Dulphy: "Thank you, Lady Furina. I'm truly sorry for forcing you to go against your principles."
Furina put her hands on her hips. "At this point, there's no need to say that. If there's anyone to blame, it's me for jumping into this on my own initiative. No one likes regrets—myself included."
She then crossed her arms and spoke confidently, "Leave it to me. After watching your rehearsals so many times, I'm already very familiar with Coriolle's part."
Dulphy: "I have no doubts about your acting. But this is a performance offered in the troupe leader's name, so please allow me to ask one question. What do you think makes Coriolle shine?"
Furina thought for a moment before answering, "Because she's pure. Even after enduring so much pain and loneliness, she never once doubted the beauty of the world."
Dulphy nodded. "Then the name of Troupe Leader Aurelie… I entrust it to you."
[ Paimon: Furina really is the Daughter of Water herself! ]
[ Lumine: That statement is absolutely correct. ]
[ Ningguang: I wonder if Neuvillette will miss Furina's performance. ]
[ Yae Miko: Yes, what if Neuvillette ends up crying and throwing a tantrum because he missed it, can't eat, and starves? That would be terrible. ]
[ Zhongli: A god will not starve. ]
[ Ningguang: In everyone's opinion, what makes Furina shine? ]
[ Lumine: Because she's an actress who completely captivates me. Because of her confidence and pride. Because of the light she radiates. ]
[ Neuvillette: Because of her adorableness. Her sacrifice. And her devotion. ]
[ Paimon: Neuvillette, you've exposed yourself… ]
[ Neuvillette: I have never hidden my identity as a fan. ]
[ Wriothesley: Hahaha, Neuvillette really doesn't know embarrassment or shyness. ]
Furina took two deep breaths and stepped onto the stage with a master's poise. The spotlight focused on her as thunderous applause erupted.
"Did she come?"
"When did she arrive?"
"She won't come."
"No… she's here."
Furina walked alone into the crowd, surrounded by people filled with hostility. A romantic and elegant song began to echo.
"Ah—if only I could return to the waters."
"Would the world be beautiful once more?"
"Please forgive our transgressions, Mother."
"Life follows the flowing streams, bringing vitality back to the city."
"And nourishing the one I love most."
Coriolle's lover: "Then what about your wish?"
Coriolle: "My… wish?"
Voice-over: "To become human means to hide secrets, endure suffering, and keep company with loneliness. Even so, are you willing?"
The opera swelled once more.
"True love cannot reclaim another's beautiful dream."
"Parting will bloom like flowers in full flourish."
"Just like our story—sweet, yet bitter."
"I am still here. I will always be here."
"Watching this dazzling, beautiful world."
"Never changing. Never changing."
Coriolle was forced alone to the edge of a cliff. At that moment, a Hydro Vision descended from above, hovering before her.
Below the stage, applause roared like thunder.
[ Venti: That was wonderful. My Hydro energy feels completely full. ]
[ Paimon: You're the Anemo Archon—how do you even have Hydro energy? You totally cried, didn't you! ]
[ Lumine: Paimon, seeing through it is one thing—saying it out loud is another. ]
[ Charlotte: I don't know why, but it's raining in Fontaine. The forecast clearly said today would be sunny. ]
[ Paimon: Then your climate instruments must be inaccurate. ]
[ Yae Miko: My novel is finished too—emergency publication. ]
[ Paimon: I want to read it! ]
[ Xingqiu: Liyue would like a copy as well. ]
[ Venti: Mondstadt, same here. ]
[ Charlotte: Fontaine too. I'll publish it in the newspaper. ]
[ Ningguang: That Vision must be Neuvillette's reward for Furina, no? ]
[ Neuvillette: If I could, I would gladly give one. However, granting a Vision is not within my authority. ]
[ Venti: I don't have that authority either. That Vision was summoned by Furina's own wish. ]
[ Nilou: This really raises the bar—other troupes will struggle to replicate it. Not every lead can summon a Vision through sheer desire. ]
[ Charlotte: That's easy. Fontaine technology is advanced—just use a flying mechanism instead. ]
The audience began to sense something was off.
