[Over the next few days...]
[Furina and Kael never crossed paths again.]
[Despite being forbidden from leaving Fontaine, Furina's mood remained surprisingly bright.]
[She maintained her routine. She appeared at the Opera Epiclese daily, indulging in her favorite small cakes after the performances.]
[Then, Clorinde arrived.]
[The Champion Duelist's presence shattered Furina's peaceful streak.]
["Lady Furina, based on the Traveler's movements, we expect her to arrive in Fontaine tomorrow afternoon."]
[Clorinde's tone was polite, even kind.]
[As the duelist bowed...]
[Furina's lip curled in a subtle, imperceptible pout.]
[Her eyes drifted, locking onto the buttons of Clorinde's chest for several seconds.]
'Seriously? How are those things not popping off?'
'That fabric must be reinforced with steel.'
["Lady Furina?"]
[Clorinde noticed the blank stare and spoke softly. "Is something the matter?"]
["Huh?"]
["Oh!"]
[Lady Furina snapped back to reality. She waved her hands in a flurry of awkward dismissal. "Right, right. I heard you."]
["The Traveler, you said? Should we go out and welcome her?"]
[Clorinde remained silent for a beat.]
["According to the Pope's wishes, a formal reception is indeed necessary."]
["Major incidents seem to follow that blonde Traveler wherever she goes."]
["However, every nation she visits treats her with the utmost importance."]
'The Pope, the Pope...'
'Can you go five minutes without mentioning Kael, Clorinde?'
'Why do you have to be so... gifted?'
'Hmph.'
'Does the Pope just like them big?'
[Resentment bubbled within her, but Furina kept her mask in place.]
[She offered a bright, practiced smile. "Understood. I'll ensure the Traveler receives a grand welcoming ceremony."]
Furina's internal monologue struck a chord with every woman in Teyvat.
Heads bowed in unison as they performed a silent self-inspection.
A few let out audible sobs of despair.
Even Lumine found her gaze drifting downward.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief. The valley was deep and unmistakable.
She glanced back at Furina on the screen, a flicker of smug satisfaction dancing in her eyes.
Chatroom:
Clorinde: "Furina... you..."
Furina: "What? That was just my past self's thoughts. I'm just being honest!"
Yae Miko: "I admit defeat. In Inazuma, I fear only the Raiden Shogun can compete with that."
Raiden Ei: "Miko, what are you talking about?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi: "..."
Kamisato Ayaka: "..."
Kujou Sara: "It's nothing, Almighty Shogun. She's likely just had too much to drink."
Lisa: "Inazuma might be lacking, but Mondstadt has Eula, Rosaria, and Noelle. We can certainly hold our own."
Eula: "Hey! Lisa, stop talking nonsense..."
Ningguang: "If we're comparing assets, then Liyue..."
Keqing: "Ningguang, please mind your words."
Ningguang: "Is that so? What a pity. Liyue has no shortage of qualified candidates."
[Dusk the following day.]
[Lumine and Paimon finally arrived in Fontaine.]
["What? You want to see the Hydro Archon?"]
["That's easy. Just head to the opera house. Lady Furina practically lives there."]
["It's her favorite pastime."]
["Wait, if you want a private audience, you'll need an appointment. You have to see if Lady Furina has an opening in her schedule."]
[Lumine and Paimon exchanged surprised looks.]
[They had traveled through four nations already.]
[This was the first time they'd encountered a deity with such a packed social calendar.]
["Is the Hydro Archon really that busy?" Paimon scratched her head. "We need an appointment even though she's always at the opera house?"]
["Not exactly."]
["Lady Furina rarely touches matters of state. The difficulty in booking her is simply because she's so popular. Like..."]
["A superstar."]
["Exactly. Or you could think of her as... a mascot."]
["Hey, that's our god you're talking about. Don't be so blunt."]
["Fair point. If Neuvillette heard us talking like this to a foreigner, he might have us hauled away."]
["Haha, don't worry about that. Fontaine has a lot of laws, but badmouthing the Hydro Archon isn't a crime."]
["..."]
Arataki Itto: "A... mascot?"
Kuki Shinobu: "Even the Boss is stunned."
Lisa: "A mascot, hm?"
Jean: "I've heard of Neuvillette, the Iudex of Fontaine. Most of the nation's affairs are handled by him."
Alhaitham: "With Kael's intervention in this past life, the actual administration was likely split between the two of them."
"The Hydro Archon's practical significance was even smaller."
Nahida: "I'm not sure whether to feel happy for Furina or sad. Her people don't seem to hold even a shred of awe for her."
Collei: "It feels a bit tragic. She gave her power to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, yet her people don't seem to respect her for it."
Furina: "..."
In this life, she was a fake Hydro Archon living a lie.
In the past life, she was also a fake, claiming her power fueled the Oratrice.
The worst part?
Absolutely everyone believed it.
Even the past Kael seemed to believe she had sacrificed her divinity to the machine.
The Prophecy of the Sunken Nation
'Shouldn't he have seen through my fragility by now? Shouldn't we be in the middle of some epic, 500-year romance?'
There wasn't even a hint of it. Not a single spark.
[Lumine and Paimon gained a basic understanding of Fontaine.]
[They encountered the siblings from the House of the Hearth, Lyney and Lynette.]
[Through a brief conversation, Lumine and Paimon learned of the Prophecy that Fontaine would be consumed by the sea.]
Raiden Ei: "A prophecy?"
Ningguang: "We heard reports of flooding in Fontaine recently. However, it didn't seem nearly as dire as the Prophecy suggests."
Yelan: "The people of Fontaine seem cheerful enough in the chat. It's hard to imagine them living under a death sentence. They're laughing."
Venti: "Then things are about to get interesting."
Zhongli: "What makes you say that?"
Venti: "The Pope said it himself. Wherever the Traveler goes, trouble follows. Now we have the Traveler and the Reincarnator together in Fontaine. I suspect the Fontaine of the past was much livelier than the one we see today."
Lumine: "Barbatos?"
Jean: "Lord Barbatos, please. You make it sound like Mr. Kael and Lady Lumine are walking disasters."
Venti: "Ehe. A couple tearing through Fontaine and leaving a trail of blood and storms... it makes for a grand story, doesn't it?"
Aether: "I doubt it. What does this Reincarnation have to do with Lumine? I'm betting Kael uses the Prophecy to make a massive move, and Lumine will be the one to stop him."
Yae Miko: "Star-crossed lovers from a past life turning into bitter enemies? Now that is a plot worth watching."
Skirk: "I had a hand in Fontaine's affairs once. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can trade a few blows with this Mr. Kael."
Tartaglia: "Master, let me go first! I've already caused a scene in the Opera Epiclese once."
Aether: "Forget it, Tartaglia. I might dislike Kael, but I respect his strength."
Tartaglia: "You never know. Maybe his power isn't as absolute in Fontaine as it was before."
Skirk: "Then what exactly are you looking forward to?"