Quiet followed after the defeat of the All-Devouring Narwhal. There was little to say as we watched what few remained of the whale slowly dissolve back into the Primordial Waters it was created from, before it was devoured by the waters that made up this amped-up [Simple Domain].
I took a small breath as I gazed at the starry skies above.
Honestly, it'd been a spur of the moment idea. When I realized that I needed to ferry the All-Devouring Narwhal away from Fontaine to bereft it of its immortality, I wondered if my [Simple Domain] could do the trick. Obviously it wouldn't be enough on its own—it was still a 3★ after all.
But with [As Water Seeks Equilibrium] as the base, [Hand of Creation] increasing its quality, and the power of Fontaine's Shades through [Gentle Remembrance: An Ode of Tomorrow], I could essentially supercharge the Talent and create a Personal World of my own.
Was I sure that it would've worked? Not at all.
So I was quite glad that it did. Would've been quite embarrassing if I did all that only for an anticlimax to occur.
Well, enough musing.
I held out my hand, and a small area of water in front of me began to ripple. Then, with a flash of light, the Gnosis the whale was carrying shot out of the water and landed firmly in my hand. I frowned slightly as I felt the tingling spreading across my fingertips—a sensation both familiar and not.
Immediately, I had the attention of the three other people I'd brought into this world, and I smiled slightly. I could feel Arlecchino's undivided attention on the Gnosis, no doubt wanting it for herself. Neuvillette was then keeping an eye on her, seemingly knowing of her plan. And all the while Childe didn't seem to care for it at all, only having eyes on me after seeing the destruction I'd wrought on that primordial monster.
Out of curiosity, I decided to squeeze the Gnosis with all my strength. Yet no matter how hard I tried, the Gnosis hardly budged, let alone cracked.
It really put into perspective how absurd Lumine's strength was.
"So~" I turned around and dangled the Gnosis in my hands. "Do we need to place an auction for this? It seems we have two very interested buyers." I said jokingly. My words snapped Neuvillette and Arlecchino out of whatever silent rivalry they were having, though Neuvillette frowned at me once he registered what I said.
"Ms. Vivianne, this is no time for jokes."
I shrugged. "How dour." I smiled wryly. "And besides, I can't auction this thing, can I? After all," I turned around. "It's not like this Gnosis is mine, is it?"
The moment I said that, a figure appeared before us all. A woman clothed in radiant white fabrics, her pupils shaped as contrasting water drops.
Neuvillette tensed. "Furina…?"
I shook my head. "Not quite." I corrected, smiling coldly at the Archon. "Ain't that right, Focalors?"
Focalors remained quiet for a moment, before she gave me an expressionless stare. "The plan has been ruined." She began. "All the Energy we have gathered has now scattered back to the Ether." She shook her head. "It is useless now. The prophecy continues."
My eyes twitched. "Uh, sorry, 'we'?" I scowled. "Don't pretend. You and Furina are no longer the same. All you did was remain in your little world like some coward, all while Furina, a 'human', faced the world on her own."
"It is necessary." She said.
I raised an eyebrow. "It is, for you have no strength of your own." I said simply, ignoring the conflicted gaze Neuvillette sent my way. "I understand, but it does not change the method at which you have employed your plan." I smiled with teeth. "You stole Furina's freEdoM away from her for 500 years, and you expect me to still agree to this?"
Finally, some expression appeared on Focalors' face. "And what do you expect me to do, Barbatos?" She said, practically spitting our Barbatos' name in anger.
I frowned for a moment. Once more, another person has confused me for this Barbatos. First it was Dvalin, then Durin, and now Focalors. Do we truly look that similar?
I shook my head. "Oh, I don't know, actually do this stupid plan yourself?" I returned mockingly. "Maybe even ask those folks you got the damned Oratrice from? If you wanted to change Destiny so badly, they would certainly have the ability to do so."
"That is impossible." She said firmly.
I sighed harshly as I ran a hand through my hair. "You're impossible." I said back. "But you need not worry for it any longer. I will ensure this prophecy will not come to pass, even if I have to do so myself." I smiled sharply. "So go back to sleep, princess. When you next wake up, that floating island will probably be nothing more than a pile of burning rubble."
And at this point, I'm contemplating it myself. Because, thinking back on it, the only reason that Celestial Nail even managed to get so close to Watatsumi in the first place was because Ronove was there. And I won't even need to injure myself if I needed to stop the nail myself, since I could now create clones of myself using [Modular Autonomy] to shoulder the burden instead.
But that was something to contemplate for a later time, when I'd finally shaken off most of the annoyance I'd built up due to this conversation.
Seeing the clear dismissal, Focalors disappeared soon after, leaving us all in silence. I took a moment to just breathe, before I turned around and forced a pleasant smile back onto my lips. "So!" I said with a cheerful clap. "Now that we're done here, let's go back, shall we?"
No one disagreed. Neuvillette seemed the most reluctant, but hearing what it was the Archon had said, even he found himself displeased at the methods Focalors had used. Arlecchino nodded silently, having gained new respect for the human that shouldered Fontaine's burden for centuries.
And Childe was practically buzzing with excitement, seeing his duel with me approaching.
