Finally, after ensuring the security of the New Fortress of Meropide, Neuvillette began tracking Arlecchino's escape route.
However, as a seasoned intelligence operative, Arlecchino had left no trace behind. Despite Neuvillette's extensive search, he found nothing.
Earlier that day, not long after Neuvillette left Fontaine, a certain incident occurred...
To avoid crowds, Furina chose a more secluded route home, grumbling incessantly about Neuvillette abandoning her.
Currently, Furina was alone, without any Maison Gardiennage officers nearby. After the recent incident, she dared not let them approach her; if her true identity were exposed, everything would be over.
Compared to the potential dangers of the road, Furina dreaded the risk of her identity being revealed even more.
"Besides, I can't possibly be that unlucky, right?!"
Furina muttered to herself with forced optimism. Just then, two slender arms shot out from a nearby alleyway—one clamping over her mouth to silence her cries, while the other seized her arm and dragged her into the shadows.
"Mmph!"
Furina's pupils dilated in shock. She hadn't expected karma to strike so swiftly.
Kidnapping? Or... assassination?!
No, not yet! I haven't finished what I need to do. I can't die now!
Her back slammed violently against the wall, the pain forcing her eyes shut. At the same moment, she sensed someone standing very close in front of her.
"How pathetic, Furina," a voice sneered.
Furina's body froze instantly.
No... it can't be?!
The voice was unmistakably familiar, having accompanied her through five centuries of time.
Yes, it was her own voice, but it carried a chilling indifference and loneliness she had never possessed.
A wave of terror washed over Furina, yet she forced her eyes open to confront reality.
As expected, standing before her, just a short distance away, was a face identical to her own—so much so that Furina felt as if she were staring into a mirror.
A warm breath brushed her cheek, causing a faint tickling sensation.
Outwardly, their only difference was the color of their clothes, explaining why the audience had mistaken them earlier.
Recalling the terrifying power the other had displayed, Furina couldn't help but swallow hard.
Her situation was dire—her life now completely in the other's hands.
But showing weakness would only diminish her chances of survival. So, Furina forcibly composed herself, adopting an air of haughty disdain as she spoke.
"You? How dare you impersonate me and then show your face? I admire your audacity."
"If you've come here to beg for forgiveness for your heinous actions, then as a merciful Archon, I might consider leniency, seeing your repentance."
Though Furina, with her actress's training, delivered her lines with passable effect, the pose—pinned against the wall—made her words less convincing.
Dark Furina, faced with someone whose only strength lay in her sharp tongue, naturally intensified her grip, emphasizing the power disparity between them.
Dark Furina seized Furina's remaining arm, pinning both hands against the wall. Her legs locked around Furina's ankles, and finally, she pressed her forehead against Furina's, leaving only Furina's mouth free to move.
"I don't understand," Dark Furina hissed, "how such an ordinary creature like you can maintain such arrogance and self-assurance?"
"T-too... too... too close!"
Furina wasn't particularly bothered by the restrictions on her movements. After all, even if she stood perfectly still, her freedom depended entirely on her captor's decision. However, the way their bodies were pressed tightly together made her deeply uncomfortable, even though the person was her exact double.
Feeling Dark Furina's body heat, Furina's face flushed crimson. She tried to turn her head away, but her body was pinned down, leaving her completely helpless.
"Answer my question, Furina."
"A mere mortal, yet you dare impersonate an Archon, parading yourself before the people."
"You are not the Hydro Archon Focalors. Where is the real Focalors?"
Upon hearing these words, Furina's body instantly turned cold. Though she had already suspected her true identity might be exposed today, she hadn't expected it to be revealed so quickly and so bluntly.
"W-what nonsense are you spouting?"
"I am the Hydro Archon Focalors, the God of Justice of Fontaine, the Regina of All Waters!"
Furina made one last desperate attempt to cling to her lie, but Dark Furina's next words shattered her hope completely.
"Stop lying, Furina."
"Just now, my power has already invaded your body. I sense no Archon's Power within you, only a curse that has halted your physical growth."
"I-I just didn't bring my power with me at the moment..." Furina stammered in explanation.
"Is that so? Then I'll take you before the people right now. Under their collective gaze, you can reclaim your power and defeat me."
With those words, Dark Furina finally released Furina, taking a slight step back.
Though freed from physical restraint, Furina's mood sank to its lowest point.
If they truly appeared before the people simultaneously, the situation would become utterly irredeemable. Furina absolutely couldn't let that happen.
After a moment of silence, Furina suddenly noticed something odd. If Dark Furina's only goal was to expose her, she wouldn't need to go to such lengths. It seemed there was another motive at play.
Just as Neuvillette had said before, there were far better ways to impersonate her, yet Dark Furina hadn't chosen any of them.
"What do you want?"
"I just want to know where the Hydro Archon Focalors is right now, that's all."
Hearing this, Furina sensed that the other party was indeed capable of communication, so she tentatively asked, "Are you with No. 6's faction from before?"
"That's none of your concern, Furina."
"Just answer my question."
"If you don't tell me your purpose, you won't get any answers from me."
Though terrified that the other party might suddenly turn hostile, Furina stubbornly retorted to Dark Furina:
As soon as Furina finished speaking, Dark Furina reached out and gripped Furina's chin.
"Furina, such intense curiosity will be your undoing."
"I thought demonstrating a fraction of my power would make you more docile, but it seems the previous incident wasn't enough of a lesson for you."
"You don't even know Focalors' whereabouts, do you?"
"Of course not. Why would an Archon reveal her whereabouts to a mere mortal like you?"
"In her eyes, you're nothing more than a disposable stand-in."
"Shut up! You have no right to slander the Archon!"
