Furina watched the girl standing rooted to the spot, a sudden sense of foreboding gripping her heart.
"Emily, hurry up and get on the elevator!"
The girl smiled and shook her head at Furina.
"No, Lady Furina, I've already chosen my ending."
"And it's not just . Even before we t you, we had already chosen our final fates."
"Though this ending isn't what we initially wanted, it's not so bad either."
Hearing the girl's words, Furina couldn't help but shift her gaze to the other girls' followers.
Among them, she recognized Overseers from the Fortress of ropide, freedn who had redeed their cris, and prisoners still serving their sentences.
Furina also spotted familiar faces from the Mutual Aid Network gatherings—so she had even chatted with and enjoyed spending ti with.
Now, these individuals stood in a circle around the elevator, calmly watching them ascend, their faces radiating only composure.
Just as Furina began to dimly grasp the girl's aning, the girl spoke again.
"Farewell, Lady Furina."
"I've truly enjoyed the ti we spent together."
"I'm sorry for occupying so much of your ti. Now, you should return to your own life."
With that, the girl decisively pressed the chanism in her hand. The elevator began to ascend slowly, its speed steadily increasing as it rose higher above the ground.
"Wait!"
Furina tried to climb over the railing to reach the girl, but the elevator lurched violently as it started moving, nearly throwing her off balance.
Though she managed to steady herself, the elevator had already risen to a considerable height.
"Emily!"
Furina shouted down, but the girl rely waved back and turned to leave.
A wave of panic washed over Furina. At this height, any ordinary person's legs would have turned to jelly. Furina, too, felt a surge of fear, but her gaze hardened with resolve.
Suddenly, Emily heard a gasp from above and turned to see a dark figure leaping from the elevator.
"Lady Furina!" Charlotte shouted as she plumted, instinctively raising her cara to capture the scene.
Seeing the falling figure, Emily quickly manipulated Anemo Energy to slow her descent. She then caught her firmly in both arms and looked at Furina with a mixture of helplessness and exasperation.
"Emily, I won't abandon you to die alone here!" Furina declared urgently, seizing the girl's hand the mont her feet touched the ground, not even pausing to reflect on the terror of her fall.
"Co with , Emily!"
"If you have no reason to live, then let be that reason!"
"I need you, Emily!"
Despite Furina's heartfelt words, the girl simply shook her head.
Just then, a massive wave crashed against the pipe's corner in the distance, sending a thunderous roar through the air.
The Primordial Sea Water had finally reached this far.
Furina's expression changed instantly, and she cried out urgently, "Emily, take everyone and get out of here! I know you have the power to do it!"
"No matter what, living is the only way to have a future!"
But the girl rely shook her head again. She reached out and patted Furina's shoulder. In an instant, a torrent of Anemo Energy enveloped Furina's body, and Furina felt herself growing weightless. Before she knew it, her feet were floating above the ground.
Realizing the girl wasn't coming with her, Furina wrapped her arms tightly around Emily, refusing to let go.
"Emily, why won't you co with ?"
"Didn't we have such a wonderful ti together these past days?"
"Didn't we laugh every day?"
"You... don't you adore and cherish most of all?"
"Were all those monts just lies?"
"No, Lady Furina."
The girl sighed softly before continuing, her voice tinged with resignation.
"These monts spent with you, Lady Furina, were among the few truly happy days of my life."
"But a sinner like shouldn't continue to exist in this world."
"No, Emily, you're not a sinner!"
The roar of the encroaching waves grew louder, forcing Furina to shout her rebuttal.
"I refuse to believe you'd carelessly take another's life! There must be another reason for their deaths!"
"Even if you truly bear sins, I'm willing to share the burden with you!"
Hearing these words, the girl smiled faintly at Furina.
"Lady Furina, you truly are a gentle Archon."
Just then, Furina clearly saw the distant figure swallowed by the surging Primordial Sea Water, now several ters high. Her pupils constricted sharply, a flicker of fear rising in her eyes. Her hands instinctively loosened their grip, but quickly tightened again.
"Hurry, Emily! If we don't leave now, we'll all be trapped here!"
