King stood on that massive stage, flowing blue light beneath his feet.
He looked at the huffy, silly Furina before him and suddenly found it a bit amusing.
Just moments ago, she had the air of a holy deity.
Now, she was like a child, pouting in anger.
"Focalors," he spoke, his voice calm, "I have serious business to discuss with you."
"What do you want?"
Focalors looked at him warily, her cheeks still puffed out, but her gaze had turned serious.
"Even though your plan is meticulous, I don't agree with it."
Focalors froze for a moment.
"You... you know my plan?"
A flash of panic crossed her sapphire-like eyes, followed quickly by confusion.
She had kept this plan hidden in her heart for five hundred years, never mentioning it to anyone.
Even Furina didn't know the full extent of the plan, only that after playing the role of a god for 500 years, Fontaine would be saved.
How did King know?
"Never mind how I know."
King waved his hand, his tone flat yet exceptionally certain.
"I just know, anyway."
Focalors bit her lip.
"No," she shook her head, her long blue hair swaying with the movement, "this is the only way to save Fontaine. I must do this."
King sighed.
"The great flood in the prophecy—I'll handle it."
Focalors looked at him, her heart wavering for a split second.
But she still shook her head.
"Even if you resolve this flood, it only delays the arrival of the prophecy."
"As long as the curse on the people of Fontaine remains, the prophecy will always hang over our heads."
"One day, it will be fulfilled in another way."
King frowned slightly.
"As long as the Primordial Sea Water is kept under control and not allowed to overflow, the curse itself won't affect the normal lives of Fontainians."
Focalors lowered her eyes, remaining silent for a few seconds.
Then she looked up, the light in her eyes growing dim.
"King, there are some things you don't understand."
Her voice grew soft.
"The people of Fontaine were created by the first Hydro Archon, Lady Egeria, using the Waters of the Primordial Sea. To the Heavenly Principles, this is a transgression, a capital sin."
"As long as the order of the Heavenly Principles exists, the people of Fontaine will never be truly safe."
"Phanes will not allow such an existence that violates the rules to continue to multiply."
She took a deep breath.
"So I must die."
"Only through my death will the full authority of the Ancient Dragon be returned to Neuvillette."
"My ultimate plan is to completely turn away from the Heavenly Principles and throw ourselves into the embrace of the Dragon."
"To free the people of Fontaine from the curse of the Heavenly Principles and bring them under the protection of the Dragon King."
"Only then can the people of Fontaine truly live on."
She finished speaking.
The soul space was so quiet that one could hear the sound of flowing starlight.
King was stunned; he hadn't expected there were so many complications involved.
He originally thought Focalors' plan was as simple as 'killing herself, releasing the Ancient Dragon's authority, and lifting the Primordial Sea curse from the people of Fontaine.'
Hearing her now, he realized it also involved the order of the Heavenly Principles and Egeria's transgression.
In Focalors' eyes...
As long as the Heavenly Principles remained, a race that'should not exist' like the Fontainians would never have a future.
Phanes might be preoccupied for now, but one day he would remember and settle the score.
That was why she wanted to completely sever the connection with the Heavenly Principles and place the people of Fontaine under the Dragon King's protection.
It was a radical solution.
Finding life by embracing death.
However... King remained silent for a while.
He was thinking about how to reassure Focalors without revealing Paimon's identity.
Phanes was dead.
Paimon was the reborn Phanes, that Ruler of the Sky who was currently lying in Lumine's arms, clamoring for cake.
That silly, gluttonous little thing who couldn't move when she saw delicious food was the true master of this world.
Would she go and settle scores with the Fontainians?
Don't be ridiculous.
The silence lasted for several seconds.
King still didn't know how to explain, so he simply didn't.
King looked up, meeting Focalors' sapphire eyes.
"The current Heavenly Principles won't care about such small matters."
His voice was calm but carried an air of unquestionable authority.
Focalors was instantly stunned.
"...What?"
"The Heavenly Principles won't care about Fontaine's business," King repeated. "You don't have to die, Focalors."
"As for the Fontainians' defect, I'll help you find another way to solve it."
He spoke simply, without explaining his reasons or providing evidence.
It was a statement of fact.
Focalors stared at him blankly.
The light in those eyes shifted from confusion to daze, and then... she suddenly turned her face away.
A single tear fell from the corner of her eye without warning.
"..."
Focalors hurriedly raised her hand, roughly wiping away the tear with the back of her hand.
But a second drop fell.
Then a third, and a fourth.
She wiped faster and faster, her hand rubbing hard against her face, turning her fair skin bright red.
She didn't make a sound, just desperately wiped at the uncontrollable tears, hiding her face in the shadows.
In five hundred years, she had never cried.
She couldn't cry.
She was the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, the chess player behind the scenes, the one who had to be calm, strong, and bear everything alone.
What use was crying?
Could crying bring hope to Fontaine?
Could crying soften the heart of the Heavenly Principles?
No.
So Focalors never cried.
But at this moment, Focalors suddenly realized she wasn't that strong.
What was happening?
What was going on!
She had already prepared herself for death.
She had already accepted this 'perfect' ending.
For these five hundred years, she had told herself every day that 'this is the only way' and 'this is a necessary sacrifice'.
But why, upon hearing him say 'you don't have to die'—
Did the tears have to fall so pathetically?
She was afraid.
She felt wronged.
She didn't want to die either.
She just... had no choice.
After a long while.
Focalors' shoulders stopped trembling.
She lowered her hands and slowly looked up.
Her eyes were red, tiny droplets of water still clung to her eyelashes, and the tip of her nose was flushed.
But she had stopped crying.
"No."
Focalors' voice was very soft, yet exceptionally solemn.
She bowed slightly toward King in a gesture of respect.
Her long hair slipped from her shoulders, veiling her tear-stained face.
"King, I'm sorry."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I cannot fully believe you."
"This concerns the lives of countless people in Fontaine."
"I cannot... I cannot risk everyone's lives just because I personally want to live."
She did not stand up.
She remained bowed toward King, not daring to look at him.
She knew King meant well.
She knew King wanted to save her.
But... she didn't dare gamble.
What if King's judgment was wrong?
What would happen to Fontaine then?
"King, I'm truly sorry."
She said it again.
"Hearing you say I don't have to die... I was really happy."
"Actually, I really want to live too."
Her voice was muffled, coming from her lowered head.
"But I can't."
"I can't be that selfish."
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