After Elias followed the staff backstage, Elysia sat alone in her seat.
Sipping her milk tea while scrolling on her phone, she wasn't the least bit worried that her beloved boyfriend might be captivated when he met the world-renowned superstar.
First of all, Miss Pink Elf had absolute confidence in her own charm! Second, unfortunately for Eden, Elias was already enchanted.
But not by her as a person—by her voice.
Elysia knew well that Elias' playlist only contained two kinds of songs.
The ones he composed himself.
And the ones sung by Eden.
Rather than worry about Elias falling for Eden, it made more sense to worry whether Eden might fall for Elias.
But in Elysia's eyes, even that possibility was slim.
Anyone who had heard Eden sing understood: she was someone who had devoted herself entirely to art. Eden poured her very soul into her music, transcending herself to become a symbol of the era's art itself.
No matter how handsome Elias might be, such a supreme artist would never act so carelessly.
Elysia: "At most, if the two meet, they'll just resonate over art. There's no way Miss Pink Elf could be cheated on here—absolutely impossible!"
At this moment, the innocent pink elf had no idea.
When two geniuses resonated with each other over art… the effect might be comparable to Herrscher Cores of the same attribute resonating.
Elias had personally tested it: at least a tenfold increase in power.
...
—On the way backstage—
Elias glanced at the other lucky winners beside him.
Everyone was trembling with excitement. One woman in a wheelchair was even shaking with anticipation, saying that Eden's voice had been the driving force keeping her alive in this world.
"I'm really about to see Miss Eden! I-I'm so lucky! Sacrificing my brother's lifelong bachelorhood was worth it!"
"Yeah, I'm so nervous. Is my outfit too casual? Is my hair messy?"
"Ahhh, Miss Eden, I'm finally—finally going to see you. Your songs saved me!"
"Eh, wait a second… isn't that guy over there…?"
"No way. Could it really be him? Just how much good fortune did we draw today?!"
Elias noticed a few gazes directed at him and tilted his head in confusion. The next second, they all turned away nervously, becoming even more anxious than before.
Except for the woman in the wheelchair, everyone else had gone through three layers of security checks before being allowed backstage. They all understood the reason. After all, the person they were about to meet was the shining jewel of the Previous Era's art world.
They had to be cautious—if anything were to happen, the loss would shake the entire civilization.
When the manager opened the diva's dressing room, they finally saw the queen of sacred music they'd only known through TV before. Everyone froze, dazed as if in a dream.
"Hello, I am Eden. Thank you all for coming to my concert."
Though it was nothing more than a simple greeting, from her lips it felt like a melody itself. The listeners felt as if their ears had conceived new life.
Elias raised his eyes to the front. There sat a goddess at the vanity, smiling warmly at them.
The first word that came to mind was perfect.
Beautiful burgundy hair, golden radiant eyes, features worthy of the phrase "peerless beauty." She wore a graceful and luxurious performance gown, its cinched waistline and flowing skirt sketching a breathtaking portrait of the era.
The pinnacle of elegance and poise. Her very existence seemed like supreme art crafted by the gods. Beyond "perfect," no other word sufficed. For a moment, everyone forgot to breathe.
Elias too was stunned. If Elysia was a dazzling, flawless fairy like scattered petals, then Eden was a golden goddess of art and beauty.
But though she was the brightest star of the Previous Era—
Eden carried herself with gentle humility, showing no arrogance at all.
She sincerely thanked each person for attending her concert, and even shook hands with everyone.
Elias could almost hear someone thinking, I'll never wash this hand again. At the same time, the woman in the wheelchair also clasped Eden's hand.
"Thank you for coming to my concert. Miss, since your legs are inconvenient, allow me to arrange a private box for you."
"T-this… how could I possibly accept that!"
"Please don't be modest. Compared to your willpower to endure illness just to come hear me sing, this is nothing at all."
"Ah… ahhh…"
The woman in the wheelchair instantly burst into tears. Gazing at her kind and beautiful idol before her, her eyes filled not only with excitement and joy, but also with a hint of madness.
"As I thought—you truly are the perfect goddess. Thank you… I'm so happy. Eden, I beg you one thing, my time is almost up. Please… die with me!"
"!!!"
