Court of Fontaine Region

Name: Court of Fontaine Region · Type: Permanent Location · Region: Fontaine · Version Released: 4.0

Court of FontaineCourt of FontaineThe Court of Fontaine is the main city of Fontaine, where the residence of the last Hydro Archon Furina was located. The Court of Fontaine can be reached via the Clementine aquabus line, leading from Romaritime Harbor. The city amazes with its sophistication, majesty, and technology. One of the main attractions of the city is the Statue of the Seven, located near the Palais Mermonia. Gardemeks can be seen on the streets keeping order, as well as Melusines from the Marechaussee Phantom, and smartly dressed ladies and their dogs.The Fontinalia Festival takes place in the Court of Fontaine. It was established to honor the legendary Lochknights who searched for the Oceanids and welcomed the first Hydro Archon Egeria. Similar to other prominent festivals like Mondstadt's Windblume Festival and Liyue's Lantern Rite, it holds deep connections to the founding of Fontaine, making it one of the nation's most important festivals. Originally, people commemorated the Lochknights by imitating them, wearing special costumes, raising golden cups, and going door-to-door requesting pure water. However, Furina made the tradition more festive a few years ago by changing the water request to sweets. The festival is considered to be more carnival-like now and is popular among children who engage in "trial or treat" activities each year which include going door-to-door asking for candies with baskets during the celebration. During the first Fontinalia Festival, the Traveler and Paimon attended, and the prestigious "Furina Award," named after the former Hydro Archon Lady Furina, was given out at the end of the festival. Despite the changes in leadership, the name is still fitting for the award as Furina remains a beloved figure in Fontaine.One day, Lepine-Pauline, a specialist in Graph Adversarial Technology, decided to use an improved Kamera lens to rid Teyvat of everyone out there who's trying to con innocent people. She read in The Steambird that "Several keen-eyed thieves who noticed a flaw in the Gardemeks detection systems disguised themselves as Blubberbeasts during the commission of their crimes." Completely blind to the would-be-Blubberbeasts, the Gardemeks made no attempt to intervene in the thefts committed by the gang. She had an idea that it was possible to improve the Gardemeks' ability to recognize targets in order to recognize criminals in disguise. Lepine-Pauline decided to collect sample images and, based on them, develop a simple but powerful and highly accurate image recognition algorithm that runs on a small graphical processing module. Any clockwork meka installed with this module would instantly be able to recognize people wearing disguises and accurately assess the criminal threat they pose. She hoped that her invention would make her incredibly rich and even borrowed a large sum from the bank to develop her technology.It turned out that the news in The Steambird was a short story mailed to them by an anonymous amateur author, written in the style of a true story. Although the editors of the newspaper were afraid that the story could mislead readers, the Maison Gardiennage supported them in printing it. They figured that the false intel would be a great way to dupe potential criminals into wearing ridiculous costumes when breaking the law. Since the publication of this story, the Maison Gardiennage has made a slew of arrests including "Phantom Blubberbeast," a "Titanic Redcrown Finch," and a "Specterman" as the recognition function of the Gardemeks worked perfectly. Lepine-Pauline was ready to fight the Gardemeks to be sent to the Fortress of Meropide in order not to pay off the loan, but the newspaper's journalist Charlotte, whom the researcher asked to advertise her technology, offered her an alternative use for the device. The "Kamera Lens for Image Recognition Sample Collection" was specially designed for high-fidelity image capture and analysis. The rapid focal length adjustment could be a very useful function in its own right. It would make journalists' jobs much easier and had the potential to revolutionize Fontaine's news media. Thus, Lepine-Pauline regained her hope of becoming rich, and Charlotte got news material: "The boundaries between real news reports and news-like fiction must not be blurred, even when there's a compelling justification for doing so."One of the Lil' Fungi's Fun-Tastic Fiesta events, Fungus Mechanicus, took place in the Court of Fontaine, organized by the Fungi trainer, Haniyyah, and her writer friend Souka. Haniyyah had come to Fontaine to search for reliable investors for the official Fungi tournament, and to host a preview event to advertise the Fungi's cuteness and attract an audience in advance. Haniyyah also wanted to find researchers from the Institute to make a new Wisdom Orb that would allow humans to tame the Fungi. The Fontaine Research Institute's Fonta research team didn't just provide a huge amount of funding to Haniyyah and Souka, but they also promised to help them look for the necessary talent.Souka prepared preview event plans, ordered elegant clothes, and trained the Eremite Haniyyah to improve her speech and manners. In the new competition, people were directing Fungi to defeat all the Mechanici. The game received a pretty good initial response, but it was lacking in long-term potential, so it quickly lost popularity, so Souka combined elements from various documents and fiction to change the Mechanici into pieces that simulate powerful opponents, which adds all manner of variables to the game. She also went to The Steambird to discuss the possibility of placing an advertisement in the newspaper to popularize the game. Turenna, a member of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, was put in charge of monitoring the exotic animals brought to Fontaine from abroad, as well as providing highly skilled assistance to Haniyyah and Souka. The Traveler and Paimon's friends, Bongo-Head and Kindlejoy, were even assigned special people to take care of them.In this subarea, world quests,,,,, Semi-Automatic Forging,,,,, and The Long-Failed "Graph Adversarial Technology"... can be found.Related Entries:Court of Fontaine: Court Region Waterway HubThe Waterway Hub is located on the square in the Court of Fontaine with the fountain. The elevator connects the Palais Mermonia and the Clementine aquabus line leading to Romaritime Harbor. The third line, the Callas line, leading to the Research Institute, was damaged during the explosion of the Central Laboratory. The President of Spina di Rosula, Navia, is planning to restore the Callas line. The main hall of the station is on the first level out of four, the Clementine line is on the second, and on the third level is the Navia line leading to the Erinnyes. At the Waterway Hub, Certified Players, Rhemia, and Pruniere can be found. Rhemia is a Melusine who serves in the Marechaussee Phantom and is quite interested in the humans around. Rhemia has recently begun playing Genius Invokation TCG with passersby, engaging in friendly conversation with them as well. The prowess she displays in these matches has earned her a lot of respect. Pruniere is an Aquabus Maintenance Worker who ensures the integrity of the waterways. After finishing the basic water maintenance work, Pruniere still has a surfeit of free time, and thus has developed superb skill at playing Genius Invokation TCG.Related Entries:Court of Fontaine: Vasari PassageIn the main square of the Court of Fontaine, in the Vasari Passage, a large moving fountain and the Court of Fontaine Waterway Hub are situated. Certified Player Paban can be found here. He is a newsy who sells The Steambird and is considered the Court of Fontaine's own miniature "Know-It-All" by some others his age. Paban has recently taken to playing Genius Invokation TCG with those who come to him for information, offering them the following deal: If he wins, his opponent must become his distributor. In addition, various merchants can be found in the passage, such as a fruit vendor and Certified Player, Eugenie, a manager of a snack shop, Louis, and Boucicaut from Damoville Purveyor. Next to the Gallery is the building where the rival of the famous fashion designer, Chiori, lives. When he falsely accused Chiori of collaborating with criminals, she called the captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, Chevreuse, to prevent Chiori from overdoing it in the "conversation." The Beaumont Workshop, owned by Estelle, is also located there. The workshop offers a full, comprehensive service for individual orders. To order, prepayment, documentation with requirements, and supporting documents are required. Forging in the workshop is carried out by a special machine running on Indemnitium. Previously, during trials, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale collected people's faith in justice and converted it into energy, which was then used throughout Fontaine. In addition to Indemnitium, Fontaine has Pneumousia energy, which is produced independently of the Archon's power but is unstable in nature. When Fontaine's prophecy had not yet come true, Estelle helped the Fatui make Magic Pockets in which people could put all their things in case of danger. At the time, Estelle owed money to Confrerie of Cabriere. She promised to repay her debt by the end of the month, but the people from Confrerie of Cabriere wanted to get seventy percent at that moment. It turned out that Confrerie of Cabriere owed money to the Northland Bank. The Fatui Harbinger Childe went to collect their debt and stopped to talk to the Traveler returning from visiting Estelle.When Furina left her role as Archon, she quickly left her residence and went to live in a small apartment. Although she had gained her freedom and fulfilled her duty, she did not know where to go next. The concept of "freedom" rang hollow. Furina's luggage remained piled up in her new rental apartment, and she lacked all will even to tidy up or get moved in. All she could do was lie in bed and stare at the bare ceiling. One day, Clorinde the Champion Duelist, who had previously been under her command, visited her. The duelist was shocked at Furina's living conditions, quickly expressing her willingness to pay for better accommodations, a notion Furina expended no small amount of effort disabusing her of. Despite this, she was dragged, however reluctantly, into at least properly unpacking and tidying up the room, and now Furina lives in the Vasari Passage.Not far from this apartment was the meeting place of the theater troupe that Furina helped once. After she became an ordinary person, she never wanted to go on stage again, but after learning about the history of the troupe, she decided to become an artistic consultant for the last time in the play "The Little Oceanid." The main actress, suffering from illness, was unable to appear in the final scene of the play, so Furina had to replace her. After a wonderful performance and communication with the troupe, Furina decided that perhaps she would return to the world of theater.One day, the Chief Editor of The Steambird, Euphrasie, told the Traveler about an order that had been kept in the editorial office for six months. In the order, an elderly man, Benoit Leroy, asked to find assistants. When Traveler and Paimon volunteered for the task, they saw Benoit looking depressed and scared next to his daughter, Morticia's, husband. After investigating and talking with Morticia and her husband, it turned out that Morticia's real name was Autumn, and Benoit was her adoptive father, who sold her as a wife to a rich man for the sake of inheritance. When Autumn's first husband died, Benoit received that house in the Vasari Passage and gave his daughter to her second husband, with whom she had a daughter. Later, Autumn killed her husband, for which she was sent to the Fortress of Meropide, and her daughter remained with Benoit. He gave the girl up for adoption without saying a word to Autumn. Autumn and her "husband," Athos, escaped from prison to take revenge on Benoit and find the girl, but even after learning the truth, Autumn did not dare to invade the happy life of her daughter. Molli was adopted by a caring and rich family who tried to protect her from Benoit.In this place, the Café Lutece is located, owned by Arouet. He previously worked in the Maison Gestion, and his views there were considered quite radical. When Arouet got tired of work, he quit to open a cafe. Now he is a coffee maker of the highest level. Café Lutece is the most popular сafé in the Vasari Passage, its delicious coffee and snacks earning plaudits from customers from all backgrounds to freely and comfortably discuss philosophy and other topics as they enjoy their coffee. Anyone may participate, and no topic is forbidden, with the exception of "death."Related Entries:Hotel Bouffes d'eteThe Hotel Bouffes d'ete, situated in the Vasari Passage, is a lovely building with clean walls and sparkling windows, and well-mannered, well-groomed children frequent it every day. Unlike other mansions of comparable beauty in the Court of Fontaine, the registered owner of this property does not live on-site. Indeed, nearby residents have not even heard of her. The signature on the relevant documentation is but a false identity — the real power lies with someone else. If one could hear the children whisper at night behind the Hotel's closed gates, one would hear this appellation: "Father." When speaking of "Father," some faces turn worshipful, some hearts are seized with fear, and still others look inscrutable, torn — but their tone always becomes one of respect. These children are part of the organization known as the House of the Hearth. They belong to the Fatui. This place is home to orphans the world over, and the luxurious Hotel is but one of the House's faces. As for this "Father," the master of the House, she is none other than The Knave, Arlecchino, presently Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers. The Fatui — and this Harbinger — enjoy a mixed reputation. But to most of these children, "Father" is the most important figure in their lives. "It is only because 'Father' is here that this place is truly like a 'home.'" All children consider each other brothers and sisters and often hold family barbecues. Arlecchino herself also grew up in the House of the Hearth under the former headmistress and Fatui Harbinger, Crucabena, known as "Mother." Crucabena arranged duels between children for the title of "king." A year afterbecame the only surviving winner, she killed Crucabena and buried the title "Mother" with her. The Tsaritsa personally bestowed a new name on Peruere and entrusted her with being the first to use the Hydro Gnosis of Fontaine. Rules in the new House of the Hearth are quite strict, but not ruthless. The house became a common shelter for the children, which they had to support through joint efforts. Now, everyone was free to choose their own way of completing tasks, and even if they failed, they were not subjected to the same painful punishments. If they broke the rules or wanted to leave, they were given a bottled flame, a solution of fire in Arlecchino's blood, which destroyed all the person's memories of the House of the Hearth.The House of the Hearth uses many codewords to maintain operational security and secrecy, and of these, "Marelle" was personally selected by The Knave herself. "Marelle" takes its meaning from a popular Fontainian children's game. Boxes sequentially marked with numbers are drawn out on the ground, a sandbag is thrown into one of the boxes, and the player will jump from box to box in a specific order. No one knows when this game began to spread, nor who created the rules, but all young children of the Hearth have experienced being taken by older children to play the game. The memories married to "Marelle" were always wonderful, like the kiss of radiant sunshine. As such, at first, the children were perplexed when their "Father" was torn between assigning "At Ease" or "Danger" to that codeword. Little did they know that in the House that came before, Marelle was no game. In those days, each and every child would leap into the boxes one by one under the vigilant eyes of the adults. Stepping out of the lines or breaking the rhythm was not allowed. There was never a need to ask for the punishment for making a bad jump, for the area outside of the boxes was lined with upturned blades. Those who lost their balance, whose stamina failed, or simply made an error out of fear, so many fell beyond the bounds, and the dark-red soil mourned that painful past. None would have associated it with being "at ease" — indeed, few could speak of it without blanching. Yet, after her hesitation, Arlecchino chose "at ease" as the codeword's meaning that day. Marelle was by then no longer associated with "danger." Now, all that came to mind when this game was mentioned were smiling faces. In which case, she thought, let those unhappy memories dwell in her heart alone. Let the blood and dust be wiped away, for children to see a broader future.Famous magicians, Lyney and Lynette, grew up in the House of the Hearth. When they were still living on the street and performing magic tricks to earn a living, one aristocrat from the public decided to adopt them. At first, the children thought that the hard days of wandering were behind them, but the aristocrat needed a pocket magician, not a son. He took Lyney to banquets and parties to garner attention, which he would then use to expand his social circles. After another performance at the banquet, Lyney discovered that Lynette had not returned with him. It turned out that one "eminent person" liked her at the banquet, and the aristocrat presented her to him as a gift. Lyney ferreted out the location of the mansion of that so-called "eminent person" and went there that night. When he went inside, he saw only the floor stained with blood and the silhouette of Arlecchino in the dark. Lynette and several other girls were rescued. The Harbinger saw something in Lyney and invited him and his sister to the House of the Hearth: "The House of the Hearth welcomes you, for your interests align with ours. Here, none will ever betray you. Indeed, betrayal shall never be permitted here." At first, Lyney did