"That's easy to say, but how exactly are we supposed to get clues about the prophecy from Furina?"
Because of the unusual circumstances, Lumine and Paimon had been allowed to leave the Fortress of Meropide. They were walking down Fontaine's main street, but neither of them was in the mood to admire the beautiful surroundings — both wore troubled expressions.
Paimon: "I wonder if the Knave and Neuvillette will actually be able to get any information about the prophecy from Furina."
Lumine: "Since they chose to ask Furina, we should try asking Themis instead."
"Hehe, yeah, that makes sense. But Themis seems pretty easy to talk to — why wouldn't Neuvillette want to ask her directly?"
Paimon scratched her head, puzzled.
"Who knows? Maybe they have some unresolved issues."
Lumine casually threw out a reason to satisfy Paimon's curiosity.
However, to Lumine's disappointment, it turned out that Themis was busy at that moment.
"Greetings. Lady Themis is currently attending to important matters and is not available to meet with you two."
Sedene blocked the two of them as they tried to rush into Themis's office.
Paimon: "Huh? Themis is busy right now? Can I ask what she's doing?"
"Of course, if it's inconvenient, we won't ask."
Sedene looked at Paimon and figured there was no need to hide it. "The Knave, the Fatui Harbinger, is currently in the office discussing matters with Lady Themis and Lady Furina."
Hearing Sedene's response, Lumine froze. What's going on? The Knave just got beaten up by Themis and tossed into the Fortress of Meropide — and now she's already standing before Themis acting like nothing happened?!
Let's hope the Knave doesn't get reckless and attempt a second assassination, only to end up being thrown back into Meropide again.
Bringing Paimon along, Lumine sat down in the waiting area, occasionally glancing toward the door of Themis's office, curious about what was happening inside.
And what was happening inside… could definitely be described as tense.
Furina sat uneasily on the sofa, with a calm and composed Themis sitting right beside her. Even though Themis gave her an immense sense of security, Furina couldn't help but feel uncomfortable sitting across from someone who had once openly tried to assassinate her.
Themis: "Miss Arlecchino, if you have something to say, just get to the point."
"You only have seven short days left — I imagine you don't have time to waste, right?"
Arlecchino: "Of course. Getting straight to the point is exactly what I want."
"But before we start, I only want to know the answer to one question."
Furina: "What question?"
"That is — who exactly is the Hydro Archon of Fontaine?"
Arlecchino's gaze locked onto Themis. Furina nearly jumped up upon hearing the question. Years of training allowed her to maintain her composure, but internally, her thoughts were in chaos.
Themis: "Is that question really important?"
Arlecchino: "Isn't it?" Arlecchino shot back. "As a citizen of Fontaine, isn't it crucial to know who our god truly is?"
"Ahahaha—" Furina let out an exaggerated laugh amid the tense silence between the two. "My dear citizen, that's quite a strange question."
"Without a doubt, the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, the God of Justice, is none other than me — the God Focalors!"
Themis gave a noncommittal nod. "That's correct. From beginning to end, there has only ever been one Hydro Archon of Fontaine — the one standing before you now, Lady Furina, the god Focalors."
"Exactly! That's precisely it!"
The coordinated dialogue between the two made Arlecchino furrow her brow, a growing irritation stirring within her.
"Very well, God Focalors! Since you claim to be a deity, you must undoubtedly understand the truth behind the prophecies. You're fully aware of everything, aren't you?"
"We've reached this point — so allow me to cast aside my identity as a Fatui Harbinger and speak as a citizen of Fontaine. The prophecy of Fontaine is unfolding before our eyes."
"Yet you remain so carefree!"
"Sipping tea, eating cake, and strolling through the city with your Regent as if you have all the time in the world."
Hearing this, Themis lifted her head slightly and glanced toward Arlecchino with some disapproval. She's about to die soon — what's wrong with indulging herself a little? What's wrong with going shopping? It's not like she's not taking action!
"The prophecy is a sword hanging over everyone's head. Every faction in Fontaine is desperately searching for a way to save themselves — even the orphans of the House of the Hearth are trying to save their homeland!"
