Apocalypse

==Steps==
# Find Furina in Poisson
# Talk to Furina
==Dialogue==
;(Approach Poisson)
: Paimon: This place looks deserted... Guess all the survivors must have evacuated already. All that's left here are signs of devastation...
: Paimon: Could Furina really be here? Let's try to find her as soon as possible.
;(Approach Furina)
:Furina: ...
: Paimon: Ah, that's Furina, right over there! She really is here all on her own...
: Shh!
: Stay quiet for now!
: Paimon: ...Mm-hmm.
:
: Furina: Should I just give up? This is all... meaningless...
: Furina: What was meant to happen did happen after all. Everyone's dead...
: Furina: I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...
: Furina: Give up, Furina. There's no point in holding out...
: Furina: ...
: Furina: I'm sorry...
: Furina: ...But what can I even do, other than to repeat meaningless apologies over and over...
: Furina...
: Furina: Ah...! Who!? Who's that?
: Paimon: Don't worry, Furina. It's just us...
: Furina: Ahem... Heh... Ahahaha... So it is you, Blond Traveler from another land! Why, I almost thought you were someone from that mob of my ignorant subjects, come to kneel and beg for my forgiveness.
: Paimon: Furina... You were crying just now, weren't you? The tear stains on your face are obvious...
: Furina: Uh... What do you mean, tear stains? Oh, I remember. The show at the opera house earlier this morning was so moving, I'm still trying to process it.
: Furina: Hmph. Who did that uncivilized rabble think they were, disturbing my enjoyment of the arts?
: Furina: They even dared to doubt their Archon... I must teach them a lesson. Hehe, I can just imagine their twisted and frustrated faces once they realize that I'm nowhere to be found...
: Furina: Oh! And I'm sure Neuvillette and those people from the Marechaussee Phantom are freaking out right next to them, too. Hehehe...
: Stop trying to act tough, Furina.
: You're actually beyond devastated right now, aren't you?
: Furina: I... Of course not...
: Unknown Voice Shouting: Hey, there she is! The Hydro Archon's over there!
: Unknown Voice Shouting: Quick! After her!
: Paimon: Huh? Furina, those people seem to be after you...
: Furina: Th—They are? Hah, they're just some rabid fans who want to cut the line because they haven't been able to meet me in person, aren't they?
: Furina: Tsk, tsk, that's against the rules! I can't let them get their way!
: Paimon: Ahh! Furina just ran off!
: Paimon: Quick, we have to catch up with her!
:;(The Traveler and Paimon run after Furina as they get chased by the "fans")
: Paimon: ...This should be the place, right? Hey! Furina!
: Paimon: There's a good hiding spot over here. Quick, come to Paimon before the rest of them catch up to you!
: Furina: Ahh... Wh—What? What is this place...
: Paimon: Hurry! They're almost here!
: Furina: Fine, fine, I suppose haste is warranted. Lead the way!
:;(Inside the house)
: Paimon: *panting* Phew... Paimon's exhausted...
: Furina: *panting* Phew... I'm so tired... I totally thought they had caught me...
: Furina: Ah, no, I mean, I nearly gave in to the sheer enthusiasm they displayed... Hahaha...
: This place is not what I'd call soundproof.
: You might want to lower your voice to stay hidden.
: Furina: Ah... you're right.
: Paimon: Yep, that's a good girl.
:
: Paimon: Huuuuuuuuuuuuh!?
: Furina: What's happening? The ground's shaking... Is it an earthquake?
: Another disaster just struck, I suspect.
: Paimon: Yeah, a quake of this kind preceded the flooding in Poisson, didn't it?
: Furina: It can't be... It's happening again...?
: Paimon: Well, there's no need to worry too much about that! Neuvillette's made some emergency plans, so the evacuation should go a lot smoother this time.
: Furina: Yeah... I hope you're right.
: Furina: But the people of Poisson... They've already...
:: (Has Furina finally reached her limit? Now that she's talking about her actual feelings, she's starting to look far less stiff...)
:
: Furina: ...It's true. I've been investigating the prophecy for hundreds of years.
: Furina: I once had informants all over Teyvat, searching for clues and feeding information back to me.
: Furina: I've tried all kinds of ways, too, to hold back the sea. Anything to keep the coastline from advancing...
: Furina: But all my efforts proved to be futile in the end. Really, the truth has been clear to me for a very long time...
: Furina: We cannot make an enemy of the divine. No matter what we do, the will of the Heavenly Principles will have its way, and the prophecy shall be fulfilled...
: But even then...
: You still haven't given up, right?
: Furina: Give up? Ahh... I do love the sound of that phrase. It would mean finally coming to terms with fate, but also... for me to finally be free.
: But that would also mean that all hope would disappear.
: Furina: Indeed... I've thought about giving up so many times. Especially after we almost lost Poisson...
: Furina: Fate is really unreasonable, isn't it? It has no heart, and obeys no rules. The prophecy has only just started to come true, and so many people have already lost their lives...
: Furina: But just now... It all became clear to me. I still don't have the right to come to terms with fate on behalf of everyone else...
: Furina: As long as the final moment hasn't come, it's still not too late...
: Furina: Don't worry. I... I will keep hope alive for everyone until the very end.
: Furina: ...
: Furina: Well! That's enough for now. I got the impulse to play the stricken maiden, but honestly, considering my rank and station, that wasn't a good fit at all, hehehe...
: Furina: Don't take any of what I just said seriously! How could I possibly let Fontaine fall to the whims of trivial prophecy?
: Paimon: C'mon, Paimon could've sworn you were actually being honest just now...
:: (We're running out of time... We can't just go back to square one like this. I have to get more information out of her...)
: Furina...
:: Although I don't know what you might be keeping from everyone...
:: Your people are more than willing to share your burden with you.
: Furina... You might not have to shoulder this burden alone.
:: Although I don't know what you might be keeping from everyone...
:: Your people are more than willing to share your burden with you.
: Furina: Share my burden...
