The Abyss Era, Year 20.
The Seven Archons began making frequent visits to Celestia, occasionally inquiring whether any news of Elliot's return had surfaced. Yet each time, the answer remained negative. Evidently, the Seven Archons were growing anxious. With only twenty-seven years allotted, two decades had already passed without a single word.
They grew deeply suspicious that Elliot had abandoned Teyvat just like the previous Sustainer of Heavenly Principles had done. Yet upon reflection, this theory seemed implausible. If he truly intended to flee, why had he created this new continent before departing? Why bother explaining matters to the Seven Archons? Had he wished to leave, he could have vanished without a trace—no need for such futile gestures.
Even if Elliot had returned openly to declare, "I'm leaving. You lot can rot here," the Seven Archons would have been powerless to stop him. After all, they possessed no means to compel his stay.
Shenhe remained silent regarding their speculations. Precisely because she understood Elliot so well, she never doubted he would return. Even if the news he brought was grim, he would come back. He would never simply abandon them like this. Yet she kept these words unspoken. The Seven Archons didn't understand Elliot; voicing them would serve no purpose.
...
Abyss Era, Year 27.
Those unaware of the truth continued living their lives happily, everything seemingly peaceful. Compared to ordinary people, the Seven Archons now felt only despair and helplessness. Twenty-seven years had passed, and Elliot still hadn't returned. Though they had long anticipated this outcome, facing the reality was still unbearable.
"Do you still believe he'll come back?" Pyro Archon stared directly at Shenhe.
Shenhe nodded without hesitation.
Pyro Archon, receiving this answer, wanted to say more, but was stopped by Morax.
"Let's go. We already know the outcome, don't we?" the Hydro Archon spoke slowly, and the other Archons followed suit.
Shenhe watched them depart, then returned to the house. Gazing at the photographs on the wall, her wavering resolve quickly solidified once more. Shenhe had waited twenty-seven long years. Whenever loneliness, doubt, or uncertainty crept in, she would always look at those photos on the wall. Recalling the past, all those emotions were swept away.
To this day, she still believed.
At that moment, a warm, familiar embrace came from behind. Shenhe, caught in the embrace, flinched, her entire body freezing in place. She dared not move, dared not turn around, dared not speak. She feared this sensation might vanish suddenly, that it was merely an illusion born from her overwhelming longing for Elliot.
This wasn't the first time. Over these twenty-seven years, such moments had occurred several times. Each time Shenhe turned around in delight, the space behind her was always empty. Shenhe wanted to savor this warm, comforting familiarity just a little longer, so she remained frozen in place, hesitating to move.
"I'm sorry."
When Elliot's voice reached her ear, Shenhe could no longer hold back the emotions she'd been suppressing. Two crystal-clear tears slid down her cheeks. She trembled slightly, turning slowly, unable to believe it. She was afraid, yet excited; anxious, yet eager.
When the familiar face appeared before her, Shenhe froze momentarily, eyes wide as tears streamed uncontrollably. She threw her arms around Elliot, releasing all her pent-up emotions in an instant.
"You're back... You're finally back..."
Her trembling voice carried intense excitement and joy. She clung tightly to Elliot, just as she had when he had suddenly returned all those years ago.
Elliot silently comforted her, gently stroking her hair.
Only after Shenhe had fully released her emotions did she recall the three words Elliot had just spoken. Wiping away her tears, she looked closely at Elliot. His eyes were filled with bitterness, confusion, reluctance, despair... She seemed to understand something.
"It's okay, it's okay. As long as you're back."
This time, it was Shenhe comforting Elliot.
"I have a way to save some of them," he said.
"What way?" Shenhe pressed.
"I can create a new world. But it will be small—so small it only holds Guili Plains and Liyue Harbor."
"That's enough. Size doesn't matter. As long as you're there, I'll go anywhere."
Shenhe's words deepened Elliot's bitterness. He hesitated, then spoke with great difficulty after a long pause:
"That world... I must bear its burden."
Hearing this, Shenhe froze in surprise.
"Wh... what do you mean?" she asked, disbelief evident. Her stunned eyes seemed to grasp the meaning behind Elliot's words, yet she still craved the certainty of his voice.
"We may never see each other again." The pain in Elliot's heart was excruciating.
It took him ten years to fly toward the Imaginary Tree. For ten years, he never made it across. Ultimately, he gave up and spent another ten years returning to the continent of Teyvat. But Elliot didn't go back. He continued searching for the last glimmer of hope.
He couldn't use elemental powers outside Teyvat, meaning the seven elements would become ineffective once they left the continent. Despair gripped Elliot when he suddenly remembered the power once granted by the System.
Thousand Realizations in a Single Thought.
With sufficient mental strength, he could create anything. He attempted it and succeeded in conjuring a modest floating island and a house within the Akasha. This represented the limit of Elliot's mental capacity.
A bold idea took root. He attempted to touch the Abyss with his physical body. To his astonishment, he discovered his life force could repair flesh eroded by the Abyss.
He spent the remaining seven years stimulating his nerves with excruciating pain to strengthen his spiritual power. Within those seven years, he managed to create an entire region—small, yet sufficient for living.
Just as Elliot rejoiced in this achievement, he realized the world born from One Thought, Three Thousand Realms would plummet! Without the support of the Imaginary Tree, even a created world could only be swallowed by the Sea of Quanta.
Finally, Elliot remembered he could continually repair his physical form. He could use himself as the fulcrum to hold up this world. But the price was inevitable—he could never leave. He would bear this burden for the rest of his life.
In the past, Elliot would have done this without hesitation. Exchanging his own existence for the happiness and Ann of countless others. He would have willingly done so.
But now, he was no longer alone. He had Shenhe—his wife, who had always deeply loved and unwaveringly believed in him.
"I am willing to sacrifice myself for her happiness."
Such a decision was one-sided, selfish, and foolish. Elliot could not make such a choice on his own. Ask yourself honestly: will your sacrifice truly bring them happiness? Or will it only plunge them deeper into hell?
That's why Elliot returned—to seek Shenhe's opinion. Even though he already knew the answer, he still wanted to ask.
"I think—"
"Dying together with the world is a rare kind of romance."
"What do you think?" she asked, smiling gently.