The guards stood in two rows, with a big sister possessing the Electro element walking in front, then she turned to look at the elevator above.
Paimon: Uh… what is she looking at? And where is the Hydro God?
No sooner had Paimon finished speaking than a Damselette appeared above the elevator, dressed in lavish attire, with distinctive blue long hair, lively eyes full of dramatic tension, and elegant yet subtly lonely demeanor.
Paimon: Eh! Is that… the Hydro God?! How did she know we were coming…
Qixuan: Maybe… she has a script?
Lumine: Am I not the protagonist?
At this moment, Furina still thought the protagonists were intimidated, and she immediately said, “Rich, poor, with wine glasses or empty-handed, my citizens, raise your glasses! Those without, use your arms instead.”
The people below all raised their arms to cheer for Furina’s arrival. Qixuan also took out two wine glasses, giving one to Lumine, and then both of them raised their glasses and cheered.
Paimon: ………
Furina: Hahaha, as you can see, foreign Travelers have come to my nation. Come, let us offer them blessings, a toast to the Traveler and her companions who have come from afar!
Everyone started clapping.
Paimon: Eh?! Is she talking about us? Hehe.
Qixuan: Are there any other foreigners here?
Furina: Ahem, I have long heard that you three have stirred up chaos in several nations, but I still welcome you. No, I will personally come to greet you. Fear is an act of the small-minded. As a God, I will not take such meaningless caution as my creed. You can rest assured, I see your piety clearly.
An audience is for better viewing of my power and authority. Of course, of course, this is very wise. Smart people always gather under the right banner.
Finally, welcome to the nation of water. I, Focalors, will acknowledge the value and meaning of your journey. Now, you may cheer to your heart’s content.
Qixuan: Woohoo!
Lumine: So smooth.
Paimon: Uh… me too, I still can’t quite believe it. We only just set foot in Fontaine a few minutes ago, and the Hydro God’s ‘opening speech’ was a bit… uh.
Qixuan: Chuunibyou?
Paimon: Uh… I think that’s how it’s written in novels.
Furina: Oh, outlanders, I seem to hear you speaking ill of me?
Paimon: Uh… no, no, hehe, um, Hydro God, how did you know we were coming?
Furina: Hehe, why don’t you reflect on this? For me, as a God, obtaining your information only requires a flick of my finger. Nothing could be simpler.
Paimon: Wow… so arrogant (whispering).
Lumine: She seems to be deliberately emphasizing her divine status.
Meanwhile, Furina, looking at Lumine and the others still chatting, thought to herself (Hmm? Is my welcome ceremony not enough here? Should I say something more?)
Paimon: Uh… is she waiting for us to start a conversation?
Qixuan: Lumine, be more proactive with girls.
Lumine: Huh?
And amidst the conversations of the people of Fontaine, Furina had an idea: she would challenge Lumine to a duel.
Paimon: Uh… is it suddenly time to fight? Things are progressing a bit too fast…
Qixuan: Lumine, a one-life speedrun of Fontaine, it’s up to you.
Lumine: …Okay, then let’s go!
Immediately, Lumine entered combat mode, pulled out her weapon, and her aura instantly changed, with the light of four elements swirling around her.
But the people around them were just watching the spectacle, not at all bothered by the commotion.
Furina: Hmm? Uh… Hmph! You… don’t you feel fear? This is a duel with a God.
Clorinde: What do you intend to do, Traveler? Offend a God in front of the public?
Furina: Ahem, hmm, it’s alright, Clorinde. I commend her courage. Not many dare to draw their swords against a God. Clearly, she is a true warrior. But I am the God of justice. So, let us engage in a duel with this foreign Traveler and her companions in the court!
The surrounding people cheered, expressing their agreement.
Paimon: Hmm… why are you so concerned about the public’s reaction? Have you been in your Opera Epiclese for too long? And, you said you want to duel in court, how exactly will that work? Do you mean to put us on trial?
Lumine: We haven’t committed any crimes.
Qixuan: Paimon, you’re in trouble.
Paimon: Huh?
