[Sigewinne: This must be the expression humans make when they're sad… It really hurts to watch. So heartbreaking.]
Lumine and Paimon's quiet footsteps were still noticed by Furina.
She turned around. "Who's there?! Who?"
Paimon raised her hands quickly. "D-don't worry, Furina! It's just us…"
Furina cleared her throat, trying to regain composure. "Ah. The outlander traveler. For a moment I thought those clueless, disrespectful citizens had come crawling over to confess their wrongdoings."
Paimon whispered, "Furina… you were crying earlier, weren't you? The traces are really obvious."
Furina jerked her head away. "W–What? Yes, I cried. The opera this morning was simply too moving. I'm still basking in its emotional brilliance… until a bunch of rude louts ruined everything."
[Arataki Itto: HERE IT COMES—THE GOD LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH MOMENT!!]
[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, could you not seek death? That's still an Archon.]
[Kujou Sara: If a foreign Archon wishes to punish Arataki Itto, I am willing to assist.]
[Arataki Itto: WHAT?! The great Arataki Itto fears no one!! (totally scared)]
[Neuvillette: So… saying the opposite of what she really feels?]
[Yae Miko: Compared to an Archon… Furina really acts more like a human.]
In the video, Furina forced herself into a haughty pose.
"They actually dared to question their own god… So I decided to vanish temporarily. Once they realized I was gone, they'd be scrambling around like ants on a hot pan!"
"And I'm sure Neuvillette and the whole Special Tribunal are panicking too. Hahaha!"
Lumine said softly, "You don't need to pretend anymore, Furina."
[Navia: Why is this line… so familiar.]
[Lumine: I have a talent for spotting the truth.]
[Neuvillette: It's clear she was grieving Poisson and blaming herself. We all heard her talking to herself just now.]
[Furina: EXCUSE ME?! Neuvillette, that's very rude! This livestream system is horrible!]
In the video, a nearby resident spotted Furina.
Furina panicked and immediately ran, inventing an excuse as she fled. Lumine chased after her until they reached a small cabin.
Paimon whispered, "This should be it, right?"
"Furina, there's a hidden room inside. I don't think they followed us. Quick, hide in here!"
[Sigewinne: The way Lady Furina runs is so cute.]
[Neuvillette: Well… it is probably the thing she's most skilled at.]
[Yelan: I sense a trap. It feels like Lumine and Paimon prepared something here in advance.]
[Lumine: Yelan is sharp as always. According to the storyline, this is indeed where the trap triggers. (smiles)]
[Furina: A trap?! You dare disrespect the Hydro Archon?! I declare you guilty! Guilty! Guilty!!]
In the video, Furina looked at the cabin and spoke rapidly:
"What an excellent idea! I commend your coordination—I'll go in at once!"
Then she ran inside.
[Lyney: Lady Furina took the bait!]
[Lynette: As expected of my future big brother… capturing the Hydro Archon so easily.]
[Venti: I don't know why… but I feel bad for her. Fontaine's full of rebellion.]
[Lyney: In the future timeline shown, we only wanted the truth behind the Archon… to save Fontaine. We still respect and love Lady Furina deeply.]
[Furina: Hmph! Don't think I don't know—your Fatui are after the Gnosis!]
[The Knave: Seeking the Gnosis is our task. Saving Fontaine is also our task. Her Majesty pursues the Gnosis for the sake of all Teyvat.]
[Jean: So that's why your Fatui took control of Stormterror and plunged Mondstadt into chaos?]
[The Knave: That was the Lady's doing. Each Harbinger acts with their own methods. I would not bring disaster to Fontaine.]
[Furina: You just need to believe in your god. That is all you mortals need to do—believe.]
Inside the cabin, Furina was panting heavily.
"Hu… ha… That was exhausting. I almost fell into their hands."
She paused, corrected herself, and coughed lightly:
"No, no—what I meant was that their… enthusiasm nearly overwhelmed me. Hahaha…"
Lumine whispered, "We should speak quietly. It'll help us avoid being found."
Furina nodded obediently. "Mm-hm."
Paimon put her hands on her hips. "Good. That's better."
Suddenly, the ground rumbled.
Furina jumped. "What was that?! An earthquake?!"
Lumine frowned. "Another disaster, maybe?"
Paimon nodded. "Yeah… something similar happened during the Poisson incident too."
Furina repeated quietly, trembling, "It… appeared again?"
Paimon patted her arm. "Don't worry yet. Neuvillette already prepared emergency plans. This time shouldn't be too bad."
Furina finally exhaled in relief. "Let's hope so…"
"But the people of Poisson... they're already…"
[Navia: Yes… the people of Poisson…]
[Neuvillette: My apologies. When the accident occurred, I did not arrive immediately.]
[Navia: You were busy with your duties in the Palais Mermonia. And none of us knew how severe the disaster was at first. I don't blame you.]
[Ningguang: If Liyue had an earthquake, I would probably also still be in my office waiting for reports.]
[Keqing: I would go to the front lines immediately.]
In the video, Furina and Lumine continued their heart-to-heart.
Furina: "Yes… For hundreds of years, I never stopped investigating the prophecy."
"My agents once spanned the entire continent, gathering information for me. I tried countless methods to stop Fontaine's sea level from rising… but none of them worked. Many, many years ago, I accepted that reality."
"Teyvat's Heavenly Principles cannot be defied. The scene shown in the prophecy will happen."
Lumine: "But you didn't give up… did you?"
Furina: "Give up? What a lovely phrase. It means accepting fate—and letting hope disappear."
"Yes, I wanted to give up countless times. Especially after Fontaine nearly lost Poisson…"
"Fate is utterly unreasonable. It follows no rules. Just the signs of the prophecy beginning were enough to take so many lives."
"But just now… I understood something. I still have no right to accept fate on behalf of the people."
"Until the very last moment… nothing is decided yet."
"So don't worry. I… I will carry the hope of everyone… until the very end."
[Sigewinne: I'm going to cry…]
[Navia: I can feel the sadness in our Hydro Archon's voice…]
[Wriothesley: Lady Furina… is bearing something heavy. Perhaps the hope of all Fontaine. It feels like she has been holding on for a very long time.]
[Zhongli: Among the Seven, there is not one who does not love their people. Knave, your earlier doubts were excessive.]
[The Knave: … Preserving the final hope, hmm? Lady Furina… I apologize for questioning you earlier.]
[Neuvillette: Lady Furina… the hope of Fontaine is not yours to shoulder alone. I am willing to share the burden with you.]
[Furina: No one can share it. No one… You just need to believe in me. That's all.]