Though it felt a little unfair, Elliot already understood Morax's current state.
If he wanted to defeat him quickly, this was the most efficient way.
"How can you wield two elements at the same time?"
Morax turned to him, confusion written in his eyes.
It was a natural reaction—anyone would be stunned by something so absurd.
"Answer one question for me, and I'll tell you how," Elliot said with a smile.
"Alright. Ask."
"How long have you existed?" It was the only way Elliot could place the timeline.
After all, Morax had been born among the earliest of gods—shortly after the war between the First Throne and the Second Throne.
The history was as follows:
The Era of Ancient Civilization – The Seven Sovereigns ruled Teyvat.
The Year of the Dove Bearing the Branch – The First Throne of the extraterrestrial forces descended upon Teyvat.
40 years after the Branch-Bearing Year – The Primordial One, Phanes, defeated the Seven Sovereigns.
Over 400 years after the Branch-Bearing Year – The Primordial One and his shades rulers created humanity and other living beings.
The Year of the Ark's Opening – The Primordial One drafted the first plans for human civilization.
The Year of the Carnival – Humanity's needs for food, water, and resources were fully provided by the heavens. Mountains, rivers, birds, and beasts appeared across Teyvat. Only one thing was forbidden: the pursuit of "truth."
The Funerary Year – A second Throne appeared above Teyvat. The First and Second Thrones fought a devastating war for dominion over the continent, even fiercer than Phanes' war against the Sovereigns. The land cracked apart, and many humans fell into the sea. To this day, no one knows who truly won that battle.
Over 6,000 years ago – Morax was born. Of the Three Moon Goddesses, one is confirmed dead, while the fate of the other two remains unknown.
3,700 years ago – Morax raised Mount Tianheng to block the tidal waves, and forged contracts with the adepti, together founding Liyue.
2,600–2,000 years ago – The Archon War engulfed all of Teyvat, as gods fought for the right to become the Seven.
500 years ago – Khaenri'ah was destroyed by divine punishment from the Heavenly Principles and the Seven Archons.
Elliot knew much of this history, but without an accurate point of reference, he was still fumbling in the dark.
And Morax himself was the best walking recorder of all.
"I've lived… about three thousand five or six hundred years, I think. I don't remember the exact number," Morax answered.
Elliot was stunned.
He knew this life would be long, but not this long.
And worst of all—he couldn't do what he once did in the Khaenri'ah War: trigger events in advance.
Back then, he had held a Gnosis, which allowed him to reach Celestia directly.
But now, he had nothing of the sort—no way to make contact at all.
Even if his strength grew enough to draw the gaze of the Heavenly Principles and gain passage to Celestia, the system still restricted his every action.
Even if he somehow started the Archon War early, he wouldn't be able to control its outcome. At best, he could influence Liyue.
No matter how he thought about it, Elliot could find no better plan.
It seemed this life, he would simply have to endure.
Centuries—millennia…
That was enough to erode anyone's will.
The Azhdaha lost his memory under that erosion and broke his contract, attacking the people of Liyue.
Barbatos resisted erosion by abandoning his nation entirely, living only to drink and drift with the wind.
Ei endured five centuries in her Plane of Euthymia because the deaths of too many loved ones had eroded her spirit—so she chose solitude to fight erosion.
And only the hardest of stone could withstand millennia of wear and tear—until Morax himself retired, becoming Zhongli, and wandered the mortal world in leisure.
"After hundreds, even thousands of years… will I still want to return?"
"Will they still be waiting for me… or will they have moved on, built new lives, new families…?"
"..."
"Wasn't my original intention to let them forget me, to live their own lives? What's happened to me…"
"I shouldn't think this way. I shouldn't…"
Elliot shook his head, forcing away the chaotic thoughts.
Returning was the contract he had sworn to fulfill.
No matter the form it took, no matter the hardships, whether or not they remembered him—he had to return.