Zhongli's gaze lingered on Makoto. After a long moment, he finally let out a quiet sigh.
"It has been a long time, old friend."
"I thought you might look a little more surprised," Makoto said with a smile. "But I suppose that's just like you. Even if the heavens collapsed right before your eyes, your expression probably wouldn't change."
Zhongli then turned to Lora.
"With her here, something like this isn't hard to accept. Besides, when she arranged for the Hydro Dragon Sovereign of Fontaine to go to Inazuma earlier, I already began to suspect the truth."
There are only a few situations in this world that would require the combined efforts of the current Hydro Archon and the Hydro Dragon Sovereign. Given that Lora had gone to Inazuma to retrieve the Gnosis, Zhongli had already pieced together most of what had happened.
"As expected of you," Lora said, giving a light clap. "You figured it out." Then she asked, "By the way, when you temporarily took over as Chief Justice, how was Furina? She didn't cause you too much trouble, did she?"
"Furina…" Zhongli paused for a moment before replying. "She can be considered a qualified Archon. For someone with her level of power, accomplishing as much as she has is no small feat."
Hearing this assessment, Lora understood what he had discovered.
"Thank you," she said.
"Rest assured," Zhongli replied calmly. "Since I promised to lend you my assistance, I will see it through to the end."
"If there's anything Inazuma can do regarding Fontaine's prophecy, please let us know," Makoto added as she looked at Lora.
Ei nodded beside her. "Indeed. You have done Inazuma a tremendous favor. Helping Fontaine would be our chance to repay that debt. If you need anything, simply say the word."
"Don't worry, I'm not that stubborn," Lora said with a smile. "If I truly need your help, I won't hesitate to ask."
But the more help she accepted, the more favors she would owe.
She understood that their willingness to help came from a desire to repay what she had done before—but opposing the Heavenly Principles was no trivial matter.
Unless it became absolutely necessary, she didn't want more innocent people—or even gods—to be drawn into it.
Lost in these thoughts, Lora barely noticed as Zhongli slowly raised his hand. A stream of golden light flowed from his palm, and a small parcel appeared.
Seeing it, Venti blinked and grinned.
"Well now, old man, who did you charm in Fontaine? You're even bringing back gifts from someone."
"Hm?"
At Venti's words, Lora, Makoto, and Ei all turned toward Zhongli.
Ei still didn't know the details of what had happened, but Lora—who knew exactly what form Zhongli had taken when he went to Fontaine—immediately wore a far more complicated expression.
No way…
Did someone really fall for him?
Well… it wasn't entirely impossible.
It would just mean Zhongli might have to keep appearing as Chaya from now on.
Seeing the looks on their faces, Zhongli sighed helplessly. He knew exactly what they were thinking.
"You may put aside those unrealistic thoughts. This was entrusted to me by Furina to deliver to Lora."
"Furina?" Makoto didn't recognize the name. In fact, she barely remembered Focalors either.
At every gathering in the past, Focalors had always come alone, never bringing anyone with her.
The other Archons often attended alone as well, but her solitude had always felt different.
Back then, she seemed reluctant to get too close to others, as though she feared something. Only later did they learn about Fontaine's prophecy—and what Focalors had truly been afraid of.
"She's my Oceanid familiar, and now the Hydro Archon of Fontaine," Lora explained briefly to Makoto. Then she looked at the parcel in Zhongli's hands. "What did she ask you to bring me?"
Zhongli shook his head.
"Furina forbade me from knowing. You know my principles—once I give someone my word, I do not break it. So I have no idea what's inside."
He paused briefly.
"However, Furina did ask me to pass along a message."
"What message?" Lora asked.
At that, Zhongli's expression turned slightly odd.
"Furina said that if you do not return soon, she will dock your pay. That was roughly her original wording. As for her tone… I'm afraid I cannot imitate it."
"Dock my pay…"
Lora's composure immediately fell apart.
Venti looked intrigued. "Wait, Lora—did you actually get a job when you went back to Fontaine?"
"Not only did she get a job," Ei murmured while glancing at Lora, "she's working under her own familiar… I still don't quite understand how that works."
Makoto, however, laughed.
"I understand it perfectly well. If I could go work as an ordinary shrine maiden at Yae's Grand Narukami Shrine right now, I'd gladly do it. Though she probably wouldn't accept me."
After all, Makoto and Ei looked identical. Everyone in Inazuma knew the appearance of the Electro Archon—it would be impossible to hide.
"So what kind of job did you get?" Venti leaned over Lora's shoulder with a grin. "Can you take me along?"
"I'm Furina's bodyguard," Lora said with a helpless sigh. "She says she'll dock my pay… does she even pay me in the first place?"
Zhongli nodded.
"As far as I know, Furina has instructed the Palais Mermonia to keep your position as her bodyguard on record. Your wages have been issued regularly, and she seems to have been saving them for you."
Hearing this, Lora immediately looked at the parcel in Zhongli's hands with anticipation.
"Could that be my wages? Perfect timing! I've been spending a lot lately—my little savings stash is almost empty!"
Her eyes lit up.
Ei frowned slightly. "But haven't we been charging everything to the Northland Bank lately?"
"Cough—!"
Lora nearly choked.
She quickly took the parcel from Zhongli and opened it.
Inside was not Mora, as she had hoped.
Instead, there was a beautifully crafted box of pastries.
"…Pastries?"
Lora looked surprised. As she lifted the box out, she discovered a letter from Furina tucked underneath.
At the beginning of the letter, Furina adopted an extremely serious tone as she accused Lora of three crimes: leaving without saying goodbye, failing to send word that she was safe, and not returning sooner.
After that, the letter quickly moved on to asking when she planned to come back to Fontaine.
When she finished reading it, Lora let out a soft sigh.
"My daughter's grown up… she even knows to prepare snacks for her mother now."
Indeed.
The box of pastries had been made by Furina herself—after seeking guidance from a master pastry chef and learning how to make them.