not trust Arlecchino, but she dealt with the aristocrat who adopted them, giving them freedom. Over the course of several years, Arlecchino killed all members of the family who bought Lynette.While Hotel Bouffes d'ete's operations in Fontaine work toward a just cause, its methods can often be radical. Only the influence of "Father" and her control over the inner workings of the Court of Fontaine prevent any serious incidents from occurring. There was once an official funded by Lyney who served in the Maison Gardiennage. This person provided both intel in support of the Hotel's operations and scrubbed clean the effects of some of the Hotel's clandestine actions. These were actions that came with no small risk, but the official always performed them well, for he believed that the Fontaine of the present day needed someone like "Father" who could bypass the many layers of laws and regulations and take direct action. The official's deeds were eventually discovered, and on the brink of capture, he used an emergency communication device to send a message to Lyney. Upon discovering the device, the Gardes who arrived at the scene mocked the official's naivete, claiming that the signal sent merely informed his compatriots to save themselves — no one would be stupid enough to try to save him. The official's reply was also quite simple — even such an ending would have been fine for him, for he did not believe that his prior cooperation was the wrong decision. He still believed that he did the right thing by starting to cooperate with them. As the Gardes were taking him away, he was suddenly rescued by Lyney and Freminet, making the Gardes think that he had flown away in a flying machine.Despite the formidability of the Harbinger, she cares for her children and accepts their peculiarities. One day, a girl broke the rules and wore jewelry on a mission. When the girl later realized that she had made a mistake, she took off the necklace and fearfully waited for Arlecchino's reaction, trembling with fear. But she took the necklace and put it around the girl's neck, and then tied her hair with a velvet ribbon and put earrings with precious stones in her ears."It is normal to be vain at your age. But do not let these beautiful trinkets arouse vanity and dull your intellect. Wear them. Once you have grown accustomed to them, you will realize that no gem, however exquisite, is any more than an object, cold and dead. This is your new lesson — to understand the source of your emotions. Master them, use them. Never be their slave."When one of the children of the orphanage, Freminet, went in search of his mother and was about to give up, "Father" threw him his mother's medallion. All these years, Crucabena told him that his mother abandoned him, but the truth turned out to be different. That year, the debt that his family owed finally reached the point where they would no longer be able to repay it. Those greedy moneylenders had not only forced Freminet's mother to hand over the house that they lived in but had also demanded that she hand over Freminet as well. In the end, she had no choice but to entrust Freminet to "that orphanage" — somewhere they could never get at him — and then face them alone. When Arlecchino killed all the moneylenders, it was already too late for Freminet's mother.For a long time, the House of the Hearth tried to resist Fontaine's prophecy about the dissolution of people. All the orphans were Fontainians and would do anything to save their homeland. So, the children of the House of the Hearth distributed Magic Pockets to the Fontainians, in which they could place personal belongings in case of a sudden threat. In addition, Arlecchino conducted an investigation about the Gnosis: she had long suspected that Lady Furina did not have it, so she sent the children to the Opera Epiclese and to the Fortress of Meropide to find out the truth. During the fulfillment of the prophecy, Arlecchino and the other Fatui took a direct part in evacuating, helping residents, and rebuilding damaged areas.On the Hotel Bouffes d'ete's Founding Day, all the children were abustle, draping festive colors all over the place. To the residents, outside festivals and events were cold and emotionless things, foreign elements in their lives, and only this dwelling could bring them true warmth. The children were preparing for the holiday with all their might: Lynette, along with other children, pulled ribbons and hung up handwritten congratulatory posters, Freminet monitored the serviceability of the magic props, and Lyney was preparing a secret magic trick. And thus, the banquet was successfully held with everyone's support. The children danced to the joyous music playing from the grand hall's phonograph and enjoyed delicious food — this was the birthday of no one in particular, but this was the day they all felt they had gained new lives. The final act was a magic performance: a magic box was placed in the center of the room, and when all the candles went out, Lyney announced that the most important present in their lives would appear from there. Under the explosions of firecrackers, the box opened, and Arlecchino appeared before them. Everyone froze, but "Father" was not going to reprimand anyone. On the contrary, in her opinion, Lyney deserved praise for keeping the secret well and being able to achieve the desired effect from the trick. That night, the children and their "Father" delighted in the various desserts together, and she personally sliced a serving of cake for each of them, which she herself enjoyed some of as well. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Lyney's Founding Day magic show was its ability to have even "Father" lay down her heavy burden and enjoy a brief moment of familial love.Related Entries:Emilie's Perfume ShopIn the Vasari Passage, Emilie's perfume shop is located. Emilie moves much like perfume herself: you cannot reach her, nor can she be stopped. She is not employed by the Confrerie of Cabriere, nor does she work with any fixed brand. Nevertheless, she remains the most famous perfume designer in Fontaine, and the elegant, fashionable ladies of Fontaine would even give a precious gem for her perfume. The cost of one bottle of perfume can reach 570,000 Mora. Chiori, the owner of the Chioriya Boutique, entered into an agreement with her, according to which Emilie supplies small quantities of perfume to the Chioriya Boutique. The worker then secretly sprays them in the fitting room, and Chiori informs Emilie about the customer reviews.Emilie has expert knowledge in the field of chemistry and often assists the Maison Gardiennage in analyzing evidence and tracking down a killer. She helps them discover information that no one else can see, like what type of perfume a suspect wore or what type of flowers they sent as a gift. She can even determine the places they've been, right down to the very dirt they've stepped in. She once helped the captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol catch a criminal who committed murders based on the book "The Two Musketeers." The killer left rainbow roses near the victims, and Emilie was able to figure out that they belonged to a rare variety of flowers and tracked the nursery down to the house.Despite the popularity of Emilie's perfumes, perfume-making is just a hobby for her, something she does in her spare time, just like how some people learn to play a musical instrument or make crafts. Her real profession is a forensic cleaner. Her mother is a forensic pathologist, and since she was little, Emilie knew that she wanted to work in the field of criminal investigations, just like her mother. For a long time, her talent for chemistry inspired her to pursue trace evidence analysis. As she progressed further in her studies, she began to encounter real-life crime scenes. One day, she saw a child's murder scene and could not imagine how the child's parents would clean up the crime scene. So, she decided to become a forensic cleaner and use her chemicals to clean crime scenes.Related Entries:Court of Fontaine: Quartier NarbonnaisThe SteambirdQuartier Narbonnais is home to some of Fontaine's most influential perfume and clothing stores in fashion circles, and tourists interested in Fontainian fashion often go there. One of the main buildings in the quartier is The Steambird, Fontaine's most popular newspaper. Euphrasie is the Chief Editor of the newspaper, and she shoulders a great many responsibilities in addition to her work at the agency — she posts commissions for local residents' everyday troubles, assists the Palais Mermonia in putting up posters for criminals and dangerous monsters wanted by the Maison Gardiennage, and taps into the newspaper's powerful sources to find and contact people best suited for the missions. The symbol of The Steambird is the mechanical pelican Sir Arthur, whose voice module stores the latest news from the Court of Fontaine. One day, Sir Arthur was kidnapped, and the Marechaussee Phantom worker, Talochard the Melusine, volunteered to solve the case, along with the intelligent lie detector "Curve." It turned out that the editor of the newspaper, Jenck, was involved in the kidnapping. He learned how 30 years ago, the newspaper wrongly accused the creator of Curve of falsifying research results, which led to the death of the researcher in a judicial duel. Jenck contacted one of Fatui's agents in the Fleuve Cendre and made a deal with one of the Harbingers: in exchange for documents from the researcher's secret laboratory, they promised him the position of editor-in-chief of the newspaper. In the laboratory, he tried to kill the Melusine, Curve, the Traveler, and Paimon, for which he was punished by the Harbinger, who did not want to be in enmity with the Traveler. Jenck's tongue was torn out, and a note of apology was placed in its place.One of the journalists is Charlotte, who chases not just surface-level stories, but their root cause. Charlotte's father, Galanopoulo, is a seasoned reporter and professional nature photographer, and it was he who noticed his daughter's interest in and knack for "observation." For her tenth birthday, he gave her a custom-made Kamera, which Charlotte named Monsieur Verite, which means "truth." Renowned fashion designer Chiori later created a costume for the Kamera. Charlotte has a special talent for photography, and when her father sent her first photographs to The Steambird, the critics were immediately fascinated by them. When Charlotte became famous for her photographs, Euphrasie approached her in the hope that Charlotte would become a special correspondent who would conduct interviews and write articles in addition to taking photographs. At first, her father was strongly against his daughter communicating with full of ulterior motives or hypocrites, but she realized that the world was full of undiscovered "truths" that she wanted to dig up. So, she became a full-fledged journalist for The Steambird and later, thanks to her unique reporting, received several La Verite awards, the main prize for Fontaine journalists.One of her most famous articles is "Prestige Prize Proved Perniciously Partial — The Real La Verite," which tells the story of money transactions and bribery of members of the La Verite committee. The article caused a stir throughout the Court of Fontaine, and amidst a broadside of shutter clicks, Charlotte unleashed a barrage of questions on the dumbfounded committee members. They tried to justify themselves, but in the end, they declared the questions out of order and in violation of normal procedure and fled in front of the journalists. However, Charlotte's reporting did not end there, and she continued to write about editorial staff associated with the committee. As a result, the Maison Gardiennage declared an official inquiry into the Award, suspending its activities and investigating all suspicious awardees. By court decision, the La Verite Award selection committee was also wholly reorganized, now under various forms of new oversight.Astrologist Mona Megistus from Mondstadt writes a column in The Steambird called "All Things Astrological." Mona initially took the job to support herself. Her contributions to a column about constellations in The Steambird have become her most stable income source, but she immediately shells out on more astrology-related resources, returning to a state of destitution once more. Mona had the opportunity to work for newspapers by pure chance. When the previous contributing author was traveling the world, he heard the story of a strange astrologist, and his hobbyist's curiosity compelled him to seek her out. Their correspondence left him deeply impressed. As it happened, he was also looking to retire, and seeing that Mona was strapped for Mora, reached out to help her by recommending her to the editor-in-chief of The Steambird. When Mona released her first column, "An Introduction to Astrology," the column, heretofore known for being easy reading, experienced a massive shift in tone. Most of each issue was dedicated to discussing the movement of celestial bodies and other difficult (and obscure) topics. Academic quotations, dense footnotes, and even the occasional hand-drawn star maps abounded in these writings. The editor-in-chief could not help but feel worried that this approach was too academic. Would it find acceptance with long-time readers? As it turned out, there was no need to fret. The publishing house received a great many letters that read something like this: "Wow, this is amazing. I don't really get it, but this is super interesting. Consider me a fan of Astrologist Mona Megistus."Long before Fontaine's prophecy came to fruition, The Steambird sent an invitation to Mona to take part in a panel and speak about the circulation of the prophecy as an astrologist. Back then, no one knew what kind of trouble Fontaine would be in.Salon Caritat is located near the Hotel Debord. One of their employees is Riqueti, a former worker of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol and the Maison Gestion. To further the study of the law in Fontaine and improve the administration of justice therein, this salon organizes the 36th symposium. The symposium's topic is: "The Current State of Budget Overruns of the Maison Gardiennage and its Connection to the Provision of Public Safety in the Court of Fontaine."Related Entries:Hotel DebordIn the quartier, the Hotel Debord, a famous restaurant, is located. Thirty years ago, there were only four tables, eight chairs, and a waiter who was also the owner. But today, Debord has exquisite carpeting, expensive decorations, two dining areas, and an endless stream of guests. Its owner believes that "Art is the best seasoning for good food," and will often invite artists from various walks of life to perform at the restaurant. The intricate interior design also ensures that guests will be able to view the performance no matter where they sit. For those who love art, such displays may be even lovelier than choice food. At the restaurant, you can try Fontainian Foie Gras alongside this red wine blend of Sassica and Ornella, produced on Erinnyes, as well as a special cake that goes on sale only once a week. The waiter at the restaurant, Sanguinetti, believes that not every well-dressed gentleman or lady is as elegant in their tastes as their appearance might indicate. The question about the oldest and most expensive wine terrifies him.The Hotel Debord was founded about 100 years ago by adventurers Modeste and Savelli. One day, they discovered an extract of the Lumitoile that the Remurians used to heighten their senses, and with it, they created the famous Gateau Debord, which sold only sixteen servings a day. Modeste was hailed as a genius and the greatest chef in Fontaine, while Savelli was called a mediocre and a failure. In the prime of his life, Modeste suddenly died, and rumors began to spread in the Court of Fontaine that Savelli was to blame. With Modeste's death, the decline of the Hotel Debord began. The restaurant was constantly moving, its owner changed many times, until it finally fell into the hands of Vaneigem. When Lady Furina was still the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, she tasted a dessert that took the Court of Fontaine by storm, and the very next day, she invited the chef, Escoffier, who had created the dessert, to work at the Palais Mermonia. The palace's limited budget and lack of advanced equipment meant that she could only prepare simple dishes, preventing Escoffier from fully demonstrating her culinary genius. As a result, she needed a well-equipped restaurant where she could prepare desserts for Furina, then carefully pack and seal them, and deliver them to the court. Then the owner of the Hotel Debord, Vaneigem, made an offer to Escoffier, creating a special position for her as "Technical Head Chef." Now she was formally on par with the hotel's head chef and was free to use even the rarest and most expensive ingredients to create unrivaled dishes for Lady Furina. At that time, the head chef was an old and experienced woman who had already chosen her successor. However, seeing Escoffier's advantages in all areas of culinary art, she decided to give the two young chefs the opportunity to measure their strength in a friendly competition. Escoffier did not disappoint the expectations placed on her. She cooked a bowl of Wave-Kissed Sands — a dish that appears simple and unassuming at first glance but whose preparation is fraught with potential pitfalls. The dish left those who tasted it stunned, and even her rival was convinced that Escoffier should take her place as the new head chef. Thus, Escoffier became the youngest head chef in the history of the Hotel Debord. The commemorative badge that Furina had given her — now a symbol of her personal image — would grow to embody the pinnacle of cutting-edge gastronomy. Under her leadership, the chefs of the Hotel Debord expanded the boundaries of the possible, improving the quality of each dish in their repertoire. Even the most pedantic critics could not find any flaws in their work. In just six months, Escoffier had reached the pinnacle of her profession. She was declared the most celebrated chef in Fontaine after Modeste and was able to recreate the recipe for his famous cake, changing some of the ingredients. In keeping with tradition, this cake is also sold in only sixteen servings a day.The special