Upon returning to Fontaine, Neuvillette immediately headed to the Opera House. The area was already swarming with people, packed tightly inside and out. Lumine, Paimon, and Chu Xi were among the crowd.
Many Furina fans were in the throng!
News had spread that Furina was still alive and currently inside the Opera House, drawing a massive crowd of Fontainians who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news.
However, all were confined to the exterior of the Opera House. Several Melusine guards stood at the main entrance, barring anyone from entering.
"Monsieur Neuvillette is back!"
Someone shouted, and the crowd immediately parted, clearing a path to the Opera House entrance.
Ignoring the surrounding crowd, Neuvillette strode directly toward the Opera House.
At the Opera House entrance, Neuvillette encountered Clorinde, who had arrived earlier. She reported:
"The great flood has left Fontaine in chaos. Many people are missing, though no fatalities have been reported yet. These people came here spontaneously, all wanting to see Furina. I've already dispersed one group, but these remaining ones insist on seeing her before they'll leave."
Neuvillette turned to survey the dense crowd of Fontainians before entering the Opera House.
Clorinde remained outside, awaiting Neuvillette and Furina.
-
Inside the Opera House, Neuvillette's footsteps were the first sound Focalors heard. He, in turn, noticed her standing before a seat in the audience section.
Having been nourished by the divine power of several gods, Focalors appeared remarkably well, though her body remained somewhat translucent.
Although Neuvillette had learned of Focalors' condition from Morax beforehand, seeing the woman who had deceived him for five centuries stirred turbulent emotions within him.
"Focalors..."
His voice carried a nasal tone as he inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, struggling to maintain his composure.
Focalors clasped her hands before her and nodded slightly. "I apologize, Neuvillette."
Furina, who had been sitting in a nearby seat, whirled around. Seeing Neuvillette, she hastily wiped the tears from her face and asked anxiously, "Neuvillette, what about Fidelle? Did you bring her back? How is she now?"
"Fidelle is safe, you can rest assured."
Neuvillette produced a small purple orb. "However, she remains unconscious. It may take several days for her to awaken. The Dendro Archon has also provided treatment, but her physical body..."
Although Fidelle had dissolved, as a Fontainian, she had merely reverted to her Oceanid form, not truly died.
Most of her soul had burned away, but at least it still existed. However, Neuvillette's Authority couldn't restore Fidelle's physical body.
Focalors: "For her physical body, we could seek assistance from Rukkhadevata of Sumeru. A Dendro body would be far more suitable for Fidelle's current state than a Geo one."
Neuvillette: "Very well. I will personally travel to Sumeru to have Fidelle's body restored."
Furina had already taken the small purple orb containing Fidelle's soul from Neuvillette's hand, cradling it gently with both hands.
When Neuvillette mentioned going to Sumeru, Furina immediately spoke up: "I... I want to go too!"
Furina stubbornly tilted her small face upward, fixing Neuvillette with a determined gaze.
Neuvillette's gaze instinctively shifted away. "Very well. I'll let you know when I'm leaving so you can come along."
Satisfied with his response, Furina's gaze returned to the purple orb. Completely opaque, it offered no glimpse of what lay within.
"Fidelle... Fidelle?"
Furina softly called out twice, but received no response. Deciding not to disturb Fidelle further, she simply hugged the orb tighter.
"Furina..."
Neuvillette spoke suddenly, his voice soft.
Furina looked up, puzzled. Neuvillette said solemnly, "I'm deeply sorry for my actions before..."
Furina shook her head. "No, there's no need to apologize. It was all part of the Prophecy. Fidelle told me so. I... I don't blame you."
She had indeed been heartbroken during the Trial, but her primary emotion had been fear.
Fear that Fontaine's Prophecy would come true, fear that Fidelle would never return, fear... fear that the Fontainians would lose faith in her...
Well, there was a little bit of resentment, but only a tiny bit.
Neuvillette: "You don't need to leave Palais Mermonia. Your status as a God remains unchanged. No one would dare question it, nor would they dare challenge it."
"No, Neuvillette, the Hydro Archon position means nothing to me. On the contrary, it's been a prison. After five centuries in this role, I'm utterly weary of the monotonous rituals and routines."
The exhaustion in Furina's eyes was plain for all to see. She continued, "Focalors has now relinquished her Divinity. And you, Neuvillette, have reclaimed the Au... Au..."
Focalors: "The Authority of the Ancient Dragons."
Furina: "That's right, you've regained the Authority of the Ancient Dragons. You should be Fontaine's next Hydro Archon, succeeding Focalors. I'm just an ordinary person now, and Focalors is just an ordinary soul. We both just want to live ordinary lives."
Neuvillette turned to Focalors, his gaze questioning.
Focalors: "Ahem, with great power comes great responsibility. I believe that even without the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, Fontaine's judicial system will remain complete. As Fontaine's Chief Justice, you, Neuvillette, will surely deliver the most just judgments."
Neuvillette understood Focalors' meaning, but he still hesitated.
Furina: "If you think you can't handle all the work alone, you could recruit more Melusine. And Clorinde too. But Fidelle... Fidelle has to stay with me."
Neuvillette: "..."
"Let's go outside first, Furina. There are many people waiting for you there."
"Waiting for me?" Furina's body stiffened.
Neuvillette: "They're coming to thank you, not to cause trouble."
Focalors returned to the blue sphere. Furina cradled one sphere in each arm and walked out of the Opera House.
-
Outside the Opera House, as Furina emerged with a sphere cradled in one arm, accompanied by Neuvillette, even the wind seemed to freeze.
Beyond the doors lay the sea—a silent, frozen wave composed of Fontainians.
The instant Furina's figure was fully exposed in the dim light beyond the entrance, this frozen sea surged to a boil, only to be instantly suppressed by an even heavier silence.
Countless gazes, each bearing the weight of a thousand burdens—shock, searing pain, unbearable shame, and a belated, agonizing reverence that nearly burned her alive—all converged on her at once.
The air hung thick and suffocating. Only the ceaseless murmur of Fontaine's fountains, far in the distance, futilely attempted to fill the heart-stopping void.