Enemies Draw Near

Returning to Prexian, I was overcome with emotion.

In my memories, it had been only a short while ago that I'd wandered around with Poppy, met Akali and her mother, and experienced so much. Now six years had passed. I wondered what the place had become.

The Kinkou Order was the largest sect in Prexian. When the last war broke out, Kusuo had strictly forbidden his followers from taking part. This time, Shen had joined the allied forces, so he would likely become one of Katarina's targets. Riven's map also showed that the nearby roads would be sites of attacks.

Along the way, I heard plenty of news about the war. Swain's army had swept through vast stretches of land in the west, and it wouldn't be long before they reached Prexian—the place where he'd been defeated last time.

Surprisingly, the Noxian army was disciplined this time. They committed no offenses wherever they went.

Just as Swain had told me before: as long as people gave up resisting, he wouldn't slaughter the innocent. This had led many factions that didn't want to fight to surrender outright.

Prexian was completely different from when I'd visited before. Back then, the people here had been very unruly. No army meant no officials or administrators, and people enjoyed tremendous freedom as long as they didn't violate everyday social norms.

Of course, freedom came at a price, such as crime and sudden death.

Although the presence of many sects had helped address this problem to some extent, those sects held different values, and sometimes that led to even greater conflict and bloodshed.

Now people had set aside their differences and united of their own accord. Guards were on watch everywhere. Last time, they'd been heroes of the resistance; this time, they still wanted to protect their homes.

Irelia had led the remnants of her army and the people here in forming a new front. I didn't go looking for her. Instead, I skirted around the allied forces and headed straight for Kinkou Monastery to avoid another attack from behind.

The northern outskirts of Prexian were as peaceful as ever. When we reached Kinkou Monastery, we saw no sign of Katarina and her party. It seemed she hadn't arrived yet. She might be attacking other sects, or she might still be on her way.

Returning to a familiar place, I couldn't help reflecting on how much had changed.

The events of the past were still vivid in my mind, yet six years had passed. Back then, tensions had run high; now, there was no hostility.

The tense atmosphere that had once hung over Kinkou Monastery was gone. Of course, that didn't mean nobody was keeping watch. In fact, we'd been under surveillance for some time.

Someone had been quietly following us since we were outside the monastery. Now that we'd entered, our pursuer revealed herself: a little girl just over ten years old.

She was small and slender, with features somewhat like mine. Her glossy black hair was neatly tied into a braid behind her head.

"Who are you, and why have you come to the Kinkou Order?"

As soon as the girl finished speaking, the main hall doors opened, and a short figure stepped out. "Xiao Li, don't be rude. They mean no harm."

We were reunited with old acquaintances: Akali and Kennen.

I was delighted to see they were safe, but then I felt a little awkward, because I already knew that Yasuo was Akali's father.

I desperately wanted to deny the connection, but there was no changing the facts. Besides, Irelia knew about it too. There was no keeping it secret.

Kennen looked us over, pressed his palms together, and greeted us. "I'm Kennen, the abbot of the Kinkou Order. What brings you here from so far away?"

"Master Kennen, I'm Yasuo of the Wind Sword Sect. I've come to share some urgent news. We have reliable information that Noxians are going to attack this place. To avoid casualties, please make preparations as soon as possible."

"An attack? When?"

"It's hard to say exactly, but probably soon."

As we were speaking, someone suddenly came to report from outside. "Abbot, two suspicious people have been spotted northwest of the monastery. One is tall and the other short. Their clothes suggest they aren't Ionian."

"The short one is a Yordle. I can sense the presence of one of my kind. Are these the invaders you mentioned, Yasuo?" Kennen asked, looking puzzled.

I wasn't sure either, so I looked at Riven. She furrowed her brow. "Katarina's squad should be the largest. There can't be only two of them. I don't think it's her."

"Whether they're invaders or not, we should prepare since they're acting suspiciously. If they've come to help, like you have, then all the better. If not, at least we won't be caught off guard. Everyone, get ready!"

Kennen ordered the Kinkou disciples to prepare for battle. There were only two of them. If they were enemies, they must be very confident in their own abilities—especially with a Yordle among them.

Most of the Kinkou disciples had probably gone to fight, so there weren't many people in the courtyard. They all found places to hide. Kennen, the Sword Saint, Riven, and I went outside to meet the newcomers.

Before the two had even drawn close, I knew one of them was Katarina. Her red hair was impossible to miss. Riven recognized her too. "That's definitely her!"

When they came a little closer, I realized the other person was familiar as well. That comical gait, short stature, and fearsome face—it was Kled!

No wonder the two of them dared to come alone. They had a formidable Yordle like Kled with them!

Riven was baffled. "Wasn't General Kled attacking Demacia with Darius? Why is he here?"

Kennen looked solemn, as if lost in thought. I remembered Poppy once saying that she and Kled had been born at the same time. The two had gotten along quite well. What would happen now that they'd met again?

Kled had evidently caught Kennen's scent too. He came running over in long strides, dressed just as he had before, with a tall hat on his head. His fierce face was enough to make anyone shudder, and the sharp steel blade in his hand gleamed brightly.

"I caught the scent of one of my kind from far away. I wondered who it was. Turns out it's my old friend! Has it been a few hundred years since we last met? Oh, no—a thousand? Whatever, I've forgotten. But it's really good to see you, Kennen."

"Why aren't you in Noxus serving as a general? What are you doing in Ionia? Are you here to seize it by force? Don't tell me you've come to attack the Kinkou Order!"

"You haven't changed a bit. After all these years apart, shouldn't we be happy to see each other? And you're already talking about fighting and killing. How boring." Kled seemed like a different person. I remembered that the last time we'd met, he hadn't been so polite to anyone.

"Fighting and killing really are boring. Since you're not here to fight, then you must be here to reminisce. Come inside..."

"Well... actually, I came here to fight. But then I ran into you. In light of our friendship all these years, I suppose I'll have to give up fighting. Just surrender to Noxus already."