"Welcome to—the Elysian Realm!"
As they stepped through the radiant gate, Elias and Elysia arrived at the final memory domain within the realm—and at first sight, the white-haired boy was utterly spellbound.
It was a scene truly worthy of the word Elysium.
Time itself seemed frozen at dusk. The sky shimmered in golden crimson, while the clouds above were painted pink. Upon an endless, glittering sea stood a breathtaking, dreamlike island.
On that island stretched an intricate, dazzling array of countless structures. In sheer scale alone, even if all thirteen other Flame-Chasers' domains were combined, they could not rival the vastness of the [Elysian Realm].
"So beautiful… and so familiar. I see now—Ely, you merged all the beautiful places from our journey together, didn't you?"
"Mhm~ I actually wanted to reconstruct every place we visited, but Vill-V said the storage capacity wouldn't hold that much data, so I picked only the most memorable ones."
Elysia tugged Elias's hand and led him to an aerial garden terrace overlooking nearly a third of the Elysian Realm's scenery.
Elias chuckled softly. It seemed not everything here came from their shared memories—this sky terrace, for instance, must have been something Elysia designed herself from her own taste and imagination.
He stood by the railing, gazing outward.
He saw an enormous flower labyrinth, a magnificent fountain, a bustling carnival plaza, a lively shopping street, and a massive amusement park.
And there was so much more beyond that. Across the expanse of the Elysian Realm's lands, countless creation-white flowers bloomed. Whenever the breeze passed, Elias could clearly smell their sweet fragrance.
Even the very air here felt sweet.
"My white flowers… they've really bloomed across the entire realm."
"Of course! My ideal paradise has flowers in every corner. And if you ask which flower Elysia loves most, it's obviously your creation-white flowers, Eli! Look how beautiful they are!"
"Heh, beautiful, yes—but not as beautiful as the girl beside me. Still, I didn't expect that combining all our most beautiful memories would create something like this. Even the most enchanting fairytale world can't compare to our Elysian Realm."
Elias looked across every corner of the realm, unable to stop himself from holding Elysia close. This paradise, born from both their memories—
Was more dreamlike than any fairytale.
More beautiful than any heaven.
And that filled Elias with pride beyond words.
"Eli, can you tell me how you feel right now?"
"My feelings? Right now, I just want to live here forever. Honestly, I could make this my final resting place."
Even as he said it, Elias found it hard to believe himself.
He had fallen in love with this paradise at first sight.
It felt like an Avalon, a sanctuary sealed away from the world, where time stood still at the moment of happiness. All worries and burdens evaporated the instant he stepped inside.
For the first time, Elias felt true peace and ease. He felt as though this Elysian Realm was his home—whether it was for hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of years, he could stay here until the end of time.
After all, this paradise was built from the pure happiness and love between him and Elysia—how could he ever grow tired of it?
"My, my, Eli, you're exaggerating again. But… what a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing."
Elysia smiled, radiant as falling petals.
The pink elf leaned her head on Elias's shoulder, her arm gently wrapped around his, gazing proudly and dreamily at the Elysian Realm she had built with her own hands.
[I really wish I could live here with Elias forever.] That was the first thought Elysia had when she finished constructing it.
"Eli, did you know our Elysian Realm actually has another name? Want to guess what it is?"
"Nope. No riddles, miss. Not now. Just tell me already~"
Elias refused immediately—the captain had played enough guessing games in his past life.
Elysia looked at him, half laughing, half helpless.
"Alright, alright. This Elysian Realm has another name—Elysium Everlasting."
"Elysium Everlasting?!" Elias widened his eyes in surprise.
"Ahaha, judging from your face, you've already realized it. That's right—it's a combination of our names."
Elysia smiled, watching his astonished expression with a sweetness that melted into her voice—it made her feel as if she had just tasted sugar.
Elysium Everlasting.
It meant eternal paradise.
The latter half was, of course, last part of her name, while the first came from a name of Elias's that almost no one knew.
When they were children, Elias had found the name "Elysia," meaning "Elysium (Paradise)," in a storybook and given it to her. Later, he had chosen the word "Everis," meaning "Everlasting," as his own secret name.
"That name of yours is one of my greatest treasures," Elysia said softly, her eyes filled with gentle affection. "Because I'm the only one who knows it."
