Genshin Impact: Neuvillette Ascension Materials

Profile

The Chief Justice of Fontaine, known as the Iudex, is renowned for his unassailable impartiality.

Someday, when they return, their true ordeal shall begin.

– Xbalanque, One Entombed With the Primal Fire

“Given that our previous behind-the-scenes editorial on the Hydro Archon earned us the honorable epithet of ‘tabloid journalism’ from our dear Monsieur Neuvillette, this time we’ll be focusing on the mysterious Iudex himself. We know little indeed of his true character, and sadly our multiple requests for an interview were all turned down. Instead, we have decided to reach out and draw upon the wisdom of the masses. In the pursuit of the truth, all anonymous submissions and attestations of manifestly questionable veracity have been filtered out. We were rather intrigued, however, by the following letter written in a particularly adorable script:

…

“If the Darknight Hero really does exist, he’s probably just someone in disguise. When he gets up in the morning to brush his teeth, it’s the real him. Only in the dead of night does he become the Darknight Hero. But not (Monsieur) Neuvillette. The Chief Justice IS the real him. For us Melusines, our ideal of the perfect father — that’s also the real him. The only person that isn’t really him is the one that goes by the name of Neuvillette.”

From this, we can safely surmise… that Neuvillette must be the only male Melusine! Granted, the Melusines actually appeared much later than when Neuvillette took up his post. But in the face of such ironclad evidence, there’s bound to be some way of explaining this!”

– Seven Nations Gazette, a notorious tabloid

Neuvillette Ascension Materials

Here are all items that you will need to ascend Neuvillette to level 90:

• 420,000 Mora
• 46 Fontemer Unihorn
• 168 Lumitoile
• 1 Varunada Lazurite Sliver
• 9 Varunada Lazurite Fragment
• 9 Varunada Lazurite Chunk
• 6 Varunada Lazurite Gemstone
• 18 Transoceanic Pearl
• 30 Transoceanic Chunk
• 36 Xenochromatic Crystal

Neuvillette Talent Ascension Materials

Here is the total cost of fully leveling up for Neuvillette’s single talent:

• 1,652,500 Mora
• 6 Transoceanic Pearl
• 22 Transoceanic Chunk
• 31 Xenochromatic Crystal
• 3 Teachings of Equity
• 21 Guide to Equity
• 38 Philosophies of Equity
• 6 Everamber
• 1 Crown of Insight

How to Obtain

Everamber: Dropped by Guardian of Apep’s Oasis in domain The Realm of Beginnings.

Teachings of Equity, Guide to Equity, Philosophies of Equity: Obtained from domain Pale Forgotten Glory (Monday, Thursday, Sunday).

Transoceanic Pearl, Transoceanic Chunk, Transoceanic Chunk: Dropped by Fontemer Aberrants.

Varunada Lazurite Sliver, Varunada Lazurite Fragment, Varunada Lazurite Chunk, Varunada Lazurite Gemstone: Dropped by Oceanids, Hydro Hypostases.

Fontemer Unihorn: Dropped by Millennial Pearl Seahorses.

Lumitoile: Found in the wild. Recommendation: Found in Liffey Region, Fontaine.

Talents

Normal Attack: As Water Seeks Equilibrium

Normal Attack

With light flourishes, Neuvillette commands the tides to unleash a maximum of 3 attacks, dealing Hydro DMG.

Charged Attack Empowerment: Legal Evaluation

While charging up, Neuvillette will gather the power of water, forming it into a Seal of Arbitration. In this state, Neuvillette can move and change facing, and also absorb any Sourcewater Droplets in a certain AoE.

Every Droplet he absorbs will increase the formation speed of the Seal, and will heal Neuvillette.

When the charging is stopped, if the Symbol has yet to be formed, then a Charged Attack will be unleashed. If it has been formed, then a Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment will be unleashed.

Charged Attack

Consumes a fixed amount of Stamina to attack opponents with a rupturing blast of water, dealing AoE Hydro DMG.

Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment

Unleashes surging torrents, dealing continuous AoE Hydro DMG to all opponents in a straight-line area in front of him.

Equitable Judgment will not consume any Stamina and lasts 3s.

If Neuvillette’s HP is above 50%, he will continuously lose HP while using this attack.

