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Upon the passing of her predecessor, Egeria– also known as the god of Fontaine–Focalors couldn’t help but ponder the implications of her death. Fontaine was a nation now plummeted in grief, helplessly at the mercy of the heavens who had ordained them almost uncertain doom. The citizens wore dark robes and trudged down the tiled streets for days. The water that was once so clear and pure had now transformed into a murky gray sludge that poured throughout the streets. And it had just been a few days since Egeria’s death when once comfortable citizens now clung tightly to their possessions and sought to snatch another’s. After all, what point was there in law and order when the one who had established any of it had vanished so abruptly?
Unbeknownst to them, however, there was a new god already appointed in her stead. She had yet to announce as much to the populace, as it would likely be considered inappropriate to move on from Egeria so quickly. But she considered everything, from the nation’s justice system to the reconstruction process after the cataclysm.
And then, there was the prophecy.
Even after weeks of pondering, she still did not know how to save Fontaine from the curse Celestia had laid onto it, dictating that all would dissolve to the Primordial sea. After all, when the heavens declared something to be, it was an irreversible fate.
Not even a god could control their fate–Egeria herself had said as much. Still, she had hoped that her deceased friend’s familiars would have had a solution. So, she traveled to the lake where many of them resided, hoping that they might have an answer.
She sat at the edge of the muddy lake and whispered her wishes.
“Please, I implore you… let us work together,” she said. “You are the guardians of Fontaine, just like me. Should we not stop this crisis as one?”
She heard a loud splash. Looming over her was a figure much like her real form: an Oceanid, one of the water fairies of Fontaine. Based on the double-lined patterns of her wings and the wider fin at the bottom, this was most certainly Rhodeia.
With their faces being devoid of much besides a light in the middle and aquatic antennae at the top of their head, even Focalors could not tell how she felt from looks alone. However, knowing her, the archon had nothing to predict.
After an indignant silence, Rhodeia huffed. “Stop this crisis as one? And with what army?” she sneered. “You are no archon. You are merely an oceanid far inferior in rank to myself.”
“I understand your hesitation. Nonetheless–”
“Nonetheless, you were not chosen by anyone before you now!” Rhodeia’s voice boomed throughout the forest. “The waters are polluted. Crime is afoot in the nation of justice. And there is nothing any of us can do to stop the prophecy that spells the end of us all!”
Focalors sighed, staring into the lake. “I am well aware that there is a lot to process–”
“It appears you have not received my message,” Rhodeia said. “We do not want you, Focalors. This nation is no longer our home, we can barely breathe here. We were just leaving.”
Focalors jerked her head up. “Pardon?” she repeated. “Just– hold on just a moment. You can’t go!”
“This is no longer up to you, Focalors,” Rhodeia said. A wave of oceanids rose from the lake beside her, all in solemn silence. “You know as well as us that oceanids must go to wherever pure water flows. And this place is nothing but filth.”
One by one, they flew from the water's surface and off to the sky. It would have been a rather beautiful sight, had they not all rushed off in such contempt. Focalors kneeled in the grass, resigned and discontent.
Much to her surprise, one oceanid stayed. “Uh… I’m going too, I just felt bad for you,” she said. “Oops. I guess that’s weird to say out loud, huh!”
Focalors feigned a smile but said nothing. She ran her hands through the water and examined the mush left between her fingers. The droplets stung her skin just as well, likely because of the remnants of the cataclysm. “You should go, Idyia,” she said. “These waters must be difficult for you to live in.”
“I’m going!” she said. “I just–have you thought about the prophecy yet?”
Focalors chuckled with melancholy as she rose to her feet. “When do I not? It is Fontaine’s biggest problem. I would be remiss to do nothing about it. I just don’t know whom I can turn to.”
“Well, if Celestia started all of this, would any of us be able to do anything about it?” she said. “Egeria wasn’t enough, so even you probably can’t do anything yourself. It feels like you’d need someone who can outdo even a god. But is there anyone stronger than a god? Someone who’s not with Celestia?”
She recalled the history of Teyvat. She thought about the other archons, along with the Shades. All of them would be powerless against the Primordial waters. In truth, if she wanted to consider anyone more powerful, she would have to go back to the era of dragons.
