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"A poetry exchange convention..."
Focalors' cheeks were puffed out, soft and squishy like steamed buns. Themis couldn't resist pinching them. Focalors and Furina's round, bun-like faces were truly a priceless treasure of Fontaine.
"Morax and Barbatos are co-hosting it, and the Traveler came to invite us. We really should attend," Furina said, scratching her head. She had emphasized the presence of the two co-hosts to warn Focalors to keep her latest masterpiece hidden. But upon hearing that they would both be there, the half-asleep Focalors instantly snapped awake.
"Wonderful! Let's go sightseeing in Liyue!" Focalors grinned. Anyone who knew her well understood that someone was about to have a very bad day.
Furina felt a sense of foreboding and silently offered a few seconds of pity for the two Gods residing in the neighboring realm.
Themis shook her head and sighed, hoping Morax wouldn't simply kick Focalors out of Liyue. Focalors should count herself lucky that the current Geo Archon was Zhongli, not the hot-blooded young Morax of old. Otherwise, Themis feared she would earn the same disdain the Anemo Archon held for her.
Focalors herself felt no fear. After all, what could the other two possibly do? Kill her? Why bother being afraid?
Boneless and pliant, she simply couldn't be bothered to move, nestling into Themis's embrace and falling asleep instantly.
Her meticulously styled hair quickly became disheveled again from her constant shifting and snuggling.
Furina, the hairstylist, was furious and punched Focalors lightly.
The blow was so weak that Focalors barely noticed.
She even purred contentedly, claiming the "massage" felt wonderful and demanding more.
Furina bristled with rage, her ahoge twitching as she glared fiercely at Focalors.
Sticking out her tongue, Focalors showed no remorse whatsoever.
Teasing Furina was half the fun—a shared sentiment among Palais Mermonia's higher-ups.
Only that stubborn dragon Neuvillette remained fixated on duty, now practically a soulless bureaucrat.
Thankfully, Themis hadn't completely given up yet, and Furina remained a responsible God.
These three dutiful figures had inadvertently enabled Focalors's slacking and carefree attitude.
Focalors had her own defense: "When I was completely absent before, didn't you all manage perfectly fine?"
"If that's the case, it doesn't matter whether I'm here or not. You can handle everything anyway."
Themis was so exasperated by Focalors' brazen attitude that she almost laughed. She considered pinning Focalors to the bed and giving her a thorough spanking to drive home the meaning of "spiritual support."
The problem was that Focalors never learned her lesson. Her skin was thicker than Zhongli's shield—as impervious as a dead pig to scalding water.
To Themis' surprise, she realized she had no way to control Focalors. What could she do? She suddenly felt as powerless as a punch thrown into cotton.
Turning a blind eye seemed the only option. The upright Themis simply had no defense against Focalors' shamelessness.
Perhaps in the future, when the Gods sought retribution against Focalors, only Furina would have any leverage over her.
Expressionless, Themis dragged Focalors off her and handed her over to Furina. "She's all yours, Furina. Please fix her hair again."
Leaving Focalors to Furina, Themis turned and walked away. She needed to ask Neuvillette whether he would accompany them to Liyue or remain in Fontaine to handle the paperwork.
If all else failed, Themis considered leaving Focalors behind to do the work.
Wait a minute, why not?
The moment the thought struck her, Themis felt a sudden clarity, as if the world had become beautiful again.
"I won't go," Neuvillette stated firmly, rejecting Themis's invitation outright.
Themis was stunned. She had never imagined Neuvillette would be so resolute on this matter.
"The opera house can't function without me, and Fontaine needs someone to oversee it," Neuvillette declared with unwavering conviction, his eyes resolute, showing not the slightest temptation of a vacation.
For this diligent and dedicated Hydro Dragon Sovereign, safeguarding Fontaine and diligently performing his duties were paramount.
Vacations? He'd rather trade them for more time with Melusine.
Of course, if it were Themis instead, Neuvillette wouldn't object!
