September 20th, the western part of the Valoran continent—Demacia's capital, the Great city of Demacia.
Tianna ascended Throne Mountain with her sword and swiftly entered the palace.
After passing through the silver-white sacred halls, Tianna arrived at the Throne Mountain Garden.
In this garden planted by Queen Catherine herself, Jarvan III was sitting in the corner of the garden in plain clothes, squinting his eyes and enjoying the cool breeze.
The mountains blocked Freljord, but they also brought the cold wind from the north. In the season of summer turning to autumn, this wind was refreshing.
"You're here."
"Your Majesty."
Tianna stood behind Jarvan III, with the steward standing beside her.
"Tianna, the event that Twin Cities is about to host is essentially a martial competition. It's not about the strength of the two sides anymore, but about physical strength and athletic ability. However, no matter what, Demacians have the advantage."
Jarvan III continued, "You know about the rewards from Twin Cities, very generous. We must participate."
"The gold medalists will receive innovative Hextech scientific instruments provided by Twin Cities as rewards, as well as a large supply of Hextech gemstones. These are priceless, Tianna."
"I understand." Tianna nodded, but then she said, "But, why do you insist on bringing Luxanna to Twin Cities? You know her current situation, Your Majesty. Many eyes are watching her now, waiting for me to make a mistake."
"I know what you're worried about, my Grand Marshal."
Jarvan III raised a hand lightly, indicating for Tianna to calm down.
Tianna also calmed down.
Looking up at the distant growing branches and flowers, Jarvan III smiled and said, "Do you know? I once denied Catherine's appearance in public. I just wanted her to stand behind me and let me protect her."
In the Queen's garden, there were only Jarvan III, Xin Zhao, and Tianna.
"But she's very stubborn. She's my dark side, no, she's actually the bright side of Demacia."
The woman who had always been doing the kindest things in secret, Catherine—Tianna fell silent.
The people of Demacia knew that Catherine was a gentle and loving queen, but what they didn't know was that Queen Catherine was also a powerful mage and the leader of the Illuminators, the most powerful faction within Demacia.
"Luxanna is very similar to her, Tianna."
"You once proposed to me to let Luxanna marry Jarvan to protect her. I agreed because she's so much like Catherine, but now that I see, she's not the same as my Catherine."
Jarvan III stared into Tianna's eyes and said in a deep voice, "Haven't you noticed yet? Luxanna is more powerful than Catherine, and her dreams are bigger."
"Your Majesty!" Tianna immediately half-crouched down, looking up at Jarvan III somewhat flustered.
Xin Zhao silently watched everything.
Tianna knew best what Luxanna was doing. She had scolded Luxanna before, telling her not to do such things. Luxanna was having a hard time herself now, and she still wanted to liberate others?
However, for Luxanna, who is currently rebellious and has been to Twin Cities, making many friends, Tianna's reprimand is completely insignificant.
Luxanna, she is now committed to changing the way Demacians view mages!
Magic itself is not wrong; it's the people who use magic who can be wrong!
Powerful magic can be a weapon to help people, as Twin Cities has proven!
And what Luxanna is doing is something even former Queen Catherine dared not do.
Catherine only provided a living environment for more mages. She was a mage herself and a queen. She knew how difficult it was for a mage to live in Demacia.
But mages are still treated like rats in Demacia.
But Luxanna? What she wants to do is to allow mages to stand openly on the streets of Demacia!
The girl from before has now become a strong person with great ambitions.
You must know that the prohibition of magic is the founding law of Demacia, and Luxanna's actions now are tantamount to declaring war on Demacia!
"Stand up, do you think I will punish you for this?"
Jarvan III said with one hand behind his back.
Tianna stood up.
She knew what the emperor had always wanted to do. Ever since he found out that Catherine was a mage, he had been working towards it.
The Jarvan dynasty, for generations, has had a considerable fondness for mages.
"Luxanna must grow. She must become someone who can lead the Illuminators forward."
Tianna pursed her lips.
She wanted to say it was dangerous. Luxanna would become a target for many people because of this identity, and many nobles would target her.
But Tianna sighed inwardly and lowered her head.
Jarvan III was giving orders, not conversing with her.
"Linwin said the Twin Cities Event will be held at the latest next summer and at the earliest at the end of winter. Send the batch of petricite to them tomorrow."
Jarvan III continued, "The people who will go to Twin Cities for training have already been selected. Send the petricite first, and three months later, Luxanna and the young head of the Laurent family will depart together."
"Fiora is also going? "
"I heard there's a fencing competition. How could I not let Fiora go?"
After saying that, Jarvan III stood up. This man, with a sturdy physique even in plain clothes, couldn't hide his royal aura.
"After participating in the Twin Cities Games, I will decree the opening of mage registration in Demacia. From now on, any mage who registers their information and records their abilities will be allowed to live within the borders of Demacia, and soldiers and the mageseekers will no longer have the right to drive them away!"
"Your Majesty." Tianna looked at Jarvan III in astonishment. She felt it was too early!
But she was met with Jarvan III's calm eyes.
Tianna hesitated, "Isn't this too early?"
"Early? While you think it's early, many Demacians are unable to sleep well, eat well, or even suffer in prison, all because they were born as mages."
Jarvan III squeezed out these words.
Beside him, hearing Jarvan III's words, Xin Zhao's eyes lit up, straightening his spine. He looked at his object of loyalty.
Jarvan III gave him a sense of purpose.
He gave Xin Zhao, who had been drifting with the tide, a direction. And Xin Zhao's direction was to protect Jarvan III for a lifetime.
"Tianna, our country is not as beautiful as it seems on the surface now. I know in secret, Demacia has long been riddled with holes.
Catherine once said that nobles hide their mage children, while ordinary people are powerless. They are forced to separate from their families because of their abilities, and even suffer humiliation and torture. There is already a deep rift between mages and the people.
If this continues, when the conflict between mages and the people erupts one day, when the mage's anger is like a collapsing mountain, Demacia will suffer.
Tianna, mages are also people. They are not demons.
They are also someone's relatives, partners, friends.
They are also, Demacians."
Tianna listened to Jarvan III's words, thinking of Luxanna, who gave her a headache.
"I will change Demacia."
"To create a renewed, harmonious, stable, and powerful Demacia for my son."
Jarvan III muttered to himself.
"This is also what Catherine wanted to see."