Chapter 83: Focalors: Seeking Firsthand Accounts from the Involved Parties (5.8k words)

Its that one genshin poetry event so expect lots of that these next chaps

-

Furina slept until noon the next day, a testament to her youth. She could collapse into sleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

In stark contrast, Focalors, who had been half-dead and confined to her room, now exuded an uncharacteristic vitality.

After a full day of rest, they set off for Liyue early the following morning.

Traversing the rainforests of Sumeru, they arrived in Liyue.

The moment they laid eyes on the land, a profound sense of weightiness washed over them. Perhaps this was the innate reassurance of the Geo Element.

At least before her journey, having Zhongli around meant she could practically retire her dodge button.

But now, if a fight broke out, mastering evasive maneuvers would be essential for Themis.

Not for any practical reason, mind you—simply because it looked cooler.

Pulling off flashy moves would subconsciously make others perceive her as more formidable.

Of course, they could have taken a waterway through Chenyu Vale, but honestly, she just wanted to stretch her legs and explore.

"The event is being held at Stone Gate, located right on the border between Liyue and Mondstadt."

"So, we'll have to cross all of Liyue, then?"

Three high-ranking, white-haired beauties from Fontaine strolled through Liyue's streets and alleys, drawing conspicuous stares.

This time, however, they were visiting in a private capacity for a vacation, not on official business.

Having declined the invitation from the Tianquan, Furina and Focalors found sightseeing far more appealing than attending tedious social gatherings.

Even Themis couldn't help but marvel at the local customs and scenery, which reminded her of her homeland, her eyes filled with nostalgia.

Of course, nostalgia was one thing; if Themis truly had to choose a place to live, she'd still pick Fontaine.

There was no real reason—once you've grown accustomed to modern life, who would willingly return to the past?

Although Fontaine didn't have the internet yet, it was only a matter of time. With enough pressure on Rene and the researchers at the Academy, everything would eventually come.

Unsurprisingly, they found Zhongli at the storyteller's corner.

Themis already knew Zhongli's nature. When he boldly invited them to dinner, only to realize he had forgotten his wallet, Furina was the first to burst into complaint, unable to resist Zhongli's unflappable demeanor.

After all, back in Inazuma, Venti and Zhongli often forgot their wallets, dipping into Furina's hard-earned savings—a small fortune she had painstakingly accumulated over five centuries.

If Themis hadn't intervened, Mademoiselle Crabaletta would have nearly spat bubbles in Zhongli's face.

"The Poetry Exchange Conference," Zhongli explained, "is a promise made between the Director and Venti during last year's Lantern Rite."

"That child has been all over the place lately—Mondstadt, the Knights of Favonius, the Jade Chamber... She pulled a lot of strings to get this Poetry Exchange Conference arranged."

When Zhongli spoke of Hu Tao, his expression became remarkably animated.

Focalors nodded thoughtfully, her eyes darting repeatedly to Zhongli. Furina silently pitied both Zhongli and the "Master Hu" he mentioned; being targeted by Focalors was never a good thing.

"The road to Stone Gate passes by Wangshu Inn," Zhongli said warmly, oblivious to the underlying tension. He eagerly volunteered to be their guide. "Venti and Hu Tao went ahead to prepare the venue."

Golden leaves swirled in the gentle breeze, the stream murmured merrily, and spring bloomed in full glory.

Wangshu Inn bustled with activity, mostly merchants from across Teyvat and travelers passing through.

"Wow, they even built houses in the trees!" Furina exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Coming to Liyue was the right choice!"

Though Furina had seen treehouses before, none could compare to this majestic inn. Its scale far surpassed anything she had encountered in games.

As they entered Wangshu Inn, Themis sensed a pair of eyes watching them. Turning to locate the source, she spotted Xiao, one of the Adeptus, concealed among the treetops.

Unfamiliar with the area, Themis didn't pay much attention to the inn itself.

Zhongli, on the other hand, knew Wangshu Inn's signature dishes like the back of his hand. Having burned considerable energy on the journey, he settled in for a hearty and satisfying meal.

Furina ate with gusto, relieved that she didn't gain weight easily. "If I weren't immune to weight gain," she thought, "I'd have to start dieting the moment I returned to Fontaine after all these feasts!"

