"Now that he can speak, the next step should be teaching him how to write, right?" Focalors asked.
Neuvillette nodded, then reminded her:
"Remember not to teach him to write his own name."
"Not even writing it?"
Focalors looked stunned.
Neuvillette didn't answer—he simply nodded again.
Focalors sighed helplessly.
"Alright, I understand."
[Shikanoin Heizou]: Just saying Mr. Gu Chen's name triggers a reaction? And if that glance carried emotion, Teyvat would be erased with a single look? (Paimon • shocked)
[Thoma]: I knew Mr. Gu Chen was strong in this episode, but I didn't expect this level of strength! Just saying the name feels like divine punishment is about to descend… (scared)
[Kaeya]: Damn… that's terrifying. If every video shows a fragment of Brother Gu, then right now he's like Neuvillette after reclaiming his authority—a complete dragon. A complete Gu Chen. So saying his name… (scratching head)
[Venti]: Feeling the cold sweat yet, buddy? You should thank Brother Gu for sparing your life. (smirk)
[Zhongli]: No need to worry. If that moment ever truly came, you wouldn't even feel fear. Before fear could arise, you'd already be gone—no soul left either. (drinking tea)
[Albedo]: His name cannot be spoken lightly… The true body of the Primordial True King likely cannot be looked upon either. (thinking)
[Heizou]: Which means the only reason we can see his true form is thanks to the Exposure System. Otherwise we'd explode after a single glance. (sweating)
[Paimon]: Scary. (trembling)
Gu Chen was extremely intelligent.
"Prodigy" didn't even seem enough to describe him.
Focalors only taught him for half a day, yet he was already able to write—and neatly at that.
Looking at the elegant handwriting on the page, Focalors exclaimed in surprise.
"You even copied my handwriting perfectly… Not bad! Little Chen, you're amazing!"
While praising him, she pressed her cheek against his small face affectionately.
Then she asked with a smile:
"Are you hungry? Do you want big sister to take you to drink some Primordial Sea water?"
Little Gu Chen rubbed his belly and shook his head.
"Not hungry."
"Not hungry?"
Did that mean he didn't need energy right now—or literally wasn't hungry?
After asking further, she learned that he simply didn't need to absorb energy for the moment.
After dinner, the day came to an end.
Little Gu Chen happily followed Focalors back to her room.
"You've grown up now. You should learn to sleep on your own," she said, patting his head.
"I won't."
Little Gu Chen shook his head and clung to her leg stubbornly.
"I want to sleep next to big sister."
Focalors felt both helpless and pleased.
After all, she had raised this little dragon herself.
Of course he would cling to her!
Being attached to by the Primordial Progenitor—this was something she deserved!
"Alright, but when you grow a little more, you can't do this anymore."
She lightly flicked his nose.
"Mm-hmm!"
Little Gu Chen clearly didn't listen.
He ran to the bed, jumped onto it, and lay down in his usual spot.
Then he patted the space beside him and looked at Focalors expectantly.
Focalors lay down beside him and tucked the blanket around him.
"Good night, Little Chen."
"Good night, big sister."
The lights dimmed.
In the living room, Neuvillette twitched slightly.
A faintly melancholic look appeared on his face.
He raised his head toward the starry sky, his eyes filled with quiet loneliness.
[Nilou]: Hahaha, Mr. Neuvillette must be thinking he shouldn't be in the living room—he should be at the bottom of the sea! Gu Chen only sticks to Focalors and barely pays attention to him! (laughing)
[Collei]: Neuvillette: It's a movie for three people, yet I don't even have a name in the credits… True King, have you abandoned me?! (Yae Miko • mischievous smile)
[Neuvillette]: …
That one really hit the heart.
Neuvillette genuinely felt a little hurt.
From an objective perspective, it made sense—Gu Chen had been picked up by Focalors as a child.
Of course he would be attached to her.
But even so…
It still felt lonely.
"When the video ends, we'll probably receive the memories…"
He rubbed his temple.
"…Memories like that might be unnecessary."
Gu Chen held an extremely high status in the Court of Fontaine.
Back when he was just a small dragon, everyone already knew he was extraordinary.
After he transformed into a human child, rumors spread that he was the child of Focalors and Neuvillette.
Those rumors were firmly denied by Neuvillette.
Now, calling Gu Chen the Crown Prince of Fontaine would actually be an insult to his status.
