Emily had left, and Furina was mentally organizing the massive influx of information she had just received.
Meanwhile, the Primordial Sea Water, having discovered it couldn't drown the Fontainians, retreated resentfully, restoring the coastline to its original position.
Before the Primordial Sea Water fully receded, Neuvillette intercepted a portion, dissolved Amos within it, and then sealed the resulting liquid with layers of his most potent magic.
Ultimately, even if he himself tried to break the seals, it would take him a considerable amount of time. Only then did Neuvillette feel at ease, but for added security, he included a self-destruction mechanism.
Should the seals be breached by half, the mechanism would automatically trigger, completely vaporizing the liquid containing Amos's consciousness.
Without time to savor the joy of victory or mourn the sacrifices made during the incident, Neuvillette prepared to depart once more.
There remained one crucial matter yet unresolved.
Neuvillette had no intention of letting the escaped Giant Whale off the hook either!
After briefly briefing the others, Neuvillette traversed countless dimensions, finally arriving in the Giant Whale's realm.
This was the birthplace of all life in the world, now claimed by the Giant Whale.
The creature's wounds had miraculously healed to about seventy or eighty percent in such a short time, thanks to the Primordial Sea's restorative power. This only strengthened Neuvillette's resolve to completely eradicate it.
Otherwise, Fontaine would never know peace again.
Even though modern Fontainians were immune to being dissolved by the Primordial Sea Water, the economic devastation caused by rising sea levels would be catastrophic.
Moreover, not everyone in Fontaine could swim.
This matter had to be resolved completely today.
Upon spotting Neuvillette, the Giant Whale recalled the man who had thwarted its vengeance. Enmity burned fiercely, and another battle erupted.
-
On the other side, Furina hesitated, staring at Focalors, who stood before her, bearing an uncanny resemblance. She couldn't bring herself to speak.
Focalors merely smiled, patiently awaiting the question Furina clearly wanted to ask.
After a long moment, Furina finally spoke:
"Lady Focalors, may I ask why you look exactly like me?"
This was the question that had plagued Furina the most. The Archon she worshiped looked identical to her!
Focalors wasn't surprised by the question. She replied softly:
"Just call me Focalors, Furina. Our connection is far closer than you imagine."
Furina paused, then a sudden realization dawned on her. I understand now!
"Could it be... Focalors, are you actually my... younger sister?!"
Focalors: "..."
Furina had initially intended to say "elder sister," but the psychological trauma from her past experiences with Dark Furina had subconsciously made her switch to "younger sister."
This left Focalors utterly speechless. How could someone so brilliant be such a fool as a mortal?
Focalors shook her head, deciding to drop the suspense. Otherwise, Furina might start suspecting she was her daughter.
"Actually, Furina, I am your mother."
As soon as she said those words, Focalors felt a surge of elation!
It was no surprise that these two, being essentially the same person, shared the same twisted logic.
Upon hearing this "truth," Furina's pupils dilated in shock. Good grief! First Dark Furina was revealed to be her sister, and now her mother suddenly appears!
Furina had always believed herself to be an orphan. Now, it seemed her family was quite the lively bunch.
"Furina, come now, call me 'Mother' so I can hear it."
"After all these years apart, how I've longed to hear you call me that."
Furina immediately retreated two steps. Faced with that identical face, the word "Mother" simply wouldn't come out.
She had thought being sisters was the worst possible outcome, but Focalors had just dropped a bombshell.
Seeing Furina's reaction, Focalors barely suppressed a laugh, then adopted a sorrowful expression.
"Ah, never mind. I know I've hurt you too deeply. It's no wonder you can't accept me as the cruel mother I've been."
"But Furina, entrusting this responsibility to anyone would have been an immense torment. You are my daughter, Focalors' daughter, which is why I demanded so much of you."
"Moreover, if I had given this task to someone else, they likely wouldn't have endured until now."
"If the Hydro Archon's identity had been exposed midway, everything would have ended. You would have died as foretold in the Prophecy, and I wouldn't have been able to save you, or save anyone."
"Please forgive me, Furina. Forgive me for being such an unworthy mother!"
Seeing Focalors lower her head, Furina rushed forward to support her, preventing her from performing a deep bow.
At the same time, Focalors' words, brimming with boundless guilt, deeply stirred Furina's heart.
Furina imagined Focalors enduring the pain of personally inflicting hardship and torment upon her own child, while remaining separated by an insurmountable barrier for five centuries, unable to see each other. Her heart ached at the thought.
In truth, Furina harbored no resentment toward Focalors. It was simply difficult to suddenly acknowledge having a mother after all these years.
But seeing Focalors' profound sorrow, Furina waged a fierce internal battle. Finally, her lips trembling, she managed to stammer,
"Mo-mo-mo-mother..."
Pfft!
Seeing Furina's utter confusion, Focalors couldn't hold back her laughter any longer.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. We're actually one and the same."
"You're the human part of me, while I embody the divine essence I gained upon becoming an Archon."
"In other words, we're essentially the same person. So there's no need to be so formal, Furina."
Furina's jaw dropped upon hearing Focalors' explanation, her mind completely short-circuiting.
Her face flushed crimson as she lunged at Focalors with flailing limbs, only to pass right through her incorporeal form.
"You're infuriating! I almost shouted it out!"
"You terrible-natured wretch! I refuse to acknowledge you as part of me!"
"Hehehe..."
Watching Furina's frantic outburst, Focalors covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her spirits lifting considerably.
As expected of Furina, the one who brings joy to the world. Her impact is truly remarkable.
"Well, who asked you to try and be my older sister?"