"Just leave it to Focalors," Themis said matter-of-factly. "She's Fontaine's Archon, after all. Even though the Prophecy kept her from personally managing affairs for the past five hundred years, she's still a God. Her abilities are beyond question."
Focalors, currently clinging to Furina in a hug, suddenly sneezed. Furina's face twisted in panic as she tried to escape, only to be dragged back by Focalors.
Themis didn't know what had happened upstairs, but as she carried Furina down, she could probably guess what would follow.
It's fine, she thought. Furina was probably just a little startled.
Neuvillette disagreed. "Focalors has only just regained her freedom," he said. "She needs to get out and about more than I do."
Yes, that makes sense.
Neuvillette had no intention of interfering with their honeymoon trip.
Their journey to Liyue would inevitably take them through the Sumeru Desert. If he went too, how would he explain to the First Dendro Dragon Sovereign why he had effectively "adopted his enemy's child"?
Just thinking about it gave him a headache. He'd rather stay in Fontaine and keep working.
Since Neuvillette had made his stance clear, Themis couldn't argue.
"I'll bring you back a gift when I return," she said.
Neuvillette blinked and nodded. He didn't really want anything in particular. But if it was a gift from Themis, he would treasure it dearly.
He wondered what kind of gift she would bring.
It felt a bit like when parents went on a business trip and brought back small souvenirs for their child.
Despite his imposing size, Neuvillette was no longer a child.
Having decided to attend the poetry festival in Liyue, they needed to set out early. This time, however, convenient transportation was scarce, and they would frequently have to travel on foot.
Furina didn't mind the journey, but Focalors grew tired after just a few steps and promptly demanded that Themis carry her.
"Focus on something productive, Focalors!" Furina scolded.
Furina thought that she and Dvalin shared common ground.
As they crossed the Sumeru Desert, the Dendro Dragon Sovereign remained hidden, burrowed deep beneath the sand and refusing to move.
Dendro Dragon Sovereign:I fucking want revenge, but that doesn't mean I'm tired of living.
As one of the surviving elders of the dragon race, the Dendro Dragon Sovereign possessed remarkable resilience. He had endured the great war between the Dragon Sovereigns and Celestia, the Judgment of the Celestial Nail, and the corruption of Forbidden Knowledge.
Anyone who saw him would have to admit—the Dendro Dragon Sovereign was as tenacious as an unkillable cockroach.
Remembering the vague glimpses of his massive form through the desert sandstorms during the storyline...
Honestly, if you claim you're not curious about Neuvillette's dragon form, you're lying.
Given Neuvillette's quiet nature and the Hydro Element's inherent elegance, Themis imagined his dragon form would retain that refined grace.
Who wouldn't want to ride a dragon?
Well, Themis didn't mind the idea of dragon riding in principle, but the fact that this dragon was Neuvillette made her feel a little awkward.
They were too well-acquainted; it would be embarrassing to just climb onto his back.
Sumeru's desert and rainforest, with their unique ecological landscapes distinct from Fontaine, offered a charm that could only be fully appreciated through firsthand experience.
However, spending too long in the desert inevitably brought a sense of desolate restlessness.
Venturing into the rainforest, the terrain grew even more treacherous. Towering emerald trees created a dense canopy, but it was easy to lose one's way.
Moreover, the rainforest harbored numerous dangerous creatures. Snakes, at least, were guaranteed to be plentiful.
The real world proved far more intricate and perilous than any game representation could convey.
What Themis hadn't anticipated was encountering bandits in the desert. This was a completely unexpected development.
Puzzled, she glanced at herself, then took a double look at the identical Furina and Focalors standing beside her.
Well, here were three beautiful young girls, impeccably dressed and seemingly defenseless, walking through the desert without a single bodyguard. They carried no Visions and wielded no weapons. It was no wonder they'd been targeted for robbery.
Focalors laughed carefree, while Furina, experiencing her first robbery, found the novelty of the situation rather amusing.
But after subduing the robbers, Themis realized something deeply troubling.
Does Sumeru even have prisons?