Plunging Attack

Gathering the might of Hydro, Neuvillette plunges towards the ground from mid-air, damaging all opponents in his path. Deals AoE Hydro DMG upon impact with the ground.

O Tears, I Shall Repay

Summons a Raging Waterfall that will deal AoE Hydro DMG to opponents in front of Neuvillette based on his Max HP. After hitting an opponent, this skill will generate 3 Sourcewater Droplets near that opponent.

Arkhe: Pneuma

At certain intervals, when the Raging Waterfall descends, a Spiritbreath Thorn will descend that will pierce opponents, dealing Pneuma-aligned Hydro DMG.

“The law can restrict all manner of crimes, but it cannot extirpate evil itself.

O Tides, I Have Returned

Unleashes waves that will deal AoE Hydro DMG based on Neuvillette’s Max HP. After a short interval, 2 waterfalls will descend and deal Hydro DMG in a somewhat smaller AoE, and will generate 6 Sourcewater Droplets within an area in front.

“The law is only established after its publication, and above that, the laws of nature have governed all species and eras since ancient times.

Gather Like the Tide

Increases underwater Sprint SPD for your own party members by 15%.

Not stackable with Passive Talents that provide the exact same effects.

Heir to the Ancient Sea’s Authority

When a party member triggers a Vaporize, Frozen, Electro-Charged, Bloom, Hydro Swirl, or a Hydro Crystallize reaction on opponents, 1 stack of Past Draconic Glories will be granted to Neuvillette for 30s. Max 3 stacks. Past Draconic Glories causes Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment to deal 110%/125%/160% of its original DMG.

The stacks of Past Draconic Glories created by each kind of Elemental Reaction exist independently.

Discipline of the Supreme Arbitration

For each 1% of Neuvillette’s current HP greater than 30% of Max HP, he will gain 0.6% Hydro DMG Bonus. A maximum bonus of 30% can be obtained this way.

Constellations

Venerable Institution

When Neuvillette takes the field, he will obtain 1 stack of Past Draconic Glories from the Passive Talent “Heir to the Ancient Sea’s Authority.” You must first unlock the Passive Talent “Heir to the Ancient Sea’s Authority.”

Additionally, his interruption resistance will be increased while using the Charged Attack Empowerment: Legal Evaluation and the Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment.

Juridical Exhortation

The Passive Talent “Heir to the Ancient Sea’s Authority” will be enhanced: Each stack of Past Draconic Glories will increase the CRIT DMG of Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment by 14%. The maximum increase that can be achieved this way is 42%.

You must first unlock the Passive Talent “Heir to the Ancient Sea’s Authority.”

Ancient Postulation

Increases the Level of Normal Attack: As Water Seeks Equilibrium by 3.

Maximum upgrade level is 15.

Crown of Commiseration

When Neuvillette is on the field and is healed, 1 Sourcewater Droplet will be generated. This effect can occur once every 4s.

Axiomatic Judgment

Increases the Level of O Tides, I Have Returned by 3.

Maximum upgrade level is 15.

Wrathful Recompense

When using Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment, Neuvillette can absorb nearby Sourcewater Droplets in an AoE. Each absorbed Droplet will increase the duration of Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment by 1s.

Additionally, when Equitable Judgment hits opponents, it will fire off 2 additional currents every 2s, each of which will deal 10% of Neuvillette’s Max HP as Hydro DMG. DMG dealt this way will count as DMG dealt by Equitable Judgment.

Voice-Over

Hello

Greetings. I am the Chief Justice, or “Iudex” of Fontaine, but you may simply address me by using my surname, “Neuvillette.” Not because I wish to keep my distance from you… No, I am merely conscious that being overly familiar may bring the impartiality of the judiciary into question in some people’s eyes.

If you have any requests or concerns, then — to the extent permissible by law, at least — we can sit down and discuss them together as we partake of some imported water from Qiaoying Village.

Chat: Trials

I see the value in my own work, but I also see the meaning in all the endeavors of the people of Fontaine. I believe I will continue to take pride in fulfilling my duties.

Chat: Water Tasting

Water comes in many flavors to the discerning palate. Mondstadt’s water is crisp and pure, while water from Liyue has an enduring aftertaste. In Inazuma, the water possesses a depth of flavor unlike any other. Sumeru’s water, meanwhile, has a rich and complex flavor profile, but it must be savored patiently to fully appreciate it.