Dragons. There was her answer. Focalors’s expression perked up. If anyone could help her solve her conundrum, it would be him. “You mean the Hydro sovereign?”
Idyia jerked back. “The Hydro Sovereign?” she cried out, taken aback. “Didn’t Celestia fight them off a long time ago? And don’t forget the part where they gave all that power to the archons, like you! I don’t think he’ll like you for that.”
Despite her protests, a scenario had already played in Focalors’s head from start to finish. She would plead for the sovereign’s forgiveness, and somehow, she would convince him to come together to save Fontaine.
She couldn’t help but pity him. After all, just like the archons who were made slaves of the heavens, the Hydro sovereign was robbed of all his power and forced into obscurity for eternity. She couldn’t help but wonder, what kind of justice was that?
“Focalors?” Idyia said. “I’m heading off now. Good luck with everything!”
She jolted in the presence of the fairy. “Oh! Apologies,” she said. “Thank you, Idyia. You were the youngest of all, as well as the kindest.”
After the last Oceanid left, Focalors was alone, but she was hardly idle. Throughout the night, she paced amongst the trees, considering where and how she could find this sovereign, wherever he might be.
She researched his whereabouts intensively. The Remurian remains mentioned that the Hydro Sovereign had indeed passed away, but that he would be reborn once Egeria was no longer deep in hibernation. It was thus safe to say that somewhere, the Hydro Sovereign was walking this Earth, waiting to avenge his entire kind.
She contemplated these implications wherever she went, from the mountains to the sea in the East. And, after many days of hard work, she saw fit to repose in some springs surrounded by weeping willows and gorgeous rays of sunlight.
She undressed and submerged herself in the lake. The water was cold and refreshing and offered a fresh start to the new day. Underneath her, the fish tickled her feet. And just above her was a weeping willow tree, shielding her from the sun’s unforgiving rays. For a moment, she wanted to rest there, taking in the gorgeous view of the nearby waterfall roaring in the background.
Unbeknownst to her, she was not alone. Focalors hardly knew where he came from, yet somehow it had happened. Just by the shore, a man with long, silver hair–and lacking clothes himself–watched her with great curiosity.
She yelped and buried herself in the water, covering herself quickly with her arms. Yet surprisingly, the man didn’t flinch, nor did he bother to find himself any coverage.
Growing redder by the moment, Focalors stumbled to the surface and quickly wrapped her clothes around herself. “A-apologies!” she called out, shielding her eyes from his body. She could only hope her appearance didn’t overwhelm him. “I must’ve taken your spot! Please, do go on. Don’t mind me.”
He said nothing but finally entered the water.
She sighed with relief in the shadows. At least he wasn’t left uncomfortable. Still, his appearance left more questions than answers. She had rarely seen any human traveling out this far from the city, and there were no towns nearby. And while the man in question had an admittedly impressive physique resembling a human, something about his aura inexplicably indicated that he was far from being one.
Humans are complicated creatures.
She could not forget the mysterious man. Secretly, she hoped they would reunite and even contemplated returning to the lake to reunite with him. After all, humans had always proved to be the most lively, unpredictable, and fascinating sort of beings– how could she stay away from someone as exciting as that?
Nonetheless, she was a god, and it would be unbecoming of someone in her station to startle someone just for her own amusement. She had trespassed in his territory, even if he had not said as much.
Perhaps he was a traveler from a distant land who had now returned to his family. But still, she couldn’t help but wonder what he came for, or why he had been watching her so intently.
As the stars appeared in the sky, she reluctantly retired from her search, and just left the forest to gaze upward.
Suddenly, she heard some leaves rustling. A tall, long shadow appeared before her amongst the trees. She vigilantly jumped on her feet and readied herself to summon her Hydro powers.
“Huh? Who’s there?” she called out. “I am warning you. If you wish to harm me, I will defend myself, however I must.”
But much to her surprise, the shadow offered itself readily. He was the man from before, stoic, calm… and still undressed. “Apologies,” he finally spoke with a deep voice. “I did not mean to startle you. I was simply curious who you were.”
She blushed profusely, though still trying to keep her composure. “Ah! I–I see,” she stammered helplessly. “B-before you continue, please do take the time to cover yourself.”
“Cover myself?” the man said. “Is there something wrong with my appearance?”
