Barant's home sat right in the center of the village.
Typically, villages in Demacia follow a village elder council system similar to that of Ionia, while adhering to the nation's laws.
Most village chiefs are elected based on the recommendations of respected individuals and the votes of the villagers. Often, their role is primarily to welcome travelers and entertain officials and soldiers, without wielding much authority.
The chief of Yuncong Village was no exception.
Barant's house was not much different from other villagers' wooden homes. However, he had added a more spacious council hall beside the main house, which could also be used to host guests.
Two guards returned to their posts as Barant entered his yard, shouting towards the kitchen, "Hey, Nicola! We have guests. Make us some snacks to go with the drinks."
Li Lin thought of stopping the enthusiastic Barant but reconsidered and held his tongue.
Demacian villagers were quite similar to the Ionian people in their hospitality, especially towards skilled warriors. Yet, there were differences; Demacians were straightforward and bold, whereas Ionians were more reserved and subtle.
If a Demacian warmly welcomes you, it's best not to decline their hospitality, as it might be seen as disrespect.
Moreover, while Ionia was tolerant of magic, Demacia's upper class loathed and rejected it, and the common folk feared it.
In Demacia, Li Lin knew he couldn't openly use the functions of his Infinity Armor, or he would face scorn and exclusion, or even attract Demacian officials and mage hunters.
He wondered if the nano-energy core he made from condensed Primordial Crystals would still work in Demacia's capital, built entirely with anti-magic stone...
With these thoughts swirling, Li Lin followed Barant into the guest house. Barant brought out a keg of homebrewed beer and filled two wooden cups before they began their conversation.
"Chief Barant, have any other dragon seekers come to the village recently?" Li Lin asked.
"Oh, don't get me started!"
Barant sighed, took a gulp of beer, and wiped his beard.
"Ever since a nearby village was destroyed by a fire dragon's breath, we've taken in many refugees..."
He glanced outside, then lowered his voice, "Even the troops stationed at the front lines fled, lacking the courage to face that dragon."
"I heard about that. But wouldn't the Dauntless Vanguard or the Silver Wing Squadron easily handle the dragon?"
"You're right, but the Dauntless Vanguard has only about two thousand members, primarily tasked with guarding the capital and the Dawn Castle, protecting King Jarvan III."
Barant shook his head, "The Silver Wing Squadron is even rarer, with only a few hundred battle-ready griffins in all of Demacia.
"The dragon only destroyed one border village, with few injuries. It's not yet time for the Silver Wing Squadron to act.
"Besides, the prince recently went to the border to inspect the situation. I heard his personal guard subdued the marauders and even clashed with Noxian forces..."
The prince?
I bet he's just asking for trouble.
Li Lin sipped his beer, silently listening to Barant talk about recent events in Demacia.
While they talked, a woman in her thirties, with a familiar face, entered carrying a tray. She placed a dish of boiled peanuts and another of boiled soybeans on the table, and smiled politely at Li Lin, "May the Winged Protector bless you."
"This is my wife, Nicola," Barant introduced with a smile.
Li Lin returned the smile, "May the Winged Protector bless you too, madam."
Barant then pointed at Li Lin and told his wife, "Nicola, this is a brave warrior, seeking the dragon's trail!"
For some reason, Nicola's expression changed at the mention of the dragon. She snorted at her husband and left the room.
Barant, looking embarrassed, quickly turned to Li Lin, "Sorry about that. Our family has been in turmoil because of the dragon..."
"Oh?" Li Lin asked curiously, "Can you tell me more?"
"Well, it's about my daughter, Cithria..."
"What?!"
Li Lin was stunned. He had come to Cloud Village looking for a girl named Cithria.
Though not a hero in the League of Legends game, in Demacia's lore, she was undoubtedly a protagonist! To think he had unwittingly stumbled into her home!
Fortunately, Barant's face was downcast, lost in thought, or he would have noticed Li Lin's fleeting shock.
Barant continued, "Cithria has always dreamed of becoming a brave warrior and joining the Dauntless Vanguard. She trains rigorously.
"But after hearing about the dragon from refugees and soldiers, and from the occasional warrior passing through, she's been clamoring to go to the border to find the dragon.
"The border is dangerous, with bandits and raiders, not to mention the recent skirmishes with Noxians. It's no place for a young girl, especially one still in training..."
He sighed heavily and drank his beer.
Li Lin, understanding the situation, thought, "Stories often reveal only a small part of the real world."
"Your concerns are valid. The border is chaotic. I understand your and your wife's worries."
Barant grumbled softly, "I don't know why my wife blames me. She's the one who filled Cithria's head with tales of Demacia's heroes..."
At that moment, a lively young girl's voice rang from the yard, "—Father!"
A spirited girl with long brown hair, braided into pigtails, burst into the room, her face alight with excitement.
She wore an inner lining of avian feathers, a brown linen hooded cloak, tight-fitting training pants, and deerskin boots.
"I heard a new dragon slayer is in the village!"
Cithria's eyes first landed on Barant, then quickly shifted to Li Lin, scrutinizing him.
"Is it you?!"
Barant sighed, "Cithria, mind your manners!"
"Oh... right, manners!" She took a deep breath, "May the Winged Protector bless you, dragon slayer!"
"I'm not exactly a dragon slayer yet, as I've never seen a dragon."
Li Lin joked, while activating "Data Mind" to scan Cithria's stats.
What he saw made him gasp.
[Name: Cithria of Cloudfield]
[Age: 14]
[Race: Demacian]
[Abilities: Robust physique, Warrior's spirit, Tenacity, Valor, Weakness detection, Morale boost, Reckless strike, Protagonist's halo...]
No wonder Garen called her "Little Cithria." She matched his record in the Dauntless Vanguard.
Li Lin couldn't help but chuckle internally, [I understand, but what's with the "Protagonist's Halo"?]
(End of chapter)
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