After Furina stepped down as the Hydro Archon and left Palais Mermonia, her former room became vacant.
When Focalors decided to take over her duties, she naturally inherited control of the room as well.
Furina had taken all her belongings, but the faint marks on the furniture silently told tales of her past.
Focalors walked to the full-length mirror.
The reflection staring back at her was, of course, herself.
"Normally, if someone saw their reflection moving on its own, they'd be startled, thinking they'd encountered a ghost," Focalors mused, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
But when Furina first came into existence, she hadn't doubted Focalors at all, readily accepting such a heavy responsibility.
Whenever Focalors recalled this, Furina's sorrowful expression invariably surfaced in her mind.
Over the past five centuries, she had countless times witnessed Furina standing alone on the Opera House stage, questioning her own heart.
Fortunately, she's finally let go, accepted her past self, and now has someone who will always be by her side.
Muttering to herself, Focalors felt her guilt ease slightly.
"But..."
Besides Furina, there was another person she felt guilty towards: Luna, the Phantom Thief White Cat. Even if she confessed her true feelings to Luna, she knew she would only receive a dismissive reply:
"That was my own choice. You don't need to dwell on it."
How cunning, Focalors thought.
Suddenly appearing, abruptly altering her plans, and vanishing without a trace... Luna acted entirely on a whim, yet remained utterly captivating.
Focalors gently stroked the mirror's surface.
Whenever she thought of Luna, a strange yet wonderful sensation would surge through her. The more she savored this feeling, the more it felt like peeling away the wrapper of a candy, revealing its sweetness within.
Yet this candy was not hers alone to enjoy.
Focalors gently stroked her reflection in the mirror.
"Furina was the first to taste this candy..."
Seeing someone who looked exactly like herself, the person she harbored feelings for, clinging to someone else—the sensation was a complex mix of emotions.
Though she had once declared, "You can claim this treasure of mine anytime, if you dare."
But when Luna stole her Crime and Punishment, her future, and her hope, she stole her heart along with them—both figuratively and literally.
What remained was a complex emotion of affection intertwined with guilt.
"She probably saw through my guilt as well," Focalors murmured to herself.
What is a Phantom Thief's greatest skill?
Not stealing treasures, but capturing the hearts of young women.
And this time, the Phantom Thief had even stolen the heart of a God. A wry smile crossed Focalors' face as she considered this.
"..."
She fell silent again for a moment.
She had repeatedly expressed her affection for Luna, but her guilt had repeatedly prevented her from joining Luna in investigating her birth parents' past or taking their relationship any further.
Despite this, the desire to perform on stage alongside Luna and Furina still burned in her heart, leading her to step through the Troupe's doors.
She had never experienced such complex emotions before.
Could this newfound feeling mean I'm becoming more like the idealized human I've always imagined? Focalors wondered absently.
"Lady Focalors, are you awake?"
A Melusine's voice called from outside the door.
"Mm, what is it?"
"Lady Furina wishes to see you."
Oh dear, not again?
Why does everything between those two always involve me? Furina's behavior is practically inviting a fox spirit to steal Luna away!
Focalors smiled, thinking, "Alright, I'll go right now."
Upon arriving at the reception room, Furina was indeed waiting on the sofa.
"Did something happen with Luna again?" Focalors asked.
"What do you mean 'again'? It's not like every time I come to you it's about Luna. Besides, we only bicker about... uh, things I'd rather not discuss. Don't make it sound like we're constantly fighting."
Focalors smiled serenely. "I know, but at least four out of every ten times you come to me, it's about Luna."
Furina blushed slightly, embarrassed, but still declared defiantly, "I just want her to focus her attention on me more!"
"Haaah..." Focalors sighed.
Every time I see her, I get force-fed a mouthful of their lovey-dovey moments. At this rate, I'll start wondering what it's like to be in love with Luna myself.
"This time, I just wanted to invite you to hang out," Furina said with a smile.
"Hang out? Just you?"
"And Luna too."
Focalors took a sip of her black tea. "Just the three of us?"
