Nevillette

How can people eat fried or grilled food without sauce? I'd especially like to criticize the Agilene charcoal cakes—they're like throwing a dehydrator into your stomach.

Tasting water is a science in itself. If you heat water with Pyro, it will have a standard natural flavor, but if you boil it over coals, the taste will take on bucolic notes. Similarly, water cooled with Cryo is quite ordinary, but water from the perennial ice of Snezhnaya is quite a different matter.

I must say that my daily life is not without its inconveniences. For example, I often step on the hem of my robe when I sit down, or my hair gets tangled on the chair. And if I tilt my head back too much, my hair sometimes gets caught in my jewelry. Nevertheless, I must wear these clothes and endure all the inconveniences that come with them, as it helps maintain the dignity of the supreme judge. It seems the world operates on the same principle. Once a person has achieved a certain status, they must accept it, understand it, and learn to coexist with it. And that is precisely what I do.

For a number of reasons, I rarely leave Fontaine. So, while I enjoy tasting spring water from all over the world, I don't travel for it myself; it's delivered here. And yes, no matter how subtle the flavor differences between samples from different regions, I'm perfectly able to distinguish them. Do you doubt my words? I'm Judex. I don't lie.

Animals can survive for quite a long time without food, but without water they will die in a couple of days. No delicacy compares to clean water. A close second is food that contains a lot of water.

I recently went to a play about a woman whose personal charm and malicious machinations allowed her to wield a semblance of undead ghostly power over the affairs of the grand mansion where she lived. The acting was impeccable, and the plot exceptional. It also reminded me of the real world today.

I can only speak about this in private—I'll never be able to share my opinion publicly: I absolutely don't understand how Fonta became such a popular drink. Although, perhaps its appeal to people is not without its appeal. One sip can restore your hydration balance and replenish your blood sugar levels, and all for a very low price.

Обычно я стараюсь не устанавливать личных отношений с другим людьми и даже не сотрудничать с ними вне установленных продекру. But you have shown yourself to be a reliable person, besides, you are not involved in any complicated relationships with various influential forces of Fontaine. Поетому я с удовольствием отправлюсь се вами в путешествие.

Sometimes I wish I could go out in the rain anytime. Oh, don't think that's a problem, it's not about overexertion.

Fontaine has many strange laws, such as "flying objects are prohibited on the third day of each month," "all bivalve mollusks washed ashore during the low-tide season belong to the Hydro Archon, while spiral-shaped ones belong to the citizens," "naming animals Furina is prohibited," "tomato sauce is prohibited as a separate dish in restaurants and canteens," "the pronoun "she" should be used in reference to Melusines, not "it"... The last rule is my own.

Discussions of this topic have long been a bore... I'm no expert on humanity, but it's clear to me that the concepts of justice, fairness, equality, and legality in society are not and never will be equivalent. Water, by its very nature, always strives to achieve a uniform level across its entire surface. The previous Hydro Archon, Egeria, hoped to achieve universal equality by uniting all living things with love. Her successor chose the path of legality, but ultimately this resulted in trials for the sake of trials. But everything has its reasons, and so I should refrain from criticism.

So, have you heard this local legend before? Oh, and who told you it? And who started this rumor in the first place? It doesn't matter. I don't think the Hydro Dragon can actually cry. I think it just tastes the tears shed on this earth, and the emotions they contain, and that's what makes it so excited.

"Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don't cry!" No one knows who coined this children's chant or when, but it quickly spread throughout Fontaine. Neuvillette himself was quite perplexed by it. Although he had spent a considerable amount of time with the Fontaine people, he still couldn't understand how they treated him as the real him—the Water Dragon. The Hydro Dragon not only dominated the element of water, but had once been the master of the primordial sea. Before the advent of life from beyond, all life on the planet originated from this sea. It was not for nothing that subsequent generations of people called this sacred body of water the "Primordial Sea." The Hydro Dragon was, in fact, the first "god of life" on the planet. Of course, Neuvillette knew this as surely as he knew that all rivers eventually flow into the sea. The water of the Primordial Sea may have little significance to humans, but Neuvillette can discern every drop of the tiniest memories it contains. He still remembers how a usurper from without appointed his own life deity to rule over all life. He remembers how the tyrant created "her" to suppress the planet's primordial life force. And of course, Neuvillette knows how "she" committed that original sin... Reaching this conclusion in his thoughts, Neuvillette decided that the author of the chant, and the Fontaines in general, understood nothing about the Water Dragon, to believe it was capable of weeping. What do they take the Hydro Dragon for—a kindhearted being, mourning both for man and heaven?

