On the Elements, Chapter 6 (Patreon)

On the Elements, Chapter 6

"I must correct you. People here bear no sins in the eyes of the gods... Only laws and the Tribunal can judge someone. They can judge even me.”

-Focalors, Hydro Archon

Out of all the Archons, the Hydro Archon was for many years the most enigmatic. Indeed, we knew almost nothing about Focalors for years, from her arrival until the destruction of the Blasphemies. Her only real appearance was when she very publicly judged the Raiden Shogun in Hong Kong, where many believed she had even emerged. 

This was, of course, entirely false and a ruse. The revelation that none other than the actress Furina de Fontaine was the Hydro Archon rocked the entire world, as she had been publicly received a Hydro Vision, and was categorized as a normal, even weak, Vision Holder. 

Furina has been destitute, living in a run-down flat with her lover, sister-in-law, and pet-turned-daughter, barely scraping by. She was very publicly arrested and imprisoned, even assaulted by three mid-level capes, defending herself with nothing more than ordinary pepper spray. She is the only known Archon to get sick, and it has been confirmed that she suffers from menstrual cramps, unlike all the other female presenting Archons. She is, from all outward appearances, human. Even more so than Mavuika. 

And yet, it is now undeniable that Furina is the God of Justice. This then tells us a great deal about who shall receive Hydro Visions, and why. 

1. Masked Paragons

Hydro Visions holders near universally have some sort of public-facing persona that is in sharp, sharp contrast to who they are privately. Publicly, Emperor Yukuaki is a stern and commanding figure, loyally assisting the Raiden Shogun in carrying out her will, and functioning as her High Priest and Prime Minister. 

Privately, he is Shousou_Kiei, author of the popular webnovel Train to the Stars, a supreme otaku just like his Lord who would rather stay in and cosplay as magical girls (yes, girls, not boys), and indeed, has even been photographed incognito doing so alongside Beezelbul and his wife. 

The same is true for Furina/Focalors, and indeed, there are many layers. Publicly, Furina has the persona of a somewhat arrogant and vain airhead who revels in her fame and fortune and longs to take center stage no matter where she is. Privately, she’s a thoughtful advocate for social justice, who enjoys nothing more than baking cookies with her daughter or watching soap operas with her lover in the privacy of her own home. 

Then, a layer deeper, there is Focalors: Imperious, commanding, serene. In complete and utter control of herself and those around her at all times, making even other Archons dance upon her strings. And yet a layer deeper: An inhuman god with supreme power, who humbles herself so utterly that it is little wonder an entire religion has been born of calling her the Second Coming of Christ. This is also why Furina/Focalors is the only Archon I will refer to by their mortal name, as they are nearly two completely separate people and personas. 

No matter the persona, though, Hydro Vision holders are paragons at whatever they apply themselves to. That does not mean they are always good: Hydro Vision holders are capable of monstrous evil, but they devote themselves utterly to that Evil. No, in this case, paragon simply means they are the ideal expression of what they seek, and do so in a second persona. 

2. Above all, Justice

What Justice means exactly to a Hydro Vision holder varies greatly. For Barbara d’Orleans, Justice is Social Justice. She uses her fame as an actress and influence as the daughter of the French President and close personal confidant of the Hydro Archon to create songs that are anthems for the poor and downtrodden working class that she was not born a part of, but is now a champion of. The films, commercials, and shows she appears in universally have powerful messages of social reform, unionism, and eating the very rich upper class Barbara was born into.

Notably, Barbara’s personal net worth is less than one million mora, as she consistently donates everything else to charity. She has also stated her entire inheritance from her mother will go to charity, and all the properties she has inherent had been converted into schools, hospitals, and other charitable causes. She and her partner live in a ramshackle apartment in Paris, despite Barbara having connections to the wealthiest individuals in the world. 

For Furina, her Justice is the Justice for the Small against the Great. This was most clearly seen when she humbled even the Endslayer in court against the people of China, judging even a god not to be above the dictates of Justice. Rumor has it that she will judge even the Tsaritsa when she finally awakens fully, but that has yet to be seen. My personal opinion is that Beezelbul allowed herself to be judged before Morax’s arrival to reconcile herself to him, but that is only a theory. 

3. Life is Art, and Art is Life

Without exception, Hydro Vision holders devote a great deal to their Art, whatever that may be. For my daughter, Fortuna, that art is the reading of Fate and Prophecy. It is now a fundamental fact that the scientific community is still grappling with that the universe is now largely deterministic, and that Fate is a very real and present concept that is nigh on inescapable. Fortuna was one of the first mortals to be trained under Buer, and then later under Focalors. She has brought the art form of Fate Reading and Hydromancy to the world, even going so far as to blind herself and remove her own Shard so that her parahuman powers wouldn’t interfere with her pure art. 

As for Furina, to her, Justice is high drama. No longer in France are courts solemn and scantamonious places of dry legal proceedings, with dour judges and straight-laced lawyers quibbling over minor details. Instead, they are passion plays, where dramatic reveals and counter-reveals are not only expected, but nearly required. The letter of the law is not what is at question, but the soul of the thing. The emotion, the passion, the human element, is what takes center stage. 

Indeed, the entire courtroom is a stage, where the audience and their reactions to something as mundane as a parking ticket is considered a key part of the proceedings, and when high crimes such as murder take place,  the courtroom antics make what would previously have been considered near-farcical legal dramas to seem tame by comparison. 

But, in the end, Justice is administered. The Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale, powered by the Spirit of Focalors, will render its verdict, and that verdict is final. Some claim that verdict is determined by who has most entertained Focalors, but I have not found this to be the case. Over and over again, I have found that the Oratrice has the supernatural power to see through to the heart of matters, no matter how much of a circus preceded it. The Truth, stated quietly and with feeling, will win out over bellicose lies every time in Focalor’s courts. Perhaps that is why so many other nations are accepting Oratrice devices to be built within them, to allow those who call upon the God of Justice to administer her verdicts. Perhaps when the one in New Moscow is complete, the Tsaritsa will have her day in court. 

Now, on to the element of Hydro itself. It is now universally recognized as the most powerful element, thanks not to its own strength, but the strength of the reactions with other elements it enables. Some draw parallels to Furina herself, who [...].