Akio didn't like using his mind-reading powers on his own women. Just now, he had only briefly examined Furina's physical condition—but what he found left him utterly stunned.
As Focalors, the Hydro Archon, Furina's current body was actually nothing more than that of a mortal? Not even the tiniest trace of divine power remained within her!
And yet, the divine aura he'd previously sensed on Furina was merely a curse of divine nature?
Just what exactly had happened? Wasn't Furina supposed to be the Hydro Archon? If she wasn't, then who was she really? Even Neuvillette had...
Shaking his head, Akio looked toward Furina, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.
"W-what... what's wrong?" Furina asked timidly, noticing Akio's puzzled gaze resting upon her.
"Furina, you're not the Hydro Archon?" Akio softened his tone and asked gently.
"What? That can't be," Raiden Ei and Yae Miko both expressed their surprise.
"Impossible. Furina has always been Fontaine's Hydro Archon, for hundreds of years," Yae Miko shook her head, "Before Inazuma closed its borders, I even visited Fontaine myself. I saw her at the Opera House, although I didn't have time to say hello."
"Hmm?" Akio didn't doubt Yae Miko's words, but he didn't doubt his own abilities either.
"R-right!" Furina straightened her neck and declared stubbornly, "Darling... I, Furina de Fontaine, how could I possibly not be the Hydro Archon? Even Big Sister Miko can vouch for me! You must've seen it wrong..."
"You still don't want to tell me the truth?" Akio stared calmly at Furina.
His quiet tone made Furina lower her head. Her eyes flickered anxiously as she struggled to decide whether she should reveal the secret she'd kept buried deep in her heart for centuries.
If... if Akio truly couldn't overcome that prophecy, then all her efforts over the past centuries would be wasted. Fontaine would be doomed—and she would become the sinner responsible for it all.
"You're afraid, aren't you? Can you tell me what you're afraid of?" Akio asked softly, sensing Furina's deep fear.
"..." Furina remained silent, not uttering a single word.
"I know what you're afraid of," Akio continued gently, "You're afraid I can't defeat Celestia, aren't you?"
"'Only Celestia cannot be opposed'—is that what you think?" Akio asked softly.
"!!!" Furina's expression immediately shifted in shock, staring at Akio in disbelief, wondering how he could possibly know.
"Looks like I guessed correctly," Akio smiled lightly.
"Then, Furina, why are you crying?" Akio reached out, gently wiping away Furina's tears. Hadn't she already stopped crying just now?
"I'm... crying? No, I'm not..." Furina touched her cheeks in confusion. Hadn't she been holding back her tears? Why were they now streaming down uncontrollably, even without her noticing?
"Furina, I know you're afraid of Celestia. But if that's all, then rest assured," Akio said tenderly, his voice carrying a hint of heartache. "In this world, I am invincible."
"Even Celestia is nothing but an insignificant ant before me," Akio's golden eyes glowed faintly.
"Descenders? The Abyss? The Dragon Sovereigns? All are mere insects, easily crushed," Akio declared seriously. "Even if mountains collapse and seas overturn, even if heaven and earth reverse, I still have the power to protect all of you and this entire world."
"He's right," Raiden Ei nodded solemnly. "I wield the supreme power of thunder, yet even I cannot glimpse my husband's true limits. Such strength... Even Celestia is surely no match for him."
Furina turned her gaze toward Raiden Ei. She knew Ei's character well—she was not someone who exaggerated or spoke carelessly.
"I once pursued unchanging eternity, believing only eternity could rival Celestia," Raiden Shogun spoke quietly, "But now, my only path is to follow my husband. Only he embodies true eternity. Compared to him, Celestia is nothing but a faint firefly."
"..." Furina lowered her head, her mind racing with countless thoughts.
"Furina," Akio gently drew Furina into his embrace, whispering softly, "I know you have your difficulties, things you don't dare speak aloud. But with me, you can speak freely. No one is stronger than I am, and there's nothing I can't resolve."
"Here, you can tell me everything. I'll be your strongest shield," Akio gently caressed Furina's delicate cheek.
"R-really?" Furina lifted her head, gazing up at Akio with her mismatched eyes, as if asking one final time for reassurance.
"Of course," Akio nodded, cupping Furina's face gently and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm your husband. If you don't trust me, who else could you trust?"
"You're right..." Hearing Akio's gentle reassurance, Furina finally couldn't hold back any longer.
Her tears poured out uncontrollably, and she threw herself into Akio's arms, sobbing loudly.
"Waaahhh..."
"Darling... I'm so lonely! Waaaaahhh..."
"It's been centuries... so terribly long, so terribly lonely..."
"I've had no one to confide in... not even a single person... I'm terrified all my efforts will be in vain, terrified Fontaine will be destroyed..."
"Waaaahhh..."
"I'm truly... so lonely..."
...
Akio quietly held Furina tightly in his arms, gently stroking her soft hair as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Furina..." Yae Miko and the others watched the Hydro Archon cry her heart out, their expressions complicated and confused.
What could possibly have happened to make a god cry so heartbreakingly?
After a long, long time, perhaps finally cried out, Furina lifted her head slowly and looked up at Akio with pitiful eyes.
"Furina, you don't have to be afraid anymore. From now on, you're no longer alone. You have me, and you have them," Akio spoke softly, gently caressing her cheek.
"You can tell me everything. I'll listen, I'll walk every road with you. Trust me, Furina," Akio reassured her.
"I trust you..." Furina nodded softly, finally gathering her courage. She looked directly into Akio's eyes.
"Actually, I... I'm not really the Hydro Archon..." Furina shook her head slowly. "I've only been playing the role of the Hydro Archon... for about five hundred years now. I've been acting as the Hydro Archon all this time."
"I'm just an ordinary person... a tiny, powerless human being," Furina whispered softly. "In the beginning, I thought this performance would only last a few short acts. Yet, five centuries have passed..."
"I've lived every moment in this act, portraying a role that was never mine. I've lived every day in constant fear... terrified someone would see through my deception."
"That's right, Darling... I'm just a fake Hydro Archon... I'm nothing more than a mortal..." Furina finally confessed softly, gazing into Akio's gentle eyes.