As a skilled performing artist and opera singer, maintaining her figure was crucial.

Focalors, however, had no such concerns. After spending five centuries confined to a small, dark room, everything felt utterly novel and fascinating to her.

On the way to the inn, Themis had even spotted Focalors secretly plucking a Silk Flower and chewing it thoughtfully.

"She must be truly hungry," Themis mused. "Who would eat something like that raw?"

To those who didn't know Focalors' true nature as an Oceanid who had ascended to Archonhood, she might seem like a distant relative of Ganyu or Shenhe.

Silk Flowers were typically used for dyeing fabrics, meaning their sap possessed potent staining properties.

Clutching her face in exasperation, Themis stared at Focalors' lips and tongue, now stained the vibrant hues of the flower. She didn't know whether to laugh or scold her.

Even children knew better than to eat random things. How could Focalors, a five-hundred-year-old Archon, be so oblivious?

After using a cleaning spell on Focalors to remove the Silk Flower's dye, Venti strummed his lyre casually, a gentle smile on his face. "The wind carries poetic tokens to the land of Liyue," he said.

"Long time no see, Furina~"

Furina eyed him skeptically. He looked exactly the same as before, and she began to worry about her little hoard of Mora.

Venti and Zhongli were excellent tour guides, but it was painfully obvious how much they spent.

"Don't either of you ever work?" Furina asked. "How can you be completely broke?"

Zhongli turned away uncomfortably, his gaze darting around.

Venti nodded vigorously. "Exactly! I do try to earn Mora! It's just... I spend it faster than I can make it."

Focalors glared at them, marveling at the audacity of these ancient Archons. Trying to take advantage of Furina's soft heart and naivety just because she's a wealthy newcomer, huh?

Themis surveyed the venue. Frankly, the decorations were rather sparse.

But considering the Stone Gate's remote location wasn't exactly ideal for grand celebrations, she lowered her expectations.

"As the saying goes, timing is everything!" Venti declared. "You've arrived at the perfect moment. Master Hu and I were just about to begin the opening remarks for the event." He pointed to Hu Tao on the stage with a mischievous grin. "So, Furina, are you interested in hosting?"

Furina, the seasoned artist from Fontaine, remained unmoved. "I'm just here on vacation," she replied. "I'll follow the host's lead. Hosting isn't really my thing." Besides, her knowledge of Liyue's poetic traditions was rather limited. Maybe after I've studied up a bit, she thought. The Poetry Exchange Conference isn't a one-time event anyway.

Seeing Furina's refusal, Venti didn't press the matter. "If hosting isn't for you, no problem! The most important thing is that we all have fun."

Themis's presence exuded an undeniable pressure, at least for the Seven Archons, who felt its full weight. But after getting used to it, Venti found it more amusing than intimidating. Good heavens, look at that! She's got Celestia's face!

The Traveler and her little companion, Paimon, also arrived just before the official start. They blended into the crowd and waved to catch the group's attention. However, it wasn't the best time for greetings.

On stage, Hu Tao and Venti, as the hosts, were brimming with enthusiasm.

The speaker's lively and engaging words put everyone at ease. Themis, however, found it hard to keep up with the intellectual challenge of riddles, a pastime for the more cerebrally inclined.

She had never been particularly interested in highbrow artistic pursuits. Too refined for my taste, she thought. I much prefer a good fight or a bit of scheming. Sitting quietly on a chair at the event venue, enjoying the scenery, seemed like a much better way to spend her time.

Meanwhile, Focalors had already sidled up to her two unsuspecting victims, dragging Lumine and Paimon along with her. When she solemnly announced her two brand-new masterpieces, her eyes sparkled. She then revealed that the books featured Morax and Barbatos as the main characters.

That was it. Even the usually composed and dignified Zhongli couldn't maintain his composure, his jaw dropping in stunned silence.

As uninvolved bystanders, Lumine and Paimon were immensely curious about Focalors' new works. Though lacking artistic merit, the romance novels were undoubtedly well-written!

Damn it, who wouldn't want to read smut starring the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon?!

No one could resist.

"But if you didn't like it—so what? Everyone has their own taste. Goodbye, you tasteless plebeian!"

