-165- Irelia

"The girl from the Xan family, what should we do next?"

Several dozen kilometers away from the sacred city of Placidium, on a hillside in Navori, a group of people dressed as farmers are hiding in the shade of trees or in mountain gullies.

The prostrate crowd focuses their gaze on a girl at the center of the crowd.

She looks young, still just a girl.

Dressed in tattered leather armor, receiving the scrutinizing looks from all around, Irelia remained silent for a long time.

She didn't know what decision to make.

She didn't know why they were following her.

She fights, and they follow.

This was beyond Irelia's expectations.

But now, she needs their help, and they need hers.

Silence....

The hundreds of people around are quietly looking at Irelia, placing all their hopes on this fourteen-year-old girl.

Until a voice breaks the silence:

"I know what to do, brothers and sisters. Those thugs have occupied the coastline, never revealing any weaknesses. But I saw it yesterday; I saw many of them heading towards the salt flats to the west. The terrain there looks open and safe, but to the east, there's a high slope, and I also know of a secret passage that leads directly to the rear of the salt flats."

"And Irelia, they've placed the prisoners on the salt flats. Our people saw it with their own eyes."

"We can counterattack at that place, set up an ambush at the salt flats."

However, Irelia, frowning, looked at the man approaching her, expressing her doubts, "Secret passage?"

"Yes, it's an abandoned mine, and we can launch a surprise attack on the salt flats from there, coordinating with the high slope to the east for a double-sided ambush."

"Are you sure the Noxians don't know about that abandoned mine?" Irelia furrowed her brows; she felt uneasy about this plan.

Or rather, Irelia didn't think their opponents would make such a mistake.

Why would the Noxians suddenly move the prisoners to the salt flats?

Yes, that kind of place is difficult to launch a surprise attack.

But why would the Noxians relocate the captives to such an open area?

Irelia pondered this question.

"Of course, only our locals know about that mine. Although the Noxians have occupied Weili for two years, I don't think they've had time to develop the abandoned mine. From our observations so far, they haven't shown any signs of knowing about this secret passage."

Irelia nodded.

Indeed, if the enemy's commander knew, analyzing the situation over this period, Irelia knew that they would definitely choose to approach from behind and attack the Navori residents she was leading.

The enemy excelled in winning wars with fewer troops.

That was a formidable opponent.

Even though her people outnumbered the Noxians, Irelia always felt at a loss in battle.

Of course, she knew she lacked the skills of a military leader.

A year ago, she was just a girl studying dance in Placidium.

She hoped to promote the dance of the Xan family.

But a year later, now, Irelia had become the hope of the people.

She couldn't let down this hope, and therefore, Irelia was afraid that one wrong step would lead her and her compatriots down a path of no return.

Beside her, a man wearing a hat spoke earnestly, "Irelia, let's give it a try. If we're successful, we can surely defeat the Noxians and rescue our comrades."

"They seem exhausted now."

"They've abandoned Placidium and retreated to this place. Irelia, this is evidence that they are now weary."

Listening to his words, Irelia continued to frown.

But despite the fact that the Noxians had occupied Placidium for two years, Irelia was aware of their decision to abandon the city.

Or rather, she participated in that war.

The Ionian resistance was defeated, allowing the enemy to enter the sacred city.

At that time, Irelia, wielding a blade, blocked the Noxian cavalry.

It was her outstanding performance in that war, turning the tide of the battle, that made Irelia the leader of the resistance.

Now, she has become the leader of the Navori Brotherhood.

Even so, she does not fully accept the existence of this brotherhood.

She has not acknowledged her identity.

But the voices of the people are growing louder.

They are expecting Irelia, expecting this fourteen-year-old girl to lead them back, to reclaim Ionia's land.

Irelia listens to the surrounding voices, under the fervent gazes of the people.

She looks at her hands, a blade resting in her palm, its sharp edge stained with indelible blood.

This is the emblem of the Xan family.

It is Irelia's weapon.

"Irelia, give it a try!"

"Irelia, please lead us!"

"We can be stronger if we unite."

"Irelia, we believe in you because you have shown us the way."

"Resist, Irelia, we can only protect our homeland by resisting!"

Listening to the voices around her, Irelia raises her head, looking at the destroyed homeland.

Placidium is no longer glorious.

Navori is riddled with wounds.

Weili has become the enemy's territory.

Faylore no longer belongs to Ionia.

Wuju village has suffered great losses.

All things in the world have names, only the wind knows.

Grandmother said so.

Irelia is no longer silent.

Stepping down the hill, the crowd splits, creating a path for Irelia. At the same time, they all focus their gaze on this young girl.

On the battlefield, she can stand against a hundred.

It was she who first sounded the horn of resistance.

The people of Navori believe in her.

"Everyone, I always remember why we fight."

Irelia lifts her head, "We fight for the deceased, we fight for the living!"

"I don't know if we can succeed, but I know that we are the children of the first land."

"If we are not strong, we will perish."

"But we, will never be shackled!"

Irelia is no longer the bewildered girl.

She has become the leader of the resistance.

The girl who used to find joy in dancing, the girl who entered Placidium to study dance, is no more.

Now, what remains is Irelia, with a blade in hand, evolving into a warrior.

"So, now is the time."

"Prepare everyone. Tonight, we'll open the mine, and tomorrow morning, send a team to the high slope. We need to find the exact location."

"We, will save our captured comrades."

In the hands of the Noxians, there are still many Ionians.

Those people are the reason Irelia won't give up.

Also the reason the resistance won't give up.

Their children, loved ones, relatives, friends – all are in the hands of the Noxians.

Irelia knows this, so even though she knows this is likely an enemy ambush, she and the resistance must go.

Fight for the deceased, fight for the living!

Irelia will save them.

"With all our might, this is where we stand!"