"Huh? No, of course not!" she blurted out. "This must be coming out all wrong, isn’t it? What I mean to say is... it's more appropriate for humans to dress themselves, just as I have. You do know that, don't you?"
The man stared. “Ah, is that what I am?” he said. “Very well. I do not wish to startle you anymore, so if that would make you more comfortable…”
He left and returned with a long cloth draped over his body. It looked like some tent’s cloth, but Focalors did not inquire further. She instead observed him, along with his many peculiarities.
Upon a closer investigation, she realized that he was very likely not a human. He was a pale, tall man with platinum hair that flowed to his waist. He had what appeared to be blue antennae attached to his head, and his ears were pointed at the top. And then there were those piercing, lavender eyes, except they had their peculiarities– his pupils were diamond-shaped unlike any other, with some white in the middle.
Those diamond eyes… only the vishaps in Enkanomiya had the same ones.
Upon further reflection, she recalled that the Hydro sovereign was a vishap. But he couldn’t possibly be related–the Hydro sovereign would’ve threatened her or violently cast her into the depths of the ocean by now. He wouldn’t be just wandering these grounds, cluelessly and innocently.
“Who are you, exactly?” he asked. “I have not seen anyone in these parts before.”
“I am…” she said, before stopping herself. Just in case he had ill intent, it may be best to hide her identity. “A nomad.”
He raised his eyebrows. “A nomad?” he repeated. “How interesting. Do tell me more– just what have you seen of this world?”
Focalors laughed with disbelief. “Do you truly not know?” she asked incredulously. “You are a man of nature. Surely you have seen a thing or two. I have seen much this world has to offer, from the most unforgiving deserts to the bottom of these lakes. It is also wondrous and beautiful. Surely, you have felt the same?”
The man did not react. Perhaps he hadn’t.
Focalors’s smile faded. She cleared her throat. “And what of you, Sir? What do you know of this world?”
He frowned and dipped his head. Much to her surprise, rain clouds covered a once clear sky. It began to pour. She looked at him with shock. “Ah, is it raining?” he said with a hint of irritation. “I am most sorry. It always rains when I feel this way.”
Raining with emotions… that could be the work of only one being. She stiffened. “Feel what?”
“I don’t even know what I’m feeling. I hardly know anything at all, neither about myself or this world,” he said. “I can only remember waking up just by the lake. I would like to tell you my name if I knew it, or why I am even here. But nothing comes to me.”
A dragon without memory. No wonder he wasn’t angry with her, even though he had every right to be.
Looking at him, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of pity and rage rising from within. Celestia was a radical opponent indeed, stripping its enemies of not only their power, but also their memories, their powers, and even their identities. What an injustice.
As the God of Justice, how could she overlook this horrible crime?
“Do… you know more about who I am?”
Focalors sighed. “I’m sorry, I don’t,” she said. “But if you wish to understand yourself, perhaps you need a change of scenery.”
He watched her attentively. “Please elaborate.”
“Well, why don’t you come to Fontaine?” she said.
The dragon frowned. “Fontaine? But that is another god’s land, that much I’ve heard from another. I can’t merely trespass whenever I please.”
“The god would be delighted to have you there,” she assured him.
“And what makes you so sure?”
“Because I live there,” she said. “And I can already tell that I need you there.”
He blinked several times out of utter astonishment. The raindrops bounced off of his long eyelashes. “You need me?”
“More than anyone,” she said pleadingly. “Please. I hope you’ll come.”
He paused thoughtfully. “There would be a great adjustment,” he pondered. “I would have to give up everything I know to fit in.”
“Not to worry,” Focalors smiled with confidence. “I am quite ingenious, you know. And I have many connections. Wait for three days– a letter will come to you, I am sure. I’ll see to it that your transition to Fontainian life is comfortable.”
“I would be grateful for any accommodations you can provide,” he said emphatically. “I do hope you’ll be at my side throughout it.”
She laughed. “Ah, but where else could I even be?”
The rain clouds disappeared. Curiously, he smiled at her now, with a small rose hue in his cheeks. Was he blushing?
“Thank you. I know that I’ll rely on you for long to come.”
She felt her face grow warm too. “I–yes! It was…” she cleared her throat quickly. “Yes. And I feel the same about you. May this be the start of a beautiful partnership.”