บท 349: CHAPTER 349 - It's Normal for People to Have Double Standards
Qian's soul had already dissipated.
After collecting Qian's soul, Kindred didn't linger. The Lamb Spirit nodded gently at the three of them in farewell before vanishing into the wind alongside the Wolf Spirit.
"I've heard of the Mage Seekers before," Morgana broke the silence. "But back in our time, this organization didn't exist."
"According to Demacia's history, it was only after your battle with Kayle that the new king established the Mage Seekers, specifically to deal with mages."
Li Lin furrowed his brow in thought. "But why would the Mage Seekers collude with Noxus? Could it be that the Demacian nobility has already been infiltrated by the Black Rose?"
"Black Rose?" Morgana clearly didn't understand the term.
"This organization's leader was once under Mordekaiser's command, but she conspired with the Noxii tribe, severing the link between Mordekaiser's soul and his armor, banishing him back to the realm of the dead. That's how Noxus came to be."
Li Lin sighed, giving Morgana a quick explanation. "In short, the Black Rose is the shadowy organization behind Noxus, controlling the puppet emperors of each generation."
Morgana's brow creased. "But Demacia has its petricite walls. The Black Rose shouldn't be able to infiltrate the capital..."
Li Lin shook his head. "That's the part that confuses me too."
The original lore was too vague, and the real world couldn't possibly follow the game's storyline exactly. He couldn't quite grasp the current state of Demacia.
At first, he thought that Eldred's extreme disdain for magic was just a ploy to keep his power intact, and to prevent Jarvan III from disbanding the Mage Seekers. That's why he secretly sent assassins to kill the king amidst the chaos.
But now, it was clear that Noxus's internal conflict bore LeBlanc's unmistakable influence.
Or perhaps, Eldred himself was nothing more than a "puppet" controlled by the Pale Lady.
Could she be the true mastermind behind Demacia's unrest?
Zoe, who had been silently watching Kindred leave, returned to Li Lin and Morgana's side, raising an eyebrow. "Are you talking about the Boring Forest?"
Seeing the confusion on their faces, she stuck out her tongue and explained, "You know, the Petricite Forest? That place is so devoid of magic that even basic things can't be done. The whole kingdom feels dead. Don't you find it incredibly boring?"
Li Lin and Morgana both shook their heads helplessly, not bothering to entertain the mischievous girl who had no idea what they were actually discussing.
"If some of Demacia's higher-ups really are colluding with Noxians, I can't wait for Kayle to return," Morgana said, her eyes flickering with a dark flame. "This is my country. I swore to protect it from foreign invaders, and even after all these centuries, that oath still holds!"
Li Lin looked at her, somewhat surprised. "Are you coming back to the capital with us?"
"What?! You're actually planning to go to the Boring Kingdom?" Zoe's face contorted in a mock display of suffering as she clung to Li Lin's arm, shaking it pitifully. "Can't we go somewhere else? Even Piltover is better than that place!"
"Of course..." Li Lin noticed the glimmer of hope in Zoe's eyes and added, "We can't."
"—What?"
Ignoring Zoe's exaggerated sigh of disappointment, he met Morgana's gaze once more.
"I know that King Jarvan III is keen on reforming the magic laws. With your help, the process could go much smoother."
"I have thought about returning to Demacia, but..." Morgana bit her lip, her expression hesitant. "It's been so long. The people have forgotten me, and now the kingdom is so staunchly opposed to magic. Could they really accept me?"
Morgana lowered her gaze, pausing before speaking again. "Or will they treat me with the same disdain and rejection that Kayle and the ancients did all those centuries ago?"
Seeing her concern, Li Lin chuckled softly. "Does it really matter what they think of you?"
Morgana glanced at him, puzzled.
"Maybe I didn't phrase that quite right. Let me put it another way," he said, with a playful tone, "Even if they do reject and despise you, what does it matter?"
"That's..."
"You, one of the hosts of the Aspect of Justice's power, are you really afraid of mere mortals?"
"..."
Morgana fell into a brief silence.
"Exactly! Your magic is so powerful that not even the Boring Stone can suppress it. Why would you fear a few ordinary humans?" Zoe chimed in, egging her on.
Sensing her continued hesitation, Li Lin shook his head with a smile. "When your power is average, your magic becomes a burden. The Mage Seekers can easily eliminate you.
"But when your strength is formidable, they'll see you as a threat and send everything they've got to remove you.
"And when your power surpasses mortal comprehension, they will treat you like royalty, because you'll have the power to overthrow their rule with ease.
"Isn't that exactly what those refugees fleeing the Rune Wars did when they settled in the Petricite Forest, seeking refuge from magic? They feared it so much they built walls to keep it out."
Li Lin's nano-armor extended up to his neck, quickly forming a helmet that covered his head, making his voice sound slightly muffled.
"People, you know, are complicated creatures. Having double standards is just part of being human."
After confirming Jarvan IV's and his army's movements, Li Lin pinpointed their location on the map and gestured for Zoe to open a portal directly along their path.
"Do we really have to go there..." Zoe sighed.
"Actually, Demacia has its fun spots. How can you say it's boring when you've never even been there?"
"Hmm... if it's not fun, you'll have to take me on five more dates!" Zoe held up her slender hand, stretching out five delicate fingers. "Five times, okay~~!"
"Alright, just as you say."
Li Lin, with a hint of helplessness, unfolded his armored hand and gently ruffled Zoe's smooth hair. She responded with a content expression, her cheeks slightly flushed with a light blush.
She thoroughly enjoyed Li Lin's affectionate gestures toward her.
"Don't worry, once we get to the capital, I'll definitely take you to some fun places."
"Hmm, okay."
Zoe let out a sound of mild agreement, and with a playful flick of her fingers, she drew a large circle in front of herself and Li Lin.
A radiant golden light gleamed, solidifying into a "golden disc," which soon revealed a completely different scene on the other side.
Humming a melody only she knew, Zoe skipped and bounced through the portal with light, carefree steps.
Li Lin, before stepping through the circular portal, turned around and glanced at Morgana, who was still deep in thought. "Are you coming? The Winged Protector of Demacia."
Hearing that, Morgana lifted her head, a flicker of strange light passing through her eyes. "Like I said before, you have quite the talent for debate, Li Lin."
With that, a barely noticeable smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You've convinced me."
(End of this chapter)
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