The Demacian palace was magnificent. From far away, I could see the giant stone statues flanking its entrance, and the tall city walls winding away until they disappeared from sight.
The mighty soldiers wore gleaming silver armor. Looking at their orderly formations, I felt a rush of excitement. Being here in person was so much more thrilling than watching those movies that were like it!
Just as I was basking in the spectacle, a familiar face approached—Garen.
Garen was just like he was in the game: tall, with a resolute face and a heroic air about him. I even glanced at the bushes in the distance and couldn't help the corners of my mouth from turning up. Of course, he had no idea what I was smiling about.
"Welcome, Lord Fili. The young man behind you must be Leivo. I remember meeting him once a few years ago."
"General Garen, you have an excellent memory. This is indeed my disobedient son. Leivo, hurry up and greet General Garen!"
So Fiora's father was named Fili. He seemed to have a pretty low opinion of his son. I took the opportunity to greet Garen.
"Hello, General Garen!"
"No need to be so formal, Leivo. Come along. His Majesty the King sent me to welcome you. The banquet is about to begin."
The banquet hall wasn't nearly as crowded as I'd imagined. I'd expected a sea of people, but there were only a few dozen.
Fili bowed to Jarvan III, one hand in front and one behind. I copied him, and the king chuckled as he patted my head.
"You've grown so much, child. It's time to do something for Demacia."
As the grand ceremonial music began, the crowd settled into their places. I noticed that the seats were arranged in five separate sections.
Each long table bore an emblem, probably the family crest of its occupants. That meant five families were attending the banquet.
The crest of House of Lightshield, the king's family, was a shield. I recognized it well—it was the image of Randuin's Omen.
The crest of House of Lightshield, Garen's family, was an upside-down greatsword. It looked like a B. F. Sword.
One of the remaining families had a broken battle axe as its emblem, while the other had a strange disc. From the whispers around me, I learned that the former was House of Dali and the latter was House of Tabor.
The Laurent Family crest was two crossed dueling swords. Fili sat in the center of the front row, while I sat behind him with a few brothers around my age. Everyone was quiet.
As the music in the hall came to an abrupt stop, the king slowly rose to his feet.
"I'm sure you all know why I've called you here. According to the intelligence General Garen has gathered, Noxus is amassing its forces. It's only a matter of time before they invade Demacia.
"It's been more than two hundred years since our five great families united to found Demacia. We've had plenty of skirmishes with Noxus over the years, but they were all small-scale battles. This time, we may face a bloody, brutal war.
"We aren't afraid of them. But to minimize casualties, we need to discuss our options. If anyone has a good idea, please speak up."
Garen was the first to stand.
"Allow me to add some details about the current situation. Looking at the four directions—north, south, east, and west—the north is the territory of the Freljordians. They've always been at odds with Noxus, and General Dali's Axe Breaker Legion is stationed there, so we have nothing to worry about.
"The southern jungle is a peculiar region, home to all kinds of strange creatures and native tribes. Despite years of effort, we've failed to befriend them. There's no way the Noxians will persuade or conquer them.
"The west is the safest. The boundless ocean lies between us and the entire continent of Ionia. It's an insurmountable barrier.
"That leaves only the east. The eastern mountains contain a great deal of Nullstone, so we needn't worry about their mage forces. My Dauntless Vanguard Legion has already secured the front lines and will defend Demacia to the death.
"If necessary, I'll ask His Majesty and General Dali for reinforcements to ensure we're prepared for anything. We won't lose this war. As for how to reduce casualties, I hope everyone will think of a solution."
Garen's reasoning was clear. He was nothing like the dimwit who did nothing but hide in bushes and spin around. And the fact that he was representing House of Lightshield at the palace meeting at such a young age proved he was no ordinary man.
The crowd's cheers made that clear. Though they might also have been trying to flatter him, since House of Lightshield was as powerful as the royal family.
Just then, a white-haired old man stood and raised a hand to quiet everyone.
He represented House of Tabor. His face was covered in wrinkles, and he looked to be over a hundred years old.
"General Garen... spoke very well. Last night... I consulted the Gods. They said... the eastern... plains... would shimmer with a rosy glow..."
The old man spoke very slowly, with frequent pauses. General Dali, standing beside him, was beginning to lose patience.
"Old man, what do you mean, the eastern plains will shimmer with a rosy glow? Explain it clearly."
"The glow... is... red. Blood... red, staining... the entire plain..."
"Then it'll be the enemy's blood. What's there to fear?"
Dali was impatient and arrogant. I couldn't understand how someone like him had become a general and been entrusted with the defense of an entire region.
King Jarvan stopped him. "Don't rush, General Dali. Let Sage Tabor finish. Sage, what else did the Gods say?"
"The Gods said... the eastern plains... would shimmer with... a rosy glow..."
He had already been speaking slowly, and now he was repeating half the prophecy. Everyone was growing impatient. But the old man's next words left them all stunned.
"The child... of the Laurent Family... will be remembered... for all eternity."
The eastern plains would shimmer with a rosy glow, and a child of the Laurent Family would be remembered for all eternity?
Could someone from the Laurent Family stop this war? The looks around me said it all. Everyone's eyes were fixed on me and my brothers.
Some looked solemn, some disdainful, and most were simply confused. But the old man had already slumped into his seat, nodding off and no longer responding to anyone's questions.
"Then... should we choose one of the Laurent children to become a general?"
King Jarvan composed himself and looked toward our section, his tone uncertain. Clearly, he was seeking Fili's opinion.
"It's an honor for the Laurent Family. We have a duty to accept. But Sage Tabor didn't specify which child. How should we choose?"
"Since it's for a war, the position should go to whoever proves themselves with their swordsmanship!"
