"A long, long time ago, the original Hydro Archon, Egeria, used the Primordial Sea to transform the Oceanids into the people of Fontaine.
She created life and bestowed meaning upon it, allowing the Oceanids to live freely in human form. However, as beings that should not have existed, the people of Fontaine were born with original sin.
The Heavenly Principles decreed a prophecy of destruction—everything would be swallowed by the sea, all Fontainians would dissolve into the Primordial Sea, and the Hydro Archon would weep alone upon her throne.
This prophecy was destined to come true, and no one could stop it.
Five hundred years ago, after the war in Khaenri'ah, Egeria was laid to rest in the Garden of Endless Blossoms. Before her death, she passed the prophecy and her divine seat to Focalors.
That is, to me."
Focalors gave a slight bow on stage, performing a curtain call before turning away as the curtains closed once more.
The lights dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight at the center of the stage. As the curtains slowly parted again, Focalors had changed into another costume.
"Focalors split herself into two—a human and a god. The human side had to perform to deceive the Heavenly Principles, while the divine side was implanted into the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, accumulating energy over 500 years—enough to destroy the Hydro Archon's divine seat.
Only by erasing the divine seat could the authority return to the pinnacle of hydro life—the Dragon Sovereign, Neuvillette. Through him, the original sin of all Fontainians could be absolved."
The smooth, measured narration came to an abrupt halt. Focalors smiled, her gaze falling on Rover, who sat with his eyes lowered, his face obscured by shadows, his expression unreadable.
"The end of the journey is the truth—this is undeniable. And the detective who sought the truth became the savior."
Focalors slowly descended the steps, her gaze shifting from Rover to the Oratrice. Outside, a trial was underway, and the energy known as Indemnitium was gathering relentlessly above them, forming into a blade suspended overhead.
"A hero brings victory to warriors, a seeker restores truth to the lost, and so, a detective must reveal the truth to the audience."
Focalors stepped in front of Rover, leaning close to his ear as if their roles had reversed.
Now, it was her turn to speak to the great detective in a mocking tone.
"The so-called truth is the cruel reality veiled by justice. The moment it is revealed, the detective becomes the harbinger of destruction. Don't you agree?"
The truth was so cruel—would this human truly dare to lay it bare before the audience?
Rover lifted his head. Focalors saw no hesitation or doubt in his expression, only a calm that stirred no ripples.
That tranquil gaze seemed to be his answer to her.
A pale look appeared onto Focalors' cheeks.
The stage lights gradually shifted toward Rover until the spotlight illuminated him fully. Only then did the human before her speak.
"Focalors, answer me—is this the justice you have always upheld?"
No confusion, no hesitation—only the detective's final resolve remained.
Yes, if it meant creating incidents to accumulate energy, Rover did not deny such methods. But to force others to bear the consequences of one's actions, to let innocents shoulder the blame and slander—how was this justice any different from crime?
Focalors closed her eyes. She had long since established her own principles and answers to this question.
"Of course. The justice I uphold will come to pass—no one can escape it, not even me."
Focalors' eyes snapped open. Rover could see the determination in them, matching his own resolve.
Rover stood and looked at the Oratrice.
"Enough?"
Focalors was silent for a moment before shaking her head. She stood beside Rover.
"Not quite. The final one to be judged must be me. I only hope that this truth, buried for five hundred years, can be unearthed after the dawn arrives."
Her cryptic words confirmed her fate to Rover. He looked at her deeply, knowing this would be his last meeting with this god.
Every play must come to an end. After five hundred years of performance, the actor had finally reached the script's final page.
Whether it was Rover's promise to Lyney and his group or Focalors' determination to save Fontaine, their collision had finally produced an outcome both could accept.
"Very well. I understand. Your justice... I acknowledge it."
...
"Before Lyney performed the switching magic, Marcel had already entered the basement and dissolved the girl in the tank using the Primordial Seawater. The murderer was also present at the scene. When Marcel tried to exit the tank, the assailant knocked him unconscious. After Lyney and Marcel's tanks were switched, the rope tied to the spotlight was cut, causing it to fall and crush Marcel to death."
Aether presented the evidence piece by piece before Neuvillette, each clue interlocking, every inconsistency explained—except for one, which he deliberately avoided mentioning.
"Who's the murderer? Just say it already!"
Furina, brimming with anticipation, couldn't help but shout. Neuvillette glanced at her before declaring sternly:
"Order! Spectators must remain silent."
