She was the most intelligent of Egeria's attendants.
From the moment she inherited the mantle of the Hydro Archon, the very first issue she had to confront was how to save Fontaine's people from the prophecy.
She sank into the sea and pondered for years—so long that even the shells around her began releasing bubbles.
Focalors possessed the complete memories of Fontaine's five centuries of development.
And Furina's performance had not disappointed her.
"Although the Court of Fontaine had already announced my succession, this is the first time I truly stand before the people."
Following Focalors' arrangement, Furina embarked upon the path of playing the Hydro Archon.
She lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and unease.
She feared that even a single misstep might cause the people of Fontaine to doubt her—
and jeopardize Focalors' plan to save the nation.
But now that things had come this far, she had no choice.
To resist the prophecy, she could only grit her teeth and step onto the lofty stage.
"What should an inaugural speech even sound like for a god?"
"I have no idea… I'll just try to act natural."
After thinking briefly, Furina finally gathered her courage and cleared her throat.
With a polite smile, she spoke:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Opera Epiclese this evening."
"I trust you've already heard of my succession as the Hydro Archon."
"Yes—
I am Furina de Fontaine, your new god."
Her tone was sincere, courteous, and humble as she introduced herself to the people.
"I have no experience being the god of a nation, but it is my honor to guide you."
"As the demon god Focalors, the God of Justice, I will do my utmost to usher in an era of fairness and equity."
After a few brief words, she concluded politely:
"Thank you all once again for attending. Should you have any questions or suggestions in the future, please submit them to the Court."
"Fontaine's future requires the efforts of every one of us."
Yet it was precisely this humility that caused the crowd to erupt into murmurs.
They couldn't believe what they were hearing.
A god… listening to human opinions?
Gods were meant to guide humanity—not take advice from it.
Could such a being truly be a god?
"This is the new Hydro Archon?"
"The Court must be fooling us. Why would a god heed human opinions?"
"Exactly! Is she joking with us?"
"A god should be omnipotent—why does she feel just like an ordinary person?"
"I bet there is no new Hydro Archon at all. She's just a puppet pushed out by the Court."
The voices of doubt and disdain grew louder and louder.
Furina's pupils shrank. Her body began to tremble.
This was completely beyond her expectations.
Everyone was questioning her identity.
"This is bad… if they expose me, no one can be saved from the prophecy."
She looked around in panic.
At this moment, she was fighting alone.
Even if she wanted help, she didn't know where to find it.
Then—
at the brink of collapse, she remembered Focalors' warning.
Whether she was truly a god didn't matter.
What mattered was that Fontaine's people believed she was one.
Furina forced herself to calm down.
Listening to the growing doubts, inspiration struck.
She finally understood what kind of god the people wanted.
Strong.
Commanding.
Omnipotent.
She took a deep breath… and suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha—very good, very good."
"My people—only citizens like you are worthy of being ruled by me, Furina."
"I was wondering—if a weak puppet stood upon this stage one day, claiming ownership of this Opera House…"
"Would Fontaine's people truly follow such a thing?"
"Now I see it clearly."
"You are not the kind who would allow a puppet to guide you."
"You are worthy of witnessing judgment with me in this theater."
"The trial is over."
"Allow me… to begin my real address."
"Fontaine—the nation of water, the nation of justice."
"Let us take law as our prayer, judgment as our rite."
"Light the bonfires. Raise your glasses."
"Drink—to Fontaine's future!"
"There is no problem in this world that judgment cannot resolve."
"As long as you, my people, hold justice in your hearts—"
"As long as we stand before the Oratrice here in the Opera Epiclese—"
"I, the demon god Focalors, can judge even the gods themselves!"
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted throughout the Opera Epiclese.
Through Focalors' memories, the origin of Furina's false divinity was fully revealed.
What followed was five hundred years of torment and endurance.
Furina established her own investigation agency, focusing on sea-level rise.
She expanded her reach to other nations, gathering every scrap of information she could.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, no good news ever came.
Worse still, she had to maintain that arrogant, hysterical façade at all times.
No one could stand beside her.
She could not confide in anyone.
She carried out Focalors' mission alone.
Day after day.
Night after night.
Until her mind slowly frayed.
Yet she endured.
For five hundred years.
"Fontaine's people are fascinating," Lisa remarked. "A stark contrast to Liyue."
"The era of rule by men in Liyue has ended," Keqing replied sharply. "Let's not reopen that discussion."
