With the major 4.0 update to Genshin Impact, Fontaine becomes available and another strand of Archon quests unfolds. This guide offers a comprehensive look at the Prelude of White Dews and Black Waves quest chain and explains how to uncover clues that prove Lini’s innocence.
Guides to Genshin Impact 4.0
How to start the Archon quest “Prelude of White Dew and Black Waves”.
Beginning this mission chain requires meeting several conditions:
- Reach Adventure Rank 40. If leveling up a character quickly is needed, refer to a dedicated leveling guide.
- Complete all prior Archon quests, including the Sumeru main and intermediate volumes, plus Caribert: Volume 3, Chapter 6.
If these conditions are satisfied, the job log in the Archon Quests section reveals the next quest, “Prologue of the Solo Dancer.”
Prologue solo dancer – how to get through
Head to Caravan Ribat and speak with Dehya. After the cutscene, the path leads to the Sumeru border. A journey to the beach and a ride on the wave runner will ferry players to Romarin port.
Docking at the on-map location triggers a video and a dialogue with Paimon. The companions discuss the harbor keeper and his partner, and reveal that Fontaine is a focal point for Hydro Archon activity, with word of an opera house as the local hub. At the end of the conversation, the protagonist notices a mysterious girl by the water—Lynette, who can be obtained for free in the Events section.
Beyond Lynette, players meet Lini. The group follows the new friends up the stairs, where the Hydro Archon makes a dramatic appearance. Completing this scene grants the achievement “How water disappears into water” in the Wonders of the World category.
Hand out Magic Bags to the locals
Lini entrusts players with three special bags to deliver to marked locals across the map. After speaking with each one, players can return to Lini and report what was learned; the quest log will update with progress.
Collect materials to make magic bags
Travel along the harbor’s right side to a small green clearing near the water. Glowing flowers there must be harvested with a Hydro character to obtain fibrous romaine used for crafting magic bags. Three flowers are required, and after delivering them to Lini, a cutscene will unfold.
Go intercept the thief
Elevator-assisted ascent is next. If the elevator has been used previously, players can summon it near a door. After the scene with the thief, follow the lines near the Hydro Archon statue, then approach the aquabus for a lengthy cutscene and dialogue with Charlotte.
City of rain and memories – how to get there
Upon arrival, search for Lini near the Aquabus stop. The map remains locked at this point; climbing to the top to activate the Hydro Archon statue is required, though progress through the main quest will eventually grant access.
Go to the Beaumont workshop
Near the final meeting point with Lini, follow the path and ascend the stairs to reach the workshop. There, Estelle awaits, and Tartaglia appears for a combat sequence against various bandits.
Go along the line to Eriny Island
Descend slightly to reach the central water station, locate the elevator, and ride to the Navi Line’s third floor. This enables a quick aquabus ride to Eriny Island.
Upon arrival, players unlock the achievement “Welcome to Fontaine.” Completing routes on the aquabus beforehand can also yield the achievement earlier. The narrative advances toward the next hub, with additional storytelling and discoveries awaiting discovery.
Go to the fountain square next to the opera house
Follow the single road beyond the marker and activate teleporters along the way. Enter the Epikles Opera House, move to a chamber, and sit in the seats prepared by Lini. A lengthy video introduces Lini, culminating in an incident involving a water tank that damages a box containing a person—Paimon invites an investigation.
Shadows of lies under the spotlight – how to collect all the evidence
The gendarme provides a notebook to record proofs. Start with a careful examination of the incident scene using the perception mode (E).
How to find all evidence
While inspecting the rope, players notice a different, fragile material. The proof “Special Rope” is obtained.
Another clue, “Random number generator,” appears after speaking with a gendarme named Quentin on the left side of the stage.
Returning to the central hall and speaking with another gendarme, Maurice, yields the second piece of evidence about the missing girl. A stall scene with Esildor recounts odd noises during the performance, providing a third clue. Navia and her retinue appear, and the gendarme Tristana supplies the fourth piece: “Entries and Exits of the Opera House.” Further discoveries come after reuniting with Lini in the main hall, including fifth to seventh proofs such as “Magic Trick,” “Magic Box Arrangement,” and “Magic Box Arrangement in the Auditorium.”
Explore the tunnel for clues – how to find all the evidence
Nine interactive items lie within reach: a control station, a ladder, a rope-tied hook, a broken vase, a lap, rail stations, a box for everything, a shopping cart, and a ventilation hatch beside the cart. Investigating the third object yields the proof “Thrown Hook on a Rope.” Inspecting the vases reveals the “Broken Vase” evidence, and a nearby item yields additional clues. A check of the ventilation grille confirms another update. A cutscene with a new ally follows, awarding the eighth clue, “Possibility of Third Party Involvement.”
Join the process
Throughout the trial, key details about Lini and Lynett emerge, and Neuvillet is approached for a break to discuss next steps. Lini explains an attempt to reach Oratsis’s core through a tunnel vent. During the break, two more clues surface, titled “Lini’s Story” and “Voice in the Oratsis Core Room.”
To refute the first accusation, players must assemble a set of clues before presenting them at the prosecution. The proof sequence includes: Lini entering the tunnel; Lini’s actions against Halsey; Lini abducting Halsey and entering the Oratsis core room; and Lini stunning Cowell, connected to the girl’s clothes. This collection is sufficient to challenge the prosecution’s claims at this stage.
Next, select the evidence “Strange noise during performance” to demonstrate that Lini could not have been in the tunnel.
How to compare the correctness of the conclusions and complete the logic chain
The interactive window presents three options: the missing girl, the deceased, and one piece of evidence. Pick Cowell as the proof to guide the deduction.
Then choose the following: prove there was a real tunnel conflict using the Strange sound during the performance; identify the main suspect as Kowell; prove that Lin’s story excludes Lini’s involvement; and after consulting with Lini, select “Broken Vase” to reveal the truth about Halsey.
The gendarmes examine Cowell’s belongings and uncover test tubes with a mysterious liquid, the Water of the Primordial Sea. Facts shift as new questions arise: who is the true suspect, what method controlled decomposition, which props concealed the murder mechanism, and how was Halsey dealt with using the Primeval Sea water?
The investigation continues with new questions about tunnel events: Lini’s entry, Halsey’s dissolution, and the fight between Lini and Cowell, culminating in a revelation about a girl’s fear. The investigation leads to the judge’s logical chain, bestowing achievements such as Sleuth in Action and Great Magic Reversal in Wonders of the World. Access to the next chapter, Like a light rain without a cause, opens after completing Prelude of White Dews and Black Waves.
Available achievements when completing the archon quest “Prelude of White Dew and Black Waves”
Completing missions yields achievements. The guide previously outlined how to obtain them, and the full list remains available in the Wonders of the World section:
- How does water disappear into water (5 Source Stones) – Hear a prophecy commonly known in Fontaine;
- Sleuth in action (5 Source Stones) – Discover the truth about Lini’s role;
- Great Magic Reversal (5 Source Stones) – A verdict: guilt not proven;
- Prelude of white dew and black waves (10 source stones) – Completion of the full prelude.
Other guides are available, with no external sources linked in this article. The adventure continues as players explore Fontaine and the Archon narratives within the Wonders of the World archive.
Source: VG Times