With Neuvillette around, Gu Chen could practically ride on Fontaine's head and do as he pleased.
Court of Fontaine – Street
A small figure ran wildly down the road.
Neuvillette followed behind at a brisk pace.
At the end of the street stood Focalors.
Her pretty face was stern.
In her hand she carried a clothes hanger, marching forward aggressively.
Little Gu Chen stopped in front of her and held out several candies with both hands.
"Big sister, have some candy~"
"You went and bullied people again, didn't you?!" Focalors glared at him with her hands on her hips.
How could the Primordial Progenitor act like a little bully?!
Luckily, the trouble he caused was minor—just childish mischief in adults' eyes.
Otherwise she'd be furious.
"I didn't!"
Little Gu Chen protested weakly.
"Neuvillette, you definitely saw it, didn't you?" Focalors asked.
Neuvillette calmly shook his head.
"I wasn't paying attention. I didn't see."
Little Gu Chen nodded in satisfaction.
His eyes seemed to say:
Good brother. Well done.
"Come home with me!"
Focalors grabbed him by the back collar and dragged him home.
Neuvillette opened his mouth but said nothing.
He simply followed behind with his hands behind his back.
His job was only to cover for the True King.
What the True King did?
He didn't know.
Didn't see.
Didn't notice.
Back home, Little Gu Chen was naturally scolded severely.
But once the scolding ended, Focalors looked at his obedient face and couldn't help but laugh helplessly.
"Everything I say goes in one ear and out the other. When will you grow up?"
"You're not sleeping with me tonight!"
Focalors snorted.
So what if he was the Progenitor?
Whenever she said this, he still had to listen obediently.
"Big sister, I know I was wrong!"
Little Gu Chen quickly grabbed paper and pen and wrote a self-criticism letter, sincerely admitting his mistakes.
Then he hugged Focalors' leg while apologizing sweetly.
After reading the letter carefully, Focalors finally nodded in satisfaction.
"No next time. Otherwise… hmph."
"Mm-hmm!"
Little Gu Chen nodded like a pecking chicken.
Night came.
As usual, even though he had grown a little older, Little Gu Chen still slept beside Focalors.
The next morning—
Focalors woke up and felt something strange.
Normally Little Gu Chen would wake up early and push her awake while calling "big sister."
But today the "human alarm clock" wasn't working.
She looked down.
Little Gu Chen lay quietly in her arms, unmoving.
"Little Chen?"
"Little Chen?"
No response.
Focalors frowned.
If he were a normal child, sleeping late after playing hard yesterday would make sense.
But this was the Primordial Progenitor's young form.
As a dragon, he possessed seemingly endless energy.
Simple fatigue shouldn't cause this.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
Focalors glanced down, adjusted the shoulder strap of her clothes that Gu Chen had apparently pulled loose, and said:
"Come in."
After waiting a few seconds, Neuvillette entered.
Seeing Gu Chen still asleep, his expression turned serious.
"No wonder he woke so late."
"It should be time."
"We can try taking him to the Primordial Sea now."
Focalors nodded.
"Let's go."
Holding Gu Chen, she followed Neuvillette through the sea until they reached the Primordial Sea itself.
Now that she was more familiar with the power of the Hydro Archon, Focalors was no longer afraid of dissolving in its waters.
The moment they touched the Primordial Sea—
The water boiled violently.
The currents surged toward Gu Chen as if they had consciousness.
The moment the water touched his skin, it entered through his pores and spread through his body.
Gu Chen floated out of Focalors' arms.
The Primordial Sea lifted him upward as more and more water poured into his body like a reversed waterfall.
At the same time—
His aura rose steadily.
He was growing as he absorbed power.
It was as though time itself was accelerating around him.
His once-short hair visibly lengthened.
Focalors watched him grow and suddenly felt a strange sadness.
She paused.
What was wrong with her?
Logically, even if Gu Chen absorbed all the Primordial Sea water, it would be fine.
Without it, Fontaine's people would no longer dissolve.
She should feel relieved.
But why did she feel… uneasy?
Deep down, she realized something.
She didn't want Gu Chen to grow up so quickly.
If he grew up—
He would become closer and closer to the majestic Primordial True King.
Focalors had self-awareness.
She never dared imagine anything beyond her place.
But after spending so much time together, she didn't want things to suddenly become distant.
