By the time the performance ended and Furina left the aquarium with Ellin, it was already afternoon.
This time, Furina did not drag Ellin off for more junk food. Instead, she took her to sample Fontaine's most famous dishes and desserts.
After their meal, they had seen most of the Court of Fontaine's sights. It was already four in the afternoon, too late to go anywhere else for an outing.
The two wandered aimlessly through the Court of Fontaine, giving Ellin a taste of Fontaine's local life and customs while allowing Furina more time to clear her mind.
They walked and walked, and before they knew it, they had reached a remote, rundown district of the Court of Fontaine-a so-called urban village.
"This is..."
Furina gazed into the distance. Her expression, which had gradually relaxed over the course of her day off, suddenly tightened a little.
Ellin had always been understanding, and she keenly noticed the change in Furina's expression.
She followed Furina's gaze.
There stood a fairly large house.
Through the iron gate, they could see two adults playing a game with a group of children inside.
One of the women stood at the front, with a line of children behind her.
She shielded the dozen or so children behind her, protecting them from being caught by the monster played by the other woman.
"What is this...?" Ellin asked.
"An orphanage. I ordered its establishment over ten years ago."
Furina answered, her expression unknowingly growing tighter and tighter, as though she had already cast aside the ease of the day.
Watching the staff and children playing inside the orphanage, she said:
"Ellin, you know the game Eagle Catches Chicks, don't you?"
"One adult plays the mother hen, protecting the chicks played by the children behind her from being eaten