"Don't worry. She's far too powerful for Osial's power to have much effect on her."
"Ten seconds at most. By the time we're done talking, she should be back."
High atop the Pavilion Tower, Zhongli spoke to Azhdaha.
Barely had he finished speaking when Zhongli sensed Ellin's presence.
He smiled. "See? She's back."
A smile rested on Zhongli's face as he felt her aura.
He had felt this aura all those years ago.
Back then, he had marveled at the strength of this Geo Archon who had come from the future, and had been glad that Liyue would one day have such a powerful deity.
Although he knew this Geo Archon came from the future, Zhongli had no idea which era she came from.
Nor did he know how many generations of Geo Archons would come between him and her.
So even knowing that a new Geo Archon would appear sometime in the future, he had still wanted to help Ellin become Liyue's deity after getting to know her.
He disliked entrusting the future to uncertainty. After all, who knew which generation that powerful Geo Archon belonged to?
He had to have a successor, didn't he?
He knew neither which generation that powerful Geo Archon belonged to nor when she would be born.
He loved Liyue deeply. Only by personally helping a new Geo Archon ascend and entrusting Liyue to his successor could he step down with peace of mind. Only that would be true to his character.
As he sensed the immensely powerful aura she possessed after returning from the Ley Lines, realization dawned.
Only then did Zhongli finally understand that the Geo Archon he had met all those years ago was the dear friend with whom he had forged such a deep bond.
He had watched her grow,