The shocking yandere confession caught everyone off guard. The woman clutched Eden's hand tightly with one hand, while the other pulled a knife hidden in her wheelchair armrest.
The next second, wearing a hysterical smile, she thrust it toward Eden, whose face showed clear fear.
The manager turned pale, fans screamed, and security outside couldn't react in time. The shining jewel of the era seemed on the verge of being snuffed out.
"Ah~ Miss Eden, to have such a yandere fan win the lottery to meet you—what rotten luck."
"What?!"
The woman's eyes widened. Her knife had been effortlessly caught between two fingers—the white-haired boy behind her had intercepted it with casual ease.
Even if others couldn't react in time, there was no way someone who was both a Seven-Core Herrscher and a Vipralopa-class MANTIS would allow such an attack to succeed.
If Elias had let it happen, he might as well go smash his head against a tofu block.
"Well, forests are big and birds are many. With so many fans, of course some crazies will show up."
"Uaaahhh—!!"
With a light squeeze on the woman's arm still clutching Eden, Elias snapped her bones. She screamed in pain and let go.
Elias pulled Eden behind him, shielding her with his body. His face remained calm as he considered how best to punish the woman.
"Damn it, don't stop me! You don't understand! Eden! Your voice is my hope, my reason to live! I can't live without it! But I'm going to die soon anyway—so please, Eden, die with me! That way I can still hear your songs in the afterlife! I beg you!!"
"Good grief… what kind of trash reason is that…"
Elias was speechless at such shameless words. How could she even say that out loud?
"I'm sorry, but I cannot die with you. My voice belongs to this era. There are still many who wish to hear me sing, many who need my songs. And most importantly—I don't want to die yet."
Eden shook her head, sorrowful yet firm.
"Uh, Miss Eden, you don't need to answer her so seriously."
Elias smiled wryly. At the same time, he decided on the best way to deal with her.
"You—what are you going to do?!"
Elias stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. A pure white flower quietly bloomed there.
"There. Now your wounds and illness are all healed. If you don't believe me, try standing up."
"W-what?"
The woman clutched the wheelchair armrest in disbelief, certain he was mocking her. She was about to explode in anger—but when she saw the boy's handsome face, she froze.
Then, as though realizing something, she hurriedly checked her body. A moment later, her expression turned ecstatic.
"It's true—I'm healed! My arms, my legs, my illness—it's all gone! I can live again!"
Before everyone's stunned eyes, she rose from her wheelchair. Her sickly appearance had vanished entirely, with no sign she had ever been at death's door.
"Since you're healed, then get lost. Don't be an eyesore here."
"Yes! Yes! I'll leave right now!"
The hatred that had filled the woman's eyes toward Elias was now gone without a trace. Abandoning her wheelchair entirely, she scrambled and crawled out of Eden's dressing room.
"You truly are merciful."
"This was the best way to handle it."
Elias shook his head with a faintly meaningful smile. After all, he couldn't exactly kill someone in Eden's dressing room. And while he had healed the woman…
Whether that mercy was a gift or a poisoned apple, only time would tell.
No one present understood Elias, nor the thoughts in his heart.
Still, because of this attempted stabbing, the backstage meeting ended earlier than planned. To avoid disrupting the concert, Eden needed some time to compose herself. However…
"Thank you, my savior. Without your protection, I would already be dead. Or perhaps I should call you Mr. Elias, or Hero, instead?"
In the dressing room, Elias had been left behind.
The beautiful superstar bowed deeply to him. As she leaned forward, her figure rivaled even the most prominent of the heroines who had appeared thus far!
"Eh? Miss Eden, you know me?"
"Of course. Even though I'm only a singer, I know the world faces grave danger, and I know of Fire Moth's existence. I've heard many speak of you as a remarkable hero."
Eden smiled as she praised him.
Elias' fame was even greater than he had realized.
Ever since the birth of the Herrscher of Thunder, Honkai had entered the public eye. Fire Moth had recently been preparing to reveal itself openly to civilians as well.
And Elias, the hero who had defeated four Herrschers in a row, was already well-known. Many people knew his name, and even among Eden's fans earlier, some had recognized him.
"Thank you, Mr. Elias. You not only saved the world, but today you also saved me."