"Emily, do you really want to see buried alongside you in the Primordial Sea Water?!"
Furina believed the girl wouldn't stand by and watch her die. Even if it ant resorting to a bit of trickery—and risking the girl's anger, hatred, or abandonnt—she would do anything to prevent the girl from being swallowed by the Primordial Sea Water.
"Sigh..."
The girl sighed softly, and a cyan array materialized beneath them.
After a brief surge of Anemo Energy, the array propelled them swiftly into the air.
The mont they left the ground, the Primordial Sea Water surged to engulf the spot where they had stood, swallowing the nearby figures in its wake.
Witnessing this filled Furina with a mix of sorrow and confusion. She couldn't fathom why they had chosen such a fate, but at least she had brought the girl back.
"Emily, once we're out of here, I'll rekindle your love for life!"
The girl shook her head.
"Lady Furina, the root of the problem isn't here..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Primordial Sea Water beneath them seed to develop a consciousness of its own. Sensing their escape, the water began to divide, with a portion coalescing into a rapidly advancing stream that surged toward Furina and the girl.
Seeing this, Furina was instantly terrified.
What's going on? Furina thought. I've never heard of Primordial Sea Water being able to do this!
Snapping out of her daze, Furina urgently warned Emily.
"Emily, watch out!"
Emily glanced down, nodded at Furina, and the cyan array suddenly pulsed with a blinding light. Their speed instantly surged.
Yet inexplicably, as their speed increased, the pursuing Primordial Sea Water also surged forward, closing the gap once more.
This developnt filled Furina with dread, leaving her utterly bewildered.
If this continued, they would be overtaken by the Primordial Sea Water in no ti.
In the end, both of them would dissolve into the Primordial Sea.
Moreover, if Furina were to die here, she couldn't guarantee she could maintain her Archon status, nor could she be certain whether the Prophecy would still co to pass.
Furina wasn't afraid of death. As an ordinary human who had lived for five centuries, she had already lived long enough.
But she dreaded the thought of all her efforts over the past five hundred years being in vain. The re possibility that her recklessness might cause Fontaine's Prophecy to unfold as predicted filled her heart with overwhelming guilt and anguish.
But if Furina had to make the choice again, she would still leap from the elevator without hesitation, for it was the only way to bring the girl here.
As the Primordial Sea Water drew closer, Furina's gaze softened with resignation. She had accepted her fate.
She could only hope that Neuvillette would handle the aftermath properly. Now, as an ordinary person, there was nothing she could change.
"Lady Furina."
Hearing the girl's voice, Furina snapped back to attention.
Sensing Furina's stolen glances, the girl smiled faintly.
"Lady Furina, I didn't choose to leave this world because I despise it."
"I believe you're aware of the recent surge in cri within Fontaine, aren't you?"
"I possess the ability to influence the hearts of those around . By amplifying their inner malice, I've caused Fontaine's cri rate to skyrocket."
"This power is beyond my conscious control. I am rely a failed creation."
"Yes, it's been this way from the beginning. From the start, I've never been needed by anyone..."
The girl's eyes glazed over slightly, as if lost in mories of the past.
"That's not true, Emily!"
"But you still have so many followers, don't you?"
"They admire and follow you from the bottom of their hearts!"
"And too! Your presence has given the courage to face tomorrow."
"You're definitely not soone no one needs! You're incredibly important to us all!"
The girl gazed into Furina's unique yet strikingly beautiful eyes and softly spoke.
"It's different."
"They're rely influenced by my abilities."
"Even the thought of giving up their lives... that's mostly due to my inner influence."
"I've already borne countless sins, and I'm long past redemption."
The girl paused, then offered Furina a radiant smile.
"Lady Furina,"
"I'm so glad I could occupy such a special place in your heart."
"I've truly cherished the ti we've spent together."
"But let's bring this beautiful story to a close here."
"I've tried countless thods to control this ability, but the situation has only grown worse."
"Since long ago, I've remained in the Fortress of ropide. Because it houses those who have committed cris, I felt less guilt being here. Besides, my ability was still weak back then, and it didn't affect too many people."