"Yes. If you're too busy, there's nothing to be done. I know this job is both difficult and demanding. Even if I didn't have to pretend to be a God, I still wouldn't want to do it..."
Furina nodded vigorously.
"It's neither difficult nor demanding."
"Huh?"
Focalors smiled. "I'm quite adept at it, thank you for your concern."
Furina's expression was nuanced. "Adept..."
She keenly realized how different they were.
"It's mainly because I don't have to pretend. There's no crisis in Fontaine now, which is why I've come to deeply understand Furina's past circumstances..."
"That's all in the past now!" Furina beamed, her smile utterly unclouded.
"...Yes, it's all in the past," Focalors murmured softly.
She touched her chest, but the lingering guilt remained deep within her heart.
"You... haven't grown either?"
"Hmm? What hasn't grown?" Focalors asked, startled.
Furina pointed to her own chest.
Ah. So that's what she means— Focalors couldn't help but smile wryly. She'd always felt such matters were trivial; being able to see her own feet might even be a blessing.
"Even Luna's grown a little," Furina grumbled.
Focalors shook her head inwardly.
Don't make me want to know what Luna's chest feels like...
-
The next day, Focalors, dressed in a new outfit, sat at a corner of the plaza, gazing at the children playing by the fountain and the bustling streets. A warm smile graced her face.
Hadn't she and Furina dedicated their 500-year plan and resolve precisely for this moment?
"You actually changed your clothes! As expected of someone who looks just like me—you look good in anything!" Furina said with a smile as she walked over with Luna.
"Since we're going out to play together, I naturally had to change. I also consulted Miss Chiori, and she suggested several outfit combinations for me," Focalors replied.
Luna asked, "Did she happen to recommend her own brand too?"
"Exactly."
"I figured as much."
Luna reached out and pulled Focalors to her feet.
Focalors smiled. "So, what's the plan for our 'three-person date' today?"
"When did this become a 'three-person date'? I don't remember agreeing to that! This isn't a date—it's just us relaxing together," Furina retorted, planting her hands on her hips.
"Furina doesn't want to go on a date with me?" Luna teased, poking Furina's cheek. The soft, squishy sensation tickled her fingertips.
Furina's cheeks flushed slightly, but she admitted candidly, "I... I do."
"But don't forget why we came here in the first place," she whispered to Luna, leaning close to her ear.
Inviting Focalors wasn't just about having fun together.
During the interview, Furina had sensed something was amiss. Later, when she questioned Luna, their suspicions proved to be the same.
Like other Oceanids, Focalors had always yearned to become human.
After the crisis subsided, she finally achieved her wish. Yet, instead of embracing a normal life, she chose to reclaim Furina's former position and resume her duties.
It just doesn't add up.
During the interview, Focalors claimed she was simply "bored to tears and looking for something to do."
But this was clearly a lie.
The real reason she did this... was likely out of guilt.
When people feel guilty, they seek ways to make amends.
If Focalors felt guilty for making Furina impersonate a God for five hundred years, then her decision to resume the role, rather than become an ordinary person, made perfect sense.
Once they were of one mind, Furina declared on the spot:
"This time, let me help her!"
"Focalors and you both spoke to me with such sincerity when I was still mired in the gloom of my past role, lost in confusion and unable to let go."
"You helped me accept my imperfect past self and my imperfect performance."
"So how could I simply stand by and watch Focalors continue to wallow in guilt?"
Furina beamed. "If we're going to move forward, we have to do it together! Of course, you'll have to help me too—I'm not very good at comforting people."
Luna shook her head. "You're actually quite good at it. I still remember vividly what you said to me when we went to Liyue."
Furina's cheeks flushed. "That was... just me speaking from the heart! Ahem! It's good you remember, but don't keep bringing it up—it's embarrassing."
After further discussion, they decided to bring Focalors out first.
Only in a comfortable environment could she truly open up and talk.
-
"Why would you want to watch a horror film?"
"Because it's thrilling?" Focalors replied. "Are you scared, Furina?"
