Centuries later, when that long-awaited day finally arrived, Furina sat alone at the table, holding the small cube in her hand.
Gazing softly at the wallpaper on the screen and the sudden appearance of full signal bars in the corner, she couldn't help but recall that distant day when she had first met her cousin.
That was the moment when the gears of her originally lonely fate began to reverse.
---
After handing the cube to Furina and sharing his contact number, Xia Zhi took out a bottle filled with a shimmering golden liquid.
"This is also for you."
"What is it?"
"[Essence of Sun and Moon]."
"[Essence of Sun and Moon]?"
"You can think of it as a potion—it nourishes and enhances all forms of life."
"All forms?"
"Yes, including your divine power."
"!!?"
"Keep it safe, just in case something unexpected happens."
"Understood!"
Furina carefully stored the bottle away, her expression serious.
She didn't voice her gratitude this time, keeping it in her heart—she would repay him properly once she had the means.
Focalors' eyes followed the bottle in Furina's hand until it disappeared from view.
Then she turned to Xia Zhi. "If you've given it all to us, do you have any left for yourself?"
"Don't worry, I have my own."
Xia Zhi thought for a moment before adding,
"I also prepared something else to help pass the time."
"What is it?"
"A game console."
"?"
Under the curious gazes of Furina and Focalors, a brand-new gaming console appeared in Xia Zhi's hand.
They immediately recognized it as an item from his original world, their expressions turning slightly strange.
"Where did you get this?"
"Not telling."
In truth, he had just purchased it from the [Shop] for 1 point.
Along with it, he had also bought a stack of new game discs and a solar-powered battery.
"When you're bored, you two can stay in your room and play games together."
"Yay!"
Furina hugged the console, her face alight with excitement.
She was still in her "playful" phase, after all.
Focalors rapped her knuckles lightly against Furina's head.
Furina winced. "Ow! What was that for?"
Focalors said sternly, "Don't think you can stay up all night gaming. I'll be supervising your magic practice."
Furina puffed out her cheeks. "Ugh…"
Xia Zhi chuckled. "It's fine. Even gods need balance between work and rest."
Focalors shot him an exasperated look. "Don't encourage her! You've been spoiling her from the start—giving her whatever she wants, huh?"
Xia Zhi nodded solemnly. "She called me cousin."
Focalors: "..."
Xia Zhi glanced at the countdown on his system panel.
"I've given you everything I brought. With the time left, how about I play some games with you?"
"Sure!"
And so, the three of them played a racing game together.
At some point, Xia Zhi set down his controller and said softly,
"Time's up. I have to go."
Furina and Focalors fell silent, their expressions complex as they looked at him.
Yes, all things must come to an end.
Xia Zhi stood up.
"Well then, cousin, see you in 500 years."
Furina nodded vigorously, her eyes glistening. "Mm! Cousin, see you in 500 years!"
Xia Zhi turned slightly. "And Focalors—the same goes for you."
Focalors met his gaze. "I know. I'll be waiting for you to extract my authority then."
"Don't worry, I'll come back."
Xia Zhi smiled, thinking once again that she really was a tsundere.
Focalors frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
Xia Zhi said, "I just remembered something. Once, I divined a prophecy for Fontaine."
Focalors looked surprised. "You can perform divinations too?"
"Learned it later."
"What was the result?"
"'The trapped dragon ascends to heaven.'"
"Oh?"
"Focalors, you're clever. Who do you think the 'trapped dragon' refers to—you, Furina, or that young Hydro Dragon Sovereign?"
Focalors froze. "I think—"
Before she could finish, Xia Zhi's figure vanished abruptly.
Not a trace of his presence remained in the room, as if he had never been there at all.
Focalors lowered her eyes.
"How… unfair…"
For them, this separation would last 500 long years. But for him, leaping between two points in time, it would only be a fleeting moment.
Furina stared at the now-empty chair, her heart feeling hollow.
First minute without cousin: missing him already.
In a bad mood—time for snacks.
She opened the ring and let out a startled cry.
Focalors raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"There are so many cakes in here!"
"Cakes?"
"And… they all look like birthday cakes!"
"Really?"
"Let me count… exactly 500!"
Focalors sighed. "…He really went all out."
After some snacks and a bit of magic practice, Focalors urged Furina to sleep.
"It's late. Go rest—tomorrow's your inauguration speech as the Hydro Archon."
"I know."
Furina washed up in the bathroom, then climbed into bed, looking at Focalors.
"Aren't you coming up?"
"The mirror is fine for me."
"But the bed is more comfortable, right?"
"Makes no difference. I'm basically a ghost now."
"Oh… okay."
Furina lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Focalors flipped through [Detailed Explanation of Faith Power]. "Can't sleep?"
"Mm."
"Worried about tomorrow's speech? Or thinking about him?"
"A bit of both."
"For the first, you can rehearse a few times tomorrow. As for the second… you'll have to get used to it from now on."
"Mm… Focalors, are you thinking about him too?"
"Me? Of course not. I'm reading."
"Really…"
Furina took out the small cube.
Focalors glanced at her. "Why are you taking out the phone?"
"Just looking at the wallpaper."
"Put it away and sleep."
"I will."
Furina absently swiped the screen and noticed a [Books] icon.
Curious, she tapped it.
A long list of book titles appeared.
Living with My Cousin, My Domineering Cousin, My Cousin is a Fox Spirit, Cousin Conquest…
Dozens of oddly titled books.
Furina's eyes widened.
She randomly opened one.
Her face slowly turned red, her breathing growing uneven.
W-What kind of book is this?!
This is amazing!
Focalors looked up, sensing something amiss. "What's wrong?"
Startled, Furina quickly turned off the screen. "N-Nothing! I'm going to sleep now!"
As Furina set the phone aside and closed her eyes, Focalors paid no further attention, returning to her book.
But something had quietly begun to change.
----
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