"Anyway, I'm leaving these matters to you," Xia Yu said to Chevreuse and Neuvillette. "I have only one thing to say: root out the evil entirely."
"Yes! Lady Ei!" Chevreuse saluted immediately.
Normally, such orders should come from Lady Furina, but seeing Furina's face—which practically radiated the joy of slacking off—Chevreuse decided to let it slide. A shadow of the Hydro Archon is still the Hydro Archon, and the Archon herself didn't seem to object.
Neuvillette nodded. "I will do my best to cooperate and ensure we quickly map out the network of connections between them."
"Good. As for me," Xia Yu nodded, "FuFu and I need to look around Fontaine. First, to make an appearance and deter any petty criminals, and second, because it's been years since I've been back. I should reacquaint myself with the city."
The others didn't react much, but Furina's eyes widened the moment she heard "FuFu."
"What did you just call me?"
The moment they stepped out of the Palais Mermonia, Furina grabbed Xia Yu's hand and leaned in, staring at her. "FuFu? That sounds like a pet's name!"
Xia Yu's cheek twitched. She had let it slip by habit, having called her "FuFu" constantly in her head.
"It's revenge!" she bluffed with a straight face. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Miss Furina! You don't want to work, right? You want me to handle your shift? Back in the office, you were the one who should've been leading. You're the Hydro Archon!"
"Who stayed silent the whole time? Who watched me struggle to deal with Neuvillette and the others? And you have the nerve to complain about me?"
"Don't be angry," Furina said, grinning as she held Xia Yu's hand. "I was just letting you get used to the working environment ahead of time."
"Who said I was going to work at the Palais Mermonia?" Xia Yu scoffed.
"But do you have the heart to watch me work overtime alone?" Furina asked piteously. "I've lived like this for five hundred years. Can't I finally have a rest?"
"...But you are the Hydro Archon after all," Xia Yu said helplessly. "Only you can carry Fontaine."
"Is that so? If I can be the Archon, why can't you?" A flash of mischief crossed Furina's eyes. She reached out, unclipped the Vision from Xia Yu's waist, and fastened it to her own. "Now, you are Furina, and I am Lady Ei."
"I've performed in operas like this before. Two people who look alike but have different fates. The worker envies the noble's status, while the noble envies the worker's freedom. Upon discovering each other, they swap identities to experience a different life. Back then, I thought maybe I should find a body double to stay in the Palais Mermonia when work got too boring, so I could go out and walk around as her."
Furina's eyes dimmed slightly. "Unfortunately, there isn't anyone else in the world who looks exactly like the Hydro Archon. I could only dream of it. But now, I finally have the chance! Just indulge me this once, okay?"
"But even if you take my identity, it's useless," Xia Yu said, spreading her hands. "Ei's identity is that of Furina's clone. Rounded up, that's still the Hydro Archon. Unless Fontainians are blind, what's the difference when we go out?"
"Don't worry about that," Furina said, patting Xia Yu's shoulder willfully. "Since you recognize me as the Hydro Archon, I command you in that capacity: become the Hydro Archon. We are swapping!"
"Fine, I'm the Hydro Archon now," Xia Yu replied solemnly. "Then as the current Hydro Archon, I command you: we're swapping back!"
"Can't you just cooperate for once?" Furina pouted. "You're so boring."
"I think before you criticize me for being boring, we should move," Xia Yu said, looking around awkwardly. "Otherwise, we're going to become everyone else's entertainment."
Furina realized where they were. They were right in front of the Palais Mermonia, beneath the Statue of the Seven. It was midday, and the area was crowded. Especially after rumors of two Hydro Archons appearing yesterday, many people had gathered to see if it was true.
The two had been whispering, which to the crowd looked like one Hydro Archon happily taking the other's arm, walking out together, behavior intimate, leaning in to share secrets. The serious one seemed to be humoring the lively one, while the latter acted spoiled.
Click! Click!
"Lady Furina, I'm Charlotte, a reporter from the Steambird," a familiar pink-haired journalist ventured forward with her camera. "Why are there two Lady Furinas? What is the relationship between you? I—"
"First of all, I am not the Hydro Archon," Furina said, her eyes darting as she adopted a serious tone, patting the Vision at her waist. "I am a clone of the Hydro Archon—her shadow. You can call me Ei. Since divine power shouldn't be used lightly, I wear a Vision. You can use that to distinguish us."
"Oh, I see!" Charlotte was ecstatic. Big news! "Then, Lady Furina, may I ask why you used your divine power to create a clone?"
Xia Yu looked at Charlotte, then at Furina. Fine, if you want to play it like this, don't blame me for giving them a real headline.