Furina felt a surge of anxiety for Zhongli and Venti, urging herself to stay far away from the brewing conflict.

Climbing to a higher vantage point, she observed Focalors and the others from afar, clearly discerning the utterly despondent expressions on Zhongli and Venti's faces.

However, so focused on observing the main players, Furina failed to notice that while she was watching others, someone was also watching her.

It was a young girl with a high blue ponytail, delicate features, and eyes that glowed with a soft blue light—a perfect embodiment of an Oceanid, just like Idyia.

Perched on the railing, Furina leaned over to peer below, looking like a mischievous kitten sneaking a peek. The Seafood Trio, sensing the unknown Oceanid's presence, materialized around her, their animosity radiating from their tiny forms.

"Um... Miss?"

After a moment's hesitation, the Oceanid girl, recognizing a familiar aura emanating from Furina, decided to strike up a conversation.

Turning in confusion, Furina blinked blankly at the stranger who had crouched down beside her.

"Is she calling me?"

There shouldn't be anyone else around. The unfamiliar young woman didn't speak, but Furina could read her thoughts in those blue eyes.

Silence.

"Ahem."

Furina coughed twice to cover her awkwardness and tried to change the subject. "Hello, Miss. May I ask your name?"

"My name is Callirhoe. I'm a... traveler?"

"Judging by your attire, you're from Fontaine, aren't you?"

Furina watched Callirhoe nod, assuming she was another ardent fan from Fontaine eager for an autograph and a photo. She was always delighted to meet fellow Fontainians in foreign lands.

"Miss, your clothes suggest you're also from Fontaine. May I know your name?"

Callirhoe didn't realize her words might be unusual, but Furina felt a pang of doubt about her fame.

What on earth? she thought. How could there be someone in Fontaine who doesn't recognize me?!

Furina felt her worldview tilting. "You... you don't know who I am?"

"Huh?" Callirhoe blinked in confusion. Could the person before her be someone famous in Fontaine?

It had been over five hundred years since Callirhoe had last returned to her homeland, Fontaine, and she was admittedly out of touch with current affairs there.

"It's been ages since I last visited Fontaine," she explained. "I've been living in Mondstadt all these years."

Oh, really...? Yeah, right! Just because you haven't been back to Fontaine doesn't mean you haven't heard of the Hydro Archon or know what she looks like!

Furina considered herself a very approachable and popular celebrity. Though she couldn't believe she might be facing a career-defining setback here, that didn't stop her from introducing herself.

"I'm Furina. I was invited to this Poetry Exchange Conference by a friend, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to see the sights of a foreign land."

"Those two over there were also invited as my companions." She pointed to Themis, who had somehow ended up chatting with Diona, and Focalors, who was busy interviewing people for research.

"Is Miss Furina quite famous in Fontaine?"

"Absolutely! I'm Fontaine's most beloved opera actress. Not to brag, but there's no greater artist in all of Fontaine than me."

In the realm of art, Furina was truly unrivaled in Fontaine. This was one of the few areas where she could confidently outshine Themis and Focalors.

Neither Callirhoe nor Themis had much interest in the arts.

"Miss Callirhoe, are you interested in opera?" Themis asked.

"Ah... well..." Callirhoe hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. She could hardly admit her lack of enthusiasm, especially seeing Furina's eagerness to impress, her eyes sparkling like stars. She didn't have the heart to say it.

"I'm not very familiar with opera," Callirhoe replied, "but Miss Furina, to become such a renowned artist in Fontaine at such a young age, you must be truly remarkable."

"If I ever have the chance, I'd love to see one of your performances," she added.

Furina, the young prodigy, blushed slightly and scratched her head bashfully.

But then she remembered the two anciet Gods below and immediately straightened up. Yes, that's right, I am quite young.

-

"Miss Diona, it's remarkable that you can create such delicious drinks at such a young age. You're truly talented," Themis said, sipping Diona's special concoction and ignoring the bizarre ingredients. She praised Diona lavishly.

Perhaps it was because Themis had little interest in alcohol, or perhaps it was Diona's good looks and excellent service, but Diona was particularly friendly toward her.

"If you'd like another drink, I have plenty," Diona offered.

"But I won't mix you another cocktail."

"Alright then," Themis replied. "I'll take a Mondstadt specialty, please."