Furina laughed heartily and said, “Of course there’s a reason to put you on trial, and it’s quite obvious, isn’t it? According to Fontaine law, for the first three days of every month, no one is allowed to fly objects within the city of Fontaine. You have already violated this rule.”
Paimon fell silent.
Qixuan: Pfft…
Paimon: Don’t laugh!
Lumine: Uh…
Furina: (Ahem, I ask you, are you Furina or not?) Ahem, if the three of you have no objections, I will arrest you in the name of the Hydro God.
At this moment, Lyney stepped out and said, “Excuse me, Lady Furina, this might be a bit of a mood killer, but please allow me to interject… I don’t think Paimon should be classified as a flying object, should she?”
Paimon: That’s right, Lyney! How could I be a flying object that’s released?! Finally, someone is speaking up for me.
Furina: Oh? Lyney, the Great Magician, my dear citizen, I allow you to refute me, but how will you prove that she is not a flying object?
Lyney: Hehe, as a magician, I just spoiled everyone’s fun, so naturally, I must take responsibility for ‘saving the show’… Since there are so many spectators, I’ll perform a magic trick for everyone.
(Clap!) Lyney snapped his fingers in front of everyone, and then the Pyro Vision on his body glowed slightly. A silk thread formed in Lumine’s hand, with the other end connected to Paimon.
Lynette: Ta-da!
Paimon: Eh! My back… When did Lyney do that?
Qixuan: Think about it carefully?
Lumine: So… it was at that time.
Lyney: Alright, as everyone can see, Paimon should be classified as… well, something like a balloon. This silk thread has always been there; everyone just couldn’t see it before.
Vina: Eww~~ How is this magic? It’s practically a bad joke…
Antoine: Hahahaha, I actually find it quite interesting.
Qixuan: How about… we just get arrested? Paimon seems… Pffthahaha.
At this moment, Paimon’s face was excessively red, truly a mystery whether it was due to the hot weather or something else.
Furina: Pfft… Hahahahaha… Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, Lyney! I love these unexpected twists. With you here, today’s performance can truly be called complete.
Paimon: Hmph! Performance? Do you treat everything today as a performance?
Furina: In that case, the trial will end here. The God of justice cannot wrongly accuse an innocent person. But… as long as there’s a reason, let alone a foreign Traveler… I can even put a foreign God on trial. Hahahahaha…
Alright, Mr. Lyney, Miss Lynette, I eagerly await your upcoming performance at the Opera Epiclese. That’s all for today, everyone~ Goodbye.
Furina left, and the guards also left.
Paimon: …She, she just left like that? She’s a truly unfathomable God. We didn’t even get to ask her anything, but let’s leave it for later. The atmosphere just now was a bit…
Qixuan: A bit awkward, right?
Paimon: Hmph! Qixuan-jie even said it, you two just laugh at me.
Lumine: I didn’t.
Lyney: Now you’ve seen what kind of God the Hydro God is, haven’t you?
Lynette: She’s quite inexplicable, but at least she’s reasonable.
Paimon: Speaking of which, Lyney, I just realized you’re a great magician, and you’re even performing at the Opera Epiclese?
Lyney: Haha, I just perform some tricks to make a living. Lynette is my magic assistant, and this is our first time having the honor to perform at Fontaine’s highest hall, the Opera Epiclese.
Paimon: But didn’t you say before that the Opera Epiclese is Fontaine’s court?
Lyney: When there are no cases that require public trial, the Opera Epiclese also hosts various performances. In Fontaine, the line between trials and performances is inherently a bit blurred… Speaking of which, may I invite you three to watch my performance?
Lynette: After all, my brother is the type who gets more excited with more familiar faces.
Paimon: Oh, yes, yes! Anyway, we don’t have anything else to do for now, and we originally said we were going to the Opera Epiclese.
Qixuan: Agreed.
Lumine: No objections.
Lyney: That’s great! In that case, why don’t we move together for now? I can also show you the way. It’s just that I still have something to do right now…
Lumine suggested helping Lyney, and everyone agreed. Lyney pulled out a magic pouch and said he would distribute them to the people here. Paimon still had some questions, and then Lyney revealed the “prophecy.”
