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95.37% Genshin: The Serenity System / Chapter 103: Side Story: In that memory...

Capítulo 103: Side Story: In that memory...

Somewhere deep in ruins far beyond the reach of humanity, where shadows cling to every crevice like living entities, a lone figure sat silently, immersed in a report.

The darkness wrapped around him, as if it possessed its own will, stubbornly refusing to reveal his face. Only one thing defied this oppressive shroud—the radiant, golden blond hair of the figure. It stood out, a symbol of light resisting the encroaching blackness, an icon unmistakable... though no one else was there to see it.

The figure raised a piece of paper, eyes slowly scanning each line with a measured intensity. His gaze was sharp, dissecting every word, but as time passed, he released a sigh—not one of disappointment, but something deeper. It was a sound weighed down by emotions too tangled to decipher.

"I can't be wrong this time..."

He muttered under his breath, fingers clutching the fragile parchment. The words seemed to echo, swallowed quickly by the surrounding silence.

He let go of the paper, its significance lingering even as it fluttered to the ground, disappearing into the inky black.

Still veiled in shadow, the figure leaned back and withdrew another sheet—this one older, more weathered. Its edges were tattered, bronze in color, but the markings remained discernible, etched in time.

A slow breath escaped him as he began reading the ancient text again, as if he had recited the well-worn verse countless times.

"He soared on wings of gilded dreams, beyond the frost, past silver streams. An ambition dared, a heart undone, he flew too close, and embraced the sun."

The depiction on the parchment became clearer, and showed an enigmatic figure holding a gun, charging into the unknown under the command of a distant crowned figure. There was something unnerving about the figure's devotion— a fervor tinged with madness.

"His devotion burned bright, his feathers tore, he tumbled down, and was seen no more."

The imagery shifted, and the figure was now falling into an abyss, watched by those above with reluctant pity. In the descent, another figure appeared, one with elongated ears, offering a flower to the falling soul. Together, they vanished into the darkness.

"Lost to time, a name erased, a fleeting echo, swiftly replaced."

Beneath the words, the scene unfolded further. Underneath an enormous, white tree, the fallen figure rested, clutching a shadowy object to his chest as if it had become its vessel of containment. Suns and moons cycled endlessly beyond the branches, chasing each other in a futile dance of light and dark, signifying the countless days and nights.

"But somewhere in the dark below, a buried ember starts to glow. Forgotten in darkness, in shadow yearned, he rose again, though none discerned."

The final image etched into the old parchment showed the figure stirring, the darkness it once held now coursing through its very being. It rose from its forgotten grave beneath that ethereal tree, eyes alight with an ambition far more intense than before, returning to a world that had long abandoned its memory, replaced.

The blond figure then closed his eyes after finishing, his breath catching as if the words weighed heavier with each recitation. When he opened his eyes again, they gleamed, a deep gold reflecting like the flicker of distant stars.

He studied the cryptic allegorical verses again, but this time his focus lingered on the nameless figure— the one long erased from the minds of history, yet still alive in the echoes of this ancient poem he held.

"You flew too close once... And now you return..." The blond man murmured, his voice low and reflective.

"Not to fight... but to grasp at the thing you desired most of all— peace."

He leaned forward, resting his hands on the aged parchment, eyes closed in silent contemplation. When they opened again, his gaze shone brighter, revealing the familiar pair of golden bronze eyes.

"This is the new name you gave yourself," he continued, his words soft yet piercing. "But the name you once held... will be forever engraved in the memories of those once close to you."

His lips parted, voice low and laced with finality.

"Isaac..."

The name hung in the air, familiar, yet strange. It carried with it a weight of meaning beyond the simple syllables. A name tied to a presence that haunted his thoughts— an anomaly. Yet there was always something more.

"No..." he shook his head, his expression tightening, unseen behind the shadows. The truth was deeper. He knew it now. They had met before— long ago, when the world had looked very different.

The name that resided in the deepest corners of his memory was not Isaac. It was the one whose tale was etched on this very parchment.

"...Icarus."

