"Really!?"
Furina was so agitated that he slammed the table and stood up.
"Then, what about me? Do you...understand that too?"
Furina's voice sounded a little shaky, as he nervously awaited Lin Qiu's answer.
His heart pounded, and even his hands trembled, fearing a negative response.
Under Furina's gaze, Lin Qiu nodded, his tone steady and firm.
"I understand it very well."
"So, in front of me, you don't have to pretend anymore."
Lin Qiu only said there was no need to pretend, but he didn't explicitly use the phrase "acting as the Hydro Archon."
It was better for everyone to understand such things implicitly rather than stating them openly; it wasn't the right time yet.
Furina's heart relaxed, and he quickly pressed on.
"You know I'm not..." Furina suddenly paused.
The vigilance from playing the role of a god for so long made him close his mouth before fully speaking.
He was still unwilling to reveal this secret to others.
He was afraid, afraid that it would destroy Fontaine.
Even if Lin Qiu truly knew his secret, he still dared not speak it.
With all of Fontaine at stake, Furina dared not gamble.
Coincidentally, this was also what Lin Qiu wanted; not speaking of such things was a good thing.
What he wanted to do was ensure Furina wouldn't be lonely.
To achieve this, he didn't need to reveal his secret of acting as the Hydro Archon.
"I know. These five hundred years must have been very long for you, right? You've worked hard, Furina."
Lin Qiu's words made Furina freeze in place.
A tremor ran through Furina's heart. Yes, it had been five hundred years.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to speak at all.
What was happening? His lips seemed to be trembling? His eyes seemed a little moist?
His nose felt so sore, his heart ached so much... I thought I could no longer feel these emotions...
Long? It was truly so long...
Every day, every moment, I played the role of a god, a god who could bring peace of mind to the people of Fontaine.
Bearing loneliness and solitude alone, unable to confide the pain and struggles in my heart to anyone.
Even the people I knew were leaving one by one.
Sometimes I truly wish I could too... But I must never die.
Lonely? It was truly so lonely...
I am just an ordinary person; I don't have the power of a god, and I can't even use elemental power.
I can't truly make them feel at ease! I can't respond to their expectations!
I can't even tell anyone...
I smile and assure them, telling them not to worry.
But I can't solve the prophecy, nor can I solve the mystery.
I can only place my hope in 'the me in the mirror.'
I can only abide by our agreement.
Even after one hundred years, two hundred years, five hundred years...
Even if I am no longer sure whether the experiences at that time were real or fake.
As long as it could save the people of Fontaine, I persevered.
No matter how long... no matter how lonely... I have... I have...
Furina's lips trembled unconsciously.
Tears silently streamed down his delicate face.
Furina quickly wiped away the tears, his fingers still feeling the warmth of the tears through his gloves.
No, I cannot cry, because gods do not cry!
After wiping away his tears, Furina opened his eyes and froze.
Before him, a rainbow appeared, the same rainbow as before.
The word 'Water' was written on the rainbow: 'You did very well, Furina; you saved Fontaine.'
It was you after all. At this moment, Furina could no longer control his emotions.
Furina realized that Lin Qiu was the only one who could understand him.
In front of him, it was okay not to pretend to be a god, right?
He could finally let go of his disguise and be a truly ordinary person.
If he was an ordinary person, it was okay to cry loudly, right?
"W-w-wahhhh!"
"I...I did it, right?"
"I kept my promise, Fontaine can be saved, right?"
Furina asked, choked with sobs.
Lin Qiu walked to Furina's side, gazing at him, his eyes filled with understanding and tenderness.
He gently stroked Furina's head and softly said, "Yes, you did it."
"Your existence is the hope of Fontaine."
"Your perseverance and efforts became the miracle that saved Fontaine."
Hearing Lin Qiu's affirmative reply, Furina felt all his strength drain away.
He slumped into the chair, tears still flowing uncontrollably.
He covered his eyes with both hands, lowering his head, seemingly not wanting Lin Qiu to see his reddened eyes from crying.
"That's great, I did it... Fontaine is saved!"
'Emotion Value Gained: 100'
'Emotion Source: Furina'
'Emotion Content: That's great, Fontaine is saved!'
Lin Qiu's heart ached. Even now, what Furina cared about most was still not himself, but Fontaine.
He didn't ask when he would be liberated, but rather if Fontaine could be saved.
He didn't lament his own liberation but rejoiced that Fontaine could be rescued.
How could such a person not evoke sympathy?
"Not just Fontaine, 'you' will be saved too," Lin Qiu murmured softly.
Perhaps Furina wouldn't be the only one crying today, because Lin Qiu's new book, "love and teyvat," had released its latest scene.
'Chapter of the Songstress: If You Are Trapped in a Windless Land' had already gone on sale, which was Lin Qiu's third move.
However, none of this mattered to Lin Qiu right now; his main priority was to comfort Furina.
After some soothing, Furina stopped crying.
But his small hands, covering his eyes, not only didn't move away but covered his entire face.
How embarrassing! How could I cry like this in front of him!
What should I do? He was just comforting me, wouldn't it be bad to send him away now?
But if I don't send him away, I can't face him right now!
Just as Furina was still struggling with what to do, Lin Qiu took the initiative.
Lin Qiu smiled and brought the small cake to Furina's face.
"If you cover your face, you won't have a mouth to eat, and it would be such a waste not to eat it. So, I'll eat it, okay?"
"..." Furina became even more conflicted.
Two inner battles raged in his little head: shame or dessert?
Finally, Furina took his small hands away, lowering his head, his wave-like bangs covering his eyes, his small face flushed, not looking at Lin Qiu.
He didn't know if it was from shyness or from having just cried.
Taking the small cake from Lin Qiu's mischievous hand, Furina felt as if he was being manipulated.
He pouted a little, somewhat displeased. I'm someone who has lived for five hundred years, how could you manipulate me!
But when he looked up and saw Lin Qiu's gentle gaze fixed on him, he deflated. Never mind, I won't bother with it.
Speaking of which, I've been eating, but he's just watching. Is this not good?
"You eat too." Furina picked up a piece of fishy chanson and offered it to Lin Qiu's mouth.
To be honest, this time the fishy chanson tasted really good, it was just that the last impression was too deep.
It felt like if this continued, he would get used to this taste...
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Character Voice Line · Furina: About Lin Qiu · Part 1
"Before I broke free from my shackles, he was the only one I could confide in.
At that time, I felt as if I had fallen into the deep sea, without a trace of light; I couldn't even feel my own existence.
It was he who extended his hand to me, curled up at the bottom of the sea."