I pursed my lips for a moment, before I shrugged my shoulders. "Here." I then threw the Gnosis at Neuvillette, and he frowned slightly as he caught it. "As I said, it's not mine, and I don't need it. You keep it for now." I shook my head as I pressed my fingers together. "Let's go home."
And saying that, the world shook. The endless ocean beneath us trembled, and the stars above shattered as giant cracks stretched across the skies. A flash of light filled the crumbling world, and then the next moment we were back in the ruined judgement hall. There was no one to see us reappear, since they'd all been evacuated.
I sighed as I gazed at the clear afternoon sky. "Well, that's that-"
"Duel!?" Childe immediately asked, his Hydro spear already in his hands. I could see Arlecchino messaging her brow in the back.
I chuckled. Even after all that, he was still single-mindedly focused on my offer for a spar. It's quite funny to see. Even a little endearing. I could see why Zhongli was so taken by this Harbinger.
…wait, who?
I shook my head before I smiled. "Ah, not now. I'm afraid I have something I must first do" I smiled apologetically. "Perhaps tomorrow would suffice?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Of course!"
I nodded back. "Now then," I took a glance at my surroundings, and finding no one trapped beneath the rubble, I took a relieved breath. "Now that all this is over, let us find the others, shall we?"
Everyone else nodded, and off we went towards the relatively unharmed Palais Mermonia.
And unnoticed by everyone, my body momentarily glowed a prismatic light, before three Wind Sprites discreetly formed behind me and flew to the sky.
.
.
.
The front hall of the Palais Mermonia was absolutely silent. Even after some Melusines had confirmed that the strange whale that'd appeared out of the Oratrice was gone, no one dared to leave the Palais, much less stand up and see for themselves.
It was understandable. They had all felt the intense oppression when that whale appeared. It was as if they weren't even allowed to breathe when that whale came onto Teyvat, and the weight of the prophecy felt the strongest it had ever felt since she first learnt of it 500 years ago.
And yet she was…calm. Even as her people looked at one another with fear and despair, Furina found herself staring at the door with rising hope.
Because she could feel it. There was a new emptiness in her chest, as if something she'd known for centuries had been ripped away from her.
She couldn't feel Mirror Her any longer. Her reflection—Focalors. That innate connection she once had was gone, and while most would normally despair at the emptiness that clawed within her chest, the sensation instead filled her with a giddiness that was difficult to contain.
The prophecy hadn't been undone—she could instinctively feel that. But the chains that bound her to the prophecy were gone.
She was free.
And the reason she had been freed was-
The doors opened, and in came the four who had bravely fought off the All-Devouring Narwhal. The Fatui Harbingers walked in as if they owned the place, uncaring of their status. The Ludex walked in calmly, though those that knew him could see the subtle conflict in his eyes.
And the Storyteller that'd so boldly saved her. The very one who had approached her on that late afternoon, who listened to her story and then promised to bring her the Happy Ending she deserved.
The people finally regained their life as they saw the four enter the Palais, but Furina cared none for that. Her eyes remained solely on Vivianne as she walked in, her clothes entirely untouched, as if she hadn't fought back a primordial beast capable of drowning the entire nation.
Even now she could still remember it like it'd happened moments ago. That moment when Vivianne appeared before her, a halo shining atop her head, and great white wings stretching from her back. The Anemo and Hydro that spun around her, as if blessed by the seas and skies themselves. The power she showed as she struck back at the whale, and the smile she gave as she promised Furina her Happy Ending.
She could hear little other than her own heartbeat, echoing loudly from her chest like a drum. Unconsciously she brought a hand to her chest, and she gulped slightly as Vivianne finally returned her gaze.
Vivianne smiled. "I'm back." She whispered, yet her voice sounded incredibly clear due to the winds that ferried them.
Furina shivered slightly as the winds brushed past her ear. It was almost as if Vivianne herself was standing next to her, whispering her words right into her ear.
Her cheeks reddened slightly, and the emptiness in her chest was filled with warmth as she smiled back. "Thank you." She whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. "Thank you, so much."
Vivianne quickly made her way to the crowd, before coming to a stop in front of her. "This Story isn't over yet, milady." Gently, she reached forward and brushed away her tears. "I promised you a Happy Ending, did I not? And while the immediate threat has ended for the moment, my promise to bring you around Teyvat has yet to be completed."
She giggled. "You would've made a fine knight."
Vivianne scoffed playfully. "I would've been a terrible knight. I'm far too adventurous for that. I would've likely driven my liege insane."
Furina grinned. She could see that. "So, you promise?"
Vivianne grinned back. "A promise is a promise, no?"
Ah, her heart felt so full. Just thinking of the journey Vivianne was promising her was making her feel all sorts of things.
Furina closed her eyes in contentment.
.
.
.
[Interference detected on Character -Furina de Fontaine-. Source: Celestia]
"Aha, an Anemo Vision is it? A final attempt by this interloper to bind our fair maiden to another Destiny! Tch, tch, tch, how stubborn."
[...New Possibility generated. Query?]
"Oh, now that is indeed devious! Are you perhaps taking inspiration from little ole' me, tiny machine?"
[Query discarded. Beginning Absorbtion…]
"Aha! To be immediately ignored!"