Furina stared blankly at the pair of dull gray eyes on Xia Zhi's face, feeling somewhat dazed.
Xia Zhi waved his hand and said, "No need to dwell on such things. Focalors, can you now tell me your complete plan?"
Focalors fell silent for a moment before replying, "Of course. It all began with that prophecy. A troublesome prophecy indeed—everyone would dissolve, Fontaine would be submerged in water..."
Xia Zhi interjected, "Where did you learn of this prophecy?"
Focalors glanced at him.
"From the previous Hydro Archon, Egeria. She entrusted this prophecy to me."
"She knew full well that the events foretold in the prophecy were inevitable."
"As one of the Seven Archons of Teyvat, she also understood that the Heavenly Principles... were not to be challenged."
"This is an utterly unsolvable predicament, don't you agree?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "From an ordinary rational perspective, that's certainly true."
Focalors continued, "Later, I secluded myself deep underwater to think quietly. It wasn't until the clam shells around me began bubbling that I finally arrived at the only possible solution."
"Only by deceiving the Heavenly Principles could we save everyone while allowing the prophecy to unfold."
"Hmph, I truly am a genius. That must be why Egeria chose me as her successor."
"In that case, she essentially dumped the task of saving this nation, the duties of the Hydro Archon, and even the original sin of 'creating humans' onto me all at once."
"Sigh... What could I do? After all, I was once one of her many pure water spirit familiars... Hey, are you even listening?"
Xia Zhi nodded again. "Of course. So this plan was something you came up with after your brain got waterlogged? That explains a lot."
"What do you mean waterlogged?!" Focalors bristled with anger.
"I said I submerged myself underwater! As the Hydro Archon, isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to enjoy thinking beneath the waves?"
Xia Zhi ignored her protest and asked another question. "What about Furina then? Why is she the 'perfect human'? Is she your 'ideal'?"
"Becoming human has always been my dream—it still is. To me, the very existence of humanity is like a magnificent opera."
Focalors gazed at Furina as she spoke.
"After ascending to godhood, I separated my 'divine persona' from my body and spirit, leaving behind only the part of me that resembled a newly created human."
"The 'me' standing before you now is that divine persona, while the human 'me'... I named her Furina."
Furina listened in stunned silence as her origins were laid bare.
Focalors continued in a strangely complex tone, "She experiences joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—arrogant when she should be, cowardly when necessary..."
"Her virtues are uniquely human virtues, and her flaws are distinctly human flaws."
Xia Zhi remarked, "So she's just an ordinary human?"
Focalors lifted her chin proudly. "But in my eyes, Furina is the perfect 'human' precisely because she's indistinguishable from a real human—she's the idealized version of 'myself.'"
Xia Zhi massaged his temples.
"You pure water spirits really have some issues. Don't you understand the concept of biodiversity? Must you insist on becoming a real human?"
Focalors looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Of course not. Among pure water spirits, there are those who don't wish to become human. I just happen to be one who does."
"Fine, continue."
Focalors went on, "Then, I cursed her. I cursed her never to age..."
"The prophecy states that 'the Hydro Archon will sit alone on her throne, weeping.'"
"To make the prophecy 'appear' to come true, I invited Furina—this actress—to 'play the role' of the weeping Hydro Archon."
"Under my curse, as long as I—the divine persona—continue to exist, Furina will never die. Yet she'll also never experience the happiness a human deserves."
"She'll be forced to make this opera house her stage, becoming its true leading lady, forever performing the part of the 'divine' to fulfill the prophecy's illusion."
Xia Zhi said, "But have you considered that Furina is just a human—your idealized version of the most ordinary human? Even if her body doesn't age and she has an extended lifespan, her mental resilience remains at an ordinary human level. What if she breaks down?"
Focalors hesitated before replying with faltering confidence, "If it's her... she definitely won't."