"But you, Focalors — you've done nothing from start to finish. Your idleness is shocking!"
The Knave's tone was sharp and filled with clear dissatisfaction. As she spoke, her gaze toward Furina grew cold and piercing.
Themis furrowed her brow and spoke slowly, "Is that all you wish to say?"
"Is that not enough?" Arlecchino countered, her gaze shifting from Furina to Themis.
"I don't know where you derived this absurd conclusion. The Archon loves all beings. Even if you haven't witnessed Lady Furina's efforts, you shouldn't doubt everything she does."
"Retract your impudent words!" Themis' voice deepened, her golden eyes radiating intense pressure.
"Exactly! As Themis said, I've never disregarded prophecies nor lived in idleness. Withdraw your doubts and don't presume to understand the Archon's intentions!" Furina vehemently countered Arlecchino's words. Though a trace of weakness remained on her face, her eyes held undeniable resolve.
Hearing Themis and Furina's responses, The Knave appeared genuinely surprised, as if truly not expecting Furina to have her own plan.
"Heh~ Hydro Archon Furina, do you think this doubt is mine alone? I suspect many in Fontaine share this concern."
"How exactly do you plan to save them? How will you save Fontaine and it's people?"
Being so directly questioned about her efforts, a wave of frustration welled up in Furina's heart, making her nose sting. But she held back the tears.
"I have my own way! All this time, I've been working toward it! Even if you look down on me, you have no right to deny my efforts!"
"Fontaine will definitely be saved. Even though... even though I still can't see the true future, as long as I keep moving forward like this, I won't let anyone down!"
Furina's tone was resolute and unquestionable. In that moment, the strength of a god shone through her.
Seeing that Arlecchino still wanted to say more, Themis was starting to get annoyed.
"Enough. Just as Lady Furina said, she has her own plan. A secret so grave that even a god must keep it hidden—do you really think you or Fontaine are prepared to bear that burden?"
"I understand that you have your own thoughts and suspicions, but none of that gives you the right to question her."
"If you want to know the truth, then investigate it yourself."
"I can tell you with certainty—you won't find any answers here!"
"Since we've already had a frank exchange of opinions, Lady Furina and I have official matters to attend to. Please leave."
Themis gestured toward the office door with a tone that left no room for argument, clearly dismissing the unwelcome guest.
"Very well, let's consider this an open exchange of views between us!"
Arlecchino stood up and left. Watching her retreating back, Furina instinctively let out a sigh of relief.
Her act of playing the Hydro Archon absolutely could not be exposed!
But Arlecchino was already suspicious. What should she do?
Covering her head, Furina felt a deep sense of unease and anxiety.
"Furina."
Themis watched as Furina curled herself up into a ball and let out a long sigh.
"Don't be afraid, Furina. I'm right here."
Holding Furina in her arms, Themis gently comforted her.
"I promise you, the prophecy will come to an end, and the people of Fontaine will be saved."
"As for the secret you've yet to reveal, you can tell me when everything is finally over."
"So, for now, don't be afraid, okay?"
"At the very least, I'll always stand by your side and understand you."
As Themis stroked Furina's hair, the comfort clearly worked. While Furina hadn't quite returned to her usual lively and spirited state, at least the tears had stopped.
Outside the office, as Arlecchino stepped out, she immediately ran into Lumine and her external vocal apparatus.
"It's Arlecchino! So, did you manage to get any clues?"
Shaking her head regretfully, Arlecchino's tone was filled with both frustration and disappointment. "No, nothing useful."
"However, we should probably find a quieter place to talk first."
Noticing the Fontaine clerks nearby, all clearly trying to eavesdrop, Lumine and Paimon nodded in understanding.
After leaving Palais Mermonia, they arrived at a secluded, quiet spot.
Paimon: "What exactly did you talk about with Furina and Themis back there?"
Arlecchino: "Not much. I just asked who the Hydro Archon really is and what Furina's plan to save Fontaine is."