It seemed the only punishments were exile to the desert, expulsion from the Akademiya, or some other vaguely defined consequence. The Mahamatra, responsible for maintaining order, primarily dealt with academic crimes, not street violence.
When Themis shared her thoughts with Focalors and Furina, the atmosphere predictably turned even more somber.
"The God of Wisdom's nation is truly... unexpected," Furina quipped, forcing a nervous chuckle. She couldn't believe a country could exist without clearly defined laws.
Is this for real? she wondered. Doesn't this place even have its own military? Is law enforcement entirely outsourced to mercenaries?!
Furina didn't understand, but she was deeply shocked.
"Sumeru University City? What a joke!"
This was just the rainforest region of Sumeru. In the desert, they still believed in settling scores the old-fashioned way, with steel and blood. If you had a problem, you settled it with your fists.
Truly, Sumeru lived up to its reputation as the place that best preserved its primal spirit! Remarkable in every sense.
Furina dared not say a word, dared not ask a question, considering they were still on someone else's territory.
The allure of a white-haired beauty like Furina spoke for itself! She attracted countless gazes along the way.
What truly made Focalors and Furina bristle was someone's attempt to NTR them right in front of their faces.
The man claimed he wasn't interested in children, finding the blend of youth and maturity in someone like Themis far more appealing.
Ugh, excuse me, who do you think you are?
Trying to steal the Hydro Archon's wife? Talk about having balls!
Themis firmly rejected the advance. "I still prefer them," she declared, pointing to Furina and Focalors. She stood tall and proud beside the two Hydro Archons, staking her claim.
Well, that's that.
But then, unexpectedly, a new contender appeared. This woman insisted she wasn't there to break them up, but to join them!
Themis couldn't hold back any longer.
Forcing a polite yet awkward smile, she firmly refused.
Grabbing a Furina by each hand, she hurried away.
It wasn't quite a panicked retreat, but she worried about leaving a lingering scent of jealousy in her wake.
As Themis had anticipated, the moment they returned to the inn, the two little archons pinned her down. The Hydro Archons now radiated an unmistakable aura of spilled jealousy.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong," Themis said.
"Wrong about what?!" Focalors retorted, pulling the softening Furina behind her. With hands on her hips and one cheek puffed out, she glared down at Themis from her perch.
Lying half-sideways on the bed, Themis watched Focalors sitting on her waist, huffing indignantly. She found her utterly adorable.
Of course, the wavering, softened Furina beside her was just as endearing.
Heh~ My wives are so beautiful. They're just too cute!
Though Themis knew Focalors' retort was merely a knee-jerk reaction, a way to vent her jealousy after nearly witnessing her partner being snatched away, Furina actually seemed to be considering the question seriously.
Deep down, Themis genuinely believed she wasn't at fault.
"Honestly, it's my mistake," she said, blinking her impossibly large, doe-like eyes, her expression utterly earnest. "My only crime is being too beautiful. I should have rejected her outright or insisted on some proof of our affection."
"Should I make up for it now?"
"Or would you prefer to make it up to me?"
Furina was the first to crack, clapping a hand over Themis's mouth to stop her from saying another word. "What are you even saying?!"
Furina's face flushed crimson. It was humiliating enough to be dragged into alleys and cornered by Themis in broad daylight! She hadn't yet evolved to the point where she could stroll down the street covered in love bites without batting an eye.
Themis, however, couldn't care less. Her skin was thicker than an Archon's hide. Besides, which Archon would dare mock her? Their lives weren't worth it.
Originally, she'd intended to tease Focalors, but somehow ended up flustering Furina instead.
Focalors exchanged a glance with Themis, and they both reached out simultaneously, pulling Furina into a tangled heap with them.
With three long-haired women wrestling, collisions and snags were inevitable. Hair got tangled, heads bumped, and occasionally someone's hair got pinned beneath another's weight, tugging painfully at the scalp.
The pain was real, but only Furina whimpered and teared up.
What to do? Focalors thought. I want to tease Furina even more now.
While Focalors wrestled with Themis and her own conscience, she took the initiative and pounced.