: Furina: That's impossible. It was fated, right from the start, that this would be my duty alone.
: But even if your burden doesn't need to be shared...
:: Just share it with me. I'm what you'd call a "witness."
: You can still choose to confide in someone.
:: Just share it with me. I'm what you'd call a "witness."
: Furina: A witness... Ah, yes. I've heard that you came to Teyvat from beyond the stars, yes? In other words, you never belonged here...
: Furina: And if Teyvat is, in its entirety, a show on a stage, then you're just a "spectator," aren't you?
: Furina: If that's the case...
:: (There's no time left... Please, Furina, just spit it out!)
;(A cinematic plays)
:
:: Furina: I...
:;(The room shakes again)
:;(The walls of the room fall away)
:;(Lyney bows)
:;(Cinematic ends)
: Lyney: Ladies and gentlemen... this concludes my opening performance.
: Lyney: Now, without further ado... we may proceed to the trial of our god.
:
: Furina: Ah, so this is what it is. Yes... You deserve praise for the effort you took to raise the dramatic stakes.
: Furina: Do not forget, however, that I am Focalors, the God of Justice — the embodiment of justice itself. Does it not strike you as even the least bit absurd to bring the very concept of justice to trial?
: Neuvillette: May I interpret these words... as your refusal to stand trial?
: Neuvillette: In that case, you will have the opportunity to defend your honor through a duel.
:
: Furina: You... You would draw your blade against a god?
:
: Furina: I see... It seems like you have made up your mind.
:
: Paimon: Paimon can't believe it... She... She just surrendered!?
: Clorinde: ...
: Surprised Audience Member: What the heck is going on? Did I just see an Archon surrender to a human?
: Dissatisfied Audience Member: Wow, how utterly humiliating...
: Puzzled Audience Member: Lady Furina, what is the meaning of this?
: Furina: Shh!
: Furina: It would seem that there has been a misunderstanding. To be clear, the raising of both hands is not always an indication of surrender...
: Paimon: Looking for excuses again, huh?
: Furina: ...I raised my hands just now to indicate my acceptance of the trial. No duel shall be necessary.
: Furina: I will admit that I've been running away for a long time.
: Furina: I'm sorry, everyone. I was unable to protect the people of Poisson... It is my duty to stand trial for my crimes.
: Furina: You are not the only ones to be disappointed in me. I, too, am exceedingly disappointed in myself.
: Furina: Whew... But now, it is time for the Hydro Archon to show you her courage and resolve!
: Furina: I, Furina, will use this trial to show the world the true meaning of justice!
: Furina: (This time... I will protect you.)
: Furina: Applaud and rejoice! One of the most outrageous and fantastical arcs known to the Opera Epiclese is now unfolding before your eyes!
: Furina: Mark my words — this shall be one of the most exhilarating and brilliant shows ever to grace the stage of Fontaine! The trial of the Hydro Archon, Focalors, will now begin!
: Excited Audience Member: Woohoo!
: Overexcited Audience Member: Oh, now we're making history!
: Neuvillette: *sigh*...
: Paimon: Why does it feel like Furina just took over the whole thing... Like c'mon, didn't she just get forced to stand trial for her crimes?
: Paimon: Also, even though she's still acting super dramatic, she is taking this seriously this time, right?
: Furina: Alright, then... Who will be my opponent in this trial?
: Neuvillette: The court asks the prosecutor to please take the stand.
: Thank you, Your Honor.
: Furina: Is that so... Very well. Then please speak, witness of Teyvat, my accuser and fated opponent.
:: (We were so close to getting her to tell us the truth... And it still turned out like this in the end.)
:: (It's okay, though. As long as we can defeat Furina in court, we'll still have a chance to figure everything out.)
:;(The Traveler and Furina go to their respective sides)
: Furina: Also, please allow me to ask, as the final question before the trial begins...
: Furina: Just how much work did you do to force me onto this stage?
: Paimon: Well... We did do a lot of prep after the meeting that day...
: Navia: I can go over the tasks assigned to the Spina di Rosula, since they were rather straightforward and easy.
: Furina: Navia, the President of the Spina di Rosula...
:
: Navia: Most of the people who participated in the disturbance this morning were my subordinates.
: Navia: They changed into plain clothes, and came to the opera house as regular audience members, waiting for the perfect opportunity to incite insurrection against you.
: Navia: The people's resentment against their Archon has been building as more and more of the prophecy is fulfilled. A spark was all we needed to turn smoldering anger into a flame.
: Navia: Moreover, according to our understanding and analysis of you, when something like that occurred, you would likely flee the scene and head to Poisson by yourself.
: Navia: So, we arranged for a second group to lie in wait there...
: Furina: So, you mean... The ones who scoured the settlement for me were also from the Spina...
: Lyney: And their goal was to force you to step into the Giant Magic Box, so you may personally participate in the greatest magic performance in all of Fontainian history.
: Lynette: That's right. That house was a magic box, rather than someone's residence.
: Lyney: As the "Super Ultimate" version of the setup that I used when I first performed at the Opera Epiclese...
: Lyney: The volume of the box was increased by a whole order of magnitude, and the distance it traversed was the entire gap between Poisson and Erinnyes. Its cargo, of course...
: Lyney: ...Was an Archon, instead of a human.
: Lyney: My thanks, Furina. Without your help, we could never have pulled off such an extraordinary performance.
: Furina: Uh... You're welcome?
:
: Lyney: Of course, this performance was only made possible with "Father"'s support. The House of the Hearth spent a massive amount of labor and Mora to pull this off...
: Lyney: We had to select a location, construct the Giant Magic Box, dig a tunnel, and open up a path through the water... It was a lot of work for all of us.
: Furina: So, in other words... the "earthquake" that we felt within the Giant Magic Box was just a normal tremor from the transportation of the whole house?
: Paimon: That's right. It wasn't a sign of another disaster to come.
: Sorry about that.
: We deceived you back there.
: Furina: Hmph, then... I can guess Neuvillette and Clorinde's parts.
