-270- Zeri and Seraphine

Linwin stood alone at the port, feeling the cold wind and contemplating the tasks for tomorrow. It wasn't until late at night that he flew back home.

Flying in through the window, Linwin hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open, intending to get some juice from the living room. However, as soon as he pushed the door open, he blinked.

"Master!"

On the dining table in the living room, Taliyah, holding a cup of homemade milk tea, quickly put down the steaming cup and stood up in surprise as Linwin walked in. Linwin hadn't been home all day, so Taliyah thought her master wasn't planning to come back tonight.

The sudden appearance startled her.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Linwin walked up to Taliyah and looked down at her. It was obvious that the little sparrow had already taken a bath.

Looking at Taliyah's hair, Linwin nodded in satisfaction. Taliyah had become much prettier during this time.

Taliyah's previously dull and yellowing hair had improved significantly in the past six months. Although it couldn't match Powder and Kai'Sa's silky hair, it at least looked soft now.

Originally slightly curly, her hair was now fluffy even though it hadn't completely dried. It looked fluffy and inviting to touch.

Thinking of this, Linwin reached out and rubbed Taliyah's head, then asked with a smile, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Can't sleep?"

"Mm." Taliyah nodded, not only to answer her master's question but also to avoid her master's relentless iron hand.

But Linwin pressed down with his hand and rubbed Taliyah's head even more vigorously.

Fluffy, and soft—her hair felt really nice to touch.

"I... I'm afraid that something might happen tomorrow, Master. I'm really nervous right now," Taliyah said with her eyes squinted, allowing Linwin to rub her head.

Her feet drew circles on the floor, and her hands clasped together in front of her abdomen, entangled with each other.

"Don't worry, we've done what we need to do," Linwin said as he rubbed Taliyah's head a few more times, making her neatly combed hair messy before finally satisfied, he raised his hand.

Taliyah pursed her lips, took a step back, and put her hands on her head, trying to smooth down the messy hair her master had caused.

Linwin had many virtues—he was young, wealthy, powerful, kind, and very good to her. But his flaw? He always treated her like a child! Especially when it came to her hair!

"Tomorrow isn't just about you, or Zevi, it's about all Zaunites," Linwin said as he sat on a stool and patted the table, smiling. "Go get me a glass of juice, and let's talk."

Taliyah immediately put down her hand, turned around, and ran to the kitchen, then stood on tiptoe to take a glass of juice from the highest place in the kitchen.

She was much shorter than Kai'Sa.

She brought back a bottle of green juice, which looked cold, and placed it in front of Linwin.

"Taliyah, after the Zaun land reclamation project is completed, is there anything you want to do?" Linwin unscrewed the bottle cap, patted the seat next to him, indicating that the little sparrow should sit down, and asked her a question.

Calculating the time, Taliyah had been out of Shurima for about two years, right? In these two years, she had traveled to many places.

Not only Noxus, but also places like Mount Targon. The purpose was to find a way to control her abilities, and now, with Linwin, Taliyah had found a way.

Not only had she gained control, but she had also taken her abilities to the next level.

Instead of suppressing, Taliyah's rock magic would occasionally go out of control when she was in the tribe. The reason was that she always suppressed her magic; she was afraid of harming innocent people, so she always endured it, letting a huge amount of magic block in her body for a long time.

Year by year, the blocked magic became more and more, naturally, there would be times when it got out of control. And with Linwin, Taliyah released her magic wantonly every day. Although Linwin asked Taliyah to help with the Zaun land reclamation, it was really training Taliyah.

"Um." The little sparrow obediently sat down, holding the warm cup in her hands, she started to sip the milk tea. After thinking about it, Taliyah said, "I don't know, Master. I haven't been away from home for long, so I don't plan to go back to Shurima now."

"I didn't ask you to go back to Shurima. I mean, don't you want to go out and explore?" Linwin asked.

"Explore? Where?" Taliyah looked up, foam gathering around her lips, and looked at Linwin dazedly.

"Anywhere. You came out of Shurima to explore, to see all the places on Runeterra, right?"

If she hadn't been intercepted by him, Taliyah would have been training with Yasuo by now.

After training with Yasuo for a while, Taliyah would go to Freljord to study the frozen soil. Eventually, this girl would return to Shurima and prepare to resist the "tyrant" Azir.

Taliyah could have met more people.

Although she was young, her life was extremely exciting; few champion in the League had experiences like hers.

She climbed Mount Targon, served as a soldier in Noxus, practiced as a monk in Ionia, and finally studied frozen soil in Freljord.

In the first half of her short life, Taliyah encountered people of all kinds. It was because Taliyah had experienced so much unfairness and malice, went through countless dangers and difficulties, that she grew into the rock sparrow who dared to defy Xerath and Azir.

"Before, it was like that, but not anymore," Taliyah shook her head at Linwin Lorant. "Master, now I can control this power. If it weren't for you saying Azir is a good person, maybe, maybe I would go back to Shurima to protect my people."

"You said he was going to be resurrected, didn't you?"

Linwin said Azir and Nasus were good people, which Taliyah believed, but she still felt resentful towards Azir.

"Now, I just want to stay in Zaun. I want to learn advanced knowledge here and then bring it to Shurima. I want to use knowledge to change the lives of Shuriman people," Taliyah said earnestly.

There were many things in Zaun that Taliyah wanted to bring to Shurima, with purification technology being the most coveted.

