After a long silence lasting more than ten seconds, Jarvan IV turned around and gave an order to Alberk, "Alberk, relay my command. Everyone is to rest here."
Alberk understood immediately. The prince had accepted Li Lin's suggestion and was preparing to follow him to meet the Winged Protector... or rather, her sister.
Despite his intense curiosity and a deep reluctance, Alberk knew that a soldier's duty was to obey orders, and he had no choice but to comply.
Yet, as he returned to the troops, Alberk couldn't figure it out.
He had heard the legends of the masked figure, and according to Li Lin, it was a woman. That wasn't particularly strange. But when had she become Kayle's sister?
None of the legends or records had ever mentioned anything like that.
Meanwhile, Jarvan IV, Shyvana, and Barrett followed Li Lin down a dirt road on foot.
Zoe and Morgana weren't far away, and to be cautious, Li Lin had instructed them to wait in a clearing in the forest.
It only took them five minutes to reach the location.
As soon as she heard the sound of footsteps rustling through the forest and sensed a familiar presence, Zoe, who had been bored and teasing ants with a twig, immediately dropped the stick and stood up.
A circle of light appeared under her feet, unsullied by the slightest speck of dust, and she allowed her body to fall through it.
At that very moment, just as Li Lin and the others emerged from the woods into the clearing, a glowing circle suddenly appeared in front of him. Instinctively, he reached out his arms.
Before Jarvan IV, Shyvana, or Barrett could react, Zoe landed right in Li Lin's arms.
"You're finally back!" Zoe exclaimed joyfully, wrapping her arms around Li Lin's neck. "I was so bored! Can we go back to Piltover now?"
"This girl..." Jarvan IV's voice rang out cautiously from behind Li Lin, carrying a note of suspicion, "I suppose she's not the masked figure, is she?"
As a seasoned warrior who had undergone rigorous training under Xin Zhao, Jarvan IV's magic surged the moment he encountered Zoe, warning him that this seemingly harmless young girl was far from ordinary.
Moreover, from the magic she had just displayed, and the shimmering starlike ends of her hair, Jarvan could tell that this girl possessed an incredibly powerful magical talent.
Standing next to Jarvan, Shyvana froze the moment Zoe appeared, her breath quickening as panic set in.
She could feel it deeply—if this young girl wanted to, a mere glance from her could be enough to kill her.
In contrast, Barrett seemed far less tense. "The masked figure… I've heard she always wears a veil, making it impossible for others to see her face… and doesn't she have wings too?"
He spoke calmly, as if encountering such a magically gifted girl was no surprise to him.
"I'm even a minute early from our agreed time."
Li Lin set down the clingy Zoe, brushing her button nose lightly with his armored hand.
Then, turning quickly, he introduced her to Jarvan IV, Shyvana, and Barrett. "This is Zoe, she's... um, a friend of mine."
No sooner had the word "friend" left his mouth than Zoe's temper flared. She leaped from the ground, wrapping her arms around Li Lin's chest and locking her legs around his waist. She turned toward Jarvan and the others, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Don't listen to Li Lin! I'm his girlfriend, his love!"
In an instant, all three—Jarvan IV, Shyvana, and Barrett—had their expressions change drastically. The looks they gave Li Lin were now full of curiosity and danger.
"Zoe!"
Li Lin couldn't help but flick the cheeky girl on the forehead.
Quickly, he began explaining to Jarvan IV and the others, hoping to clear up any misunderstandings before his reputation was irreparably damaged. "Zoe inherited the powers of the Twilight Aspect after the Darkin War, at least 1,500 years ago."
An Aspect?!
This seemingly innocent young girl was actually an Aspect?!
Jarvan IV, Shyvana, and Barrett were all shaken by the realization.
"No wonder I felt two entirely different yet deeply connected powerful auras earlier..." Shyvana muttered to herself, barely audible.
Zoe covered her forehead where she'd been flicked, sniffling softly, "I'm not that old! I'm still a kid, and I don't want to grow up!"
But this time, Jarvan IV and Barrett didn't misunderstand her words, now that they knew her true identity.
Even if magic was forbidden, they still understood the concept.
Spatial magic was undoubtedly one of the most difficult forms of magic, and even a master-level mage would struggle to use it as easily as Zoe had.
So, she's really an Aspect...
"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Zoe."
Jarvan IV and Barrett both crossed their hands over their chests, performing the standard Demacian salute, and quickly introduced themselves.
"Please, no need for the formalities. I don't care much for those stiff greetings," Zoe waved them off nonchalantly, her curious gaze quickly scanning over them before finally settling on Shyvana.