:
: Furina: You gathered a crowd, prepared a stage, and made sure that the Champion Duelist would be immediately ready for a fight...
: Furina: All so that as soon as I appeared on the stage, the trial may commence without a hitch. Am I right?
: Neuvillette: Yes, that is correct.
: Furina: Well, Clorinde, I must commend you for your courage. Only the most outstanding Champion Duelist in all of Fontaine would accept a duel with an Archon without flinching.
: Clorinde: Thank you.
: Furina: As for you, ... I suppose your role was to keep me distracted with conversation once you found me in Poisson.
: Furina: You'd make sure that I didn't notice anything amiss, before revealing yourself as my prosecutor once we'd arrived onto the stage...
: No.
: You guessed wrong.
: Furina: Oh?
: My mission...
:: We hoped that you'd share your secret with us...
:: Before the Magic Box arrived onto the stage.
: Was to give you one last chance.
:: We hoped that you'd share your secret with us...
:: Before the Magic Box arrived onto the stage.
: Furina: Hehehe, is that so? Then I suppose I must have missed my final chance...
: Furina: ...
: Furina: It's fine, it matters not. What's done is done...
: Furina: The stage is already set, so there's no reason to disappoint the audience. Let's see this trial through to the very end!
:: (Yeah... The only thing we can do now is to judge the Hydro Archon.)
:: (Still, I can't help but be a little bothered by that conversation earlier. What did Furina want to say to me right before we arrived on the stage...?)
: Esmond: Prosecutor, please allow me to pass this along...
: Esmond: This is a document that Miss Charlotte applied for and received permission to share with you during the trial. According to her, it should speed up the proceedings.
: Paimon: Huh? Charlotte wanted to give us something? Ooh, so she's here too. Hey, Charlotte!
: Paimon: Let Paimon see... Isn't this the "exclusive interview" that she did with us before? So she's already finished it, huh?
: Paimon: Wait, then that means this document is a perfect timeline of everything that's happened ever since we stepped foot in Fontaine...
: Paimon: So in other words... we can refer to this "anthology of evidence" every time we want to use something from our journey as evidence for an argument!
: It's a super practical gift.
: I never would have thought of using it this way.
: Paimon: Let's quickly confirm the information in it... Just think of it as a refresher, alright?
:;(Opens Traveler's Exclusive Interview Handbook)
----
;(Begin prosecution)
: Neuvillette: The prosecution and the defense are both in position. The trial shall now begin.
: Furina: Come on, Neuvillette. There's no need to repeat all the unimportant legalese.
: Furina: Just fast forward to the part where the prosecution lays out my offenses. As the defendant, and the lead actress of this performance, I still haven't even been informed of my supposed guilt in all of this.
: Furina: Of course, it is only natural for humans to struggle to understand the actions of a god. However, you will need more than that to convict me of a crime...
: : That is true, but my charge here is unrelated to your conduct as an Archon.
: : Instead, I would like to charge you as a fraud who's never been the Archon in the first place.
: Astonished Audience Member: Wait... what was that? Lady Furina's a fraud?
: Doubtful Audience Member: Hey... I came here thinking that we were going to try the Hydro Archon for forsaking her duty, but did I hear that right? She's not our Archon at all?
: Neuvillette: Charge accepted.
: Neuvillette: Lady Furina. Do you plead guilty to the charge?
: Furina: ...
: Neuvillette: Lady Furina?
: Furina: I plead not guilty. How can I be guilty?
: Furina: There is no way that I, Focalors, otherwise known as Furina de Fontaine, a member of The Seven, and the Regina of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples and Laws of Fontaine, could be anything other than your true Archon.
: Fair-Minded Audience Member: Yeah... Even though Lady Furina can be rather eccentric, isn't it going too far to doubt her very identity?
: Suspicious Audience Member: Yeah, I've never questioned her identity either. Sure, Lady Furina can be super irresponsible, but what grounds does that prosecutor have to make such a huge claim...
: Furina: I have cause to believe that common sense will prevail in this case. Many of the members of the audience have known me as the Hydro Archon ever since they were born — there would be no fooling their memory.
: Furina: See? Even the Oratrice has decided to show me its favor. Are you sure you want to commit to a charge that will never be upheld?
:;(The Oratrice is slightly tipped towards Furina)
: Furina: If you wish to drop the case, I can promise you, as the God of Justice, that you will not have to face trial for making a false accusation. We will treat everything that's happened as a dramatic spectacle, and move on with our lives. What do you say to that?
: Navia: An argument with near-impossible odds, huh? We have to not only refute Furina's claims, but also overturn the long-held beliefs of the people...
: The people only see you as their Archon...
: Because that's their long-held belief.
: Furina: Well, I tried to give you the chance to surrender. If you must persist, then let me ask: If you believe I'm not the Archon, then what manner of being do you think I am?
: Furina: And if I was not the Archon, then how did I manage to live for over five hundred years?
:: (I've got to think carefully... What do we know to be "special" about Furina, exactly?)
;(Select the wrong option, optional)
: Paimon: Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Paimon doesn't think this clue can be used as compelling evidence to build our case...
;(Select option — The meeting with The Knave)
: Paimon: First of all, you may be a member of another long-lived race, which would allow you to naturally possess an extended lifespan. And second of all, even if that wasn't the case, there could be other ways to extend your life...
: Such as... a curse.
: Furina: Hmph... Who gave you that idea? Was it The Knave? You'd sink so low as to use a Harbinger's words against me?
: It doesn't matter who gave us the information.
: What matters is the veracity of the claim.
: Neuvillette: A curse... I once thought it possible that the aura of an Archon might naturally resemble a type of curse.
: Neuvillette: But in light of this claim, perhaps what I sensed was not your divinity, but a curse after all?
: Paimon: You sensed it too, huh, Neuvillette?
: So, Furina...
: Instead of an Archon, could you just be a cursed human?
: Surprised Audience Member: Lady Furina... is actually human?