"How much will that be?"

Diona waved her hands dismissively. "No need, it's on me!"

"Thank you, Miss Diona."

Themis quietly waited as Diona pulled out a Mondstadt specialty from who-knows-where—a dandelion drink.

It was certainly distinctive: a simple blend of dandelions, mint leaves, raspberries, and Sweet Flowers. The ingredients were straightforward and wholesome—a vast improvement over the previous lizard-tail concoction.

The drink was icy and refreshing, with a delightful sweetness that made it perfect for beating the summer heat.

"Hey, Themis! If you get another tasty drink, can I have a sip?"

Paimon zipped over, rubbing her tiny hands together, her eyes glued to the last dregs of dandelion-mint juice swirling at the bottom of Themis's glass.

Lumine stood nearby, hands on her hips, wearing a resigned expression that suggested she'd witnessed this scene countless times before.

"If Paimon wants a drink, why not ask Miss Diona?" Themis suggested.

"My glass is empty," Lumine announced, shaking her cup to reveal only a few drops remaining at the bottom. "Alright, Diona, can you make me another one?"

"Lumine will pay," Paimon suggested.

"Why me?" Lumine protested, though she knew she'd end up paying anyway. Teasing Paimon was too tempting to resist.

Paimon grimaced. "Fine, fine. I guess I'll have to dip into my little treasure hoard."

Diona waved her hand dismissively. "No need to pay, Paimon. If you want another drink, I'll gladly make you one."

It was just a drink, after all, and Diona wasn't going to fuss over a single glass of juice.

"Then I want the same drink Themis had!" Paimon declared.

"Alright, Paimon. Just give me a moment," Diona replied.

Before long, an identical drink was ready. Paimon eagerly took a sip, remembering to offer some to Lumine.

Lumine: How touching! She actually remembered to let me have a taste this time.

Paimon drained the rest of her juice in one gulp. Themis took the empty glass, washed it, and handed it back to Diona.

"Diona, are you here to bartend?" Paimon asked.

"That's right," Diona replied. "I'm the special envoy from The Cat's Tail and a representative of the Mondstadt Wine Industry."

"The Mondstadt Wine Industry?" Paimon exclaimed in disbelief. "I thought you hated that job!" She never expected Diona to attend the Stone Gate event in such a capacity.

"Of course I hate it!" Diona retorted. "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ruin the Mondstadt Wine Industry!"

Paimon frowned, puzzled. What did the Poetry Exchange Conference at Stone Gate have to do with the Mondstadt Wine Industry?

"Hmph! All I have to do is add weird ingredients to my drinks and make them absolutely undrinkable. Then no one will ever want to buy Mondstadt wine again!"

"Uh..." Paimon hesitated, convinced this plan would backfire spectacularly. After all, Diona had the blessing of the Oceanids. No matter what bizarre ingredients she mixed, her drinks would inevitably turn out delicious.

Isn't this just free publicity in disguise?

Paimon and Lumine exchanged skeptical glances, neither believing Diona's plan would succeed.

"Hmph, we'll see about that! This time, I absolutely won't mess up!" Diona declared.

"Alright, good luck," Lumine replied.

"What an interesting child, so full of energy," Themis remarked, taking Diona's boastful words with a grain of salt.

"Themis, how about we all go to the Poetry Exchange Conference together?" Paimon asked, tactlessly bringing up the very topic Themis wanted to avoid.

"Poetry?" Themis said, her expression stiffening. "I've only occasionally heard hymns dedicated to the Hydro Archon. To be honest, I'm completely unfamiliar with Liyue's poetic traditions. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you both."

"Ehh?! How can that be? Themis, you don't understand poetry?" Paimon exclaimed in disbelief.

Lumine looked equally astonished. She never imagined that even the Lord Regent could have weaknesses.

"Your expressions are rather impolite," Themis chided calmly. "As Liyue has a saying: 'Beyond every expert, there is another; beyond every horizon, another sky.'"

"Huh? Is that how the saying goes?" Paimon tilted her head, confused.

Paimon didn't understand Liyue idioms, but she vaguely sensed that the one Themis had used was a bit out of place.

"Ah, my apologies," Themis said, correcting herself. "I got my sayings mixed up. It should be 'No one is perfect.'"

