Hello I'm back, thy leg is healed but I don't have molars anymore.
===BREAK===
"The residents of Poisson must temporarily relocate."
Navia, seated across from Furina, widened her eyes for a brief moment before slowly lowering her gaze. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other formed a loose fist near her lips as she fell into silent contemplation.
Standing behind Navia, her two attendants—Melus and Silver—exchanged a swift glance upon hearing Furina's words, their expressions visibly growing heavy.
"I was mentally prepared before coming here, but I didn't expect it to be something this serious… Is it because of the prophecy?" Navia asked.
"That's right. Poisson's location is unique. Before the prophecy truly arrives, it will be the first to be affected by the rising waters."
"I see… In that case, relocation really does seem like the only option…"
A directive personally delivered by the Hydro Archon was something no one in Fontaine would ever doubt.
Having accepted the reality, Navia cautiously continued, "But—may I ask when the prophecy will occur? Asking this won't get me thrown straight into the Fortress of Meropide, will it? If it will, then please don't answer—just pretend I never asked!"
"Hehe, there's no need to be so wary. That law was enacted merely to deal with those relentless reporters."
"Then…?"
"But the timing of the prophecy isn't something that can be casually revealed." A subtle smile lingered at the corner of Furina's lips as she feigned profundity. "Even I paid a tremendous price to stabilize its occurrence within our control. If I reveal even a little too much, everything we've prepared up until now might dissolve into nothing."
"It's that serious?!"
"Indeed."
"But the relocation will have a very real impact on our lives… If we can't know how long we'll be gone, could you at least tell me whether we'll have a chance to return to Poisson?"
This topic strayed somewhat beyond what had been prepared in advance. Furina did not answer immediately. Only when a thread of delicate breeze—so subtle that even Navia, seated this close, could hardly perceive it—coiled around her right hand did she finally say with certainty, "Yes. After the prophecy has passed, you will of course be able to return to Poisson."
Navia let out a soft sigh. "Compared to relocation, that at least counts as good news."
"If there are no further questions, then regarding the relocation… Hmm, it can be completed within two months. There's no need to rush. I will also dispatch personnel to fully assist Poisson with the move. Even the selection of your temporary residence can be discussed."
"Thank you."
Navia had come in haste, finalized the preliminary relocation plan at the Palais Mermonia, and then departed just as hurriedly.
Everything appeared to be progressing smoothly.
Yet over the next two days, whenever no outsiders were present, Furina would often sit in a daze, silent and withdrawn. When Victor Wang asked about it, she would only sigh in response.
On this day, she once again took the initiative to ask, "With this, no one should end up in danger… right?"
Victor Wang could only answer once more, "No one will be in danger."
"Come to think of it, none of this was mentioned in the prophecy you brought. How did you know? Could there be other prophecies… or are you the prophet who wrote that one?"
"Either way, it makes no difference to you."
"It does," Furina shook her head, her curious gaze fixed intently on him. "What I want to ask is this: when a prophet makes a prophecy, do they factor in the changes they themselves will bring?"
Victor Wang was momentarily at a loss for words. In truth, both the prophecy and the prophet were fabrications. He didn't know any prophet, nor was he one himself. Naturally, he had no way to answer that question.
Furina continued.
"I've heard a saying: 'A prophet must not easily prophesize for themselves,' otherwise the prophecy falls into chaos. That's why prophets generally rarely interfere with the course of events.
I think that saying is quite reliable, because think about it—
If a prophet foresees an event, and then changes that event because of the prophecy, wouldn't the prophecy become false?
If what they foresaw was 'themselves changing the event after seeing the prophecy,' then the version of themselves who changes it should have seen the 'original prophecy,' not the 'altered prophecy.' There's a crucial step missing here—the reason for making the change. Without seeing the 'original prophecy,' they might lose the very reason that compelled them to change it.
And if they could simultaneously see both the 'original prophecy' and the 'altered prophecy,' then it would be even worse. Each prophecy would branch into countless prophecies. Their mind would be overwhelmed by endless shifting possibilities."
After circling through Furina's logic and sorting it out, Victor Wang realized it did make a certain degree of sense. But his foundation as a fake prophet was too weak; he only wanted to end the topic quickly. "I can't explain that to you. I didn't expect you to be this interested in prophe—oh… I see…"
"That's right. After all, Fontaine is facing a 'prophecy.' Useful or useless, over these past few centuries I've learned a great deal. But none of it has helped with the rising sea levels of Fontaine."
"…"
Furina abruptly shifted her tone, becoming extremely serious. "It's a good thing you came. If we hadn't known that Poisson would face flooding ahead of time, someone might have ended up in danger, don't you think?"
The moment the words left her lips, Victor Wang understood. This was what she had been holding in her heart these past two days.
Gazing into those heterochromatic eyes, though she was asking a question, Victor Wang saw little suspicion in them. Instead, there was unwavering certainty—and guilt for having done nothing.
Without prior preparation… Poisson would indeed have suffered heavy casualties when the waters rose prematurely… That long list of victims would even have included Melus and Silver, who stood behind Navia.
That was precisely the tragedy Furina least wished to see—a disaster born of her own helplessness.
Even now, with that fate on the verge of being changed by Victor Wang, she had, through her understanding of the 'prophecy,' cleverly pieced together from subtle clues the possibility of tragedy in the 'original prophecy.' And she had faintly taken responsibility for that unrealized tragedy upon herself.
After a brief hesitation, Victor Wang shook his head. "No."
"No?"
Furina clearly did not believe him. She even summoned the imposing presence she had accumulated over five hundred years of playing the Hydro Archon, determined to hear the truth.
But who here wasn't an actor? Victor Wang showed no fear. "In this world, there is no possibility that I would not arrive. And therefore, no possibility that anyone would be sacrificed."
"I see… Since I cannot deny your existence, and you are so confident in the choices you will make, perhaps that possibility truly never existed."
"If it doesn't exist, then it doesn't exist. There isn't even a 'perhaps.'" Victor Wang's tone grew slightly firm. "As for your earlier question, you only need to understand this: whether a prophet factors in the changes they bring or not, in the end, there is only one path they can walk—the one beneath their feet."
"I understand, I understand… But I still want to go to Poisson and see the people living there. Come take a walk with me."
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa