Capítulo 25: The Meeting of the Two Hydro Archons
To counteract the prophecy, what exactly did Focalors do?
There's a movie where the protagonist has the power to foresee the future and occasionally glimpses snippets of upcoming events. At one point, the protagonist sees a future moment where a close friend dies in a car accident.
To save their friend, the protagonist devises a plan—to deceive history!
If the prophecy is destined to occur, why passively wait for it? Why not proactively confront it? So, the protagonist sets up a situation where their friend acts in a staged car accident scene at the exact time of the prophesied event. When the staged scene matches the foretold imagery—fake blood and all—the looming tragedy is defused, rewritten into a mere part of a film.
Focalors adopted a similar method to deceive history.
While she hid herself to gather faith, the prophecy about the Hydro Archon being judged and crying alone on her throne still had to occur. How could she avoid it?
Simple. Find someone who looked exactly like her to play the role of the Hydro Archon, standing in for her in judgment and on the watery throne of tears.
Thus, Furina was born.
The prophecy is a predetermined timeline; the foretold events will inevitably happen. Without Furina playing the role of the Hydro Archon, Focalors could not avoid being dragged out of the Oratrice and made to fulfill the prophecy herself—judged, drowned in Primordial Seawater, and left crying alone on the throne.
As the human aspect of Focalors, Furina inherited her identical appearance and voice. By having Furina impersonate the Hydro Archon, Focalors could continue hiding in the Oratrice to gather faith without fear of being revealed in the future as the target of judgment.
This explains why Focalors emphasized that Furina must never let anyone discover or suspect her true identity.
If Furina were ever exposed as not being the Hydro Archon, the rules of the world would invalidate her as the figure in the prophecy. Consequently, the one to be judged and left crying on the throne would unavoidably revert to Focalors.
It also clarifies why, during the game's storyline, Focalors—despite already having amassed enough faith to destroy the Archon Divine Throne—waited until Furina was judged before taking action.
Focalors needed Furina to face judgment, to sit on the throne and cry, perfectly matching the imagery in the prophecy. Only after the prophecy had been fulfilled could Focalors reveal herself as the true Hydro Archon without becoming its target.
Now that all this has been said, it's important to highlight Focalors' current state of shock and bewilderment.
When Marcel accused Furina and brought her to the defendant's seat for judgment, Focalors felt a mix of worry and relief.
After 500 years, this was the first time Furina had been accused. Focalors thought the prophecy was finally unfolding!
She had already prepared herself for the ultimate sacrifice, ready to destroy the Archon Divine Throne, relinquish full power of the Dragon Sovereign to Neuvillette, and transform the citizens of Fontaine into complete humans. She even composed her parting words for both Neuvillette and Furina, waiting only for Furina to crumble under judgment and cry on the throne, fulfilling the prophecy.
Yet, events veered far from Focalors' expectations.
Confronted with the accusations, Furina demonstrated an unexpectedly assertive demeanor. Not only did she overturn the charges, but she also turned the tables, judging her accuser instead.
And recently, other bizarre occurrences have left Focalors perplexed. The most alarming? She can no longer absorb faith.
Yes, after hiding in the Oratrice and gathering the faith of Fontaine's citizens for 500 years, she—the Hydro Archon—could no longer receive her people's devotion.
What was going on?
Focalors couldn't comprehend why faith had stopped flowing her way.
Then today happened.
Furina stood on the grand stage, delivering an impassioned speech and amending the nation's laws.
The audience, invigorated by her speech, erupted with admiration and adoration.
Meanwhile, within the Oratrice, Focalors witnessed something shocking:
Furina stood proudly on the platform, her words rousing the audience below into fervent cheers. Waves of boundless faith surged from the crowd, like an unstoppable tide.
But that faith, meant for the Hydro Archon, did not flow toward her.
Instead, it surged directly into Furina!
For a moment, Focalors was dumbfounded.
"To absorb faith, one needs a Divine Spirit Status, a godly essence!"
In disbelief, she quickly checked her own Divine Spirit Status, only to confirm it was still intact.
The revelation baffled her further.
"First, she could manipulate elemental power without a Vision. Then she displayed the ability to defy natural laws. Recently, she achieved the body of a god.
"And now… now she even has a Divine Spirit Status?"
Focalors was overwhelmed.
Rewriting creation (Pure Water Creation), attaining a god's physique (Divine Body), and acquiring a Divine Spirit Status—this was the full power of the Hydro Archon at their peak!
Focalors began to suspect that in her prime, even she wouldn't be able to defeat the Furina of today.
She recalled Furina's strategic maneuvers against the Fatui and her eventual success in driving them out of Fontaine.
All of this only deepened her unease.
When Focalors created Furina, she was nothing more than an ordinary human girl.
How could a normal girl possess a Divine Body and Divine Spirit? Focalors was at a loss.
The girl she had created had grown into someone more powerful, skilled in governance, and adept at strategy—more godlike than herself.
Meanwhile, she, the original Hydro Archon, still hid inside the Oratrice, merely collecting faith.
The feeling was bittersweet—a mix of pride and a nagging inferiority, as if a daughter had far surpassed her mother.
"She has the strength of a god, and I can't defeat her.
"She possesses a Divine Body, while my consciousness resides within this machine, without a physical form.
"She has a Divine Spirit Status and now the faith of Fontaine is flowing to her instead of me.
"She's governing the nation and facing global challenges, while I remain in hiding."
Focalors sighed deeply.
"It almost feels like she's the true Hydro Archon, and I'm the fragment of humanity meant to gather faith."
The rapid shifts in power and influence left Focalors questioning everything.
Was it time to reassess her plans? Could she afford to continue waiting?
Before she could form an answer, an unexpected twist interrupted her thoughts.
