[Kaeya: I think the most exciting part is about to begin!]
[Arlecchino: Furina really intends to fight? Could my last guess have been wrong?]
[Tartaglia: Is it happening? Is it happening? A god taking action isn't something you see every day. I'll have to watch closely. I might learn a lot!]
[Kaedehara Kazuha: Daring to face a god head-on, choosing to draw her sword against such a powerful opponent, without the slightest change in her expression... is this the spirit of a swordsman?]
[Paimon: Clorinde really made her choice without a moment's hesitation, even with Furina giving her a way out!]
[Kujou Sara: But I've seen the Shogun fight. How should I put it... Furina's presence seems a little too ordinary, almost too... I don't know how to describe it.]
[Arataki Itto: You never believe me when I call you an idiot. The Electro Archon and the Hydro Archon aren't the same god. Nothing wrong with them using different moves, right?]
[Kujou Sara: You...]
For once, Kujou Sara did not argue with Arataki Itto. When it came to gods, she did not understand much either, and she dared not make careless remarks about such things. After all, Itto had a point.
[Wriothesley: Well, Clorinde? Sweating buckets yet?]
[Clorinde: ...]
[Yae Miko: Personally, I don't think Clorinde will necessarily lose. They've planned this far ahead. How could they not have considered this?]
In the video.
As Furina moved, the still somewhat noisy opera house fell silent in an instant. Neuvillette, Paimon, and the Traveler all turned their attention toward her.
Even the expressionless Clorinde's gaze shifted slightly, and a hint of tension seemed to appear on her face.
Furina continued raising her right hand.
Then.
Her left hand shot up as well.
She held both hands up at her sides.
Lumine's eyes widened.
Paimon was so astonished that she seemed to forget how to speak, reduced to stammering. "Furina, she... she... surrendered... she surrendered."
Seeing this, Clorinde quickly sheathed her sword.
Comments flooded the livestream.
[Yae Miko: Hahaha, Furina really manages to surprise me every time!]
[Childe: What? What? What? Why aren't they fighting? My exhilarating duel is just gone like that?]
[Arataki Itto: I've got it! Maybe this is some kind of special sign in Fontaine. Once you see it, you're not allowed to fight anymore!]
[Navia: Why do I feel like you're insulting our nation?]
[Kujou Sara: He's a little lacking in intelligence. Don't take what he says to heart!]
[Kujou Sara: Stop spouting nonsense. Do you really think the food outside isn't good enough and want to eat prison food instead? @Arataki Itto!]
[Barbara: I think Furina must be worried about hurting Clorinde in a duel, so she voluntarily surrendered and agreed to stand trial. After all, she hasn't done anything wrong. Even if she's accused, she should be fine!]
[Hu Tao: Yes, exactly! That's what I think too. How does that saying go? A clear conscience fears no accusation!]
[Sigewinne: No one was hurt. This is a good outcome!]
The video continued.
However, Furina's actions had clearly displeased the spectators who had wanted to watch the excitement.
The entire opera house erupted into noise again.
"Am I seeing things? Lady Furina surrendered?"
"Come on, at least... exchange a few blows! I've been waiting here for so long!"
"Lady Hydro Archon, does that gesture mean what I think it means?"
Furina said, "Quiet... hear me out. You're still far too inexperienced. I told you ages ago to watch more plays. Raising both hands doesn't mean I'm surrendering..."
Paimon folded her arms. "Here we go again. Let's see what excuse she comes up with this time."
Furina walked toward the audience, her presence captivating. "This time, raising both hands means I'm ready to face this trial. A duel would simply be a little unnecessary."
"To be honest, I know that whenever I face a problem, I always choose to run away."
"So, here and now, let me first say this to everyone: I'm sorry. I bear an inescapable responsibility for what happened in Poisson... I truly shouldn't run away from this trial! Because it isn't just you. I'm disappointed in myself too."
"But today, as your god, as the god of water, I've come to understand that running away won't solve anything!"
"Here, I promise you that I, Furina, will explain through this trial what true [justice] means!"
Furina still had one final sentence left unsaid, but he did not intend to say it aloud. It was enough to keep those words in his heart. I will... protect you all!
She took a few more steps toward the audience, drew a deep breath, and spoke as loudly as she could. "Cheer! Applaud! Here, an extraordinary turn of events that none would even dare imagine!"
She pivoted, spinning her whole body around. Along with her dance, her voice rose to its loudest, as though it would lift the roof off the entire opera house.
"A vivid, stirring scene upon Fontaine's stage! The trial of the god Focalors-is about to begin!"
The moment Furina finished speaking.
"Bravo!"
"Beautifully said!"
"To think I'd be fortunate enough to take part in a moment like this!"
Many excited spectators had already stood up, loudly voicing their support for Furina.
At that moment, Furina seemed to have become the protagonist, once again the focus of everyone's attention. Only this time, she was confident. She was radiant!
Watching the frenzied audience, Neuvillette could only shake his head helplessly and sigh. "Just as expected..."
Seeing this, Paimon said, "Seriously? With just a few words, Furina turned the situation around in an instant and took control again! She was clearly forced into standing trial..."
"But even if her performance is still a little exaggerated, at least she probably meant what she said!"
[Ningguang: What masterful rhetoric. If Furina were a merchant, I imagine few could rival her at the negotiating table.]
[Alhaitham: Indeed. With just a few words, she stirred their emotions and turned a passive position into an active one.]
[Yelan: But words alone, without any action, can only fool these spectators for a while.]
[Diluc: Furina knows very well what the people of Fontaine are dissatisfied with about her. That's also why she was able to do this!]
[Childe: Yes, that speech really was brilliant. Even though I didn't get to see a spectacular duel, hearing it still got my blood pumping!]
[Ganyu: If we hadn't seen it in the video earlier, I'm afraid no one would have imagined that Furina had such a side to her behind the scenes!]
[Jean: Perhaps only an exaggerated performance can give the people of Fontaine a little peace of mind under the shadow of the prophecy!]
[Yae Miko: Besides, a god standing trial must be rare not just in Fontaine's history, but across all of Teyvat!]
[Lisa: Never mind the people of Fontaine watching in person. Even I can barely contain my excitement just watching the video!]
[Freminet: What is the true justice that Lady Hydro Archon spoke of?]