Ei cornered Furina in the Serenitea Pot on the upper corridor of the mansion. She smiled, but the young lady went pale. Already this was going poorly.

"Furina, may I have a word?"

The former Hydro Archon stiffened, just as Ei knew she would. Her eyes averted, as she searched for some excuse. Raiden Ei cut her off quickly.

"It's not serious. I simply wish to speak. Surely you could grant me a minute?"

Glumly, Furina followed Ei to the Serenitea Pot's tearoom. As they sat on the futons, Furina squirmed and fidgeted. Raiden Ei softened her features, assuming a gentle voice.

"I feel that ever since we met, you've avoided being alone with me for any length of time."

Furina laughed nervously, "Have I? I don't know what you mean."

"You refused my invitations to Tenshukaku on numerous occasions."

"Oh, um, I guess my schedule just doesn't line up that well with yours…heh-heh…"

"You also haven't looked at me once this entire time."

Furina wrung her hands. Heterochromatic eyes fixed into her lap, she feigned a smile. It seemed to her that Furina was anxious, but she couldn't understand why. Surely after the things they'd done together, their relationship went beyond that of acquaintances.

Why wasn't the feeling mutual?

"You dislike me," said Ei. "Is it because of my folly with the Sakoku Decree?"

"Huh? N-no, I don't dislike you!"

"Then why? Please, speak freely."

Furina bit her lip. Silence lingered between them, slow and conspicuous as a pink-shelled snail. For a moment, Ei thought this would be the end of their conversation, but then Furina blushed.

"Don't you hate me, Ei? I pretended to be a god like you."

"To save your nation. Yes. That does not give me a reason to hate you."

"It… doesn't?"

"I would never hate you for putting on an act to save your people," said Ei. "In fact, that's something I truly respect about you. Most minds could not endure the suffering you did for 500 years. You are a strong person, Furina."

"But I'm not a real Archon. I never was," she said, "Next to you, I'm such a fraud…"

Ei's heart quavered in sympathy. To think, Furina truly felt this way after all she'd done for her nation. The Electro Archon examined her junior—her kōhai.

It occurred to her that nobody taught Furina what it meant to be an Archon. Everything had been improvisation and theatrics. It hadn't been that way for Ei, who benefited from her predecessor Makoto. These days whenever she felt unsure, she looked back to the example her sister set for her. She had a senpai. Perhaps now, she ought to be one herself.

"Furina," she began, "what do you think it means to be an Archon?"

Her instructive tone must've reached Furina for she straightened up.

"Oh, um… an Archon must rule their nation wisely with their powers."

"Hardly. The Anemo Archon does not rule Mondstadt, and now the people lead Liyue instead of Morax. Only recently did the Dendro Archon assume command of Sumeru."

"We Archons must maintain the physical and celestial world. Not simply by enforcing order, but rather, by preserving our nations. It goes beyond divine power or sage ruling. We must safeguard the hopes of our people. In that, you have succeeded beyond what any other Archon could. Thanks to you, the prophecy has been thwarted. Thanks to you, Fontaine will have a future."

Ei rested her hand on Furina's shoulder and guided up Furina's chin. The Electro Archon affixed the Former Hydro Archon with a tender expression.

"Hold your head high. You are no fraud. You are the Archon of Fontaine."

Furina's jaw dropped. Her eyes went wide with wonder as Raiden Ei, one of the mightiest beings on Teyvat, bowed her head. She blinked back tears, her chest seizing as she struggled to control her breaths.

Ei sat back up and extended her hand.

"Hydro Archon," she said, "I, the Electro Archon, humbly request you visit Tenshukaku and join me for tea."

Furina wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Assuming a superior air, she puffed out her chest.

"Very well. I shall attend, Your Excellency."

"Please, call me Ei."

"Alright," she said. "You can call me Furina."