Furina descended into the Oratrice's underground chamber, standing directly before its core—where Focalors' consciousness resided.
No, something was off. When Furina got closer, Focalors sensed a difference.
The figure before her looked identical to Furina, but her demeanor—steady steps, unwavering gaze, and commanding aura—was entirely unlike Furina's.
"This presence… this isn't Furina!"
——
Late at night, in the deserted underground chamber of the Opera Epiclese.
This was the core of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.
Here lay the true secret of Fontaine: the consciousness of Focalors, the real Hydro Archon, along with the Gnosis of the Hydro Archon, concealed within the machine's core.
This was Fontaine's greatest secret, one that even the Fatui, after years of investigation, had failed to uncover.
Now, after 496 years, the girl created by Focalors to bear her humanity stood once again before the Oratrice's core.
At this moment, divinity and humanity gazed at one another across the iron shell of the machine, as if bound by fate.
In Teyvat, there exists a great tree known as the Irminsul, which records all that transpires in the world.
The Irminsul governs the world's laws. Thus, even though Focalors could sense that "Furina" stood before her core, she dared not reveal herself.
To reveal herself would mean allowing her existence to be recorded by the laws of the world. The moment the laws recorded her as the true Hydro Archon, she would inevitably become the Archon judged in the prophecy.
Appearing now would shatter the nearly 500 years of planning she had painstakingly built. Besides, she could sense that the person before her was not the Furina she remembered.
And so, faced with this unexpected arrival, Focalors chose silence, opting to observe the situation.
However, to her surprise, the "Furina" before her seemed fully aware of her presence.
Focalors' silence did not faze "Furina" at all.
In the enclosed underground chamber, "Furina" calmly sat before the core of the Oratrice. Her expression was serene, exuding an unmistakable air of authority.
It was as though she were addressing the very air itself, speaking to no one in particular as she began to talk:
"Greetings. This is our first meeting."
"Before we delve into today's topic, allow me to clarify one thing: I am not here to probe or test you."
"I know of your existence and am aware of all your plans."
"This is a matter of great importance, leaving no room for error. So, you need not respond to anything I say. Just listen."
These words left Focalors utterly shocked.
Her plans had never been revealed to anyone, yet this "Furina" claimed to know everything? How could that be possible?
But she realized the other was speaking the truth. The fact that this "Furina" could locate the Oratrice's core and sit here to converse with her was evidence enough.
Moreover, the stranger's words indicated a profound understanding of her situation. They knew she could not risk exposing herself, hence the reassurance to remain silent to avoid being recorded by the world's laws.
Understanding this, Focalors remained silent, listening intently.
Seeing her silence, "Furina" smiled knowingly and continued speaking:
"I imagine recent events have left you with many questions. That's why I've come here today—to resolve your doubts."
"First and foremost, you've probably already noticed that I am not Furina."
Her words were shocking. Although Focalors had already suspected as much, hearing it confirmed left her shaken.
"You must realize how much suffering her soul has endured over these 500 years."
"When a person faces unbearable pain, they instinctively seek escape. It's a natural self-preservation mechanism."
"I am the result of Furina's overwhelming mental anguish—a new consciousness born from her pain. You could think of her as having developed a dual personality, with me as the other."
"You can call me Felina. My purpose is to protect Furina, ensure her happiness, and safeguard you."
"As for how I know of your existence and your plans, and the source of my power—well, I'm afraid I can't tell you."
"But rest assured, my sole goal has always been to protect Furina and you. Fontaine, after all, is the nation you both have fought so hard to protect."
"Thus, while I hold no particular attachment to Fontaine or any interest in governance, for your sake and Furina's, I will defend it."
As Felina spoke, her expression was resolute yet detached, a reflection of her sincerity. She was uninterested in power or politics; her focus was solely on Furina and, to a lesser extent, Focalors.
After a brief pause, Felina continued:
"I suspect recent events have disrupted your plans."
"To be candid, while I have my own strategies, I cannot guarantee their success."
"For the survival of a nation, it's always wise to have contingencies. Thus, you remain Fontaine's most crucial safeguard. My advice is for you to continue lying low and await the right moment."
With that, Felina paused, giving Focalors time to process her words.
After a moment, she rose from her seat.
"That's all I wanted to say."
"Also, you've probably noticed that Furina has been quite happy lately. There's no need to worry about her."
"Well, I'll be off now. I snuck down here while Furina was asleep, so I won't have many opportunities like this in the future."
With those words, Felina smiled and departed.
The underground chamber was empty once more, save for the faint vibrations of the Oratrice's core.
Throughout their interaction, Felina had spoken entirely to herself. There had been no real dialogue.
Felina's words were impeccably chosen, leaving no room for misinterpretation. To an outsider, her statements might seem cryptic, but Focalors understood them perfectly.
Felina bore no malice toward Furina, Focalors, or Fontaine and could be trusted as an ally.
While Felina had her own plans, their success was uncertain, so Focalors should remain hidden for now.
Knowing this, Focalors felt reassured.
But thinking about how Furina, with a mortal soul, had played the role of Hydro Archon for nearly 500 years, enduring immense mental strain to the point of splitting her personality, Focalors felt a deep pang of guilt.
"Thank you for taking care of Furina, Felina."
At this moment, Felina's presence was a blessing—a boon to Furina, Focalors, and all of Fontaine.
"Thank you for coming, Felina."
"With you here, Furina and Fontaine have nothing to fear."
Focalors had witnessed Felina's power, methods, and wisdom.
After this encounter, she also had faith in Felina's character.
She was comforted, knowing that with Felina around, even if she perished alongside the Archon Divine Throne, both Fontaine and Furina would be safe.
Now, she could face the prophecy without hesitation, ready to fall with the Archon Divine Throne when the time came.
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