[Xiao: What an ostentatious god.]
[Lyney: As expected of Lady Furina. (facepalm)]
[Lynette: Brother, haven't you gotten used to it yet?]
[The Knave: Hydro Archon, it is a profound honor to be able to communicate with you here. Fontaine's prophecy has clearly entered its next stage, yet from our observations, your days remain as leisurely as ever, spent drinking beverages and eating cake. Is that truly appropriate? The prophecy is a blade hanging over everyone's heads. Every faction in Fontaine is searching for ways to contain the disaster or save themselves. Even the orphans of the House of the Hearth are doing their utmost to save their homeland. And what of you? Focalors, you have taken no measures from beginning to end. Your idleness is staggering.]
[Furina: (shaking her head) No, I have never taken the prophecy lightly, nor have I ever spent my days idly. Withdraw your doubts, Knave. Do not make reckless speculations about a god.]
[The Knave: It is not only I who harbor such doubts. Countless thousands in Fontaine may already share the same question, Hydro Archon. How will you save them, save us, the people under your protection? How will they survive on this land that is soon to sink?]
[Furina: I have my own methods. I have been working toward that end for a long time. Even if you look down on me, you have no right to deny me. Fontaine will definitely be saved. Even though… even though I still cannot see the true future, as long as I continue like this, I will be able to hold my head high before anyone.]
[The Knave: (soft laugh) Then, Lady Furina, may I ask, where is the effort you speak of? Where can it be seen?]
[Furina: I…]
[Klee: Furina and the Knave are arguing in the comments. Klee doesn't understand.]
[Ningguang: The House of the Hearth? I've heard of it. It is a diplomatic organization from Snezhnaya. They have another name—the Fatui.]
[Jean: The Fatui! Stormterror's rampage in Mondstadt seems to have been connected to the Fatui. Anemo Archon, we beseech you here for your aid.]
[Xiangling: Judging from the content of this conversation, the Fatui here seem to be the ones truly concerned about Fontaine.]
[Keqing: The Fatui are insidious and cunning. We must treat them with caution.]
[Lyney: That's not true! My father, the Knave, has worked for years to save Fontaine!]
[Lynette: Father is absolutely not a bad person.]
[Navia: Wait, the video's title is "Saddest Famous Scenes"! Could there be hidden circumstances we don't know about?]
[Furina: Hahahaha, I am the subject of this video, so I can confirm there are no hidden circumstances.]
[Yae Miko: (smiling) The video is about to begin. We should watch carefully. Perhaps it can provide plenty of material for my new novel, "The Daughter of the Sea."]
...
...
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
Because it was everyone's first experience with live comments, the broadcast room was exceptionally lively.
And even more so because the subject of this video was a god!
A god's story—even those with the least interest in gossip would want to come and see.
For a moment, everyone was filled with anticipation.
...
Meanwhile, on the white screen, a colorful image appeared.
The image showed the Traveler and Paimon.
Paimon: "Having a rest after breakfast, what a pleasant life! Wait, wasn't there something important today?"
"That's right! Today is the big day we leave the Fortress of Meropide. We need to hurry and complete our discharge procedures. We made an appointment."
Lumine and Paimon headed toward the discharge office.
[Paimon: Lumine, look, we're in the video!]
[Lumine: So we are. I don't remember ever going to a place like that.]
[Paimon: I don't remember either. That place feels so unfamiliar.]
[Wriothesley: I know the location in the video. That is the Fortress of Meropide, Fontaine's prison. I am the fortress's warden, the Duke. And I have never seen a flying, floating creature in Meropide.]
[Neuvillette: Perhaps the video is showing scenes from the future. It was already noted that the scenes could take place in the present, past, or future.]
[Furina: (to herself) The future? Has Fontaine been saved?]
In the video, just as the discharge procedures were being completed, a violent tremor shook the Fortress of Meropide.
To find answers, Lumine and Paimon headed to the Duke's residence.
In the Duke's office, Wriothesley stood up to greet them. "A pleasure to see you both. What can I do for you?"
Paimon: "What was that earthquake just now?"
Wriothesley: "The tremor originated from the surface, so I don't know what happened either. However, everything is fine down here. After all, Neuvillette's seal won't fail so quickly."
Paimon: "I see. Then we'll still need to ask the folks up on the water to know the specifics."
[Lyney: A seal… an earthquake… Is this a sign of the prophecy?]
[Ningguang: What is this prophecy? Could someone please answer my question?]
[Lyney: Allow me to explain. The prophecy has circulated in Fontaine for a long time. It says that every Fontainian is born bearing sin, and no matter how the nation of justice judges, it cannot be absolved. One day, Fontaine's sea level will begin to rise, and all those bearing sin will be submerged by the seawater. In the end, only the Hydro Archon will remain, sitting alone on her throne, weeping.]
[Lyney: After years of investigation, we have confirmed that a substance called the Primordial Sea can directly dissolve Fontainians, and Fontaine's sea levels are indeed continuously rising. Scene by scene, the prophecy is turning into reality.]
[Keqing: Dissolved by water? That sounds unbelievable.]
[Jean: If only we could receive a god's help. Anemo Archon, your devout follower beseeches you to calm your kin.]
...
In the video.
When Lumine and Paimon arrived at the Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette was still busy.
After resting nearby for a moment, Lumine and the Traveler were received by Neuvillette.
"We felt a strong tremor from underwater. Wriothesley told us the tremor originated from the surface. Do you know what's going on?"
"Regarding that matter, I just received the report and have begun handling it. After the tremor, the water level near Poisson has risen sharply."
Paimon: "The water level rose? Then what about the people there?"
Neuvillette: "Fortunately, the rise was only a temporary phenomenon and has mostly receded by now. However, I have an uneasy feeling. If this change in water level is connected to the encroachment of the Primordial Sea, the disaster facing Poisson will be far worse than it currently appears."
[Navia: What? The tremor's location was Poisson? That's my hometown!]
[Charlotte: Navia, don't worry. The event happens in the future. Knowing in advance is beneficial, not harmful.]
[Furina: That's right. As long as I am here, nothing will go wrong in Fontaine! Navia, don't worry.]
[Zhongli: Logically speaking, if a truly insurmountable crisis arises, a god will certainly intervene.]
[Barbatos: Indeed. (affirming)]
[Nahida: Yes.]
[Navia: Yes, we still have Furina, and we still have a god. Poisson will definitely be fine.]
In the video, Lumine brought Paimon to Poisson. As far as the eye could see, everything was a scene of devastation—collapsed houses and ruined buildings everywhere.
Paimon: "Where is Navia? We need to confirm her condition right away."
Lumine nodded, and the two immediately ran deeper into Poisson.