-272- The floating city, Zaun

Taliyah has already set off. The little sparrow clenched her fists and shook them in front of her cheeks, took a deep breath, and under the gaze of the Twin Cities residents, Taliyah jumped directly into the sea, and then...

"Ah! Someone just jumped!"

"So-someone, wait... Oh my god, look at that, what is it!"

"S-She's surfing?"

"That's... That's Taliyah, right? I know her, she's Councilor Linwin's apprentice."

Vander placed his hand on his forehead, gazing at Taliyah heading towards the island.

"Magic... It's truly amazing."

The raging waves couldn't make this stubborn little sparrow yield. Taliyah stepped on the stone slabs, arms spread, and leaned forward against the waves.

Seraphine has also set up her own stage and flown into the air.

Hmm..... Wearing shorts is the right choice; it's impossible to wear a skirt for today's occasion! Wearing a skirt would definitely be trouble!

Calming down, little Seraphine waits in the air for Linwin's instructions.

"Uh, Sir Linwin."

Linwin looked down at Zeri. The girl who was excited just now suddenly calmed down, reaching out and pulling Linwin's sleeve, she said cautiously, "Can I ask you for one thing? Just one thing!"

Looking at Zeri, Linwin was about to nod in agreement. Of course, he knew what Zeri was going to ask for.

Someone has already told Linwin.

Zeri's magic is indeed super powerful, lightning magic, it can be said to be a magic with full destructive power. But when it comes to Zeri, it's like a joke from heaven because Zeri's magical talent is not powerful, her magical power is too little.

Let's put it this way, if lightning magic is given to Lux, then Lux, when she goes full throttle, might directly become the goddess of lightning on Runeterra, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she could plunge an area into a lightning storm.

But given to Zeri, who feels tired after releasing a few meters of lightning, and who becomes tongue-tied and sore all over after one full release...

"Slap."

And just as Linwin was about to speak, a hand appeared next to Linwin, heavily patting Zeri's little hand which was tugging on Linwin's sleeve. Zeri let out a cry of pain, withdrew her hand, then rubbed it, and then, Zeri looked at her idol with a dumbfounded look.

Seeing this, Linwin raised his head and rolled his eyes helplessly towards Powder.

How could she still be so protective?

On the side, Silco slapped his face with one hand. Powder, oh Silco remembered the cute and obedient little girl from before, how did she develop this personality? Maybe her personality was like this from the beginning, otherwise, she wouldn't have deceived Silco into giving her all the juice when they first met.

Powder stood with her hands on her hips in front of Linwin, looking displeased at Zeri, and shouted loudly, "Speak, but no touching!"

"Miss Powder." Zeri blinked her big eyes pitifully at Powder, but Powder just pursed her lips.

"Alright, let's not do that." A big hand pressed on Powder's head, gently pushing her back.

"Don't worry, I'll help you replenish your magic." Linwin supported Powder's little head with one hand, then said to Zeri.

Powder and Zeri are almost the same height, both of them are not even one meter and six.

"Sir Linwin, you already know?" Zeri immediately asked.

Linwin nodded, then pointed with his empty hand to the girl in the distance who was adjusting a device. That Zaunite girl was not very old, and it's interesting to note that her appearance was quite similar to Zeri's, and they both tied the same spherical twin tails. But she seemed more stable and quieter than Zeri.

"Did Kay told you?" Zeri asked immediately.

Linwin nodded, "So rest assured, go ahead, and I'll stand behind you when the time comes."

"Got it!" Zeri answered immediately, and then whistled. Seeing this, Ekko immediately threw his Hextech hoverboard to Zeri.

Stepping on the hoverboard, wearing a jacket, Zeri gracefully flew towards the bridge leading to the island.

"Who is Kay?" Powder asked on the side.

"Zeri's sister, cousin, actually."

After telling Powder, Linwin patted her on the back and said, "I have to go now, wait for me here."

Powder nodded, then walked to the side.

As Linwin flew towards the bridge, Vander stepped forward, crossed his arms, and stood beside Powder.

