CHAPTER 362 - Ancient Artifact - Etwahl

Aside from the brief interruption by Viscount Mukenn, King Jarvan III's appointments proceeded smoothly.

Initially, Jarvan III had hoped to invite Morgana to give a speech and declare her return. However, she showed no interest in such matters, merely promising to appear at the Grand Plaza in a week, with no further discussions allowed.

She still harbored a deep disdain for these corrupt nobles.

Additionally, Barrett, who had supported the prince at the border and fought alongside him, was supposed to be rewarded for his achievements, at the very least with a third-class merit medal.

But Jarvan III knew his old friend well. Barrett, having already achieved so much, no longer sought titles. What he needed now was wealth and resources to continue his charitable efforts alongside Lestara, aiding the Illuminators.

Barrett had specifically asked Jarvan III not to publicize these contributions, as the Buvelle family's generosity was already well-known throughout Demacia.

Thus, on the eve of the banquet, Jarvan III decided not to waste time on these formalities, planning instead to send several thousand gold shields from the royal treasury to the Buvelle family in the coming days.

Once all the important matters were settled, the grand celebration in honor of Jarvan IV began, filling the Hall of Radiance with laughter and joy.

The royal orchestra played an elegant symphony popular in Demacia, and Jarvan IV mingled effortlessly with the nobles, accompanied by Garen and Shyvana.

However, Li Lin wasn't particularly interested in these noble social gatherings. After sampling some of the banquet's delicacies with Zoe, he found a quiet bench in a corner of the hall.

At first, the young nobles were intimidated by Shyvana, clad in dragon-scale armor and with her purple skin giving her a rather strange appearance. But after Jarvan IV introduced her, they realized she wasn't as terrifying as they had imagined. In fact, Shyvana was quite amiable, even showing some nervousness around them.

This surprised the young nobles, who had good relationships with Jarvan IV.

As Shyvana recounted her tragic past, they felt sympathetic, and her ability to use magic didn't bother them as much anymore.

Li Lin was pleased to see Shyvana integrating into Jarvan IV's circle.

He declined a few invitations to dance from noble ladies, sighing in resignation.

"Fame really does come with its burdens… who would've thought noble girls would be asking me to dance?"

As Li Lin glanced back at Zoe, who was still happily devouring the food, his eyes drifted toward Sona, who was sitting with Kahina and happened to be looking in his direction.

Recalling his previous agreement with her, Li Lin stood and walked toward them, relieved that his path allowed him to avoid Zoe's sight. 

Why do I feel so guilty, like I'm sneaking around?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Sona's ethereal voice resonated in his head: "Guilty? What's going on with you?"

Startled, Li Lin realized he was only about ten steps away from her and Kahina.

"Looks like this is the limit of our communication range?"

As his gaze met Sona's bright blue, sparkling eyes, he found himself smiling, her gentle expression easing his nerves.

"Ah, Li Lin, you're here?" Kahina stood up teasingly, making space for him. "I'll leave Sona to you, then."

[Sister Kahina!]

A soft blush crept over Sona's flawless cheeks as she signed a playful protest.

"I was just keeping you company because I didn't want you to be lonely. But I do have my own life, you know? I may not understand how Li Lin manages to read your signs, but since you're both Ionians, I imagine you have your unique way of communicating."

"Now that Li Lin's here to keep you company, I'll go enjoy the banquet myself."

Kahina's tone was lighthearted, but she clearly cared about Sona like a sister. Her decision to leave wasn't for the reasons she jokingly mentioned.

"But…" Kahina paused, glancing back at Sona, who now seemed a bit flustered. "Don't you dare bully her, okay?"

"Miss Kahina, you're always welcome to keep an eye on me," Li Lin replied with a playful bow, earning a soft laugh from her.

"Alright then, I'll leave you two be~," she chuckled, waving goodbye to Sona before heading off toward Jarvan IV.

As Kahina disappeared into the crowd, Li Lin's attention returned to the slightly shy Sona.

Although she had been eager to understand how Li Lin was able to communicate with her and whether it had anything to do with her Etwahl, her timid nature resurfaced, especially after Kahina's teasing and the realization that they were now alone.

"May I sit here?" This time, Li Lin chose to speak in Ionian, rather than using telepathy.

Sona silently nodded, glancing at Li Lin's frame before shifting a little to make more space.

As Li Lin sat down, a soft, elegant fragrance filled his senses—it was Sona's scent.

He bit the tip of his tongue slightly, clearing his mind of any stray thoughts and reminding himself of his original purpose for coming over.

