Furina had arranged to visit Inazuma with two senior companions. After being dragged back to the bedroom on the Palais Mermonia's rooftop by a jealous Themis for some kisses, Focalors watched the contented Themis and the hand-held Furina, her chin resting in one hand as she tilted her head to observe them.
"You two... did something embarrassing again while I wasn't looking, didn't you?"
Hearing Focalors' teasing words, Furina's face predictably flushed red. Her eyes kept darting toward Themis beside her.
"We did do some things, but only kisses," Themis said calmly, her face showing no trace of embarrassment as she crossed her arms.
Focalors nodded in understanding before turning her attention to the unofficial history of Inazuma nearby.
"Oh, um, Focalors..." Furina began, twisting her dress hem nervously. When Focalors turned to look at her, she continued, "At the cake shop, we met Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, and Morax, the Geo Archon."
"They heard we were going to Inazuma, so they want to come with us."
"They said they're visiting friends there."
Focalors nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, that's not the real reason."
"I'm afraid they must have other motives."
Focalors' words left Furina scratching her head in confusion. Wait, what? What could Fontaine possibly have that would interest two old gods?
As for Inazuma... What's so special about Inazuma? Apart from the Raiden Shogun herself, it doesn't even seem as impressive as Fontaine.
Fontaine has a Dragon Sovereign. Does Inazuma have one?
Fontaine also has Themis. Does Inazuma have one?
Neither!
"Whatever. No matter what their motives are, it doesn't matter."
"The urgent task is to finish my work quickly."
"Sigh, so tiring~"
"Why did I agree to this in the first place, waaah..." Focalors whimpered pitifully, her face buried in the table. Suddenly, she turned to look at Themis, then at Furina.
Her large eyes darted mischievously, revealing a scheming gaze.
Themis and Furina instinctively tensed, their hearts skipping a beat as they wondered what new mischief Focalors was brewing.
Focalors merely wanted to document unofficial history. What harm could there possibly be?
The two suddenly thrust into the spotlight flushed crimson. Furina's face burned, while Themis took a deep breath to steady herself before pulling Furina onto the bed.
"Should I go first, or you?" Themis turned to Focalors, whose eyes sparkled with excitement. The corner of her mouth twitched as she asked, her voice dripping with exasperation.
Before Focalors could respond, Furina, pinned beneath her, hastily pleaded, "C-couldn't you... slow down just a bit?"
Her tear-filled eyes were utterly pitiful, her voice tinged with desperate pleading. Yet this vulnerable display had precisely the opposite effect on both Themis and Focalors.
Themis covered Furina's mouth with a hand, meeting her gaze squarely. "Furina, you'd do well to keep silent. This helpless look makes you far too easy to violate."
Focalors chuckled from the sidelines before joining the fray. She brushed aside Furina's bangs, her voice dripping with amusement. "Now you look even more tempting. This will only make us want to push your boundaries further."
Trapped between two relentless attackers, Furina felt like crying, but no tears would come. She should have fled the moment she entered this room!
As Furina half-heartedly resisted, Focalors' perverse amusement drove her to the brink of shame-induced fainting. But with two such depraved minds working in tandem, Furina's humiliation only deepened.
With tangible references to draw from, Focalors' already vivid imagination surged under Furina's guidance. Her writing of unofficial histories accelerated like a divine blessing, reaching a pace that seemed supernaturally aided.
Though the divine authorship of these histories might explain the miraculous speed, the physical evidence itself was undeniably divine in origin.
In the days that followed, Focalors' progress bar for the unofficial history skyrocketed.
When the Inazuma version of the history was finally completed, Furina found herself on the verge of tears from sheer excitement!
While Themis' capabilities ensured Furina's comfort, given her frail constitution and Themis' vigorous enthusiasm, even with Focalors' assistance, Furina feared she'd be too exhausted to rise from bed upon waking.
After another fortnight of rest, Furina massaged her aching waist and resolved to push Focalors toward Themis next time - slipping away during their busy moments. But she didn't consider whether she'd have the strength to flee.
Yet unexpectedly, Furina remained perfectly fine for days on end. Truly remarkable!
