There was a line in the play The Little Oceanid that particularly resonated with Furina:
"To become human means concealing secrets, enduring pain, and embracing solitude. Even so, would you still choose this path?"
This was the play's central theme.
If Furina had been asked this question before, she would have been unable to answer.
But now, she seemed to have found her own answer.
Soon, Pauleau, the troupe's scriptwriter, finally emerged and shared his continuation of the story:
"A young Oceanid transforms into a human, finding happiness, but disaster strikes.
—The freshwater, the very heart of the city, has escaped!
The land withers, plants wither, and soon this place will become a barren wasteland. The root cause lies in humanity's long-standing waste and pollution, which awakened the freshwater's consciousness, causing it to flee."
The narrative combined environmental advocacy with a touch of fantasy.
But in Teyvat, for water to escape... it hardly seemed like an extraordinary occurrence.
Just ask, and you'll be told it's a fantasy world.
"The protagonist, being a pure Oceanid, can read the thoughts of water. After revealing the truth to her lover, they work together to find a solution."
"But someone overhears them, and the Little Oceanid is falsely accused, branded as the root of all evil."
This now carried a hint of reality.
"In the end, to save her lover and everyone else, the Little Oceanid sacrifices herself, stepping forward heroically."
Magnificent, no further words needed—this was the Little Oceanid as envisioned by Pauleau.
Hearing just the outline of the script, one might find it a bit melodramatic. However, the most crucial element of a musical is the performance itself.
As long as the narrative is plausible and the execution flawless, the production will be showered with flowers, applause, and audiences' unstoppable tears.
Furina had no objections to this. She understood and agreed with the choice.
Aurelie's death had been absurd: utterly pointless and inexplicable.
To use this absurd ending as the Troupe's final performance, and as a memorial to their leader's dramatic finale? That would be irresponsible to the audience.
But another member disagreed.
His name was Vilmant.
"...You don't know the truth about the Little Oceanid."
After repeated questioning, he finally revealed the truth.
Someone had once asked them to provide beverages during a performance. He agreed, only to discover later that the drinks were laced with "Sinthe," a substance with stimulating effects.
At the time, many troupes were secretly using them.
Troupe Leader Aurelie knew about his unauthorized actions but didn't reprimand him. Instead, she flatly rejected the deal.
But the other party accused them of going back on their word.
Ultimately, Troupe Leader Aurelie urgently ordered them to leave one day and vanished from the world.
"It's all my fault Aurelie died! Kill me, mutilate me, do whatever you want! Just send me to her to apologize!"
"A wretch like you deserves to be corrected!"
They nearly came to blows.
"Let Lady Focalors judge me instead!"
Focalors smiled serenely. "Regrettably, this doesn't violate the Law. You accepted the deal unknowingly, and you never actually used them."
"Then whip me mercilessly! I don't care who does it!"
"Aurelie! Aaaaah... I did it all for you... Why..."
Pauleau: Pain, it hurts so much!
Vilmant: No, my pain is greater! How could you possibly understand my suffering?!
If one were to describe this scene, it would be utter chaos.
Luna couldn't bear to watch the tumultuous spectacle.
"Shut up! It's deafening!" Furina snapped.
"You all claim to honor the Troupe Leader, but this is just a pathetic display of emotional venting, isn't it?"
"She took you in, helped you, and supported you... What should be remembered isn't your feelings for her, but her affection for you, her 'younger siblings,' and her dedication to the Troupe."
"If we're going to put on one last play, let's do it properly!"
Her words jolted them awake.
Pauleau and Vilmant exchanged glances and fell silent.
The ending they had envisioned for the story was nothing more than their own wishful thinking.
Returning to the origin, since the story's protagonist was based on Aurelie, they should focus on Aurelie herself.
Among the relics from the Serial Disappearance Case was a notebook she had left behind.
Inside, she had meticulously documented Vacher's criminal activities, including the truth behind the girls' dissolving—clearly intended to aid future investigators and prevent such tragedies from recurring.
Quietly awaiting death...
The handwriting was shaky and faint, conveying her loneliness and anguish at the time.
The "hero" who had sustained the entire Troupe was, after all, just an ordinary person.
The final page contained a familiar line of dialogue:
Becoming human means concealing secrets, enduring suffering, and facing solitude. Even so, would you still choose it?
Beneath, Aurelie had written: Because I am their sister.
