"I feel like you treat them differently."
Watching Keqing and Lisa walk out of the Palais Mermonia accompanied by Melusines, Furina wrapped her arms around Xia Yu's neck from behind, peeking over her shoulder at their retreating figures.
"When you spoke with the Sumeru scholars, the Natlan caravans, and the Fatui Harbinger earlier, you were so serious. Why did you suddenly loosen up with these two? You were even joking with them."
"Because we need to foster good relations with Mondstadt and Liyue," Xia Yu explained patiently. "The Sumeru people haven't even solved the internal issues between their desert and rainforest; don't expect them to have much strength left to help Fontaine."
"The same goes for Natlan. As I said before, the storm brewing in Natlan might not be any smaller than the one here. As for Snezhnaya... you should stay away from that ambitious Tsaritsa."
'What do you mean, you should stay away?' Furina gritted her teeth.
Why did she say "you" instead of "us"?
In truth, she had noticed something over these past few days, but...
Xia Yu, unable to see Furina's expression behind her, continued her instructions. "Mondstadt and Liyue are different. As the City of Wind and Idyls, the warm plains under the protection of the Thousand Winds produce a surplus of grain. Fontaine needs those trade deals to fill the gaps in our domestic supply."
"Liyue, as the issuer of Mora, is the support Fontaine desperately needs right now. Although we purged the government, public confidence won't recover so easily."
"We need sufficient trade to drive economic growth. We need to implement basic welfare and social security to boost morale and cohesion. All of this is built on an economic foundation. Maintaining a good relationship with Liyue is mandatory."
"Also..."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Furina interrupted before she could finish. She reached out to turn Xia Yu's head, looking into her eyes with a playful grin. "We have plenty of time, don't we? We can take things slow. I've lived like this for five hundred years; a little more time won't hurt."
She didn't dare ask the question directly.
Xia Yu looked down.
"...We still have time, right?"
Xia Yu gave no answer.
"...Why?"
"I'm sorry..." Xia Yu finally sighed, a bitter smile touching her lips. "I can't stay with you any longer."
"It's her, isn't it?" Furina's voice dropped. "She has something for you to do?"
Even now, she believed Xia Yu was sent by Focalors.
Xia Yu opened her mouth to speak but sensed an incredibly intense gaze coming from the windowpane. In a daze, she seemed to see a blue figure that had spent five hundred years forging a lonely path for herself.
"I'm sorry... I lied to you," Xia Yu said, smiling toward the window. "I have absolutely no connection to Focalors."
"Do I look stupid?" Furina pressed her face close, staring into Xia Yu's eyes. "Look at me, then go look at yourself in the mirror."
"How could there be no connection?"
Inside the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, Focalors was practically gnashing her teeth. 'Furina, oh Furina, don't be fooled by her flowery words! She's a bad woman! A bad woman!'
'She's retreating to gain a better vantage! She's tricking you!'
"Actually, I didn't want this either," Xia Yu defended herself weakly.
What could she do? She woke up one day and found herself in this world with this appearance and a Vision. Truly, she had resigned herself to it!
She was ready to survive in this world, helping Furina clean up the nation and sort out the loose ends. She was prepared to wait until one of the twins traveled to this land, then dump the remaining burdens onto them.
But then? After doing so much, after seeing Vacher's soul torn apart by the vengeance of the girls and thinking she could finally relax, she found out she had to leave this world.
Who could understand her bitterness at that moment? Life's ups and downs were truly unpredictable.
She reached out to stroke Furina's hair, whispering comfortingly, "It's okay, Furina. You have to be strong."
"You've endured for five hundred years; you're incredible. Soon, your mission will end. When the blonde traveler arrives, that will be the day of your liberation."
"You can trust Neuvillette. Navia can be your ally—Spina di Rosula does excellent work. If possible, give them more support."
"And Clorinde, the Champion Duelist. She is perfectly capable of being your personal bodyguard; never doubt her loyalty."
Xia Yu spoke softly. "Oh, and remember to stay close to Chevreuse. Keep the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol firmly in your hand. You need your own armed force for critical moments."
"The Steambird, too. Contact that reporter named Charlotte more often. Sometimes, the power of public opinion is vital."
"Can't you just stay?" Furina buried her face in Xia Yu's chest. "It's been five hundred years. I finally found someone of my own, but you've only been here for a few days... even if you just stay for one more month."
Five hundred years of loneliness was enough to crush anyone's reason. Even Furina couldn't help but plead.
"Not everything in this world is decided by our own will," Xia Yu smiled at her. "Be good. You need to stay strong. Believe me, in two or three years at most, you can lay down every burden and pursue the life you truly want."
"Fine... I suppose I have no choice," Furina looked up at Xia Yu. "Then I'll just have to enjoy the glory of the Hydro Archon all by myself."
"Mhm. When you return in two years, we'll throw all these chores back to Focalors and go see the world together, okay?"
"We'll see the winds and idyls of Mondstadt, the bustling ports of Liyue, the local customs of Inazuma, explore the rainforests and deserts of Sumeru, watch the Pilgrimage of a Return of the Sacred Flame in Natlan, and see the endless snowy plains of Snezhnaya."
Looking at the expectation in Furina's eyes, Xia Yu desperately wanted to agree.
But her own path was uncertain. That sensation only told her it was time to leave, without specifying where—back home, or somewhere else?
When she was a child watching TV, she used to see protagonists burdened with hate or hope who didn't dare respond to the girl they loved. She thought they were too indecisive. Why not just take her hand and live happily ever after?