ingredient that Modeste and Savelli added to the Gateau Debord actually sharpened all the senses, including taste, gave people energy, and for some time, a person would become unusually receptive, and then discover a gradual decrease in taste sensitivity. Over time, Modeste began to believe that the taste of the Gateau Debord had changed, although people said that they did not feel the difference. The chef always strived for perfection; he did not tolerate even the slightest flaws, so he immediately stopped selling the Gateau Debord and locked himself in the kitchen, devoting days and nights to research and experiments. But with each new attempt, he only moved further away from the original taste, until one day he realized that he could not even taste coffee. And then it became clear that it was not the Gateau Debord that had changed, but his taste buds. The most brilliant chef of his time realized that he had lost his taste forever, and in despair, he decided to take his own life, using up the last reserves of the substance. A hundred years later, the Fontaine Research Institute synthesized a drug called lumiline from the Lumitoile. It was used to treat people with impaired responses to stimuli, but overuse could have mood-altering effects and even lead to nerve damage, so it quickly ended up on the Gardes list of controlled substances. Unfortunately, some products with the addition of lumiline managed to hit the market before its side effects became known. Such products ended up in the kitchen of the Hotel Debord, and Chef Escoffier decided to take responsibility, as a result of which she was accused and imprisoned in the Fortress of Meropide. And although she didn't stay there long, she never returned to the Hotel Debord, but became a chef at the Spina di Rosula tavern in the Fleuve Cendre.After Escoffier left, Savanna became the head chef of the restaurant. She considered herself unworthy of the job and felt guilty that Escoffier went to jail, since she was the one who bought the products that day. Over time, Savanna became increasingly aggressive: she constantly yelled at the employees, made them redo the food endlessly, and did not allow them into the kitchen. She also stayed late every day and made the Gateau Debord, but she could not replicate Escoffier's taste. One of the employees was so mentally and physically exhausted that he could not even get out of bed, and then Escoffier decided to intervene. According to an old tradition established by Modeste, a culinary duel was held between the chefs, in which Escoffier was joined by Monica from the Hotel Debord and the Traveler. Although Escoffier and the Traveler were confident in the result, it turned out that the cake was deliberately ruined, and Savanna won. As a result of her victory, she demanded the original manuscript of Modeste, an old diary where he wrote down all his recipes and thoughts, from Escoffier. Although she left a copy of the diary with Savanna, she believed that Escoffier had intentionally changed the recipe for the Gateau Debord. After receiving the manuscript, the chef found no changes in it and fainted from shock.Although Escoffier knew that Savanna had cheated, she spent the entire night trying to figure out why her former friend's Gateau Debord tasted different. The next morning, when Savanna was supposed to return to the restaurant, she did not show up, and in her house, they found only an underwater map of the Morte Region with marks. Escoffier and the Traveler set off to rescue Savanna, and it turned out that Monica had been blackmailing her all this time. She deliberately added lumiline to the chef's food to make her more nervous and aggressive, and also brewed lumiline tea for a restaurant worker to make him sick. Monica was a descendant of Modeste, and from his manuscripts she learned about the substance that was added to the Gateau Debord. Realizing that it was not just a kitchen ingredient, but a real drug, she decided to make a fortune off of it and lured Savanna there by blackmail. When Monica was stopped and Savanna was saved, Escoffier revealed that the chef could not replicate the taste of the cake because Monica had damaged the heating elements in the ovens, and they showed a different temperature. Then they tested the culinary duel again, in which Escoffier easily won, but despite the defeat, Savanna finally believed in herself.One day, the owner of the restaurant allowed the entire second floor to be used for filming "The Two Musketeers." The film was produced by the famous film director and creator of the Film Kamera, Xavier, and directed by Lady Furina. In addition, the owner of the Chioriya Boutique, Chiori, the captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, Chevreuse, and invited guests from Inazuma: Kamisato Ayato, Kamisato Ayaka, and Yoimiya joined the film crew. The first scene, showing the events in the baron's house, was filmed at the Hotel Debord. Filming began with two powerful scenes at the estate, starring Chevreuse as Tulipe and Ayaka as Iris. In these scenes, Tulipe and Iris's mother was poisoned, and they fled the baron's house, vowing to avenge her. The film received high reviews from film critics and won the main award of the Fontinalia Film Festival — the Furina Award.Many merchants reside in the Quartier Narbonnais. Chesil provides the city's largest selection of gemstones and handicrafts. One day, the Traveler and Paimon brought him to evaluate an unusual ore found by the Melusine Puca near Merusea Village. The ore had an amazing shine and glossy texture, so the merchant was very interested. He hoped to make jewelry from it, but it turned out that during processing, the ore loses all its beauty and is too hard to process. Chesil was ready to give up the ore, but one of the watchmakers saw the ore left over after unsuccessful processing attempts. They liked that the ore was very strong and made parts for a clock mechanism from it. Then Chesil decided to establish an uninterrupted supply of ore for the manufacture of mechanical watches and even wanted to make a special watch with elements of the Melusine style. Books can be bought from a merchant named Hubel in the Quartier Narbonnais.Related Entries:Court of Fontaine: Quartier LyonnaisIn the Quartier Lyonnais resides the secretary of the Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne, whom adventurers can always turn to carry out assignments. Adventurers went to help the Fontaine Research Institute, a theater troupe, a clockwork workshop, and many others. If anyone has problems, the Fontainians can ask for help themselves.Opposite the Adventurers' Guild is Bertin's House of Curiosities, a shop where one can find curiosities ranging from jewels, instruments, perfumes, and souvenirs to masterpieces. This store is technically a fashion workshop. Its owner, Mequignon, collects various curios to gain inspiration. Owing to her artistic ideals, she also exchanges collections that have ceased to inspire for Hydro Sigils from adventurers.Related Entries:Lepaute Horlogerie and Leschots Clockwork WorkshopJust behind the Adventurers' Guild are Lepaute Horlogerie, Northland Bank, and Leschots Clockwork Workshop. The workshops are headed by two brothers: Livre and Caron, who are in a strained relationship. One day, Livre planned a project called "Champion Duelist Plan," which was supposed to advertise the release of their new clockwork toys. The workers at Leschots Workshop asked the Traveler and Paimon to collect combat data for the project and conduct an investigation in Lepaute Horlogeries since the latter's toys turned out to be very popular. Caron immediately understood his brother's plan and volunteered to reveal a new toy inspired by the adventurer from Mondstadt, Bennett. They met in Springvale when Caron was about to leave Mondstadt. Bennett was unable to complete the order to deliver the food on time, as he was attacked by monsters on the way, and the dish was spoiled. Caron volunteered to help Bennett prepare a new dish, but the wood in the fire got wet, a large hole appeared in the bottom of the pot, and while they were trying to fix it, several stones flew into them from nowhere. In the end, the order was carried out, although the client complained that while eating, he broke a tooth on a stone. Bennett later showed Caron various hard-to-reach places in Mondstadt to express his gratitude. The road was not easy, but the unusually beautiful views were worth it. When Caron asked Bennett if such bad luck bothered him, he simply gave him a thumbs up and said, "The world is full of all sorts of people — and maybe I just happen to be the unluckiest. But thanks to that, I've also become the bravest person — and that's given me access to sights only I can see."When Livre revealed the results of the project, the store became very popular, but few people made pre-orders, and the number of positive reviews on the board was pitifully small. People wrote that the workshop lacked sincerity, internal quality control, and modernity. Instead of working on his mistakes, Livre suspected his brother of spreading false rumors. In fact, he was still angry at his brother because of the "betrayal." Their family is known for its expertise in making clockwork mechanisms. Caron was good at making toys, and Livre was good at trading. Since they both loved toys, they agreed that when they grew up, they would open the best toy store in the world. But only as adults did they realize that someone had to inherit the family business - Lepaute Horlogerie. Livre had a strong quarrel with his father over this and went on a free voyage, but Caron remained. He was afraid that he would not be able to make a name for himself by turning his hobby into a profession, and then he would have to beg on his knees to return to the family workshop.Thanks to the intervention of afamily disagreements were resolved. This was not the first case of such interference: since the workshops are separated from each other by the Northland Bank, they, in a sense, have already become mediators in this conflict. In fact, Livre had long ago reserved the bank site for his workshop, but then had the idea to sell this place to the bank. He didn't want the feud to force Caron to move. In a conversation between the brothers, it was revealed that although Bennett was the inspiration for Caron's toy, it was Livre who was the real reason for its creation. Both Livre and Bennett shared an adventurer's spirit, and they were both able to turn their passion into an occupation. As a result, Livre gave his brother all the data obtained on the "Champion Duelist Plan" so that he could create something even more interesting. Now the Leschots Clockwork Workshop produces for sale a wide variety of clockwork toys, among which are penguins created by Freminet from the House of the Hearth.Related Entries:Chioriya BoutiqueOn one of Fontaine's busiest thoroughfares in the Quartier Lyonnais, the Chioriya Boutique, a famous fashion store created by Chiori from Inazuma, is situated. People say that the owner of the shop, who has extraordinary skill, rarely appears in the store, and if she is behind the counter, she is in a good mood. But if she's caught on a bad day, unimaginable and outrageous things may occur, such as Chiori throwing ignorant clients out of the window. "Apologies, the weather has been somewhat inclement of late. All kinds of trash have come blowing into my shop. It's been taken care of, so pay it no heed." Only those who have not given up the pursuit of their dreams are worthy of the Chiori brand.When Chiori first attended Fontaine Fashion Week, she made headlines. Some critics have opined that quality clothes are not just for looking at, but can also be "heard." In this aspect, Chiori had succeeded: every stitch and thread of her clothes told a story: the echoes of waves, the breathing of a forest, a sweet spring gushing forth in the desert. The "old guard" of the fashion world could not tolerate Chiori for her bold ideas and declared war on her, but every one of them was defeated. One day, right before Fashion Week, the designer with whom Chiori began her journey slandered her in newspapers that she was collaborating with criminals. The designer abandoned his dream and began to create clothes for the sake of fashion, so he was angry at Chiori's success, as she did not bow her head for the sake of fashion. Almost all customers refused orders, and suppliers stopped doing business with her, but Chiori did not give up. She cut up old suits to make Fashion Week clothes and created shell accessories. Thanks to her fortitude and efforts, the truth was restored. After the successful conclusion of Fashion Week, Chiori put up a new sign with the logo on her store.Chiori is different from all fashion designers and has her own unique approach. She sews women's suits using men's patterns, and men's formalwear from women's fabrics. It is the same for Chiori as she tailors the clothes. From the way she treats the fabric, it is as if she has never seen the material before. Her cuts come from unexpected angles, ignoring the direction of the thread, and sometimes suddenly seizing upon adding a completely new structure halfway through, before upending her own work once again. Sometimes, she will even draw her sword and swiftly cut the first-rate fabric before her with a clean slash, as though she were not making clothes, but rather dueling — as though she were fighting with the fabric in her hands, vying for authority, with her emerging as the ultimate victor.Like the owner of the perfume shop, Emilie, Chiori often helps the Maison Gardiennage, and a nickname has been attached to the Chioriya Boutique — "intelligence boutique." The impeccably dressed merchants and government dignitaries were a kaleidoscopic flock of butterflies, each scattering the pollen known as "intelligence" from their fluttering wings onto that gorgeous flower called the Chioriya Boutique. Their actual intention was not to pollinate this flower, but rather to flaunt just how much pollen they had to the other butterflies. They consider the amount of information one has on them to be far more worthy of taking pride in than the quantity of gems sewn into one's garments. Although Chiori could not calmly work in such an atmosphere and concentrate on the costumes, she realized that such information could be useful. If the information affects the interests of her friends or concerns the safety of the Court of Fontaine, Chiori sends a letter or pays a visit to the right person.Related Entries:Palais MermoniaThe "heart" of the Court of Fontaine is the Palais Mermonia, where all government issues are resolved and social services are provided to the population. The building is found at the highest point of the Court of Fontaine and is the site where all administrative affairs in the land are handled. As far as Fontainians are concerned, the Palais Mermonia is essentially the highest authority in the land. Previously, the residence of the Hydro Archon, Lady Furina, was located there. To get to it, residents had to sign up in advance and follow certain rules. Furina's apartment had a separate entrance, so it was impossible to get there from the common room in the Palais Mermonia. One day, a man tried to jump from the roof of the palace to get to the Archon, and now he is hard at work in the Fortress of Meropide. Behind the Palais Mermonia is the beginning of the Callas aquabus line, leading to the Fontaine Research Institute.One day, the Acrobatic Adventure Troupe performed in front of the gates of the Palais Mermonia, and during a fiery performance, they accidentally activated the Palais's fire-fighting mechanisms. As a result, many documents were damaged due to water, the troupe's license to perform was revoked, and a new law was issued: "All acrobatic troupes must stay away from the area of the Palais Mermonia."To the right of Melusine Sedene, who works the front desk, is the office of the Chief Justice and current ruler of Fontaine, Neuvillette. Since Neuvillette has a busy schedule, meetings with him are available upon request through the Maison Gestion. The office of the Chief Justice contains archives of all cases considered over the past decades. After the Fatui Harbinger Childe was sent to the Fortress of Meropide for a crime he did not commit, a meeting took place in Neuvillette's office with another Harbinger, Arlecchino, who demanded Childe's handover. In reality, he was something of a bargaining chip for her, as she wanted to know the secret hidden in the Fortress and the location of the Gnosis.One day, the Palais Mermonia conducted an investigation into a case of smuggling from Natlan: a group of merchants illegally transported Natlan relics, but were noticed by the hero of Natlan, Kinich, who immediately reported them to the port security. Kinich became a witness in this case, and it seemed that it was solved, but a few days later, a box with a device resembling a Natlan gun was found in an amusement park under construction. The woman who found the box hurried to deliver it to the palace, and Kinich again joined the investigation. It turned out that this relic from the time of the ancient dragons was brought to Fontaine by a gambler who urgently needed Mora. Pretending to be a Natlanese, he found an antique collector who was ready to buy the relic, but during the deal, an amusement park appeared in the agreed location overnight. Thanks to the intervention of Kinich, Duke Wriothesley, the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, and the Marechaussee Phantom, the criminal was caught, and Fontaine began to consider tightening measures against illegal gambling.Related Entries:Maison GestionIn addition to the Chief Justice, the Palais Mermonia houses the Maison Gestion, which deals with documents, and the Maison Gardiennage, which includes the Marechaussee Phantom and the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol. Both of these organizations are directly subordinate to the Chief Justice. The Maison Gestion is famous for its bureaucracy and overworking employees. One day, one of the Maison's departments was notified that they must prepare letters for other departments with the information that employees were prohibited from bringing Kameras into the Maison Gestion for non-official purposes in order to avoid leakage of classified information. Similar precedents have already happened, and one employee