"Yeah. I've never called myself that before anyone else. Thank you, Elysia… for remembering my name." Elias tenderly brushed his hand through her pink hair.
The name Everis had been chosen on a whim—just a word that appeared right after Elysia in that storybook.
It had been more than ten years ago, yet the pink elf remembered it as clearly as if it were yesterday.
And now, those two names joined together had become the name of this paradise.
"I told you already—if it's about you, Eli, I remember everything. Whether it's your cool side or your clumsy side, your radiant moments or the quiet ones no one else notices… I remember them all."
"My lovely Ely, if you keep saying things like that, I'll just end up falling even more hopelessly in love with you."
Elias hugged her tightly, deeply moved.
He felt himself turning into a lovestruck fool. That wouldn't do. Maybe he should ask Mobius for a surgery to cut out his 'love-brain' and then—
Elias: (—Then I'd just end up liking her without a brain! Perfect!)
Elysia: "Come on~ Just looking around isn't enough to experience the true charm of our paradise. Oh right, I also need to show you that special place."
Elias: "Alright, I can't wait. But—hold on. In this paradise, I think this form suits me better."
With that, Elias activated artificial cascade, transforming into his divine and flawless [Reverse God] form. Elysia's eyes widened, her mouth falling slightly open in awe.
If before, the [Reverse God] looked like an angel who had fallen from heaven to the mortal world—then now, he looked like one who had returned to his celestial home.
This Elysian Realm was his heaven.
Elysia was utterly captivated.
Only now did she realize just how perfectly the paradise she created harmonized with Elias's [Reverse God] form—as if he had been born from this very realm.
If his usual charm level was a thousand, then here in the Elysian Realm, it deserved another zero.
(No matter how many times I see it, Eli's [Reverse God] form is always so perfect… It's almost unfair. I'm starting to feel like I don't deserve him… No, no! Pull yourself together, Elysia!)
Elysia slapped her cheeks lightly, regaining focus and psyching herself up again.
(This isn't over yet! I haven't unleashed my full Herrscher powers! Eli's [Reverse God] might be gorgeous, but once I awaken as the Herrscher of Origin, I'll definitely match him!)
Every Herrscher had their own exclusive armor, but since she'd never fought at full power before, Elysia had never seen her own Herrscher form.
She quickly made a little wish in her heart.
(Power doesn't matter… but please, please let my outfit be beautiful! At least beautiful enough to stand beside Eli's [Reverse God] without losing any shine!)
Strength can change from one version to another—but beauty lasts a lifetime! You can lose in anything else, but never in looks! Elysia made that wish with utmost devotion.
"Hm? Ely, what are you praying for all of a sudden? Weren't you going to show me that special place? Come on, I can't wait anymore."
"Coming, coming~ You're always so impatient, Eli! Fine then—if you're that eager, why don't you just carry me and fly there?"
"Hm, that's a great idea!"
Elias nodded in agreement.
"Ah, wait, w-wait! I was just kidding! I'm not ready yet—let's do that next time!"
"Hm?"
Elysia's expression changed instantly as she waved her hands and backed away in panic. But that only made Elias more suspicious—and curious. Besides, he was the kind of man who found "don't" to be the most irresistible word in existence.
Without another word, Elias ignored her protests and swept Elysia up into a princess carry—and immediately understood why she'd hesitated.
"Uh, Ely… did you gain weight again?"
"T-That way! Fly that way! Five hundred meters east! Land on that platform!" Elysia's entire body tensed as she hastily changed the subject.
Elias weighed her lightly in his arms and remarked, "59.9 kilograms—one more than the last time I checked, five days ago. Just 0.1 more and…"
"Ah! Ahhh~ I didn't hear anything! You didn't say anything! If you keep talking, Eli, I'll ignore you for three whole minutes!"
The pink elf puffed her cheeks and clamped her hands over her ears, threatening him.
"Oh no, what a cruel punishment. Fine, fine, I won't say that my Ely is just 0.1 kilograms away from being 163 centimeters tall and 60 kilograms—basically a cute little piglet."
Elias's grin was one of unrestrained mischief. He even gave her waist and stomach a playful squeeze. Though she wasn't exactly chubby, there was a bit more softness there now.
"Eli, you're mean!"
"It's fine, it's fine. Even if my Ely's height and weight ever matched, I'd still love you the most."
