Sona's sudden emotional outburst wasn't something that had built up overnight—it was the result of over ten years of accumulated experiences since she could first remember.
As an abandoned orphan, she was taken in by the monks of the Hirana Monastery in Ionia's Garen Province when she was just a baby, where she grew up with all her basic needs provided for.
Though she was born mute, her kind-hearted nature made her particularly sensitive to the needs of others, especially the children her own age, who would often come to her for comfort in their times of distress.
However, that didn't stop Sona from being bullied.
Because she couldn't speak and Ionia lacked a unified sign language, it was difficult for her to communicate. Whenever she ventured out, she would still be mocked and cruelly imitated by mean-spirited and overbearing children.
The same "little angel" who was so caring toward others became a target for some to tease and torment for fun.
Even though the monks eventually noticed and put a stop to it, it was already too late.
Not only that, but when music teachers who visited the monastery to instruct the children noticed Sona's only precious possession—Etwahl, a peculiar-looking ancient instrument—they couldn't help but covet it. Though they had no idea of its true origins, that didn't stop a few unscrupulous individuals from scheming to make it their own.
It wasn't until later, when Sona learned to play the instrument and discovered the strange connection between them, that she finally had a way to defend herself, frightening those who dared to bully her.
However, these experiences planted deep and lasting scars in the young Sona's heart.
Later, when the Noxian invasion of Ionia broke out, the monks, fearing for the safety of the children, arranged for a Demacian merchant ship to take all the orphans from Ralin Province, including Sona, away from the impending chaos.
Before Noxus could fully blockade the western coast, the Demacian ship set sail, beginning a months-long voyage across the seas.
Leaving behind everything she knew and being cast into an uncertain, homeless future left a significant emotional wound on a young, still-developing mind.
Thankfully, Sona was taken in by the kind-hearted Buvelle family. Even when they discovered her ability to use magic, they never rejected her.
But no matter how well they treated her, the Buvelle family was Demacian, and Sona was Ionia—they were different.
Even the language barrier alone took them a long time to overcome, as they had to invent their own form of sign language to communicate properly.
Now that Sona had met Li Lin, another Ionian, and more importantly, someone who could hear the voice of her heart and truly understand her, how could she not feel a surge of excitement and joy?
With all these factors combined, Sona's long-suppressed emotions finally burst forth, and she wept silently in Li Lin's arms. Her tears flowed so freely that they soaked through his shirt.
Li Lin had no idea how to comfort her.
Sona's past was tragic, not only in what had already happened but also in what was still to come, in the original timeline.
Without his intervention, Barrett would have died in the recent battle at the Gates of Mourning, and the Buvelle family would have fallen apart without its pillar of support.
From her birth to her growth into adulthood, Sona had spent almost twenty years in a constant state of upheaval.
Considering everything, Li Lin decided it was best to let her vent her emotions fully.
He sighed softly, wrapping one arm around her slender waist while gently patting her back with the other, offering what little comfort he could.
"Cry, just let it all out. Everything will be okay…"
After what felt like an eternity, Sona's sobs slowly subsided, her body calming down. She raised her tear-stained eyes to look at Li Lin.
But then, as she recalled her emotional outburst moments earlier, she quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks, her gaze lowering in embarrassment as a blush crept across her face.
"Sorry, I overreacted."
"Everyone has their breaking point," Li Lin reassured her with a shake of his head. "Sometimes, crying is the best way to let it all out."
Trying to lift her spirits, he gently wiped away the remaining traces of her tears and teased her in a playful tone, "Look at you, you've cried yourself into a little mess."
"No, I didn't…"
Sona lightly tapped his chest with her hand, but when she felt the dampness beneath her fingers, she finally noticed the large wet spot her tears had left on his clothes. A wave of guilt and embarrassment surged through her.
"I'm really sorry. I ruined your clothes…"
"You mean this?"
Li Lin glanced down, shrugged dismissively, and snapped his fingers. In the blink of an eye, the nano-material in his suit reacted, filtering out and evaporating the moisture almost instantly.
When she looked again, there wasn't a single trace of wetness left on his attire.
Sona's eyes widened in surprise. "That's amazing! Is that nanotech?"
"Yep, the power of science."
Li Lin chuckled softly, but then he noticed Sona's tear-streaked face, and his breath caught.
"Yikes—you can't let Kahina see you like this, or she'll kill me."
Sona blinked in confusion before realizing what he meant. When she touched her face, panic set in.
"I'm so sorry! This is my fault..." she hastily transmitted telepathically. "I'll explain everything to Kahina and my parents!"
"No need, I have a better idea."
Li Lin detached a part of his clothing, the remaining nano-material quickly filling in and returning to its original form. The separated portion shifted into the shape of a drone, activating its optical camouflage to blend into the surroundings.
"What is this?"
Sona's eyes, still slightly red, showed a flicker of curiosity. She had never seen anything so extraordinary outside of magic.
"A nano-drone, capable of freely changing shape."
Li Lin offered a brief explanation, then directed the drone to fly down toward the plaza below, where a fountain was located. Given that Dawnkeep was filled with the joy of celebration, and Demacia had no streetlights at night—only torches providing limited visibility—no one would pay attention to an inconspicuous fountain.
The drone scooped up a large basin of water from the fountain without any issues and returned it to the rooftop terrace of the grand hall.
Sona quickly washed the ruined makeup off her face, then accepted Li Lin's handkerchief to dry herself.
"Thank you."
Li Lin retrieved the handkerchief from her and reabsorbed it into his clothing with a smile. "You look even prettier without makeup."
Sona's cheeks, which had just cooled down, began to flush again. "No, I don't... you're just saying that."
"I'm not, it's the truth. Anyone else would say the same."
Sona didn't respond this time, only giving him a playful, exasperated glance before squatting down to close the wooden box containing the embers of Etwahl, cradling it in her arms.
"Let me take that."
Li Lin took the box, which wasn't particularly heavy, and Sona didn't object.
"It's getting late; we should hurry back," she said without thinking, grabbing Li Lin's hand again. "If Kahina can't find us for this long, she'll definitely start saying all kinds of things."
It would have been fine if she hadn't brought it up, but the mention of Kahina instantly reminded Li Lin of Zoe, the person he had "abandoned." His heart suddenly tightened.
Oh no!
How could I have forgotten about Zoe?
Feeling a wave of anxiety, he quickly said to Sona, "You're right, we really need to get back..."
(End of Chapter)
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