"For shifts," Xia Yu answered with a smile. "Yes, the answer is that simple."
Simple as it was, the word "shifts" nearly fried the brains of Charlotte and the onlookers.
"Sh... shifts?" Charlotte asked instinctively. "Gods need shifts too?"
"To be precise, gods also need rest. For five hundred years, I have watched this nation grow, exhausting my mind and heart. I have been hands-on with almost everything. I am satisfied with where we are, but as time passed, I felt something was missing."
"The time I spend on administration is getting shorter, while the time I spend enjoying opera is getting longer. A mature government system has slowly taken the power from my hands, and I am gratified. It's like watching a group of children who were tugging at your hem just yesterday suddenly grow up. I am so proud, yet it brings a certain loneliness."
She glanced at the bewildered Furina, her smile brightening. "I'm truly happy. But after five hundred years of diligent work, I've realized I don't know how to live. I can't even cook properly; without a chef, I can only manage some macaroni. The children have grown, and as a god, I must move forward too. Since I took the seat from the previous Hydro Archon five hundred years ago, I haven't had a single day to live for myself!"
"I want to see the pastoral songs of Mondstadt, the bustling ports of Liyue, explore the rainforests and deserts of Sumeru, and experience the struggles of warriors in Natlan. In short, the world is big, and I want to see it. But I can't leave Fontaine behind entirely, so I created her!"
Xia Yu pushed Furina forward like the Lion King presenting Simba. "She is a part of me, acting as my eyes to see the world! That way, sitting alone on the throne won't feel so lonely anymore."
Click!
Charlotte captured the moment. "Lady Furina... are you... lonely?" She felt a pang of sadness. Heavens, Lady Furina has done so much for us, and we couldn't understand her solitude!
"Even a god needs social interaction," Xia Yu sighed. "In Fontaine, everyone greets me with nothing but a respectful 'Lady Furina.' I can't find a friend to talk to. Neuvillette... well, he's too rigid. Communicating with him is even more stressful."
"Fontaine wasn't like this five hundred years ago. As a second-generation god, I finally understand why the two oldest gods never show their true faces. They probably live in their nations under ordinary names, doing common jobs, surrounded by friends, relaxed and content. And then there's me. I just can't compare."
Beside her, Furina was nearly reaching her breaking point. She wasn't that... well, maybe she was a little. But you can't say that in public! Especially to a reporter!
My "sister" is too young, Furina thought. She thought she was getting the upper hand, but she completely underestimated the passion of Fontainians. Furina could already imagine what tomorrow would be like, but she didn't stop her. Let your big sister teach you a lesson!
Charlotte was already teary-eyed. "Lady Furina..."
"Enough. I shouldn't have said so much, but I've kept it inside for a long time," Xia Yu patted her shoulder. "Report it if you must, but don't exaggerate. Now, I'm taking her on a tour of Fontaine. As my eyes, she will see all of Teyvat, and this homeland is the only place I can introduce to her personally. It's the least I can do."
"Alright, everyone, please stop following us," Xia Yu took Furina's hand. "Ei is very shy and doesn't like crowds. Go back to your business."
The crowd dispersed quickly. Charlotte hugged her camera and notebook, looking moved as she headed toward the Steambird.
"Was that fun?" Furina asked with a pout once they were in the elevator heading to the Navia Line.
"Quite fun," Xia Yu smiled. "And you? Did you enjoy it?"
Furina wanted to laugh thinking about tomorrow. She knew Fontainians too well. While her "sister" knew many secrets, she lacked the five hundred years of experience in daily life.
"Of course it was fun!" Furina said. "It's a deal then. From now on, I am Ei, and you are Furina. Until the day of the trial."
"I don't recall agreeing to that," Xia Yu shook her head. "Alright, give me back the Vision. Stop playing around, FuFu."
"What, I can't play with it for a bit?" Furina held the blue Vision in her hand. "Honestly, I envy you. Having something as fun as a Vision. Hey, how do you use this? Teach me."
"It's hard to describe," Xia Yu said, troubled. "It's like an arm—a part of your body. You don't really 'control' it; it just happens. I can't explain the mechanics."
"Like this?" Furina gripped the Vision. Driven by curiosity, she looked at the waterway and imagined the water rising. "Get up... up... up... Whoa!"
As if following a command, the water in the channel surged upward, forming suspended streams, waiting for her next move.
"What is happening?!"
"Put it down! Quick!" Xia Yu panicked, grabbing Furina's hand. "The tour boat is coming! It'll run aground!"
"Oh! How do I—" The moment Furina thought about letting go, the water crashed back down. Shouts of alarm came from the approaching tour boat.
