The trial at the Opera Epiclese ended in a way no one could have predicted.
But the shockwaves from this storm were like a massive boulder thrown into a lake.
The ripples it stirred Swirled rapidly to every corner of Fontaine.
"Hey, did you hear? That man in court today!"
"Of course! That heartbeat... I could hear it faintly even at home. I thought it was some kind of monster; my legs went weak from fear!"
"It's terrifying. I heard that man killed five million guards in two minutes! Even Lord Neuvillette was humiliated and beaten to his knees by him!"
In taverns, on the streets, at Cafe Lucerne... the people of Fontaine were all whispering, discussing that thrilling trial.
However, even more explosive news followed.
"Latest news! That man... he, he's become Lady Furina's personal bodyguard! He's moved into the Opera Epiclese!"
"What?! Impossible! Lady Furina already has Miss Clorinde!"
"It's absolutely true! I heard it directly from the lover of the ex-husband of the second aunt of my cousin who works at the Opera Epiclese! Lady Furina invited him personally!"
"That bastard... what right does he have? What kind of spell did he cast on Lady Furina!"
An agitated young man had just shouted indignantly when his friend beside him firmly covered his mouth.
"Idiot! Do you want to die?! Keep your voice down!"
The friend looked around in terror and hissed in a low voice:
"How can a lowly commoner like you slander such an invincible existence? Watch your tongue, or it'll be the death of you! Do you hear me!"
Recalling that heartbeat that sounded like a God's whisper, all of the young man's dissatisfaction and doubt were suppressed, leaving only deep fear.
The public's discussion also shifted from initial shock and confusion to awe and curiosity.
A consensus formed in Fontaine—
That new, fierce-looking lord was a terrifying existence that must never be provoked... A day quickly passed.
On the top floor of the Opera Epiclese, in Furina's private quarters.
As the deity's guard, King was arranged into a luxury suite right next to Furina's room.
He stood on the spacious balcony, overlooking the scenery of Fontaine. Even though a night had passed, his heart was still in a daze.
From an otaku to a deity's guard, the ups and downs of life were truly too exciting.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A soft knocking sound rang out.
From outside the door came Furina's voice, trying hard to maintain her dignity but still betraying a hint of nervousness:
"Sir, are you there?"
"I had the chef prepare some Fontaine specialty small cakes, and I wanted..."
"...to invite you to taste them with me and have a chat."
King took a deep breath, calming the King Engine that almost started up again because he was "alone with Furina."
"Enter."
Furina pushed the door open and saw such a beautiful scene—
King stood silently on the balcony, merging with the sunlight on the distant horizon.
To Furina, that image was full of stories.
"Sir, can we talk?"
Furina's voice carried a trace of nearly imperceptible trembling.
She was carrying an exquisite silver tray.
On it were several uniquely shaped small cakes adorned with berries and cream, as well as a pot of steaming black tea.
King slowly turned around. Even though he tried his best to relax, the expression on his face, enhanced by the system, was still majestic.
His gaze swept over the tempting treats in Furina's hands; the little person inside him was already jumping for joy.
But he had almost never dealt with real-life girls, so on the surface, he just gave a slight nod and responded with a hum: "Mm."
Furina tried her best to appear natural, placing the tray on the small round table in the center of the room. She elegantly poured two cups of black tea, placing the milk and sugar with meticulous precision.
She sat down first, and then the atmosphere became slightly awkward.
King sat down, his posture upright, his eyes calmly looking at Furina opposite him, with no intention of speaking first.
And this silence, in Furina's eyes, was dissatisfaction. Had she perhaps disturbed him...? "Um,"
Furina cleared her throat, trying to break the awkwardness.
"I don't know your name yet? I am Furina, as you know, the Hydro Archon of this land."
She tried to make her tone sound light and lively, as if she were on stage.
"King."
He uttered two words, his voice deep and without any unnecessary embellishment.
"King..."
Furina softly repeated the name, feeling that it sounded like a name from Liyue, short and powerful.
"It's a very nice name."
King didn't know how to respond for a moment, and the [Love Game Master] skill didn't activate either.
So he didn't reply, but simply picked up a small silver fork, casually cut a small piece of cake, and put it in his mouth.
Furina was carefully observing King's reaction. Seeing him express goodwill by eating her cake, she felt a slight sense of relief.
Furina also took small bites of the cake, her mind racing to find a topic.
"King,"
She put down her fork, her hands folded on her lap, her heterochromatic eyes filled with curiosity:
"You are so... special. Can you tell me exactly where you come from?"
This was a question she had wanted to ask back in the courtroom.
That heartbeat, like a natural disaster, was definitely not something an ordinary person could possess.
King's movements paused.
His hand holding the teacup stopped in mid-air, and his gaze seemed to penetrate the walls, looking toward a distant and unknowable place.
A long silence fell over the room, with only the faint bustle of Fontaine from outside the window and the sound of their subtle breathing.
Furina didn't rush him; she felt a strange tension, as if she were about to touch upon a massive secret.
Time passed second by second. Just when Furina thought King wouldn't answer, or would use a lie to brush her off, he slowly set down his teacup.
He looked up, those deep eyes staring directly at Furina, seemingly containing visions of stars collapsing and worlds being born.
After a long silence, so long that Furina almost held her breath, he finally used that deep and strangely magnetic voice to say slowly, word by word:
"Beyond... this world."
...The air seemed to freeze.
"?"
Furina's heterochromatic eyes suddenly constricted, and her fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly.
He comes from beyond this world?
The continent of Teyvat has its own boundaries and laws. Such a powerful "outsider"... He is a Descender!
Those are existences that even seven sovereigns have never truly encountered, existing only in ancient records and Forbidden Knowledge!
Of course, only that could explain it!
It explained his bottomless, terrifying strength that made even Neuvillette feel a threat to his life!
It explained why he would suddenly appear at the scene of the Serial Disappearances of Young Women, yet have no connection to the case—
Perhaps he had simply "fallen" here by chance!
At this moment, all the doubts had a logical explanation.
Furina looked at King's calm, expressionless face, as if he were recounting a trivial matter.
This transcendent attitude further confirmed the truth of his words.
A Descender from beyond the world—why would he come to Fontaine?
Just how powerful was he?
And what kind of world was his hometown?
Countless questions surged in Furina's mind, but she knew that some secrets should not be probed deeply.
She forced down the shock in her heart, trying her best to maintain the composure befitting a God, though her voice still trembled slightly:
"I... I see. Beyond the world... It's truly something to yearn for."
She picked up her teacup, using the action of drinking tea to hide the turmoil in her heart.
King took in all of her reactions; he was calm inside and even felt like laughing.
Sure enough, in Teyvat, one still has to use this line to act cool.
It not only elevated his status but also saved him the trouble of explaining in detail where he came from.
Perfect!
He spoke no more, turning his attention back to the delicious cake, as if that earth-shattering statement just now had been nothing more than a casual comment on the weather.
And this posture, in Furina's eyes, added yet another layer of powerful aura.
A Descender from beyond the world was actually willing to condescend to be her bodyguard?
Then, could she ask him to solve the crisis in the prophecy?
Furina's heart was in disarray.