"Uh, honestly, you wouldn't have died. That woman was an amateur. Even if she had stabbed you, it would have only gone into your stomach—it wouldn't have been fatal."
Elias shook his head. Eden was destined to survive until the fall of the Previous Era. Fate would not allow her to die early. Still, even he had been startled.
"I think you should be more cautious about your safety. Have more thorough checks in advance."
"Yes, you're right. Next time, I'll be more careful."
Eden smiled wryly. Because the woman had seemed disabled in a wheelchair, she hadn't insisted on a strict inspection. Who would have thought that would lead to such a situation?
If not for the white-haired boy before her… Eden touched her stomach, imagining how painful that strike might have been.
"Please allow me to thank you once more, Mr. Elias. And… may I ask you to stay and talk with me a while longer? I've long been curious about your stories. And with you here, I feel much safer." Eden asked sincerely.
"It would be my honor, Miss Eden. I've also wanted to talk to you about music."
"Just call me Eden, my savior."
The two exchanged smiles and began a lively conversation. Meanwhile, in the audience, Miss Pink Elf remained unaware that the bond between Elias and Eden was already beginning to soar.
Elias and Eden found much common ground—both were passionate about music and had unique insights into beauty.
Before long, however, one of the accompanists approached. Eden nodded to her slightly.
"Please, let me sing this piece first."
"No problem, Eden. After what just happened, you deserve to vent some feelings."
"Hm? What is it?" Elias asked curiously.
"Nothing much. I just want to start with a sad song to release my emotions. It's this one." Eden handed him the sheet.
"Even though my songs gave her the will to live, she repaid me in such a way. Even for me, it's hard not to feel sorrow." Eden sighed wistfully.
Elias nodded in understanding. After experiencing something so awful, feeling down was only natural.
If it had been some fragile or less resilient star, they might have canceled the concert on the spot.
But Eden chose instead to release her emotions through a tragic song. Elias gave her a thumbs-up in approval.
"Don't worry, that woman won't appear before you again. But this song… it's very sad, a tragedy indeed."
Every song was a story. After glancing through the sheet, Elias immediately understood. The notes and lyrics painted a tale: a protagonist longing to become light, repeatedly betrayed and deceived, dragged into the mire, losing everything in the end—a tragedy without redemption.
It perfectly suited Eden's current state of mind.
"If you don't like it, I can change to another."
Eden smiled gently. Though she wished to sing this song, if her savior disliked it, she would willingly set aside her own feelings.
"…No, it's fine."
Elias hesitated, then shook his head.
Though he did dislike tragedies, and had once sworn to change all of Mihoyo's "knives," he wasn't so unreasonable as to reject a sad song outright. Besides, he could tell it was a fine piece.
Sung by Eden in her present mood, it would undoubtedly become a deeply moving melody. To cancel it just for his personal taste would be a pity. Moreover…
"Tragedy is not the end, but the beginning of hope."
Elias smiled brightly as he admired the tragic score. He knew even tragedies were never meaningless.
Even now, though in the eyes of others he had already achieved brilliant victories and saved countless lives, Elias knew he still hadn't saved everyone.
Tragedies remained…
But they were not the end!
He carried all regrets, tragedies, and tears in his heart. In the next cycle of the future, these sorrows would become the foundation of hope, allowing him to craft an even more perfect story!
"Tragedy is not the end, but the beginning of hope…"
Eden repeated his words blankly.
"What beautiful words."
Her sorrow eased considerably.
Such positive, warm words, paired with Elias' radiant smile, made Eden feel as though the earlier attempt on her life no longer mattered. Her frightened heart had already been soothed by this white-haired boy.
"Hehe~ perhaps someday, Eden, you'll encounter something that makes you grateful for today's tragedy."
Elias spoke as though in jest. Yet Eden couldn't help but laugh. This white-haired boy was truly different—his words carried a strange power that made one want to believe them.
And indeed, not long after, Eden would genuinely feel thankful for this tragedy.
Because it was the very beginning of their bond.
"May your words come true, my friend. Do you have a song you'd like to hear? I would gladly sing it for you."
Just as Eden was about to offer something in return, the day proved to be full of misfortune. Another accompanist rushed in anxiously.
"Terrible news, Miss Eden, the pianist's hand is injured! He won't be able to play for now!"
"Ah…"