Furina stammered defensively, "I-I'm not scared at all! How could I be? Besides, I haven't had any nightmares lately, so there's nothing to worry about—wait, Luna, what film tickets did you buy?"
"Alien," Luna answered. "Apparently, the props and special effects are really impressive."
"...You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Luna grinned mischievously. "I can't wait to see what expression Furina makes!"
And how she'll come crawling to me for comfort tonight.
-
"Hot pot! I enjoyed it so much back in Liyue. I didn't expect to find it here in Fontaine. Wait a minute... what did you all put in here?"
Focalors chuckled. "Cake! Furina loves cake, doesn't she?"
"Even if I do love cake, there's a time and place for everything! I don't want to eat any more 'creative cuisine' disasters."
"Since we're in a private booth, we absolutely have to play dark hot pot," Luna declared gleefully.
Furina sighed dramatically, resigned to her fate. "If that's how it is... I'm dumping a whole bunch of cilantro in! If you're going to desecrate my cakes and pastries, then I'll desecrate yours!"
"Sounds just like a villain," Focalors remarked.
Luna nodded. "Too bad you forgot the 'heh heh heh' laugh."
Furina rolled her eyes. "Who even laughs like that?"
-
Going to the Film Theater, sharing lunch together, sipping drinks while strolling through the market—these were the most ordinary of pastimes, yet Focalors seemed to find fresh wonder in every moment.
It occurred to me that she likely hadn't had much opportunity to play since emerging from the Oratrice.
Let alone enjoy outings with friends.
After a while, the trio decided to venture outside the city for some fresh air. The city's vibrant bustle was amusing, but when it came to resting, nothing beat the tranquility of nature.
"Today was truly enjoyable," Focalors said, stretching languidly.
She then turned gracefully and smiled at them.
"Thank you both for your thoughtful efforts."
Furina, sipping her drink through a straw, replied nonchalantly, "Thoughtful efforts? We were just out having fun. You make it sound like we had some ulterior motive."
"Isn't that the truth?" Luna countered bluntly. "We did have another reason."
"Hey, Luna..."
"Since she's already seen through it, there's no need to beat around the bush. Let's get straight to the point."
That makes sense.
But I'm not ready yet, Furina thought, setting her drink aside and taking a deep breath.
"You weren't being truthful, were you?"
"What truth are you referring to?"
Furina murmured, "When I asked you why you took over my role, you said it was because you were bored and wanted something to do. But aren't you just like the other Oceanids, yearning to become human?"
"Then why sit in the seat of my past self?"
Focalors countered, "Does taking over your duties mean I'm no longer human?"
Luna interjected, "But I know you also long to be ordinary."
"..."
"To be like an ordinary girl, instead of sitting high above on that stage, looking down on everything below."
Luna continued, "You yourself said that your ideal human is someone like Furina—sometimes arrogant, sometimes endearingly clumsy, someone who can weep with sorrow and shout in anger."
Wait, did she just slip in a couple of unflattering remarks? Furina thought, her expression skeptical.
Where did I ever show any clumsiness?
"You're feeling guilty towards Furina, so you—"
"That's not it at all."
Focalors turned her back to them.
"I feel guilty towards both of you, my most perfect human, My Precious Lady, my greatest accomplice..."
"One of you endured 500 years of suffering because of my Plan."
"The other risked her life to seize the Archon's authority, bearing the fatal blow of 500 years' worth of accumulated Indemnitium."
"If my heart were cold enough, I wouldn't feel a thing. But alas, I'm not that kind of person. The greatest solace for me is knowing that you're both doing well."
Furina and Luna exchanged a glance, thinking, As expected.
Their response was simple:
"We made those decisions ourselves," Furina said. "We don't need your guilt."
Luna added, "Indeed, your guilt means nothing to us."
"...Luna, your tongue is as sharp as ever."
"Because it's the truth. Focalors must be well aware of this, and all I have to say about it is this."
Luna smiled. "What we need is a Focalors who wants to compete with us, who strives to seize each other's brilliance and passion."