His words fell like a stone into a silent well, ripples unseen but ever-present.

The name he uttered... It was the boy from the land of snow who had given everything in service to a winter sovereign. The one who had flown too close, not for ambition, but out of loyalty so fierce that it eclipsed his own self-preservation.

At the mention of that name, the blond figure released a breath— not of pain, but relief. A sigh as though the burden of history had finally shifted.

"May you find peace in what you love most."

The man carefully folded the ancient parchment, tucking it away with carefulness.

Then, he stood, turning his back on the dark ruins around him. His golden hair caught the faintest light as he gazed into the dark abyss— a civilization long buried beneath this forsaken chasm.


next chapter

Capítulo 104: Honorary... what?

"...it's snowing."

"Huh?"

"Outside... It's snowing."

Inside the cafe, the soft-spoken Freminet spoke as he gazed out of the window of the cafe.

Out there, in the streets, tiny white specks barely noticeable to the human eye were falling to the ground. They were few, but given enough time, they shall soon pile up the streets of Fontaine.

Isaac, who was brewing a cup of coffee for a customer, looked outside and saw what the young diver was seeing. He soon hummed after studying the phenomenon.

"Yeah... Guess winter has officially begun. Which reminds me... Freminet, do you still go diving these days?"

"No, I don't. Fontaine's waters get unbelievably cold once winter comes, as such, many divers stop before or after the first snowflake of the year."

"Well, that makes sense. This is the nation of Hydro, after all. Diving in those conditions... is just blatantly dangerous."

After saying this, Isaac returned to his job. As he gently stirred the cup in his hands, he couldn't help but think to himself.

'Winter, huh? That... has a lot of business opportunities.'

Thinking about those cold, shivering people, the thought of opening his cafe to them to offer warmth and relaxation gave Isaac a fine idea for the coming days. Although some people might still hesitate to enter, he would still reassure them.

After all, even though his cafe is now a high-class establishment, he still always welcomed people from all walks of life. He had seen it grow to what it has become now with the same principles, and he won't be changing those principles anytime soon.

However, it was not only the people Isaac was thinking of. His eyes narrowed as he grinded a new set of coffee beans.

'Winter...'

For some reason, that word lingered in Isaac's mind for a bit. There was just something about it that makes him a bit melancholic, or rather, emotional.

Isaac was an emotional person, he has to admit that, but still, what he was feeling right now as he watched those tiny specks of snow dance outside made him feel as if something heavy was weighing down on him.

But soon, he shook his head.

'No... I should know very well why I'm like this.' He scoffed at himself, his eyes extending over to the rest of the cafe.

'The planned moment is approaching.'

Everything was now set up. He had reeled in both parties that would ensure that his grand plan would succeed without too many problems, and had also finished preparing his part of the plan. Moreover, the best conditions, winter, had finally come— which would greatly aid him in his plan.

All that was needed to do right now was to set everything in motion... and Isaac could finally realize his plan.

A better tomorrow.

That plan would ensure that, even if he strayed far too off from the original course of events, Fontaine would still be able to handle the coming trials.

That was the plan he had created, and would have the greatest impact on all of Fontaine. What he had done until now was nothing compared to it.

'Now that I think about it...'

Realizing the conditions he had set up for the plan, as well as what was about to happen, Isaac let out an amused sigh.

'...am I not reenacting the infamous events that led to the fall of the French monarchy?'

Remembering that grim historical event, he wore a wry smile.

'No, this is different. I'm doing this with purely good intentions. Moreover, the results of this plan have been thoroughly calculated. Even if something goes wrong, it won't be too serious since the Chief Justice is present.'

How could Isaac tolerate anything bad from happening from his plan? He simply could not accept it. That's why he implored the help of two people that would ensure the smoothness of the plan.

Nothing bad would happen.

Surely.

Shaking his head and escaping his stupor, Isaac forcefully stopped himself from thinking over such a grim matter further. He set those thoughts aside for now and decided to think about them later.

Turning over to Freminet, he brought up a new topic.

"By the way, Freminet, do you have any plans for the coming winter?"