once took a photo of his desk to show off how he arranged everything there. He was a member of the Kamera Club and showed the photo to other members, and the next day, a memo complaining that only fish gets served for dinner was all over The Steambird. The problem was that the entire Maison Gestion did not have a department responsible for Kameras, so the employee Iaune, who was assigned this letter, could not decide who to contact: the department dealing with security issues or the personnel department. People from both departments believed that the other department should be handling this issue, so they passed the buck to each other. As a result, a Gestionnaire, Roialte, suggested dividing the case into simpler parts: the duties of the security department included preventing the use of Kameras to avoid information leakage, and the duties of the personnel department included warning that Kameras could not be brought into the Maison Gestion. Although Iaune offered the same option to each department and was refused, this time they agreed to Roialte's proposals. Each department did not want to involve others in its work and bear responsibility for everything, and with the division of responsibilities, each department bore only a small part of the responsibility.While drawing up the initiative in this case, Iaune's typewriter key disappeared. He wanted to buy a new one from the Beaumont Workshop, but since the key was the property of the Maison Gestion, repairs to the typewriter had to be carried out at the Maison's expense. If workers make repairs at their own expense and do not apply for reimbursement, then at the end of the year, when the service expenses are reviewed, this amount will not be taken into account. In this case, the calculation of funds is carried out for each item separately. First receipts are collected during the month, and then at the end of the month, they are submitted to the Maison Cardinalice for approval. This approval process is related to the approval and payment of salaries for the entire Maison Gestion. If the amount expended is too late, then the Maison Cardinalice will even need to submit it to Monsieur Neuvillette himself for approval. If he has any questions about a certain expense report, the staff member in question must submit a written report. Because of this procedure, Iaune would have to wait several months for the keys for the typewriter, so he was allowed to buy it from Estelle with a receipt to cover the costs. Since the list of items eligible for reimbursement only included "typewriter" and "key," which was a new item, Iaune had to write a letter to Neuvillette explaining why he only needed a refund for one key.After completing the initiative, it turned out that the newest stamping machine was not working. After numerous and fruitless alignments of the document and inspection of the machine, the Traveler hit the device hard, and it finally worked. When it would seem, all the problems of the Maison Gestion were behind, it turned out that the main criminal guilty of leaking secrets using a Kamera was the person who reminded everyone of the inadmissibility of leaking information from photographs. When he took a photograph of his office, the minutes of the meeting ended up there, and the public discovered that the contents of the minutes were wildly different from what he said in his previous speeches. The news spread like wildfire, and the department became an object of ridicule. In addition, Iaune's lost key was found under another employee's desk after he submitted a request for a refund. Due to the night shifts and endless bureaucracy, Iaune fainted and was taken to the hospital.Related Entries:Fleuve CendreAs the urban areas of Fontaine grew, the light of order drove away the shadows, and the sewers eventually became the Fleuve Cendre. Since it was difficult to maintain order, Eduardo Baker and his friends seized power in the sewers. They began to resolve disputes between the Fleuve Cendre "compatriots," bless the newly wedded, and protect the merchants from being extorted, harassed, and blackmailed by the gangs. When the authorities of the Court of Fontaine decided to purge the Fleuve Cendre, Baker was arrested and exiled to the desert. On the way to exile, he, with the help of his henchmen, fled to Poisson, taking hostage both the city itself and the members of the Maison Gardiennage who were transporting Baker. He made several unreasonable demands, so the Marechaussee Hunters, under the direction of Emanuel Guillotin, intervened. This conflict ended with many deaths, including Baker and the Mayor of Poisson. The people of the Fleuve Cendre believed that, though they lived in a city below the city with neither rain nor sun, the workers' abundant diligence and tenacity occasionally won them the right to live on the surface, and at other times turned their underground watery realm into a residence just as beautiful as the world above. After the purge of the Fleuve Cendre, some of the tools used to build this underground city were prohibited as they could be used as weapons.Fleuve Cendre is considered a rather dangerous place where hostile forces live, but the Spina di Rosula now watches over this place. Previously, the organization could afford anything, but after the former head Callas was accused of murder and his subsequent death in a judicial duel, Spina di Rosula became strapped for cash. They now conduct much of their operations at their headquarters in the Fleuve Cendre. The organization does not allow illegal or unethical profiteering, so at the moment, it exists at the expense of funds from the residents of Fontaine who support it. In the Fleuve Cendre, members of the organization, Sonny and Luca, bartender Tetreaux, and Consigliere — a tent tortoise, adviser to Spina di Rosula, can be found. Moreover, a merchant Crossa is located there.The Spina di Rosula tavern is run by the former head chef of the Hotel Debord, Escoffier, who left the restaurant after the lumiline case. Although the owner of the Hotel Debord called her back after her imprisonment in the Fortress of Meropide, Escoffier decided that she wanted to move on and that the restaurant could grow without her. Working in a restaurant severely limited the chef's development and her experimentation with flavors, so the lumiline case gave her the freedom to focus on improving her skills and discovering new flavors. In the eyes of discerning diners, Escoffier is both the founder of "precision gastronomy" and a leading proponent of "the principles of innovative cuisine." She excels at taking flavorings measured with the precision of scientific rigor and crafting them into dazzling, dynamic taste experiences. According to countless food critics, she is a "demon chef" who continues to breathe new life into the culinary world while sending shivers down the spines of dietary dinosaurs — those stubbornly unreceptive to change and fresh avenues in culinary evolution. While improving the industry's technology and techniques, she has successfully lowered the costs involved, effectively democratizing high-end dining and putting famous dishes on the tables of ordinary folk. According to her students and peers, she is discipline incarnate. There is no slacking on her watch — even the tiniest mistakes caused by a lapse in concentration or momentary distraction are met with scathing critiques. Crafting a dish worthy of even a perfunctory nod of approval requires absolute respect for each ingredient and the utmost sincerity and caution at every stage of the cooking process. As Navia and her other friends see it, Escoffier is a patient and thoughtful woman who finds inspiration in complex symphonies and conversations with companions alike. Joining her for a spot of afternoon tea is much like opening a surprise gift — there is always something new and unexpected in store.Escoffier met the current head of Spina di Rosula, Navia, on her fifth birthday, when the great chef of the organization tried to recreate the famous Gateau Debord. As Escoffier approached the restaurant to at least take a look at the cake, a gust of wind suddenly brought a hat with roses into her hands. She could not find the owner for a long time, until she finally met the equally fragrant owner, the worried Navia. In gratitude, Navia invited Escoffier to try a delicious piece of cake that the great chef had saved especially for her. Escoffier's curiosity overcame her polite hesitancy, and she eagerly dug into the cake that Navia had just handed her. It was indeed delicious, yet far from perfection. To Escoffier's tastes, it was no better or worse than the other imitations she had tried. But this was a coveted gift from a new friend standing right in front of her — not to mention the work of a chef from the organization said friend's family ran, so was this the time for an honest appraisal?"How is it? Do you like it? Tell me what you really think!"Navia's appeal erased any lingering doubt. When facing a friend — when facing food — only the truth will do.And so, as she would go on to do countless times in the years to come, Escoffier gave her frank, exacting assessment:"...It's nothing special."In the Fleuve Cendre, a Fatui agent,suspected of kidnapping Sir Arthur, met with informants. It was he who told Editor Jenck about the secret laboratory of the researcher who created the intelligent lie detector and about the connection with The Steambird. He helped the newspaper expose the fraud of the Elegant Tableware Confrerie in the hope of obtaining inside information from the publication, but Jenck had nothing to repay him with. Then Baulard decided to enter the newspaper building and get information himself, but only discovered the disappearance of Sir Arthur and a letter threatening the editors.During the time of Eduardo Baker, the eldest daughter, Leticia, grew up in the Randolph family of aristocrats. She was taught to maintain her noble bearing and purity of appearance, and not to show her emotions. Leticia's heart hankered after the adventure, so secretly from everyone, she changed clothes and went down to the Fleuve Cendre. She just wanted to see the lives of those base folk who had no control over their destinies. For her, this was even more interesting than Parsifal's magic. The reality was not what Leticia was prepared for, and when perils unseen — like music, lies, or poisoned wine — were about to be unsheathed and show their keen edge, she met one of her father's subordinates, Reed. He recognized her by the absence of traces of machine oil and blood on her clothes. And from her gait, it was easy to guess that she didn't often have to wear pants. Leticia fell in love with Reed and stayed with him in the Fleuve Cendre, taking the name of the rose. When she met her father many years later, he still hoped that she would return home with her child, and the Randolphs were willing to use "some Randolph magic" for her husband. In fact, her whole life was a lie. When Reed saw her in the Fleuve Cendre, he considered her a trophy that could not be missed up to enter the greatest of houses, the Randolphs. When Leticia remained in the underground city years later, his ephemeral hope had now vanished like smoke. He asked her to leave this place for the sake of the children's lives:"Dear Leticia, think of the children, of those newly sprouted trees,""Surely they should not be born amidst cannon fire, or grow up amidst the mud and filthy waters.""Are we to nurture them with wrathful tears and hateful oaths?""Shall we leave them to inherit confused dreams or a mission with its outlook yet unknown?"But she only replied that their future had been arranged and would be assured. Later,with her child and husband was captured in a photograph taken during the siege of Poisson.In the Fleuve Cendre, the workshop of Cesar, a magician and teacher of Lyney and Lynette, is situated. In addition, Uther's clothing factory is located there. When Chiori first arrived in Fontaine, she and Uther were aspiring fashion designers who dreamed of attracting the attention of the fashion world, so for some time they worked together towards a common goal. At first, they both wanted to break tradition and make unusual clothes that would bring sighs of regret into the lobby. But with every new negative feedback from clients, with every new rejection, Uther's confidence was fading. In the end, just before Fashion Week, he decided that they could not bring to life the ideas they had always dreamed of, and that was the end of their collaboration. Chiori then put everything she had on the line and gave it her all, and on the last day, she put together a collection that she was pleased with, presenting it at the show. As a result, she received recognition and glory, and Uther has tried every year since then to destroy her business. When he falsely accused her of being associated with criminals and the poor quality of her materials, Chiori decided to take a two-pronged approach and face off against Uther at a fashion show and then attack his reputation. When Uther's factory was closed before the Fashion Show, she, along with the Traveler and Paimon, went to the Fleuve Cendre. Since the factory was always open to visitors, they calmly walked inside and found that the production itself was in the dirt. After collecting the necessary evidence, they found themselves in a trap set by Uther. Taking over Uther, Chiori sent the Traveler and Paimon with photos to the Fashion Show. The Steambird journalist, Charlotte, used the photographs they obtained to write an exposing article, and the captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, Chevreuse, arrested Uther.Related Entries:ChevreuseWhen the officer of the law and father of young Chevreuse, the future captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, was accused of leaking classified information, her family moved to the Fleuve Cendre. The girl's mother grew more and more tired every day, worrying about her husband. To take care of her mother, Chevreuse didn't hesitate to take up burdens that one as young as she should never have had to shoulder, stepping into the dark currents that swirled through the Fleuve Cendre. Perhaps it was because the residents of the Fleuve Cendre had heard tell of or been on the receiving end of her upright father's care that so many helping hands were extended to her. A well-meaning shop owner gave her a job, and the couple next door often took care of her infirm mother. And when the children of the Fleuve Cendre heard that the child of a Garde had come to live among them, they flocked to her like plaintiffs and defendants, seeking her arbitration on all manner of quarrels and disputes. "Chevreuse! You gotta uphold justice, y'know!" So cried the children with one voice, before laughing as one. They did not truly intend to allow Chevreuse to determine who was at fault, but rather saw it all as merely another game. Yet the next day, Chevreuse brought a thick stack of legal materials when she went to see them, along with a notebook newly opened to the first page, and began speaking to the chortling children in a tone most serious. "Very well. Let both sides present their evidence." And from that day forward, the Fleuve Cendre had one more enforcer of the law — the littlest one around. But unlike the law enforcement officers aboveground, all judgments rendered by Chevreuse were executed under her personal supervision. There in the sewers, she learned many ways to ensure that "justice" would be upheld.When a series of murders inspired by "The Two Musketeers" occurred during the Fontinalia Festival in Fontaine, the investigation led Chevreuse to the Fleuve Cendre. Shortly before this, one of the tavern visitors got drunk at dinner and lost his weapon, but three days later it turned up in the corner without the slightest sign of wear. In addition, residents woke up at night to the sound of gunfire. In a remote part of the sewer, Chevreuse found broken boards and several broken bottles. The criminal tried to clean up, but there were clear traces of bullets on the wall. The captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol assumed that someone had taken the weapon, brought it home, and returned it after disassembling it and examining its design. A few weeks later, they built their own musket and brought it to the Fleuve Cendre to practice shooting. A few days later, they found their target, committed a crime, and left a rainbow rose on his body, just like in the novel. The victim lived in the Fleuve Cendre. It later turned out that the killer was the sister of the author of the novel, whose mother was killed by a rich man who was trying to hide their relationship. The famous book was based on the siblings' real childhood. The deceased was an assassin sent by their father.Related Entries:Parsifal and JosephineMore than 500 years ago, two young thieving sisters who made their living cheating and stealing grew up in the Fleuve Cendre. One day, they were at the opera house and saw a comedy by Master Coppelius about an elusive thief who was a master of appearing and disappearing at their leisure. What is called magic is quite similar to fraud and theft. The first relies on acting and narrative creation, and the second relies on technique. The sisters had an idea of relying on their skills and technique to step onto the stage, under the shining lights, of using their brilliant performances to illuminate equally the dreams of those forced to stand, as well as those seated in luxurious VIP boxes. One of them would play "Parsifal," the other, her assistant Josephine. Their first performances were in Eduardo's taverns, beside the sewers, and in front of food stalls, from being before the eyes of children, brightly shining out from beneath faces stained with ash and oil, and amidst the applause of the denizens. Subsequently, they were replaced by the bright spotlights of the splendorous theater, brilliant, burning like the sun. Just as the light of their performances illuminated both the luxurious VIP booths and the standing audience, the name "Parsifal" became the talk of the town in the cities, both above and below.During the Fleuve Cendre operation, the girl who always played Josephine rushed back home. All the people knew Parsifal, but an assistant is merely an assistant. But just as the assistant on stage is lopped in two by the sword, yet never harmed, and the missing pocket watch always