Lumine: "So, did you discover anything? Surely it wasn't a complete waste, right?"
"Of course not." Arlecchino repeated the conversation she had with Furina and Themis verbatim.
"Even though they didn't say much, at least we know that Furina has a plan in motion, and it's being kept secret."
"And when I asked who the Hydro Archon really is, Themis firmly declared that Furina is the true Hydro Archon—that's what's leaving me confused."
"If Furina really is the Hydro Archon, then how do you explain that night?"
"Would a god really be so weak—so vulnerable to an attack?"
Rubbing her chin, Arlecchino looked completely baffled. As a native of Fontaine, not knowing who the real Hydro Archon was seemed to strike her deeply.
With no answers and no progress, Lumine and Paimon could only bid Arlecchino farewell for now.
Paimon slumped over Lumine's head, looking completely deflated.
"We've been running in circles and still don't know why the Fontaine prophecy is happening."
"And now the question of who the Hydro Archon really is has come back to Furina."
"Ugh, my head hurts—this whole thing is way too complicated!"
"If the Hydro Archon wants to solve the prophecy crisis, why not just tell everyone her plan instead of keeping it a secret and letting everyone misunderstand?"
Lumine adjusted Paimon, making sure she wouldn't fall off her head, and answered absentmindedly, "Maybe the price of revealing the secret is too steep. If she says it out loud, the plan might fail."
"Wouldn't that make it even worse?"
"If the Hydro Archon's plan would fail just by saying it out loud, but not revealing it would lead to constant misunderstanding..."
"Ugh, no wonder Arlecchino was so angry after leaving the office. Being left in the dark like this is pretty frustrating."
"I just hope the prophecy ends soon. Then we'll finally know what the Hydro Archon's plan really is."
Lumine frowned. She had a feeling this wasn't going to be that simple.
Paimon: "Neuvillette also said he was going to Furina to ask about the prophecy. Do you think he'll get anything out of her?"
Lumine: "With Themis protecting the Hydro Archon, honestly, I doubt it."
"If Neuvillette really wants to get any information from Furina, he'd probably have to get Themis out of the way first."
Lumine: "Even though Tartaglia is still fighting that whale in the Primordial Sea, we really need to move fast. If he can't hold out any longer, things could go south fast."
Paimon: "But we still don't know where to look for clues about Fontaine's original sin."
"If the Hydro Archon knows and isn't saying, how are we supposed to figure it out?"
"We can't seriously search all of Fontaine in just a few days, right?"
Just imagining Fontaine's enormous map made Paimon shake her head repeatedly. "No way! Fontaine is way too big for just the two of us to search!"
"We should focus on trying to get Neuvillette to find out something from Furina. Even if it's not about her plan, we need to know the nature of Fontaine's original sin."
"You've got a point," Lumine agreed.
After a bit of discussion, they decided to start with the library.
There was no other choice—Fontaine's Unofficial History had the most comprehensive records and was updated regularly.
"Even though it's pretty unreliable," Lumine added.
Paimon closed the book in her hands. "Yeah, not exactly the most trustworthy source right now."
"On that point, I completely agree."
A familiar yet unexpected voice interrupted them, making Lumine and Paimon immediately tense up.
Turning toward the source of the voice, they saw an unexpected figure.
"It's you! The purple guy who Lumine beat up in Gestalt!"
Jacob crossed his arms, the corner of his eye twitching. "I have a name. Call me Jacob."
"Huh? Oh, it's you, Jacob. What are you doing here? Are you up to something shady again?"
Lumine instinctively pulled out her golden greatsword, which instantly reminded Jacob of the merciless beating he had suffered in Gestalt. His heart skipped a beat.
"Just so you know, my presence here has been officially approved."
"If you try to attack me, don't blame me if the guards throw you all into the Fortress of Meropide."
Jacob's arrogant attitude made Paimon stomp her foot angrily. "This guy is so infuriating!"
"He's the one who's dangerous! Why are we the ones who would get reported to the Tribunal and thrown into the Fortress of Meropide?!"
