Chapter 6: Games
"Ugh…"
Furina, looking threatening yet lacking any real authority, watched Liu Yuan's hand with a nervous expression.
Her fingers twitched as Liu Yuan's hand moved between the two poker cards, choosing left or right.
One was a blank card with nothing on it, and the other was the Queen of Hearts!
Now, this game of Old Maid had reached its most tense moment! Furina had two cards left in her hand, while Liu Yuan only had one.
The key to victory depended entirely on whether Liu Yuan would draw that blank card.
Furina held her breath, trying to keep her expression neutral. But when she saw Liu Yuan's hand hovering above the blank card, a surge of victorious joy involuntarily welled up inside her.
No! Calm down, Furina! Don't celebrate yet! Victory isn't yours until the very last card! Don't expose yourself!
A hand covered in Hydro power slowly descended, touching the blank card. Just as Furina thought the game was won, Liu Yuan's finger slid at the last second — accurately drawing out the Queen of Hearts and placing it into her own hand.
"Ah… I won."
Two poker cards floated into the air, lifted by Hydro, and were revealed — the Queen of Hearts and the Queen of Diamonds.
All pairs complete. The only card left was the blank one in Furina's hand.
"Wuwu…"
Furina let out a pitiful whimper.
Lost again…
Bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard!
Can't you let me win just once?! You damn spirit!
There weren't many forms of entertainment in Furina's room. After all, as a "god," she had little time for childish games. Theater was far more elegant, far more fitting for her "divine" status.
After rummaging through a pile of gifts from the citizens of Fontaine, she finally found a collector's edition deck of cards. Without hesitation, she dragged Liu Yuan into her first gaming session and then… was utterly defeated.
Again.
And again.
But Furina was not convinced!
It had been centuries since she last played, sure, but still — she knew the rules! Meanwhile, Liu Yuan had never touched cards before. She learned the rules on the spot!
Their starting points were clearly the same, so why couldn't Furina win even once?!
Hmph! So unfair! Super unfair!
Furina slumped against her pillow, cheeks puffed, looking thoroughly disgruntled.
But such subtle expressions were still far too difficult for Liu Yuan to interpret. After all, she probably didn't even know what "emotions" were.
"Why are you always so lucky!" Furina groaned, weakly kicking at her blanket.
"It's not luck…" Liu Yuan replied softly.
"Every time you get nervous, your color changes a little. It's very obvious."
"…Color?"
"Mm. When you're nervous, your color darkens to blue. When you're happy, it brightens to gold. Usually, at the Opera House, it's darker. In this room, it's brighter… occasionally very dark. Oh, and when you're under the covers or in the bathroom, it's also different—"
"Stop!"
Liu Yuan paused, tilting her head slightly at Furina's sudden outburst, not understanding what she'd done wrong.
"You… you can see into people's hearts?!"
"It should be… emotions, right? Yes. I can see them."
She wouldn't lie to Furina. From Liu Yuan's perspective, everyone had a constantly shifting color behind them — sometimes bright, sometimes dark, changing every moment.
At first, she didn't know what the colors meant. But after reading more books and observing Furina day after day, she gradually concluded, those colors represented emotions, with brightness and darkness showing intensity.
Furina's small face froze in shock. How could her spirit be so powerful?! Not only could she use Hydro, she could even see through emotions?!
Compared to that…
Furina hugged her pillow tightly, feeling suddenly inadequate.
"…I'm sorry."
Liu Yuan's quiet apology pulled her gaze up.
"You're apologizing again…"
"But you're in a bad mood right now. The book says, when a girl is unhappy, you should do this."
Her voice was serious, earnest.
"You—! Wait… what kind of book says that?!"
Blinking, Liu Yuan hooked her finger. A book floated down from the shelf, guided by Hydro, and landed in Furina's hands.
Her eyes fell on the title: One Hundred Small Ways to Make a Girl Happy.
And in fine print at the bottom corner: One Hundred Tricks to Capture a Girl's Heart.
Furina's cheeks flared red instantly. She instinctively backed away, hugging the pillow to her chest, leaving only her heterochromatic eyes peeking out.
Liu… Liu Yuan, what on earth have you been reading?! Why is this kind of book even on my shelf?!
But when she looked at Liu Yuan's impossibly pure eyes, her outrage faltered. Somehow, it felt like the problem wasn't with Liu Yuan… but with herself.
This spirit was so simple, so easy to fool. Clearly, the fault lay in the book! Yes, it must be the book's fault!
Comforting herself with that flimsy excuse, Furina calmed down a little. But the heat burning across her face refused to fade.
Damn it, why is my face so hot?! What a ridiculous, blushing Furina!
Meanwhile, Liu Yuan stared at Furina in confusion. Watching the girl's colors flicker chaotically, she suddenly wondered if her ability was malfunctioning.
"Furina?" she asked softly.
"Ah… Ah?! I'm fine! I'm fine!"
Furina tried to cover it up, but she didn't know how.
Perhaps she was too relaxed around Liu Yuan — so much so that she forgot how to act, how to wear her mask as the "Hydro Archon."
And in that moment, in front of Liu Yuan, she wasn't a god at all.
She was simply a flustered girl.
A uniquely flustered girl.
And perhaps… that was what made her feel alive.