Because of the harsh living conditions, Zaun's purification technology was really comprehensive.

To put it this way, if the purification devices from Zaun, which could purify poison water and gas, were brought to Shurima to filter seawater, wouldn't drinkable water become less precious in Shurima?

Shuriman people have their own technology, and coastal nomads have tried various methods to filter seawater, but no matter how hard they try, the seawater they get in the end still has many impurities and cannot be used for drinking.

However! Zaun's filters can filter seawater!

After boiling, it can be directly consumed!

"I thought you'd want to go out and gain experience," Linwin said after taking a sip of juice and swallowing, speaking softly.

"No way, I left home to gain experience in order to change my hometown's life. Now, the place that can best help me achieve this ideal is Zaun. I'm not leaving," Taliyah said loudly, her almond eyes shining. The little sparrow shook her head vigorously.

Linwin: "."

"I understand." Suddenly shaking his head, Linwin smiled.

"Ah? Master, what do you understand?" Taliyah asked immediately.

Linwin, however, smiled at Taliyah and shook his head without saying a word.

It's not that only Taliyah, only after gaining experience, dared to rebel against Xerath and Azir.

Thinking back to the first time Taliyah saw Nasus, one would realize — this little sparrow was born a powerful warrior.

Behind Taliyah's youthful appearance was an ambition to move mountains and fill seas, and a soul capable of changing the world.

In the feudal land of divine and royal power, Taliyah was the only one who spoke of human rights.

The only champion in Shurima who dared to resist the gods —

Taliyah the rock sparrow.

"Rest well, you'll be busy tomorrow."

In Taliyah's puzzled eyes, Linwin mischievously rubbed her head again, then left the room.

"Always being mysterious," Taliyah pouted, speechlessly starting to tidy up her hair.

———

Entering the nearest building in the Blossoms Street community, on the balcony of the second floor, a small head with yellow and green hair peeked out beyond the railing.

"Oh no, what should I do, Sera?"

"I'm really nervous, tomorrow I'll be working with Taliyah to wrap things up, but I'm afraid my magic won't be enough tomorrow. Just think, if I mess things up in front of so many people, wouldn't that end my idol career?!" Zeri whimpered loudly.

"Why aren't you talking, what are you doing?" 

Only Zeri could have such bright hair in the dark night.

As for why she said such things, although her magic was getting stronger, Zeri still couldn't control her powers well.

Thunder magic was extremely powerful, but because of this, even a small spark of lightning required a lot of magical energy.

"I told you not to play all the time."

"What? How am I playing? I'm practicing guitar!" Zeri whined angrily, jumped up in frustration, and sat on the railing in her nightgown. The small railing held Zeri steadily, which of course was related to Zeri's magic.

With electricity, static electricity could make her stick to many things.

Seraphine lay sideways on the bed, with a Hextech phone by her pillow.

Yes, Seraphine moved to Zaun.

"Listen to me, listen to me, without Lux around, no one charges me up, and my magic really isn't enough."

"If Lux were here, it would be great. Last time I talked to her, she said she would try to come to Zaun, but why hasn't there been any news?" Zeri's tone carried a hint of slight resentment.

On the bed, Seraphine rubbed her temples in frustration, revealing a fair arm. Seraphine helplessly opened her lips and approached the Hextech phone, saying:

"Zeri, I have work tomorrow....."

Yes, Councilor Linwin gave her work too.

Tomorrow, she would use magic to say some things to uplift the spirits of the Zaunites.

And now, it's already half past twelve at night!

But Zeri just wouldn't let go.

Does she think everyone is as energetic as her all day long?

"What should I do? Do you want to see your teammate embarrassed in front of so many people?"

"I don't care, anyway, I can't help you." Seraphine immediately replied.

Seraphine already guessed what Zeri wanted to say in this phone call.

It's to ask Seraphine to be her battery.

But Seraphine doesn't have much magical power, and besides, she has things to do.

"Ah!!!"

"I don't want to be embarrassed!"

"My grandma said, don't be afraid to stand out, but standing out doesn't mean being the center of attention! It's embarrassing. Sera, you're the smartest, help me think of a solution."

Seraphine thought for a moment and said, "You can ask Councilor Linwin, he's also a powerful mage."

"Oh right!"

"Right! Councilor Linwin gave us all the work, so he should be free tomorrow, right?" 

Listening to Zeri's excited voice, Seraphine felt a headache coming on.

Her voice was getting louder and louder....

How can Zeri be so lively? 

"Great idea, Phinny, you're always right!"

Seraphine: "?"

That title was brought up by Linwin, but at the time, the only people who knew about it were Zeri and a few elders. The elders certainly wouldn't go around spreading it everywhere, so, how does this weird 'nickname', phinny, originated from?

Of course, it was from her, Zeri!

"You!" Seraphine immediately sat up somewhat angrily, about to say not to call her that, but as she opened her mouth, Seraphine froze.

"Zeri! It's late!! why aren't you sleeping? What nonsense are you shouting outside? Come down here now!!"

"Wait, wait, I'm sorry!!!"

"Ow!! don't hit me, don't hit me, please, I'll sleep, I'll go to sleep right away."

"Not the face!! I have to meet people tomorrow!"

Seraphine silently lay back down.

In her ears were the gradually diminishing cries of someone.

Pulling the blanket up to her face, Seraphine smiled faintly, closed her eyes, and softly said:

"Much better...."

——————