"What, feeling upset about it? Go ahead, hit me. If you do, you'll be sent straight to the Fortress of Meropide—with a few extra days added to your sentence."
Backed by official authority, Jacob's cocky behavior made him incredibly punchable. Lumine's grip on her sword tightened instinctively.
"Did you come here just to say all that?"
Jacob: "Not at all. I'm here to deliver a message from the Master."
"Huh? The Narzissenkreuz Ordo? Did they say anything about the prophecy?"
"Do they know why the prophecy crisis is happening?!"
Seeing Paimon's excitement, Jacob spread his hands helplessly. "While it makes me happy to see you have such faith in the Master's abilities, unfortunately, the world formula can only work by factoring in known variables to calculate the outcome."
"It can't reverse-engineer unknown variables from the result."
"The Master only sent me here to give you one warning."
"Don't trust Themis de Fontaine too much. She's dangerous."
"And if the Hydro Archon's plan fails, the Master will step in and try to save the world in their own way."
"So, for the sake of all of Fontaine—keep working hard."
After leaving behind those words, Jacob walked away with an infuriatingly casual swagger.
Watching Jacob's retreating figure, Paimon turned to Lumine. "Why do Jacob and the Master both think Themis is dangerous? She seems so reliable! She's generous when giving out rewards and always speaks so nicely."
Paimon just couldn't understand.
"I don't know. Maybe there's something we've overlooked. We should be more careful around Themis from now on."
Having been burned before, Lumine made a mental note of Jacob's warning. After all, while it's wrong to harm others, it's always wise to guard against them.
Better to be cautious than to make a mistake.
At the same time, the idea that Themis might be that mysterious god started resurfacing in Lumine's mind.
After a delicious meal with Paimon, Lumine spent the rest of the day digging through history books in Fontaine's bookstore.
Her head was pounding by the end of it, and she still had nothing to show for it. Left with no choice, she wrapped up her investigation for the day.
After renting a room at an inn, Lumine drifted off to sleep with Paimon nestled in her arms.
Meanwhile, in the top-floor bedroom of Palais Mermonia, something important was unfolding.
Neuvillette had finally reached his limit and asked directly about the prophecy crisis—and what exactly Fontaine's original sin was.
But Furina, with her usual clueless demeanor, deflected every question. Themis, standing at Furina's side, kept stepping in to smooth things over.
In the end, Neuvillette left with more frustration than answers.
He shot Furina a glare before glancing irritably at Themis.
In their little world of three, being the only one left in the dark was not a pleasant feeling.
-
Back in her room, hugging her otter pillow, Furina felt strangely... aggrieved.
She'd already been questioned all morning by Arlecchino, and now Neuvillette was doubting her in the evening.
Honestly, the fact that she didn't lose control and flood the room with Hydro energy was already impressive for the little blue-and-white jellyfish.
Stretching out her hands, Themis scooped Furina into her arms and carried her into her own bedroom, gently placing her on the bed.
Furina curled up under the blanket, rolling around in frustration. Themis sat quietly at the edge of the bed, silently watching the Hydro Archon vent her frustrations in the only way she knew how.
"Themis, I really do have my own plan to save Fontaine!"
After a moment, Furina stopped rolling around and reached out to tug at the hem of Themis's clothes.
Her watery blue eyes stared hopefully at Themis, as if she would cry on the spot if Themis also doubted her like everyone else.
Knowing that Furina desperately needed reassurance, Themis wasn't about to hold back on her praise.
"Mm, I believe you, Furina."
"After all, we've been together for almost five hundred years now. You're a gentle, kind, and responsible Archon."
"I don't know what your plan is yet, but keeping a secret all by yourself must be painful, right?"
Themis pulled Furina into her arms, kissed her forehead, and gently stroked her hair.
"It must have been really upsetting back then, right, Furina?"
Furina nestled quietly in Themis's embrace. She knew Themis was referring to being doubted. Was it upsetting? Yes, it definitely was.
All the suffering and effort she had endured was, in the eyes of the people of Fontaine, nothing more than leisurely tea and cake.
