"I can't believe it," Silco rubbed his forehead, looking at Linwin who was proudly holding the blue bird.
Linwin, with a sycophantic expression, held not just a blue bird but a goddess in his hands.
"Even now, Silco, don't you believe it yet? You better not be stubborn."
"You should stop being so defiant," Linwin looked at Silco and continued, "Let me ask you, is a talking blue bird Janna?"
Silco fell silent. He knew Janna's image, despite not believing in the wind goddess. The elderly in Zaun had instilled Janna's image in him since childhood, and Silco couldn't forget it.
Sometimes she transformed into a sky-blue bird, circling in the sky above the harbor, singing a warning whistle to sailors heading out to sea. Other times, she transformed into a girl with long pointed ears, holding a beautiful staff, floating on the sea, guiding lost sailors home.
At this point, there was no room for Silco to doubt.
Sevika excitedly spoke, "Goddess Janna, is it really you?"
The bird flapped its wings, turned around, and faced Sevika. "Did you almost fall into a ditch back then?"
Janna recognized woman in front of her. She could remember every face of her followers, or rather, every face of the people of Zaun.
"!"
Sevika, no longer maintaining the tough older sister image, looked flushed. With her hands clasped together, she said, "It's me, it's me. Goddess Janna, if it weren't for you saving me..."
"No, no, you don't need to be like this," the green bird flew to Sevika, speaking gently. "It was a small effort on my part."
Hearing the conversation between Janna and Sevika, Linwin immediately understood the story Sevika wanted to tell earlier – the story of the fallen follower saved by the goddess.
At this moment, Vander and Silco also believed.
However, Silco's certain string snapped.
He took a few steps back, leaned against the wall, lowered his head, and wore a bitter smile. After sighing heavily, Silco shook his head.
He didn't know what to say at this moment.
Since the god of the Zaun really existed.
"Why doesn't she help the people of Zaun?
Forget about the Zaunites long ago; let's talk about the past few years Silco has lived.
How many Zaunites have died due to air and water pollution?
Among the deceased are also devout followers of Janna.
Janna, the goddess—why doesn't she save her followers?" Silco felt something deep within him shattering.
"Linwin, judging by your attitude towards the goddess Janna, can I assume you knew about her existence long ago?" Vander looked at Linwin, his voice heavy. "Is your strength also because of the goddess Janna?"
"You could say that, but it's not entirely accurate," Linwin nodded. The assistance from Janna did play a significant role in his power.
In this world, there aren't many champion proficient in elemental magic.
According to Linwin's knowledge, there are only a few champions who are masters of elemental magic: Annie in fire magic, Syndra in psychic magic, Qiyana, a genius girl who mastered earth, grass, and water magic, Rell, a steel girl with rare iron elemental magic, and the little rock sparrow(Taliyah) skilled in earth magic.
In short, there are not many champion with innate talent in elemental magic.
Yasuo, the Unforgiven, didn't master wind magic; he was a swordsman. At most, he was affiliated with wind elements.
Relying on Janna's existence, Linwin now possessed proficiency in wind magic. Therefore, Vander believed that his strength was due to Janna, and there was nothing wrong with that.
"It's really true," Camille looked at the blue bird flying in front of Sevika. This woman, who never blinked even in the face of life and death, was now deeply shocked.
Camille couldn't understand. Since there really was a god in Zaun, why did Zaun tolerate the bullying from Piltover? According to Piltover's existing biographies of Janna, she could easily control raging winds and overwhelm towering waves, effortlessly submerging Piltover in seawater.
She is a god; she should have that kind of power. But why does she watch Zaun suffer?
"Goddess Janna, I want to know," Silco, who had been silent against the wall, spoke. Silco calmly looked at the blue bird, expressing his doubts, "At the time when Zaunites needed you the most, where were you?"
Janna looked at Silco; she could feel the anger emanating from him. Janna gently said, "I have always been by your side."
"By our side. Watching us suffer like that?" Silco asked calmly.
"Silco, okay, I know what you want to ask," Linwin looked at Silco and spoke, "You want to ask why Janna doesn't help us, right?"
"Yes, since she considers herself the goddess of the Zaun people, why doesn't she lend a hand to help the people of Zaun?"
Linwin said with a headache. "This is why we can't directly attack Piltover."
"In Janna's eyes, the people of Piltover are also her children. Silco, don't forget, Piltover used to be called Zaun," Linwin explained.
"But now she stays in Zaun," Silco retorted.
"Silco, her concept of time is different from ours."
The green bird perched on Linwin's head calmly looked at Silco.
Janna chose to let Linwin speak for her, considering the high favorability is not fake.
"Silco, in Janna's eyes, the current relationship between Piltover and Zaun is like that of sisters who have a falling out. The affluent younger sister starts to discriminate and exploit the older sister.
As the mother, she chooses to help the older sister, live with her, but helping the older sister doesn't mean she dislikes the younger sister or treats her as an enemy."
"I have always told you that Zaun and Piltover are ultimately one entity. We are Piltover's mirror part. Even if we can't merge in the end, we still need to separate and govern, not become enemies," Linwin said seriously. "It's for this reason."
Destroy Piltover?
No one can do that.
Even though Janna now cares more about the people of Zaun, it doesn't mean that the people of Piltover should be bullied. If Piltover faced a crisis like the one in the past, Janna would definitely intervene. Her concept and values differ from those of humans. She is a god.
"Linwin, this doesn't convince me. I can accept that her views are different from ours because she's a god. But what I'm asking now is why doesn't she save people?" Silco questioned.
"How did you come to the conclusion that she doesn't save people?" Linwin frowned.
"Didn't Janna save Sevika?"
Linwin continued, "Moreover, do you really wind can blow through Zaun? In this Abyss, with ravines and gorges on all sides, how can there be a place in Zaun with an opening for wind? But every now and then, Zaun experiences a weak wind, blowing away the thick haze and mist into the sky."
"If it weren't for Janna, you would have died at my hands before."
Silco fell silent, not paying attention to Linwin's last sentence, focusing on organizing his thoughts.
Vander and Sevika, of course, could accept Janna's existence. Since it was not Janna abandoning the people of Zaun but the people of Zaun abandoning Janna. The once wealthy Zaun gradually forgot Janna's existence, and only in the most critical moments did the people of Zaun remember Janna and cry out for help.
In the face of imminent danger, Janna didn't hesitate to extend her hand, allowing people to escape their flooded homes. The hurricane broke through the raging fire, blowing away the thick smoke. On that day, the survivors of Zaun would never forget their savior.
Vander knew this history because it wasn't a secret; many people in Zaun knew about it. However, many Zaunites, especially the young ones, treated it as a story. But now, it seemed likely to be true.
"Silco, Janna has not betrayed Zaun."
"I brought her out to persuade Camille, not for you to question her." Linwin looked at Silco.
Camille paused, not understanding why Linwin suddenly involved her.
Silco chose silence.
With Linwin's words, Silco suddenly realized the anomalies in Zaun – the frequent occurrence of wind and the unimpeded operation of Zaun's merchant ships at sea without encountering storms or maritime disasters.
"Silco, please don't harbor resentment against Janna."
"I understand, you don't need to say more." Silco waved his hand. "But I still won't trust her."
Silco spoke in a deep voice.
Love for humanity from a god?
Silco didn't believe in that.
Even if Janna did nothing wrong.