Hello I'm back, thy leg is healed but I don't have molars anymore.
===BREAK===
More than two months passed in the blink of an eye.
All the residents of Poisson had long since been safely relocated. The ship in the Fortress of Meropide had also been completed… only its maiden flight remained.
Regarding the three plans that had been initiated earliest, Furina shared the latest progress:
"The magic pouches have been manufactured and distributed. The underwater breathing potions have also been completed and handed out. As for the ships, the final batch is still awaiting delivery."
"Additionally," Furina added, "up to now there haven't been any abnormal rises in water levels. However, the pointer on the device in the Fortress of Meropide has already moved to four-fifths of the dial."
The device in the Fortress of Meropide could only serve as a rough reference. The speed at which its needle turned was not fixed—it might suddenly swing to the end in a single day, or remain stuck at the final stretch for a long time. Everything depended on how violently the Primordial Sea below was stirring.
Still, its existence transformed the intangible prophecy into something visible. Much like the foretold revival of the Withering Mother Tree, it lent considerable weight to Victor Wang's words.
To outsiders, however, it was Furina's words that gained credibility—though for now, the only "outsiders" who knew were Wriothesley and Neuvillette, and that was already enough.
A prophecy could arrive late—there would always be ways to ensure it came on time. But it must never arrive early. If it did, it would cost lives.
That was why, even though there were at least three months remaining, the relocation of Poisson had been limited to just two.
That was also why, although the premature rise in water levels would likely only occur after Tartaglia was sent below to battle the All-Devouring Narwhal—since the full flooding would be triggered by the all-out clash between the Traveler, Neuvillette, and the Narwhal—not a single gamble could be taken.
Fortunately, these two-plus months had passed smoothly. No early flooding had occurred.
Lumine was about to arrive in Fontaine.
Lyney's magic performance at the Opera Epiclese was fast approaching.
Poisson had been sealed off. Wriothesley was making preparations in the Fortress of Meropide. Neuvillette had already been informed that the Primordial Sea would erupt from beneath the Fortress.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
…
"After all that sand and water along the way, we finally made it… This is one of Fontaine's ports connecting it to the outside world—Romaritime Harbor."
"Mhm…"
"Mhm? What are you thinking about?"
"Do you remember the rumors we heard before setting out? That the prophecy of Fontaine being submerged was drawing near? That everyone in Fontaine was busy preparing, and the entire nation was filled with a tense, storm-before-the-rain atmosphere…"
Lumine carefully surveyed everything before her. A vertical drop of more than three hundred meters and waterfalls stretching for thousands of meters were indeed breathtaking. The magnificent harbor built from pale stone and adorned with gilded patterns was undeniably splendid. The ships powered by some special energy and the self-moving mechanical automatons were novel. Advanced, industrialized, filled with curious machinery… All those descriptions were accurate.
"But somehow, the people here don't seem particularly worried about the prophecy…"
"Well, the Hydro Archon is… um… different from the previous gods," Paimon said. "From what I've heard, ever since she took office several centuries ago, she's lived alongside the people of Fontaine and often appears before the public. Maybe her presence is what keeps everyone so calm."
"The Hydro Archon… Even though my journey is no longer just about finding my brother, the truth I've uncovered along the way makes her someone I cannot afford to overlook."
"True. Thanks to Nahida's help, we did gain a lot of useful information."
With a hint of concern, the Traveler added, "But Nahida also said that Fontaine's current Hydro Archon is a 'very individualistic' person. I wonder if we'll get along."
Paimon pondered as well. "Yeah… what exactly counts as 'very individualistic'? Oh! There are people chatting over there—let's just go ask!"
…
"As for the Hydro Archon's personality… Our goddess can be a bit exaggerated in her speech and gestures at times, but she's still very likable," said Antoine, a security officer at Romaritime Harbor.
"Pff—" Paimon couldn't hold back her laughter. "This is the first time I've heard ordinary citizens describe their god as 'likable'!"
"It's simply the truth. Once you've met Lady Furina yourself, you'll understand." Antoine shrugged.
"Oh, right—then may I ask, if we wanted to meet this 'likable' Hydro Archon, what should we do?"
"Isn't that simple? If you want to see Lady Furina, just go to the Opera Epiclese. She practically lives there—it's her greatest hobby."
"The opera house?" Paimon asked. "Does the Hydro Archon love watching performances?"
"Watching performances… that's not entirely wrong. The Opera Epiclese stages actual dramas, and if you're lucky, you might even see Lady Furina perform herself. But it also hosts 'trials.' As outsiders, you may not know—Fontaine's court of justice is called the Opera Epiclese for short."
Lumine frowned slightly. "Trials treated like operas?"
Paimon spoke her mind as usual. "Isn't that a bit too frivolous? Um—I'm not questioning Fontaine's customs! It's just that trials are usually supposed to be very serious matters…"
"It's all right. Many outsiders feel the same at first," explained Vigne, the harbor official. "But we simply refuse to waste the moving stories behind each case."
She continued, "As for the seriousness of the trials, we have the absolutely impartial Chief Justice Neuvillette, as well as the judicial mechanism created by the Archon herself—the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale. With such double safeguards, wrongful convictions are nearly nonexistent in Fontaine."
"A nation of 'Justice' indeed… There's even a judicial mechanism? I'd love to see it."
Lumine reasoned, "Since trials are held at the Opera Epiclese, the Oratrice should be there. The Hydro Archon might also be there. If we're lucky, we could meet everyone at once. Why not make the opera house our first stop in Fontaine?"
"Wait, it sounds like you're hoping to chat with Lady Furina face-to-face?" Vigne reminded them. "If you want an audience with the Hydro Archon, that's much more difficult. You'd have to make an appointment far in advance."
"An appointment…" Lumine nodded. "Well, visiting the Opera Epiclese during the waiting period sounds good too. In any case, thank you."
"Oh, and one more thing. Since you've just arrived, you must have heard that Fontaine may soon be submerged. For your personal safety, please carry three underwater breathing potions each at all times during your travels in Fontaine. That's part of my duty as a harbor official. Please accept these."
Accepting the three potions, green as seaweed, Paimon asked curiously, "So this is how Fontaine is responding to the prophecy?"
"That's right. This alchemical potion was specially commissioned by Lady Furina. Just a few days ago, she also issued a decree: starting this month, anyone residing in Fontaine must carry a magic pouch and three underwater breathing potions at all times. Even visitors traveling within Fontaine are required to carry three potions."
Lumine stored away her three potions as well. Exchanging a glance with Paimon, she said, "So this is how she chose to handle it… It feels surprisingly down-to-earth. I'm getting more and more curious about what kind of god the Hydro Archon really is."
===BREAK===
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