The bitterness and frustration building up inside her made her want to reveal her secret so badly—but she couldn't. She couldn't tell anyone.
Not even Themis.
But somehow, being trusted so completely by Themis made Furina feel guilty.
Themis knew nothing—yet she still trusted her so completely?
"Furina..."
Themis lifted Furina's face, meeting her glossy, teary eyes.
"Since you've already accepted my date proposal, that means we're officially in a relationship now."
"As your partner, unconditionally believing in you is something I should do."
"Likewise, knowing that you have secrets you can't share, it's only right for me to accept that and help you keep them."
"Like we said before—once everything is over, I want to hear the truth from you personally. Okay?"
"...Okay."
Furina nodded.
Lying back down, Furina stared at Themis's face as she held her close.
"What's wrong? Can't sleep?"
"It's not that..." Furina shook her head, wrapping her arms around Themis's waist and snuggling closer. "I just want to keep looking at you for a little longer."
"Then go ahead. After all, you're the only one who gets to admire the face of Fontaine's most captivating beauty."
Themis's shameless words left Furina stunned.
"I never realized you were this narcissistic."
"Maybe that's because you've never stared at me like this and said you wanted to keep looking?"
Themis narrowed her eyes, a sly smile playing on her lips. She ruffled the soft blue-and-white hair of the adorable little "cat" in her arms, making the already messy strands even more tousled.
Furina buried her face in Themis's chest. Though she worried about the effort it would take to fix her hair tomorrow, if it was Themis touching her, maybe it wasn't so bad.
After all, Themis was the only person allowed to do that.
When emotions run high, returning to a safe and peaceful place makes it easy to fall asleep.
Furina had confidently claimed that she could keep looking at Themis until morning if she wanted to.
But in reality, she was fast asleep within half an hour.
Themis held her close and pulled the blanket up to cover Furina's back, making sure there was no draft so she wouldn't catch a cold in the morning.
-
The next morning, Lumine and Paimon got up bright and early.
They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before heading toward Palais Mermonia.
Luckily, they weren't stopped when they arrived at Neuvillette's room this time.
Seeing Neuvillette's troubled expression and deep frown, Lumine and Paimon were both startled.
"Neuvillette, are you okay?"
"You look awful. Did you not sleep well last night?"
"No, there's nothing wrong," Neuvillette shook his head. "I just couldn't sleep last night, but it won't affect my work."
Paimon: "You didn't sleep all night? Yikes, that sounds horrible. If I didn't sleep all night, I'd have to make Lumine carry me around while we did commissions."
Lumine side-eyed Paimon. "No, I'd just take the day off and leave the commissions for tomorrow."
"Hey! Don't ruin my excuse!"
Paimon pouted and jabbed Lumine's arm, but Lumine just gave her a smug little smile.
Once they were done messing around, Neuvillette spoke up.
"Let's get back to the main issue."
"Last night, I asked Lady Furina about the prophecy. I originally thought she was in control of the situation—but to my surprise, she genuinely seemed to know nothing."
"When I tried to press further, Themis appeared. And you know how skilled Themis is—once she showed up, I couldn't get another word out of Furina."
"Today, Clorinde and Navia are helping relocate the last group of residents from Poisson. Themis will be there as well, which gives us only one chance to act."
"Ohhh! So we just need to keep Themis distracted, right?"
Paimon immediately understood Neuvillette's implication—but didn't seem to grasp how hard it would actually be.
Lumine had her doubts. With how much Themis cared about Furina, would she really leave her alone in Palais Mermonia so soon after Furina had been questioned?
That question lingered even after Lumine and Paimon arrived in Poisson.
Looking around, Lumine saw no sign of Themis.
Instead, Poisson had been completely flooded—the whole area was covered in a blanket of white mist and water.
"Did Neuvillette trick us?"
"Themis isn't even here!"
"And Poisson... such a large town, completely flooded like this!"
"Navia and the other residents—are they okay?!"
Paimon hovered anxiously, scanning the area for a familiar figure.