She didn't want to treat him like Neuvillette did—
With absolute reverence.
"Sigh."
She sighed softly.
"What's wrong?" Neuvillette asked.
"Nothing."
Focalors shook her head.
"Maybe I'm just being selfish."
Neuvillette's eyes flickered, but he didn't pursue the topic.
Instead he said:
"I wonder whether the True King will descend this time."
There was faint anticipation in his voice.
Like a child hoping for praise after doing something well.
After a long while, the phenomenon finally stopped.
The Primordial Sea calmed.
Half of it had been absorbed.
If Gu Chen previously looked like a two- or three-year-old, now he resembled a child of about ten.
"…Strange," Neuvillette murmured.
"What is it?" Focalors asked.
Neuvillette said seriously:
"I originally thought returning the Primordial Sea to the young body was restoration."
"But as we suspected, it's actually growth."
"At first I believed this was the True King's method of rebirth."
"But now… it seems more like reincarnation."
"What's the difference? Isn't it just living again?" Focalors asked.
"No," Neuvillette shook his head.
"The meaning is different."
"Rebirth usually means returning with memories."
"Reincarnation means starting without them."
"And judging from the young True King's state, he has no memories."
"With his current strength, he should be capable of bearing a portion of the True King's will."
"But the True King hasn't done so."
"That supports my guess."
"The True King intends for the young form to grow naturally on its own."
"So… he won't become the Progenitor?" Focalors asked.
Neuvillette thought for a moment.
"The old memories will inevitably return one day."
"His power will also gradually recover."
"I believe a new True King will eventually emerge."
Focalors asked again:
"So at least for now… he won't regain his memories?"
"Yes."
Neuvillette nodded.
Focalors finally relaxed.
But then another worry appeared.
"Half of the Primordial Sea is gone. If someone notices…"
Before she finished, Neuvillette shook his head.
"No need to worry."
"Even though he is a reincarnation, that doesn't mean he cannot use the power of his previous life."
"All living beings, all laws and authorities, the stars of the universe themselves—everything is the True King's transformation."
"When the gods see him, they feel as though the heavens themselves stand above."
"No one can threaten the True King's reincarnation."
"Not even the usurping king in the heavens."
Hearing this, Focalors finally relaxed completely.
"So his safety isn't something we need to worry about."
"That means you should worry about yourself instead," Neuvillette said.
"Why would I worry?"
Focalors smiled lightly.
"Half of the Primordial Sea is gone. No matter how much water rises, Fontaine won't be flooded anymore."
"…That's true," Neuvillette nodded.
"The prophecy crisis of Fontaine has been half resolved."
"Half?"
"Yes."
"When too many factors are involved, some events still have a probability of occurring."
"That is predetermined fate."
"At least you and I don't yet possess the ability to break it."
Neuvillette could influence Fontaine's future thanks to the recognition he received from the True King.
But breaking fate itself was beyond him.
After all, he was only the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, not a being who controlled destiny.
"…Forget it."
Neuvillette shook his head.
"Let's bring the True King's reincarnation back first."
"Alright."
Focalors stepped forward and dispersed the Primordial Sea water around Gu Chen.
Then her gaze fell downward—
Her face suddenly flushed red.
She quickly wrapped Gu Chen back in water before lifting him.
[Collei]: What kind of camera angle is this?! Why can't we see?! Exposure System, let me look!! (Childe • angry)
[Nilou]: The two things I hate most in life are censorship and sudden camera cuts! (flips table)
[Alice]: If there weren't children in this chat, I can't imagine how perverted you'd all become. (Paimon • shocked)
[Kaeya]: Seriously… you guys want to see it that badly?
[Kirara]: Well… it is Mr. Gu Chen… so I'm a little curious. (hehe)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: I'm jealous of Focalors…
[Kamisato Ayato]: ???
[Ayaka]: I mean I'm jealous she can raise a Mr. Gu Chen! (blushing)
[Yae Miko]: Sometimes explaining is just covering up! If you're thirsty just say so. (mischievous smile)
[Gu Chen]: Sometimes I feel like being in this group is kind of dangerous. (alert)
[Prince]: Just cut it off and you'll be safe. (Furina laughing)
[Lumine]: (Alhaitham: "You seem to speak without thinking.")
[Dainsleif]: Absolute annihilation. (Furina laughing)
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