returns to the audience unseen, the girl finally lost her "place" in life. And thus, she designed a "grand magic trick" that belonged to them."It is I, the masterful magician — Parsifal 'the Great'!""You will bear witness to a fantastic world, never before imagined!""Here there shall be no aristocrats, no kings — no swords shall be pointed at you!""None shall be born into wealth, none into poverty inescapable!"Parsifal was present at the siege of Poisson. Later, the great illusionist (or Josephine, posing as Parsifal), due to an "unexpected transgression," demanded a trial by combat, and her opponent was the Champion Duelist Marfisa. In the Court of Fontaine, everyone discussed whether Marfisa's origin would disrupt either her judgment or performance during the duel, what of her past connection to Parsifal, and which of them was the stronger fighter. For Parsifal, this battle turned out to be the last. Marfisa grew up in the Fleuve Cendre, and for as little as a slice or two of moldy bread, she would not flinch from pulling out a rusty blade to take the life of someone as insignificant as herself. She thought that everything up to this point seemed utterly meaningless, with nothing achieved and nothing to hope for. However, in spite of her expectations, death did not come. Once, she opened her eyes and saw a girl (most likely, Parsifal) smiling back gently, who then placed a flower behind her ear."We call this flower a Lumidouce Bell, which in the language of flowers... means hope. Look, the color matches your hair.""You have such beautiful eyes. It would be such a pity if all they reflected was despair.""Come, little lass with the sapphire eyes, let me trade this flower for your heart."Thus did Marfisa, who would later be famed as a Champion Duelist, first step into the city above ground. Watching on from the luxury of a VIP box in the magnificent theater, she could no longer remember the smiling faces of the magician and their assistant on stage, only how, as the fantasy played out, a profusion of flowers blossomed under the dazzling spotlight — bright, pure, and ever so strong. She understood that she should yet cherish hope — that this life, having now seen the light, might blossom like Lumidouce. Marfisa started copying all spear-fighting techniques she had ever seen and found expression in her performance. It seemed like she was dancing with "death" itself on a stage. Once she fought with a young swordsman and the Marechaussee Hunter, Emanuel Guillotin. She was bewildered by his crafty eyes and deceived by his intentionally slow rhythm, she finally revealed a critical weakness that she normally never would, and her arm was struck by his blade, forcing her to concede that her spearmanship was inferior. He suggested changing her approach and making "that which is immutable" and "justice" her "rule.""What right do you surface dwellers have to speak of justice? Your skills may be slightly superior to mine, yet you need not lecture me so, all high and mighty.""Sooner or later, Hunter, there will come a day when you too will fall before my lance."Despite her reply, Guillotin was right, and she became guided by justice, and offered up a cold elegy to those who would seek to evade judgment. She became a purple-clad enforcer instead, upholding justice "as it ought to be," until the fire of Poisson brought the criminal Parsifal before her. Marfisa wanted to seek out Guillotin and give him her all in a final duel, but he had long retired after what happened in Poisson. People said he hid his face beneath a mask and turned to strong drink, but the spear-wielder had to discover the truth behind the rumors for herself. After following the trail to the mask left behind by the swordsman, all her trials and tribulations seemed to have been rewarded at last. However, the end of that pursuit was most unexpected and had nothing to do with the justice sought by the once-legendary Champion Duelist. Like Emanuel Guillotin, Marfisa was dissolved by the Narzissenkreuz Ordo's members. When she fell into those pure source waters, all that had previously seemed self-evident lost its meaning. Up to the moment her memories dissolved in the water, she never knew that the Lumidouce Bell's true meaning in the language of flowers was never hope. And at the end of that long pursuit, even fate did not offer her the blossoming elegy that it ought to have."Ah, the renowned Marfisa this time, is it...?""Take heart. Your fine spear-arm will be of use."Related Entries:Marcotte StationMarcotte Station is the terminus of the Navia aquabus line, connecting Erinnyes and the Court of Fontaine. Several fountains are installed at the station, and one of them has a lion statue. If three teardrop keys are brought to this fountain, a passage leading to the roots of the Weeping Willow, the main information center of Erinnyes, will open.One day, a guy named Remaudiere was babysitting his sister Keratry while their parents went to the opera house. When they were walking outside, Remaudiere decided to show her a trick and "make" the fountain stop in order to take his sister home. In fact, he simply waited for the fountain to stop working, but the next day he discovered that the fountain was still not working. Remaudiere was afraid that his sister would tell his parents about his "magic," so he asked the fountain manager to fix the problem, but the fountain never worked. The Traveler and Paimon came to his aid, getting all the necessary parts to fix the fountain before the guy got into trouble.One day at the station, the Traveler and Paimon encountered a strange, panicked woman who thought someone was trying to harm her. After calming her down, the Traveler and Paimon learned that the woman, Guijarro, was a writer who had been overthinking her detective novel to the point of becoming paranoid. She wanted to take the aquabus to the Court of Fontaine to get coffee, but she immediately imagined the many ways she could be killed on the aquabus and was unable to even board. When the Traveler escorted her to the Café Lutece, Guijarro became nervous that the coffee might be poisoned. When the owner of the café, Arouet, threatened to throw her out if she continued to scare his customers, she apologetically bought three more cups of coffee. After finishing her detective novel, Guijarro set off for Qiaoying Village in the Chenyu Vale.In this subarea, world quests and can be found.Related Entries:Chevalmarin Film FantasylandAfter the inventor Lepine-Pauline, with the support of the journalist Charlotte, the Traveler, and Paimon, modified the Kamera Lens for Image Recognition Sample Collection and turned it into a high-precision zoom photography assistant, it became popular in the film industry of Fontaine. After the new-generation product hit the market right as the Kamera lens was evolving, many directors and merchants began to cooperate with Lepine-Pauline, and she became a rising supplier in the film industry. People trusted her devices, so she was chosen to help build Chevalmarin Film Fantasyland, an amusement park based on the films, located on the banks of Fontaine. The main symbol of the park was Surintendante Chevalmarin, whose official guardian is Lady Furina. She won second place in the last "Most Popular Character" poll for the comic film category, and was even dubbed "the pinnacle of round, bouncy cuteness." Many people have expressed interest in designing cushions based on her image, and Furina will receive sixty percent of the sales revenue to make better meals for Chevalmarin. Furina herself did not perform in Chevalmarin Film Fantasyland because she was aware of the scale of her roles. When she takes center stage, all attention is on her, but as a guest, she has to step back and let others shine. So, instead of performing herself, Furina decided to help from behind the scenes and became a consultant for one of the attractions.The Chevalmarin Film Fantasyland was created by enthusiasts, and Spina di Rosula was invited to be responsible for planning, construction, and operation. In just one day, an amusement park was created on the empty beach near the Marcotte Station. To attract visitors, the head of Spina di Rosula, Navia, called her friend and chef, Escoffier, to cook for the visitors and the park's workers. For her dishes, Escoffier ordered the best vegetables and fruits from Natlan, which were delivered by Ororon and Varesa. After the opening of the Chevalmarin Film Fantasyland, Varesa stayed and opened a stall with products from her garden to advertise her brand. The Blazing Beasts — mercenaries from Sumeru — were invited to the park as special guests. Some time ago, the Flame-Mane, Dehya, and several other members of the Eremites were invited to star in an adventure film in Fontaine. The film received good reviews, so once the director found out about the amusement park, they were invited as guests. During the filming of the film, Dehya got too carried away by one of the fight scenes and accidentally destroyed half the set, after which she was kicked out. And the mercenary who played one of the main villains was supposed to perform a spectacular dance with a sword in front of the main character, but the main actor was so hungry and in a hurry to finish the scene that he improvised and pretended to shoot him with a gun. After thinking about it, the director decided to leave this scene and, to everyone's surprise, the audience liked it.In total, the park opened three main attractions: Eclectic Escapades, Movie Masterpieces, and Mellow Manor. Since the enthusiasts who organized the park are not full-fledged experts, but usually design event booths, special guides were developed, and consultants were invited for each attraction. Furina became a consultant for "Movie Masterpieces," in which visitors had to recreate classic scenes from famous films and play the role of legendary characters in order to overcome all the difficulties and achieve the goal. The second attraction was the "Eclectic Escapades," which incorporated popular techniques from action films, where the hero must quickly make their way through narrow alleys while being chased from all sides. The consultant for the attraction was the magician's assistant, Lynette, who enjoyed watching people's faces when they fell. The third attraction was the "Mellow Manor," inspired by light-hearted and humorous films. Various animals were placed on the territory of the attraction, including trained Fungi, large squirrels, and finches raised on special food, Blubberbeasts, alpacas, and others. The work on the Mellow Manor was joined by the nurse of the Fortress of Meropide Sigewinne, the magician Lyney, and a special Blubberbeast that the Traveler and Paimon once saved from traffickers in Natlan and returned to Fontaine. Sigewinne wanted to visit the amusement park after hearing Navia's stories, and since there was little work in the Fortress, she agreed to become a consultant. Recently, the prison allowed inmates to spend their Credit Coupons on watching movies for good behavior, and Sigewinne was in charge of the projector in her free time, so she watched many different cartoons about animals. Unlike Sigewinne and Lynette, Lyney prefers to watch psychological horror films instead of cartoons. Before the park opened, he decided to watch all the films of a director specializing in this genre, so it took him a few days to recover from watching them. When he finally gathered his strength and went to the amusement park, he liked the attraction with animals, and even wanted to use some of them for his new tricks.In gratitude for their help in organizing the Chevalmarin Film Fantasyland, Lepine-Pauline gave the Traveler a special bow. Many years ago, a group of weapons researchers from the Fontaine Research Institute created this prototype to push the limits of long-range bow performance, and Lepine-Pauline's team was to design a sight for it. But then, both the Maison Gardiennage and the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol adopted muskets as their standard issue, and stopped ordering bows in bulk since they require so much training to master. The research group and the team were disbanded, and the prototype remained with Lepine-Pauline, unused, until it was used as a prop in a science fiction film about "Mechanically Enhanced Warriors." The invisible protagonist, "The Prophet," used it to silently take down all sorts of enemies. The bow became popular among fans of fantasy films, so Lepine-Pauline brought it to the amusement park to demonstrate it, and decided to give it to the Traveler, the heart and soul of the Chevalmarin Film Fantasyland, the one who united all the legendary characters. After learning of the bow's original purpose, fans hoped that it would fall into the hands of a true master who could reveal its full potential, and Lepine-Pauline would like the Traveler and their friends to continue the bow's story beyond the screen.Related Entries:Fountain of LucineThe Fountain of Lucine is the place where all the water flowing through Fontaine converges, so people like to make wishes here. The origin of throwing coins into the fountain comes from tossing Hydro Sigils into the Fountain of Lucine, which is, in fact, the correct way of making a wish to the fountain. To this day, newlyweds in love throw coins into the Fountain of Lucine, wishing for peaceful and happy lives.All Fontainians were Oceanids once, who, according to a legend, emerged from the tear of the first Hydro Archon, Egeria. The increase in the number of the Oceanids did not require any pairing off or matchmaking. After gaining sufficient understanding and emotion, they approached the Hydro Archon or an elder for permission to "reproduce," which resulted in their division into little Oceanids. Some believed their "reproduction" served as a permit, granting permission for the dreams and desires within Oceanids to be bestowed with a new name — much like the names of childhood dreams throughout the ages. After some Oceanids became humans, they forgot about their origin. They still asked permission to "reproduce," but it was considered a symbolic act. They threw coins into the Fountain of Lucine, wishing for the children, and then their wishes were granted. People believed that the spirits in the water would bless them with healthy and happy children. When Neuvillette turned the Fontainians into ordinary people, they were able to reproduce like all other inhabitants of Teyvat.People's tears contain the most vivid emotions: tears of absolute happiness, fear, and grief. The Fountain of Lucine is a place where water from all over Fontaine flows, so even tears that fall to the ground end up here. People who are highly sensitive to the Hydro element are able to hear these emotions contained in someone's tears. Thus, the Traveler could hear Furina's tears, struggling over Fontaine's prophecy. In addition, one day they drank the water of the Primordial Sea, which increased sensitivity, and heard the voice of a mysterious Oceanid calling Vacher. This Oceanid asked Vacher not to search for Vigneire, an adventurer who was dissolved by the water of the Primordial Sea, anymore. Vacher was her beloved once, and after losing Vigneire, he began to dissolve other women in an attempt to return his beloved out of grief. When Vacher finally found Vigneire many years later, she didn't even want to talk to him. The consciousness of all the women he had dissolved over 20 years attacked him, and Vacher died of great fright.To the right of the fountain, a scene with the Icewind Suite is located. According to the original plan of Mr. Bossuet, a senior technician of the Fontaine Research Institute, Coppelius and Coppelia were clockwork meka dedicated to the art of dance. After Bossuet's retirement, Maillardet took over the project. He understood the concepts of "mechanics" and "dance" in his own way, so as generations passed, the functions of the "mechanical dancers" were improved, but gradually moved away from Bossuet's original design. Pneumousia was added, making them not only good at dancing but also highly capable fighters. Two different combat modes for Coppelius and Coppelia were created based on the differences between Pneuma and Ousia, Nemesis of Coppelius, and Dirge of Coppelia.Mechanical dancers can perform many plays. For example, one is about how Coppelius lost the battle with temptation and was punished for it, about how Coppelia falls in love, but unrequitedly, and therefore almost dies. Or how Coppelia goes on a journey to rescue Coppelius from captivity. The script of "Clockwork Coppelia" was never published, but some people have collected and organized all the records to reconstruct part of the intent of Coppelius's work. One such story tells how Coppelius's plan was exposed before the Marechaussee Hunters, and how he said his final farewells to Coppelia before his punishment. Coppelius asks Coppelia to sing for him one last time."Wind a thread about my heart, and with it, bind me tightly! Lock me up in chains and fetters, and let me be destroyed in your eyes.For mine heart is decided, from today forth, I shall not seek those that make me happy, but bring happiness to those I choose."Another play tells how Coppelia confesses the purpose of her journey to the youth traveling with her and resolves to follow her creator, who, in her eyes, has already passed on. She believes that when her rusted gears return to the same ash as Coppelius's bones, all sin will be forgotten."Never again need I see the sun, moon, or stars, never again need I hear the birds singing joyously in the forests, never again need I force this lonely heart of mine to continue beating on in a world that is already bereft of he who bestowed it upon me."Ms. Qiu and her film crew can be seen near the fountain. They all come from Qiaoying Village, which is famous for its tea. Due to the high competition in the tea business, they decided to take up filming commercials for the village's tea merchants. The group made a lot of Mora from these films, but soon there were other skilled people in the village whose films featured real opera singers. So, Ms. Qiu and the others came to Fontaine to get advice from experts in filmmaking. Here they met Geisert, a master of using light and shadow to convey a narrative. His films have not yet gained much popularity in Fontaine, but they interested Ms. Qiu. While filming their film, the crew lost their camera and later