Every person in Fontaine is born with “sin.” No matter how much the nation of justice, Fontaine, judges, it cannot be absolved. Until one day, Fontaine’s sea level will begin to rise, and those burdened with sin will gradually be submerged by the seawater… Eventually, everyone will dissolve into the sea, leaving only the Hydro God weeping on her throne. Only then will the sins of the people of Fontaine be cleansed.
………
Paimon: What a negative prophecy… Why does it say that people of Fontaine are born with “sin”? What exactly does it refer to?
Qixuan’s eyes sparkled, lost in thought.
Lyney: There are many popular theories. Some say that the ancestors of Fontaine stole the power of the sea, so the sea is very angry… Others say that the people of Fontaine disobeyed the advice of the original Hydro God and offended the Gods of Celestia… However, in Fontaine, everything requires evidence, and these claims have no evidence, so they can only be considered theories.
Lumine: How strange.
Paimon: Hmm… Since the people of Fontaine themselves don’t know what sin they’ve committed, why not just ignore this prophecy? There’s no need to feel guilty.
Lyney: At first, people did that, but… in recent years, Fontaine’s sea level has truly begun to rise.
Lumine: Hmm…
Lynette: Many places have already permanently become “underwater.”
Lyney: Although many people still dismiss it, believing it to be merely a “natural phenomenon,” my family and I believe that the people of Fontaine should not ignore this possibility and wait idly for disaster.
We at least hope that residents living by the sea can move out in advance, so we started distributing “magic pouches” to them. These magic pouches, as magic tools, have excellent storage capacity and will certainly be useful when moving.
Paimon: I see, at least it’s a form of preparing for a rainy day.
Lumine: If the prophecy is true…
Lyney: Hmm… Perhaps only absolute power can contend with disaster, hehe, who knows? After all, we are all so small.
Alright, if you want to help, please distribute the magic pouches. No matter what they say, just hand them over forcefully.
Everyone started helping to distribute the magic pouches. Lumine quietly approached Qixuan.
Lumine: Qixuan-jie, do you think the “prophecy” is true?
Qixuan: You can’t not believe it. The Dragon Calamity in Mondstadt, the God of the Vortex in Liyue, the Vision Hunt Decree in Inazuma, the Forbidden Knowledge in Sumeru… Do you think Fontaine’s “prophecy” is true?
Lumine: …I understand.
Qixuan: Good that you understand. Now go distribute the pouches.
After Lumine left, a clone of Qixuan left her main body and went to the location of the true Hydro God. Qixuan (clone) only took a glance before leaving, and after Qixuan left, a faint blue light flashed within the Oratrice Mecanique d’Analyse Cardinale.
………
Lyney: You’ve already finished so quickly? How was it, everyone… Hmm… everyone has their own opinions.
Lumine: Uh… there are a lot of stubborn people.
Lyney: Hmm, but I believe that if disaster truly strikes, many people will change their current views and have a change of heart, so it’s definitely right to have a backup plan.
Paimon: What’s next?
Lyney then mentioned the Romaritime Flower and the requirements. After everyone finished gathering them, they gathered at the port below.
Lyney: Thank you all! After the performance, I’ll treat you all to a good meal at Fontaine’s Hotel Debord.
Paimon: Hehe, then it would be rude not to accept!
Lyney: Since everything is done, we should prepare to head back to Poisson first.
Paimon: Wow, Fontaine’s big city! I really want to visit it properly…
Just as they were halfway there, Lyney suddenly stopped.
Lyney: Shhh… Wait a moment, did you notice that person? The Damselette over there…
Everyone looked towards the Damselette Lyney was talking about in the distance.
Paimon: Huh? What’s wrong with her?
Lyney: Heh… she’s clearly a thief. Actually, some of a magician’s methods have commonalities with thieves: both involve making preparations beforehand without being noticed.
The Damselette in the distance stole a sailor’s wallet and then ran off.
Paimon: Wow! Really!
Lyney: Shhh… We need to find a way to catch her, but she seems very alert. We’d best split up.
Lyney had everyone stake out designated spots, while he went to chase the Damselette.
………