"That doesn't make me feel better at all! Ugh, I was planning to work out and lose it before you noticed. Forget it! Eli, use your Herrscher powers and get rid of ten kilograms right now!"
The pink elf, now desperate, chose to cheat.
Elias could only smile helplessly. Sure, as the Herrscher of Rebirth, he could technically reduce mass—but…
"Sorry, no can do~ I quite like this. My lovely, fluffy Ely is way too comfortable to hold. In fact, maybe I should use my powers to add a little more softness—see if it feels even better."
"Eli, stop! You've gone from angel to demon! If you really do that, I'll ignore you for thirty minutes! No—forget that, I'll cry!"
Elysia panicked, her little fists thumping weakly against his chest. Against the [Reverse God], they were no heavier than feathers.
But the moment "crying" came up, Elias was defeated.
"Alright, alright—it was just a joke. I'd never actually do that. Don't be mad, Ely."
"Hmph! Then I'll only ignore you for thirty seconds…"
Elysia puffed her cheeks again, turning her head away. But within ten seconds, she couldn't resist anymore and leaned back toward him, hugging his arm once more.
Elias felt his heart melt entirely. He held the girl tighter, the air already sweet with the scent of creation-white flowers becoming even sweeter still.
"You're still the same, Eli. The moment I say I'm about to cry, you always give in."
"Of course. You know, there's only one situation where a man's allowed to make a woman cry."
"Oh? And what situation is that?" Elysia blinked, curious.
"When he's proposing."
Elias smiled as he gently brushed his fingers along the elf's cheek, tracing the corner of her eye. All he ever wanted was to see those eyes shed tears of happiness.
"Guh… y-you can't just say something that unfair…"
Elysia's heart gave a sudden, powerful thump. Though she was a master of charm and mischief, when it came to the white-haired boy before her, she still found herself outmatched.
Burying her face into his chest and rubbing against him gently, she made a silent vow in her heart—that the only time she would ever cry again would be that moment.
"Alright, let's go to that special place you mentioned."
"Mm~ Eli, you'd better be ready to be amazed!"
Following Elysia's lead, Elias soon arrived before a small house in the residential area of the Elysian Realm—a quaint, beautifully designed little home that, at first glance, didn't look like anything extraordinary.
But the moment Elias stepped inside…
"Hm? Is this… an archive room?"
The spacious interior was quiet and empty, lined with tall bookshelves filled with neatly arranged, ornate volumes.
At the very center of the room stood a classical wooden desk—and on it, an eye-catching typewriter.
Elias's eyebrow twitched. For some reason, his heartbeat skipped. It was as though some long-buried PTSD had been triggered purely by instinct.
"Let's just call it the Elysian Archive Room~"
"Elysian… Archive Room…"
"Mm! This place stores all of our memories, Eli. Every moment we've shared is turned into a book—each second, each word, recorded in perfect detail. Never lost, never forgotten. Romantic, isn't it?"
Elysia gestured proudly toward an entire wall of books. She was certain that one day, the number of books born from their memories would fill an entire library.
"Yeah. It's so… you." Elias chuckled softly.
He picked up one of the books, flipped through a few pages, and a nostalgic smile spread across his face. He could've spent an entire day here reading—but something else on the desk caught his eye.
"Ely, this typewriter… it feels special."
"...Eli, your intuition really is too sharp! You're right. This isn't just any typewriter—it's the Elf Typewriter, capable of recording every event and all the data from within the Elysian Realm, printing everything out objectively and impartially!"
"Another one of Vill-V's inventions, huh? Well, now you've got my attention… How do you even operate it?"
Elias tapped a few keys, but only plain letters came out. He immediately realized it wasn't going to be that simple.
After all, when it came to that eccentric inventor's creations, you'd usually need an entire manual—and even then, it might take half a day of trial and error.
"I don't know how to use it either~" Elysia said with a playful shrug.
"What? You don't?"
"Uh-huh~ But don't worry! Vill-V already explained everything to a special little assistant. Come on, Eli—I'll introduce you to the administrator here~"
Elysia pulled him over to a petite, adorable doll—one that looked about seventy to eighty percent like her.
"Ta-da! Meet the Elf Administrator of the Elysian Archive Room—an ELF modeled after me: Elf Elysia!"
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