Clorinde's words hadn't dispelled the doubts gnawing at Focalors and Neuvillette.
If anything, they thought both Furina and Clorinde sounded like they'd caught some grand case of chuunibyou.
Fortunately, Clorinde was still somewhat reliable. She patiently explained—
Her initiation into Mount Shu, the sights and wonders she had witnessed there,
her exchanges with disciples and even with the Sect Master himself,
the revival of spiritual energy across Teyvat, the Martial Dao of Liyue,
the choice of cultivation methods, and even the Heavenly Child's Sealing Divine Art.
She spared no detail.
By the time she finally finished, Neuvillette and Focalors were dazed, as though they were dreaming.
Clorinde quietly stepped back to stand behind Furina.
Furina grinned proudly.
"Well? Do you believe now that I can solve Fontaine's problems?
That whole Oratrice Judgement machine, that talk of shattering the god-seat—it's all unnecessary!
As long as I live, Fontaine lives!"
Clorinde inclined her head slightly.
That was well said. For once, Furina carried the aura of a true king.
Yes, much of her bravado might still be rooted in vanity.
But habits could be cultivated. In time, Furina would surely preserve this aura.
It was a big step forward in grooming her into a mature ruler. Truly worth celebrating.
Focalors came back to her senses, a rare excitement swelling in her chest.
She had prepared for five hundred years, resigned herself long ago to her fate.
But… when faced with death, who could truly remain serene?
She too had been afraid—she had only forced herself not to show it, for Fontaine's sake.
Now, with Furina's Mount Shu plan succeeding, did it mean she no longer had to die?
To watch Fontaine prosper with her own eyes—wasn't that far better than any sacrifice?
If it were truly as Furina claimed, then what of her five-hundred-year plan?
The Primordial Sea? Suppressed with a flick of the wrist!
The prophecy crisis? Cast aside!
Even Celestia itself? Bring it down for a slap across the face!
She even dared imagine she herself might cultivate, live longer, accompany Fontaine for centuries more.
She realized now—the perfect plan was never her own self-destruction.
It was the creation of Furina—
This perfect human who had just given her the most stunning of surprises.
Drawing a deep breath, Focalors looked to Furina with hope.
"So… you mean to ask the Sect Master himself to help solve Fontaine's problem?"
A Return-to-Void master's intervention? Changing the constitution of Fontaine's people would be child's play!
He could likely scoop up the entire Primordial Sea to use as a pond for Mount Shu.
As for the leviathan within? Hardly even worth keeping as a pet.
But Furina shattered her expectations at once.
"The Sect Master has mountains of duties—governing Mount Shu, cultivating for his next breakthrough. He doesn't have time for such trifles!"
"…"
Focalors fell silent, forcing a smile.
"Not the Sect Master, then perhaps one of the Chief Elders or Grand Elders? Even a late Spirit Transformation cultivator could handle it."
A being of that realm could smack even Celestia across the face without issue!
But Furina shook her head again.
"Zhongli, the Chief Elder, is busy managing the Hall of Discipline and pursuing vengeance for his senior.
Alice, the Grand Elder, oversees both the Hall of Discipline and the Hall of Merit, while caring for little Klee besides.
Venti may not have much on his plate, but he's still only an acting Chief, not officially confirmed. Mount Shu forbids interfering with worldly affairs.
They can bend the rules to help their own nations, but to aid another? That might bring punishment.
They wouldn't dare take that risk. And besides—Venti's already racked up too many demerits, he's scrambling for missions to earn contribution points back."
"Mount Shu protects its own, yes. But for outsiders? Not necessarily."
Hearing this, the hope in Focalors' and Neuvillette's eyes dimmed away.
Focalors even thought bitterly: she might as well lock herself back into the Oratrice.
So in the end, none of the supposed allies would come?
Then what was Furina so proud about?!
She was only at early Essence Refinement. What could she possibly do?
Despondence crept over her.
"Then even your fellow disciples won't come to help?"
Furina nodded proudly.
"Exactly! One must solve one's own problems! Besides, in a month begins the exploration of the Nine Nether Secret Realm, and in three months the Seven Peaks Tournament. Everyone is busy cultivating."
Focalors nodded weakly, then turned to Neuvillette.
"Now you know the plan in full. Do you still mean to follow through with shattering my god-seat and taking the Water Dragon's authority?"
Neuvillette pressed his lips together. A flicker of resistance flashed in his eyes.
He gave no answer.
Clearly, he no longer wished to walk that path.
Focalors sighed, troubled.
