Chapter III: Omnipresence Over Mortals

Lore & Background

Fontaine stands as a nation built upon the ideal of justice, where law reigns supreme over all other considerations. However, beneath its gleaming surface lies a dark secret: a prophecy decreed by the Heavenly Principles stating that Fontaine would be swallowed by water if its people were not judged guilty. To survive, the Hydro Archon Focalors devised a plan requiring immense sacrifice. For five hundred years, her human counterpart Furina maintained the facade of being the ruling Archon, bearing the psychological weight of this deception alone. She had to act as a tyrant and a god while secretly preparing for the day she would be judged innocent in court—a condition required to break the cycle without destroying the nation's people. The lore reveals that Hydro vision bearers were inadvertently linked to the Primordial Sea, making them targets of destruction. The resolution involved erasing this connection through divine power, severing the link between the Archon and the sea itself.

In Their Own Story

The spotlight hits the stage, blindingly bright against the velvet darkness of the theater. Furina stands alone, her breath visible in the cool air, though no one else can see it. The applause from the empty seats echoes like distant thunder. She adjusts her gloves, feeling the weight of the crown that does not sit upon her head but presses against her mind. Tonight is the final performance, and she knows the curtain must fall soon. There are no more scripts to memorize, only the truth waiting in silence.

Reader's Guide

The journey begins with the Traveler arriving in Fontaine amidst rumors of a prophecy predicting the nation's destruction by water. Initial investigations reveal discrepancies between public records and hidden truths regarding the Hydro Archon's authority and the nature of justice within the courts. As clues surface involving the Abyss Order and ancient history, the narrative shifts to the Court of Fontaine, where a trial determines the fate of the land itself. The Traveler finds themselves at the center of legal proceedings alongside key figures like Neuvillette and Clorinde, uncovering layers of deception woven over centuries. During this pivotal confrontation, the illusion maintained for generations shatters, revealing that Furina was never the true Archon but a human vessel protecting the secret of Focalors' plan to save her people from divine judgment. To counter the Heavenly Principles' decree, the original Hydro Archon sacrificed her divine power to erase the Primordial Sea's influence from all Hydro vision bearers within Fontaine. This act breaks the prophecy's curse without destroying the nation or its citizens. The story concludes with Neuvillette assuming his rightful place as the new Hydro Archon, tasked with guiding a nation now free from its destined doom. Through sacrifice and deception, justice was served not by law alone, but by profound love for one's people. The Traveler departs having witnessed how mortality can triumph over divine decree when united by purpose.

Did You Know?

• Furina lived as a human pretending to be an Archon for five hundred years to save her nation.
• Neuvillette is the dragon of wisdom and former secretary who became the new Hydro Archon.
• The Primordial Sea was the source of Hydro vision bearers' power before Focalors' sacrifice.
• Clorinde served as the Duelist who challenged the Traveler during the final trial.