That evening, Fidelle, Furina, and Focalors ventured to the seaside.
Fontaine by night was breathtakingly beautiful. The sky blazed with brilliant stars, their light piercing the darkness and illuminating the coastline even without lanterns.
Moonlight cascaded across the endless sea like liquid mercury, transforming the surface into a shimmering, flowing sheet of silver foil.
Silence reigned, broken only by the gentle lapping of waves against the shore, like the steady breath of the world in its slumber.
"Fidelle, you'd better catch me if I fall! Remember to save me if I go under!"
At the water's edge, Furina grasped Fidelle and Focalors' hands, cautiously stepping onto the sea. Once she confirmed she wouldn't sink, her movements grew bolder, and she began walking farther from the shore.
"Wow, it actually works! Ha ha!"
Furina quickened her pace, eventually breaking into a light jog.
Standing atop the waves, her feet lightly tapped the water's surface, sending out ripples that shimmered with moonlight.
In this enchanting setting, Furina couldn't resist twirling, her footsteps tracing the moon's reflection as she began to dance gracefully.
Her dance began with tentative, cautious steps, like a fledgling bird testing its wings for the first time, both unfamiliar with its newfound power and brimming with boundless curiosity.
But soon, the innate affinity and mastery over water, etched deep within her soul, awakened.
She closed her eyes slightly, sensing the wondrous connection between the brand-new Vision within her and the vast ocean—no longer an absolute command born of divine authority, but a more equal, intimate resonance and call.
And so, her dance became unrestrained and free.
She twirled and leaped, each footfall sending crystalline droplets surging joyfully upward, lifting her body and transforming into ephemeral blossoms of pure water.
The water was no longer a cold medium but her most loyal dance partner, weaving into spiraling staircases at her will and coalescing into shimmering, transparent ribbons that encircled her.
Her figure danced beneath the moonlight, each movement brimming with elegance and joy, as if she were utterly casting off the five centuries of pent-up melancholy and the weariness of her masquerade upon this stage that was solely hers.
Her silvery-white hair streamed behind her, intertwining with the flowing water's radiance, like a peerless masterpiece brought to life.
On the shore, Fidelle and Focalors quietly watched the scene unfold.
Fidelle's sharp gaze softened immeasurably as she followed Furina's sprite-like figure dancing across the moonlit sea. Her lips curved into an involuntary smile, a mixture of pride, tenderness, and profound relief.
Focalors remained silent, a silent guardian showering blessings across the moonlit waters like a silent deity.
In the center of the sea, Furina executed a graceful twirl, turned toward the shore, and flashed a smile brighter than the moonlight. She extended her arm, dipped slightly, and offered an elegant bow as if taking a final curtain call.
Focalors' figure shimmered faintly under the moonlight, and she nodded gently.
Fidelle straightened, placed her hand over her chest, and returned a solemn, deeply respectful bow.
After playing for a while, Furina returned, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Fidelle couldn't help but glance at Focalors beside her. Lady Furina has a Vision now. When will Lady Focalors get one?
Or is it because Lady Focalors was a god before? Will she never receive a Vision again?
"Fidelle, Focalors, I can feel my control over the Hydro Element has grown stronger! Watch!"
With a flick of her small hand, Furina pushed the water from the shore into the sea, creating a wave that was neither too large nor too small.
"Hmph! I feel incredibly powerful now! Should we find a monster to test our skills on? I heard there's a tough one north of Fontaine called Vivianne. Fidelle, let's go show it who's boss!"
Fidelle stared at Furina in surprise. When did she become so daring? she wondered. To challenge such a formidable monster so soon after obtaining her Vision?
"Um, Lady Furina," Fidelle said cautiously, "I think we should familiarize ourselves with our abilities first. Once we're comfortable, I'll take you to practice against Blubberbeasts."
Focalors added, "I agree with Fidelle. Let's set smaller goals first. Once we achieve those, we can reassess."
As the trio returned, Fidelle and Focalors listened to Furina excitedly describe the feeling of obtaining her Vision, all the while trying to dissuade her from her plan to confront Vivianne.
-
After the festival in Fontaine, Lumine and Paimon returned to Sumeru to meet with Nahida.
According to Nahida, Rukkhadevata and Zhongli had indeed departed, but she had no idea where they had gone.
During this time, Nahida had also been searching for Chu Xi's whereabouts, but unfortunately, Chu Xi had not reappeared since her last departure.
As Lumine and Paimon prepared to set off for Natlan, they were stopped by Katheryne at the Adventurer's Guild. Katheryne offered them a quest: to travel to Vimara Village and search for a missing young man.
Thinking it would be a simple task and a chance to earn some Mora for their journey to Natlan, the pair agreed.
In Vimara Village, Lumine and Paimon first spoke with the villager Bahram, then the Village Chief Amadhiah, to gather information.
From the Village Chief, they learned that a girl named Atossa might have clues and followed the directions to the location she had mentioned.
However, instead of Atossa, they were greeted by monsters of the Chaos Order—a Pyro Chaos Mage and a Cryo Chaos Mage.
A battle erupted. Lumine drew her longsword, dispatching each mage with a single strike.
After piecing together the situation, the duo returned to Vimara Village, where they were astonished to find a familiar figure—Dainsleif.
Dain seemed to be investigating the matter as well, informing Lumine and Paimon that the incident might be connected to the Chaos Order's hidden "Eye of the Tiller."
The trio decided to head to the hidden location together.
They encountered a Chaos Herald deep within the ancient ruins.
After defeating the Chaos Herald in battle, Dainsleif, Lumine, and Paimon analyzed the situation. They deduced that the Vimara Village villagers' memories of the missing youth had likely been tampered with, suspecting it was a trap set by the Chaos Order.
To verify their theory, Lumine, Paimon, and Dainsleif returned to Vimara Village to investigate, only to find the Hilichurls in the village behaving abnormally.
They then spoke with Village Chief Amadhiah and Bahram again, attempting to piece together the truth.
Reasoning through the available clues, Lumine and Paimon realized that the key to everything might still lie in the place Atossa had guided them to earlier. They returned to that location and successfully entered a Consciousness Space.
Within this Consciousness Space, Lumine and Paimon finally met Caribert.
He was indeed the "missing" youth, but his true nature was that of a Hilichurl. A lingering strand of his consciousness, mixed with Abyss Power, formed the foundation of the Loom of Fate.