"But now it's completely out of control. Only by leaving this world can Fontaine truly regain its forr tranquility."
Hearing the girl's words, Furina's heart surged with renewed turmoil.
She never imagined this was the true reason the girl sought to end her life. The girl was willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of those affected by her ability, leaving Furina both profoundly saddened and deeply shaken.
Why must such a kind and virtuous person endure suffering she doesn't deserve?
In the girl, Furina saw a reflection of herself.
So that's why she understands my inner tornt so well! We're kindred spirits!
Both preferred to live in endless agony rather than harm others.
Furina's vision blurred as warm tears stread down her cheeks.
She had never truly understood the girl's past until this mont, finally grasping the anguish and turmoil hidden beneath her radiant smile.
Soone who lives in constant agony still uses her smile to inspire others with courage and hope.
"Emily, don't give up like this!"
"There must be another way!"
"Let's find Neuvillette! His power is imnse—he'll know what to do!"
"And those who follow you—I refuse to believe they're only influenced by your abilities. They genuinely revere you!"
"The mbers of the Mutual Aid Network too! I've spoken with them, and they all adore their current President—that's you, Emily!"
"And my feelings for you are the sa!"
"So there must be another way!"
"It's different, Lady Furina," the girl said, shaking her head. "As an Archon, you're naturally immune to my abilities."
I'm just an ordinary person!
Furina almost blurted out the truth, but she bit her lip hard to stop herself.
No, this secret is the one thing I can't reveal!
The girl's deception filled Furina with imnse guilt, and that guilt only deepened her sorrow.
As Furina sank deeper into the pain of having to deceive her, the girl suddenly spoke.
"It's almost ti."
Furina stared blankly for a mont, then imdiately understood. The Primordial Sea Water had silently crept up on them, and so of it was already splashing onto the girl.
She must be enduring unimaginable agony right now, but all I see on her face is that gentle smile.
The girl removed her Vision and placed it in Furina's palm.
The Vision blazed with unprecedented brilliance, its azure glow almost enveloping both of them.
"Fly, Lady Furina."
"Your power is currently sealed, so I'll lend you mine."
"Fly to a grander world—the true stage for the Hydro Archon Focalors!"
"Don't grieve for . For us, death is not the end."
"We are rely returning to our original Holand."
With those words, the girl released her grip on the Vision and gently pushed it away.
"No!"
Furina reached out to grab the girl, but it was too late. The powerful Anemo Energy contained within the Vision propelled her upward at an incredible speed, instantly separating them by several ters.
Those few ters now represented the gulf between life and death.
The girl narrowed her eyes, offering Furina one last smile—the sa slightly nervous, expectant, and yet cautious smile she had worn during their first eting, as if she feared overstepping boundaries with soone she admired. Then, she was completely engulfed by the Primordial Sea Water that had finally caught up.
Overwhelming sorrow and pain surged through Furina's heart as the last of the girl's energy within the Vision carried her higher and higher. A stream of crystalline tears cascaded down like pearls from a broken string.
Finally, enveloped in a cyan glow, Furina burst out of the Fortress of ropide and continued her ascent, piercing through the sea's surface until the light gradually faded, depositing her on a nearby beach.
"Emily!"
Overwheld by grief, Furina wept bitterly, her tears streaming onto the beach.
With no one else around, she could freely vent her sorrow.
"You could have just left behind!"
Though Furina knew that falling into the Primordial Sea Water would inevitably dissolve her, the girl didn't realize that Furina was rely an ordinary human.
There was no evidence to suggest the Primordial Sea Water affected Archons, yet the girl refused to take the risk, using her last shred of strength to propel Furina to the surface.
Furina clutched the Anemo Vision tightly in her hand, the only nto the girl had left her. A suffocating sense of loss surged through her.
mories of their cherished monts together flooded Furina's mind. Just that morning, she had been imagining their future together on the surface after the duel, picturing them returning to their life above the waves.
But everything that followed had turned into a nightmare.
If she could, Furina would rather this day had never co, even if it ant her burden would never end. Losing the girl was simply unbearable.