Chat: Melusines

Melusines are beautiful creatures. They are the pride of Fontaine. Be sure to befriend them, and cause them no harm.

When It Rains

Ah, my apologies. This heavy rain must be quite an inconvenience for you.

After the Rain

It’s over…

When Thunder Strikes

What’s that saying again… “A bolt from the blue”? Yes, yes, I believe that captures how it feels to me.

* Complete “Cataclysm’s Quickening.”

When It Snows

Snow is in fact one of water’s natural self-cleansing mechanisms. But human activity tends to reduce snow’s purity, so do not consume it.

When the Sun Is Out

I find that the, um… beauty of bright sunlight is best appreciated from the indoors through a window.

In the Desert

I cannot help but feel that you bringing me here is some sort of an assassination attempt…

Good Morning

Good morning. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Good Afternoon

Ah, it’s past noon. You must be looking forward to your afternoon tea or coffee break? I certainly am.

Good Evening

Good evening. I hope you have not encountered any unpleasantness today.

Good Night

Good night. I am quite fond of the image of a perfectly still body of water, and it is on this note that I would like to wish you a peaceful, undisturbed sleep. May no waves of emotional distress ripple through your dreams tonight.

About Neuvillette: Trials

I am no rabid fan of trials. I preside over them only out of duty, for this is the task that has been entrusted to me.

About Neuvillette: The Weeping Hydro Dragon

So you have heard of that local legend as well? *sigh* Who told you about that? Or more pertinently, who was responsible for spreading it in the first place… Well, never mind. I don’t think that the Hydro Dragon would “weep,” per se. I think he just finds himself a little stirred when he gets a taste of the tears that have been shed on this land, on account of all the emotions they contain.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About Neuvillette: The Meaning of Trials

This is a topic that’s been discussed ad nauseum… I don’t mean to condescend to humanity, but it is quite clear to me that society’s concepts of justice, fairness, equality, and rule of law are not equivalent, and can never be. Now of course, water always seeks its own level, and it was in this spirit that the previous Hydro Archon, Egeria, hoped to achieve universal equality by connecting all things with love. Her successor chose instead to seek equality by means of the law. But ultimately, due to various external factors, this unfortunately manifested itself in the distorted form of trials for the sake of trials. Nevertheless, there are reasons for everything. I should refrain from criticizing her.

* Complete “Masquerade of the Guilty”

About Us: Witness

Since you hail from beyond the stars, I invite you to be my witness as I judge this upended world. “This realm dismantled was of the Formidable Father himself, but what now reigns here is a cluster of filthy feathers. Though we live in a world of disarray, I shall undertake to restore all that has been broken.”

* Complete “Masquerade of the Guilty”

About Us: The Human World

The time that I have spent living among the citizens of Fontaine, and traveling with you, has transformed my views. Besides this, I pardoned the sins of humanity long ago, so I can promise you that my future judgments will not cause any harm to the common folk. Nevertheless, my grievances with the usurpers have yet to be settled… They owe a debt of blood that shall not be forgotten.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

About the Vision: I

I was once advised to wear a counterfeit Vision, so that I might more easily intervene during moments of crisis. To be quite frank, I was not enamored by this suggestion, nor the implication that one must only exercise the power that is rightfully theirs under false pretenses. With that said, however, I have developed a newfound appreciation for the value of human yearning and determination having spent considerable time around Vision-bearing humans.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About the Vision: II

Excuse me? You’re saying even some members of The Seven don a counterfeit Vision before mingling with their people? Ha… My apologies — I was just caught off guard by the absurdity of the situation.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

Something to Share: Laws

Fontaine does have some rather intriguing laws on its books. For instance, “it is forbidden to release any flying objects during the first three days of each month,” “during the dry season, all bivalves that wash ashore belong to the Hydro Archon, while other mollusks belong to the people,” “no domestic pets shall be named after Furina,” “tomato ketchup is to be consumed in restaurants only as a condiment, never on its own,” and, finally, “Melusines are to be addressed using she/her pronouns, never the impersonal it/its”… That last one was my personal contribution.