A being as great as he was didn't need the radiance of the "constellation of fate" illuminating him. After all, "fate" is merely a game the rulers of the world play with living beings. He, however, had regained one-seventh of the world's power, the throne, and the title of perfect dragon. He had become independent of the human world, and from a common sense perspective, he no longer needed to participate in the games of "fate." He saw how the luminaries in the firmament of "fate" intertwined, forming a complex and fragile world. Initially, he didn't care that the strings that suspended these puppets, adorned with rhetoric about divine order, would one day be consumed by flame. But, as it turned out, flowery words could persuade him, too. "Just observe the people of Fontaine. They, too, were born from the waters of the Primordial Sea, which means they are among the original inhabitants of this planet, whom you must care for." He would never admit it, but he was fascinated by images of human sorrows and joys. He would justify himself by saying that people, too, are captivated by the spectacle of raindrops rippling across the surface of water. He would explain: the Nibelungen lord was wrong—only by uniting can living things resist the impenetrable nothingness. In the end, he became part of the pattern of "fate." Heaven had reserved for him a special place of honor in its vault—one reserved only for the rulers and equals of the world, his own reflection. But why is his celestial name a huge leviathan dragon, given that he has had human form since birth? Perhaps it has nothing to do with the fate of the world: in Neuvillette's role, the Melusines (especially Sidgwin) often attack him, opening the horoscope column in the "Steam Bird" or Sumerian astrological references. Surely Neuvillette cannot tell them that he has no constellation, or that his constellation is called "Neuvillette"?

The pardon—and why it was even necessary—is an even grander and more complex story. Be that as it may, the curtain fell. The greatest play in Fontaine's history had ended. Or had it? By this point, Neuvillette had realized that Focalors' letter had been about more than just a seat in the theater. Focalors, or Furina, had given up her place in the audience to him and taken the stage alone, becoming the play's leading character. But the number of seats is predetermined, and if one takes a seat, another must leave. That letter turned out to be an invitation for hundreds of years to come. How do you feel among human audiences, O Dragon of Water? Do you enjoy human dramas?

Neuvillette prefers rainy weather to sunny. The damp air allows him to breathe deeply. But he hasn't gotten properly drenched in rain for a long time. It's as if, ever since he decided to join forces with Fontaine, Neuvillette had adopted the guise of an ordinary man, scrupulously following the rules. And ordinary people don't go out in the rain without an umbrella, letting the rain run freely down their wet hair. It's worth noting that Judex is his natural role, the Water Dragon is his true nature, and only the "ordinary man" is merely a mask. Out of loneliness and shame, people created punishing deities; out of greed and shame, savior deities. In the absence of a deity, these expectations fell on Neuvillette. After acquitting humanity, he returned to his natural demeanor. Now he could finally go out in the rain and get properly drenched. And Neuvillette truly made it happen. Standing in the rain, he gazed calmly into the distance, recalling the long-ago day when he had received a letter. A simple letter. Somehow, it had been sent directly into Neuvillette's hands. The recipient's line was left blank, but in the text, the author addressed it directly "to you." You, special you, you, unlike anyone else. Neuvillette didn't object to it, but he didn't agree with it either. He vaguely felt that the powers that be in this world had no right to pass such judgment on him. He knew the letter had come from Archon Focalors. She had invited him to see Fontaine and had assured him, "In the auditorium of the greatest theater, I will save you the best seat." Neuvillette later received that seat. In the front row of the Epicleuse opera house on the Isle of Erinyes. From there, he was able to admire a wide variety of performances. As Focalors had promised, he had an excellent view. What happened next was not widely publicized, and people seemed to be unclear about what exactly the collapse of the Archon's throne and the return of Hydro's power to its original owner meant.

