Mona: "Megistus is our school's calling card in professional circles, like a surname in the usual sense. Don't worry if you don't understand it yet. You can study it later when you delve deeper into astrology."
Lumine: "In that case, I think I'll call myself the Triple-Strength Traveler."
Paimon: "What about me?"
Lumine: "Triple-Glutton White Sprite."
"Hehe~"
Paimon pouted, her small mouth pursed. "Hey, Chu Xi! Stop laughing at Paimon! And Lumine, I'm not a glutton!"
After some playful banter, Paimon brought up the Fontaine prophecy. Mona's expression turned serious.
"Speaking of that, you know Fontaine has been experiencing a lot of turmoil lately, right? Even if you're not locals, try to avoid any water that seems unusual. I have a bad feeling... the water holds trouble."
Mona hadn't come to Fontaine solely for the prophecy. The prophecy was just the catalyst; the Symposium was her primary objective.
When she first received the invitation, Mona never imagined Fontaine would be in such a state. She now believed the prophet who issued the original prophecy must have been extraordinarily powerful.
Finally, Lumine asked Mona if she could help her contact her master to confirm the Fontaine Prophecy's validity.
Mona was surprised but agreed to find Lumine immediately if she heard from her master.
After chatting for a while longer, Mona left.
That evening, Navia came to Fleuve Cendre, treated Lumine and Paimon to a late-night snack, and arranged rooms for them.
-
The next day at noon, as agreed, the trio headed to Palais Mermonia to find Neuvillette.
Arriving at the door of Neuvillette's office in Palais Mermonia, Melusine Sedene was pacing anxiously back and forth. Spotting Lumine and the others, she rushed toward them as if they were her saviors.
"You—you're finally here!"
Paimon: "What's wrong?!"
"Monsieur Neuvillette and Lady Furina seem to be arguing... Please go check on them!"
Paimon: "What?!"
Paimon was about to barge in when Lumine grabbed her arm.
Lumine shook her head at Paimon, and the three of them pressed their ears against the door, listening intently to the conversation inside.
-
Meanwhile, inside Neuvillette's office:
"Lady Furina, I understand you're grieving, but Fidelle left because of Poisson. You must realize our time is running out. As the Hydro Archon Focalors, you should be aware of your current position."
Neuvillette's tone was more severe than ever before:
"If not for Fidelle's intervention in Poisson, we would have lost far more—perhaps even Fidelle herself... I will not allow another such incident to occur. I repeat: you must tell me everything you know!"
Furina's face was drawn and haggard, clearly showing she hadn't rested properly in days.
"I've told you countless times already: I have everything under control! You should know I'm not ignoring the Prophecy. Just trust me!"
Neuvillette took a deep breath. No matter how he pressed her, Furina either evaded the question or abruptly changed the subject.
"Yesterday, I found three slates in the ancient ruins in Poisson. Are you aware of this?"
"...What's with this sudden interrogation tone? I know nothing about those slates."
"There were originally four slates. The first one is missing, while the remaining three are each engraved with different images, likely all related to the Prophecy. The second slate depicts the previous Hydro Archon, Egeria, kneeling on the ground with her face upturned towards the floating islands in the sky, as if confessing her sins. You weren't aware of this either?"
Furina: "I had no idea. I've never seen these slates before."
Neuvillette's expression turned cold, his voice now laced with oppressive weight: "...I'll ask again: do you truly have no information whatsoever about the previous Hydro Archon?"
"The information I gleaned from the slates suggests that Hydro Archon Egeria apologized or confessed to something. You, above all others, should be aware of this."
Furina: "Every God has their secrets. The previous era was the previous era; I am myself. It's hardly strange that I wouldn't know about such things, is it?"
Neuvillette: "..."
Furina: "I understand your urgency, but... I'm sorry, I genuinely have no information to share."
In other words, she possessed information she couldn't reveal.
Ignoring the enraged Hydro Dragon behind her, Furina made a hasty excuse and left, unnoticed even by the three who had been eavesdropping at the door.
After Furina left, Lumine, Paimon, and the Traveler entered the room.
Neuvillette: "You've been waiting outside for quite a while, haven't you?"
Paimon: "You noticed? Furina didn't even have time to pay attention to us."
Neuvillette: "She was extremely agitated, though I'm unsure of the reason. Our discussions have repeatedly stalled, and we can no longer allow this situation to fester."
"...But I don't understand. Dialogue is the foundation of communication. Why would she persistently refuse to engage?"
Lumine: "Simply asking questions might not be enough. We need to make her realize the gravity of the situation..."
Neuvillette: "Anyone with insight can see that Lady Furina is hiding secrets. The problem lies in her attitude. Unless absolutely cornered, she's unlikely to reveal anything."
"If Fidelle were still here, she might have found a way... But now... we must create an environment that forces her to speak."
Lumine: "You mean..."
Neuvillette: "...People typically reveal the truth only when facing trial. It's time the Hydro Archon experienced such a setting."
Lumine's eyes widened. "You're going to put Furina on trial?"
Neuvillette: "The situation is critical. I have no other choice, though some details still need to be finalized."
-
Fidelle had been drifting within the Primordial Sea water, patiently awaiting an opportunity, a possibility. But as the days passed, that possibility remained elusive. With Furina's trial imminent, how helpless would she be without Fidelle's support?
Just as Fidelle was about to use Emotion Points to escape the Primordial Sea, the opportunity she had been waiting for finally arrived!
Drifting in the Primordial Sea, Fidelle suddenly felt dizzy. Instead of resisting, she quietly drifted into unconsciousness.
When she opened her eyes, the endless Primordial Sea water had vanished. She found herself standing on the surface of an almost motionless space.
Looking down, Fidelle saw her own body.
It was... an Oceanid...
"Hello, Fidelle."
The voice drew Fidelle's attention. She whipped her head around to see a young woman with her back turned slowly turning around.
"Y-you're... Lady Furina..."
Fidelle's voice trembled. She had thought she would never see Lady Furina again in this lifetime, but...
"Furina" smiled faintly. "I'm not Furina, you know. You can call me... Focalors..."