He looked at Linwin, whose figure was gradually becoming smaller, and suddenly said:

"I didn't expect this day to come so soon."

"What? Are you talking about the construction of the new Zaun?" Powder tilted her head and looked at Vander, not knowing what her old man was talking about, using her arm to poke Vander's waist as thick as a water bucket, Powder continued, "Well, Vander, don't worry too much, it will definitely succeed."

Vander shook his head, reached out his big hand and covered Powder's head. His hand was much larger than Linwin's, covering Powder's head was like wearing a hat.

Rubbing Powder's hair hard, Vander smiled and said, "Maybe."

Silco stood aside. Others didn't know what Vander was talking about, but he knew.

Before, he used to sneer at this kind of Vander, but now... He actually had the same feeling as Vander.

Unconsciously, Silco found himself becoming like Vander.

Looking at Powder, whose height was almost catching up with him after putting on high heels, Silco lowered his head and showed a bitter smile.

Yeah, his daughter had really grown up.

Linwin flew towards the bridge.

Zeri was already standing on the device in the center of the bridge, holding two large electric wires, preparing to connect them.

"Taliyah!"

Linwin stood behind Zeri, shouting at Taliyah, who was far away from the island on the sea.

"Yes, Master!" Taliyah exclaimed immediately. "I'm ready."

"Zeri," Linwin whispered softly behind Zeri.

"No problem, Sir Linwin. The protective device is ready to be connected," Zeri replied, looking at Linwin. "I'm ready!"

Linwin nodded firmly.

Seraphine stood on the platform in the air, and when she saw Linwin raise his hand, she knew it was time.

"Let's begin, Taliyah, Zeri. It's up to you now," Linwin said seriously, looking at Zeri.

Each to their own expertise, even though Linwin possessed powerful wind magic, when it came to reclaiming land from the sea, they had to rely on Zeri and Taliyah. One could activate all the Hextech gems with maximum electrical intensity, while the other could manipulate sand and stone to build the foundation and create an entire island!

At that moment, Linwin placed his hand on Zeri's back and closed his eyes, channeling his magical power towards her.

With a grunt, Zeri felt waves of magical power flowing into her body. Unlike the bright and warm magic of Lava, Linwin's magic was quiet and steady, but within that quietness, Zeri sensed danger, like the calm before a storm.

Opening her closed eyes, her violet coat crackled with energy, tiny streams of yellow flowing across it, and her hair became even brighter, standing upright. She sparkled like the most brilliant fireworks.

Her deep pupils brightened, and yellow electric light overflowed from her bright yellow eyes.

Zeri took a deep breath, lifted her boots, and took a step forward. She connected the two huge cables with her hands.

Neither Zaun nor Piltover could supply such power. Only Zeri could do this. It was something only Zeri could achieve.

Otherwise, it would take a considerable amount of time to manufacture usable generators specifically for this purpose and then transport them here for power supply.

But... Zaun now have Zeri-brand batteries!

"Boom!"

On the bridge, a large yellow-green lightning bolt surged into the sky like a serpent.

Zaunites and Piltoverians stood together, taking a step back simultaneously, one Piltoverian even stumbled backward and was caught.

"Be careful, my friend," the man with prosthetics smiled at him, gesturing for him to be more careful.

He was a Zaunite.

He nodded immediately and stood with him. They stood side by side, marveling at the change in the sky. Then, they watched as the lightning bolt changed its course and plunged into the sea.

Seraphine looked at the script in her hand, calming her inner self. She opened her red lips, and her captivating voice rang out.

It echoed in Piltover's city and in Zaun's city.

Her voice reached every corner of the Twin Cities through magic.

"Whether you are from Zaun or Piltover, today, we will witness the rebirth of Zaun."

On the port of Zaun, surrounded by electric lights, a green glow appeared on the gray-blue sea. In this scene, Seraphine said softly:

"Hundreds of years ago, Zaun and Piltover were one. Our city has survived for thousands of years. In the sediment of time, countless nations have disappeared from this world, and countless nations have been born on the continent of Runeterra. But Zaun have never left."

