Droplets that fell (for you) [Wriolette]

The undying raindrop, human cursed by immortality

Three figures ran through the dusty ruins of the underground Fortress. Most inmates had luckily managed to escape but a few got stuck or died under the rubble. The Fatui hadn't attacked the humans directly and their motives for the attack are unclear.

"Help!" A woman's voice was heard somewhere. The trio quickly changed routes as they heard the woman stuck under some scraps. When she saw them, a relieved expression bloomed on her face, "Thank the gods!"

"No worries, we're here to help you," Navia said kindly and grabbed her hand to pull her up. She set the woman down to sit and let Sigewinne take a look at the leg. Navia turned to Clorinde and voiced her worries, "We can't find the hall at this rate, everything's a mess."

Clorinde and Navia had hidden from guards when the execution had begun knowing they did not want to witness it. That way they had stayed far from the place that had exploded and didn't even have a scratch. Wriothesley had given Sigewinne to them when he had left for Neuvillette back then not wanting to let her see it either. Now the girls were on their way to look for people who got stuck, Wriothesley, and Neuvillette.

"The injury isn't too bad. I put some medicinal salve in your wound and bandaged it so you should be alright for now," Sigewinne talked to the woman politely and got sincere thanks back. The woman decided to rest in place for a while before leaving to the surface so Sigewinne turned back to Clorinde and Navia.

Clorinde reassured Navia, "We're going to find them." Navia smiled a bit but it was hard to force any more smiles.

The woman heard them chatting and asked, "You're looking for the hall?" The trio turned to her and nodded. The woman looked concerned, "If you're looking for Neuvillette's body you must be quick. The guards are planning on burning it later."

Clorinde's brows furrowed, "You saw it up close?" Any information was crucial at this point.

"Yes, I did. I was too close to the railing and that's why I didn't manage to escape before getting stuck. I have to say I don't want to think about it right now, my hair is still standing cold," she shivered and hugged herself.

"Did you see a black-haired man anywhere? We're also looking for him," Navia piped in and asked with urgency. The woman's expression changed at the mention of him.

"Wriothesley? Everyone knows him around here by now, I've met him and Neuvillette before. Back then Neuvillette had just come down here and I was a bit scared when he came up to me but he was just returning something I dropped. We chatted for a while and he was truly endearing and Wriothesley was with him then."

The woman's expression changed to that of sadness when she continued, "It hurt to see Neuvillette get that fate but it hurt even more when we all saw how desperate Wriothesley was. People were busy evacuating but I couldn't help but glance back. I couldn't help but shed a tear for them as they reminded me of when I lost my daughter."

The trio extended their sympathy to the woman and also dealt with their own sorrows. They couldn't possibly imagine what Wriothesley had felt back there. The fact that the woman had not mentioned Wriothesley's escape either tinged their heart but they had already expected it.

The woman sighed, "Woe them... The hall is a bit further from here in that direction." She pointed in one direction in the rubble. The trio thanked her sincerely and wished her well before she stopped them again, "Wait!"

"What is it?" Clorinde asked and the woman reached for something in her pocket. She took out a glowing wolf badge with a few scratch marks on it.

"This fell from Mr. Wriothesley's pocket. Somehow the cracks came on it by themselves in my hand, I'm not sure what caused them but it's still intact," she said and handed it to the small Sigewinne who came to take it in her own hands. She inspected it carefully and sensed something within it. It was unlike anything she'd ever encountered.