For various reasons, the laws of Fontaine contain many odd clauses. Neuvillette did not hesitate, including the following clause: "When referring to Melusines, the pronoun 'she' must be used, not 'it.'" At first glance, the law does seem odd, but upon closer inspection, it makes sense. Melusines now grace many facets of life in Fontaine, and in the struggle for their rights, the instruction to use the correct pronouns sends a clear message. The Fontaines noticed that Neuvillette treated the Melusines much more kindly than he did humans. They concluded that his suppressed kindness had found an outlet in the form of paternal love for these creatures. This assumption may seem reasonable at first glance, but for those who know Neuvillette well, it seems quite strange. Neuvillette is a Water Dragon. He clearly considers the Melusines his familiars and kin—a new, more advanced type of vishap. But at the same time, he is a shaker of the current world order, a bringer of punishment upon the gods, an enemy of humanity. Why should he fight for the Melusines to gain equal rights with humans? Only you could ask him such a question. And he answered: "The Melusines simply prefer to live among humans. There's nothing we can do about it."

Neuvillette is fair. If it weren't for that, he would never have become a Judex. Children may think that the only job a Judex has to do is to wear a wig, keep order during hearings, and pronounce the decisions of the Oratrix. In reality, the Judex must personally decide many administrative cases to ensure that the justice system works as it should. Traditionally, the Judex of Fontaine can also personally execute the law and initiate investigations. This was once done to facilitate the implementation of the law in times of disorder. After the development of the legal system, this rule, more a reflection of the pioneering spirit than of loyalty to the spirit of legality, has remained only symbolically. If a Judex personally conducts an investigation or acts as a prosecutor, he must recuse himself as a judge and ask someone else to take his place. On the few occasions when Neuvillette personally investigated cases, he strictly followed this rule. It should be noted, however, that Neuvillette has been Fontaine's only Judex for a very long time - people even speculate that he owes his longevity to the favor of the gods. It is good that he is so fair, otherwise this long term of office would certainly create problems. As for what exactly he is - someone's familiar or a mysterious creation of Hydro - people make many guesses, but Neuvillette never comments on any of them and does not give preference to any of them. Still, he is unsurpassedly fair.

Neuvillette has no personal preferences. Curious members of the public and journalists love to seek him out in various corners of Fontaine whenever he descends from his seat as chief judge—whether he's appearing as a special guest at various performances, standing on the shore under a dark sky, washed by the rain, or hiding in the shade from the afternoon sun. At one point, people considered him a demon, existing only to judge others. Neuvillette was forced to offer an explanation, the gist of which boiled down to this: "I'm proud of my duties as a judge and a witness, but I'm not much of a fan of trials. Judex is just one side of my personality and one stage in my life." After this explanation, some of the rumors died down, but new ones emerged: "Shocking news! Neuvillette declares that the position of Judex is merely a stepping stone for him. Is this a career move, or do his ambitions extend even further?" This time, Neuvillette ignored the rumors... Perhaps they were true, and he refused to correct them on principle? Who knows? Neuvillette is not a great fan of wine or Fontaine; moreover, no exquisite dish has ever earned his praise. Because of this, people began to suspect he simply had a blind spot. In response, Neuvillette organized a salon water tasting, where he stunned everyone with the diversity of water flavors from different regions and his own exactingness. Of course, no one knows how sincere he was. After all, Neuvillette is famous for his lack of personal bias.

Neuvillette is very lonely. Among the Fontaine residents who have tried to approach him, they have all been politely rebuffed. To this day, no one even knows his first name, as he always recommends that everyone address him by his last name. He believes that close personal connections could cast doubt on the fairness of his judgments, and he must be a symbol of absolute impartiality. Of course, some people won't be so easily deterred. They might say, "Come on, Monsieur Neuvillette, not everyone stands trial, and you won't sit in the Judex chair forever." Is that really true? If Neuvillette knows the answer, he won't reveal it. Countless hours may pass, but one day the rivers will overflow their banks. Every single Fontaine resident is guilty, and one day retribution and destruction will fall upon them—this is not a metaphor or a figure of speech. But Neuvillette cannot tell anyone about this. He is truly very lonely.