The Tsaritsa's plan, in truth, was a gamble—a bet that Nibelung would be strong enough to resolve Teyvat's crisis. But in reality, Nibelung never had the power to do so, let alone to stand against the erosion of the Abyss. The so-called Abyss was none other than the Sea of Quanta.
Teyvat as a whole was little more than a fragment adrift upon that sea, constantly eroded and battered by its waves, teetering on the brink of collapse.
When Nibelung was first cast out, he was fortunate enough not to be completely engulfed by the Sea of Quanta. Instead, he managed to absorb some of its power, which even enhanced his abilities—giving him the delusion that he could one day return and reclaim his throne.
But if Nibelung had truly possessed the strength to contend with the Sea of Quanta, he would not be confined to a small world like Teyvat. He would be a being on par with the Imaginary Tree itself, capable of bearing the weight of the entire universe.
When the answer was revealed in the chat group, a collective sigh of disappointment rippled through the members.
Huaizhu: "So it really won't work after all… what a shame."
March: "Yeah, it's a real pity."
Artemis: "Truly, saving the world is never that easy."
Athena: "But speaking of which, what exactly is this 'Abyss'? I'm quite curious to know."
Akane Nishino: "I agree with Lady Athena. I'm curious too."
March: "Curious +1!"
Ei, watching the discussion in the chat, felt just as intrigued. The Abyss was still spoken of even today throughout Teyvat. Without a doubt, it was the enemy of all living beings in this world—responsible for countless tragedies. The most direct example was the fall of Khaenri'ah.
In ages past, Khaenri'ah was a nation founded by humans, a realm without gods. Its people included pure-blooded Khaenri'ans, converts who had rejected the Seven, and wanderers who had drifted into the nation from beyond the borders of the world.
For a time, the nation thrived. Even if they rejected Celestia and the gods, the Heavenly Principles turned a blind eye, as though nothing were amiss.
But then, Khaenri'ah made a fatal mistake. Their king decided to harness the Abyss on a massive scale—and the consequences were catastrophic.
An explosion of Abyssal energy tore through the nation, unleashing hordes of Abyssal monsters that threatened all of Teyvat. The Heavenly Principles were compelled to intervene, dispatching the Seven Archons to fight and destroy the creatures of the Abyss.
Enraged by the transgression, Celestia condemned Khaenri'ah to annihilation. It was in that war that Ei lost her sister. The memory had never faded—nor her hatred for the Abyss and the ruin it had brought upon her.
"I would also like to know," Ei said, a brief shadow of sorrow crossing her eyes before she composed herself. "What exactly is the Abyss? And why does Celestia fear it so deeply?"
Yuki took a gentle sip of his tea and began to explain—the Sea of Quanta, and the precarious position Teyvat now found itself in.
"Of course, if I just explain it with words and you still can't quite grasp it, I can take you out there to see for yourself," Yuki casually made the offer, seeing the faint shock shimmering in Ei's pale purple eyes.
Snapping back to attention at the prospect of witnessing it firsthand, Ei looked at him with earnest anticipation. "Please—I would very much like to see it."
She wasn't the only one. Everyone in the chat group was eager to behold it as well. Seeing no reason to refuse, Yuki decided to oblige.
"Come. Take my hand." He rose slowly and extended his hand toward her.
Ei's gaze lingered on his outstretched hand—as meticulously sculpted as fine jade, each finger distinct and slender, the skin smooth, every detail exuding elegance and strength. For a moment, her heart stirred with an unfamiliar sensation.
But her hesitation lasted only a moment. She rose and walked over to him, reaching out with her own slender, fair, graceful hand to gently grasp his.
Almost instantly, she felt the warmth radiating from his palm—a sensation that reminded her, with a jolt of nostalgia, of holding her sister's hand. It felt just as warm. Just as reassuring.
In that instant, Ei forgot all about keeping any distance. She pressed her palm fully against his, entwining her fingers tightly around his hand, reluctant to let go.
Yuki noticed her grip tighten. For a brief moment, he was taken aback—but he didn't say a word. With a mere thought, he willed the world around them to shift, and in the next instant, they were standing somewhere entirely different.
Back in the world of Honkai: Star Rail…
March, watching the livestream from the parlor car of the Astral Express, saw Yuki take Ei's hand—and that's when her jealousy began to simmer.
"That bastard Yuki... He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?! Argh! Why do they have to hold hands?! Ughhhh..."
Sprawled on the sofa, fuming with resentment, March startled Pom-Pom, who hurriedly scurried away, terrified of being caught and having their fur pulled.
"Hmph! Next time he shows up, I'll make him pay! Daring to hold another woman's hand right in front of me..."
Just then, Jingliu walked out of the rest carriage, an ice pop in her hand. "What's wrong with her?" Jingliu asked, glancing at March, who was flailing about in irritation. She turned to Himeko, who was busy with a holographic projection.
"Same as always," Himeko replied calmly. "You've seen her like this before." At that, Himeko paused her work and shrugged.
During their travels, March occasionally had these emotional outbursts—talking animatedly to herself in an intense way. If they hadn't already checked her over and confirmed she was perfectly healthy, they might have thought she'd lost her mind.
"Ah, the young are like that," Jingliu remarked mildly. "Spend too much time online, consuming all sorts of content… bound to run into things that upset them." She found a seat, sat down, and continued eating her ice pop.
Himeko, however, was watching March more intently, a thoughtful expression on her face. She had a feeling that whatever was upsetting March wasn't so simple. Her instincts told her March was hiding something—and that it involved Yuki.
The thought made Himeko think of him herself. It had been quite some time since they parted ways. They had already visited over a dozen planets on their journey since then.
Even without an exact count, Himeko could feel that a considerable amount of time had passed. She missed him, too. He had said he would come back to visit "in a while," but so much time had gone by, and there was still no sign of him. With a soft, wistful sigh, she returned to her work.
March, meanwhile, had finally quieted down—because the livestream showed Yuki and Ei arriving somewhere else entirely.