Vander listened silently to the voice in his ear. Beside him, Silco squinted his eyes.

Long before Demacia and Noxus were born, Zaun existed.

The ancient gods and their ancient city, Zaun, had a long history, not what outsiders saw.

"I know there have been too many changes between us."

"Our relationship has cracked. A wrong decision, an accident, Zaun split, divided into Piltover and Zaun, we were forced to split into two cities, upper and lower."

"And in this..."

Seraphine paused for a moment, then continued, "In these hundreds of years, the hatred between us has grown, and the prejudices against each other have become more severe, until... we became irreconcilable."

Seraphine looked at the script, calmly speaking.

The warm magic spread out, resonating in everyone's mind.

Saying these things, Seraphine's heart was calm.

Because these were all things of the past.

Today's Zaun and Piltover were not like that.

Not as written on the script.

Even though there were still prejudices and hostilities between them, now, the people of Zaun and Piltover could merge together. They could stand together, watch what happened on the sea together, and discuss together the significance of this event for the Twin Cities.

In the face of external enemies and outsiders, we could stand on the same side, on the same front.

Unlike before, where Zaunites stood with Zaunites, and Piltoverians stood with Piltoverians.

Seraphine's voice was firm, though she only spoke calmly, her voice seemed to turn into a song, flowing into everyone's hearts.

It was a moving, warm song.

"I am Seraphine. My magic can hear the voices hidden in people's hearts."

"I have heard the voices of Zaun and Piltover. I heard the sorrowful old wounds and injustices repeated in Zaun's song, and I heard the disdain and hatred hidden in Piltover's song."

Outside the barrier, a Piltoverian suddenly pursed his lips. He was a merchant, a harbor trader from Piltover. Before the Twin Cities were established, he had kindly employed a Zaunite once, only to be stolen from by the other party.

Since then, he started to dislike Zaunites. If he ever hired a Zaunite again, he would only exploit them unconditionally, even if they had no quarrel with him.

In his eyes, Zaunites were either objects of disdain or resources to exploit.

Later, Noxians attacked and someone saved his life, an enforcer from Zaun.

At this moment, he suddenly felt a bit ashamed.

Around him stood Zaunites. Did they know what he had done?

Seraphine heard voices in her ears again, causing a slight smile to curl her lips. She listened to the voices while reading her script.

Seraphine suddenly remembered the past.

Her dream was to change the relationship between the two cities. She wanted to use her song to dissolve the hatred between Zaunites and Piltoverians.

At first, of course, she failed. Seraphine even doubted herself. Why did she always think there would be a change? She was just one person. Just Seraphine, a recluse who rarely left her home. Who was she to think of such things? Why did she think she could change people's perceptions of each other?

A wish that both cities had failed to achieve for hundreds of years, and she wanted to change it? Seraphine, where did you get your confidence?

But in the Twin Cities...

At that thrilling Twin Cities celebration, everything changed.

That seems to be half a year ago, right?

Yes, half a year's time, so much has happened this year, everything has changed.

Change will happen, everything will change.

"Now, Zaunites, Piltoverians, let me tell you what I hear now," Seraphine said, putting down her manuscript. She raised her neck, stood on her exclusive stage, and said in a voice like a chant:

"Now, what I hear is the beat of drums and the rustle of gravel. It's gentle, mild, like a flowing spring. What I hear is the excitement and pride in the hearts of Zaunites. What I hear is the praise, approval, and encouragement in the hearts of Piltoverians."

That's what she heard.

A harmonious melody, a melody with grievances, but not deep hatred.

People listened to her voice and watched the sea ahead.

On the sea, Seraphine saw Taliyah.

She was so small, in front of that island, Taliyah was so tiny.

But she seemed to control the island.

"Oh my god!"

On the shore, a woman exclaimed.

Then, there was a commotion.

The sea completely turned blue, countless lights surged upwards, visible magical power, the magic of Hextech gems.

Zeri lowered her head, releasing immense electric power.

Linwin stood behind her, constantly supplying Zeri with magical power.