Furina herself was astonished by her own resilience.
Watching the little kitten Furina regain her vivacity and boundless energy, Focalors couldn't help but sigh, "Ah, youth is truly wonderful."
She then lay back in the bed, massaging her slightly aching waist before being embraced by Themis once more.
However, Themis always seemed to enjoy prolonging these moments, causing Focalors' body to stiffen momentarily in her arms!
Fortunately, the embrace lasted only a brief moment before Themis released her.
The room was indeed too messy and needed thorough cleaning.
Thus, Themis kissed her sleepy wife Focalors, then changed the sheets and blankets before taking both Furina and Focalors to the bathroom for a thorough wash. After bathing them until they were clean and rosy, she finally allowed them to rest in bed and recover from the previous day's exertions.
Ever since delegating nearly all administrative duties to Neuvillette, Themis had become utterly devoted to idleness.
At home, she had two beautiful young wives - the shy, innocent, and adorable Furina, and the cunningly intelligent goddess Focalors.
Ah, Themis, how could you be so lazy?!
No! You must work harder! Themis!
Day 1: Conquered Furina. How could I be so lazy?! But she's really so cute!
Day 2: Conquered Focalors with new methods. So satisfying!
Day 3: Conquered both Furina and Focalors simultaneously. Couldn't contain my excitement.
No, I can't be so lazy! I must work hard!
Day 4: Furina and Focalors teamed up, pinned me down on the bed, then turned the tables. Particularly enjoyable.
Day 5: Focalors corrupted Furina, making her take the initiative to seduce. Not the least bit shameful, but truly happy. Let me say it again - she's really cute!
Day 6: Taught Focalors a lesson in bed, perfectly making her beg for mercy. Afterward, I felt truly refreshed.
Day 7: Focalors wanted to write an unofficial history, so I could only pull Furina aside for kisses, occasionally taking advantage. But at night, I could directly conquer her. Happy.
Ahhh! You're really so lazy! Themis—!
The seven days, filled with sweet happiness and a hint of joyful hardship, came to a complete end.
It had been almost a month since she last saw Neuvillette.
Neuvillette's eyes sparkled with contemplation. After a long moment, he spoke words that stunned.
"When are the three of you getting married?"
"By human world standards, it's about time, isn't it?"
Themis's head filled with question marks. "You're right, but we haven't really considered it yet."
At this point, Themis suddenly felt like teasing Neuvillette. "Why don't you help us plan our weddings? What do you think, Neuvillette?"
She meant it as a joke, thinking Neuvillette had been working hard lately and could use some light-hearted amusement.
What Themis didn't expect was Neuvillette nodding seriously and actually putting it on his schedule.
She was left standing in place, watching Neuvillette's thoughtful retreating figure in stunned silence. No, wait! I was just joking!
Still, she had to admit, Neuvillette's approach was quite nice. He seemed more compassionate than in the original story.
But why was he so concerned about their weddings?
No, wait - could human customs really apply to gods?
Themis didn't understand, and this seemed to be the first case of its kind in Teyvat.
Ah... wait, did Havria count as an example?
As the days passed and Yae Miko's deadline approached, Themis noticed the Traveler returning to Palais Mermonia after a trip to Inazuma.
She realized Yae Miko must have grown impatient and sent Lumine to urge her Unofficial History author.
Cradling her Focalors cat, Themis took a deep breath before scooping up Furina and showering her with kisses and affection.
Far from being lazy, Themis was simply too enamored with her two feline wives!
When the departure date for Inazuma arrived, she grabbed both cats and rushed toward the ship.
Having secured official blessings from the Hydro Archon and Palais Mermonia, Lumine, Zhongli, and Venti had already boarded the vessel.
Truth be told, Zhongli and Venti's presence did momentarily stun Focalors.
Though she'd never met these esteemed elders, their legendary reputations had long been etched in her consciousness.
But more than anything, they exuded an aura of majestic divinity, embodying the very legends themselves. As these myths materialized before her eyes, Focalors felt she'd witnessed firsthand what it meant for reality to fall short of its mythic promise.