: Contemplative Audience Member: Well, it is true that it's extremely difficult to tell humans and gods apart just by looking at them. It's not impossible...
:;(The scales of the Oratrice return to being balanced and the second light illuminates)
: Furina: Well, don't start celebrating too early now. Even if I have been carrying a curse like you said, how does that prove that I am merely a human being?
: Furina: Besides, everyone knows that the main difference between a human and a god is the possession of "authority." Gods can do what humans cannot — that's why they're worshipped as gods.
: Furina: For centuries, manifestations of my authority have served the nation of Fontaine.
: Furina: One need only to turn their eyes towards the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale in this very opera house, or consider the Indemnitium that is used in every aspect of life.
:: (Wait... That one trial proved the opposite. Furina actually has no control over the Oratrice at all...)
;(Select the wrong option, optional)
: Paimon: Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Paimon doesn't think this clue can be used as compelling evidence to build our case...
;(Select option — Childe's conviction)
: Paimon: You tried to reference the Oratrice, but weren't you as confused as all the rest of us when the Oratrice declared Childe to be guilty without any proof? Otherwise, you should have come up with a good explanation for that by now...
: Furina: Didn't I make myself clear at the time? The decisions of the gods are naturally difficult for humans to comprehend. There is no need to provide an explanation...
: Neuvillette: Lady Furina, I believe a reminder of your current circumstances is in order.
: Neuvillette: While the court is in session, the principles of justice and the law must come before all else. While you are an Archon, you are also first and foremost the defendant in this trial.
: Neuvillette: You will prove yourself unable to defend against the prosecution's charges if you continue to withhold vital information against the rules of the court.
: Furina: I never thought... You'd use that kind of rhetoric against me...
: Neuvillette: That was no trick of rhetoric, Lady Furina. I have merely reiterated the rules of the court, rules that all should respect and follow.
: Furina: ...
: Paimon: So, you neither knew why Childe was declared guilty, nor did you understand the structure and operations of the Oratrice...
: Paimon: Instead of having been created by you, the "manifestations of authority" you mentioned have been made by the real Hydro Archon, haven't they?
: Furina: The real Hydro Archon? Well, now you're really losing me.
: Furina: It is true that I did not know why the Oratrice gave out a guilty verdict that day.
: Furina: But the Oratrice handed out that verdict unilaterally, and it has been operating independently ever since it was first created.
: Furina: You can't... You can't argue that just because a divine creation is flawed, that the god behind it must also be no god at all.
: Paimon: She's still throwing out all kinds of excuses... Seems like she's confident that we won't be able to produce proof that she has no power over the Oratrice.
: Sure, we can put the Oratrice aside for now...
: But then, Miss Furina, could you give us a brief demonstration of your power as an Archon?
: Furina: My power as an Archon? There are many ordinary citizens in the audience. How can I just carelessly demonstrate the formidable power of an Archon...
: Neuvillette: If that poses a concern, I'm prepared to extend my protection to the audience.
: Furina: Erm... Y—You don't need to go that far...
: A brief demonstration of your power over Hydro should be quite harmless.
: Surely an Archon can at least match the capacities of a human with a Vision?
: Furina: I... Uh...
: Paimon: Aren't you the Hydro Archon? Or is it that you can't even wield the power of Hydro, much less the authority of a god?
: Furina: ...Indemnitium, yes, it's all because of Indemnitium! All Archons derive their power from the faith of the people, and I've converted the people's faith in justice into Indemnitium.
: Furina: Thus did I give up all of my divine power to provide everyone with energy for their daily lives. Have you ever seen a more magnanimous god?
: Suspicious Audience Member: Isn't that... a huge stretch?
: Retorting Audience Member: Yeah, no matter how generous an Archon can be, how could they give up all of their power? Can a god with no power even still be called a god?
:;(The third light of the Oratrice lights up and the scales tip towards the Traveler)
: Paimon: It seems like nobody's buying Furina's excuse.
: Furina: Hey, come now, everyone... Please don't stare at me as if I was a liar...
: Furina: I'm still the same Furina you knew, right? The one that you loved? Shouldn't you want to believe in me?
: Furina: Please... You've got to believe me...
: Serious Audience Member: If what the prosecutor said is true, she really has committed a grave offense...
: Thinking Audience Member: Did she deceive all of us, and all of our parents and grandparents too? And all of our ancestors, ever since they were born?
: Furina: Enough... That's enough...
: Furina: Tell me, then...! If I'm not the real Hydro Archon, then who is?
: Furina: If you have no evidence of another Hydro Archon's existence, nor can you find anyone who can back up their claim to be such, then what grounds have you to say that I'm not actually the real deal?
: Paimon: Wow, she came up with yet another argument... Ugh, how can we refute her now? Seems like she really doesn't want to give up.
:: (If we can't prove that she isn't the Archon, we can try to prove that she is just a human. And if she's only human...)
;(Select the wrong option, optional)
: Paimon: Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Paimon doesn't think this clue can be used as compelling evidence to build our case...
;(Select — The truth behind the "serial disappearances of young women" case)
: Paimon: It has been established that all Fontainians can dissolve in water from the Primordial Sea. And that means...
: Navia: Since you insist on claiming to be a god and not a human, then there's a method that you can use right here and now to eliminate all suspicions of you being the latter.
: Neuvillette: Miss Navia, please apply to serve as a temporary attorney for the prosecution before addressing the court. Though you act in partnership with the prosecutor, you must still adhere to proper procedure.
: Navia: Super sorry, Monsieur Chief Justice. I swear this really will be the last time that I'll speak out of turn.
: Navia: Now, I've brought some seawater from Poisson. As everyone knows, a massive flood struck the area not long ago, taking many lives...
: Navia: ...Including those of some of my closest friends.
: Navia: So, Miss Furina, would you dare to touch some of this seawater?
: Navia: If we are to believe that you are indeed the real Hydro Archon, touching this seawater would have no effect on you. All it should do is strengthen your case.
: Navia: But if you don't dare to touch it, then we would have basically proved the reverse.