He wasn't here to flirt but to find out why he resonated with her Etwahl. 

"Ahem. Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Li Lin, and like you, I come from the First Lands."

Li Lin intentionally avoided the topic of war, not wanting to stir up the sadness Sona carried in her heart from being away from home.

"Sona, Sona Buvelle."

As she gestured with her hands as if talking, she was actually communicating directly with Li Lin through her thoughts.

"For all these years, you're the first person to hear my voice... Are you a sorcerer? Or perhaps a spiritualist?"

A sorcerer is essentially the same as a mage, just named differently. 

As for spiritualists, that's a unique title in Ionia. Almost every sizable village or town has at least one spiritualist capable of communicating with nature's spirits. They possess special mental magic, using nature's spirits to bring fortune or avoid calamity. They also perform special rituals during Ionia's annual festival—the Spirit Blossom Festival—allowing the grieving to reunite with their deceased loved ones for a brief moment.

In Freljord, these people who summon or command nature's spirits are often called spirit walkers or shamans.

"No, though I do know some rune magic, but I mainly use it for mechanics," Li Lin said, extending his hand and showing Sona how his noble attire swiftly transformed, then returned to its original form.

Sona's face showed surprise, and she immediately looked around, ensuring no one noticed. She didn't bother with shyness, and with a serious look, met Li Lin's gaze.

"This is Demacia, Dawnkeep. Whatever you do, don't use magic!" she pointed toward Eldred, standing among the nobles in the distance. "Especially around him. He's the leader of the Mageseekers. My parents specifically warned me to avoid any involvement with him."

Her concern warmed Li Lin's heart, though he responded with a nonchalant smile. "Don't worry, this isn't magic—it's nanotechnology."

"Na...no, technology?" Sona gestured while speaking, her voice carrying confusion.

There wasn't a term for this in Ionian, as Li Lin had combined two words to create a new one. So, Sona didn't understand its meaning.

"Simply put, it's just a kind of technology. The special battle armor His Majesty mentioned earlier is actually this—the one I'm wearing, which can shift forms at will. I call it [Project Genesis: Infinite]," he explained with a smile. "This is the sixth generation I've developed."

Not wanting her to worry, Li Lin chose not to mention that the armor was also enchanted with rune magic.

Sona tilted her head, her twin azure pigtails swaying, then nodded with a vague understanding.

"Still, I find it strange—how did I suddenly resonate with your... zither?"

"It's called Etwahl," Sona replied.

"That's a beautiful name," Li Lin complimented sincerely.

She tenderly ran her slender fingers over the specially modified wooden case. "It has been with me since the monks of Hirana Monastery found me."

As she spoke, Sona looked up, locking eyes with Li Lin. "Did you know? It's actually an ancient relic. There are records of it in the Illuminator's library… it dates back to thousands of years before Demacia was even founded."

Li Lin used his Data Mind to check the information on the ancient zither but found that, aside from its name and its epic grade, no other details were available, much like Kassadin's Nether Blade of Horok.

"So, it might be a relic passed down from the Shuriman Empire?" Li Lin speculated. "Or maybe, it's a legacy of the Vastaya Shari?"

Sona knew of both the Shuriman Empire and the legend of the Vastaya Shari.

The ascended god-warriors of Shurima needed no introduction, but the tale of Ionia's Vastaya Shari traced back nearly ten thousand years to the Titan War.

As the most ancient and mystical land in all of Runeterra, Ionia once faced an invasion by a group of titanic beings from beyond the stars.

To defend their homeland, many humans relinquished their physical bodies and entered the spirit realm, gaining transcendent power. They were called the Vastaya Shari by the people of the First Lands, and that rare and mysterious war was known as the Titan War.

When the Vastaya Shari used Ionia's very essence to drive away the extraterrestrial giants, peace finally came.

They chose to embrace this peace, living among humans once more.

Their descendants, born from the union of these spirits and humans, are today's Vastaya.

"If it's a legacy of the Vastaya Shari, it's certainly possible," Sona said thoughtfully. "But why is it with me? Why does it only respond to my touch? And why, after all these years, has it resonated with you?"

Could it be because of my title as the "World's Chosen"? Li Lin pondered, though he purposely didn't share this thought with Sona.

After thinking for a moment, Sona seemed to come to a decision. Her face became resolute.

Sona stood up with her zither case in hand, not overthinking it, and her slightly cool hand took hold of Li Lin's.

"I have an idea… follow me."

[End of Chapter]

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