"Wow! A human with the blood of an elemental dragon! I haven't seen one of you in over a thousand years!"
Jumping down from Li Lin, Zoe stepped into a teleportation circle beneath her feet and appeared beside Shyvana, poking and prodding her as if she were inspecting some rare artifact.
"Hmm, you're clearly an elemental dragon, so how come you have a human form? That's so strange! I wonder what Space Puppy would say about this."
Shyvana's body stiffened, her breathing becoming shallow. She dared not move a muscle under Zoe's probing touch.
For some reason, this Aspect exuded an aura that made Shyvana feel an overwhelming sense of "bloodline suppression."
When the two were still a distance apart, the feeling had been faint. But now that Zoe was close, this oppressive aura of superiority became undeniable.
Jarvan IV, with sharp perception, noticed something unusual about Shyvana. He glanced at Zoe, who was still curiously circling around her, unable to contain his question any longer: "Are you alright?"
Shyvana managed a strained smile, her neck stiff as she nodded slightly.
"I'm terribly sorry," Li Lin quickly apologized, pulling the reluctant Zoe away and giving her head a rough ruffle. "Zoe is like this because of her nature, which is why the Twilight Star Spirit chose her. She hasn't changed much in over a thousand years."
"It's not my fault!" Zoe's mismatched eyes swirled mischievously. "Shyvana's reaction is because of the Space Dog!"
At this, Jarvan IV could no longer hold back. "Forgive me for asking, but what exactly is the 'Space Dog'?"
"It's a transcendent celestial being, the one who forges the stars—the Star Forger, Aurelion Sol," Li Lin began, but as he uttered the name, an inexplicable pressure weighed on him, as though the glimmering mountains of silver bore down upon his shoulders. It felt like he had been glanced at by an ancient and supreme being.
Indeed, for a god of Aurelion Sol's omniscience and omnipotence, even the mention of his name could not go unnoticed.
It was Li Lin's first time daring to say the name aloud, and already he could feel the overwhelming sense of being observed...
Jarvan IV, Shyvana, and Barrett stood frozen, their expressions blank, mouths slightly agape, unsure of what to say.
"Don't say his name so carelessly!" Zoe's face, surprisingly, showed a hint of worry. "I really don't want you to attract his attention. His temper isn't exactly the best these days."
Li Lin took a deep breath, brushing the concern aside.
After all, it was something they would eventually have to face. This was just a small test.
Moreover, he wanted to learn more about the celestial magic used by the Star Forger to craft the stars, hoping it would deepen their understanding of magic.
After all, if even a "god of creation" used magic, what purpose was there in Demacia's ban on magic?
"Alright, I understand," Li Lin nodded to Zoe, then turned back to the three before him. "He used magic to forge the countless stars of the heavens, and the sun that shines upon Runeterra is his creation."
None of them doubted Li Lin's words. Zoe's presence beside him was enough proof that what he said was no lie.
"To think such a being exists... I've lived most of my life, yet I'm nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well... No, not even a frog—I'm nothing but an ant," Barrett couldn't help but lament.
Jarvan IV remained silent, his expression growing increasingly complex.
His thoughts aligned perfectly with Li Lin's expectations:
If even the creator of the stars used magic, then abolishing Demacia's anti-magic laws was indeed urgent.
Jarvan IV had already resolved to make a decision that would defy his ancestors.
As they continued their conversation, Morgana, now donning her purple veil and headscarf once again, appeared in Jarvan IV's line of sight.
What first caught his attention was the pair of wings behind her, strikingly similar to the legends, though with a notable contrast in color.
Jarvan IV's eyes widened. "Are you the masked... no, the Winged Protector?"
"It seems Li Lin has already given you a general introduction," Morgana replied as she gracefully approached, lifting the hem of her gown to give Jarvan IV a noble's curtsy.
Jarvan IV did not hesitate, immediately returning the bow and introducing Barrett and Shyvana beside him.
Morgana nodded softly, then sighed. "I can sense the confusion in your hearts, but the matter is too complicated to explain in detail. After all, your ancestors deliberately erased records of my existence from your history."
"For now, I can only tell you that the Winged Protector does not solely refer to my... sister, Kayle, as you know her. It refers to us both."
She then shifted her tone. "I know you intend to change Demacia's anti-magic policies, but I must warn you, Jarvan IV, you will face threats far greater than those posed by the decaying nobility."
Morgana paused briefly, her voice dropping. "There's also the return of your revered Angel of Judgment, Kayle—bringing with her merciless retribution."
(End of Chapter)
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