[The Knave: That's just how it is. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. If Furina were just an ordinary person, then during the disaster she wouldn't be obligated to do anything. But she is the Hydro Archon. Everyone pinned their hopes on her—every last one of them. And yet she couldn't do anything. This outcome was inevitable.]
[Sigewinne: Furina has taken on far too much blame and suspicion during this time.]
[Wriothesley: Why did Furina pretend to be the Archon? She kept up the act for five hundred years. Why didn't the real Hydro Archon expose her? Why let her continue for five centuries? This is the Nation of Water… what could possibly be hidden from the Archon of Water?]
[Venti: I've lived quietly in Mondstadt without revealing my identity, but if anyone tried to claim the title of Anemo Archon to take control of the Knights… I would expose them immediately.]
[Zhongli: My response would be similar to Venti's. So the answer is clear—Furina's impersonation was permitted by the Hydro Archon Focalors… perhaps even arranged by her.]
[Ningguang: But why would the Hydro Archon do that?]
[Focalors: Hahaha, I've been lurking in the livestream for a long time, and I didn't expect the topic to suddenly reach me. Yes—everything was arranged by me. This was the only method I could think of to save Fontaine. As for the details… the answer is coming soon. The trial is the final act of the prophecy.]
Video
Neuvillette delivered the final judgment. "Since the trial's conclusion is already clear, we shall proceed to sentencing."
"As Chief Justice, I hereby declare:
Furina, as a human, impersonated a deity and deceived the citizens of Fontaine."
"Guilty."
Hearing those words, all strength left Furina's body. She sat alone upon the divine throne, tears falling silently.
Neuvillette continued:
"Now, the final decision shall be made by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
The Oratrice activated, releasing overwhelming Hydro energy as a verdict slip shot out.
Neuvillette read it aloud:
"According to the Oratrice's ruling, I hereby sentence—"
He suddenly stopped.
Paimon: "What happened? What does it say?"
Lumine: "Don't tell me… the verdict is 'innocent'?"
Neuvillette: "No. The Oratrice also ruled 'guilty.'"
Paimon: "Then what's the problem?!"
Neuvillette: "The issue is… the verdict states:
'Hydro Archon — guilty.'
'Penalty — death.'"
[Paimon: No way—DEATH?!]
[Wriothesley: Death penalty? Fontaine has never had such a punishment!]
[Neuvillette: I was also shocked. I didn't think Fontaine ever had a death sentence.]
[Ningguang: Did anyone notice… the verdict says 'Hydro Archon — death,' not 'Furina — death.' But Furina is not actually the Hydro Archon, is she?]
[Neuvillette: Correct. It seems this matter hides an even deeper truth—one involving the gods. And only one person can answer it.]
[Focalors: That's right, Neuvillette. I've kept this secret alone for five hundred years. But… I'm not ready to tell you yet.]
[Neuvillette: …]
The audience was stunned into silence.
"D-d-death penalty?!"
"Death penalty is real?! I thought it was only a legend!"
"And the only recorded death sentence in history… is for the one we all thought was the Hydro Archon… this is unbelievable!"
Paimon was horrified:
"The Oratrice really sentenced Furina to death?! We only wanted to scare her into confessing! How did this become death?!"
Neuvillette fell into deep thought.
"This verdict is indeed strange. Even based on Fontaine's definitions of justice, does Furina's offense truly warrant death?"
Paimon: "Exactly! Even Vacher—the culprit behind the missing-girls case—wasn't sentenced to death!"
Lumine noticed a key flaw:
"What's even weirder… the verdict names 'the Hydro Archon,' not Furina."
Neuvillette's eyes narrowed:
"Indeed. Furina's crime does not merit such a sentence. And this trial has already proven she is not the Hydro Archon."
"Yet the Oratrice intentionally used 'Hydro Archon' in the verdict… What could that mean?"
[Arataki Itto: AAAAAHHH the suspense is killing me! What's the big secret already?!]
[Keqing: I want to know too.]
[Ningguang: Same.]
[Venti: This gossip goes great with wine.]
[Furina: I ALSO want to know.]
[Focalors: I ALSO want to know.]
[Neuvillette: ???]
Just as confusion peaked, a breakthrough arrived.
Freminet rushed into the courtroom carrying a stone tablet.
"Father asked me to search underwater for this. I looked for a very, very long time, but I finally found it!"
"Wait—has the trial ended already? Am I too late? Father's going to be disappointed…"
Lumine: "No, you're not late. The mystery hasn't been solved yet."
Neuvillette approached.
"You've done well, Monsieur Freminet. Allow me to examine the tablet."
Lumine and Paimon also leaned in, interpreting the carved symbols.
"It looks like… the Hydro Archon used their power to turn pure Hydro mimics into humans?"
Neuvillette studied it carefully.
"I believe I finally understand the nature of the Hydro Archon's true sin. It concerns a piece of Fontaine's lost history…"
Paimon: "The Hydro Archon's sin… isn't it just deceiving the people—wait, no, that would be Furina deceiving people… right?"
Neuvillette turned to Lumine.
"In truth, the contents of this tablet are closely tied to everything you've experienced in Fontaine. You must have noticed it."
"With Paimon's help," Lumine recalled the clues:
"The first tablet shows the former Hydro Archon turning Hydro mimics into humans. Meaning, the people of Fontaine… were once pure-water beings. And this process might be reversible."
"The second tablet shows Celestia floating above, while the Hydro Archon and her people kneel beneath it. It seems Celestia delivered punishment… Is this when the original sin was imposed upon the Archon and the people? Are the Hydro Archon's 'sin' and Fontaine's 'original sin'… the same thing?"
"The third tablet shows the Hydro Archon sinking into the sea, surrounded by people. That reminds me of when Navia fell into the water…"
"And the fourth tablet is the prophecy passed down through Fontaine—the people dissolving, the Archon crying upon the throne. At first, we didn't know if the apocalypse would really come, but after everything in the Fortress of Meropide… we realized the disaster was inevitable…"