Xia Zhi sighed in exasperation. "Up to this point... I can understand how you plan to 'deceive the Heavenly Principles.' But this only accounts for half your plan, doesn't it? On this foundation, how do you intend to save the people of Fontaine from the prophecy?"
Focalors answered, "By using the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
Xia Zhi had seen this device many times in Furina's fate corridor. "That automated judgment machine? It seems to be for collecting faith energy?"
Focalors lowered her voice.
"Yes, that's its apparent function. In truth, I will merge with the Oratrice, bringing Fontaine's Gnosis with me. Your understanding of that machine remains incomplete—it isn't actually a device for delivering justice... The truth is, the Oratrice is a machine designed to kill the Hydro Archon."
Xia Zhi looked thoughtful.
Focalors continued, "Saying it 'kills' isn't entirely accurate. To be precise, it's a machine that will destroy the Hydro Archon's divine throne... along with the Archon herself."
She glanced at Furina, who seemed to have short-circuited from the revelation.
"I'm not the type to watch Furina suffer while I devise schemes without a care. Over these years, my work has been to accumulate faith energy within the Oratrice. A small portion powers Fontaine's cities, while the vast majority is stored for the final execution."
Xia Zhi asked, "You plan to kill yourself? No—you plan to kill the 'Hydro Archon' of this world?"
Focalors nodded.
"Correct. Only faith energy accumulated over centuries—at this magnitude—could hope to shake the rules decreed by Celestia. Only then could we break the framework of the Seven Archons, completely destroy the Hydro Archon's throne, and liberate its authority."
Xia Zhi pressed further, "And then?"
Focalors explained, "You may not know this, but the authority of the Seven Archons originates from the elemental dragons of this world. Long ago, the Heavenly Principles defeated the dragons and stripped them of their authority. When Egeria 'created humans,' she used the dragon's authority. But because this authority was incomplete, the humans she created bore inherent flaws—this is why they dissolve in the Primordial Seawater. In other words, restoring the authority to its complete form would repair these flaws in Fontaine's people, making them immune to the Primordial Seawater."
Xia Zhi mused, "I see. Your idea is to shatter the Hydro Archon's authority, returning it to the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, then ask Him to repair the flaws in Fontaine's people. Is that right?"
Focalors nodded firmly. "Exactly!"
Xia Zhi questioned, "How can you be certain the Hydro Dragon Sovereign will agree to help after regaining complete authority?"
Focalors replied, "I've already found Him. He's only recently been born and is still lost. I've invited Him to serve as Fontaine's Chief Justice. After living in Fontaine for a few centuries, He's bound to develop a sense of belonging to this nation."
Xia Zhi countered, "What if He doesn't? A mere few centuries is nothing to a long-lived species. How can you be sure He'll develop this attachment—and that He'd risk opposing the Heavenly Principles for it?"
Focalors hesitated again before admitting weakly, "I believe He would."
Xia Zhi sighed. "So you're essentially gambling? Betting that Furina can endure indefinitely? Betting that the Chief Justice will take pity?"
Focalors fell silent.
After a long pause, she spoke with a hint of resignation. "What choice do I have? Egeria dumped this mess on me. This is the most perfect plan I could devise!"
Xia Zhi looked at her as if she were a fool. "This 'most perfect plan' of yours... forgive my bluntness, but it's full of holes."
Focalors scoffed. "Oh, you're so clever. Then give me a flawless plan!"
Xia Zhi pondered for a moment. "I have three strategies—superior, middle, and inferior. Which would you like?"
Focalors huffed. "What's the inferior one?"
Xia Zhi extended his hand, summoning a small bottle. "This is called the 'Bottle of Essence.' It serves no other purpose than to hold water—a lot of water. I could simply collect all the Primordial Seawater from across Teyvat into this bottle, eliminating any concern about Fontaine's people dissolving."
"..."
Focalors' face darkened.
"What kind of solution is that?! The Primordial Seawater is the source of life for this continent. Without it, all living things would perish within a century."