Poetic inspiration struck while seated on the ship, and drinking tea posed no issues.
But the drunken figure beside them—clinging to Zhongli's pant legs and rolling about on the deck—was this truly the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt's tales?
Furina covered her face. Even as a non-Mondstadian, she felt embarrassed for Barbatos standing nearby.
Ahhh! Why is the Anemo Archon Barbatos so shameless?!
He's finally up! Is he going to compose himself now?!
Under Furina's expectant gaze, Venti scrambled upright just as Zhongli neared his breaking point. He dusted himself off, then teleported to the nearby table. With a flourish, he poured himself a glass of juice and began sipping contentedly.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Venti happily sipped his apple juice, taking care to showcase his bardic skills with a spirited performance.
Though the music and recited verses were quite good, perhaps they could pay a bit more attention to the newcomers.
When Venti finally looked up at the arrivals, the first face he saw was Themis'—a mirror image of her superior, equally expressionless. His heart nearly stopped from the shock.
Zhongli proved more reliable. Though somewhat out of touch as a human, his dependable presence radiated safety.
Under Zhongli's lively banter, the crowd gradually shifted focus from Venti to Focalors' unofficial history of Inazuma and the ongoing light novel competition.
Contrary to expectations, Focalors showed little enthusiasm for the Inazuma light novel contest, her demeanor listless and disinterested.
This puzzled Furina. Is she suppressing excitement to avoid drawing attention?
Focalors remained silent, occasionally massaging her waist or stretching lazily.
These past few days had been a relentless grind. Even on the bed, there was no respite - it was exhausting beyond belief.
After exchanging a few words, Focalors, her face etched with exhaustion, trudged into the trio's shared bedroom. Inside lay a massive bed, ample enough for three occupants.
Cradled in the soft, luxurious bedding, Focalors murmured contentedly as she nuzzled the pillow. Wrapping herself in the quilt, she drifted off to sleep.
Furina and Themis checked in periodically, but Focalors remained steadfast in her resolve to rest and recuperate.
Ah, those recent days had been brutal. Though Furina had joined the fray, Focalors had still borne the brunt of the combat.
Now that the fighting was behind her, she needed to conserve her strength.
Only by resting properly could she hope to write more Unofficial History when they reached Inazuma.
Though there was always the possibility that the Raiden Shogun - that mighty Thunder General herself - might descend in fury.
But Focalors felt no fear. After all, the true culprit was the one who'd made her write about the Raiden Shogun's favored ones, not to mention she had Themis by her side!
The mere thought of Themis dispelled any lingering anxiety. And with two gods accompanying their party, they were well-equipped to handle any divine retribution.
The sea route to Inazuma was indeed treacherous, but for Fontaine's ships and Fontaine's Gods, it posed no particular challenge.
Fontaine's sturdy vessels and powerful armaments had been capable of independently confronting Elynas since five hundred years ago.
Even the toxic dragon Durin that invaded Mondstadt's territories was only defeated through the combined efforts of the Wind Dragon Dvalin and the Anemo Archon's assistance.
While Fontaine's current technological advancements hadn't reached absurdly rapid progress, it was evident they still held numerous untapped reserves.
After Rene and Jacob joined the Fontaine Research Institute, Themis believed Fontaine's technological level would ascend to an entirely new tier, with weapon and equipment standards seeing significant innovations.
Having grown accustomed to modern conveniences, Themis - though having lived in Teyvat for five centuries - found nothing remarkable about steel ships. She'd been surrounded by such vessels since her arrival in Fontaine.
However, Zhongli and Venti observed with keen curiosity. After all, such technology remained entirely unique in Teyvat.
With multiple Gods' blessings and the capabilities of these advanced ships, the sea journey to Inazuma was significantly shortened.
When they arrived at Inazuma, there were still a few days left before their scheduled meeting time, giving them ample opportunity to explore.
The steel-hulled ship was anchored far from the Inazuma harbor - the port simply wasn't large enough to accommodate such a vessel.
After completing all necessary formalities, the group bid farewell to the fleet.
Furina, making her first overseas journey, buzzed with energy like a child bursting with curiosity.