"Ahem, this is just a casual event," Paimon said. "Come on, let's all join in and have some fun!"

"We can't just sit here like background props forever, can we?"

"Diona too! Come along!"

Paimon extended the invitation. Under Paimon's eager gaze and Lumine's intrigued expression, Themis reluctantly agreed.

"Hu Tao and Venti seem about to announce the competition rules," Paimon said. "Let's go check it out."

"Alright," Themis replied.

On the Poetry Competition stage, Hu Tao and Venti, seeing that most participants had arrived, exchanged glances and began outlining the rules.

"To ensure everyone has a blast, Venti and I have carefully prepared three themed challenges, to be revealed one per day," Hu Tao announced. "Without further ado, the first theme is... Guess the Poetry Riddle!"

Guess the Poetry Riddle?

Furina's ahoge twitched twice. The Hydro Archon of Fontaine wasn't particularly familiar with Liyue's local customs.

Callirhoe, standing nearby, understood perfectly.

"Friends, old and new, have you noticed the lanterns hanging on the stage? They're for the poetry riddles."

"Please write your riddles on the lanterns. Venti and I will select some to present as challenges for everyone to solve."

"You now have some time to write and hang your riddles, stroll around, and discuss them. Later, the person who solves the most riddles correctly will win a prize!"

"And with that, the Mondstadt-Liyue Poetry Exchange Conference officially begins!"

Why isn't it a Three-Nation Poetry Exchange Conference? Focalors' gaze questioned Zhongli and Venti.

"Ahem, the preparations were rushed. We only secured official sponsorship from Mondstadt and Liyue. Fontaine is quite far away," Venti explained.

Fine, fine! So Fontaine's being deliberately excluded, is it!

Just wait until I write some scandalous fanfiction about you two! Focalors said nothing, but Zhongli and Venti grew uneasy.

Having lived for thousands of years, this was the first time they'd faced such impudence from a junior—especially one with such unbreakable connections.

"By the way," Focalors mused, "what if we arranged for the Anemo Archon and Geo Archon to fall madly in love during this poetry riddle competition?"

What could they do? The two archons looked like they couldn't wait to get away from each other.

"So, what do you think? Should we write a riddle poem to hang up?" Lumine asked.

Themis crossed her arms, a troubled expression on her face. While it was true she had been a liberal arts student before her transmigration, she didn't recall any courses specifically teaching liberal arts students how to write riddle poems.

"Oh dear, you look so distressed," Focalors chimed in, appearing out of nowhere with a mischievous grin as she eyed the Regent's discomfort. "Don't take it so seriously! The point is to participate, not necessarily to win."

Paimon echoed, "Exactly! Just have fun! The Traveler and I promise we won't laugh!"

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of riddle poem Themis comes up with," Lumine added.

Even if Themis couldn't write one, she certainly wouldn't mock her. After all, this was her provider of food and shelter in Fontaine!

"Furina has already started writing hers," Focalors announced, gesturing to the Hydro Archon nearby, who was receiving private tutoring from Callirhoe and struggling with her own riddle poem.

One, two, three... Themis hadn't anticipated so much attention on her attempt at writing a riddle poem.

Fine, fine, I surrender! I'll write one if you insist.

"Do you all really need to watch me write this?" she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Clutching a Liyue calligraphy brush, Themis felt a surge of gratitude for her past practice. For a liberal arts student, beautiful handwriting was her last vestige of pride.

"Eheheh," Paimon and Lumine chuckled, their heads cocked to the side. Focalors stood with her hands on her hips, determined to watch Themis finish writing.

Under their watchful eyes, Themis reluctantly wrote down a simple answer to the riddle. To be honest, she found it rather basic, lacking any real challenge.

"Is it done yet? Let me see!" Paimon blurted out the moment Themis put down the brush.

Handing over the paper with the poetic riddle, Themis breathed a sigh of relief. Out of the corner of her eye, she observed Furina, who was struggling with her own riddle under Callirhoe's guidance. She wondered how difficult Furina's riddle would prove to be.

Paimon grabbed the slip and began deciphering the riddle aloud with Lumine and Focalors:

As night descends, a jade disc hangs low,Its gentle light bathing the Watercloud Mountains.Waning and waxing, full and bare—Endlessly it turns,Its ancient glow casting light upon the mortal world.