dropped the film with the footage in the water. Thanks to the help of the Traveler, all the footage was returned. Later, Ms. Qiu and her team returned to Qiaoying Village to continue filming.In this subarea, the world quest can be found.Related Entries:Opera EpicleseThe Opera Epiclese is the most magnificent building on Erinnyes. When the Fontainians speak of the "opera house," that's what they are normally referring to. The opera house has another, more important role, besides serving as a site for various cultural performances. It is also a courtroom in which all cases in Fontaine are judged. Ever since the first diluvian period, the Opera Epiclese has stood atop the consecrated Island of Erinnyes. Overlooking the city above the waters, it symbolizes the new era's commitment to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. The true and the fantastical, the comedic and the tragic find a stage here equally. An ancient Fontainian playwright once said: "All the world's a stage, and all us merely players."Huge scales called the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale stand on the stage of the opera house. This device was designed by the Hydro Archon, Focalors, and she placed her divinity along with the Hydro Gnosis there. The Oratrice converted the people's faith in justice into Indemnitium, a type of energy that powers Fontaine. If this power, accrued over five centuries, has only been used to sustain Fontainians, it could have lasted for millennia, but it has its purpose. Along with the Chief Justice, this device passed sentences in court, and its sentence has always been crucial. It once falsely accused the Fatui Harbinger, Childe, of connection to the serial dissolution case and declared the Hydro Archon guilty and to be punished via the death sentence. Although the Oratrice was used for trials, in truth its main purpose was to kill the God of Justice along with the Divine Throne when the time came. Focalors understood that only power of this magnitude could hope to destroy the Hydro Archon's Divine Throne, shaking the rules established by Celestia and breaking through the institution that is The Seven. After the main trial of the Hydro Archon, the Oratrice was destroyed, and now only the Chief Justice Neuvillette makes final verdicts.There is a legend in Fontaine that the nation was once ruled by the Hydro Dragon, and every time the dragon cried, the sky became clouded, and rain poured down. To stop the rain, you had to shout into the sky: "Hydro dragon, Hydro dragon, don't cry!" Often, after tragic court hearings, even on the sunniest day, it suddenly starts raining. This was the case when the former head of Spina di Rosula Callas Caspar, accused of murdering a friend, chose a judicial duel and refused to surrender even on the verge of death.In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, and to ensure the best viewing experience for all audience members, no outside food is permitted within the Opera Epiclese. Visitors in violation of the rules will be expelled and punished by the Maison Gardiennage in accordance with the law. Serious offenses will be prosecuted and brought to trial, and the offender will be sentenced in accordance with the law. Moreover, visitors must be properly dressed when entering the Opera Epiclese. Should their attire not meet the prescribed standards, staff members have the right to refuse entrance. Entry is strictly by tickets, which must be booked in advance. The opera house hosts many theatrical performances and legal proceedings. Among the performances was a stage play, "The Saga of Aurelius," a trilogy based upon the epic legend about the hero Aurelius from the fallen empire. The Melusine Philharmonic Orchestra also performed there with excerpts from "Epic of Elynas" and "Ode to Judges," and the magician Lyney performed with the program "Great Magician's Night of Fantasy'' and a new "water tank escape" trick. In addition, the awards ceremony, "The La Verite Prize," takes place in the opera house. This award was organized by The Steambird and is the most prestigious and famous media award in all of Teyvat. It is used to recognize and commemorate the greatest individual and collective achievements in media, including newspapers, magazines, journals, and other media fields. Here, the trial of the magician Lyney took place, as well as the trial of serial dissolutions, the case of changing the appearance of Melusine to human, and the case of the captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, Vautrin, who avenged his Melusine friend, who died due to the fault of people.One day, the magician's assistant, Lynette, received a threatening letter after the successful opening of the play, "The Lost Puppet." At first, another actress, Gillian, was supposed to play the main role in the play, but suddenly the director put Lynette, who did not have much experience in plays, in her place. Feeling a look of hatred on her, Lynette decided to get to the bottom of what was happening. It turned out that the letter was left by Gillian's younger sister, who blamed Lynette for what was happening. And the look of hatred came from the director of the play: he took Lynette for the role only because of her fame as a magician's assistant. For her sake, he had to rewrite the ending of the play and simplify the role of the main character. When Lynette learned the truth, she persuaded Gillian and other members of the troupe to return to the old script and cast Gillian in the lead role. Since the actress was wearing a mask, no one noticed the substitution at first, and when the identity of the main actress was revealed, everyone was too in love with her performance to talk about the deception.Not far from the opera house, a Lumidouce Bell, meaning "separation," and a letter left by Melusine Talochard to her dead friend, a Mek named Curve, can be found. Curve was a sentient lie detector whose creator wanted him to learn to understand human lies and to lie himself. His creator died in a legal duel 30 years ago, defending his creation, and later, Talochard found Curve in an evidence room and decided to continue the creator's work. In the end, Curve died defending Talochard, having previously deceived her. In the letter, Talochard reprimanded her friend for lying but expressed her feelings to him."Still, I don't think Dr. Mosso was right when he said that "a curve is the shortest distance between two people."There are definitely some times when you should just shoot your shot straight.For example, I miss you."In this location, the world quest can be found.Related Entries:Chemin de L'EspoirChemin de L'Espoir is located on the border of the Court of Fontaine and Beryl Region. One day, a scientist from the Fontaine Research Institute, while observing maritime creatures, rescued a Blubberbeast pup from a ray-style clockwork meka that lost control. An examination showed that the pup was much weaker than a normal individual and could not survive in its natural environment. Then the researcher decided to leave it at the observation station, not far from Chemin de L'Espoir, and named it Berrypuff. When the institute's management withdrew the budget of the scientific group and directed it to "An Innovative Circuit Design Using Clockwork Meka to Simulate the Rock-Paper-Scissors Game and Its Sociological Impact," the scientist had to return. Since he could not take Berrypuff with him, he left enough food for it to grow up and return to its natural environment. When Paimon saw the researcher's notes, she wanted to see how Berrypuff was doing. It turned out that all the food had been eaten long ago, and the Blubberbeast pup was exhausted. At first, it was timid about the treat, but in the end, it ate it greedily. After some time of regular feeding and helping other animals, Berrypuff grew up and was able to live with its friends.Annapausis is located on one side of the location. One day, a little Oceanid named Ann's friends were in trouble, and she went from Annapausis to Chemin de L'Espoir for help. The Traveler and Paimon, who were passing by, responded to her request and went to Annapausis to save her friends.In this subarea, the world quest Ann of the Narzissenkreuz can be found.Related Entries:AnnapausisThe gentle breeze winds through the flowery meadows in Mont Esus, setting the creaking arms of windmills to turn lazily. The peaceful and relaxed atmosphere here causes people to naturally find themselves dwelling on their most pleasant memories. Some foothills of Mont Esus by the sea, close to the Palais Mermonia. Visitors can feel the gentle breeze as they step onto the vast flower fields. According to ancient records, a magnificent palace was once built here. Named after the flowers, it sought to sing praises of love and to nurture abandoned orphans above the countless waters. Though the high tower of old no longer graces this land, the flowers remain as fragrant as ever.Before the Cataclysm 500 years ago, Annapausis was the site of the Narzissenkreuz Institute, Fontaine's orphanage. After the fall of Remuria, the Fontainian Government decided to incorporate the Institute for raising orphans and the children of criminals into the public welfare system. In honor of the remains of the previous civilization, on the site on which the institute was located, it received the name the Narzissenkreuz Institute. As a token of gratitude to the Hydro Archon Egeria, the gentle Oceanid Lyris was placed at the head of the Institute. More than 500 years ago, Basil Elton, who grew up in the orphanage herself, became the Vice Director of the Narzissenkreuz Institute. Although sunlight never reached the Institute, it was always warm and bustling with life. Basil told the children stories about Princess Lyris and the evil dragon Narcissus. During the Cataclysm, the Narzissenkreuz Institute was abandoned and ceased to exist. Basil Elton led the fleet of the Fontaine Armada and went to fight the creatures of the Abyss, and Lyris never understood the connection between the Cataclysm and the disappearance of the students, so she was later seen wandering near the abandoned institute. Later, she joined the radical organization, the Narzissenkreuz Ordo. Many students, including Mary-Ann Guillotin, became members of the Marechaussee Phantom or the Special Patrol, and others began to travel around the world. During the battle between agents of the Marechaussee Phantom and members of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo, among whom were Lyris and Mary-Ann Guillotin, an explosion occurred. Mary-Ann Guillotin was on the verge of death, and Lyris hugged her, merging their consciousnesses together. From this merge, a new oceanid, Mary-Ann, was born. She was no longer Mary-Ann Guillotin nor Lyris. Wanting to remain in past memories, Mary-Ann created "The Real Annapausis," willingly becoming its captive. She created a fairy-tale house for herself, where she lived in her dreams. One day, Mary-Ann was able to create another oceanid, Ann, after seeing her in a dream. Since Ann was part of Mary-Ann, she received part of the memories of Lyris and Mary-Ann Guillotin. Her main memory was the tale about the dragon Narcissus, which Basil Elton told to the children in the orphanage. Ann believed that her goal was to save Princess Lyris from the fairy tale, whom she thought Mary-Ann was.Oceanid Ann, with the help of the Traveler and Paimon, went to Annapausis to save her friends and Princess Lyris from the dragon sleeping on the institute building. To enable Ann and the Traveler to get to the princess's castle, Ann's friends had to sacrifice themselves and merge together. When Ann and the Traveler walked through the endless labyrinth and found the Holy Blade of Narzissenkreuz, they discovered a book of fairy tales, through which they entered "The Real Annapausis." It turned out that Mary-Ann was the princess all this time, and she did not want to return to reality. She told Ann to live her life and do what she wanted, and then kicked them out of "The Real Annapausis," destroying the portal in the book through which they got there. When Ann discovered the truth about her and Mary-Ann's origins, she wanted to separate the identities of Oceanid Lyris and Mary-Ann Guillotin, but Mary-Ann accepted her past and decided to leave her prison.Related Entries:Institute of Natural PhilosophyThe old building of the Institute of Natural Philosophy is located near Chemin de L'Espoir. It was once a thriving research facility, but now it lies in ruin beneath the waters of Fontaine. The director of the institute was Dwight Lasker, an old friend of Emanuel Guillotin, Karl Ingold, and Basil Elton, with whom he grew up in an orphanage. After the Cataclysm that occurred 500 years ago, an energy crisis arose in Fontaine, so the main focus was the search for new energy sources. Significant efforts were made to transport Primal Constructs to the Institute for thorough examination due to the noticeable technological gap between the Primal Constructs found in the ruins of Sumeru's desert and the clockwork machines prevalent during this era. Two young prodigies of the Institute, Alain Guillotin and Rene, used the characteristics of Ousia and Pneuma to construct a new kinetic core, which eventually led to the first controlled annihilation reaction.After annihilation reactions were proven to be successful, research shifted to Kinematics. The experiments that took place here involved Khaenri'ahn machines, such as Ruin Graders, and were noted to be so dangerous an emergency damage control strategy was implemented for safety. Alain's experiments into machines were perceived by other researchers as an intention to create a mechanical dog as proof of his accomplishments in Kinematics and material science. Alain's assistant had suggested creating such a thinking machine, a thinking Kamera to be precise, so that it would take photos of those precious to Alain while he was busy. Alain found using a thinking Kamera for this reason to be pointless, but he found such a machine useful for security and surveillance applications. Seymour, Prototype 4ACV07, was the thinking machine Alain created for Mary-Ann Guillotin and takes the form of a mechanical dog. Seymour was created by Alain to protect his adoptive sister Mary-Ann and was made with the most advanced optics from the Fontaine Institute of Natural Philosophy.While Alain and other researchers focused on Kinematics, Rene and Jakob Ingold, who was a child at this time, had different research directions and they applied for a research lab of their own. Rene and Jakob eventually obtained their own lab, and they limited access to it due to the dangerous nature of their research. Rene acquired something powerful to research that appeared after the disaster, which was very dangerous for most people, but Jakob felt his constitution became "better" after being exposed to it. This research eventually led to an experiment on Carter, albeit in an attempt to save his life, which had disastrous effects on him.At the end of the Central Quartier of the Institute, the gathering place of an esoteric society known as the Narzissenkreuz Ordo can be found using an indecipherable book. This book leads to the Tower of Ipsissimus in the Morte Region. Although Rene found it quite sad that people from the Institute of Natural Philosophy had somewhat turned into his believers, he established the Narzissenkreuz Ordo within the Institute to give his followers a sense of belonging. The Ordo did not go unnoticed among the leaders of the Institute, but as there was no evidence of aggression or any invasive nature, the case was not pursued through official investigative channels. After the Institute disbanded, some of its former members joined the Narzissenkreuz Ordo at Mr. Ingold's invitation. Much of the continued research focused on the ancient civilization of Remuria. This led to the uncovering of an ancient copy of an unknown document within the Institute of Natural Philosophy, containing Remurian characters that seemed to be some form of phonography. This ultimately aided in the decipherment of unknown esoteric Remurian documents.One day, the Traveler and Paimon met Virgil from Spina di Rosula in the Court of Fontaine, and he asked them to help find the vault of the secret society "Liliacruces Forum." He wanted to use everything they found against the other members of the organization, Sonny and Luka. When Virgil realized that the so-called Liliacruces Forum was actually the Institute of Natural Philosophy, he attempted to get rid of the Traveler and Paimon in order to take their Mora. After escaping from the invincible Ruin Guard, the Traveler and Paimon met Sonny and his partner Luka, who were looking for Virgil. Together, they discovered a shipment of illegal Sinthe that Virgil and his henchmen were trying to sell. After a "very long and serious conversation," Virgil was never seen again.Related Entries:Salacia PlainAt the bottom of the sea plateau lies the wreckage of Fontaine's great white fleet. In the past, it traversed the seas and was Fontaine's supreme pride and glory. The First Hydro Archon, Egeria, blessed people with the authority and wish to conquer all waters of the world. However, that lofty ambition was insufficient to overcome the laws of fate, and the fleet was destroyed during the Cataclysm in the fight against the creature from the Abyss, Elynas. To this day, on the brass masts are inscribed the words: "I have conquered the waves of the four seas." The All-Devouring Narwhal, that once devoured the birthing waters of the planet, has departed without a single trace, but those in the know will forever live, surely, in the terrifying shadow of that omen of the end. At the bottom of Salacia Plain, a single shard of shattered spacetime remains, and through it, one may perhaps be able to witness that titanic creature once more.On Salacia Plain, a base for Sinthe production, a drug created from the diluted water of the Primordial Sea, is located. Once, there was a source of the Primordial Sea, which was discovered by the adventurers Vacher and Vigneire. Vigneire, touching the water, dissolved before the eyes of her beloved. He wanted to follow her, but he was not a native of Fontaine, and the water of the Primordial Sea had no effect on him. Out of grief, Vacher began to look for ways to bring Vigneire back. One day, he found the notes of Jakob Ingold, a member