"Focalors, when do you think Fidelle will wake up?" Furina asked, having kicked off her shoes and curled up on the sofa.
Many people had said Fidelle was slowly recovering, but no matter how Furina looked at the small purple orb, it seemed exactly the same as yesterday—unchanged.
"Self-combusting one's soul, and burning so much of it at once... For anyone else, their soul would have long since dissipated. Fidelle's continued existence in this state is entirely due to her extraordinary soul resilience."
"Is it because she's a Pure Soul?" Furina asked.
"...Mm."
Focalors had told Furina about Pure Souls. On one hand, she was relieved that Fidelle possessed such a soul, preventing her from being dissolved in the Primordial Sea water like others, never to return. On the other hand, Furina remained worried that the Abyss might target Fidelle again.
The Abyss had failed this time, but according to Neuvillette, the consequences were beyond even his ability to resolve. They had been saved only by the intervention of others...
Furina cradled the small orb in her palm, gently rubbing it as she eagerly anticipated tomorrow's journey to Sumeru, where they would reconstruct Fidelle's physical body.
"Furina, we have a visitor," Focalors warned.
"Eh?"
Furina sat up abruptly, scrambling to put her shoes back on.
Having only just stepped down as the Hydro Archon, Furina couldn't let anyone see her in her current state.
But hadn't Neuvillette assured her that no one would disturb her?
Who could be here?
Furina had just finished putting on her shoes when a knock sounded at the door.
She cautiously cracked the door open a sliver, just enough to peek at the visitor outside.
The moment she saw the person outside, Furina's pupils dilated sharply, and she slammed the door shut with a bang.
Leaning against the door, she clutched her wildly pounding chest.
Hiss—
What do I do? What do I do? It's Scary Mushroom Eyes!
Knock, knock, knock—
The knocking echoed again. Focalors, observing Furina's panic, reassured her:
"Open the door, Furina. I can sense no malice from her."
"R-really?"
Focalors nodded with a gentle smile, and Furina reluctantly opened the door a crack.
Before Furina opened the door, Focalors retreated into the white orb.
Outside stood The Knave, holding a beautifully wrapped gift. Its contents were impossible to discern from the outside.
By the time Furina opened the door, she had already scurried back to the sofa and sat down.
The Knave gently closed the door behind her, the soft click sending a shiver through Furina.
"Ahem... what do you want?" Furina asked, her voice lacking its usual confidence.
The Knave didn't reply. She walked up to Furina and, ignoring her evasive gaze, placed the gift she was carrying on the small table in front of her.
"Apologies."
Furina was startled. After a brief struggle, she mumbled, her voice barely audible, "I'm, I'm sorry..."
The Knave: "..."
An awkward silence hung in the air. Furina, still misunderstanding, assumed The Knave hadn't heard her soft apology. She repeated it louder.
The Knave pushed the gift closer to Furina. "It is I who should apologize to you. This is my offering of amends."
"Ah... Ah?"
Furina finally understood, her cheeks flushing crimson.
The Knave: "I apologize for my earlier remarks, and for ambushing you. Lady Furina, you have indeed done much for Fontaine..."
Furina didn't pay much attention to the rest of The Knave's words. She was too stunned that The Knave had actually admitted her wrongdoings—right in front of her!
The Knave's earlier ambush had left Furina deeply traumatized, making her too afraid to venture out alone for a long time afterward.
And now the attacker was here to apologize?
"I, I..."
"It's alright if you don't accept. I've delivered my amends. I'll take my leave now."
The Knave turned and walked away.
Only when the door clicked shut did Furina's heart finally stop racing.
Focalors emerged from the small sphere. "Furina, aren't you going to open the gift?"
"No, I won't open it," Furina replied. "I'll wait until Fidelle gets back."
The scent didn't smell like food, and as long as it wouldn't spoil, she'd wait for Fidelle. Who knew what ulterior motives she might have?
-
Meanwhile, Lumine, Chu Xi, and Paimon were in Neuvillette's office.
Neuvillette: "I promised Furina and Focalors that I would take them to Sumeru tomorrow to seek the Dendro Archon's help in reshaping their physical bodies."
"However... I have no connection to the Dendro Archon, and the relationship between the Dragon Sovereign and the Gods is rather strained. I would like to request your assistance in accompanying me."
Lumine immediately agreed.
Regardless of whether it was Neuvillette's request or involved Furina and Focalors, it also concerned Fidelle. And since Fidelle was a Pure Soul, Lumine would go no matter what.
Neuvillette: "Thank you for your assistance. We will prepare appropriate compensation for your help."
Paimon: "Alright, then it's settled!"
-
[ Player World. ]
The Unceasing Thunder Quest Series was still ongoing. Since most scenes were from Lumine and Paimon's perspectives, only a short amount of time had passed in the game world.
Now that Furina was traveling to Sumeru to find Fidelle, many players speculated that the core of Fidelle's quest lay in Sumeru.
Having barely snatched a Pure Soul back from the Abyss, any rustle of leaves or breath of wind sent the players into a state of paranoid suspicion.
-
The next day, just as dawn broke, Furina arrived at Neuvillette's office carrying a small bag.
The staff at Palais Mermonia greeted her with unprecedented enthusiasm, several times more warmly than before. No one even tried to stop her. Although she was no longer the Hydro Archon, everyone seemed to respect and like her even more than before.
"Neuvillette, should we set off now?"
Due to the recent upheaval in Fontaine, Neuvillette had been working nonstop since the previous night, without returning home to rest. When Furina entered, he was still poring over documents.
"Please take a moment to rest, Lady Furina. The Traveler will arrive shortly."
"Mm-hmm," Furina replied obediently, settling into a nearby chair.
She didn't feel guilty seeing Neuvillette working alone. After all, even when she was the Hydro Archon, he had handled most of these duties.
After waiting for over half an hour, Lumine arrived with Paimon and Chu Xi.
Neuvillette set aside his work and stood up. "Thank you for your assistance, Traveler."
"No problem."
Lumine pulled the Serenitea Pot from her backpack, cradled it in one hand, and placed her other hand on her hip. "Alright, everyone, hop into the Pot!"
"Into the Pot?" Furina's face was a picture of confusion.
Lumine: "Furina, you know I can use the Teleport Waypoints across Teyvat, right?"
"Yes, of course."
Lumine: "If you come into the Pot with me, I can teleport us all together. We can get from Fontaine to Sumeru in the blink of an eye. How's that for convenient?"
"Mm-hmm, very convenient!" Furina nodded rapidly. "But... how do I get inside?"
Lumine: "Easy peasy!"