Dealing with the Traitor
[Ding~ Congratulations, Master, on eliminating the Fatui mole planted beside Furina. Reward received: 20,000 Guardian Points.]
[Ding~ Congratulations, Master, on successfully eradicating the Fatui intelligence operation "House of the Hearth" within Fontaine and expelling all Fatui military forces from Fontaine territory, greatly contributing to Fontaine's peace, stability, and national security.]
[Congratulations, Master, on receiving a reward of 200,000 Guardian Points.]
[Ding~ Due to this incident, Fontaine's citizens are more unified than ever, and Furina's influence and reverence have soared. Congratulations, Master, on receiving 120,000 Guardian Points!]
[Ding! Current Guardian Points have reached the requirements to unlock the fifth-stage reward. Congratulations, Master, on receiving the reward—(Advanced Water Elemental Affinity)!]
[Ding! Current Guardian Points have reached the requirements to unlock the sixth-stage reward. Congratulations, Master, on receiving the reward—(Pure Water Creation)!]
[Ding! Current Guardian Points have reached the requirements to unlock the seventh-stage reward. Congratulations, Master, on receiving the reward—(Archon's Divine Body)!]
A series of notifications sounded in succession. Before Felina could review them all, an enormous surge of Hydro power gathered from all directions toward the Palais Mermonia in wave-like torrents!
On this day, the Court of Fontaine was enveloped by a massive tide of visible water element energy. The entire city shimmered in gentle, aquatic blue radiance.
In his office, sensing the fierce disturbance in Hydro Energy, Neuvillette stood up in shock, staring in the direction of Furina's quarters.
At the Opera Epiclese, even the Oratrice trembled; within it, it seemed Focalors, hidden inside, was equally stunned.
That day, countless citizens of Fontaine lifted their heads, casting their gazes toward Palais Mermonia.
At the center of the elemental surge, a massive blue pillar of light shot into the sky, releasing an overwhelming aura from within the palace!
The vast water elemental energy resonated fiercely, celebrating the birth of the Hydro Archon and gathering in reverent worship.
With Felina's awakening to the Divine Body, an Archon's majesty radiated outward, yet the citizens felt no fear. For as Felina gained the Divine Body, her Divine Spirit Status fused with the Archon's essence, making her aura exude an unexpected warmth and sense of protection for the people of Fontaine.
This aura, so uniquely comforting and familiar, symbolized the profound connection between a god and the believers in her care.
The phenomenon of converging Hydro Energy subsided swiftly, and as Furina's transformation to a Divine Body completed, the Archon's energy quickly receded. The display left no unrest—if anything, the people simply felt pride and happiness, interpreting it as their own Archon revealing her power.
"Is this… the body of an Archon?"
Felina could feel an indescribable force coursing through her body, brimming with vitality. She sensed that with her sheer physical strength alone, she could crush a mountain into rubble.
Yet, she remained composed, not letting the surge of power overwhelm her.
"Becoming stronger is wonderful; this way, I can protect Furina even better."
"Plus, now that our bodies have transformed into that of an Archon, Furina and I have become true immortals. Even when the prophecy concludes and Furina's curse lifts, she won't have to age and pass as ordinary people do."
"Wonderful!"
She smiled. Ever since arriving in this world, she had only three wishes:
To ensure Furina's happiness.
To prevent Focalors from making any sacrifices.
To ensure that after her curse is lifted, Furina will not succumb to mortality like an ordinary human.
And now, Furina was happier than ever, and with the transformation into the Archon's Divine Body, her longevity was secured. With two out of her three wishes fulfilled, Felina was genuinely content.
After reveling in her joy for a moment, Felina shifted her focus to examine her other two rewards.
Advanced Water Elemental Affinity: An advanced version of elemental affinity with water, greatly enhances the user's harmony with water elements. Not only can the user wield water elemental power without the aid of a Vision, but the user can now draw and wield water elemental forces more effectively and rapidly in battle.
Pure Water Creation: Water, the origin of life. With this power, you can now create beings of Pure Water (Oceanids) with life and consciousness!
After reviewing the explanations, Felina quickly understood their applications.
Pure Water Creation was akin to a predecessor Hydro Archon, Egeria's, power to create Oceanids.
Now, with Pure Water Creation, Felina could grant water a sense of intelligence and life, thereby gaining loyal Oceanid followers.
The Archon's Divine Body increased her physical resilience, while the Advanced Water Elemental Affinity enhanced her Hydro manipulation. Together, these attributes would allow her to fully wield the power of an Archon in combat.
Adding in Pure Water Creation, which likely fell under the Archon's unique domain, Felina was now, without a doubt, the true Hydro Archon!