The young diver looked up at Isaac and shrugged.

"Plans? Well... Father told us that she'd be increasing the difficulty of our training... especially for me. She didn't specify why, but we think that it's because she's planning something."

Isaac nodded.

"I see. She must be wanting to train you under the harsh conditions that winter brings..."

The two of them talked about Arlecchino freely without any discretion. Though, they did still hold their voice low to keep it from the customers present.

Isaac didn't know what Arlecchino told the House of the Hearth, but it seems like they now view Isaac as an associated informant. As such, he and Freminet could now talk freely without secrets.

Shrugging, Isaac returned to brewing.

"Looks like it's gonna be tough for you in the coming weeks, and from the look of it, your visits to the cafe might lessen."

Freminet lowered his head.

"That's right... I'm sorry, Mr. Isaac."

In response to this, Isaac chuckled lightly.

"Don't worry about it too much. Focus on your training first and be strong, my boy. You can always come by after your training for some rest and relaxation, you know?"

As Isaac spoke, he habitually patted Freminet's head, and, as usual, the latter let him do it.

Freminet then looked up at Isaac, his eyes glistening with resolve.

"Alright, I'll make sure to come by whenever I can. You can count on me, Mr. Isaac!"

"That's the spirit!"

Seeing the young diver gain determination to go through the trials his Father was about to send him to, Isaac curved up a satisfied smile.

He was just about to go back to his brew when Freminet suddenly followed up with a question.

"By the way... What about you, Mr. Isaac? What would you do for winter? Surely you're not planning to stay cooped up in the cafe..."

"Haha, don't worry— as much as I'd like to stay inside the cafe, in the comfort of my own home, I actually have quite a few things to do."

"Like what?"

"Well..."

Isaac lingered for a moment as an elusive smile started to form on his lips. It seems that he was thinking about something good.

Freminet watched as Isaac fell silent with a smile, his face gradually showing a faint red tinge.

That was the first time Freminet saw Isaac make such an expression, as such, he was visibly shaken. After all, in the young man's eyes, Isaac was the pinnacle of controlling emotions— so seeing him form an unbridled blush made Freminet somewhat amazed.

Then, Isaac turned to Freminet and continued speaking, his smile evidently positive.

"I think I'll be busy accompanying Furina."

"Lady Furina? Are you two after another case?"

"No, not really. Instead, we'd be spending time together."

Hearing this, Freminet stopped what he was doing and looked at Isaac confused. Raising an eyebrow, the young man asked curiously.

"Spending time together... Why?"

Isaac paused, trying to restrain his widening smile. But it was to no avail. Then, with a flushed yet proud expression, he smiled faintly at Freminet.

"Well, why not? After all... I'm her lover now, after all."

"...pardon?"

Isaac's words fell heavily to Freminet, who, for a moment, didn't quite process what he said. For a few moments, the two of them became silent.

Isaac remained unfazed as he continued crushing coffee beans, while Freminet looked at him with widening eyes of realization.

It was only after a few moments did Freminet break that delicate silence.

"That... You... Mr. Isaac... Are you serious?"

Isaac hummed, amused.

"Why yes, of course. In fact, we'd be going on a secret date tonight."

Freminet almost dropped the spoon he was holding upon hearing Isaac's words. Visibly shaken, he tried his best to remain composed.

"But... But... She's our Archon... How and why..."

Faced with Freminet's befuddled expression, Isaac chuckled. Seeing the young man look so perplexed about what was happening was... making Isaac enjoy the reaction.

Well, he did always liked teasing others.

"If there's a will, there's a way— and if you truly like someone, you'd go to great lengths to be with them."

Isaac tried his best to mimic a wise senior. Surprisingly, it worked. Satisfied with what he had done, Isaac then winked.

"Keep that advice in mind, my dear pupil. Who knows? Someday, that advice might help you out."

With those last words, Isaac patted him in the back before he returned to tending the customers of the cafe, leaving Freminet to look at him with an addled expression.

"But... She's our Archon..."

It seems like the young man was still having trouble digesting the information, though.

---

"...?"