"Hey! Why the despair already? You haven't even asked me yet!
Why not ask the all-powerful king?"
Focalors looked at her silently.
"You're early Essence Refinement. Can you change the people's constitution? Can you suppress the Primordial Sea?"
"Nope!"
"…What… what a confident answer."
Focalors stared at her gloomily.
"I mean, not now!"
Furina spread her hands with a cheeky grin.
"You still don't understand the Heavenly Child's Sealing Divine Art, do you?"
Her smile faded. She straightened, her tone solemn:
"If the king wills it, heaven cannot deny it.
If the king denies it, heaven cannot exist!
The will of the king surpasses the will of heaven and earth.
At the king's command, heaven, earth, mountains, rivers, seas, and all living things must obey!
On Fontaine's soil, I am the king. I cultivate the Sealing Divine Art.
I am the law itself!
What I speak, this world must enact.
If I decree my people's bodies change, then they must change.
If I command the Primordial Sea be still, then not a ripple may rise!
If I demand the abyssal leviathan's death, it cannot live!
That is the king's dominion!
All of Fontaine is mine—including you, Focalors!
If I forbid your death, then none of you may die!
In Fontaine, I am the absolute law!
Whomever I will to live, lives.
Whomever I will to die, dies.
Whomever I will to ascend as god, ascends as god.
Even the gods are subjects of the king!"
Her words mounted in fervor, and suddenly she rose to her feet.
Her eyes blazed with fire.
"Fontaine!
I acknowledge it! I permit it! I bear it upon my back!
To bow before me is Fontaine's destiny.
To protect Fontaine is my duty!"
Lowering her gaze slightly, she fixed both Focalors and Neuvillette with a piercing stare.
The overwhelming aura of a king surged from her, making them both hesitate to even meet her eyes.
"Listen well, Focalors! You've burdened me with five centuries of lies.
From this moment on, Fontaine rests on my shoulders!
Your life is mine! Because I am the King of Fontaine!
Until I consent, none of you may die!
The prophecy crisis? Lie back and watch your king handle it!
And when it's over, I'll enfeoff a dozen Water Gods—just to spite you!"
Her declaration was arrogant, domineering, yet Clorinde looked upon her with deep satisfaction.
Furina was walking ever further down the king's path.
As she'd always believed—no one was more suited to be Fontaine's king than Furina!
Focalors stared blankly at her. How was it that in just a few days away, she had returned so utterly transformed?
Perhaps, as they said, she had indeed gained a tremendous fortune in Mount Shu.
Perhaps she truly could be the rightful king of Fontaine.
She had once thought Neuvillette would take up the Water God's mantle, while Furina cast off her falsehoods and lived happily as a human at last.
But now she realized… perhaps that was never what Furina wanted.
Through five centuries, Furina had come to love Fontaine deeply, carving into her bones the responsibility that had never truly been hers.
She would not cast it aside.
She had chosen her path: the sole king of Fontaine.
All within its borders must heed her.
She could govern Fontaine well.
Suddenly, Focalors felt at ease.
Even if the old plan lay in ruins, she no longer feared for Fontaine.
Furina would save it perfectly, without any sacrifice.
Her way was far more perfect than Focalors' self-destruction.
Even if she herself were gone one day, she could leave without regret.
So long as Furina lived, Fontaine lived.
And Furina would rule better than she ever could.
Besides… perhaps she might not die after all.
Hadn't Furina declared it?
If the king forbade her death, how could she disobey?
To do so would be a crime.
It was domineering, yes—
But also strangely comforting.
Deep in her soul, she felt it: if Furina willed it, she could not die.
Even the dreaded prophecy crisis would cower silently before her.
Fontaine's fate was no longer dictated by heaven.
From the moment its king returned, its fate lay in her hands alone.
In Fontaine, Furina was heaven.
Neuvillette, too, looked at her with mixed awe and reflection.
At last, he murmured softly:
"So domineering, Lady Furina… At this moment, you no longer seem like Fontaine's Water God, but truly its King.
I will trust in your decision."
Furina tilted her chin high, radiant with confidence.
Her conviction spread to those around her, soothing their fear of prophecy.
"A king requires no faith from you.
All you need do is follow the king's will—and you will receive the fate you most desire!"
At those words, Neuvillette and Focalors exchanged a glance and both smiled faintly, relief glimmering in their eyes.
A moment later, Neuvillette bowed slightly, hand to his chest.
For the first time in five centuries, he saluted Furina with such reverence.
"As you command… my king."
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