Something to Share: Rainy Days

Some days, my mind wanders, and I fantasize about walking into the rain… *sigh* Ah, but don’t worry, my flights of fancy don’t distract me from my work.

Interesting Things: Vishaps

The Vishaps’ ancestry can be traced directly back to the Fontemer, which is why they are so adept at evolution. I am reminded of an old custom that the dragons once observed: We would take a sip of our perished young brethren’s blood. Whenever the tides are disrupted by the motion of the moon and stars, the water within the bodies of us Hydro organisms surges up towards our heads, reminding us that our deceased kin will soon be revived.

* Complete “Cataclysm’s Quickening.”

Interesting Things: Humans

From my observations, humans have a tendency to view themselves as being in opposition with nature. And whenever this point is raised, someone is always quick to respond by declaring that humans are in fact a part of nature, like any other organism. To someone like me, however, who knows an inkling of the truth, what would be most beneficial is if human civilization and the natural world of this planet could seek ways to co-exist with one another.

About the Geo Archon

Nothing will stop me from rendering judgment on each of The Seven. As the Archon who won the Authority of Geo, Deus Auri must be called to trial. If one does not wish to see us on opposite sides of a conflict, they need not worry, for I intend to stay in Fontaine for the foreseeable future, which could well mean another four hundred years. As another point of consolation, even when the trial eventually takes place, it is still not a given that the judgment will lead to a physical confrontation.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

About the Anemo Archon

I shall fulfill my vow to judge all of The Seven in turn, even if the sky should fall and the ground give way. As the recipient of the Authority of Anemo, the God of Breeze and Hope must also stand trial. …Hmm? He spends most of his time being a harmless drunkard, you say? Well, even so, I must meet him for myself and proceed from there.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

About the Electro Archon

As a survivor of the dragon race who has regained my full dragonhood, I must fulfill my oath and obligations even if it means returning all the water in the oceans back to the heavens. In taking the Authority of Electro, the Narukami placed herself on the list of the usurpers. Oh, so she has isolated herself in the Plane of Euthymia, and now rarely appears in public? Then I shall pay her a visit in another few centuries.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

About the Dendro Archon

Though the day will come when I put her on trial, I must commend the God of Verdure on her sense of responsibility. Few things are without flaws in this world, but the devotion and benevolence she displays are a testament to her commitment to continued progress. I felt enormous regret when I learned of the mistreatment she has endured over the past five hundred years.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

About Wriothesley

Wriothesley is a trustworthy man. I fought hard for the title and reputation he now has. I expect you to think that I’ve simply been duped by his flattery and appearance of loyalty… But to that, I would quote the Inazuman proverb: “The words unspoken are the flower.” Which means, some things are best left unsaid.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About Clorinde

Clorinde’s peerless skills have made her the most powerful Champion Duelist in our nation. As a successor to the Marechaussee Hunters of old, she plays a vital role in ensuring the fairness and impartiality of the courtroom. Also, she’s actually not as stoic as she might appear.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About Lyney and Lynette

Their performances are just fascinating, don’t you think? They draw you into a magical world where, on one hand, everything that takes place is part of an elaborate deception — but on the other, all manner of miracles are possible if you are only willing to believe.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About Sigewinne

I don’t know how Sigewinne is faring these days. But if I hear so much as the whiff of a rumor that she’s being bullied, I shall summon Wriothesley here and demand an explanation. She’s so kind and vulnerable… She brought me some Kamera film the last time she visited, and asked to listen to more of my commentary on the water of Natlan… How long is it until her next vacation?

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About Furina

Now, the curtain has finally fallen on her “performance”… The character she portrayed was an imaginary one, yet in playing that role she fulfilled her duties… Though she is meek and full of doubt by nature, she was able to use madness to stiffen her resolve and see her duty through to its conclusion. The work that she has done over the centuries is truly immense. If she were to ever make a return to the stage, I should personally attend the performance and give her my heartfelt applause… Yes, I must do so when the opportunity arises.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

About Navia

I regret to say that after my various interactions with her — such as when I inadvertently angered her, and when I accepted her apology — and even now, in spite of the guilt I continue to feel over what happened to her father, I feel… very distant from her, as if I’m observing the starry sky from the bottom of a deep lake. It is by no means intentional, and I also know it is not something that I can easily make up for. Unlike water, emotion does not settle quickly once agitated, nor is it naturally inclined towards equilibrium.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

More about Neuvillette: I

I usually do my best to avoid forming personal relationships, or even collaborating with others outside of established procedures. But you have shown yourself to be trustworthy, and you have no problematic entanglements with Fontaine’s local factions. Therefore, I would be pleased to journey with you.