Aether scanned the room but still saw no sign of Rover. He had already relayed all of Rover's deductions and had nothing left to say. Finally, he gave Paimon a meaningful look.
"Maybe we should take a break and reveal the answer later?"
Paimon scratched her head, proposing this to Neuvillette, who immediately rejected it.
"No one may alter the trial proceedings. Mr. Aether, please continue your deductions."
The next moment, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows of the stage.
"The culprit of this case is the Hydro Archon!"
The resolute declaration sent shockwaves through the audience. Furina, who had been enjoying the spectacle, suddenly felt countless eyes boring into her.
Even Neuvillette frowned. To him, this was an absurd claim—yet he still looked to Aether, as if seeking confirmation.
Aether, clearly caught off guard, could only nod awkwardly under Neuvillette's gaze.
"W-Wait! Me?!"
Furina pointed at herself in utter bewilderment. Before she could defend herself, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale whirred to life, delivering its verdict.
Neuvillette clenched the verdict in his hand, his usual composure slipping as shock overtook him.
"Lyney, is not guilty. The Hydro Archon however is guilty... And sentenced to death..."
No one could have anticipated this.
The ever-impartial Oratrice had delivered an unimaginable verdict. Even the unflappable Neuvillette struggled to quell the uproar.
"Me... Death..."
Furina panicked. She stood and raised her hand toward Neuvillette.
"I request a postponement of the execution... The time is almost here... At least... I... I can't die now... I must not die!"
Neuvillette's expression darkened, but years of experience allowed him to swiftly regain control. He struck the floor with his cane, and the booming sound silenced the crowd. All eyes turned to the Chief Justice, awaiting his final decision.
"Lyney is acquitted. The Hydro Archon, Furina, will be detained pending a second trial at a later date."
Having known Furina for centuries, Neuvillette was well aware that the carefree, impulsive archon—who wouldn't even harm a hamster, let alone a person—couldn't possibly be the murderer.
More importantly, Furina had been under his watch the entire time. She had no opportunity to commit the crime—this contradicted Aether's deductions.
Neuvillette intended to buy time. He needed to investigate this matter discreetly.
Thus, the trial concluded. The crowd surged toward the media at the entrance, eager to share the sensational events they had witnessed.
"Bizarre Murder Case Culprit—The Hydro Archon?!"
"Fontaine's First Death Sentence Given to Its Own God!"
Explosive headlines spread like locusts, reaching every corner of Fontaine.
Rover glanced up at the still-flickering Oratrice. His transaction with the God of Justice had been fulfilled amidst the crowd's astonishment.
Finally, he slipped into the shadows, leaving the opera house unnoticed by all.
As for Aether? He was now swarmed by reporters, struggling to explain himself.
...
Rover gazed at the sea, letting the ocean breeze tousle his hair as he pressed a hand to his chest.
Why did this unease still linger? He had uncovered the opera house's secrets. Everything was drawing to a close...
The dark, unfathomable depths were beyond sight. The sea that had once swallowed Atlantis—would it claim another civilization?
"Whenever you're like this, lost in thought, you could always share it with me. Let me help you solve your troubles."
The Shorekeeper's gentle voice reached Rover's ears at just the right moment.
Rover lowered his gaze, recalling the earlier events. It was as if he had caught the tail of the wind.
A premonition told him he was close to the source of his unease.
"Do you remember my conversation with Focalors?"
The Shorekeeper nodded. Rover continued:
"This time, Focalors committed murder to instigate a case and gather energy. But now I wonder—why was she in such a hurry?"
The Shorekeeper understood. She followed Rover's train of thought.
"Perhaps... because the prophecy is about to arrive. She had no choice..."
Rover sensed something amiss. His eyes returned to the abyssal sea—until a violet light flickered beneath the waves, growing larger and larger until it pierced the sky.
The heavens darkened as jagged purple crystals, sharp as spikes, came into view.
A long-forgotten presence, a familiar roar, made Rover shoot to his feet, his gaze locked onto the churning sea.
This was the first time Rover had ever lost his composure. Even Abby emerged, murmuring in disbelief:
"I... hear The Lament... in this world..."
At last, Rover understood the origin of his unease.
The sea had become civilization's nemesis. After drowning Atlantis and flooding the earth, it now brought disaster once more, seeking to destroy the steel-forged civilization before him.
Another terrifying tide from Solaris—the Tacet Discord—rose from the depths, advancing toward the land of Fontaine.
(Prologue End. Next Chapter: Act 1 - The Lament from Another World)