Chapter 131: Watching the Performance 2
A title card materialized in the air before them, its words stark and clear.
"Act One: Before the Mirror — Focalors."
Natsume let out a soft, emotional sigh. "So that's why... That's the reason she pretended to be a god."
Conan rested his chin on his hand, his brow furrowed in thought. "The Focalors in the mirror must have been her divine self. No, to be more precise, she was the part of the Hydro Archon that embodied divinity itself."
He found it hard to reconcile the two. The human Focalors he had just witnessed was nothing like the arrogant, flamboyant ruler they had known. This version of her seemed almost... humble. As vulnerable and unassuming as any ordinary person.
"In that case," Natsume murmured, her voice laced with awe, "the Focalors we met before... she must have been the human half of the Hydro Archon." She shook her head slowly. 'To fight against one's own nature for so long... I can't even imagine how she persevered, carrying a divine burden with a mortal spirit. It's truly incredible. She accomplished a god's work in the capacity of a human.'
Moroboshi's expression was uncharacteristically somber. "I never would have expected it," he said, his voice a low murmur. "That she would decide, without a moment's hesitation, to place the safety of Fontaine above her own existence. From our previous interactions, you'd never guess she was capable of such self-sacrifice."
"But the Focalors in the mirror didn't give a specific timeline for when the performance would end," Conan pointed out, his analytical mind kicking back into gear. "She only said it would conclude in a grand, farcical trial. Does that refer to the trial we held against her?"
"It has to be," Moroboshi replied, his tone complicated. "Putting a god on trial... what could be a more brilliant farce than that? And once that trial ended, her human identity was exposed. Her performance as the Hydro Archon truly did come to an end."
Before they could dissect it further, the announcement chimed again.
"Act Two: Inauguration Speech — Focalors."
...
"So, is this why she became the way she was?" Conan wondered aloud as the scene played out.
"She's a god, after all," Moroboshi reasoned. "The gods we imagine are typically strong, confident, brimming with presence. Her inauguration speech just now was... far too humble. Too polite. Even my father's speeches have more fire than that. It's no wonder the crowd had their doubts."
He kept his next thought to himself. The persona she adopted later didn't quite fit his image of a god either. The performance was exaggerated, the transition from one persona to the other almost jarringly stiff. 'Then again,'Moroboshi mused silently,'this was likely her first time playing the part of a god before her people. It's only natural she wasn't proficient yet.'
Natsume crossed her arms, a spark of indignation in her eyes. "Even so, thinking about the pressure she was under... those people in the audience were being too harsh. What's wrong with a humble and approachable god, anyway? What right did they have to question her just for that?"
Moroboshi held a different view. "It's more natural for a god to be forceful. Powerful, assertive, arrogant, elegant... without those qualities, can one even be called a god?"
Natsume turned to face him directly. "Who says? Who made that rule? There's a saying, 'A god's love should extend to all.' If a god can't do that, then even with the greatest power, they aren't a true god. Focalors might not have had the traits you mentioned, but she was willing to sacrifice herself for Fontaine. That alone proves she was worthy of the title."
"I admit, Focalors is remarkable," Moroboshi conceded, "but in the end, she was still just a human. There were things she couldn't do. A god should be all-powerful. She simply wasn't one."
They had reached an impasse, neither able to convince the other. In unison, they turned to the boy between them.
"Conan, what do you think?" they asked simultaneously. "Whose side are you on?"
"..." Conan blinked, startled. He hadn't expected them to start a philosophical debate over this.
He considered his own thoughts carefully. "Personally, I agree that a god should probably have a more forceful presence," he began, choosing his words with care. "But I think Natsume is right. Focalors is absolutely worthy of being called Fontaine's Hydro Archon. She spent every moment, right up until the very end, doing everything in her power to protect her nation."
A wave of unease washed over Conan as he remembered the trial. He recalled how, right until the Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale delivered its final verdict, Focalors had desperately tried to prove she was the Hydro Archon.
Knowing the truth now, looking back on that scene... he felt as if they had been the villains.
Hearing Conan's answer, Moroboshi gave the boy a quick, searching glance before falling silent.
Just then, the announcement sounded once more.
"Act Three: Opera House — Focalors."
...
"I never would have guessed she had so much to do every day," Moroboshi commented, his voice tinged with surprise. "Seeing how unreliable she seemed, I assumed she had nothing but free time. But she was constantly monitoring Fontaine's hydrological data. It seems she took the prophecy very seriously."
"Yes," Conan added quietly. "Performing from morning till night without a single break, only able to relax for a moment before bed. Then the next day, the same routine would repeat, over and over, endlessly. For that long... even an ordinary person wouldn't be able to stand it."
As if to prove his point, the fourth and fifth acts unfolded in the same setting. The scenes were familiar, but with each passing day, Focalors' spirit grew visibly more exhausted. They watched with heavy hearts.
Then came the title card: "Act 182,375."
The scene was the same. The routine was the same. But the woman at its center was a ghost of her former self. The light in her eyes had dimmed, her energy was gone. She looked as if she were a breath away from shattering completely.
Seeing this, a heavy silence fell over the trio.
After a long moment, Moroboshi finally spoke. "I admit it. She is truly remarkable. To persist in the same task for over one hundred and eighty thousand days, without a single moment of rest... it's a miracle her mind didn't collapse."
"No," Conan corrected softly, his gaze fixed on the stage. "Her spirit might have reached its limit long ago. Just as she said herself... she probably broke a long, long time ago. She was only persisting out of numbness."
"She did it for her conviction," Natsume whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "The conviction to save Fontaine. No matter how much pain she was in, she would see it through."
Then came the final act. The last title card appeared.
"The Opera House — Focalors."
The stage lights flared to life, revealing Focalors standing alone in the center of the grand opera house. She was dancing, moving with an ethereal grace across the empty stage, performing a final, solitary curtain call.
The discussion ceased. Conan, Moroboshi, and Natsume watched in rapt silence, captivated by her last dance.
She truly hadn't allowed herself to relax, not even for a second, determined to protect the people of Fontaine until the very end.
Finally, the music faded into silence. Focalors stopped, spreading her hands at her sides. She offered a slight, elegant curtsy—a farewell to Natsume, to them, and to everyone.
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