More about Neuvillette: II

This is something that I can only say in private — I could never publicly share my views on this matter: It positively baffles me that Fonta has managed to become such a popular drink. Though, I suppose its appeal to humans is not beyond comprehension. One can both rehydrate and replenish blood sugar in one gulp, and at an exceptionally cheap price.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 3

More about Neuvillette: III

I went to see an opera recently. It was about a lady whose personal charm and manipulative schemes allowed her to continue to dominate the affairs of the grand mansion where she lived even after her death, like a ghost that refused to be exorcised. The acting was impeccable, and the story exceptional. It also reminded me of the current state of affairs in the real world.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

More about Neuvillette: IV

For a number of reasons, I rarely leave Fontaine. As a result, though I enjoy tasting spring water from all over the world, I always have it delivered to me here, rather than collecting it myself. And yes, subtle as the flavor differences between samples of different regions may be, I am perfectly capable of distinguishing between them. Do you still doubt me? I am the Iudex. I do not lie.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 5

More about Neuvillette: V

I have to say, my daily life is not without its inconveniences. For instance, I often find myself stepping on my robes as I sit down, or squashing my coiffure against the chair. And if I lean my head too far back, sometimes my hair even gets caught in the ornamentation. Nevertheless, I must wear these garments to maintain the dignity of a Chief Justice, and endure whatever inconveniences this entails. Incidentally, the world at large appears to operate on this general principle, too. Everyone is faced with an identity that they must accept, endure, understand, and eventually learn to co-exist with. This has been my experience all along.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

Neuvillette’s Hobbies

Water tasting is a rather sophisticated discipline. Pyro-heated water has the standard “au naturel” flavor found ubiquitously in the natural world, while water boiled using charcoal has distinctly rustic notes. Similarly, while Cryo-chilled water is cold but otherwise unremarkable, the frozen rivers of Snezhnaya, when melted, produce a water with an entirely different flavor profile altogether.

Neuvillette’s Troubles

People seem to respond to the sight of a man in the rain without an umbrella as if it were some sort of strange spectacle.

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

Favorite Food

Animals can survive for weeks without food, but merely a few days without water. There is no dish that could ever compare to pure, unadulterated water. With that in mind, food items that contain plenty of liquid are the next best thing.

Least Favorite Food

How can people bring themselves to consume deep-fried foods? Or grilled food with no sauce? The worst culprits in my view are those Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cakes. Surely, even eating a dehumidifying agent would be kinder on the stomach?

Receiving a Gift: I

Delicious. An abundance of juices, and the ingredients have been cooked to perfection.

Receiving a Gift: II

A fine effort indeed. My only advice would be to increase the liquid content and reduce the amount of fat.

Receiving a Gift: III

Too dry. A dish devoid of moisture has no way to convey the intentions of the chef.

Birthday

Ah, so it’s your birthday. Happy birthday. I do not know if rain is in the forecast today, but let me see what I can do.

Feelings About Ascension: Intro

I’m a little more familiar with you now. I can match your movements.

* Unlocks at Ascension Phase 1

Feelings About Ascension: Building Up

Apparently, I’ll have to show a little more of my true capabilities. I did not realize that you had such a penchant for getting into dangerous situations.

* Unlocks at Ascension Phase 2

Feelings About Ascension: Climax

So this is what you’re truly capable of? Then I shall have to get serious if I wish to catch up with you.

* Unlocks at Ascension Phase 4

Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion

Now that I have reclaimed one of the Seven Authorities from the hands of the usurpers, I have regained my true form. I am now a fully fledged dragon, powerful enough to judge the rest of the gods. My final destiny is to judge the Usurper-King in the heavens above. But until that time comes, I will lend my power to you.

* Unlocks at Ascension Phase 6

Elemental Skill: I

Silence!

Elemental Skill: II

Bow your head.

Elemental Skill: III

Settle down.