"Am I seeing things? Isn't that Lady Furina?"
"She disappeared for so long, and suddenly she's back… and her performance hasn't declined at all."
At that moment, Buraud stepped onto the stage to announce:
"The Daughter of Water, portrayed by… Lady Aurelie-Fimaux."
The audience murmured in confusion.
"That name sounds wrong."
"Is she just someone who looks similar?"
Standing on the stage, Furina looked at the audience and thought:
I was gone for so long, and my name wasn't used here. Most people probably won't recognize me.
Still… even if it was unavoidable, breaking a principle I finally settled on is such a pity. But standing on this stage again…
It actually feels kind of nice.
Buraud continued, "Finally, special thanks to this performance's venue coordinator and artistic consultant—Lady Furina!"
Applause erupted once more. Furina waved her hands frantically, utterly overwhelmed by embarrassment.
"Hey! This wasn't what we agreed on—ahhh! You didn't even discuss it with me!"
The audience was ecstatic.
"As expected of Lady Furina."
"That's wonderful… she's back."
…
The scene shifted. Everyone had gathered in the preparation room.
Buraud apologized sincerely, "Alright, alright, don't be angry. After discussing it, we felt it wasn't right to let your contributions go unacknowledged."
"This has always been a rule in Fontaine. Whether onstage or behind the scenes, everyone's work deserves recognition."
Furina scratched the back of her head shyly. "I know that rule exists, but—but you have to consider the situation too. I wasn't ready."
Paimon: "Hehe, I don't think it's that big a deal. At worst, people will ask for autographs later."
[ Sigewinne: Furina when she's shy is so adorable. ]
[ Paimon: Too bad we can't see Neuvillette like this. ]
[ Navia: Well, you can see mine instead. That should be enough, right? ]
[ Ningguang: Come to think of it, that rule—wasn't it something Furina herself established? That would be rather amusing. ]
[ Furina: Um… it does seem like I was the one who set it. ]
[ Paimon: Hahaha, she really set herself up! ]
[ Furina: Who could have thought that far ahead… ]
Regarding the autographs, Furina crossed her arms. "You make it sound easy. Why don't you sign them for me?"
Paimon immediately changed the subject. "More importantly, what just happened really scared me!"
"I flew to the designated spot to drop the Vision prop, and suddenly a real one appeared!"
"Well…" Furina glanced at her Vision. "I don't know why it appeared either. Luckily, the final effect was excellent. The audience probably thought it was just an incredibly realistic prop."
Back at the troupe's headquarters, Dulphy and Lauwick were still bickering. Furina and Paimon shared the joy of the successful performance with them.
Regarding the troupe's future, Furina suggested, "The response to this performance was excellent. Your reputation will spread through Fontaine quickly. The troupe doesn't have to disband."
"If you take advantage of the audience's enthusiasm and license The Daughter of Water to a professional troupe, your financial situation would greatly improve."
Dulphy: "No. We'll still disband."
Lauwick nodded. "Yes. We already agreed."
Lauwick continued, "I shouldn't stay with everyone any longer. If fate allows, we'll meet again." With that, he turned and left.
Buraud thought for a moment before saying, "I plan to continue acting. I'll look for a different troupe. After watching Lady Furina's performance, I finally understand why the troupe leader was so obsessed with musical theater."
Dulphy smiled. "It suits you. I also wanted to keep singing, but… this body isn't really up for it anymore."
Lauwick: "I—I'll wait until Dulphy recovers, then decide. Lady Furina, what about you?"
