After the twins' brief exchange, Furina simply stood there, racking her brain over how to deliver her speech and completely ignoring Rina. Meanwhile, Rina was waiting for Furina to speak to her.
The result? Furina made no move, so Rina didn't make one either. The two of them lapsed into an eerie silence that had drifted on until an entire day had passed.
Clatter–clatter–clatter– A carriage rushed toward Furina, it was the carriage that would carry Fontaine's soon-to-be Hydro Archon.
The entourage numbered in the hundreds. They dismounted and approached Furina at a measured pace. At their head walked a Court official in high–rank government garb. He stopped before Furina and took a bow. "Lady Furina, we're from the Court of Fontaine. I am Captain Ide. We're here to escort you to Fontaine."
[T/L: I just know future me is going to hate me since I consider Fontaine personally hard when it comes to their government structure (╥‸╥)]
'How so boringly formal…' Rina muttered, yet only Furina could hear.
"Oh…um…" Overwhelmed by the crowd, Furina climbed aboard the carriage in a daze.
The carriage moved swiftly and a few hours later they rolled up before the Fountain of Lucine. Furina followed the procession into the Opera Epiclese and mounted a platform to deliver her accession speech.
Word that a new Hydro Archon would soon ascend brought crowds of Fontaine citizens to the Opera Epiclese. Everyone was eager to see what kind of deity she was and whether she would measure up to their idea of an Archon.
'Let me do the talking and people will believe that you are the Hydro Archon. Sure you'll let me try?' Rina coaxed.
Furina didn't hesitate. "No. I don't trust you. This is too important, I have to do it myself."
'Sigh, fine. If you won't let me, then I can't be bothered anyways.'
Furina's heart was beating fast. It was her first time facing the citizens of Fontaine as their Archon and she still had no clue how she should appear like. So she had decided to be herself.
"Cough Um, ladies and gentlemen, good evening, and welcome to the Opera Epiclese.
I'm sure you've all heard about how I have taken on the role of Hydro Archon. Indeed, I am Furina de Fontaine, your new Hydro Archon.
In truth, I know little about becoming a nation's new god, but it will be my honor to guide you all.
As the god Focalors – the God of Justice – I shall do all within my power to lead you into an age of fairness and justice.
Once again, thank you all for coming. If you should have any questions or suggestions, please send them to the Maison Cardinalice – the future of Fontaine will require us to work together, after all." With modest courtesy Furina finished her speech.
Well, if she were a human official taking office, that would have been perfect.
But this was a new deity taking role, such timidity could not satisfy the citizens.
"That's the new Hydro Archon? Is this some kind of joke by the Maison? I would've thought that a being that surpasses humanity would be a bit more… assertive.."
"Hey, did you hear that? She even told us to send her suggestions there at the end…"
"Shouldn't gods be all-powerful? She's being so modest… What's the difference between her and a ordinary person, then?"
"If you ask me.. Perhaps the succession didn't actually happen. She might just be a Maison-backed puppet!"
The chorus of doubt grew louder throughout the Opera Epiclese.
Before Furina could panic, Rina lying on the sofa in the inner space watched as the crowd became rowdy. She released Hydro Element to form a wall that would muffle the noise so Furina could think, and then she unleashed her fury.
'Hey! Who the fuck do you think you are? Doubting my Furina? Who says an Archon must be all-powerful? Are you an Archon?'
'What sort of mindset is that? Is a leader who listens to their citizens a bad thing? I swear… Once I get control, you're all going to die at my hands!'
'Is being modest not good enough? Does being modest conflict with power? Do you like violent Archons? Fine, let me show you one then!!'
Rina continued to curse every Fontainians, it was clear that she was in a bad mood.
But her rant did nothing to change the situation, Furina remained trapped and overwhelmed.
'Wait, what's going on? Why is everyone suspecting me of being fake? Oh, this is bad. If I get exposed here… there'll be no saving the people from the prophecy...' Furina grew worried as cold sweat dripped down her face.
'Right! Mirror Me said that I just need to play the role of a god as humans imagine them to be… Calm down, Furina… Think. What do the people want? How would they imagine a god to speak and act?'
Rina tried to take over the speech earlier because she had foreseen this and wanted to counter this.
'No, I know what to do.' Furina refused to rely on Rina. Unless she had no choice, she dared not to gamble on whether Rina truly wished for Fontaine to be well.
"Hahahaha! Very good, my people. Only ones such as you are deserving of my rule.
Now, I was wondering – if some weak puppet were to one day come onto the stage and claim ownership of this opera house, would the children of Fontaine follow them?
…Well! It seems that you would all see right through them. Having passed my test, you are qualified to witness wondrous trials alongside my august self, here in this opera house!
You may consider my previous act a door gift of sorts. I thought it was a debut that suited the atmosphere."
At first Furina's voice trembled, but over time her voice grew to be more exaggerated.
"Now then, let us be re-introduced! "With effort Furina flung herself into flamboyance.
"My dear people, Whether you acknowledge me or not, whether you trust me or nay, I say to you – keep faith in your ardor for justice!
We have heard that it said that this nation's sins can no longer be washed away. Well, I say that justice is most fragrant when it blooms amid sin!
The scales of justice should not weigh heavy in the hands of its god. On one side, it must carry fairness and justice, and on the other, praise and applause.
May law be the prayer on our lips. May judgement be our worship. Let us light the fires, and drink to the future of Fontaine!
There is no trouble in this world that justice cannot solve. All that is needed is for you, my people, to believe in it, heart and soul.
So long as I, the Archon Focalors, stand within the Opera Epiclese… So long as I stand before the Oratrice… I shall even judge the gods of this world!"
Furina flung her arms as she ended the speech with a thunderous ending.
"Yay!"
"Lady Furina!"
"Whoo!"
"Yeah!"
Applause and cheers erupted from the opera house as the people accepted their new Hydro Archon.
Watching the enthusiastic response, Furina finally exhaled in relief.
'There, that should do it….'
Rina watched as Furina became utterly different in that moment and saw the mask that had appeared on her face. A shadow casts over her face as her ahoge drooped.
'Furina… I will make you take off that mask… at least just in front of me…'