Elemental Burst: I

The tides beckon.

Elemental Burst: II

Be sanctified.

Elemental Burst: III

Let the mighty be humbled.

Opening Treasure Chest: I

Abandoned property belongs to whoever finds it first. So it’s legally yours now.

Opening Treasure Chest: II

Is it what you wished to find? Hopefully, the excitement of opening a treasure chest has at least made it a worthwhile experience.

Opening Treasure Chest: III

Let the record show that I verbally consent to relinquishing these items into your possession.

Low HP: I

Be not perturbed. I am unscathed.

Low HP: II

The risk is growing, but it poses no threat to me.

Low HP: III

Hmph… There’s a tear in my robe.

Ally at Low HP: I

Allow me to intervene.

Ally at Low HP: II

Take a moment to rest.

Fallen: I

When the tide comes in, I shall return…

Fallen: II

I see the temperate waters of eons past…

Fallen: III

A silence fills the air…

Heavy Hit Taken: I

Justice is blindsided…

Heavy Hit Taken: II

An oversight on my part.

Joining Party: I

Thank you for permitting— No, inviting me to join you.

Joining Party: II

The pleasure is all mine.

Joining Party: III

Perhaps we could take a walk by a riverbank or somewhere similarly fluvial.

Story

Character Details

Neuvillette is a solitary person.

Fontainians who have tried to get close to him have, without exception, been politely rejected. To this day, no one even knows his first name, since he has always asked that he be referred to by his last name.

He believes that close personal ties will lead to suspicions about the justness of one’s judgments, while he must remain a symbol of absolute justice.

Of course, there will always be people who just won’t give up. They will say, “Come now, Monsieur Neuvillette. Not everyone will stand trial, nor will you always have to remain in the judge’s seat.”

But is that really the case? If there is an answer in his heart, Neuvillette will not reveal it.

Given enough time, every river will overflow and flood. Every last Fontainian is guilty, with judgment and doom certain to one day fall upon them — this is neither metaphor nor rhetoric.

Yet, Neuvillette can share this fact with no one.

Truly, he is a lonesome person.

Character Story 1

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 2

Neuvillette is not known for his personal desires.

Curious members of the public and journalists are wont to seek high and low for him all across Fontaine when he is not sitting in the Chief Justice’s seat of judgment. He may sit at a seat for specially invited guests during performances, appear by the shore when the skies are just on the cusp of weeping, or be standing within the shadows cast by the afternoon sun.

There was once a time when all believed that he was some kind of demon who existed solely to preside over trials and judge, forcing him to clarify that… Well, the gist of it was “to bear witness and judge is my great honor, but I am not a trial aficionado. Iudex is simply one of the hats I wear, and my time as a judge is but one phase of my life.”

This successful clarification led him out of the frying pan, and into the fire, and the fire was the hotter of the two — “Shocking News! Neuvillette Claims ‘Iudex’ to be ‘Springboard’ Post! Unspeakable Plans Next; Where Will His Ambition End?”

As for the new rumors, Neuvillette paid them no heed. Perhaps they were, in fact, right on the Mora, and he simply did not correct them out of principle? No one knows.

Neuvillette is also not much of a drinker, nor does he like Fonta — indeed, he has never even been known to have given any sincere praise to the local chefs’ most renowned dishes. This has led people to suspect that his lack of consumptive desire might come down to him simply not having a sense of taste.

His response was to organize a water-tasting salon party, at which all were gobsmacked by the wide variety of flavors water from different regions could possess and floored by the Iudex’s most refined tastes. Of course, the amount of authenticity present in such interactions cannot be known.

But whatever the case, Neuvillette really is devoid of selfish want.

Character Story 2

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 3

Neuvillette is a just person.

If not for that quality, he probably would not have been qualified to serve as the Iudex in the first place.

To the children, the job of the man in the judge’s seat is nothing more than wearing a wig, maintaining order in the court, and being the Oratrice’s messenger pigeon. In truth, however, there are many administrative affairs that he must handle in private to keep the justice system up and running.