[ Nilou: It's such a shame the troupe is still disbanding. ]
[ Keqing: Without its core, a troupe won't last long even with money. Freezing it at its most beautiful moment is the best choice. ]
[ Ningguang: I think that's what the troupe leader would have wanted—to see the younger ones grow up and choose their own paths. ]
[ Zhongli: Life naturally brings gatherings and partings. There is no need to force permanence. ]
Furina said, "Honestly, even if I wanted to fade into obscurity afterward, people would probably keep coming to me for guidance. That special thanks at the end really ensured that."
Buraud: "I'm sorry…"
Furina looked at him. "It's fine. No need to apologize. What I mean is, this experience made returning to the stage feel far less unpleasant than I imagined."
"Perhaps Neuvillette was right—Coriolle really suited me. Even though I no longer wish to play someone else, I still want to express myself. Maybe this… is my new stage."
[ Nahida: Perhaps Furina initially resisted performing because she feared it. For five hundred years, she worried constantly about imperfections, about being exposed and failing. But without those burdens, she truly loves performing. ]
[ Paimon: Looks like the Furina who stayed home claiming she wasn't needed is about to become Fontaine's busiest person. ]
[ Venti: Furina, I look forward to performing with you at the Windblume Festival… I'm quite experienced in creative work as well. ]
Lumine: "Maybe there's no need to draw such clear lines. Just follow your heart and live happily."
Furina nodded. "Yes. I once wore a mask as an actress, trying only to conceal the truth. From now on, I want to feel real stories between people—how they bloom, how they wither, and how they're refined into scripts, forever sung."
"That Troupe Leader Aurelie would surely be fascinated by that."
Paimon: "Furina, you really aren't resisting it anymore. Then go see more, travel more—the world is interesting."
Furina: "Mm. If a god's gift is an eye, then I truly shouldn't waste it."
The screen faded to black.
White text appeared.
[ The Daughter of Water has concluded. Below is the selectable video list. Please vote. ]
[ 1.Of the Land Amidst Monoliths: Ningguang, controller of Liyue's commerce, and the sacrifices she made in the age of human rule. ]
[ 2. Omnipresence Over Mortals: Eternity was not accepted by the people—how did the Electro Archon respond to countless wishes? ]
[ 3. The Morn a Thousand Roses Brings: When the Akademiya defied the gods and sought forbidden power. ]
[ 4. Moonchase Festival: A simple cooking competition uncovers ancient history. ]
[ Paimon: Yay, voting time again! ]
[ Ningguang: It's strange—the newly grown tree in Liyue has grown much taller and larger. ]
[ Arataki Itto: Trees grow naturally. What's strange about that? ]
[ Yae Miko: Ningguang means it grew too fast. In just two hours, Inazuma's new tree doubled in height and thickness. ]
[ Neuvillette: Fontaine is the same. ]
[ Nahida: The Irminsul represents Teyvat's memories and knowledge. Could these new trees be manifestations of our shared memories and emotions from the livestream? ]
[ Zhongli: That possibility cannot be ruled out. These memories may be stored within the trees instead of affecting the future directly. ]
[ Venti: There's also a powerful energy within them—perhaps belief or emotion. How will these external forces affect Teyvat? ]
[ System: These are your powers. In the final moment, they will aid the outsider in writing a new destiny. ]
[ Ningguang: I propose assigning specialists to record the trees' growth. As for voting, I have a suggestion. ]
[ Hu Tao: What suggestion? ]
[ Ningguang: Since the list always refreshes, let's stop voting and let the system play videos in order. ]
[ Paimon: That's a great idea! Less arguing! ]
[ Lumine: And no video getting stuck without being chosen. ]
[ Yae Miko: Hard to disagree. ]
[ Zhongli: A sound proposal. ]
[ Venti: Hehe, I have no objections either. ]
[ Ningguang: If anyone disagrees, feel free to speak up. ]
[ System: Ningguang's proposal has miraculously gained unanimous approval. ]
[ Next video: Of the Land Amidst Monoliths. ]