In the video.
The scene shifted, and the Traveler and Paimon had arrived in Poisson.
It looked just as everyone had seen before. The sky was dark, and an oppressive air hung over the place, chilling anyone who looked at it.
Paimon: "Everyone here should have been evacuated, right? All that's left around us is rubble. Poisson really looks pretty scary now..."
"I'm starting to doubt my earlier guess a little. Would she come here? We'd better hurry."
Lumine and Paimon crossed a wooden bridge and wandered around for a while before finally finding Furina.
She was standing beside a river, her eyes vacant. There was no telling what she was thinking, but the sorrow on her face seemed to have reached its limit as she stared blankly at the water.
Paimon: "Great, we found her! My guess was right after all..."
Lumine swiftly covered Paimon's mouth, then gently made a shushing gesture, signaling for her not to make a sound.
Paimon nodded hastily to show that she understood!
The two quietly approached Furina and hid in the shadows, watching her every move. They saw that her face was covered in tears and her lips were moving. Only by straining their ears could they barely make out what she was muttering to herself.
"...Give up. You can't change anything..."
"Haven't you already seen it? Everything is following its predetermined course. Everyone is dead."
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Stop doing pointless things, Furina. Stop holding on..."
"...I'm truly sorry..."
"...But if I don't keep holding on, what can I do..."
"..."
Furina's voice trembled with a hint of hoarseness. Every sentence conveyed endless pain. Even those watching from outside the screen could feel it, their hearts aching as though an enormous, invisible hand had gripped them tightly.
[Qiqi: Furina... so... pitiful...]
[Amber: What is the Traveler in the video still hesitating for? Hurry up and hug her! I don't think anything would be better than a warm embrace right now.]
[Nahida: It seems that even as a god, Furina has plenty of things beyond her control too!]
[Venti: What do you mean, "too"!]
[Zhongli: People always believe gods are all-powerful and all-knowing, but who understands how lonely it is at the top? As a god, who could know the pain brought by the passage of countless years?]
[Hu Tao: Consultant Zhongli, why do you make it sound like you've experienced it yourself?]
[Zhongli: I once read about it in an ancient book. I was merely moved to comment!]
[Xingqiu: Furina is already quite remarkable. It's not as though she really hasn't done anything. I think anyone faced with accusations like those would find them hard to accept at first!]
[Lynette: Yes. Even though we're all from Fontaine, I still think those people went far too far!]
[Arataki Itto: I really can't take this anymore. I want to take some people and beat up that troublemaking crowd from earlier!]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Furina is just too gentle. She doesn't say anything when she's wronged and just processes it all silently by herself.]
[Nilou: I hope the Traveler in the video can give her some comfort!]
In the video.
Seeing Furina like this, Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance, each seeing the worry in the other's eyes.
Lumine hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Furina..."
Lumine's voice broke the silence. When Furina heard it, she did not turn around immediately, instead hastily wiping her face with both hands.
Only then.
Did Furina speak in a fluster. "Ah... wh-who's there?"
Paimon: "Furina, relax. It's me and the Traveler..."
Once Furina saw who had come, she discreetly took a deep breath and suppressed the sorrow in her heart. Her usual smile returned, and she spoke again in an exaggerated voice. "Hiss... ahem... hahaha, so it's you, foreign filter and white fairy. How disappointing. You didn't even drag those terrorists here to apologize to me."
But perhaps Furina was too sad today. Even though she did her utmost to compose herself, she could not stop her voice from trembling.
Even Paimon noticed. "Furina... do you need a moment? It looked like you were crying just now. There are still tears in your eyes!"
Hearing Paimon's words, Furina realized that her disguise really had slipped today, and a trace of panic rose within her. "Well... um, what are you thinking?"
But she quickly calmed down. "I see. Yes, I did cry. The opera I just watched was so moving, and it left such a lasting impression. When I thought of it again while standing by the river, I still found it a little moving. It's such a shame you two missed it."
Furina: "I was just about to finish watching it, too. It's all those ungrateful people's fault. How annoying."
"They actually dared to doubt their god... How ungrateful. After much deliberation, I decided to give them a proper punishment, so I came here. Once they realize they can't find me, I can't even imagine the looks on their faces..."
"And Neuvillette keeps coming to discuss those matters with me. I'll have to teach him a proper lesson too. Perhaps by the time I return, he'll obediently admit his mistakes to me."
Lumine simply stood there and watched Furina's performance. Once she finished, Lumine said, "Furina, if you're really hurting that much, stop doing this!"
Furina visibly froze at Lumine's words. I actually didn't fool her? It always worked before!
Furina lowered her head slightly and spoke in a voice only she could hear. "How could that be... I..."
Lumine's words had clearly touched her once again. She really wanted to have a good cry, to think about nothing, bear no burdens, and worry about nothing. Just being an ordinary person would be enough.
Just as Furina sank back into those emotions.
The sound of footsteps came from nearby, but they were chaotic, clearly belonging to quite a few people.
"Come here, quick! I've found the Hydro Archon!"
"Great! We absolutely can't let her get away this time!"
Paimeng looked at the figures rushing over. "Whoa, they tracked you all the way here? Furina..."
Furina: "...Tsk, it seems so. It can't be helped. I simply have too many fans. Some who want to see me but can't might get a little extreme!"
"Honestly, next time I'll have to make it clear to my fans that in the Nation of Justice, they still have to follow the rules...!"
As the crowd drew closer, Furina had barely finished speaking before she turned and bolted away at lightning speed.
Furina looked over with an expression of understanding. "Just as I thought. Furina chose to run away after all."
"Traveler, let's hurry too. We can't let Furina lose us."
Lumine nodded, and the two ran in the direction Furina had just left.
[Jean: Furina seems very afraid of showing others what she truly thinks.]
[Noelle: Is this the spirit of chivalry, choosing to face every difficulty alone, no matter what it is!]
[Barbara: Furina looks so sad, but she refuses to say anything every time someone asks. Watching her really makes my heart ache for her.]
[Kujou Sara: I don't think Furina is wrong, either. Never question a god. I, for one, would never question the Shogun.]
[Lyney: I have to say, aside from seemingly failing to manage her expressions this time, Lady Furina's expression control has been absolutely perfect on every other occasion!]
[Neuvillette: Furina always manages to leave me with no reason to continue the conversation. I cannot see through her either!]
[Yelan: Truth within lies, lies within truth. Furina is exceptionally skilled at deception.]