The explosive popularity of the Lantern Rite Festival finally brought Liyue into the eyes of the wider world.
More and more people began flocking here, drawn by its reputation, eager to witness this wondrous place called "Liyue."
Liyue, Year 20.
The village had expanded threefold, and Liyue's population had surpassed two thousand. Mora, once exclusive to Liyue, began circulating across the world. The region became a transportation hub, and commerce steadily flourished.
Liyue, Year 25.
Wars broke out across Teyvat, and Liyue's proudest harbor faced unprecedented trials.
In the unfathomable depths of the sea, strange phantoms appeared—creatures that had never been seen before. Countless ships were wrecked off Liyue's coast, and tsunamis struck frequently, ravaging its harbor.
Though Morax always intervened, preventing casualties, Liyue's prosperity began its decline from that moment.
The once-thriving hub of trade was left in ruins. The harbor that had been crowded every day now held only the native people of Liyue, along with a few stranded outsiders who could not return home.
And still, displaced wanderers kept arriving, seeking refuge and declaring their desire to join Liyue.
When asked why, they all gave the same answer: because Liyue was guarded by a powerful god.
Outside, the world was falling into chaos.
More and more gods appeared seemingly out of nowhere—some benevolent, others cruel. But Teyvat was only so large, and every god wanted their share of the land. That, of course, was impossible.
"Get out! Never set foot in Liyue again!"
With Morax's thunderous shout, the defeated god fled in disgrace.
"That's the third god today, isn't it?" Elliot remarked calmly, watching Morax, who looked visibly weary.
"Mm... they're growing in number. More and more gods..."
Morax's exhaustion came only partly from driving off three gods in a single day. What weighed heavier on him was worry for the future.
Even with Elliot by his side, ensuring Liyue would not fall, the turmoil itself was no blessing. It spread fear among the people and drew even more refugees, desperate to cling to the safety of Liyue.
Morax already struggled to manage the city. With the population swelling, governance grew ever more chaotic.
As gods, he and Elliot could protect Liyue from external threats, but internal strife was far harder to resolve.
Liyue's radiance was beginning to dim. The constant influx of refugees inevitably bred conflict.
In just two weeks, three violent brawls had broken out in Liyue, each leaving blood spilled and friendships shattered.
Turning away refugees might have prevented this—but whenever Morax saw those lonely, destitute faces, his heart softened. He couldn't bring himself to drive them away.
With the outside world in such chaos, sending them off was no different from sending them to their deaths.
In all of Teyvat, places that could still be called sanctuaries were now vanishingly rare. Under the weight of this war-torn era, even peaceful Liyue had been cast into shadow.
Morax, who knew all this yet could not resolve it, felt only deeper fatigue.
"These days, I must leave for a while. I don't know when I'll return. You must protect Liyue well."
Elliot patted Morax on the shoulder. The simple gesture slowly eased Morax's restless heart.
Whenever Morax felt lost, uncertain, or anxious, Elliot would always pat his shoulder.
It was as if to say: "Don't worry. I'm here. Everything will be alright."
Feeling somewhat reassured, Morax nodded. He didn't ask where Elliot was going or what he planned to do. He already knew that whatever Elliot undertook was always for their good—and asking would change nothing.
After decades together, Morax had come to understand him.
At times, Elliot and Morax clashed in principles or disagreed on matters. For trivial issues, Elliot would yield. But when it came to something important, he was unshakably stubborn, unwilling to back down even an inch.
After finishing his last cup of tea, Elliot carefully washed it, set it aside, and slowly rose. Step by step, he walked into the distant horizon, treading upon the empty air.
The era of the Archon War had not yet begun, so he was not yet bound by the borders of Liyue.
Still, judging by the current situation, the Archon War was not far off.
For now, it was a time of turmoil—not unbearable, though harsh on mortals. The suffering was real, but casualties remained limited.
But once the turmoil ended and the true Archon War began, that would be war in the truest sense. Then, countless families would be torn apart, and innumerable lives lost.
"May things return to peace soon..."
Watching Elliot disappear into the distance, Morax let out a deep sigh before turning his gaze back toward Liyue.