Neuvillette stood with his back to the group of four. Hearing Paimon's exclamation, he turned around.
"After finishing my business at Palais Mermonia, I came to Poisson. When I arrived, I found the Fatui had been assisting the residents in building temporary shelters and delivering massive amounts of supplies."
"Surprised, I struck up a conversation with The Knave, who happened to be present. She informed me that she had invited you here to investigate these ancient ruins."
Paimon: "So that's what happened! Then, Neuvillette, would you like to join us?"
Neuvillette: "Yes, please allow me to accompany you."
Paimon: "Yay! Another member! Let's get going!"
With Neuvillette's addition, the group encountered no further dangers.
After some time, they reached the deepest part of the ruins.
Paimon: "Looks like we've reached the end..."
Neuvillette: "Indeed. There appear to be no other hidden spaces nearby."
Navia: "It's more winding than I expected, but not as large as I thought."
Chu Xi: "There seems to be a mural ahead."
The five approached the wall.
"Slates? They look like they were once enshrined here... Can we take them down to examine them?"
Navia cautioned, "Better not touch anything yet."
Paimon: "There are four slots, but only three slates. The slate that should be in the first slot is missing."
Neuvillette: "The surrounding walls are also damaged."
Paimon noticed something and walked over to examine it. It seemed to be a line of text:
"This is a nation destined to perish. I will record its future history in the past."
What does that mean?
Navia: "It feels like someone deliberately left this Slate and inscription here. But if that's the case, does it mean they believe Fontaine deserves to be destroyed?"
Neuvillette: "That aligns with the Prophecy. The words on the Slate indeed correspond to its content. Take this second panel, for example."
Based on the group's analysis, the second Slate depicted the First Hydro Archon kneeling before Celestia with her people.
The third Slate showed Furina falling into the water, surrounded by a crowd.
The fourth Slate showed Furina sitting alone on the Throne, weeping—a perfect match for Fontaine's Prophecy: all Fontainians would dissolve into the water, leaving only the Hydro Archon to weep alone on her throne.
Yet something felt off. If the four Slates were arranged chronologically, the fourth Slate—the submergence of Fontaine—should precede the third, where the Hydro Archon herself is engulfed by the flood.
The Slate order here seemed to be reversed.
Furthermore, the second Slate also raised questions. What sin was the First Hydro Archon confessing to in that panel?
Neuvillette believed the key to this mystery lay with Furina. Yesterday, he had sent Clorinde to find and comfort her, but Furina had remained secluded in her chambers.
With no further clues to be found in the ruins, the group prepared to leave.
After emerging from the ruins, Navia announced her intention to return to the Poisson Temporary Camp to check on things before heading to Fleuve Cendre for a temporary rest.
Neuvillette, meanwhile, planned to question Furina about the Slate tomorrow morning. Knowing Lumine would also be concerned about this matter, he suggested that if she had time, she could come to his office to hear the results of his conversation with Furina.
Paimon: "Do you really think we should confront Furina directly about this? She's acting so strangely, and... I hope this won't backfire. Even at this point, I'm starting to feel scared."
Neuvillette: "She has always guarded her secrets closely and won't yield easily. That's precisely why I must fulfill my duty and make her understand the gravity of the situation."
"We don't have much time left. If the sea continues to rise at its current rate, Fontaine will soon be submerged. When that happens..."
If there were any other way, Neuvillette wouldn't want to force Furina's hand...
Paimon: "Yeah, we're counting on you, Neuvillette! You're the only one who can truly get through to her."
Neuvillette: "Tonight, I will carefully consider how best to approach her."
-
It was still early, so Lumine, Paimon, and Chu Xi decided to head to Fleuve Cendre first.
There, they unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance.
"Mona?!"
Lumine: "How come you didn't foresee us being here?"
Mona: "Honestly, who uses the stars to predict who they'll run into on the road?"
Paimon: "Mona actually showing up in Fontaine... So you really are from Fontaine?"
Mona: "I came to Fontaine for some business and booked a hotel in the city. I just came out for a stroll today and never expected to run into you two. Hmm, aren't you going to introduce me?"
"Oh, right! I almost forgot. This is Chu Xi, a friend we met in Liyue."
"A friend from Liyue?" Mona circled Chu Xi, studying her intently. "A mechanical being? Liyue has... uh... people like this?"
Paimon scratched her head. "Well, Chu Xi used to be human, but after an accident, she ended up like this."
Mona nodded and tapped Chu Xi's shoulder lightly.
"Strange... why do you give me such a vague feeling...?"
Mona took out her Hydromancy compass and began a divination.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, eager to know the results of Mona's divination.
Like them, Chu Xi was also very curious about the result.
Soon, Mona stared at Chu Xi in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"What is it, Mona? What does Chu Xi's fate look like?"
Mona: "Strange... I can't see it clearly at all. Could it be because she's become a mechanical being? But even that shouldn't obscure her fate so completely."
Mona circled Chu Xi again, scrutinizing her before finally sighing and abandoning the divination attempt.
As expected, my intuition can't penetrate her future.
Mona: "Paimon, why did you think I was from Fontaine? Was it because 'Megistus' doesn't sound like a Mondstadt surname?"
"Exactly!"
Mona: "Ah, that... I used to have my own surname, but... no, that's just stating the obvious. Anyway, after the Old Hag took me in as her apprentice, she insisted that the first step to becoming a great astrologer was to adopt this surname."
"I couldn't argue with her. The Old Hag is truly skilled in astrology, so I had to change my name to meet her requirements. But I never imagined that Megistus wouldn't represent some ancient family."
"Although the Old Hag and I use Megistus as a substitute for a surname, it's generally interpreted as 'the Great'."
Paimon wiggled her little fingers. "Putting self-praise in your name... will it even go into your family tree?"
Mona shrugged. "Probably. If I ever take on disciples, I'll name them the same way."
Lumine: "May I ask what your master's name is?"
"Astromancer Barbeloth Trismegistus," Mona said.
"Whoa... that's long. Is it also 'The Great'?"
"The true meaning of my name is 'Mona, the Great Astrologist'," Mona explained. "A more literal translation of the Old Hag's name would be 'Thrice-Great Star Scholar'. Just think of it as a unique title for astrologers."