of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo, who had conducted experiments using the water of the Primordial Sea many years ago, and decided to use this research in his experiments. Vacher began kidnapping Fontainian women the same age as Vigneire in an attempt to revive his beloved. To remain above suspicion, Vacher decided to get rid of his old identity and came up with a story about a businessman, Marcel, who had just arrived in Fontaine. He found the name Marcel in Vigneire's diary, where she chose names for her and Vacher's children.During his research, Marcel noticed that a small amount of Primordial Sea water, diluted in ordinary water, is not lethal even for the inhabitants of Fontaine, but has intoxicating properties. Marcel named this drink Sinthe and started an underground business producing it. This drink could excite your mood and produce many pleasant hallucinations. With long-term use of Sinthe, many side effects occur, including a loss of the ability to focus or control one's emotions. Upon withdrawal, the person experienced flashes of paranoia and anxiety while lacking the energy to do anything. Marcel became the head of the Confrerie of Cabriere, a guild in Poisson. In the beginning, they were only reselling some daily goods, but later they became one of the richest guilds around with a lot of business connections in the city.Due to the side effects of long-term use of Sinthe, three years ago, the head of Poisson, Callas Caspar, banned its distribution in Poisson and began an investigation. He soon saw a connection between Sinthe and serial dissolutions. Due to a fatal illness, he knew that he would not be able to complete the investigation, so he conveyed information about the location of Marcel's base to his butler, Melus. Three years later, Callas's daughter, Navia, continued her father's work. According to information from Melus, the Traveler and Paimon discovered the base and evidence, thanks to which they were able to prove Marcel's guilt. After this, all shipments of Sinthe were destroyed by the Maison Gardiennage.Related Entries:Thalatta Submarine CanyonThalatta Submarine Canyon lies on the border between the Court of Fontaine and Liffey Regions. Since the Fortress of Meropide, an underwater prison, is located nearby, all non-Maison Gestion approved activities are prohibited in the canyon. The Callas aquabus line used to pass through above the canyon, connecting the Court of Fontaine and the Fontaine Research Institute, but the recent explosion of the Central Laboratory destroyed the route.Near the underwater canyon, the director of the Fishing Association, Delaroche, resides. Even though she is the director, she has not been able to catch a single fish. Previously, she was an ordinary employee of the Fontaine Research Institute, responsible for purchasing materials, negotiating with suppliers, and bringing down prices, but most of the time, just waiting for the suppliers to respond. While waiting, she wandered the city streets until she met new friends from the Fishing Association, and they introduced her to the joy of fishing. Delaroche fell in love with this activity, and her life took on new meaning. In gratitude, she supplied the fishermen with various equipment from the Institute, which helped them get a large catch. Since Delaroche had established connections with various merchants and was always ready to come to the rescue, everyone decided to elect her as the head of the Association. But even when she was at her post, she could not catch a single fry. It turned out that Delaroche uses bait that dissolves in water. When the Traveler helped her with bait, she decided to use baits that were too hard for the fish to swallow. As a result, the Traveler and Paimon left her a recipe for a simple and effective bait as a gift in the hope that now the head of the Association will learn to fish. One day, Delaroche met the Melusine Iara and taught her fishing techniques. Due to the specifics of Delaroche's skills, Iara was unable to catch a fish, so she decided to place a ball octopus in her pond and practice on it.On land near the canyon, a secret laboratory for the production of Imitation Sinthe, a new drug that appeared after Sinthe disappeared from the market, was located. Pierre, a researcher from the Fontaine Research Institute, prepared drugs in the laboratory, placed them in special impenetrable bags, and then transported them in barrels across the river. Thanks to the actions of the commander of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, Chevreuse, as well as the magician Lynette, the case of Imitation Sinthe was solved.On the foothills of Mount Esus, there are ruins left over from the ancient civilization of Remuria. In distant times, when the first Hydro Archon had not yet returned from confinement, another God King, Remus, dreamed of building a prosperous empire out of harmonious music atop the waves. But the great ambition of building a utopia failed to come to fruition, and the arrogance of humanity sank into their depths along with their pride. The golden music is long silent, only the cold music of the tides still echoes upon the remains of their grand altars.Near these ruins, the artist Salsa once painted a landscape, but her view was obstructed by structures created by adventurers. Therefore, Salsa decided to fight the designs and created the "Alliance of Artists to Overthrow the Evil Organization and Protect the Future of Fontaine." It turned out that all these structures were installed by an adventurer and installation artist, Ubu. Since Salsa did not appreciate his innovative approach to art, she moved all of his installations to fit into the landscape. The two artists could not agree on whose work could be called art, so Ubu left, defeated and promising to become a great artist.Further along Mont Esus, beyond the Court of Fontaine, a small village is located. Earnshaw lives here with his daughter's dogs: Hero, Princess, and Prince. Earnshaw's daughter, Agnes, was a freedom-loving woman and left her father. He expected him to return, so he didn't even read the letters she sent him. It turned out that Agnes ended up in the Fortress of Meropide, where she gave birth to her daughter, Lanoire. She was beautiful, like a small flower emerging from a crack in a rock, and grew persistently and selflessly even where there was neither sun nor rain. After some time, Agnes fell ill and died in the fortress, without having time to prepare documents for her daughter. With the help of Lanoire's friend, Caterpillar, the guard Estienne, the Traveler, and Paimon, Lanoire escaped from the Fortress of Meropide and was reunited with her grandfather. When Caterpillar, whose real form is a hilichurl, decided to visit Lanoire for her birthday, Earnshaw feared for his granddaughter and called the Gardes for help. Since Caterpillar had lost the ability to transform into a human, he said goodbye to Lanoire, told her to never talk to anyone who looked like him, and disappeared.In the same village lived the sick mother of a researcher from the Fontaine Research Institute, Potton. Potton was ugly, and no one wanted to communicate or cooperate with him. Only criminals entered into an agreement with him. During his research, Potton created a face-changing agent, the main component of which was the liquid remaining from the Fontainians dissolved by the Primordial Sea. Potton changed his appearance and became Rawat. He first spent all his money on treating his mother, but nothing helped, and she could not even recognize her son after the change. Rawat decided not to miss the opportunity and earn more, and the main component of the product was provided to him by the head of the Confrerie of Cabriere, Marcel, who was behind the production of Sinthe and the serial dissolution of women. When Rawat's mother was dying, he decided to change his appearance to his original one for the last time to say goodbye to her, but his mother had already lost her sight and did not recognize him even by touch.In this subarea, the world quests,, and can be found.

Smuggling CaseOne day, the magician's assistant, Lynette, found a cat in the Court of Fontaine and named it Bonnie. She tried to find Bonnie's owners by placing an ad in The Steambird, and a man and a woman answered her ad. After examining the cat, the man decided that he had made a mistake, and the woman said that the cat belonged to her friend. Lynette suspected that the woman might be a Garde, so she revealed her name, Elodie. Elodie was investigating a case of smuggling across the border, and the real owner of the cat was one of her main suspects. When he realized that the Gardes were looking for him, he ran away and was separated from Bonnie. Elodie hoped that the owner might return for the cat, so she answered the ad in the newspaper.Elodie revealed that Bonnie's owner was Pierre Lefevere, a researcher at the Fontaine Research Institute. The Lefevere family was once a famous aristocratic family involved in many crimes. One of the family members "bought" Lynette many years ago, before she joined Fatui and the House of the Hearth. In recent years, almost all the family members, including the head, were killed by an unknown assassin. Most of the remaining members died of hunger and disease, and the survivors changed their names. Pierre hid in the institute under a different name, but when the Gardes searched his belongings, they found a pendant of an illegitimate member of the Lefevere family.The contraband that Pierre was transporting was a new type of drug called the Imitation Sinthe. When the Gardes confiscated all Sinthe and arrested the head of the Confrerie of Cabriere, Marcel, who was behind the production of Sinthe, people began to look for a new way to get drugs. Due to the measures taken after the Sinthe incident, criminals became smarter and managed to transfer their sales abroad. When the Marechausse Phantom began an investigation to track down all the people in Fontaine who were capable of producing such a drug, they came across Pierre. Elodie knew that if she took Bonnie to the Gardes, Pierre would definitely not come for it, so she asked Lynette and the Traveler to keep an eye on the cat.Lynette felt that something was wrong with Pierre's story, so she went to the Fontaine Research Institute to find the truth. There, she met her brother Lyney and the captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, Chevreuse. As Lynette suspected, her brother, who had been acting suspiciously in recent days, was investigating Pierre Lefevere. Chevreuse and Lyney revealed that Pierre had become addicted to Sinthe, so he tried to use the Institute's resources to create a substance with a similar effect. Although Pierre claimed he had done this only for research purposes, the Institute denied him access to the relevant materials. He was placed on leave until the investigation was completed, but due to staff shortages, the investigation was postponed.Since the Imitation Sinthe left clear traces at the production sites, Lynette, Chevreuse, Lyney, and the Traveler investigated a suspicious place on the coast near the Thalatta Submarine Canyon. From the evidence they collected, they concluded that Pierre was using floating barrels to transfer drugs and had an accomplice. If Pierre was only responsible for producing the Imitation Sinthe, the second person would have to be responsible for transporting the goods across the border. Lynette and the Traveler went to the Lumidouce Harbor to examine the registration logs and look for clues.Once at the harbor, Lynette and the Traveler discovered that the gendarme Elodie was in charge of protecting Lumidouce Harbor. In the registration logs, they found records of a "Humane Society" that rehomed animals abroad. The head of the organization was Bernard, the man who responded to the ad about Bonnie. Lynette and the Traveler figured out that the Humane Society was using cats to transport the Imitation Sinthe so that no one could detect it. Pierre fed the drugs to the cats in special corrosion-resistant bags and transported them in floating barrels with holes for air. When Bernard examined Bonnie, he felt her stomach to make sure she did not have the Imitation Sinthe.When Lynette, the Traveler, and Elodie arrived at the Humane Society in the Court of Fontaine, they captured Bernard. He admitted that the organization was in a sorry state, but one day he received an unexpected letter. He was offered a large sum of money to transport animals abroad, and he accepted. Although Bernard constantly communicated with Pierre by letter, he never met him in person. When the Marechaussee Phantom began investigating, Bernard received a final letter stating that Pierre had gone on the run.After Bernard was caught, Lynette felt that the case had been solved too quickly. Since Pierre was so careful and secretive, it was suspicious that he carried a pendant with him that linked him to the Lefevere family. The Institute had cut off Pierre's access to the materials, but he somehow continued to make the Imitation Sinthe. The letter that Bernard had received also seemed strange: if Pierre had known that Bonnie did not have the drug, he could have warned Bernard about it. And if the cat had them, she would have been the main evidence that had to be disposed of. Having collected all the evidence, Lynette and the Traveler came to the conclusion that there was a third person in the case, unknown to both Pierre and Bernard. And this third person had long ago decided to sacrifice them for the sake of their own salvation in the case.Lynette and the Traveler realized that all this time, only one person had been leading them astray by telling them that Pierre belonged to the Lefevere family: Elodie. She was the one who had set the Marechaussee Phantom on Pierre and then lured him into a trap so that he would disappear. She was the one who had led the investigation to the "Humane Society" by noticing their name in the registration logs. Elodie had organized the records of the society's activities when filling out the logs in such a way that anyone reading them would immediately notice, and the logs themselves did not contain information about the port administration's activities during the shifts that Elodie worked. In addition, she often changed shifts, and they coincided exactly with the activities of the "Humane Society."Elodie's real name was Elodie Lefevere, and she was the illegitimate daughter of the family. She became a Garde before the fall of the Lefeveres, and actively participated in the interrogations and arrests of family members in order to avoid suspicion. Thanks to the help of Chevreuse and Lyney, who arrived in time, Elodie was caught and taken into custody.Related Entries:"The Little Oceanid"Once the director of a small theater troupe, Aurelie Fumeau, gathered around herself many people who were left without a livelihood or who had lost the meaning of life, and convinced them to join her troupe. She wrote scripts herself, performed on stage, and mentored each of them. Dulphy was born with an incurable illness, and once her family found out it couldn't be treated, they abandoned her. For several years, she agreed to any job, tried to manage her illness with various medicines, and during a severe flare-up, she lay in an alleyway for days at a time. When Aurelie found Dulphy, she said that she had a beautiful voice and offered to teach her to sing. The director taught her to sing and perform, helped her find money for medicine, and took care of her. Another actor, Lauwick, was the son of a murderer and grew up in an orphanage. Other children bullied and beat him, and one day he ran away. When he had already lost all faith in humanity, he met Aurelie. The actor Pauleau was in love with Aurelie. One day, he confessed his feelings to her, but she said that the whole troupe was like siblings to her. Pauleau replied that he would always help the troupe and her and hoped that in the future she would be able to rethink what she wanted in her life.Aurelie's last work was the musical "The Little Oceanid", which tells the story of a young Oceanid who, despite her family's protests, turned into a human. She dreamed of living like everyone else and even found friendship and love. Everything seemed perfect, but one day her true nature was revealed, and her world began to crumble. "If you become human, you can reveal your secret to no one. You will face suffering and loneliness... Is this truly what you want?" This was the most important line in the entire script and a symbolic statement about the life and legacy of the troupe's leader. She kept silent about all the trials and tribulations that befell her as the troupe's leader and devoted all her energy to them. Aurelie never managed to finish the play, as she became a victim of serial disappearances. Among the belongings of the young girls dissolved by the killer, Vacher, was Aurelie's diary. When the girl was dissolved before her eyes, the diary broke off. It turned out that she was trying to protect her troupe because one of the members got involved in distributing Sinthe. Before she disappeared, she told everyone to leave the Court of Fontaine and wait for her outside the city, but she never came. Even as she sat in silence, waiting for her death, she did not regret her decision, because she was an older sister to the troupe."Someone else was taken. That makes six.Or perhaps the seventh? Someone tried to escape yesterday but was caught. She hasn't been seen since.Was that yesterday? Maybe not. I've long since lost track of time.Sorry. I don't know if writing this is of any use, or how much longer I can do it for.I can already see my fate approaching. But what terrifies me even more is...The thought of seeing others from the troupe here.Have I truly protected them?Sorry. I'm so sorry. I can write no more...I think I have a fever and my old stomach troubles have returned. But nobody has given me any medicine.I suppose I am more fortunate than Crecy... the pain keeps her awake all night.I suppose they think that anything goes so long as the experimental subjects can be used up before they die...It is so damp here. I have given her my blanket.So cold, so cold. So cold.As long as one persists, all things will pass.There will be a reward for hard work.I like to tell them such things.But it is I who am losing my grip."Since the troupe lost its leader, everything went downhill. Conflicts