: Navia: Oh, and I must remind you that after the disaster at Poisson, nobody wants to see any more people dissolve.
: Navia: I do hope you'll act prudently, and choose the simpler path of admitting guilt.
: Agreeing Audience Member: Navia from the Spina di Rosula... The Spina has governed Poisson for many years... I guess her suggestion is valid.
: Pondering Audience Member: If Lady Furina is indeed just a human, she's probably a Fontainian like all the rest of us. Would she really dare to try...?
:
: Furina: ...
: Uh... Furina?
: Neuvillette: Lady Furina, this "test" has been unilaterally proposed by the prosecution. As it falls outside the realm of standard court proceedings, you possess the right to decline participation.
: Furina: ...
: Conscientious Audience Member: Well, of course he had to tell her that, but refusing to participate is basically the same as a confession of guilt.
: Worried Audience Member: She's just staring at the water without saying a single word... It really does seem like she's quite terrified of it. That could only mean...
: Navia: (What's going on? Is she really planning to... That's not what we thought she would...)
: Furina: *inhale*... *exhale*...
: Neuvillette: Due to the inherent risk of the test, Lady Furina, you may—
:
: Furina: —!
: Paimon: Waaaaaah!
: Navia: Hey!
: She actually...
: Furina: *pant*... *pant*... Ahh...
: Furina: I... I'm fine! Look! Look at me, everyone. My hand is still here. I haven't been dissolved!
: Furina: Will you believe me now? I really am your Archon. I'm nothing like a normal human, who would fall apart as soon as they touch this water. Really, was this not the most obvious thing in the world?
: Neuvillette: Miss Sigewinne? If you are present, Miss Sigewinne, please come forward and attend to the defendant.
: Furina: Sige...winne?
: Sigewinne: Don't be nervous, it'll take just a few seconds... Hmm, let me see...
: Sigewinne: Mm-hmm, that should be enough.
: Neuvillette: Please announce the results of your evaluation to the court, Miss Sigewinne.
: Sigewinne: As everyone doubtlessly saw, Miss Furina was displaying symptoms of hyperventilation and flushed skin. These indicate that...
: Sigewinne: She was experiencing the adverse effects of exposure to Primordial Seawater. The extent to which she was affected is the same as other humans when exposed to Primordial Seawater of a similar concentration.
: Neuvillette: Thank you, Miss Sigewinne. Lady Furina, you may also return to the defendant's stand.
: Furina: Wait. What did she just say? I didn't get dissolved! Shouldn't that be enough to prove my innocence?
: Navia: Well, considering your tendency to run from your problems, we did originally prepare a direct sample of the seawater around Poisson.
: Navia: However, after extensive discussion, we exchanged it for a sample that is not concentrated enough to dissolve an actual human. After all, on the off chance that something entirely unexpected might occur...
: Navia: We don't want anyone else to lose their life to the sea.
: Paimon: Yeah, so out of regard for Furina's life, you secured a low concentration sample, and asked the head nurse to serve as an expert witness...
: Paimon: It's a great thing that the direct sample wasn't actually used. Furina could have...
: Furina: I... I can't believe... You...
:: (But what's really going on here? Furina can't have not known the consequences of touching that water as a human...)
:: (This is too unlike how she usually acts... Unless... It's actually more important for her to keep up her facade than to save her own life!?)
:: (But... hadn't she given up on everything a long time ago?)
: Furina: Listen to me, listen to me, everyone... Please don't give me such cold and disdainful looks. What happened just now didn't prove a single thing!
: Furina: Think about it. How can you conclusively prove that an Archon can't also be affected by the Primordial Seawater?
: Furina: Also, also! If I was really just a human, why would I dare to just put my hand in that kind of water!?
: Furina: ...Please, everyone, anyone, just listen to me. I swear, I really am your Archon...
: Exasperated Audience Member: *sigh*...
: Exasperated Audience Member: ...I don't think anything she says at this point will sway anyone. The odds are just too stacked against her now...
: Paimon: With all the things that have been said... Paimon doesn't think there's any way left for Furina to win.
: Neuvillette: I believe the time for argument and presentation of evidence has come to an end. If there are no objections, we will move on to the final judgment.
: Furina: ...
:;(The screen flashes red and the audiences' words repeat)
: Neuvillette: In my capacity as Chief Justice, I shall now render judgment on Furina's misrepresentation of herself as the Archon of Fontaine. As a human who knowingly deceived her fellow citizens, Furina is—
: Neuvillette: ...Guilty.
:;(Furina sits down and slumps in her chair as a tear flows down her face)
: Neuvillette: We shall now turn to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale to render the final verdict on the charges.
: Neuvillette: According to the judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, Furina is—
: Neuvillette: ...Hmm?
: Paimon: Wh—What's wrong? What's the Oratrice's verdict?
: It can't be...
: Did the Oratrice just declare Furina to be innocent?
: Neuvillette: ...No, the Oratrice also displays a guilty verdict.
: Paimon: Isn't that correct, then?
: Neuvillette: However, the exact wording of the verdict is thus. "The Hydro Archon, guilty"...
: Neuvillette: "To be punished via the death sentence."
: Astonished Audience Member: The... The death sentence!?
: Doubtful Audience Member: That's actually one of the available sentences!? I've always thought that it was just a myth...
: Emotional Audience Member: The one and only time the death sentence has been handed out at the court, and it's been given to the very person we've worshipped as the God of Justice? What an unexpected twist...
: Furina: ...
: Paimon: Furina's been sentenced to death by the Oratrice!? We just wanted to use the trial to show her the seriousness of things, so she'd tell us the truth... How did things escalate this quickly!?
: Neuvillette: This outcome is indeed quite strange. According to Fontaine's current definitions of justice, as well as its recommendations for criminal sentences...
: Neuvillette: Is this sentence really appropriate for the crimes that have been committed...?
: Paimon: Yeah, even Vacher wasn't sentenced to death by the Oratrice... You know, the real evil mastermind behind the serial disappearances case.