As she read aloud Themis's masterpiece word by word, Themis herself grew increasingly embarrassed. She had to admit, the poem was a cobbled-together patchwork of borrowed ideas and references. What can I say? I'm just not good at anything.

Still, Themis had taken her research seriously, carefully adapting the material and acknowledging the differences between the myths and legends of Teyvat and Shenzhou.

There was an art to borrowing, too. Simply copying things verbatim was the mark of an amateur. (The author borrowing from herself? Me plagiarizing myself? No problem there.)

Unless, of course, you could swipe every masterpiece from Shenzhou's five-thousand-year history, leaving no room for rebuttal.

Paimon held the riddle, looking utterly bewildered. Is this what Themis meant by "completely clueless" and "not understanding at all"?

Shockingly, Themis had been too modest.

"What's wrong?" Themis asked. "The riddle isn't that hard. Why is everyone so quiet?"

Focalors sighed. "How should I put this... We're wondering if your earlier reluctance was genuine humility or just feigned incompetence."

Ah, Themis finally understood. They'd taken her previous words as mere self-deprecation.

But the truth was, she hadn't been lying at all.

"Hey! What are you four whispering about over there?"

Furina strode over with her own composition, glaring at the sight of the huddled group.

"Nothing much," Focalors replied. "Themis just wrote a riddle."

"Furina, are you finished with your riddle?" Focalors asked.

"Of course! I have complete faith in myself!" Furina declared, hands on her hips, brimming with confidence.

With Callirhoe's expert guidance and Furina's natural aptitude for learning, her riddle might not be perfect, but it certainly wouldn't be lacking.

"Want me to recite it? See if you can guess the answer!" Furina challenged.

"Oh~ Furina's so confident! Well, let's hear it then!"

Furina: "Hmph! Listen closely!"

"Like pearls adrift in azure depths,its silken form clings to the moon's embrace.A shadow prowls the whispering shore,its pale light dancing in the sands below."

Paimon: "I-I can't believe this is Furina's first time writing!"

Lumine: "Just like Themis, she keeps her true talent hidden. Is this what genius looks like?"

To write something like this on her first try... she must have a natural gift for poetic riddles!

They had underestimated Furina. Who knew someone who seemed so silly could be so skilled?

Such a small body, yet such immense energy... What a clever little mind!

Themis: "The answer is 'Sea Star,' right?"

Furina: "Ah! How did you figure it out?!"

Themis: "Um, sorry. It just came to me instinctively."

"Since your riddle was guessed so quickly, Furina, why don't you write another one?" Focalors suggested.

"Why don't you write one?" Furina retorted.

"I can't~ Why don't you write one for me?" Focalors purred.

"Dream on! Write your own. No cheating in this competition," Furina declared firmly, refusing without hesitation.

Undeterred by the swift rejection, Focalors remained unbothered. She hadn't intended to write one anyway.

What a delightful and invigorating Poetry Competition!

"Alright, everyone, gather around!" Hu Tao shouted, clapping her hands to summon the lingering participants to the stage.

The free writing period for the poetry riddles had come to an end.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Hu Tao randomly drew a stack of lanterns adorned with the riddles.

"For each riddle chosen, the author will step forward to announce the answer later," Hu Tao announced. "Correct answers earn the solver one point. Incorrect answers give the point to the author. Seems fair, right?"

Venti added, "But the author's proposed answer must also be approved by everyone." This rule was in place to prevent authors from unfairly changing their answers at the last minute to stump the solvers.

Little did Themis know, the first riddle drawn was one she had written herself.

The moment it was read aloud, the solvers exchanged knowing smiles. "Surely no one will get this wrong," one muttered.

"It's the moon!" Lumine exclaimed.

"Hehe, that was too easy!" Paimon chimed in.

"Indeed," Chongyun agreed, "it's written in a way that feels oddly familiar."

"Since everyone seems to have the same answer, let's have the question master reveal the final solution!" Venti said, grinning at Themis.

"Correct," Themis confirmed. "The answer is the moon."

"Yay! What a fantastic start!" Hu Tao exclaimed. "Since the question master has confirmed it, I hereby award one point to everyone present!"