"Furina, you're so cute~"
"Focalors, let me go!"
The fear of being dominated by Focalors outweighed Furina's shyness about being cornered by Themis. She resisted Focalors' advances with all her might.
Her pale, slender legs kicked wildly beneath the blanket, her white-stockinged feet thrashing about.
Themis sat nearby, thoroughly amused by their interaction.
Yet beneath her amusement lay bewilderment. What exactly did Focalors do to make Furina so terrified? It's like a cat toying with a mouse.
"Alright, alright, Focalors, stop scaring her," Themis said.
Themis rescued Furina, who was on the verge of spitting up white furballs, from Focalors' clutches, irritably blocking Focalors' relentless advances.
"What do you mean 'scaring her'?" Focalors protested. "I was simply expressing my affection."
"After all, Furina is so adorable. I can't help but adore her."
Focalors' cat-like mouth curved into a smile, her face an uncanny replica of Furina's. It was hard not to suspect her of narcissism.
Furina nestled in Themis' arms, determined never to share a bed with Focalors. The latter's overwhelming enthusiasm had conjured up visions of her devouring children—a truly terrifying spectacle. Compared to Focalors, Themis' affectionate gestures were practically gentle.
When Themis gently squeezed Furina's small tummy, the little girl trembled involuntarily. Generally, such beginnings foreshadowed more intimate moments. To be fair, Furina's observations about such patterns had proven true time and again.
However, not all playful encounters followed this predictable script.
Themis' little finger hooked onto Furina's black leg garter. Truthfully, no matter how many times she saw it, the way the garter dug into Furina's thigh, creating a soft bulge, always held a certain allure.
When Themis released the stretched garter, letting it snap back against Furina's thigh with a thwack, Furina would instinctively burrow deeper into her embrace.
The ridiculously long ahoge on top of her head bounced around uncontrollably.
This amusing reaction never failed to entertain Focalors, no matter how many times she witnessed it.
Focalors reached out and pinched Furina's ahoge. It was surprisingly springy, refusing to stay flattened no matter how hard she pressed.
"What's so fun about this?" Furina complained. "It stings a little when it bounces back."
"Don't worry," Focalors reassured her, "I'm controlling my strength. I won't hurt you."
The Hydro Archon's delicate frame was soft and supple, her skin as fine and fragile as a newborn's.
It glowed white, reflecting sunlight even indoors.
As the leg ring stretched and snapped back, the base of Furina's chubby thighs flushed crimson.
No matter how many times it happened, Furina couldn't help but tense up, especially when Focalors was watching her.
Seriously? Being stared at by someone who looks exactly like me is just too embarrassing!
By the time Themis leaned in for a kiss, Furina had given up completely, closing her eyes in defeat.
At least I won't open them for Focalors. Otherwise, I'll just end up dealing with that human trash.
Themis kept her word, leaving her mark exactly as promised. To be absolutely sure, she meticulously repeated the process several times.
Considering Furina's upper body was completely covered, even marks on her neck would remain hidden.
Themis's gaze drifted down to Furina's other thigh, lingering on her pristine skin. She smiled at Furina, a beautiful smile that concealed a mischievous mind. Just below the leg ring, she left a deliberate bite mark.
Focalors gave Themis a thumbs-up, impressed by the idea. But she decided to skip the biting and instead kissed Furina's stomach, licking it twice for good measure. Focalors truly believed she was being far more restrained than Themis. So why was Furina more afraid of her than Themis?
Removing Furina's hand from her mouth, Focalors slowly and deliberately peeled off her gloves. Themis tilted her head in confusion, unsure of Focalors' intentions. Under Themis's watchful gaze, Focalors bit down on the base of Furina's fingers.
Themis fell silent, acknowledging Focalors' superior playfulness. Focalors methodically bit every finger except the thumb. "Well, there's still one hand left," she remarked.
"Should I thank you for that?" Themis quipped.
In the end, Focalors didn't bite the last finger. Poor Furina Cat was subjected to twice the amount of teasing.
As expected, Furina was the first to collapse, exhausted and unable to move.