"All the people of Fontaine are my people," Focalors said with a gentle smile as she looked at Lora.
"Protecting them is my responsibility. Once I think of it that way, even the most fearful heart becomes calm."
Lora wiped the tears from Focalors' face. "But this is far too unfair to you."
"Yet it is the fairest and most just choice for the people of Fontaine," Focalors replied calmly.
Lora's gaze shifted to the massive sword floating nearby.
"Is that the weapon you plan to use to end your own life? You modeled it after my 'Judgment of the Raging Sea,' didn't you?"
Focalors nodded with a faint smile. "Yes. I thought… if, at the end of my life, the weapon that sends me off is Lady Egeria's, then I could die without regret."
"I've already said it—this is far too unfair to you," Lora said firmly. She cupped Focalors' cheeks and made her look straight at her. "Listen to me, Focalors. I will resolve everything in Fontaine. You don't need to sacrifice your life. I need all of you to live."
"But… won't you be in danger?"
The first thing Focalors thought of was Lora's safety.
"Five hundred years ago, you were summoned by the sustainer of the Heavenly Principles and sent to Khaenri'ah to seal the power of the Abyss. That war caused your demise. Even though you've returned now, I can feel that your strength is still weaker than it was back then. If your plan puts you in danger, that is something I absolutely cannot allow."
Even now, Focalors' concern was still for Lora.
Lora's expression turned solemn. "I will make sure everyone is saved. You, Furina, and all the people of Fontaine."
"And you?" Focalors pressed.
Lora smiled. "I am the heart of the Primordial Sea. What could possibly happen to me? The Abyss is an external force. I was not the only god to fall. As for Fontaine's crisis, there are many ways to deal with it."
"But turning the people of Fontaine into true humans is the only way to completely escape the fate decreed by the Heavenly Principles," Focalors said.
Lora nodded. "Yes. The people of Fontaine must become true humans."
"Then Neuvillette must become a truly complete Hydro Dragon Sovereign," Focalors continued.
"He will. Everything will be accomplished, Focalors. Trust me," Lora said with certainty. "Whether it's Neuvillette reclaiming the authority of the ancient dragon, or the people of Fontaine becoming true humans—it will all happen."
"But I'm still worried about you," Focalors said quietly. Though she was overjoyed at Lora's return, she had not lost her own judgment, nor was she blindly accepting every arrangement Lora proposed.
Lora sighed softly, then explained her plan.
"I will obtain the Gnoses of the other gods. Using the power that links the Gnosis to Celestia, I will destroy the Hydro Archon's divine seat. That way, you won't need to bind the divine seat to yourself."
When a Hydro Archon dies, the divine seat returns to the heavens and becomes impossible to trace.
Only when a new Hydro Archon is born will the seat bestow the authority of the ancient dragon upon them.
In the original course of events, Focalors connected herself to the divine seat as the Hydro Archon, then destroyed both herself and the seat entirely, returning the ancient dragon's authority to Neuvillette.
What Lora intended to do was have Focalors step down as the Hydro Archon.
Once the divine seat returned to Celestia, she would use the power of the Gnoses to forcibly connect to Celestia, locate the Hydro Archon's divine seat, and destroy it.
"But… will the other gods really give you their Gnoses?"
Focalors frowned.
"And what if the power of the Gnoses isn't enough to lock onto the Hydro Archon's divine seat?"
Lora took out Venti's Gnosis and showed it to her.
"Look. I already have the Anemo Archon's Gnosis. And I've been the Hydro Archon for thousands of years—I understand the connection between the Gnosis and Celestia better than anyone. Trust me."
Seeing the absolute confidence in Lora's expression, Focalors nodded.
"I trust you, Lady Egeria. But… I will not abandon my own plan. If, in the final moment, there is no way to satisfy both sides, then my plan is the safest option."
At those words, Lora frowned. She was about to speak, but before she could, Focalors interrupted her.
"Please respect my will, Lady Egeria."
Lora fell silent, looking at the child who had now served as the Hydro Archon for five hundred years.
After a long while, she reached out and gently ruffled Focalors' hair, sighing with emotion. "You really have grown up…"
"Then you don't intend to leave the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale with me and see the outside world?" Lora asked. "Fontaine today is very different from what it was five hundred years ago."
"In my memories, Fontaine is still the same as it was back then," Focalors said with a sigh. "The only thing I've ever seen is the Opera Epiclese—unchanged for five hundred years."
She did not follow Lora's suggestion. Instead, she said firmly, "Lady Egeria, I will remain here. For the sake of the plan's stability, I cannot leave. And if you truly succeed, I'll have plenty of chances to see Fontaine as it is now. If you fail, then I will use my life to ensure that Fontaine continues to exist."
Her words were unwavering, leaving Lora with nothing more to say.
Focalors was no longer merely Lora's attendant. She was a god of justice with her own ideals and will—the god Focalors.
"However, I have one small request," Focalors added suddenly. "Would you grant it?"
"Go on," Lora said. "I'll agree to anything."
"While you're in Fontaine, could you come and talk with me often?" Focalors said softly. "To be honest… I'm actually someone who's afraid of being alone."
Someone who feared loneliness had nonetheless sealed herself within the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale for five hundred years, all for the sake of Fontaine's people.
Lora nodded solemnly. "Don't worry. I'll come see you every day."
"That would be wonderful," Focalors said, smiling.
Lora added with a gentle laugh, "I'll bring you some sweets next time. I remember you used to love them—just like Furina does. You've gone five hundred years without a single dessert. You must be craving them by now, right?"