: What's more strange is...
: Instead of Furina, the Oratrice rendered judgment on "the Hydro Archon."
: Neuvillette: Indeed. Not only is Furina's sentence overly excessive, the very point of our trial today was also to prove that Furina has never been the Hydro Archon in the first place.
: Neuvillette: But now, the Oratrice seems to have deliberately invoked the title of the "Hydro Archon." What does this mean?
: Freminet: Err... Excuse me... If I may interrupt...
: Freminet: Is... the trial still going?
: Lyney: Freminet! You finally made it. I assume this means you've completed your mission?
: Freminet: Mhm. Any mission "Father" assigns to me will always be top priority.
:
: Paimon: Is that the first prophecy slate?
: Paimon: Huh, so The Knave privately arranged for Freminet to try and find the missing slate.
: Freminet: I looked everywhere, and finally found it at the bottom of the sea. It took me a long time to get around some dangerous stretches of water...
: Freminet: But... has the trial already concluded? Then... Doesn't that mean I've come too late? Oh no, "Father" will be disappointed in me...
: Don't worry, the mystery hasn't been resolved yet.
: It's still not too late for you to shine.
: Neuvillette: Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Freminet. Please allow me to review the record left on the slate.
: Neuvillette: ...
: Neuvillette: , I believe that you have also already seen the other existing slates. I would like you to also come here and confirm their contents.
: Paimon: Huh... So what do you see? What is it?
: This looks like...
:: The previous Hydro Archon releasing her divine power...
:: Turning the Oceanids into... human beings.
: Neuvillette: I believe I have now made sense of the Hydro Archon's crime. It has to do with Fontaine's lost history.
: Paimon: Huh? Isn't the Hydro Archon just guilty of deceiving her people... Wait, no, that's Furina, and we've already proven that she's not the Hydro Archon...
: Paimon: So when you say "Hydro Archon," do you mean the real Hydro Archon we've been kind of talking about?
: Neuvillette: In truth, everything that you've encountered in Fontaine up until this point can be traced back to the contents of these stone slates.
: Neuvillette: However, I am uncertain as to how much sense they currently make to you.
: An association between the contents of the slates and the events in real life...
: Paimon: Okay, let's try to recall the contents of the other three stone slates... Paimon will do her best to help you remember!
----
;(Enter verification)
:
: Paimon: The first stone slate describes what you had just said. It seems to show the previous Hydro Archon using her divine power, and then the Oceanids turn into humans...
: Paimon: Does that mean that Fontainians are transformed Oceanids? Paimon wasn't expecting that... But if Oceanids can turn into humans, then perhaps this process can be "reversed" as well?
:
: Paimon: The second stone slate shows Celestia floating in the sky, and the Hydro Archon and her people worshiping it together... but the heavens still brought judgment down upon them.
: Paimon: This must be the point when the Hydro Archon and the Fontainians were branded with their "original sin." Does this mean that the "original sin" and the "Hydro Archon's sin" are the same thing?
:
: Paimon: The third slate shows the Hydro Archon sinking into the sea, surrounded by many people.
: Paimon: Huh, that reminds Paimon, didn't we also watch that happen to someone else?
:
: Paimon: Well, the fourth slate is the prophecy the Fontainians have been talking about. People dissolving into the sea, the Hydro Archon crying on her throne, and so on.
: Paimon: We didn't believe that such a crazy disaster could happen at first, did we? But after "that incident," it was just a question of "when," and not "if."
;(Prophecy Slate (I))
:The stone slates in the ruin showing the prophecy describe a "history of the future." The first piece that was originally missing has been found by Freminet.
:
;(Select the wrong piece of evidence)
: Paimon: That doesn't sound quite right. Let's think about this some more...
;(Verify with "The truth behind the 'serial disappearances of young women' case")
:
: : We know from the case of the serial disappearances of young women that Fontainians can be dissolved in Primordial seawater...
: : And the first stone slate tells us that long ago, the Hydro Archon used her power to turn Oceanids into humans...
: : This might be the reason that Fontainians can dissolve...
;(Humans who turned into Oceanids)
:The fact that Fontainians can dissolve in Primordial Seawater, becoming Oceanids, is proof of their origin.
;(Prophecy Slate (II))
:The stone slates in the ruin showing the prophecy describe a "history of the future." This is the second slate.
:
;(Verify with "The announcement of the Hydro Archon's death sentence")
:
: : Perhaps what is about to take place has all happened before.
: : The true "sin" of the Hydro Archon that Neuvillette mentioned...
: : And the "original sin" cast down on the people of Fontaine by Celestia, as recorded on the stone slates...
;(The Hydro Archon who was sentenced to death)
:A sentence never before passed in the court of judgement has been handed down to the Hydro Archon. Just what kind of "sin" merits such a verdict?
;(Prophecy Slate (III))
:The stone slates in the ruin showing the prophecy describe a "history of the future." This is the third slate.
:
;(Verify with "Navia falling into the seawater")
: 
: : It's not as simple as falling into the sea...
: : When Navia fell into the sea, her consciousness was subjected to judgement.
: : The stone slates show the people gathered around the Hydro Archon in the sea... Could that be alluding to the same thing?
;(Navia falling into the seawater)
:While exploring the ruin, Navia fell into water containing Primordial Seawater...
;(Prophecy Slate (IV))
:The stone slates in the ruin showing the prophecy describe a "history of the future." This is the fourth slate.
:
;(Verify with "The intrusion of the Primordial Sea into the Fortress of Meropide")
:
: : The prophecy from the stone slates found its way into society, but not many people believed it at first...
: : The Fortress of Meropide was nearly flooded with Primordial Seawater, which we know can cause Fontainians to dissolve. It seems increasingly likely that the prophecy may come true.
: : If we hadn't dealt with it in time, things could have gone very badly.
;(The intrusion of the Primordial Sea into the Fortress of Meropide)
:The secret the Fortress of Meropide has been protecting is the entrance to the Primordial Sea. Though Neuvillette has sealed it once more, just how long will it last?