Due to certain historical and traditional legacies in Fontaine, the Iudex also has the right to prosecute, as well as the power to enforce the law in person. This was originally intended to make it easier to maintain law and order during chaotic times, but as the system became further refined, this rule, which represented the spirit of the pioneer far more than that of the law, became maintained only symbolically. When the Iudex investigates a case or serves as the prosecutor, they must recuse themselves as judge, and have someone else take the seat. And in the few instances where he has personally investigated cases, Neuvillette has unerringly followed this rule.

One thing to note is that he has been the only Iudex in the land for a very long time, so much so that people often speculate that he must have been given an unimaginably long life due to divine favor. As such, it is well that he is nothing if not fair-minded, or such an extensive term would surely lead to problems someday.

As to what he is precisely — a familiar of the Hydro Archon, or a mysterious Hydro elemental creature, perhaps — there are a great many opinions, though Neuvillette has never once commented on such talk.

Indeed, he is a person most impartial.

Character Story 3

Due to a variety of reasons, Fontaine’s legal codices retain all manner of odd articles from days past. Neuvillette himself contributed this clause: “A Melusine shall be addressed as ‘she,’ rather than ‘it,’ for they are people too.”

This might look strange on its face, but the more one considers it, the more it makes sense. After all, Melusines have been found all over Fontaine since near-modern times, and fighting for equal rights for them beginning with terms of address sent a powerful signal.

Indeed, Fontainians have noticed that Neuvillette displays different amounts of warmth toward Melusines and humans. Most regard this as the understated goodness in his heart having found an outlet, becoming the love of a father.

Oddly enough, this one only gets stranger the more one knows about Neuvillette.

For he is the Hydro Dragon, and in this capacity, he regards Melusines as dependents and successors, and also as the finest example of a new sort of Hydro Vishap species. Yet he is also the destroyer of the present order, the one who shall judge all gods, and the foe of humanity. So why, then, did he secure human rights for the Melusines?

You alone could ask him this question, and this was his reply: “It wasn’t up to me. Melusines simply prefer being around humans, that’s all.”

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

Character Story 4

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 5

Neuvillette has always favored rainy days over sunny ones, as the moisture-laden air helps him relax. However, it has been a long time since he last delighted in standing under the rain.

It seems that from the time he chose to walk alongside Fontaine, he began to play the role of a strictly law-abiding normal person. Of course, normal people would not walk through the rain without an umbrella, allowing the rain to drench their hair.

It is worth mentioning that the role of Chief Justice is as much his true self as the Hydro Dragon is his essence. Only the role of “normal human” is one he must play.

It was in their solitude and guilt that humans invented a god to judge them, and in their greed and guilt that they created a god to save them. And with that god no longer present, it falls to Neuvillette to fulfill such expectations.

He has pardoned humanity, and has regained his original form.

Now, he can finally walk in the rain and enjoy it.

Indeed, he did do exactly this, and standing in the rain, he gazed into the distance, reminiscing about that day, so long ago, when he had received that letter.

Yes, a letter had found its way to him by some unknown means. The name of the recipient had been left blank, with the text only addressing him bluntly as “you.”

A special you. A unique you. Neuvillette was not opposed to such a manner, but neither did he approve of it. He felt, vaguely, that the powers-that-be of the present world had no real right to judge him so.

He knew that this letter had been written by the Archon Focalors, who was inviting him to come and see Fontaine, claiming “I shall leave you a seat with the best view in the greatest theater.”

Later, he would indeed come to receive that very seat — in the middle of the front row of the Opera Epiclese on the island known as Erinnyes. He would watch all manner of performances there, and the view was indeed excellent, just as Focalors had claimed.

What happened later was not made public knowledge. In all likelihood, the people had no way of understanding what it meant that the throne was shattered, or how the power of water was fully restored to its original owner. As to their being pardoned, and why they had to be forgiven in the first place, that was an even broader and more complex tale.

And thus did the curtain fall — Fontaine witnessed a happy ending to the greatest drama in history.

Or was it? A happy ending, that is. It was then that Neuvillette understood that the “seat” mentioned in the letter was not merely a chair in an opera house.

Focalors — or Furina, he should say — had given up her seat in the audience, come onstage alone, and become the heroine of the drama.

There were only ever a fixed number of seats, and for one to sit down, was for another to depart. That letter had been an invitation, issued several centuries in advance.

Well, Hydro Dragon? How do you feel about becoming a member of the human audience?