"Look, Lumine! Navia and Clorinde are over there! Let's go ask them!"
Following Paimon's excited shout, Lumine spotted Navia's bright yellow figure in the distance.
"Paimon, wait up!"
Paimon flew ahead, waving her arms. "Naviaaa!"
Her voice was loud enough that Navia heard her on the first try.
"Lumine! Paimon!"
Seeing familiar faces, Navia's relief was visible. She quickly waved them over.
Once they made sure Navia wasn't injured, Paimon sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness you're okay! Seeing Poisson like this, I thought something terrible had happened to you!"
Clorinde glanced at Paimon. "Don't worry. I'm more than capable of keeping Navia safe."
"That's good to hear, but I was still worried!"
"By the way, we're looking for Themis. Have you seen her?"
Navia and Clorinde exchanged glances—and then both shook their heads.
"I'm not sure. Today, Lady Themis only sent many Gardemeks and airships here."
"That's good. They arrived in time. Most of Poisson's residents have already been evacuated to higher ground."
"The remaining few were frightened to varying degrees, but thankfully, there were no casualties."
At this point, Navia felt a wave of relief. Thank goodness they came in time. Otherwise, I might have lost Silver and Melus.
Clorinde stood to the side and said, "If you're looking for Lady Themis, she should be with Lady Furina right now."
"But Neuvillette said she would come," Paimon protested.
"I don't know. All I know is she didn't come today," Clorinde replied.
Her honest shake of the head left Lumine and Paimon somewhat at a loss.
"Oh, and there are many Fatui members here too."
"Along with The Knave, the Fatui Harbinger. They played a crucial role during the rescue efforts. I believe we can trust them for now."
Hearing Clorinde's words, Paimon and Lumine were completely taken aback. They never expected The Knave to show up at such a time.
"The Knave…?"
"Yes, that's her."
Navia nodded, understanding Paimon's surprise. After all, the Fatui's bad reputation was known across all of Teyvat. Seeing them act positively was not just rare—it was practically unbelievable.
When they went to ask the Knave for more information, they learned about the ruins of Poisson.
Because the seawater in Poisson was mixed with primordial water from the Primordial Sea, Arlecchino advised that she and Navia avoid entering it.
So, the task of exploring the ruins fell entirely to Lumine—and her best partner, Paimon.
Feeling conflicted, Lumine accepted the task and once again resumed her role as the reliable problem solver. In the ruins, she navigated narrow ledges and flipped through old chests.
At one point, she even used an Anemo boost to fly across a broken bridge.
Finally, in the depths of the ancient ruins, she found a set of stone tablets.
"There are supposed to be four in total. It looks like the first one is missing."
"Let's take these back first."
It was clear that the stone tablets were incredibly valuable. Leaving them behind would have been a waste of all her effort.
After securing the tablets, they left the ruins.
The group huddled together, trying to make sense of the stone tablets—but all they got was collective confusion.
"This… is something we need to leave to the experts."
"It makes no sense at all. The images are so abstract, and one is missing too."
The Knave: "I'll have the children from the House of the Hearth look for the last tablet."
"But these tablets alone prove that the prophecy is real."
Lumine: "Everyone will dissolve into the water, leaving only Furina alone, crying on her throne."
Repeating those words, Lumine felt a weight settle in her chest.
Is the All-Devouring Narwhal not enough for Narzissenkreuz? she thought bitterly. Must the Fontaine people's original sin require so much to bring judgment?
The original sin of Fontaine—so many pieces required to bring down the final judgment.
With the tablets secured, Lumine planned to consult Neuvillette about them.
Maybe his experience would uncover some hidden meaning from the tablets.
-
Rushing back to Palais Mermonia, Lumine saw Neuvillette pacing anxiously.
"Neuvillette! We're back!"
"We found the stone tablets that record Fontaine's prophecy in the ruins of Poisson!"
"Mm, it's reassuring to have new leads about the prophecy," Neuvillette said with a sigh. "But, Traveler, I have some unfortunate news for you."