began to arise between them, the chronic illness of the lead actress worsened, the two main actors did not give confirmation, and the troupe could not agree on the ending of the play. Some believed that it was worth making a happy ending so as not to convey their pain to the audience, while others believed that it was worth writing a real tragedy, like in life. Pauleau, playing the main character's beloved, locked himself in the house to concentrate on writing the ending. When the deadline came, there was still no news from him. Vilmant, playing the main villain, took Aurelie's death very hard and did not appear in the city. It was he who caused the death of the leader. Since the troupe stayed afloat thanks to donations from the audience, their financial situation was difficult. One day after a performance, a merchant approached Vilmant and offered generous sponsorship, and in exchange, the troupe would provide the audience with drinks during the performances. Vilmant thought it was a good deal and agreed without even consulting Aurelie. When the merchant came to pick up the goods, it turned out to be Sinthe. He immediately explained everything to the leader, and she told the merchant that the troupe could not agree to this collaboration. In a rage, the merchant threatened to sue for damages, but Aurelie promised to solve the problem herself. Suddenly, she ordered everyone to leave the city and never returned.When Dulphy's illness worsened, Lauwick approached the Adventurers' Guild to find a replacement, but since the show was in a few days and the troupe had no extra funds, no one would agree. The Traveler and Paimon answered the call and decided to ask Furina, who had left her post as the Hydro Archon, to perform in the musical. She was categorically not ready to return to the stage but agreed to consult with the troupe to learn more about their leader. The story of "The Little Oceanid" resonated deeply with Furina, as she had hidden her true nature for centuries and could not confess to anyone.Pauleau's proposed scenario told how an Oceanid found love and friendship in a bustling city, but people began to notice that all the fresh water in the area was gradually disappearing, the soil was becoming dry, and the plants and flowers were withering. Little Oceanid Clio and her lover decided to do something and get to the bottom of it together. Eventually, they discovered that all the waste and pollution created by people over the years had caused the fresh water to leave the earth as if driven by its own consciousness. Clio, as a water spirit, immediately understood what the water felt and told her lover about it and her true nature. Her lover accepted her as she was, and together, they tried to find a way to bring back the water, but someone overheard her secret and blamed her for the disappearance of the water. In the end, she made the courageous decision to sacrifice herself to save her lover and all of humanity.Dulphy wanted to make the most truthful ending possible, with the little Oceanid reflecting Aurelie. She proposed that the little Oceanid be hunted to death by the people who hated her, her lover ensured that her secret would never be revealed, and humanity would continue on its path to extinction. This ending would show the random and meaningless end that their leader met, sacrificed for the sake of an experiment by a man who had no relation to her. Pauleau, who was in love with Aurelie, did not agree with this ending, as he wanted a better ending for her. Together, they decided to go to Vilmant to reach a compromise on the script.When the troupe learned the truth about Aurelie's death, some were furious, but Furina helped them put their differences aside until the end of the performance. The troupe's leader wanted to build a warm home for all her brothers and sisters and shield them from the storms that rage in the world outside. Although the troupe tried to make her the heroine of the story, she was already a heroine to them. And if the troupe wanted to do justice to Aurelie, they had to reconcile their differences and force themselves to finish the play. After reading Aurelie's diary, found in the evidence at the Palais Mermonia, the troupe unanimously decided on the ending of the musical.During the final performance at the Opera Epiclese, which Furina had helped to book, Dulphy's illness worsened again, and she asked Furina to sing the final song. Although Furina had broken her promise to herself never to go on stage again, she was glad to be back. In the last scene, Clio sacrificed herself to bring back fresh water and save the people. According to the script, she was not to take up the Vision that would appear before her as she disappeared, but instead allow it to fall into the ocean depths alone. But during the actual performance, a real Vision appeared, and it belonged to Furina. As Furina grasped it, its reflected radiance seemed to contain her heart, filled once again by this performance."If I could only return to the water's embraceWouldn't the world be a lovelier place?Dear Mother, would you be able to forgiveAs the dancing water flows, so too we would liveThe city would nourishAnd you too, my dear, would flourishBut love alone could be to no availOnly farewell, I fear, would prevailThus are our lives filled with joy and sorrowI'll be here always, forever and tomorrowTo behold the world's undying beautyAnd that shall live on in perpetuity…"Despite the great success of "The Little Oceanid," the actors decided to disband the troupe. Some of them were ready to continue acting, while others wanted to take care of their health. Furina, inspired by Aurelie's life, decided that she was not as against returning to the stage as she had previously thought. From that moment on, she wanted to spend her time learning real stories about real people and how they touch the lives of others around them. She wanted to watch them blossom and wither, see them refined on the page, retold on the stage, and remembered long into the future.Related Entries:The Phantom WeaselMore than ten years ago, a phantom thief, known as "The Weasel," became active in the Court of Fontaine. Nobody knew his true identity, and the authorities never managed to catch him. He had a bad reputation: he targeted whatever people held dear, and no one was safe from his predation. He would just as soon steal a necklace from a rich merchant's safe as he would a toy doll given to a commoner child for their birthday. If not for an accident, The Weasel could have continued to roam free, but ten years ago, a magician named Cesar fell to his death in a botched high-altitude escape performance. When the police went through his personal effects, they found a hoard of stolen loot and gadgets used for criminal activities, and that was how The Phantom Weasel's identity was revealed to all. Many did not believe that Cesar could be a criminal, because he was constantly giving gifts to children. Sometimes he would ask them to write down what they wanted on paper, and during the next performance, he would pull the gifts out of thin air. But after his death, a rumor spread that Cesar had asked children to write their wishes on paper so that he could steal their most precious possessions. After Cesar's death, there were fewer thefts in the city, and people began to forget about him, until one day, ten years later, The Weasel wrote a warning letter and hung it right on the gates of the opera house: "Three days from now, when evening falls, I shall take from you that which you hold most dear at the opera house, just as you did to me ten years ago."Three days later, the magician Lyney was scheduled to perform at the Opera Epiclese in the evening, so he wanted to expose The Weasel so that his concert would not be canceled. He asked the Traveler and Paimon to join the investigation and temporarily act as his assistants. The first step was to find out who Cesar really was, because if he truly was The Phantom Weasel, the real Weasel would be dead, and the warning letter was just a copycat criminal. And if he was not The Weasel, the real Weasel would be alive and have gone into hiding ten years ago. They decided to start with Cesar's fiancée, Jemma, who visits his grave every week. She often spoke into the void and told him the latest news. People thought that Cesar did not deserve the love of such a woman, because he was a criminal. When Jemma appeared at the cemetery, she was wounded and looked scared, so she refused to answer Lyney's questions. Even though they left her alone, it felt like she was hiding something.The next day, they decided to meet Cesar's student Lorenzo, who had inherited his secrets of magic and craft. Before long, Lorenzo was the next big magician in town, his fame surpassing even that of his master, and it made him very wealthy. He's since left the magic scene and became a wealthy businessman with his fingers in a lot of different pies. He claimed that the real Weasel had died, and it was the imitator who left the letter. "Look, you of all people should know that a magician never reveals their secrets — and in any case, dead men don't talk. So if you really care about your magician's pride, then you'll forget about Cesar and move on." The conversation with Lorenzo also did not give answers, but left the feeling that he was hiding something. Leaving Lorenzo, Lyney noticed surveillance. These people threatened Jemma and wanted to deal with Lyney and the Traveler, but were defeated. Lyney assured Jemma that she was not in danger, and she told him about Cesar's workshop in the Fleuve Cendre.The path to the workshop was protected by tricks and riddles, and the workshop itself was hidden behind a secret door in the closet. Inside was Cesar's diary, where he talked about meeting two children who wanted to learn how to do tricks. They were so persistent in their requests that Cesar could not refuse them. The children turned out to be incredibly talented and had unusual thoughts, so the magician was sure that over time, they would surpass him. Cesar even wanted to take them on tour, but they refused, and one day he overheard them talking about "Father" and the "mission." As they parted, he shared with them his view of the world: "It's full of lies and falsehoods, and that is why we must find our own truth."In addition, there was a box for a "high-altitude escape" trick in the workshop. During this trick, the magician slots themselves into a magic box in full view of the audience. The box is then suspended high in the air, and a short while later, the base automatically opens. At this point, a dummy will fall out of the box, but it looks real enough to grab the audience's attention, and they start wailing and screaming. Meanwhile, the real magician, who has by now blended into the crowd, waits for a good moment to make their appearance and puts on a hysterical performance: "Oh no! Is that me!? Did I just fall to my death!?" The audience's gaze then turns to the magician, and by the time they realize what's happened, the dummy has vanished — as if everything that just happened was some sort of shared illusion. Cesar himself invented this trick but was never able to perform it. When the box opened, it was not the dummy that fell out, but the magician himself. The box was hanging under the highest point of the opera house, and Cesar fell down from there. Since he was an ordinary man without a Vision, he could not hope to survive that fall.Cesar constructed the box for the performance himself. Inside, there was a device that only the magician himself would know about. Once the magician is inside and the box is lifted up into the air, the audience's view of the box is fixed at a certain angle. From where they're standing, they have a clear view of the front, sides, and bottom, but the back and the top are no longer visible. At this point, the magician presses a button inside the box, opening a secret door out of view. For the trick to succeed, the magician must constantly keep the audience in suspense. Many days and nights of careful research and painstaking practice would have gone into this, all culminating in a performance just a few minutes long, but one that still manages to transform the shock and grief of a tragic accident into the joy and laughter of a mesmerizing magic trick.The magic box Cesar was using at the time of his death had the secret button positioned on the right-hand side, and he always used his right hand as his dominant hand in public. However, most of the props were equipped with mechanisms on the left-hand side, and the box in the workshop also had a button on the left. Cesar pretended to be right-handed, since a magician can't afford to have their most basic habits stand out too much. People naturally focus their attention on the most important details of the task or situation at hand, but a magician needs to be able to redirect an audience's attention at will, so as to avoid arousing their suspicion. The essence of magic is getting people to believe a lie. If even the truth raises eyebrows, the falsehoods become all the more difficult to mask. Cesar had to pretend to be right-handed so that the audience did not notice anything. But in his most stressful and nerve-wracking moments, and when no one was watching, a reflex would kick in, and he'd use his left hand, so he placed the button in the box on the left. During the trick, Cesar had to get a dummy in a matter of seconds, throw it down to distract the audience, and then open a secret door and get out. Someone took advantage of the fact that he was left-handed and switched the box. When the magician reached for the button with his left hand, it was not there. He spent a few extra seconds searching, and then the bottom of the box automatically opened.Only a person close to Cesar had access to the props and knew which hand was Cesar's dominant, as close as his student Lorenzo was. It was his people who threatened Jemma and Lyney. He admitted that he hated Cesar because he forbade him from using tricks to get rich, while he poured everything into his street performances. Every other apprentice was living it up at their master's expense, but Lorenzo lived in poverty. He was afraid to leave since one word from Cesar could ruin his life, so he decided to kill his mentor. Lorenzo also admitted that he was The Weasel, but Lyney did not believe him.The next day, during Lyney's performance, Lynette accused Jemma of being The Weasel all along. Her parents died young, and the orphan had to fend for herself. She'd scrounge waste paper from garbage bins to draw on, using twigs and dirt for lack of ink and pen. She'd sew ugly ragdolls from whatever scrap material she could get her hands on. At that tender age, she should have been happy, instead, she stood in the shadows and watched with envy as all good things in the world passed her by. Her pain became a breeding ground for dark thoughts, and she began to hate people's happiness, be it rich or poor. At the time when The Weasel was terrorizing the entire Court of Fontaine, the police were deploying more and more forces to stop her. So, The Weasel came up with a cunning plan: to hang her crimes on someone else, and she settled on a renowned magician, Cesar. She deceived him into trusting her and realized that the magician had a pupil who harbored a grudge against him. At her encouragement, Lorenzo tampered with Cesar's magic box, causing him to fall to his death. Afterward, Lorenzo seized his master's property, and The Weasel set about tarnishing Cesar's reputation. Over time, Lorenzo began to be tormented by guilt, but Jemma, remaining free, could take care of his loved ones, so he could not reveal her secret.Neither Lorenzo nor Jemma wrote the threatening letter, as Lyney himself wrote it with a message to The Weasel. Lyney and Lynette were the children who learned magic tricks from Cesar. They remembered the good he had done for them, so they decided to clear his name of crimes he had not committed. Lyney remembered Cesar's advice to find his truth. Truth can take many forms — prized possessions with nostalgic value, fervent hopes and dreams, and irreplaceable people. For Lyney, this truth was Lynette. Life took many things from Jemma, and the wounds in her heart could no longer heal. Stealing helped her forget and ease the pain, but after Cesar's death, she stopped stealing. Lorenzo was willing to give everything up for Jemma's sake, and all these years, he helped ease the pain that only theft could previously cope with. Besides the murder, they were the only friends each other had, and deep down, Lorenzo was her "truth" that nothing could replace. As Lyney had promised, he took the thing most dear from Jemma — Lorenzo."Congratulations on your freedom, Jemma.Your freedom will cost you dearly. From now on, you'll be all alone in a world full of lies and falsehoods. I do hope you'll be able to bear it — you've still got a long life ahead of you, after all."In Cesar's memory, Lyney performed the "high-altitude escape" trick, and the morning after the performance, Jemma surrendered to the Gardes. Her last wish was to see Lorenzo again.

Trailers and Story TeasersFontaine Gameplay TrailerAugust 23, 2023We've faced all sorts of perils, but never lost the courage to keep exploring.A brand-new region, an all-new experience.Embark on a new journey in Genshin Impact with Fontaine's gameplay trailer.YouTube:IllustrationsThe Steambird Special Edition I: The Terrestrial Sea, Origin of All WatersAugust 9, 2023Hello Travelers~ There are many mysterious things waiting to be discovered in the waters of Fontaine. Let's find out more!Recently, a certain publication is very popular among adventurers who are about to leave for Fontaine. It is said to be the special edition of The Steambird. Let's discover what's new together!The Steambird Special Edition VI: Gear and Clockwork RoundelayAugust 15, 2023Hi, Travelers~Let's admire the Artificed Dancers' Icewind Suite together!"Ride the Waves to a Rendezvous in Fontaine" ExhibitionAugust 28, 2023Dear Traveler,Fontaine's little-known secrets are being revealed! The Fontaine Expo's new map is now available~ P.S. See if you can find the hidden puzzles within the web page!TutorialsNew Boss: All-Devouring NarwhalNovember 8, 2023Hello, Travelers!After the Version 4.2 update, Travelers will encounter a new enemy All-Devouring Narwhal. Let's check out what special traits it has and how to deal with it~