Genshin Impact is a big stage, come if you dare

Chapter 882 The Final Curtain Call

Funina could see the deep weariness in Iriehae's eyes.

That weariness was like a lake covered with an ice shell, making her unwavering will appear blurred and fragile.

Funina was very familiar with this look, because she had seen it countless times in her own reflection in the mirror.

She understood even more clearly what that look meant—Irie's spirit was about to give out.

Worldly glory and power meant nothing to her.

Her faith was crumbling, and her beliefs were on the verge of collapse.

“You are not wrong, Iriye,” the pure water spirit said sadly. “Your sins are my sins.”

“It was me, it was me who refused to witness Remus’s folly bury the future of the people of the waters.”

"It was me, it was me who chose you and led you on this lonely and cruel journey."

Remus's plan was corrupted, and the Remurians and Fontaines, who shared the same origin, began to kill each other.

The demon god who loves people and his retinue who fear corruption are utterly powerless to prevent tragedies among humankind.

Thus, the most powerful and intelligent royal water spirit, in place of the Lord of Water who was imprisoned in the deep sea, chose a brave and resilient girl, endowed her with a sacred and powerful holy sword, and supported her in leading and protecting the future of the people of water.

Iriye shook his head. The flames of war had burned away the proud gold, and also the pure silver.

She killed many, many people, and she saved many, many people, but those things no longer matter.

She was really tired.

Furina understood Irie's feelings.

She had only recently come to an end the days when she was given a destiny, shouldered a mission, and endured all the hardships of forging ahead.

For five hundred years, the name of the water god has been a golden shackle and fetter. Prophecy is the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all Fontainebleau people, ready to fall and destroy everything at any moment.

For the sake of the people of Fontainebleau, and for her own sake, she had no choice but to take to the stage and play the role of a deity, praying for the promised end to come soon.

But she was a coward, and could only force herself to appear brave through drama and madness, using exaggerated physical performances to cover up her trembling fingertips.

Although there are moments of joy, the hidden pain will come back from all sides, even if there is only a moment of relaxation.

She had thought of ending it all, but her life didn't belong to her alone. She carried the lives of all the people of Fontainebleau on her shoulders, and could only move forward, weeping.

Iriye...how similar she is to her.

Furina felt a deep sympathy for Irie.

"I, stained with sin, am unfit to wear the crown of justice. Perhaps in the future, someone seven times more noble than I will reclaim it."

Iriye recited her prayer for the third time, and this time, she hurled the holy sword into the lake with all her might.

Sensing Iriye's resolute decision, the pure water spirit also fell silent.

She understood that Irie was already the most resilient part of humanity, but her spirit was still on the verge of collapse.

The spring water flowed quietly, sinking the holy sword into the heart of the lake.

Funina sensed a fleeting moment of satisfaction in Irie's emotions, followed by an endless emptiness.

Funina felt that this state was very dangerous for Irie herself!

Pure Water Fairy thinks so too.

She tried her best to persuade Irie to stay.

But Iriye insisted on leaving.

Pure Water Sprite: "Where are we going?"

"..." Iriye didn't know either. She thought for a moment and said, "Wandering around, maybe I can find fragments of my lover's and comrades' remains. And then..."

Then, when you're completely exhausted, find a place to lie down and rest forever.

Before Iriye could finish speaking, Funina and the Water Sprite already understood.

The end of Iriye should not have been like this!

A strong emotion welled up in Funina's heart.

Then, she suddenly remembered that Su, when she learned that she was going to leave Mo Mang Palace alone, was in the same mood as she is now.

While Funina was lost in thought, the Water Sprite had an idea. "Irie, do you know... the Cup of Pure Water?"

Iriye knew from childhood about the Cup of Pure Water, the cup of the Lord of Waters, a legendary golden cup filled with the primordial water.

Legend has it that the most holy creation can heal all terrible wounds, and can also make people young again and bring them back to life.

Legend has it that only the purest of souls can witness its glory and attain eternal life and boundless wisdom.

"A sacred object that only the purest person can see..." Iriye felt he was not qualified or honored, nor did he desire eternal life and infinite wisdom.

As for healing wounds, reversing aging, and coming back from the dead... isn't the prerequisite for using these abilities that the body is completely intact?

Her lovers and comrades were at most just fragments of bones. Could she turn them into shining fragments of bones with a golden cup?

Seeing that the Cup of Pure Water failed to pique Iriye's interest, the Water Spirit created new functions for the Cup of Pure Water in order to motivate her to move forward.

"If you find the primordial water and the primordial cup that grants all requests, and tell her your wishes, all sins will eventually be forgiven."

"A sacred artifact that can grant any wish...?" Iriye was stunned for a moment, feeling only absurdity.

No one can wash away sin, just as no one can wash away blood in water. Even if forgotten, sin is still sin.

No one can bring back the past, just as no one can bring back the light of day. Even she has admitted that the past is long gone.

but……

She recalled the sobs and cries that had echoed in her ears for decades.

I recalled the haunting images of the deceased that haunted my midnight dreams.

She thought of her lover, whose soul, though beheaded, had never escaped his shackles.

Thinking of Fontaine, who has never truly escaped their fate...

"If such a sacred artifact truly exists in this laughable world, if it can truly grant all wishes."

"If only we could truly wipe away all the tears for the future, so that Gao Hai's descendants would never again suffer the sorrow and pain of the past..."

A glimmer of hope shone in Irie's eyes, and she rallied, "Let me indulge in this illusion one last time."

Funina's eyes widened in disbelief!

If she wasn't mistaken, the Cup of Pure Water should have ended up in Sue's hands; Irie did not obtain the Golden Cup.

Moreover, although it was a white lie, what if Irieh discovered that it was all a deception...?

No! Don't think so badly! Perhaps on this new journey, Irie will slowly see hope and gradually let go of her sorrow.

Funina prayed for Irie, whose fate in history remains unknown.

Before Iriye set off, the tears shed by the pure water spirit transformed into a clear and pure azure flower.

Funina recognized the flower; it was the lily of the valley that only grew near extremely clear waterways.

Its fragrance is cool and elegant, spicy yet gentle. It symbolizes "waiting" and "eternal promise," and is her favorite flower.

Fontaine has a long tradition of picking a sprig of lily of the valley and giving it to someone who is traveling far away.

May our paths forward be as clear and peaceful as still water, and may those we cherish return to us once more, guided by this gentle, cool light.

The Water Sprite pinned the Lake Lily of the Valley to the shoulder buckle of Iriye's cloak, watching her knight leave her side once again.

The leaves swayed, creating dappled light, and time in my dream flowed by rapidly.

Many clusters of Lily of the Valley gradually grew in the place where pure water spirits lingered by the lake.

But Iriye did not return.

Iriye will not return.

The water carried her message—though dejected, Irieye, as expected of the strongest pure water knight, followed the clues of the golden cup and successfully found... Egolia in the deep sea.

The loving Mother of Waters did not lie. Upon learning once again that the so-called salvation and hope were nothing but an illusion, Irie, who had long been unable to hold on, completely collapsed.

She disappeared into the remote wilderness and was never seen again.

It wasn't until tears streamed down her face that Funina realized she had regained control of her body.

The deep sorrow she felt for the pure water spirit gradually faded, and Funina wiped away her tears.

Her vision, blurred by tears, cleared again, and Funinna saw the figure of a knight in the shadows of the trees.

Funina: !

Iriye?! She's back?

No, that's not right! That's... Sue?!