Only after growing up did she realize that not everyone can be as carefree as a child. Making a promise meant taking on a responsibility.
If she didn't return... she would have wasted the other person's life.
People spoke of how beautiful and tragic the story of the Awaiting-Husband Stone was, but what did that woman feel while waiting for a husband who would never return? Had she also known despair?
Facing Furina's invitation, Xia Yu truly did not dare to say yes.
It was just a vague feeling. Who knew if she could return? Rather than giving her an uncertain hope, it was better to... be clear from the start.
"Furina, you and I are different," Xia Yu said, holding her slender shoulders. "You and Focalors are two sides of the same coin. You are the humanity she split off, the counterpart to her divinity. You share the same origin, but you are two individuals now."
"But I'm different." In the end, she chose a lie. "The Shadow of the Hydro Archon... I am just a shadow. Don't place such high expectations on your own shadow. A shadow must eventually return to the body."
"If you want to travel the world, you can ask Focalors. She and I are the same."
The moment those words left her mouth, the chill from the eyes staring at her from behind was enough to freeze someone solid.
It was a strange thing; Furina couldn't sense Focalors' spying, but Xia Yu could. Perhaps it was some unknown mechanism, much like how the Vision at her waist could be used by Furina.
At that moment, Focalors inside the Oratrice was fuming. She looked down; yes, her shadow was still there.
'That mysterious person outside really is no good! She clearly knows I'm watching, yet she's slandering me to my face!'
'Just you wait until I get out... but I can't get out!'
'Fine, wait until the day of the prophecy. I'll drag you in here and pluck every hair off your head to see how many faces you really have... wait, she said she's leaving?'
'Does that mean I can't get revenge?'
Thinking of this, Focalors sat in a corner of the hall, hugging her knees and sulking.
'This person... this person! How can she be so mean?'
'Running around Fontaine using my face and identity, and then running away right under my nose while I'm powerless to stop her...'
'How can such a wicked person exist? Where did she come from?'
"Don't give me that," Furina said, keenly aware that Xia Yu was diverting the topic. "Just tell me: will I see you again!"
"What I have to do next is dangerous," Xia Yu could only answer this way. "Extremely dangerous. I cannot guarantee I'll be back."
This mysterious transmigration mechanism was a total unknown. She could make no promises.
"But it doesn't matter. I'm just a shadow anyway," Xia Yu comforted her with a smile. "Focalors can whip up plenty of shadows like me. If the mission fails, I'll just return to the main body."
"When that time comes, just have Focalors call me out again."
'I CAN'T!!!'
Focalors wanted to scream. Who knew such a bizarre technique? Hydro elements didn't work like that!
"Really?" Furina's mood finally lightened a bit. "You aren't lying?"
"Of course not." Xia Yu suddenly felt the sharp gaze behind her turn murderous. She reflexively shivered.
"Uh, what's wrong?" Furina asked, confused.
"Nothing. Focalors is probably cursing me in secret," Xia Yu laughed. "After all, her instructions were not to have too much contact with you. She knows your current state. It's been five hundred years; we can't afford to fail at the finish line."
"Then will you be okay?" Furina asked worriedly.
"What could go wrong for me?" Xia Yu laughed brightly, feeling the eyes behind her wanting to carve a piece of meat off her. Still, she continued her fabrication. "I told you, I'm her shadow."
"It seems like I couldn't help but contact you, but it's actually her own instinct. You are the same person, after all. She knows your hardships over these five hundred years."
"Don't worry. She'll just nag me a bit. It's fine."
'Nag? If you dare come in here, I'll beat you to death!' Focalors thought piteously inside the Oratrice.
"Then... how much time do you have left?" Furina asked suddenly. "I haven't had the chance to show you around Fontaine properly."
"Three days," Xia Yu said. "I have to leave in three days."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Furina grabbed her hand. "Let's go! Call Clorinde, we're going to see all of Fontaine!"
She pulled Xia Yu out of the Palais Mermonia, ignoring the enthusiastic citizens, and began listing every place worth visiting.
They went to the Elynas region and visited Merusea Village. They rode a dirigible over the West Slope of Mont Esus, visited Poisson, saw the famous weeping willow in the Erinnyes Forest, and visited the ruins of the Fontaine Research Institute...
Three days later, they returned to the Palais Mermonia.
"I'll wait for you to come back," Furina said, holding her hand. "There are still many places we haven't seen."
"Like I said, talk to Focalors yourself," Xia Yu laughed. "See if she has the time."
"She definitely will," Furina gripped her hand tight. "She definitely will."
"Then I'll do my best to return," Xia Yu replied, sensing her emotions. "It feels like she has a lot of resentment toward me, though."
"Mhm. See you in two years, then." Furina's smile was radiant.
"Mhm." Xia Yu nodded. Just as she was about to say more, her vision went white, and she lost consciousness.
Furina stared at the empty room, feeling the warmth that had been in her hand just a second ago. She lowered her head, sat on the bed, and hugged her knees.
'Stupid... your clumsy attempt to hide it... doesn't that just prove you have no confidence in coming back?'
'Now, I'm alone again...'
Inside the Oratrice, Focalors stared at the empty water mirror, silent.
'She really left...'
★ ★ ★
In a dim room, Xia Yu opened her eyes.
She rubbed her head, waking from the grogginess. Her eyes met blue finery instead of her own simple pajamas.
The Vision in her hand proved everything was real.
She stepped off the bed and walked to the window, pulling the curtains open with a rustle.
Outside was pitch black. She couldn't even see her own hand.
As expected... it wasn't that simple.