She peered here, touched there, and relentlessly pursued answers - eager to unravel the why behind everything, to unearth stories and history.
Her genuine excitement was palpable.
The Yashiro Commission's young mistress had been waiting here for some time, having prepared a variety of Fontaine dishes alongside Inazuma's finest delicacies for their guests.
Through the joint efforts of the Yashiro and Tri-Commissions, the welcome banquet proved a resounding success, leaving both hosts and guests thoroughly satisfied.
"Chief Priestess has awaited your arrival, honored guests. Now that I see you all, I must say each of you possesses an extraordinary presence."
Kamisato Ayaka could easily discern these visitors were no ordinary mortals.
However, since Yae Miko had instructed her not to pry, Kamisato Ayaka chose to treat them as official envoys on a diplomatic visit.
Since the purpose was to strengthen relations between the two countries and exchange cultural arts, there were no special requirements.
Therefore, before the official start of Inazuma's light novel competition, everyone gathered to plan a sightseeing trip around the area, intending to fully appreciate Inazuma's scenery.
With Traveler, a widely knowledgeable individual, present, Kamisato Ayaka felt reassured. She didn't need to say much, simply telling them to come find her if anything came up.
Though Inazuma was situated on the sea, it leaned more toward being an island. It wasn't as prosperous as Fontaine, Liyue, or Mondstadt.
Overall, it was somewhat impoverished...
"Hmm..."
Furina rested her chin in her hand, gazing at the full view of the island, and began to doubt Narukami's methods of governing.
"Sister Baal and Sister Beelzebul were originally twin gods. The two deities were one civil and one martial. Bal, now known as the Raiden Shogun, is called Raiden Ei. She is skilled in warfare but not in governance."
"However, she has just emerged from the shadow of losing her loved ones and is still striving to learn how to make Inazuma better."
Lumine felt she needed to explain the Raiden Shogun's situation. Furina's expression really did seem like she'd been misled by unofficial history.
"Right, that's exactly it! For years, Ei has been working hard to eliminate monsters and maintaining her own emotions to provide Inazuma with stable, clear weather."
At the mention of weather, all three Fontaine members immediately thought of Neuvillette.
When it came to controlling emotions, Themis considered that Neuvillette might truly need to learn from Raiden Ei. She had grown weary of days where a third of the month, and sometimes even more during special circumstances, were rainy!
Compared to rainy days, Themis much preferred clear weather.
There was no particular reason; clear weather simply felt better, with the sun's warmth on her skin.
More importantly, she frequently forgot to bring an umbrella. Whenever she watched others walk away under their umbrellas while she stood alone in the gloomy, drizzling weather, Themis always felt like crying.
She wanted to grab Neuvillette by the collar and tell him to stop crying - she still needed to make cakes!
Zhongli and Venti were more interested in the scenery and food.
Beyond that, their main focus was likely the legends of the Great God Narukami.
"Inazuma's art of swordsmithing was passed down by the Raiden Shogun. It's no exaggeration to call her both the God of Forging and the War God in the eyes of Inazumans."
Zhongli took a sip of Inazuma's clear sake and nodded, finding the flavor acceptable with its distinct Inazuma character.
Under Furina's curious gaze, Zhongli continued, "The Raiden Shogun Beelzebul, as Baal's younger sister born alongside her, attended every gathering of the seven gods when they ascended to the Divine Throne in Liyue. She always came as Baal's shadow warrior."
"Yet compared to her rigid formality back then, she now carries more of Baal's gentle warmth."
As Zhongli recalled those bygone days of drinking fine wine with the six gods, the past seemed to overlap with the present. The reality of the situation couldn't help but cast a shadow of melancholy over him.
In the end, we're all just pitiful children swept up by fate.
Baal and Beelzebul were like that, and without Themis here, Furina and Focalors before him would be the same.
Zhongli glanced at Themis sipping her juice nearby.
Themis calmly drank her juice, as expected. She still didn't find alcohol particularly appealing.
Given Themis's dietary habits, even placing her at a table of health-conscious elders would seem perfectly natural.