Waves surged, thunder flashed, suddenly, many gravel appeared on the sea.

"Rise!"

Taliyah angrily shouted, her hair standing up, lowering her body, her small feet stepping forward, she connected the oversized cables together.

Then, everyone saw what Taliyah wanted to lift.

Because that island, it rose!

From a small island, its face slowly emerged!

At the shore of Zaun's port, the rising island's waves rushed towards the port. Soon, they gathered into a wave over ten meters high. Then, higher and higher, when the crowd was about to run, the waves had turned into towering waves, rushing towards Zaun's port, blocking the sky.

"Whoosh."

But when a breeze passed, a green barrier appeared in the ravine of the canyon.

The huge wave seemed to hit an invisible wall, although it was violent and surging, it couldn't harm Zaun in the slightest.

A certain blue bird, who had put in some effort, changed her posture and fell into a deep sleep again.

Seraphine smiled at the corner of her mouth and continued, "This voice is not alone, it has abandoned all worries. Panic, fear, anger and doubt. It embraces everything...." 

On the sea, Taliyah stood tall, both hands reaching towards the sky.

"Boom!"

Several huge, several hundred meters thick stone pillars appeared on the sea.

The tops of the pillars were covered with countless Hextech gems. Zeri's electricity activated the massive gem clusters, protective magic appeared, covering the entire island above, allowing this island, rising from the sea and soaring into the sky, to retain every bit of soil.

Taliyah waved her hands, her small face already flushed.

This was more difficult than in Bilgewater, but Taliyah would never give up.

"Hahh!"

Her feet spun on the stone slab on the ground, Taliyah turned around, looking at the bridge, determination filled her eyes, one hand firmly gripped, the other hand resting on the grip, tightly gripping the wrist and lifting it upwards.

"Come on!!!!"

"Whoosh!"

The bridge quickly rose, and with the island, it rose upwards.

The seawater slipped from the island, and finally, a brand new island appeared in front of the people of the Twin Cities.

This is an island that is even larger than the entire city of Zaun!

Most importantly, its height, it's very tall!

The highest point people saw before was the center of the island. From the center point, from top to bottom, this floating island now reveals its entire appearance.

Taliyah's task was almost complete, and next up was Zeri.

Feeling the magic in his body being suddenly sucked away, Linwin frowned.

He thought his magical power could compete with Lux's, but now, looking back at the Twin Cities Day, Lux was charging Zeri but also setting off fireworks of light for herself.

To be honest. Lux was really a weirdo, there was no one weirder than her.

Just talking about magical power, Lux was definitely more capable than LeBlanc.

The only mages who could surpass Lux in magical reserves might be Syndra, Karma, Ryze, and Lissandra, that kind of people.

After all, the magic of hundreds of mages charging Galio only allowed Galio to move for a short time, but Lux? As soon as she approached Galio, Galio would be activated, and he could run for a few years.

When Lux cast a spell, even Galio was frightened.

That why Zeri is so found of Lux....

The relationship between a battery and a power bank?

Taking a deep breath, Linwin increased his power.

Go on and suck it all!

If he can't supply it anymore, he'll just grab Janna and let her help!

Zeri's magic flowed under the island, completely activating all the Hextech gems on the pillars.

In the depths of the sea where people couldn't see, at the bottom of the pillars, the Hextech gems emitted immense magical power, forming a barrier.

The magic made the pillars even more stable, and at the same time, made the island more stable.

"The new Zaun turns out to be a floating island?"

"Is this going to be our future home?" A Zaunite swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Silco looked at the floating island, his eyes full of shock: "The plan was successful, it was really successful."

Vander patted Silco's shoulder hard.

Silco looked at Vander, and then. Both of them smiled at the same time.

Zaun, is becoming more and more powerful.

---

Noxian Calendar Year 985, end of August.

With Seraphine's words coming to an end —

"I firmly believe that this will be a miracle, a miracle belonging to Zaunites, belonging to Piltoverians, belonging to all Twin Cities residents. A miracle powerful enough to change the world."

Zaun welcomed its new life.