"How co I never noticed Lady Furina had such a habit of crying?"
The familiar voice rang out close by, freezing Furina in her tracks. She frantically searched for its source.
"Emily? Is that you? Where are you?"
"Over here, Lady Furina."
The voice ca again, confirming it wasn't a hallucination. Furina hastily wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and hurried to the shore, where she saw a beautiful, shimring figure half-subrged in the water.
"Emily?"
"It's , Lady Furina."
The figure moved slightly underwater, confirming Furina's guess.
"You... how did you beco an Oceanid?!" Furina exclaid, shocked.
"There's nothing to be surprised about, Lady Furina," Emily replied calmly. "This is our true form, after all."
"Didn't I tell you before? For us, death is rely returning to our forr 'Holand'."
"So stop crying. I'm perfectly fine."
"I-I wasn't crying!" Furina retorted, her face flushing crimson at the thought that Emily had witnessed her earlier, embarrassing display. "I just..."
"'The Hydro Elent was too abundant,' right?"
The Oceanid fluttered its wings and spoke.
"Yes, that's exactly right!"
Furina declared with absolute certainty, but even she couldn't help but laugh at the flimsy excuse.
Of course, part of her joy stemd from the fact that the young woman was still alive, rely having changed her form. This realization filled Furina with a sense of rebirth.
"Thank goodness, Emily! I'm so glad you're still alive."
"I'm honored that Lady Furina cares so much for , but I regret to say that I cannot accompany you any further on your journey."
Hearing the Oceanid's words, Furina's heart clenched, and she imdiately blurted out:
"Emily, where are you going? Can't you stay with ? I truly need you! With you by my side, I can face anything with courage!"
"I apologize, Lady Furina, but I cannot maintain this form for long."
"I am not the Main Body. Maintaining this form and conversing with you is already straining my consciousness. Before this mont, I didn't even believe it was possible, which is why I bid you farewell earlier. If I force myself to stay, my consciousness will completely vanish from this world."
Upon hearing Emily's words, Furina's expression shifted to one of sorrow and reluctance.
"How could this be happening...?" she murmured.
"I truly don't want to part with you, Emily..."
"I feel the sa, Lady Furina."
"But I believe that one day, we will et again."
As soon as she finished speaking, Furina noticed the Oceanid becoming even more transparent.
"Are you leaving, Emily?"
Furina felt a pang of reluctance, but she knew she couldn't selfishly force Emily to stay.
"Yes, I've almost reached my limit."
"It seems it's ti for to return."
"With this, Fontaine will finally regain its forr peace."
Hearing Emily's continued concern for Fontaine even at this mont, Furina's heart ached.
"Lady Furina, this is truly farewell. I don't know when we'll et again."
"No matter how long it takes, we will et again!"
Furina's eyes welled up with warm tears once more.
"If you don't co find , Emily, I'll co find you!"
"No matter where you are on the Teyvat Continent, I will find you!"
"When we et again, you'll have to make cakes even more delicious than the ones I've had before!"
"We have a deal!"
"Yes, we have a deal."
Furina watched as the Oceanid beneath the waves grew increasingly transparent. She reached into the water but grasped nothing, as if the creature weren't truly there.
Suddenly, a surge of emotion washed over her. She called out to the Oceanid once more.
"Next ti we et, I should be able to tell you all my secrets. You have to wait for , Emily!"
In the end, the Oceanid made no sound, as if it lacked the strength. Instead, it fluttered its translucent wings in what seed like a farewell gesture.
Furina raised her hand in return, tears already streaming down her cheeks.
Only long after the Oceanid's form had vanished from sight did Furina finally stand up straight, wiping the tears from her face.
Her expression hardened once more, burying her vulnerability deep within her heart.
Her task was not yet complete; she still had to continue playing the role of the Hydro Archon Focalors.
However, compared to the countless tis she had ntally prepared herself upon waking from bed, this ti Furina felt filled with courage for the future.
"Emily, I'll finish my task as quickly as possible and co find you."
"Wait for !"
Under the golden glow of the setting sun, the Vision clutched in Furina's palm flickered faintly...
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