Elynas gave up resisting and asked Lora to end its life.
She granted that wish and laid Elynas's body to rest upon the island that would one day become known as Elynas Island.
After resolving the matter, Lora did not return to the Court of Fontaine, nor did she reveal herself to the surviving members of Fontaine's fleet below. Even so, all of them wondered whether it had been the Hydro Archon's power that saved them from the calamity.
Leaving Fontaine behind, Lora arrived at the border between Fontaine and Sumeru.
From there, she could see Tunigi Hollow in the distance, completely consumed by chaos. Countless Riftwolves and all kinds of Abyssal creatures poured out like a surging tide.
Amid the endless horde of monsters, the Archons stood like immovable pillars, using their seemingly fragile forms to hold back the Abyss's erosion of Teyvat. Khaenri'ah's giant war machines also fought alongside The Seven, launching desperate attacks against the Abyss.
It was a catastrophe engulfing all of Teyvat.
Yet Lora had no intention of joining the battle.
Her attention was fixed on the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles standing high above the battlefield.
The Sustainer seemed to notice Lora as well, but for some reason, she showed no intention of dealing with her. Her gaze remained focused on the calamity below as she used her power to suppress the Abyss's advance.
The war had already reached its final stage.
Lora saw a flash of lightning descend from afar and charge into the battlefield.
It was Raiden Ei of this era.
Immediately afterward, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles began burying Khaenri'ah itself.
The twins attempted to escape into the heavens, only to be intercepted by the Sustainer and dragged into battle against her.
Egeria had also died.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata placed her within the Vourukasha Oasis, causing the Harvisptokhm to grow and giving birth to the sea of flowers.
Lora arrived alone beneath the Harvisptokhm. She placed her hand against it and heard Egeria's faint, weakening voice.
"Thank you. I know you were the one who dealt with Elynas," Egeria said softly.
Lora sighed.
"You don't need to thank me. I came to this world, so this is something I should do."
"Is that so...?" Egeria's voice grew quieter. "I think I've figured out where you came from. I was the one who brought you into this world, wasn't I?"
"Mm." Lora nodded.
Egeria fell silent for a long time before finally speaking again.
"I'm starting to... forget so many things. My Divine Sense is constantly being eroded by the Abyss. I think... eventually, I'll forget you too. But I have to remember... I have to find you..."
Her voice became softer and softer until, eventually, she stopped responding altogether.
Lora stood there quietly.
The Pari were already beginning to form. Soon, they would emerge and cleanse the Abyssal corruption spreading through this place.
After carefully confirming that nothing was wrong and that Egeria's soul had truly fallen asleep within the Harvisptokhm, Lora finally turned and left.
Five hundred years later, Egeria's Divine Sense would pull Lora into this world from another reality.
Even now, Lora could no longer tell which came first.
Had her arrival caused Egeria to summon the future Lora into this world?
Or had Egeria summoning the future Lora caused her current self to return to Teyvat's past?
Time and fate had become hopelessly entangled.
After leaving, Lora wandered aimlessly through Sumeru's desert.
Then suddenly, the world around her changed.
She found herself standing within a vast white space surrounded by drifting clouds and mist.
Before her stood the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
"Should I call you Egeria... or Outsider?" the Sustainer asked calmly.
"Either is fine," Lora replied.
She made no attempt to escape.
Although the Sustainer's power was constantly weakening, she was still far beyond anything Lora could oppose.
The fact that she had been brought from the desert to Celestia without noticing already proved that.
"What will your arrival bring to this world?" the Sustainer asked quietly.
As the one responsible for maintaining order, she had to ensure Teyvat's stability and survival. Anything harmful to this world had to be eliminated.
"I will bring new life to this world."
Remembering the sea of trees she had once seen, Lora looked at the Sustainer and declared:
"I will stop this world from being destroyed."
After hearing those words, the Sustainer fell silent for a moment.
Then she said:
"I can sense a power within you that does not belong to Teyvat. A higher existence."
Lora froze briefly before quickly realizing what she meant.
She had once spoken with that mysterious voice.
Had the Sustainer sensed the aura left behind by its owner?
And if even the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles referred to it as a "higher existence," then what exactly was that being?
While Lora was still thinking, the Sustainer continued:
"Egeria's sins are unforgivable. She must remain forever within the Harvisptokhm, resisting the Abyss's corruption. Her power will continue fading away. Five hundred years from now, she should not possess the strength necessary to pull the future you into this world."
"But I already exist here now. Which means that in the future, she will definitely succeed in bringing me here."
Lora spread her hands helplessly as she answered.
The Sustainer stared at her for a very long time before finally speaking again.
"I will leave behind a portion of my power so that Egeria can pierce Teyvat's barrier and bring you into this world from your own... Outsider, I hope you do not disappoint me."
"I hope you truly bring new life to this world."
Had the Sustainer not sensed the lingering aura of that mysterious higher existence from Lora, she would never have been this easy to reason with.
As the one who upheld order, the thing she cared about most was Teyvat's stability.
Lora nodded.
"I will. I'll do everything I can to give my children a safe world."
"Then..."
The Sustainer raised her hand.
A streak of light descended, forming a contract between them.
"Make a contract with me, Outsider."
Lora looked over the terms of the contract and immediately noticed the restriction placed upon her.
For the next five hundred years, she would not be allowed to leave Celestia.
"Why?" Lora frowned.
The Sustainer answered calmly:
"Because this world must remain stable. During these five hundred years, no further disturbances can be allowed."
"I have already seen the threads of fate. So rest assured."
"There is nothing wrong with this contract