"What do you mean?" Lora asked curiously.
"That youngster really has it rough. Five hundred years of work, and he still has to keep working afterward. Tsk, tsk..." Zhongyue sighed while eating her candied hawthorn skewer, clearly sympathizing with Neuvillette.
"That's only because Liyue has Zhongli. What other nation could compare to Liyue?" Lora said helplessly.
"Speaking of Zhongli, how exactly did you convince him to become... like that?" Zhongyue asked.
"With reason and emotion," Lora replied, summing up the entire process of forcing Zhongli into this situation with two simple words.
Zhongyue obviously did not believe a single word of it, but she did not press the matter further.
Instead, she said, "I wonder how Xiao will react when he sees Chaya like this."
"Oh, I think he already knows," Lora suddenly said. "He saw what Chaya looked like before I did."
"He knew?" Zhongyue instantly looked offended. "He knew and didn't tell us? That's just disrespectful! No, no, no. Once we get back, we're dragging him to Wangshu Inn and making him buy us a proper meal. You're coming too. I'll save you a seat."
"You'll save me a seat?" Lora laughed and nodded. "All right. I'll come."
"Good! Then Xianyun and I are off to find Xiao. Bye!" Zhongyue waved at Lora and skipped away while munching on the rest of the candied hawthorn.
Watching her leave, Lora suddenly found herself thinking that it was a good thing Zhongyue currently looked like a human girl.
Otherwise, the Opera Epiclese might genuinely have collapsed.
Still, this child really was talented at digging tunnels.
If Fontaine ever decided to build a subway system, they could probably hire her and finish the whole thing in a matter of days.
After leaving the Opera Epiclese, Lora returned to the Palais Mermonia.
At that moment, Furina was sitting alone by the window, silently gazing over the Court of Fontaine below.
Her eyes were full of worry, and she did not even notice Lora had returned.
Only when Lora spoke did Furina finally snap back to reality and quickly stand up to walk over.
"What took you so long?" Furina asked with a frown.
Lora looked at her helplessly. "You're the one who ran off the moment Marcel's trial ended..."
Furina let out a quiet sigh.
Lora continued, "Are you worried about dissolution? Afraid Fontaine will be swallowed by the rising sea, and afraid the people of Fontaine will dissolve into Water from the Primordial Sea?"
Furina did not answer directly. Instead, she murmured, "That Marcel... Vacher... he..."
Lora looked at her and calmly continued the thought for her.
"He wasn't Fontainian, so he wouldn't dissolve. And he already tested it. All Fontainians will dissolve, regardless of where in Fontaine they were born."
Furina's expression immediately grew even heavier.
Seeing that, Lora gently smoothed down her hair and comforted her softly.
"Don't worry. The Fontainians will survive. There will definitely be a way to stop the prophecy."
"Really?" Furina looked at her and asked instinctively.
Lora nodded.
"Of course. Don't forget—you're the Hydro Archon. You're a god. You can save the Fontainians."
Meeting Lora's encouraging gaze, Furina took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
"Yes! I can save the Fontainians! I am Focalors, the Hydro Archon. I will save Fontaine!"
"That's right. You definitely will," Lora said with a smile.
...
After the serial disappearances of young women had been completely resolved, Lora specifically arranged to meet Lumine alone.
This time, she had not even brought Paimon.
Lumine seemed to sense that this meeting would not be simple. Looking at Lora sitting across from her and drinking coffee, she asked in confusion, "I thought you liked sweet things. You usually don't drink coffee..."
"It's fine. There's sugar in it," Lora replied with a shake of her head.
"So? What did you call me here for?" Lumine asked.
Lora gave a soft hum. She set down her coffee cup and said, "I need your help."
Before she could explain further, Lumine immediately patted her chest confidently.
"We're partners. Whatever you need, just say it. No matter what it is, I'll do everything I can to help."
Seeing Lumine's expression—as if she were ready to charge into anything headfirst—Lora smiled and nodded.
"All right. Then I'll say it."
She let out a soft sigh, carefully organized her thoughts for a moment, then finally said:
"Lumine... don't you think Furina feels far too unlike a god?"
"Huh?" Lumine had clearly not expected that opening. She froze for a moment, completely caught off guard.
"What do you mean?" she asked, unable to understand where Lora was going with this.
Lora continued calmly, "Think about it. Fontaine's prophecy says the entire Court of Fontaine will be destroyed. But as the Hydro Archon, Furina has spent the last five hundred years seemingly doing nothing at all. That feels far too irresponsible."
Even though Lora understood Furina's efforts and the suffering she had endured, for the sake of the plan, she could only speak this way.
I'm sorry, Furina...
Lumine stared at Lora for several seconds before finally realizing something.
"You're planning to make a move against Furina?"
Lora shook her head.
"Not me. You, the Traveler... and everyone else involved."
"Us?" Lumine looked at her blankly, still confused.
Lora continued, "This is the Nation of Hydro. A nation of justice. A land ruled by law. Everything here must ultimately be judged in court. I need you to move quietly throughout Fontaine, connect with as many people as possible, and put the Hydro Archon on trial."
"Put the Hydro Archon... on trial?" Lumine stared at Lora in disbelief, stunned by the idea.
Lora nodded slightly.
Originally, the incident at Poisson was what would have triggered that final trial.
But she would never allow the people of Poisson to die.
To complete the final judgment, she had no choice but to force events forward herself.
Everything would end with one grand, dramatic trial.
Lora told Lumine a specific date before continuing:
"Lumine, remember this. On that day, the Hydro Archon must stand trial. Only then might we be able to save Fontaine."
Lumine looked at Lora in silence.
A long time passed.
The coffee between them had already gone cold before Lumine finally nodded slowly.
"I'll do everything I can to help you. Leave it to me, Lora. After all, I'm the greatest adventurer around."
"Of course I believe that," Lora said with a smile. "You are the greatest adventurer, Lumine."
Lumine then asked:
"So what exactly are we accusing the Hydro Archon of?"