Dali made the suggestion before the king could speak. Garen seemed to agree, and his eyes held a hint of expectation.
Seeing no one object, the king agreed. The Laurent Family would hold a swordsmanship contest to select the candidate. I felt a little dejected when I heard that. If it came down to a sword fight, I had no chance.
Since no one had been prepared for this, the contest was set for the next day. With the rest of the time, everyone enjoyed the midday banquet. Soon, the hall filled with people—servants, women, and children—and the solemn mood gave way to a lively one.
The brothers around me were all silent. Tomorrow, we'd be opponents. The contest might not be dangerous, but it still concerned our honor—and there was nothing the people of Demacia cared about more than honor.
The banquet served a kind of red wine. It tasted inexplicably sweet, and after a few rounds, I felt a little dizzy.
I could usually hold my liquor in my old life, but now I was feeling woozy. It seemed this body still belonged to Leivo. I excused myself to go to the bathroom and left.
There was a garden near the banquet hall, where flowers of every kind bloomed in a riot of color. It was beautiful.
I strolled along the garden path, enjoying the scenery as I sobered up. As I walked, I noticed a little girl in a purple dress.
She was crouching on the ground, staring intently at a few small flowers. White light shimmered on her fingertips, making the flowers sway from side to side, as if they were sunflowers turning toward the sun. It was amazing!
She was so focused that she didn't notice me approaching. After a while, the light on her fingertips suddenly vanished, and the flowers stopped swaying.
"Aw, I still haven't gotten the hang of it."
She stood up and spotted me nearby. She stared at me with her mouth open as if she'd been startled, but no sound came out.
Only then did I get a good look at her. She was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Her skin was smooth and translucent as white jade, as soothing and pleasant as the May sunshine. Her golden hair fell loose down her back. She was the most beautiful sight in the garden.
"I'm sorry I startled you. I didn't mean to. I saw you concentrating on moving the flowers, and I didn't want to interrupt you, so I stayed quiet. That was really amazing."
I hurried to explain, sneaking in a compliment as well. But instead of looking pleased, she seemed worried.
Then I remembered that magic was forbidden in Demacia. And she'd just used magic.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Are you from the palace?"
Hearing that, the girl relaxed. "Thank you. I'm not from the palace. I came to attend the banquet. They were discussing something important, so I came here by myself."
"The meeting's been over for a while. The banquet's going on now. Let's go back together."
"Okay. I'm Luxanna. What's your name?"
So this girl was Lux!
Golden hair, fair skin, and the ability to use light magic. When I thought about it, she did fit the description. She was just much prettier than she was in the game—and a few years younger.
"My name is Zhao... Leivo. Leivo Laurent. It's nice to meet you, Miss Luxanna!"
When I started to say my name, I suddenly thought of Zhao Xin. I still hadn't seen him since arriving at the palace. I wondered what my namesake hero looked like!
Lux was lively. She quickly forgot what had just happened and started telling me all kinds of interesting things.
Talking hamsters, flowers that never wilted in any season—and she went on and on about the Dauntless Vanguard Legion in particular. It seemed Garen had told her a lot about them.
When we returned to the banquet hall, everyone was in high spirits. Lux ran over to Garen, and I went back to my seat. One of my brothers nudged my shoulder.
"You've already hooked up with a girl from House of Lightshield? You're something else."
I smiled but didn't answer. Lux really was pretty, but she was still just a child. If I was interested in anyone... Fiora wasn't bad.
When I got home after the banquet, Fili told Fiora what had happened at the palace. She immediately objected.
"What's the point of being remembered for all eternity if you die young? Leivo is your only son. Don't send him into danger!"
"Don't worry. He can't win with his skill. But if he loses, it'll damage our reputation. Bordewin has wanted my position for a long time. He'll make sure Andy wins the contest, then send him into the army, where he can fight for the head of the family's position. You know he only failed to become clan head because I beat him."
"Then let him go. I'll win back our honor!"
"Even so, he can't lose too badly. Fiora, start teaching Leivo properly from now on. At the very least, make sure he doesn't come in last."
Fili went back to his room. Fiora shrugged at me. "That's how Father is. He values reputation above everything. Come on, let's go to the dueling hall. I'll teach you a few moves."
We passed through a corridor and arrived at the most impressive place in the Laurent estate—the dueling hall.
It was a training ground for swordsmanship. Rapiers of all lengths and protective gear lined the walls, and the floor was decorated with a gigantic family crest.
Fiora picked up two swords and handed one to me. "You've never taken swordsmanship seriously, but you should know the basic moves, right? We're short on time, so I'll teach you some defensive techniques."
Her words made me panic. I didn't know any basic moves. I didn't even know how to hold a sword. I had no choice but to make an excuse.
"I learned it all a long time ago, but I've forgotten everything. Maybe we should start with the basics, hehe."
Fiora frowned, making me feel nervous. Fortunately, she didn't press the issue. She patiently started from the beginning, teaching me how to hold the sword, thrust, and move my feet...
We skipped dinner and practiced until late at night. I tried hard, but I still felt that these flashy moves weren't very useful. Maybe it was because I'd only learned the basics.
Of course, spending time alone with Fiora was still great.
Lying in bed that night, I felt exhausted. How long had it been since I'd been this tired?
My daily life in front of a computer had left my body completely out of shape, but I wasn't aching all over. It seemed this kid Leivo hadn't been all that lazy.
So much had happened that day. The feeling of reality told me this wasn't a dream. A serious car accident had sent me to Runeterra, where I'd gained the ability to understand its language.
Here, I was Leivo Laurent, a nobleman's son who never took anything seriously.
Before you continue