Demacia

My name was Zhao Xin. I was an ordinary college student in City A, and my biggest hobby was going to an internet café with my roommate, Xiao C, to play League of Legends. My favorite champion was Dembang General Zhao Xin, who shared my name.

The game updated that day, adding a new champion, Ornn. Xiao C had to take leave and go home because of a family matter, so I went to the internet café alone. On the way, I came across a robbery:

Two thieves on a motorcycle had snatched a young woman's purse!

When I saw the helpless woman crying for help, I decided to stop the thieves. But I never expected them to keep going without slowing down. They crashed straight into me...

Most people had imagined what it would be like to fly. This time, I really took off.

Maybe I hadn't flown very high from the bystanders' point of view, but to me, it felt like I'd soared tens of thousands of feet into the sky. As I fell, I could clearly hear the wind rushing past my ears...

After I hit the ground, I rolled a long way before coming to a stop. I hadn't felt any pain during the whole thing. I just couldn't focus, and my eyes kept twitching...

They said that before people died, they saw the most important memories of their lives. But nothing came to mind for me. I only saw the faces of several friends and family members.

The faces spun around like images on a carousel, then finally settled on a strange one:

A round blue face, pointy ears, a canteen in her left hand and an apple in her right. This was... Tristana, the Megling Gunner!

Then a rush of blood surged to the back of my head, and I lost consciousness...

"Leivo, Leivo... Leivo!"

I heard someone call out a few times. I didn't know whose voice it was, but the last call sounded so stern that I quickly opened my eyes. I couldn't help staring in shock at the sight before me!

I found myself lying on a grand, elegant bed. Through the curtains beside it, I could make out the lavish decor, even though my vision wasn't very clear. It was like I'd walked into a castle.

What was going on? I was bewildered by the sight and even forgot about the person who had just spoken.

"You look so surprised. Did you have a strange dream?"

Only when I heard the voice again did I notice the woman beside me: short, dashing hair, proud eyes, and sharply arched brows that gave her a fierce air.

She looked so familiar that, at a glance, a name escaped my lips:

"Fiora!"

"Are you surprised to see me?"

Fiora furrowed her brows, looking puzzled, while I felt even more lost.

Hadn't I been hit by a motorcycle? Whether I was alive or dead, I shouldn't have been seeing Fiora, the Duelist. She was only a character in a game.

It seemed I was still alive, and I was dreaming!

With that thought, I lay back down. I was so sleepy I didn't want to get up, but before I could settle in, someone pulled me upright.

"You stayed up too late last night, and now you want to sleep in? I might let it slide on an ordinary day, but not today!"

Fiora gripped my collar tightly, making it harder and harder to breathe.

I hadn't had such a vivid dream in a long time. It seemed something in reality was pressing on my neck. But usually, when something like this happened in a dream, I'd wake up. Why hadn't I woken up this time?

Was I badly injured in the accident?

As I was lost in thought, Fiora spoke again. "Today you're accompanying Father to pay a visit to the great King Jarvan III of Demacia. Get up at once!"

Her scolding made me realize I couldn't keep sleeping. Even if I was dreaming, I had to get up. Seeing me comply, Fiora's tense expression softened slightly, and she called toward the door:

"Nora, Noviya, come in and help the young master get dressed."

"Yes, miss!"

Fiora left after speaking. At the same time, two maids around seventeen or eighteen came in. One was plump and lively, while the other had plenty of freckles on her cheeks and seemed a little shy.

"Young master!"

They greeted me politely, then helped me dress and wash up. Their professional service made me feel completely ill at ease...

Wait, they called Fiora "miss" and me "young master." Were we siblings? This dream was pretty interesting!

Once I was ready, I went to the mirror and saw a kid of about fifteen or sixteen.

My freshly combed brown hair was slicked back, and I was fairly handsome. My fine clothes made it obvious I came from a noble family. Still, I wasn't used to suddenly being ten-odd years younger. I no longer had the youthful energy to match this body.

"You look so handsome, young master! His Majesty is sure to take a liking to you today!" the plump maid said with a smile.

"That's thanks to you. I appreciate your hard work."

"Oh, you don't usually talk like that. What's gotten into you today? Look, you've even made Noviya blush."

So the freckled maid was Noviya. That meant the plump one was Nora. I silently memorized their names so I wouldn't mix them up.

After I got dressed, Nora urged me to have breakfast. It wasn't until I left the room that I realized the rest of the place was even more luxurious. The tall walls were beautifully decorated, and the spacious hall gleamed with gold. It was dazzling.

If this was a dream, I thought it had already gone beyond the limits of my senses. I could never have imagined a scene like this.

There were five people in the dining room. Aside from Fiora, I didn't know any of them.

Judging by their ages, two of them were probably the masters of the house—most likely Fiora's parents. The other two, younger girls, were probably her little sisters.

"Leivo, you're too slow!" Fiora said sharply.

"Sorry. Getting dressed took a little longer."

I quickly apologized, then noticed everyone staring at me in disbelief. One of the little girls came over and looked me up and down.

"Leivo actually apologized! What day is it today?"

"All right, Felina, come sit back down and eat. How many times have I told you not to run around during meals? Look at how well-behaved Fiana is!"

The lady of the house scolded the little girl and made her sit back down. The master of the house glanced at me without saying anything, then pointed to the seat beside him to show me where to sit.

I nodded and took my seat, my appetite whetted by the food on my plate.

Ever since I started college, I rarely ate breakfast. Just getting out of bed was hard enough—who had time or the inclination to eat? For some reason, I felt hungry now.

I ate quietly by myself. The others didn't say anything either. I wasn't sure if that was etiquette or if they found my behavior strange, but judging by their expressions whenever I glanced at them, I suspected it was the latter.

After breakfast, the master of the house asked me to go with him to the royal capital. The servants had already prepared the carriage. Fiora gave me a serious reminder:

"Make sure you behave well. Don't bring shame on Father or the Laurent Family!"

Laurent?

It seemed there was no mistake. This really was the Laurent Family estate, and I was the young master here, Fiora's younger brother: Leivo Laurent.