"Hee-hee!"

"..."

"Hee-hee!"

Inside the Chief Justice's office in Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette, who was handling a few documents just a few moments ago, looked at the intruder who was now giggling to herself in his office.

He lingered for a moment, his sharp eyes studying Furina's strange behavior as she giggled to herself while looking far in the distance, as if imagining a scenario.

Then, after some time, the Chief Justice spoke.

"...Lady Furina, could you care to tell me why you are currently here?"

Hearing this, Furina shifted her gaze to him and curled up a smile.

"Oh, it's nothing, my dear Iudex. I am merely here to bask in the stern atmosphere of this office."

"You have never done such a thing before. Why now of all times?"

"Hmph, well, can I just make another excuse and say that I want to spend time with you?"

Neuvillette watched as Furina waltz around his office, looking at archived documents and organizing them.

For a moment, he almost believed her excuse— if not for the fact that she was distracted by a thought and was happily smiling to herself.

After a while, he spoke.

"It can't be that simple, surely. You must be wanting to tell me something, if so, be done with it. As you can see, I have far more important matters to attend to, and..."

"I have a suitor now."

"...pardon?"

Neuvillette, upon hearing this, raised an eyebrow as he stopped what he was doing and looked at the figure of Furina who was looking at him proudly.

He observed her for a bit before speaking.

"Although you had many suitors in the past— and have rejected them all without exception— what makes this one any different?"

After uttering this, however, Neuvillette instantly answered his question. Instantly, a wave of realization fell on him.

Looking at Furina, his sharp eyes narrowed.

"Wait. You... Are you, perchance, talking about..."

Seeing Neuvillette figure it out, Furina curved up a smile. Sitting down on one of the couches, she nodded.

"Indeed, it's Isaac."

"But he's a human, and you are a God. Suppose that you two do get together, but what then? Your life span..."

Hearing this, Furina's expression softened, already expecting Neuvillette to raise such a concern. Then, she uttered an analogy.

"Neuvillette... Do you live to see the end of each day, or do you live to experience the wonders of the day?"

"But..."

"Do you know? Isaac already told me about it. He knew that our differing life spans and status stood between us... Yet he persisted."

After saying this, she closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. She then opened them again and gazed up.

"That fool... He said he wanted me to experience the happiness that I deserved. Even if I rejected him, he'd still find a way to make sure that I would feel appreciated. He was so adamant about it, be it past or present."

Then, she looked at Neuvillette, he'd expression soft and content.

"So... Why not? I liked him too... So why not experience love for the first time?"

"I deserved that much, don't I?"

Hearing her reason, Neuvillette closed his eyes as he deeply contemplated. For a while, he didn't know what to say. Then, after what seemed like an eternity in his mind, he looked at her.

"If you truly wish to pursue this... Then I can only offer my best wishes to both of you."

He lingered for a bit before quickly adding more.

"But as an ordinary bartender... His status might not match yours and might cause unrest among the people. Even if his cafe is prestigious, that does not change the fact that he's still a normal citizen."

"That doesn't..."

She was just about to retort him, however, Neuvillette wasn't done talking.

"As such... I, with my authority as the Chief Justice of Fontaine, shall grant Mr. Isaac Alder the honorary title of Lochknight."

"A... Lochknight?"

Furina was aware of that term. In the ancient past, Lochknights were a group of knights who were charged with the duty of protecting Oceanids. They were also one of the rebel groups led by the Lochknight Erinnyes to resist Remus' rule over Ancient Remuria.

After Remuria's fall, however, the group disbanded and took their own paths onward.

Remembering this in context, Furina gazed at Neuvillette.

"Lochknight... Did you specifically pick this title because..."

Furina was originally an Oceanid before being granted human form. As such, given the context behind the Lochknight title and who they were supposed to protect...

It was essentially a title that says Isaac was devoted to Furina.

Neuvillette nodded.

"Indeed. With this, the common people should immediately understand what it implies."

"As such, this title shall now be granted to him effectively."

And that is how Isaac, unbeknownst to him, was knighted.


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