When the Troupe members read this notebook, they fell into a profound silence, their eyes brimming with tears, their jaws clenched tight.
After calming down, they finally reached a consensus.
"We've decided. This will be the ending of 'Little Oceanid.'"
"We must convey this story to as many people as possible..."
Furina smiled. "That's more like it! I have no doubt you'll give a magnificent performance. And to match Aurelie's story and your resolve, we must prepare a perfect stage!"
"It must be grand."
"It must be dazzling."
"—Besides the Opera Epiclese, I can't think of anywhere else."
There was also Luna's Golden Theatre.
But who would dare attend a performance there? The mere sight of it would deter any audience.
Furina's radiant expression made Luna realize: She truly still cares about the world of the stage.
She wants to stay in the world beneath the stage, but she still looks up at the lights.
Not out of duty or responsibility, nor any sense of mission.
She was simply born to be the protagonist of the stage.
"Focalors?"
Furina tipped her hat in acknowledgment.
"Just one dessert and I'll reserve it for you."
"You still want more?!"
Focalors grinned. "Of course! The desserts are simply divine."
"Then we'll deduct it from Furina's dessert allowance tonight," Luna said with a smile.
"Hey! Why are you docking my share?"
Lumine nodded. "Then Paimon will treat us."
"Huh?"
Paimon's expression changed instantly.
-
The incident finally came to a close, but Luna never expected things to turn out this way.
Due to the troupe's shortage of actors, she landed a major role.
Of course, the performance fee would be deducted from Paimon's food budget.
Just kidding—she had no intention of taking Paimon's food money.
But after hearing the troupe's story, even the Buddha himself would shed tears of emotion.
Luna was equally moved and decided to treat it as a charity performance.
"See you next time, Furina."
Focalors gave a slight wave.
"Mm..." Furina waved back.
Making friends with someone who looked exactly like her was a truly bizarre feeling.
"...You won't mistake us, will you?" Furina suddenly asked.
Mistake them? How could she?
"Why do you ask?" Luna inquired, curious.
"After all, our faces and bodies are identical."
If Focalors also wore her clothes, would Luna still be able to tell them apart?
"Maybe I would get confused," Luna teased with a smile.
"Really?"
"Maybe."
She's just teasing. Furina puffed out her cheeks.
That joke isn't funny at all.
It was nighttime in Fontaine, and the streets were brightly lit, with many people out for an evening stroll.
"Ah... I just remembered something," Furina suddenly said.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
Furina stammered, "Uh, it's nothing big! But, could you... wait here for me?"
With that, she released Luna's hand.
"I'll be right back! And don't you dare follow me!"
Leaving those words behind, she dashed off down the street, her feather-like dress train blurring into the misty lamplight until it disappeared.
Luna was tempted to follow and see what Furina was up to, but since Furina had emphasized it so strongly, she suppressed the urge.
She took out a gift box.
"Maybe we had the same idea after all."
Luna opened the box, glanced at the gift inside, smiled softly, and closed it again, leaning against the wall.
"One second, two seconds, three seconds..."
She began counting casually.
By the time she reached one hundred and fifty seconds, Furina came sprinting back, panting heavily.
"Phew... Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Mm-hmm."
Furina was slightly surprised. Aren't you going to ask what I was doing?
"Aren't you going to ask what I was doing?"
"Do you want me to?"
No.
Furina responded with an awkward silence, discreetly slipping the gift box into her small bag—thankfully, she'd brought it along.
Inside was a custom-made gift she'd commissioned, but revealing it now would be too abrupt. Simply handing it over would be far too unromantic. They needed the right atmosphere, after all.
"Furina, are you asking me out on a date?" Luna asked with a smile.
"Is that not allowed?"
"Of course it is."
Furina turned her palm upward and offered her hand, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Then... leave the plans for tonight to me! You've always taken the lead before."
Today, it was her turn to be proactive!
"If that's the case, I'll just stop thinking then?"
"Don't stop thinking entirely... maybe just let your mind go blank?" Furina retorted.
"When my mind goes blank, who knows what I might do?"
"Then definitely don't let it go blank!"
Just don't do anything weird!
Luna smiled and placed her hand in Furina's palm, gently gripping it. With a light tug, Furina drew Luna closer, bringing her right in front.
"So, what's the plan, my dashing Lady Furina?"