Exceptionally Gifted

Miyue said that Syndra didn't have this much power when she was the Harbinger, and there are two possibilities for why she is so powerful now:

Firstly, she was influenced by Dark Power; secondly, she was inherently powerful, but had not yet revealed it.

As for how she was affected, we have no way of knowing. It may be related to the Vastaya, or it may be related to "that That Great One".

If she possesses great power, we can trace it back to its origin, which is where Syndra was born!

Miyue has been investigating her birthplace these past few days, which is a village that strongly resists magic. She only recently found the exact location, but hasn't conducted an in-depth investigation yet.

I relayed this situation to everyone, and finally decided to go to that village with Miyue to take a look. We are both Ionia, and our perception is quite strong, so we can easily investigate, whether openly or covertly.

Karma was very worried. She said that both Miyue and I were Harbinger, and the consequences would be unimaginable if anything unexpected happened.

Irelia shared the same concerns, and they only felt at ease when Janna offered to come with us. Everyone has witnessed my strength as her junior sister.

Miyue and I were fine; our clothes were very simple. But Janna's clothes were too extravagant. In the end, Miyue picked out a more conservative outfit for her.

We set off after daybreak. The village where Syndra was born is southwest of Northspring, roughly between the North Spring Temple and the Sunon Temple. Since it was winter, it wasn't hard to find.

This village is much larger than other villages in Ionia, and it looks like it has several hundred people. With people coming and going, it's basically like a small town.

Syndra's story is not hard to find out; in traditional Ionia, burning down one's own home is a major event that would cause a sensation throughout the entire village.

Her mother had passed away, and her father looked very old. Because there were no other children to support the family, the whole house looked dilapidated.

So many years have passed, the old man is no longer angry, and he was quite surprised to learn that we had come to inquire about Syndra's childhood.

"Why are you asking about her? Syndra is a Demon Child, a punishment from the gods for me." The old man referred to his daughter as Demon Child, clearly unaware that she would later become Harbinger.

"Here's the thing, we are a few wandering bards, traveling around inquiring about strange and unusual things, writing them into stories and poems to exchange for food and money. If you're willing to tell us, I can pay you."

Seeing the old man's living conditions, I assumed he must like money, but I was wrong:

"What use is money to someone like me who is ready to return to all things at any time? But since some people are willing to sing this, then I will tell you, so that the world will remember this demon!"

The old man slowly began to tell us his story, which was more comprehensive than Miyue he had told us before:

Syndra was different from other children at birth; she was surrounded by a dark purple aura, appeared very weak, and could not even cry out.

At that time, Syndra's grandmother was still alive; she was the village's "prayer" and tended to a "Spirit Willow."

Legend has it that this Spirit Willow is the incarnation of the God of Wood in the mortal realm, protecting the people of this region. Anyone suffering can turn to the Spirit Willow for help, and Syndra's grandmother is this messenger, similar to Harbinger.

She spent her whole life helping villagers convey their prayers to the Spirit Willow, but in her later years she herself encountered trouble.

She brought Syndra to the Spirit Willow in a language no one could understand, asking it to purify the young Syndra.

As always, Spirit Willow granted her request. The dark purple aura on little Syndra gradually disappeared, her skin returned to the appearance of a baby, and she cried out.

The family was overjoyed and became even more devout in their faith in the Spirit Willow, while also showing great care for little Syndra.

But they soon realized something was wrong; Syndra seemed to be born with magic, and it was incredibly powerful!

When she wants to eat something but is prevented from doing so, the objects that are in her way will inexplicably break, such as various utensils in the house, which need to be replaced almost every month.

On one occasion, while her mother was cooking, Syndra, in her eagerness to eat, intensified the fire, nearly causing a disaster.

Not only that, later the poultry they kept at home began to die inexplicably, and Syndra would always look at the dead poultry carcasses and giggle.

At this point, the father began to suspect that his daughter was the cause, because nothing like this had ever happened before she was born!

This idea was opposed by his wife and mother, who believed it was just a coincidence; how could Syndra, a mere child, possess such abilities?

Until something happened later that changed their minds.

That was when Syndra was a little over three years old. Her parents took her to the fields to harvest sweet potatoes. While her parents worked, she played nearby.

Suddenly, a wild boar covered in wounds rushed out and, for some unknown reason, charged straight at Syndra, who was playing.

The parents were on the other side of the field and had no time to stop it; they could only watch helplessly as their daughter was attacked.

But just as the boar was about to crash into Syndra, its massive body suddenly stopped, and then collapsed like a wall.

By then, her father had arrived at her side. Looking at his smiling daughter, he felt fear for the first time.

After returning home, Syndra's parents discussed the matter and decided that her mother should take her to seek help from the Spirit Willow again, as the previous purification ritual might not have been thorough enough, causing her to still be affected.

And so, the grandmother took Syndra there again, but unexpectedly, an accident occurred while the old woman was communicating with Spirit Willow, causing brain damage and turning her into a senile person.

The daughter's condition didn't improve, and instead, her mother was implicated. Syndra's parents were heartbroken, but there was nothing they could do; life had to go on.

From then on, they rarely took their daughter out, fearing that other people in the village would discover her strangeness.

As a result, the once lively and cheerful girl became irritable and easily angered, and she began to destroy things in the house more frequently.

Moreover, this is not the solution, because as little Syndra grows up, she will eventually have to leave home and interact with others.

So her father carefully fabricated a story, saying that she had inherited her grandmother's divinity and could not have too much contact with other people. If she wanted to go out and play, she could go to Spirit Willow's place.

This way, the daughter can avoid suspicion, and there's even a chance that the spirit of the Spirit Willow can heal her.

Little Syndra had no doubt about her father's words, and her temperament gradually stabilized. Whenever she wanted to go out, she would go to the big willow tree on the edge of the village to enjoy the breeze.

Although she felt envious watching her peers play and run around, she believed her father's words even more:

"You are a child blessed by the gods, truly extraordinary!"