After gently setting the stone tablets down on the table, Neuvillette's face remained tense with worry.
"Furina has gone missing. No one in all of Fontaine can find her."
Paimon: "Now that you mention it, we didn't see Themis in Poisson either."
Lumine: "That's strange… Why would the two of them suddenly disappear?"
"Maybe they just have something urgent to take care of and will pop up any moment now."
"I hope so."
Neuvillette rubbed his temples, clearly distressed. If both Furina and Themis were playing some kind of vanishing act, he was struggling to cope with the news.
"Well, let's focus on deciphering the tablets for now."
Lumine and Paimon nodded. They were just as eager to learn what secrets the tablets held—but without the right expertise, it was hard to make sense of them.
-
As Neuvillette attempted to decode the tablets, the missing Themis arrived at the locked Opera Epiclese.
Familiar with the place, she headed straight to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, opened the door, and turned on the lights.
"Ah~ Did you suddenly miss me?"
Focalors, resting her chin on her hand, smiled with intrigue at Themis. It wasn't often that Themis visited in the middle of the day.
"Did you miss me?"
"Or do you need a hug? Perhaps a comforting kiss from a god?"
Her golden eyes gleamed playfully.
Themis stood still, her expression blank as she watched Focalors' teasing manner. With a helpless sigh, she said, "I'm here for something serious."
"Hmm?"
Focalors tilted her head, a flicker of curiosity in her clear eyes.
Something serious? That was rare.
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Focalors set aside her playful demeanor and sat up straight.
"What is it? Is this about the prophecy? Don't worry—I've got everything under control."
"Trust me, everything will work out. I promise."
Themis shook her head softly. Looking at Focalors' lighthearted expression, a pang of guilt rose within her.
"What I'm about to tell you might come as a surprise."
"That's fine. Five hundred years in this Opera House have taught me to expect the unexpected."
"Is that so?" Themis gazed deeply into Focalors' eyes before continuing earnestly.
"Focalors..."
"Let me usurp your throne!"
Focalors: ???
In her bewilderment, Focalors was pinned down by Themis.
"Wait! What do you mean?!"
"Exactly what I said. I'm usurping your throne, Focalors!"
"You just need to sleep."
Golden eyes held a trace of guilt, yet remained resolute and unyielding.
Focalors felt something being gradually extracted from her body, leaving her increasingly weak.
"Why... are you...?"
"I'm sorry. This is the best solution I could devise."
With apologetic eyes, Themis gently closed Focalors' eyelids.
I can't let you sentence yourself to death, so I'll have to take away the authority to execute."
Having removed the Indemnitium from the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, Themis gazed at the unconscious Focalors and cradled her in a soft blanket.
With her long hair cascading down, Focalors lay asleep like a Sleeping Beauty waiting for a kiss.
But it wasn't time for Sleeping Beauty to wake yet.
In Themis's plan, the Indemnitium still had its purpose. She couldn't let Focalors inadvertently sentence herself to death.
A beautiful ending where everyone could survive—that was what Themis truly desired.
"Sigh... How many more acts until this is truly over?"
"Now we just need to wait."
Golden eyes gazed into the distance, toward Furina's location.
Because of the two interrogations yesterday, Furina had gotten up early this morning to secretly investigate the situation. How adorable of her.
She had gone through the trouble of disguising herself to avoid detection, but let's be honest—it was only convincing enough to fool those unfamiliar with her.
Fortunately, they'd taken the secret passage. Otherwise, with her completely wrapped from head to toe, Furina probably wouldn't have made it ten steps before being detained as a suspicious character. Now that would have been entertaining.
Focalors had already thoroughly communicated her ideas; now it was Furina's turn.
Regarding the matters of the prophetic crisis and the Trial, she needed to coordinate with Furina beforehand. Only then could they properly stage the drama at Opera Epiclese.
Free from any constraints, Themis let out a sigh of relief.
"Is it because my actions are actually propelling the prophecy's arrival?"
Gazing at the overcast sky, Themis thought, Indeed, I still prefer sunny days.