"If the answer is the moon, then it's certainly not a difficult riddle," Lumine remarked. "Though it hangs beyond countless mountains and rivers, there's only one moon in the sky."

"Next question! Everyone, get ready!"

Hu Tao casually pulled out the second riddle. Before the audience could even begin to ponder, Hu Tao herself nearly stumbled over it.

The messy, barely legible scrawl could only belong to Xingqiu. Hu Tao stammered through the professionally sloppy text, so hastily written it barely held its structure.

"Four-cornered flatcake, peppered with sesame seeds, drizzled with oil, and slipping into your mouth. The more you eat, the sharper your mind becomes."

Furina's eyes widened. Lumine fell into deep thought, while Focalors radiated confident amusement.

"Judging by Miss Focalors' confident demeanor, I presume she already knows the answer?" Xingqiu asked.

"Heh, naturally," Focalors replied.

"What?! Focalors already knows it? We can't lose now!" Paimon exclaimed.

"Oh? Paimon guessed it too? Then why don't you both answer together?" Xingqiu suggested.

Paimon racked her brain, then blurted out, "It's pizza! The answer is pizza, right?!"

Themis chuckled. "Paimon, why don't you think a little harder?"

Furina, who had also nearly figured it out, couldn't resist teasing Paimon. "If you can't guess soon, we'll have to answer for you."

"Ugh, even Furina guessed it!" Paimon groaned.

Furina bristled, her hands on her hips. "What do you mean 'even'? What kind of impression do you have of me?!"

Furina's ahoge stood on end, the cream-blueberry bun on her head threatening to explode.

Xingqiu cleared his throat. "Ahem, Miss Furina, since you've both guessed it, why don't you give us your answer first?"

"Hmph, my answer is a book." Furina tossed her head triumphantly, utterly confident in her answer.

"What?! A book?!" Paimon's shoulders slumped, but a flicker of hope remained as she looked pleadingly at Xingqiu.

"Haha, I'm afraid Paimon's out of luck this time. The answer is indeed a book."

"Tch, we're already down by one point," Paimon grumbled.

"Traveler, we need to get serious! We're in this for the grand prize!"

Lumine wasn't particularly interested in the grand prize herself, but since Paimon wanted it so badly, she decided to play along.

She glanced at her formidable rivals, Focalors and Themis, legendary figures who seemed like final bosses in their own right. Zhongli had mentioned he would be the host the next day, so he likely wouldn't be competing for the answers.

"Miss Furina answers correctly! One point for her," Venti announced.

"Yay!" Furina leaped up in delight, her entire being—down to the tips of her hair—radiating joy.

"Now, let me draw the third question," Venti said.

"'Amid ten thousand towering peaks, in the depths of desolate snow, a solitary pillar stands on a frigid terrace, where sages and worthies alike find themselves impoverished.' It appears to be a Liyue poetic riddle."

Furina turned to Callirhoe beside her, the author of this very riddle.

"Although it's a Liyue poetic riddle," Callirhoe noted, "if we don't restrict the region, there might be more than one possible answer."

Focalors chuckled. "As far as I know, both answers fit the riddle."

Xingqiu frowned. "Besides Qingxin, what else could it be?"

"Huh? What? Two answers? I thought it was Qingxin!" Paimon exclaimed, confused.

"Hmm...?" Noelle and Mika, standing in the crowd, exchanged surprised glances. This wasn't what they had expected at all.

Focalors laughed. "It seems our two friends from Mondstadt have another answer in mind."

"Though I wonder if they can convince the riddle's creator."

Focalors glanced at Callirhoe, who blinked in bewilderment. She had created the riddle with Qingxin in mind. Where could this second answer possibly be coming from?

"W-we guessed the Cecilia from Mondstadt," the two shy individuals stammered, their faces flushed. Despite their nervousness, they managed to voice their answer.

Venti chuckled. "Oh~ It seems we have an interesting situation here."

"Cecilia certainly sounds like a plausible answer. These flowers, blooming high above, are imbued with beautiful symbolism by the people. Many consider them the true Flower of the Wind."

"So, quizmaster, isn't it time to reveal the official answer?"

Furina nudged the dazed Callirhoe, who snapped out of her trance and stepped forward. "I set this question," she announced. "The answer is Qingxin."