Recalling Focalors' earlier words to her, Furina couldn't help but retort, though the other's movements made her uneasy.
"She has far more important things to do than waste her time with a fraud like you!"
"Is that so?" Dark Furina replied, a chilling smile spreading across her face. "Perfect. I've been wanting to find her myself, to personally destroy everything she's worked for."
Staring at Dark Furina's icy expression, Furina felt a chill seep into her very bones.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Wasn't I clear enough?" Dark Furina replied lightly, her voice dripping with venom. "I intend to personally destroy Fontaine—the very thing you're trying to protect, Furina."
"Destruction is the world's ultimate masterpiece. The Abyss will be everyone's final destination."
"You'll never succeed!"
Dark Furina's words ignited Furina's fighting spirit. She had devoted five hundred years to saving Fontaine's people, and she refused to let this dark imitation invalidate her pain and sacrifice.
Furina began to struggle, but her captor's grip, though not particularly strong, somehow made even the slightest movement agonizingly difficult.
If only Neuvillette were here right now, Furina thought. She couldn't help but think of the man who always made her feel so secure. She was certain that if Neuvillette were present, her opponent wouldn't stand a chance.
But alone in this situation, what could she possibly do?
Furina's thoughts drifted to Emily, then to Navia, who could wield two elements simultaneously. A sudden idea sparked in her mind, and with every ounce of strength, she reached for the dull, transparent Vision hanging at her waist.
As Furina's hand brushed against the lusterless Vision, a profound sense of peace and serenity washed over her. It felt as if Emily were right beside her, offering companionship.
I promised Emily I would find her. How could I break that promise here?
Lend me your strength, Emily!
Emerald-green light surged back into the Vision, and in that instant, Furina felt the presence of Anemo.
A tempestuous wind howled around her. Dark Furina frowned and released her grip, allowing Furina to stumble back several steps.
"Why can you wield Elemental Power? You shouldn't have any strength at all!" Dark Furina demanded.
Feeling the reassuring presence of Anemo Energy, Furina's face lit up with a radiant smile.
Emily responded! Emily responded to me!
Thank you, Emily. I will cherish this power dearly!
Facing Dark Furina's interrogation, Furina declared triumphantly, "This power was lent to me by the person I cherish most."
"Just as you never anticipated this power, you will inevitably fail. I will save everyone in Fontaine!"
"Just like today, this is merely a fragment of your true self, isn't it?"
"If it were your Prime form, you wouldn't have feared my attacks. While this fragment still possesses formidable power, you have no chance of capturing me now."
Furina had keenly observed the anomalies in her opponent's behavior and boldly hypothesized.
She needs to get close to confirm my identity. If I truly possessed formidable power, her Prime form might be in danger if she appeared directly. That's why she sent a fragment to test me.
If I were just an ordinary person, even a fragment's power would have sufficed.
Having pieced this together, Furina's heart calmed considerably.
As long as she didn't fall into their hands, there was still a chance to turn things around. Even if they tried to expose her identity to the public, with Neuvillette vouching for her, few would believe it.
"You're finally acting like the Hydro Archon, Furina," Dark Furina remarked.
Dark Furina didn't deny Furina's words.
"But no matter how you struggle, Fontaine will inevitably fall into my hands and be destroyed."
"I look forward to seeing your next move. Just try not to bore me too much."
"I've lost interest in where Hydro Archon Focalors is hiding now. She'll reveal herself to me at the final moment anyway."
Dark Furina's body gradually became transparent before Furina's eyes.
"Furina, I look forward to our next encounter."
With those words, Dark Furina dissolved into a puddle of water on the ground.
Only after the puddle remained motionless for a long time did Furina cautiously back away, step by step, until she had left the narrow alleyway. Only then did her tense heart finally relax.
Furina let out a long sigh, feeling like she had narrowly escaped death.
Today had been terribly unlucky for her. First, someone impersonated her, then the public began to doubt her, and finally, the impersonator captured her, nearly exposing her true identity to everyone.
It wasn't a complete loss, though. She had gained some control over Anemo Energy, granting her a measure of self-defense, and she had also learned her opponent's ultimate goal.
While it was strange for a Hydro Archon to wield Anemo Energy, the latter was precisely the kind of power that could be easily concealed.
With a little caution, ordinary people would hardly notice it, and she would have the means to protect herself in emergencies.
Knowing her opponent's true purpose would also allow her to prepare appropriate countermeasures in the future.
"I must inform Neuvillette about this immediately."
Remembering that Neuvillette was likely on his way to the New Fortress of Meropide, Furina wasted no time and hurried in that direction.
With the aid of Anemo Energy, Furina traveled at extraordinary speed, a completely novel experience for her. However, she had no time to savor the sensation.
Shortly after Furina's departure, the puddle of liquid on the ground recongealed, reforming into Dark Furina's original form.
There's no such thing as a high-level clone; it's simply another body bearing the burden forward.
Dark Furina, or rather, Lofan, watched the direction Furina had left, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"I never expected the System's bonus Vision to be of such high quality. Not only does it exist independently, bypassing the authority of Teyvat's existing Archons, but it's also much easier to reactivate."
Lofan had already noticed this phenomenon with Navia. Testing had confirmed that reactivating the Vision required both a sufficiently strong desire and enough popularity.
That's right—it's also tied to a character's popularity.
If the character isn't significant, even the most fervent wish won't activate the System's bonus Vision.
Though the limitations are considerable, Lofan was already satisfied.
After all, it's free. Why complain?
"Furina, just hold on a little longer. Soon, you can finally rest."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Lofan turned back to the direction Furina had left, a gentle smile spreading across his face...