In the room, Felina gently extended her hand. With a single thought, she activated the Pure Water Creation ability, causing water elemental energy to coalesce and form a humanoid body in a translucent, watery blue.
Looking at the body before her, she knew that if she wished, she could now leave Furina's body and transfer her consciousness into this Pure Water form she had created.
And by doing so, she would gain a body that was truly her own, free from Furina's.
She looked at the body she had just created, paused in silence for two seconds, and then waved her hand dismissively. In response, the water body dispersed, returning to the world as pure water elemental energy.
The act had only been a test of Pure Water Creation's power. She had never truly considered leaving Furina to claim a body of her own.
Because she couldn't, and she didn't want to.
She couldn't because Furina was the official Hydro Archon of Fontaine. If she had her own body, she would lose the ability to help govern Fontaine by leveraging Furina's divine identity. Even if she created a body identical to Furina's, it wouldn't work; Fontaine's collective faith was directed toward Furina alone.
Once she left Furina's body, she could no longer compete with Focalors for the divine mantle of the Hydro Archon, regardless of her own divine status.
So, Felina's consciousness could not leave Furina's body because she needed divine authority and faith to better support Furina in Fontaine's increasingly turbulent situation.
As for why she didn't want to leave—well, that was because the system belonged to her, Felina.
She was the system's true master; this system served her and her alone.
Water Elemental Affinity, Arkhe Energy Control, Divine Persona, Pure Water Creation, Archon's Divine Body…
All of these powers bestowed by the system belonged solely to Felina, not to Furina.
This meant that if Felina's consciousness left Furina's body and took up a new vessel, all the powers granted by the system would transfer to her new body.
In other words, if Felina left, Furina would revert to being an ordinary girl, no longer immortal. Once the curse lifted, Furina would age and die as any human would.
These were the reasons Felina's consciousness would not and could not leave Furina's body.
Besides, as she'd said before, she genuinely liked staying in Furina's body.
That way, she could be by her side all the time—and even occasionally give her a playful squeeze.
Having reviewed the system's rewards, Felina now turned her attention to the traitor's punishment.
Noon
Inside Felina's office, she sat comfortably on a sofa, while a maid stood in front of her.
Yes, this maid was the mole the Fatui had planted beside Furina.
"Aishi, how many years have you served me?"
Leaning back with her legs crossed, Felina watched the maid with a calm gaze. Though her demeanor was serene, she radiated an invisible pressure.
Having read the official announcement regarding the Fatui, Aishi now understood the gravity of the situation.
She was an ordinary citizen from the lower rungs of Fontaine, entirely unaware of the lengths to which the Fatui would go to obtain a Gnosis. She didn't even fully grasp what a Gnosis was.
So, even though she had heard that the Gnosis was to be used to calm the Primordial Sea, she had still passed that information along to the House of the Hearth.
As a common person, she could hardly comprehend matters of state. She assumed that even if they knew, her contacts wouldn't act on it.
In her mind, it was like telling a local gang in her village that a nuclear missile convoy would pass through a nearby highway tonight.
She never imagined that the small gang was actually an espionage branch of an enemy state, nor that they would dare to rob a nuclear weapons convoy.
She had thought that, as usual, they would do nothing, and nothing would come of it.
Only after reading today's announcement did she finally realize the scale of her blunder.
Now, forced to respond to Felina, she fought back her fear and replied, "Lady Furina, you took me in when I was twelve. I've served you now for twelve years."
"Twelve years… how time flies…"
Furina gestured invitingly. "Come, sit beside me."
At these words, Aishi stiffened, her expression filling with alarm.
She took two steps back, bowing her head, and responded with fear, "Lady Furina, you are a god, and I am a mere servant. This is inappropriate; I dare not."
Felina chuckled. "Don't be afraid. There's no one else here. Formalities aren't necessary."
Then, her tone took on an edge of command. "I told you to sit, so sit."
Already guilt-ridden, Aishi heard this harsh tone as a heavy blow. Her body shook, and she instantly obeyed, sitting beside Felina.
Seeing this, Felina's expression softened into a smile.
Then, as if something had suddenly come to mind, she remarked, "Oh, right. I remember you said you liked jasmine tea?"
"It just so happens that I have a pot brewed."
Saying this, Felina poured her a cup and motioned for her to drink.
Aishi took the cup, only for Felina to suddenly speak again, her tone carrying a mixture of sentiment and regret.
"Twelve years… It's been twelve years that we've been mistress and servant, Aishi. I had hoped this bond could end well. But alas, some things just don't turn out as one wishes."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven