Neuvillette's POV
For a second I felt anger flare within me.
How dare they-
To threaten a parent with their child's life-
To force them to die instead-
Phew...
I had to take a deep breath before I lost control.
While I had hoped this wasn't the case, the idea of it had come to me the second I had realized who this man was.
Now the biggest help would be for Sedene to contact me as soon as possible.
"Before coming here I sent someone to the surface to find your daughter."
My words immediately drew his attention, desperation visible in his eyes.
It's already been some time since then, so the chances of Sedene contacting me soon are high.
"My daughter...? Florentine? You found Florentine?"
That-
A flash of blue appeared in the air before me, startling everyone around.
I looked at the envelope floating in the air.
To Monsieur Neuvillette from Sedene.
The single line that appeared on the envelope was written in gold. As soon as I saw this my anxious heart calmed down somewhat.
Sedene writes with gold when she's happy.
This should be good news then.
"How your daughter is fairing, we will have to find out together."
I opened the letter and skimmed through it quickly.
This...
It wasn't all good news, but it should do.
I was prepared to read it out loud when a voice from behind me interrupted.
"If you're the one to read it, how is he to know that you are telling the truth?" One of the inmates questioned.
Some of them seemed to have started to realize the reason behind this whole thing at this point.
Hearing this question, I turned to the anxious father.
"If you wish, I can give it to someone else to read."
Relief quickly washed over him as he nodded. He then pointed to a young woman standing within the group.
I handed her the letter and after some hesitation and encouragement from those around her, she started reading.
"Dear Monsieur Neuvillette,
Miss Amalie has delivered your letters and I'm glad to say that the Marechaussee Phantom has found Miss Lemair and brought her back to the Palais Mermonia as instructed.
She is a bit frightened but otherwise unharmed. I took the liberty to allow her to settle down in your office as I deemed that to be the safest place with both you and Lady Furina away. I hope you will excuse the transgression.
Miss Lemair was not found with her designated foster family as we had first thought. Upon searching for them, the Marechaussee Phantom found both husband and wife who should have been in charge of her missing. Two piles of clothing were also found at the scene so as of now it is assumed that they were dissolved by water from the Primordail Sea.
Miss Lemair was found in an abandoned storage facility. Her two captors, both of whom had been armed have been arrested and locked away till further notice.
I will remain with Miss Lemair along with a few other members of the Phantom.
We will make sure that she stays safe so please do not worry and concentrate on the situation at hand down within the fortress.
Stay safe,
Sedene."
As soon as the last words dropped Terrance Lemair broke down crying.
"My Florentine... My baby girl... She's safe. My little girl is safe..."
It was now that I realized just how incredibly different a human's reaction is in this situation.
Had someone done this to my child, let alone think clearly enough to make a sacrifice like this, I would have lost my reason in an instant and I don't doubt the whole nation would have drowned along with the criminals.
In this sense, I suppose humans are better than dragons.
To be able to keep their reason in such a situation is commendable, to say the least.
"Will you still be blowing up that valve?" I asked.
Surprisingly, the man burst out laughing amidst his tears.
"No, no. Definitelly not. Thank you, Monsieur Neuvillette. Thank you so much..."
Well.
That situation was resolved much quicker than anticipated.
"Uhm... Monsieur Neuvillette?"
I looked back up at the man now sitting on the edge of the large lamp looking somewhat hesitant.
"Yes?"
"Coming up here was supposed to be a one-way trip so..."
Ah...
He cannot get down.
After a moment of thought, I braced myself and jumped over to the lamp, startling him quite a bit.
"Monsieur?"
"While I find the option to wait for someone to come and get you down from here more favorable, it does seem safer to dispose of the bomb as soon as possible."
I reached my hand out to him and he placed the detonator in it.
Now for the bomb...
I should get rid of this as soon as possible.
And what a good idea this turned out to be.
The second I reached for the explosives I felt a fluctuation from within.
In just a few seconds I drew the man behind me with one hand and threw the bomb into the air with another. Instantly, a layer of hydro surrounded the bomb, rendering it, for lack of better words, completely useless as it exploded.
But that wasn't the end of it.
Following the first explosion, three more followed.
Three that I wasn't able to stop.
No!
The other three valves were blown to pieces and water started flooding in.
"Monsieur-"
"Quiet."
I need to concentrate.
I had to stop the water and I had to stop it now.
Three strands of blue extended to the valves and soon three seals were created, stopping the flow.
So even if Terrance Lemair ultimately decided not to go through with it they had a plan B.
To know that he had given up they had to see what was happening...
My eyes immediately shot towards the group.
While most were cheering because the water had stopped, there was one...
One man who was frowning, anger evident between his brows.
Found you.
I turned back to the still frightened Terrance.
"Please excuse my discourtesy."
Without waiting for him to process my words, I picked him up and jumped back over to the other side.
As soon as I put him down a chain made of hydro wound itself around his wrist.
"No matter the reason, that was still a crime." I pointed out.
In return, he just smiled.
"Anything is fine as long as my little girl is safe."
I felt somewhat overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within his eyes, so I turned away to deal with our other problem.
I grabbed the man trying to slip away by the collar and a hydro chain wrapped itself around his wrists as well.
"What's the meaning of-"
"You are under arrest for endangering the lives of the people of Fontaine as well as destruction of private property. Anything you say after this moment on will be eligible to be used as evidence in your trial."
"Unfounded accusations!"
"Unfounded?"
Under the watchful gaze of the whole group, I pulled a detonator similar to the one Terrance Lemair had from within his pocket.
"I have no idea what that is."
"Maybe you will remember just in time for your trial." I retorted.
And that was the end of it.