record?"
Isaac remained silent, and merely took out an insignia from his coat's inner pockets, and presenting it with the most concealed shit-eating grin ever.
"I don't know. But The Knave thinks I can be a good asset. Does that count?"
Isaac loves connections.