"Run! Let's go!" Furina pulled Xia Yu. "If we don't run now, it'll be too late!"
They bolted back to the elevator and down to the main hall.
"Wait, why are we running?" Xia Yu suddenly realized, stopping Furina. "You're the Hydro Archon. What's wrong with playing with some water?"
"The Archon shouldn't disrupt the waterways! That's the law I set!" Furina said righteously. "I honestly didn't know I could use the Vision, or I wouldn't have tried it there! Wait, isn't it more bizarre that I can use your Vision? Explain that!"
"Look at me," Xia Yu pointed to herself, then to Furina. "Then look at you." She shrugged. "Maybe the Vision got confused?"
In reality, Xia Yu suspected the "transmigration" had literally set her parameters to match Furina's exactly. Shared Visions? This was getting ridiculous. Luckily it was Furina; if it were anyone more calculating, she'd be in trouble.
"Oh, I see." To Xia Yu's surprise, Furina actually believed it.
She really is like my sister, Furina thought. If even the Vision is compatible, Focalors must have made her! She hugged Xia Yu's arm, rubbing her cheek against hers with a squint. "Remember, from today on, I'm the big sister! You're the little sister!"
"What are you talking about? Big sister? Little sister?"
"I don't care! I'm the big sister!" Furina, who had never known family, was adamant. "Now, let me show you around. Where first... Let's go to the Damovier Department Store in the Nabonnay Quarter!"
"I need to order some clothes for you. Chioriya Boutique is excellent. Oh, and I need to help you pick some perfumes. Buy whatever you like, big sister's paying!"
"No way!" Xia Yu's face turned pale. "I hate shopping!"
"How can a girl hate shopping?" Furina was incredulous. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious!" Xia Yu blurted out. "And I'm not a girl, I'm a man... at least my soul is!"
Furina gave her a look of pure skepticism. Do you think I'm that gullible?
Sure, she was a bit... unrefined, but she looked like a standard girl. She probably just felt that way because she was new to the world, like Furina was five hundred years ago. Focalors was a girl; why would she make a boy that looked like herself?
As for hating shopping... Furina figured she was just lazy.
She wasn't wrong. Xia Yu hated shopping because of the laziness, but she definitely wasn't lying about the gender! Furina just wasn't buying it.
Seeing her resistance, Furina softened. "Fine, fine. If not shopping, where do you want to go? I'll take you."
Secretly, Furina gloated. Silly sister, you don't know the power of an Archon. You don't want to go shopping? I'll just have them deliver everything to the Palais. Clothes in my size, perfumes, every girl's necessity—one of everything!
"Let's go to the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol," Xia Yu chose work over shopping. "We need to make an appearance."
"Alright, the Patrol it is. But the Court of Fontaine is going to get messy soon." Furina held Xia Yu's hand as they walked. "This time, too many people are involved. Even the Patrol will be busy making arrests for a while."
"Removing serial numbers from Gardemeks and sending them to Vacher without a word—that couldn't have been done by just a few people," Xia Yu noted. "And those people weren't necessarily doing it for the profit Vacher offered."
"Sinthe is a banned substance. Even if it's lucrative, the profit is limited. For Vacher's goons and low-level officials, that money might be worth the risk, but for the nobles who have lived in luxury for centuries, they have much more legal and stable sources of income."
"They were coming for you. This was a test of the Hydro Archon."
Furina shivered, but the Vision at her waist gave her a bit of courage. "Can I borrow your Vision?"
She felt insecure. A god without power could only deter others with words and laws. Those people might not dare doubt her divinity yet, but they would certainly test if she would uphold her 'justice' even when cases like the serial disappearances occurred. Furina's performance over the centuries was so convincing that they actually dared to overstep. In any other nation, they would have been finished long ago.
"Better not," Xia Yu shook her head. "Vision elemental power is fundamentally different from an Archon's level. If you don't use it, it's fine, but if you do... someone will notice the discrepancy."
"Let me handle it. You remain the Hydro Archon who strictly observes justice. And while I am your clone, I only use a Vision, not divine power. To others, it will look like you occasionally step in personally when you can't stand by, even to maintain your principles. That will stop them in their tracks."
"You've held on for five hundred years. We can't let your hard work go to waste!"
Furina was deeply moved. Heavens, after five hundred years, someone finally understands my pain! If they weren't in public, she would have buried her face in her "sister's" arms and cried.
"We need to back up Chevreuse now. Those people dared to fund Vacher because they thought their influence would keep him quiet even if he was caught. We must prevent that. Vacher must die by the hand of the law!"