"But after hearing the host's description, I remembered! I read about Cecilia flowers in a book before. They perfectly fit the description of a noble flower."

Venti chuckled. "Since the question-setter herself has confirmed it, everyone gets another point!"

"Traveler, you need to step up your game!" Paimon exclaimed. "At this rate, Furina will win!"

The other two clever minds from Fontaine were already holding back. How could Furina possibly lose with only one opponent left?

"And now," Hu Tao announced, "the answer to the fourth question!"

"Huh? This character..." Hu Tao trailed off. "Wow, I've never seen anything like it before!"

The elegant, flowing cursive script on the page was truly artistic and decorative.

"Deep within the lake's embrace, hidden orchids bloom, their bell-like fragrance rippling across the clear waters."

"By the water's edge, a fair figure is mirrored in the limpid waves, her delicate scent drifting like a jade song."

Furina's ahoge twitched twice. She couldn't understand what Hu Tao was trying to imply. I thought my handwriting was pretty good! she reasoned. Palais Mermonia-certified standard Teyvat script for 500 years!

"Oh~ Now the difficulty is really picking up."

Venti chuckled. "A Fontaine riddle! How intriguing!"

"I wonder who will solve it first?" Paimon turned to Lumine. "A Fontaine riddle! I didn't expect Furina to write another one!"

Lumine replied, "But it won't stump us. After all, Furina's riddles always involve Fontaine products!"

Callirhoe's pale blue eyes, already glowing softly, brightened even more upon hearing the riddle.

"It's the Lakelight Lily!"

"Huh?! Shoot, she beat me to it!" Lumine pouted in frustration.

"Wow, I thought it would be a bit tricky, but someone solved it so quickly!"

At the Poetry Exchange Conference between two nations, a Fontainian riddle was unexpectedly featured, and it was solved by another Fontainian.

Well, never mind. As long as everyone's having fun!

Hu Tao asked, "Miss Furina, is this your answer?"

Furina nodded. "Yes, that's correct! It's the Lakelight Lily, a flower native to Fontaine's Eriyes region—a clear, pale blue blossom that thrives where water veins converge. Its fragrance is cool and elegant, its scent both spicy and gentle."

"The Lakelight Lily's flower language symbolizes 'waiting' and 'eternal promise.'"

"In ancient legends, these pristine flowers, with their crystal-clear reflection in the lake, were a gift from the Hydro Archon to the last Lochknight."

"Even today in Fontaine, the tradition persists: one plucks a Lakelight Lily and presents it to someone embarking on a journey, wishing them a path as serene as pure water and hoping that their loved ones will follow its cool, faint glow back to their side."

"I see. Thank you for the explanation, Miss Furina. I hope we all have the chance to visit Fontaine someday and witness the beauty of the Lakelight Lily firsthand."

"Of course! Traveling to other regions would be wonderful too."

"Who knows? Perhaps the next time we gather, we could even host a Poetry Exchange Conference featuring all Seven Nations!"

Venti's words brought smiles to everyone's faces. Truthfully, the thought of such a grand Poetry Exchange Conference was genuinely exciting.

"Miss Callirhoe earns one point!"

"Now, everyone, give your best for the next poetic riddle!"

"Just a reminder: the ultimate victor will immediately receive the grand prize!"

The next poetry riddle was Paimon's, but honestly, wasn't it just another thinly veiled self-portrait?

Themis's first thought was of the Jade Chamber being smashed, but since Paimon herself seemed to admit the riddle was about her, it didn't really matter.

The poetry competition ended with an unexpected victor: Furina!

"I can't believe I actually won!" Furina exclaimed, standing on the podium with a dazed, incredulous expression.

"But... the prize is a discount coupon for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? Doesn't that seem a little... off?"

Lumine replied, "Not really. Director Hu often gives out these coupons. In fact, it's exactly what I expected."

Paimon chimed in, "Still, who would have thought they'd use this as the grand prize for the Poetry Exchange Conference?"

Regardless, winning was cause for celebration!

To commemorate her victory, Furina decided to throw a lavish feast, inviting all the notable figures in the area. Callirhoe was naturally on the guest list; after all, without Callirhoe's expert guidance, Furina never would have won.