Furina paused, momentarily taken aback. This was the exact same thought that had crossed her mind when she learned Dark Furina had deceived everyone by transforming into her "older sister."
Suddenly, Furina felt they really were the same person after all.
But was the other her truly such a vile creature?!
"Furina."
The familiar voice, spoken with an unfamiliar tenderness, snapped Furina out of her daze. She looked up to see Focalors, her face soft with a tender smile, and froze.
Focalors stepped forward and gently clasped Furina's hands, their gazes locking. Slowly, she continued.
"I'm sorry for placing such a heavy burden on your slender shoulders."
"I'm sorry I couldn't approach you, couldn't comfort you, when you were helpless and alone."
"I'm sorry for making you play a role you were utterly unsuited for for so long."
"And finally, what I want to say most..."
"Furina, you've endured so much hardship these past five hundred years."
Focalors' words brought back all the pain and bitterness of the past five centuries, blurring Furina's vision.
"Furina, you've done magnificently—far better than I ever imagined!"
"You played your part flawlessly, saving all of Fontaine!"
"Everyone should be grateful for your sacrifices!"
"What about you, then?"
Furina raised a hand to wipe the tears from her eyes, her gaze locking firmly on Focalors.
"Focalors, what sacrifices have you made these past five hundred years?"
"The final Judgment... was originally prepared for yourself, wasn't it?"
Furina suddenly understood. There was no such thing as a coincidence. Focalors had hidden herself within the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, and the Oratrice just happened to possess the power to judge Dark Furina.
After all, Dark Furina had only emerged recently, and there was no mention of her in the Prophecy. Clearly, all of this had been prepared for Focalors herself.
"I endured five hundred years of solitude, while you not only shared that same isolation but ultimately had to sacrifice your own life. What right do I have to accept your apology?"
"Focalors, you've suffered too."
Furina's words stirred something deep within Focalors, though her mastery over her emotions was far greater than Furina's, preventing her from shedding tears so easily.
That was what Focalors had thought, until she raised her hand and felt the wetness on her face.
"Ah, it seems losing the Authority has had a greater impact on me than I realized," Focalors said with a faint smile, wiping away tears. "I'm even struggling to control my own power now."
"These aren't tears," she insisted. "It's just an overabundance of Hydro Element, right?" Furina interjected, and the two shared a knowing smile.
"Honestly, communicating with my other self isn't exactly the most pleasant experience," Focalors admitted. "Of course, we're still fundamentally different. Five centuries is more than enough time to completely transform a person. Especially since, Furina, you met someone so special to you."
Thinking of the girl who had schemed against everyone, Focalors couldn't help but feel a flicker of relief. Thank goodness she never harbored any truly malevolent intentions. Otherwise, the entire world would have been thrown into chaos.
Now, not only Fontaine but even Focalors herself owed the girl a debt. She had ultimately survived.
While preserving this remnant of consciousness after losing the Authority would present many challenges, the fact remained: she was still alive.
As long as there was life, there was hope.
Of course, Focalors had no intention of returning to her physical body—to Furina's body.
Although their eventual reunion would be a fusion, with neither suppressing the other, Furina didn't want the individual known as "Furina" to vanish from the world, leaving behind a new being that was neither "Furina" nor "Focalors."
The other woman had already endured enough; now it was time for her to savor the feeling of being herself again.
"Has she already left?"
Upon hearing Focalors' words, Furina paused, then nodded.
"Yes, she's already gone."
"But that's alright! No matter how long it takes, I'll find her!"
Seeing the confident smile on Furina's face, Focalors couldn't help but smile in return.
Thank goodness we still have a chance to reunite.
But the Dark Furina who had died in her place had completely vanished from this world.
She still knew so little about her; the other Furina hadn't even had a chance to enjoy the peaceful life in Fontaine; Focalors hadn't even asked her why she had done it.
No, there doesn't need to be a reason.
If the other Furina truly was her, then saving Fontaine required no justification at all.
Focalors shook her head and then spoke to Furina.
"Furina, I hope you won't resent the girl who impersonated you."
Focalors gazed at the massive crater left by the Judgment, her eyes filled with profound melancholy and sorrow.
"She was such a kind child..."
Hearing Focalors' words, Furina couldn't help but recall the image of Dark Furina. She turned to Focalors and asked, "Focalors, why do you say that?"
In response to Furina's question, Focalors recounted everything that had transpired.
When Furina learned that Dark Furina could have escaped her confinement but ultimately chose to die in Focalors' place, her heart jolted violently.
This revelation sent shockwaves through her being. She could never have imagined that the very being who had declared before her very eyes her intention to personally destroy Fontaine had been working tirelessly to save it.
"Amos and Dottore's Segments collaborated to create her," Focalors explained.
"Their initial plan was to corrupt her mind with the Abyss's power, but they ultimately failed."
"Yet, to maintain her facade and avoid suspicion, she feigned complete compliance, patiently waiting for that very moment to arrive."
Focalors shook her head.
"If she had told me outright that she intended to die in my stead, I would never have agreed."
"That's why she disguised herself as someone who would destroy Fontaine—so I could use the Judgment originally meant for myself on her without hesitation."
"How foolish..." Focalors sighed.
"If I hadn't sensed something was wrong at the last moment and rushed toward her, forcing her to strike me back to safety, this truth would have been buried with her forever."
Hearing Focalors' words, Furina's face streamed with fresh tears, her resentment toward Dark Furina completely vanishing.
Suddenly, Furina found herself thinking that having such an elder sister might not be so unbearable after all.
If she could ever see her again, she would gladly call her "Sister" with her own lips...