Are you enjoying this human drama?

Character Story 5

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

One as great as he should have no need for a constellation to shine over him. After all, “fate” is merely the manner in which the present ruler of this world plays with living beings.

Now that he has obtained one part of seven of the authority over the mortal realm, and reforged the throne and title of a “Fully Fledged Dragon,” he is one strong enough to equal and rival “the human realm,” and logic would dictate that he need not subscribe to this system known as “fate.”

He can see, in the skies of destiny, how many stars contend with one another, creating a complicated, fragile world. He did not initially care much about such, for the puppet strings glossed as “divine rules” would one day be burned away by the fires of judgment. But he too was taken in by certain pleasing rhetoric.

“In that case, why don’t you just watch over the Fontainians? They were born from the Primordial Sea, after all. That makes them part of this planet’s native life, too, and a form of life that requires your care.”

He would never admit that he himself had become quite fascinated with the joys and sorrows of humanity. Was it not so, he would argue, that humans find their gaze stolen by the ripples from falling raindrops in puddles? And could it not be, he would explain, that King Nibelung had been wrong, and that the black void could only be opposed if all life were to band together as one?

Thus did he, in the end, come into his own “fate.” The skies had left a special, ennobled place for him, one reserved for the overseers and those who could defy the world itself — that of his own reflection.

—Of course, he was born in the form of a human. But why, then, is his name the image of the great leviathan? Well, this leads us to a more mundane explanation for the situation, one quite separate from grave matters of the world’s fate:

As the one named “Neuvillette,” he would often be roped by Melusines (especially Sigewinne) into a bit of astrology via The Steambird’s constellation columns or astrology guides from Sumeru. Would it really do, at that point, to tell them that he “didn’t have a constellation” or that his own constellation was just “Neuvillette”?

A Fontainian Nursery Rhyme

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4

“Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don’t cry.”

No one knows who composed this children’s song, or when, but it has organically spread throughout Fontaine all the same. Neuvillette has been somewhat perplexed by this. No matter how much time he has spent with Fontainians or how much they’ve been through together, he still cannot quite put a finger on how people view the real him — or that is to say, the Hydro Dragon.

In addition to commanding the power of Hydro, the Hydro Dragon also had mastery over the sea that was the source of life. Before any outside life forms were ever created, all life on this planet traced its origins to the Primordial Sea. Indeed, those placid waters were worthy of the title of “birthing waters” or “amniotic fluid” given by those who came after. And the Hydro Dragon could, in turn, be regarded as this planet’s original “God of Life.”

Neuvillette knows all this, of course, just like he knows that all rivers meet again in the great ocean. These birthing waters might not be of any special importance to humans, but for Neuvillette, he can differentiate every drop, every minute memory. He still remembers the foreign usurper appointing their own “God of Life” to order the living. He still remembers how the usurper had made “her” to suppress the original vital force of this planet. And of course, he also knows how “she” came to commit the original sin…

Having considered all this, Neuvillette decided, then, that whoever had penned that rhyme, as well as the Fontainians who came to believe in it, must not have known the Hydro Dragon all that well, considering that they thought the Hydro Dragon could cry. What did they take said Dragon for, some sort of bleeding heart who grieved for humans and the heavens alike?

Vision

* Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6

Neuvillette does not need a Vision to manipulate the elements. However, there were some things he learned only after regaining his complete form:

Severely wounded in the great war of vengeance, the usurper had their functions ruined, and could no longer use their absolute authority to suppress the original order of this world. To continue to subdue and control the resentments and loathing of the world, the usurper and one who came after created the Gnoses together. So it came to be that an order was made to be upheld, and thus did humans come to only possess these seven remembrances, and all fragments of the primordial were driven to devour each other.

From that day on, whenever a person’s wishes reached the heavens, the seven overseers of the material realm were duty-bound to grant them a gift. Though they might know nothing of who or what wish had stepped into the threshold of the sacred, the Seven Archons still had to impart a shattered shard of their mastery to that person. And when one so gifted completed their duty… the gift the gods would receive in return would be more abundant still.

Neuvillette obeys no edict from the heavens, but he does acknowledge human will. So he too set aside parts of himself, as like unto the dragon-treasure hoards of old, awaiting valiant humans to come and claim them.