“You’re going to Mondstadt? Didn’t you just get back?”
Fontaine gently stroked the white cat lying on her lap.
The little cat purred contentedly, its tail wagging happily in response to Fontaine's touch.
“It’s best to go. The Traveler has reached Sumeru, and their next stop is Fontaine.
I need to prepare beforehand. Thankfully, I have the Teleport Waypoint; I won’t have to waste time traveling.”
Si Xuan didn't tell Fontaine that once the Traveler arrived, the Fontaine prophecy would come to pass.
Fontaine had been working tirelessly for five hundred years to solve the prophecy.
Sadly, she couldn’t do anything about the ever-rising water levels.
While despair gnawed at her, she still had to be cautious, constantly questioning if her role as the Hydro Archon was slipping.
Constantly playing a part, walking on eggshells, had kept her mind in a perpetual state of tension.
Si Xuan, too, had lived for five hundred years, but from the perspective of a short-lived being.
If he told her that the prophecy was imminent,
and that it couldn’t be stopped.
Si Xuan believed that Fontaine would collapse instantly.
He felt some sympathy for her current state,
but Si Xuan also didn’t want to see her years of effort go to waste.
Even though he had already prepared for the arrival of the prophecy.
No matter what, this little girl's efforts deserved to see some results.
“Then you must be careful. If you encounter any problems you can’t solve,
notify me and Nahida.”
Fontaine’s expression was somewhat dejected. She knew that while her power was strongest in Fontaine, she couldn’t do anything other than monitor the water level of the Fontaine sea.
She had constantly asked the Akademiya to find a solution to the rising pressure,
and Si Xuan had even assigned top scientists to her, but there was still no solution.
Si Xuan seemed to sense the girl’s deep dejection and reached out to pat her head.
“Just me? Why would you need Nahida? What kind of problems can’t you solve?”
Fontaine’s crooked forelock quivered, and her whole demeanor perked up.
“Of course. I am the Queen of All Waters, All Sides, All Laws. Even the gods can be judged by me.”
Si Xuan chuckled, but didn't reply, instead glancing at the time.
“Alright, it’s getting late. You should go to sleep if you don’t want to have dark circles tomorrow.”
As both a Fontaine Archon and a famous actress, Fontaine cared a lot about her image.
But as she left, she still stubbornly mumbled, “I’m Focalors, the Hydro Archon. Staying up late won’t give me dark circles!”
The next day, Si Xuan saw "panda" Fontaine in his office.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
Fontaine had intended to come to Si Xuan's office to rest for a bit,
but she didn’t expect Si Xuan to still be there.
She had stayed up late reading novels last night, so she was lacking in energy today.
To avoid being caught by Nahida, Fontaine would often sneak into the resting room in Si Xuan’s office to take a nap whenever she stayed up late.
Even if Nahida came, Si Xuan would directly cover for her, saying that he was discussing matters with Fontaine.
So, between the two of them, Nahida wouldn’t bother Fontaine there.
“There are still some documents to review. I’ll go after I finish. Besides, there’s a Teleport Waypoint right outside, so I’m not in a rush.”
Fontaine didn’t ask further, yawned, and walked towards the direction of Si Xuan’s resting room.
“I’m going to your resting room to ponder the future of Fontaine.”
Then she closed the door.
Si Xuan spent the morning reviewing some of the documents.
He then left the Palace of Fontaine and used the Teleport Waypoint to arrive in Mondstadt.
The Teleport Waypoint shimmered with light, and the people of Mondstadt had become accustomed to it.
After all, Si Xuan, this diplomat, was constantly traveling between the seven nations.
The Teleport Waypoint in each of the seven nations would glow every three days, so they were already used to it.
But after one flash of light, another appeared.
Two people, one tall and one short, appeared in front of the Mondstadt residents.
“Huh? It’s Si Xuan. Long time no see. What brings you to Mondstadt?”
Lumine and Paimon looked curiously at Si Xuan.
They seemed to encounter this person everywhere.
“I was invited to attend Mondstadt’s Windblume Festival. You must be here for the same reason, right?”
Lumine responded, saying that they had received a letter from Mondstadt, so they decided to come.
“We’re going to the Knights of Favonius to see Jean first. What about you? Wanna join us?”
“No, I’m going to the Angel’s Share for a drink. You can come find me later if you’re free.”
Si Xuan was not interested in attending a Knights of Favonius meeting. He would rather relax than do that.
“Alright, I’ll find you after seeing Jean.”
The group went their separate ways. Si Xuan entered the Angel’s Share.
The first thing he saw was a red figure.
“Well, well. What’s the occasion? You, the big boss, are here in person?”
Diluc glanced at the second floor and said casually, “Because there’s a special guest today.”
Si Xuan followed Diluc’s gaze and saw a little green dwarf sprawled across a table.
He immediately understood.
“Give me a Dandelion Wine. I have something to tell you.”
Diluc scanned the surroundings, noticed no one else was around, and signaled to Charles, the bartender, to leave.
Charles left knowingly.
Diluc poured Si Xuan a drink, then looked at him.
“The Fatui haven’t been very active lately, but the Fatui’s plans are close to completion.”
Diluc’s eyes flashed with light, and veins appeared on the hand holding the wine bottle.
“Why is the Abyss Order quiet? I heard that the Harbingers have obtained two Godhearts from Sumeru. Their next target is Fontaine?”
Si Xuan nodded, his hand unconsciously twirling the wine glass.
“That’s right. Fontaine’s Godheart was traded away by me as a bargaining chip a long time ago, so the Fatui’s only target is now Natlan.”
“Crack!” Diluc accidentally crushed the wine bottle in his hand.
“You’re crazy? The Godheart is the key to a god’s rule over a nation. Do you have the right to trade it?”
Si Xuan looked regretfully at the shattered wine bottle.
“Don’t worry. For Fontaine, the Godheart is useless. On the contrary, it might be a liability.”
The divine seat will be destroyed, and there will be no new Hydro Archon. What’s the use of keeping the Godheart?