;(Verify all prophecy slates)
: Paimon: They'll dissolve into the Primordial Sea, but won't cease to exist... Their essence will flow in the seawater, converge... and take the form of an Oceanid.
: Paimon: The "Hydro Archon" was sentenced to death in court, shocking everyone present. Perhaps this means that her sin was actually Fontaine's "original sin"...
: Paimon: Navia fell into the water inside those ruins, and she nearly dissolved. She was surrounded by the people of Poisson in a court within her consciousness, and was forced to take part in a trial meant to make her stay.
: Paimon: The eruption of the Primordial Sea at the Fortress of Meropide was the surest sign that the prophecy was about to come to pass no matter what.
: Paimon: The prophecy's contents can all be verified by recent events. If we combined what we know together, loads of truths should come to light...
----
;(After completing verification)
: Paimon: Huh, oh, Paimon gets it now... So that's how you can make sense of it...
: Paimon: But then it feels like... We're going to have to share some truly shocking revelations.
: Neuvillette: Let's hear them.
: The first slate reveals that...
: Fontainians are not real humans.
: Lynette: Incredible. Lyney, did you hear that?
: Lyney: We're... not real humans?
: Paimon: All Fontainians were originally created by the late previous Hydro Archon, with Oceanids as their basis.
: Paimon: The evidence for that can be found in... How only Fontainians could dissolve in Primordial Seawater, and how all the girls Vacher dissolved were also turned into Oceanids...
: Paimon: Oh, and according to Navia, when she was about to get dissolved, she also saw everyone gathered around for a trial, all of them in the shape of Oceanids...
: Neuvillette: Indeed.
: The second slate reveals that...
: The crime of the Hydro Archon... was her creation of Fontainians from Oceanids.
: Paimon: Yeah, and it follows from the content of the first slate that she probably angered Celestia by creating humans without prior permission.
: Paimon: That could also explain why the Oratrice judged the Hydro Archon to be guilty — it's to account for that ancient "sin."
: Navia: The Hydro Archon's true sin... was creating us?
: Neuvillette: And yet, after many hundreds of years, the Hydro Archon's creations have turned around to try to judge the Archon within the Opera Epiclese. The twists of history are often the most unexpected of all.
: As for the third slate...
: I'm still convinced that it should come after the fourth slate.
: Paimon: Yeah, isn't the image here just like when Navia fell into the sea?
: Paimon: So, wouldn't it be trying to show the image of the Hydro Archon also falling into the sea once the prophecy has been fulfilled in the fourth slate?
: The fourth slate...
: Depicts the fulfillment of the prophecy as it's already widely known.
: Paimon: In the end, the people will all be dissolved into the waters, and only the Hydro Archon will remain, weeping on her throne... Only then will the sins of the people of Fontaine be washed away.
: Paimon: Did Paimon get all that right?
: Neuvillette: You've made some keen deductions. I must say, given how much you still don't know, it is impressive that you've already managed to connect so many pieces of the truth.
: Neuvillette: However... While you were able to decode all the information on the slates, they had also been etched with an additional layer of hidden information using a different power source.
: Neuvillette: When we were at the ruins, I tried to decipher the hidden information recorded in the slates. But since we only had three slates at the time, I was unable to come to a full conclusion.
: Neuvillette: Now that the slate collection is complete, I shall make another attempt to decipher the narrative recorded within. If everything goes well, we should finally be informed of the unadulterated truth.
: Neuvillette: ...
: Paimon: W—Well? Did you get it?
: Neuvillette: I believe I should share this truth not only with you, but with all the people of Fontaine as well. I will try to briefly summarize it for you...
: Neuvillette: Your hypotheses regarding the origin of Fontainians and the sin of the Hydro Archon were both correct.
: Neuvillette: In the Fontaine of old, the previous Hydro Archon sensed the yearning of her Oceanid familiars for life on land.
: Neuvillette: The Oceanids were enamored with the beauty and romanticism of human beings, and wishing to have those experiences for themselves, expressed to the Hydro Archon their desire to become of a similar kind.
: Neuvillette: However, even though water as an element is intricately linked with the power of life, the Hydro Archon, as one of The Seven, did not possess the authority to create a new form of human life.
: Neuvillette: Not one to give in, she eventually found a way to create permanent humanoid bodies for her familiars by appropriating the power of this planet's Primordial Sea.
: Neuvillette: She poured Primordial Seawater into the Oceanids' blood vessels, creating humanoid mimics in the process.
: Neuvillette: But if Fontainians were to ever come into direct contact with Water from the Primordial Sea, the power within their bodies would escape these artificial restraints and return to the Sea. As a result, their forms would collapse, and they would be reverted to their original forms as Oceanids.
: Neuvillette: Of course, the Hydro Archon never received permission from the Heavenly Principles to create a new "human" race...
: Neuvillette: And thus, the Hydro Archon and all of her creations came to shoulder the original sin of "appropriating the power of the Primordial Sea."
: Neuvillette: ...That is the true history of how the people of Fontaine first came into being.
: Bewildered Audience Member: So you... I... We were all Oceanids before we were turned into human beings?
: Out-Of-Control Audience Member: That's way too much information for me... I think I'm just going to pretend that I never heard a single thing.
: Dozy Audience Member: Wait, but if that's the truth, we can't let the Hydro Archon be sentenced to death! After all, her only sin was creating us...
: Paimon: This really might be too much information for your regular Fontainian... But it does answer a lot of our questions.
: Neuvillette: Alas, your hypothesis regarding the third and fourth stone slates was inaccurate. The slates' respective positions are, in fact, correct.
: So, they are in the right order?
: What is the third slate supposed to represent, then?
: Neuvillette: A key point of the visual on the third slate is how all the individuals depicted in the water are humans, rather than Oceanids.
: Neuvillette: They have not been dissolved, which implies that the water depicted in this slate is not water from the Primordial Sea.