Xia Zhi pocketed the bottle. "Regardless, we're only discussing how to resolve the prophecy for now. Due to this method's shortcomings, I've labeled it the inferior strategy."
Focalors asked, "What's the middle strategy then?"
Xia Zhi explained, "The middle one is simpler. After all your elaborate scheming, your goal is simply to obtain complete draconic authority to repair the inherent flaws in Fontaine's people. To do this, you need to destroy the Hydro Archon's throne. But since the prophecy states that 'only the Hydro Archon remains, weeping on her throne,' the Hydro Archon must continue to exist in some form. So you chose to separate your 'persona,' having her play the role of 'Hydro Archon' to satisfy this condition. Correct?"
Focalors gave a small hum of agreement. "Yes."
Xia Zhi glanced at the [Temporary Certificate] equipped in his character interface.
By simply writing the words "Complete Hydro Dragon Sovereign" on this card, he could temporarily assume all the skills of such an identity—naturally including the so-called "draconic authority."
Xia Zhi said, "You might not believe this, but I actually have a way to temporarily borrow complete draconic authority."
Focalors' eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Impossible!"
She couldn't fathom him possessing such power.
Xia Zhi produced the card and, under the curious gazes of Focalors and Furina, wrote the words "Complete Hydro Dragon Sovereign" on it before equipping it in his character interface.
Immediately, he saw a slew of temporary skills appear in his skill list.
Simultaneously, he sensed a peculiar affinity with this world's Hydro element.
Xia Zhi turned to Focalors, releasing a faint pulse of the Hydro Dragon Sovereign's oppressive aura.
Focalors' expression shifted from shock to elation, then finally to bitter amusement. "So all my meticulous planning... is nothing but a joke to you?"
Xia Zhi shook his head. "Not at all. I deeply admire your patience and ruthlessness toward yourself. But sometimes, gaps in capability can't be bridged by schemes alone."
After a moment's silence, Focalors composed herself. "With your help, my plan becomes unnecessary. You could simply come to Fontaine and repair the flaws in our people. Furina and I would handle the rest of the prophecy."
Xia Zhi shook his head again. "No."
Focalors grew anxious. "You won't help? Didn't you say you came to assist us?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "I did come to help, but not in this way. I want to help you better."
"A better way?"
Focalors paused, then remembered. "Ah, this was only the middle strategy. What's the superior one?"
Xia Zhi smiled and retrieved a teardrop-shaped blue gem from his inventory.
"This."
Furina gasped at the sight of the sparkling gem. "It's beautiful."
Most girls adored pretty gems, after all.
Xia Zhi spoke softly to Furina. "Furina, give me your hand."
"Huh? My hand?"
Though confused, Furina instinctively trusted him and obediently extended her hand.
Xia Zhi placed the [Tears of the Goddess] in her palm.
The moment their fingers touched—
The system's voice echoed in Xia Zhi's mind.
"[Fated connection target has actively responded to physical contact. Fate bond established. Effects will activate after this fate intervention concludes.]"
Xia Zhi withdrew his hand.
Furina stared at the blue teardrop gem in her palm, bewildered.
"Xia Zhi... this is..."
"A gift I prepared for you."
Xia Zhi spoke gently.
"Wear it on your person, and you'll discover its purpose."
Wear it?
Furina found a string in her wardrobe, carefully tied it around the gem, and fastened it at her waist.
The moment it settled against her, she froze.
A flood of spell knowledge suddenly filled her mind.
"Furina? What's wrong?"
Alarmed by her sudden stillness, Focalors called out to her.
Furina blinked back to awareness. "I'm fine."
Then she raised her hand—and a water sphere materialized in her palm.
Focalors' eyes widened in shock.
How was this possible?!
Furina was just an ordinary human.
She didn't even possess a Vision.
Why could she wield Hydro elemental energy?
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