"In Fontaine, many complained that Lady Furina ignored the rising sea levels," Navia said quietly.
"So she was bearing the burden from the very beginning…"
"It's hard to imagine the willpower needed to endure five centuries," Yoimiya murmured.
"Her resolve is something we should learn from," Jean said solemnly.
"Other than being cursed into longevity, she's still human," Beidou added. "That makes it even more impressive."
"No wonder Aerin told her to eat and drink freely," Venti laughed. "Such resolve surely earned his favor."
"Hey! Wind God, stop talking nonsense!" Furina snapped.
"Please watch your words," Clorinde interjected. "Aerin must have his own judgment."
"Oh?" Yae Miko smiled slyly. "Is the little one afraid the Wind God's chatter might change her master's mind?"
Furina pouted.
"Easy for you all—you're done. Fontaine isn't."
"And besides, Fontaine's thinking is right."
"How could a god listen to human advice?"
Aerin's towering figure surfaced in her mind.
Did he ever consult anyone?
Of course not.
What he deemed right was right—even if it was wrong.
Anyone he chose to deal with couldn't escape, no matter where they fled.
That was what a true god looked like.
"That big-headed thing says Aerin is human…"
"But to me, he's the real god."
"We want to follow him. To gain his protection."
"Please… don't let anything go wrong."
As the fragments of Fontaine faded from her mind, Focalors slowly opened her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Furina."
"My plan… failed."
She sighed deeply.
Furina had kept her promise.
No matter the pain, no matter the loneliness—she endured.
The one who broke the promise… was Focalors herself.
She could no longer carry out the final plan she had agreed upon.
Aerin narrowed his eyes at the despondent god.
"What are you sulking for now?"
Focalors froze.
"Aren't you here to deal with Fontaine?"
"Using Primordial Seawater to create life is forbidden."
"And Fontaine's people are not truly human."
"This will harm human civilization in the long run."
Pure Hydro mimics struggled even more with reproduction than yokai.
Other races that could take human form at least shared near-identical genetics.
Hydro mimics required wishes at Lucine Fountain.
And every child born… was still a Hydro mimic.
Given time, this would devastate human development.
Aerin shook his head, speechless.
"You're overestimating your kind."
"You're just a species that reproduces through emotion."
"You really think humanity lives off romance alone?"
"Emotion is only a part of life."
"Humans have far more important things to do."
"I don't have time to indulge your sorrow—nor any interest in cleaning up Phanes' mess."
"This world is mine now."
"I'll handle things my way."
He rolled his eyes.
"A god of justice who can't even uphold justice in her own nation…"
"Did you really think your plan was clever?"
"You destroy your throne, return the Dragon Authority—"
"And you weren't afraid of waking Celestia?"
"Of triggering a Divine Nail?"
"Or did you somehow predict Celestia's dysfunction five centuries ago?"
"Egeria called you the smartest one. That's hard to believe."
Focalors was left utterly stunned.
She hadn't thought that far.
She'd simply believed this was the only way.
Now… even she felt chills.
"I…"
She pressed a hand to her chest, then lowered her head, unable to respond.
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Aerin lost interest in scolding her.
"Neuvillette is already purging Fontaine's criminals using my list."
"I have a task for you."
"Deal with the Narzissenkreuz Order."
"The Narzissenkreuz Order?" she repeated blankly.
Aerin nodded.
"Rene. Jakob."
"You know them."
Focalors' breath caught.
She did.
Genius orphans from centuries past.
Brilliant minds who had even studied in Sumeru.
After returning to Fontaine, they were supposedly crushed by Neuvillette's forces.
"They weren't eliminated."
"Rene used a world-style extrapolation—similar to Remuria—to predict Fontaine's prophecy."
"To save Fontaine, he merged human consciousness into one entity."
"He intended to release them after the catastrophe."
His methods mirrored Remuria.
The difference—
Remuria sealed minds into golems.
Rene became the vessel himself.
"But his plan failed."
"Once merged, the individual minds could no longer be separated."
"Even after the prophecy ended."
As Aerin spoke calmly, a golden blade materialized between them.
"Take this."
"Use it to separate the minds one by one."
"Give them release. Let them return to the ley lines."
"The rest is none of your concern."
"As for that world-external All-Devouring Narwhal—"
"If the Abyss dared leave their pet in my world…"
"Then I'll gladly accept it."
"And while I'm at it…"
"I'll deal with those who accepted Abyssal power as well."
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