: Neuvillette: The nation of Fontaine is the nation of Hydro as well as the nation of trials and justice. Instead of being the literal element, the water in the scene symbolizes judgment and justice.
: Neuvillette: You may also recall Navia's experience. When she fell into the sea, her consciousness was surrounded by that of many others, who intended to hold a trial to determine her fate.
: Neuvillette: Therefore, the meaning of the third slate is...
: Neuvillette: ...That the people of Fontaine shall try the Hydro Archon at the court of justice.
: ！！！
: It can't be...
: Neuvillette: Yes, it refers to our present situation.
: Navia: I think I'm following now. So what you're saying is, even though we decided to put on this trial to avoid fulfilling the prophecy...
: Navia: In truth, everything we've done has happened exactly as the prophecy foretold... So now it seems we're the ones making sure it comes true...
: Paimon: Wh—What should we do?
: I don't know...
: It... feels like there's no way out of this.
: Clorinde: No matter what, the prophecy will be fulfilled... Is this what it feels like to be a prisoner of fate?
: Paimon: If that's the case... Does that mean the scene in the fourth slate will also be fulfilled soon?
: Neuvillette: , I would like to point out another small fallacy in your deductions.
: Neuvillette: About the fourth slate — you probably thought that the eruption of Primordial Seawater beneath the Fortress of Meropide served as the surest sign that the prophecy was about to come to pass, yes?
: Neuvillette: However, I believe that rather than being a sure sign, that eruption could in fact only be a small warning of something far worse to come.
: Neuvillette: As for the root cause of the catastrophe... I believe you've already encountered it once before.
: I have?
: Wait, could it be...
----
;(Verification continues from before)
: Neuvillette: This eruption was just a small warning of the things to come. We must find the root cause of the disaster...
;(The intrusion of the Primordial Sea into the Fortress of Meropide)
:The secret the Fortress of Meropide has been protecting is the entrance to the Primordial Sea. Though Neuvillette has sealed it once more, just how long will it last?
:
;(Verify with "The whale in the dream")
:
: : It was both dream and reality.
: Paimon: If we're talking about a "true culprit," that could only be "that thing" inside the Primordial Sea, right?
: : The truth, the original sin, the trial... and the root cause of the disaster.
;(A cinematic plays)
:
:;(Cinematic ends)
: Paimon: That was way too close! How did that thing just burst into the opera house!? Wait. Was that the huge whale you saw in your dream?
: That's right.
: I'd wager that it's also the one that Childe saw when he was young.
: Neuvillette: So, we've met it at last... I understand very well why it has chosen to make an appearance here.
: Neuvillette: That "whale" does not belong to Teyvat. It is a monster that has traversed the stars, weeping all the while.
: Neuvillette: It has been greedily consuming the energy from the planet's Primordial Sea, using it to grow. That is the main cause for the rising sea levels...
: Neuvillette: And once it has finished consuming all of the energy contained within the Sea, its next step will be...
: Clorinde: You said that when the Hydro Archon first created Fontainians out of Oceanids, she filled their blood vessels with Primordial Seawater...
: Neuvillette: Precisely. That whale finds the "blood" of Fontainians nigh impossible to resist.
: Neuvillette: Therefore, when it left the Primordial Sea, it decided to make its next stop a packed opera house full of food — food in the form of Fontainians.
: Navia: We just barely managed to push it back, right? In that case... Won't it come back to target the people again once it's managed to recover its strength?
: Neuvillette: That is correct. Indeed, it is more accurate to say that we should thank that Harbinger for buying us some time. Without him, the whale would have likely come onto land far sooner.
: Neuvillette: From the way he looked, he must have been fighting the creature for quite a long time.
: Paimon: That battle maniac... We've always known that he had a special connection with that whale, but we definitely didn't expect it to help us out like this.
: Paimon: Anyway, now that we know that this whale is the actual cause of the disaster recorded in the prophecy, all we need to do to stop the prophecy would be to find a way to beat it up, right?
: Neuvillette: It is too late...
: What do you mean?
: Neuvillette: It had already absorbed too much of the Primordial Sea's energy before we could notice it. At this point, it has become practically integrated with the Sea itself.
: Neuvillette: Even if the entirety of Teyvat were to be destroyed, it could still survive, and swim off towards some other world.
: Navia: That... That's not something I will accept.
: Navia: We've already done everything we can, and we even found the true culprit...
: Navia: We've come so far! You can't just tell me that the last hurdle is some impossible foe. That's just not fair.
: Lyney: Indeed. That's not how a grand performance should end.
: Clorinde: I'll fight it to the end. No matter what.
: Paimon: So the prophecy will be fulfilled no matter what, huh...
: ...
:
:
:
:
:
:: (Could it be... That even if the prophecy will be fulfilled, there will still be a way to save everyone?)
:: (Did I... miss something...?)
: 
:: (Wait, I forgot about Furina! What was it that she wanted to say to me at that last moment, in the Giant Magic Box?)
:: (What is her real secret?)
;(A cinematic plays)
:
:;(The Oratrice begins to spin faster and faster)
::Navia: What's happening with the Oratrice?
::Neuvilette: I believe... it is preparing to carry out the death sentence
::: Furina!
::: No, I still need answers!
:;(The Traveler jumps up to the defendant's stand and reaches out towards Furina)
:;(One of Furina's tears hands on the Traveler's outstretched hand and a darkness envelops them)
:;(The Oratrice releases a flash of bright light)
:;(Neuvillette covers his eyes and after the flash, finds himself in front of a woman with a large blue sword floating above her)
:;(Cinematic ends)
:;(Obtain )
:;(Continues to The Opera of Noirceur and Blancheur)
===Unsorted Voice-Overs===
: Paimon: They will dissolve into the waters of the Primordial Sea, and then they'll be like the Poisson residents Navia met when she fell into the sea... They'll turn into Oceanids.
==Soundtracks==
==Gallery==
Cutscene Animation- "All-Devouring Narwhal" - Genshin Impact
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