Noble Friendship

In the story Sylas had told Eno, he was "unable to prevent this tragedy from happening."

But in reality, Sylas had killed them—even if it had been an accidental killing at the time.

What was more, Sylas had concealed part of his abilities. After the Magic Seekers' investigation and examination, that ability had been uncovered and recorded in a report now lying before Lux.

Sylas had hidden his ability to absorb and use magic.

In his confession, Sylas hadn't admitted to any of this. In his "intake report," he had described his abilities in vague terms, such as "seeing Magical Auras" and "sensing and touching magic."

But Sylas clearly hadn't known just how much the Magic Seekers understood about Nullstone. When his handler captured the little girl, he had used gray-mark Nullstone designed specifically to absorb magic. Yet judging from the fragments of Nullstone left at the scene, the gray-mark Nullstone hadn't failed.

In other words, it wasn't the little girl who had killed the Magic Seeker and her own father, then died from an out-of-control surge of magic.

Sylas had touched the girl, and then the rampaging magic had surged uncontrollably into his body, ultimately causing that terrible explosion.

Judging from the report's findings, Sylas probably hadn't done it on purpose.

And based on that judgment, his punishment had ultimately been set at life imprisonment for accidental manslaughter.

The verdict itself was sound.

But there was a huge problem behind it!

Why had a child who'd accidentally killed someone become a terrorist in the public eye?

At first, Lux had thought it was because he'd killed a Magic Seeker.

But Sylas's file also recorded another related case. Before the magical explosion, the handler who had trusted him had already died in a confrontation.

That confrontation had been far worse. A Magic Seeker had died, and it had been an unequivocal case of intentional murder. Yet hardly anyone in Demacia knew about it.

The moment Lux noticed this, she realized something was wrong.

At that moment, she suddenly thought of the enormous reputation she'd gained in Silvermine City.

There was probably more to these "hot-button events" than met the eye!

So the question was: why had Sylas become a hot-button topic?

Thinking like a noble... Lux could come up with only one possibility.

It was to stop Sylas from saying anything he shouldn't.

People would believe a child who'd accidentally killed someone.

But no one would believe the words of a notorious murderer!

And don't forget: Sylas could see magic. He knew all too well about the relationship between nobles and magic. To make sure he couldn't let that secret slip, they had branded him an "absolutely evil mage" as soon as the wanted notice went out.

That way, even if he said anything while on the run, no one would believe him.

And so Sylas had become a household name in Demacia. After his arrest, that "household name" status had even saved his life, since Demacian law did not sentence minors to death.

After putting all the pieces together, Lux leaned back in her chair, helpless. The past was simply too heavy. Objectively speaking, Sylas had been quite innocent at the time. The main cause of this tragedy was Demacia's misguided system of suppressing magic.

But judging from Sylas's current state, it seemed that years of imprisonment had made him far more extreme. Lux didn't even know whether she should try to help him... Wait, something was wrong!

At that thought, Lux suddenly realized there was a very serious problem.

Was there any danger in putting Eno in the same prison as Sylas?

Sylas was serving life, so he wouldn't let those secrets out. It didn't matter whether he lived or died.

But Eno was different. She could hear those secrets from Sylas, then carry them outside after serving her sentence!

Lux knew exactly how much those secrets mattered!

"Karya!" Realizing this, Lux quickly gathered up the file and tucked it away. Gripping her sword, she hurried out of the Magic Seekers' archives. "Something feels wrong!"

"You only just noticed, Lux? That reaction of yours is a little slow." Karya sighed. "My dear apprentice, I'm disappointed in you—"

"This is no time for jokes!" Lux was so anxious she could barely keep still. "Why didn't you warn me sooner?"

"I already told you back in Silvermine City." Karya sounded innocent. "Remember? 'When conflict breaks out, you'll find that everything goes crazy.' Are you ready?"

"This is too crazy!" Even though Lux had often thought she'd seen the limits of noble behavior, she still felt a chill run through her at that moment. "What are they going to do to Eno?"

"Cut off the roots and leave no shoots." Karya calmly gave the answer Lux least wanted to hear. "I suggest you talk this over with your dear aunt."

"My aunt?" Lux stared at him in shock. "What does she have to do with this—wait!"

"Figured it out? You're pretty quick on the uptake." Karya clicked his tongue. "Lady Tiana is a very decisive person. No one called a Noble Exemplar is simple."

Lux hurried back to Crown Guard Manor. After asking the servants, she soon found Tiana in the study.

"Back already?" Tiana glanced up from the travelogue she was reading, then gently set it down. "Did you go to Nullstone Prison again?"

"What's going on with Eno?" Lux looked straight at Tiana. "The notorious Sylas is in the cell next to hers!"

"It's the juvenile detention facility." Tiana smiled faintly, as if she didn't care. "Sylas was a juvenile offender once, too. It's perfectly normal for her to be held there."

"But Sylas is more than just a juvenile offender!" Lux struggled to rein in her impatience. "He knows a lot of secrets about magic within the Magic Seekers!"

"Oh, you figured that out?" Tiana paused, then smiled with approval. "It's only been half a month, dear, and you've surprised me again."

Surprised?

What surprised Tiana was pure shock to Lux. Her suspicion had come true: things had indeed developed in the worst possible way.

"Dear, I agree with some of your views, too." Tiana saw Lux's stunned expression, removed her headband, and smoothed her golden hair. "What was that little girl's name... Eno? She's a good kid, but she's not one of your kind."

"So—"

"So friendship should take root in the right place, like your friendship with Miss Sona. Everyone praises the two of you." Tiana finished smoothing Lux's unruly hair and put the headband back on her. "Given that you're the future of the Crown Guard family, you shouldn't get too close to commoners."

"...Is that the only reason?"

"I understand how disappointed you are in those useless relatives of yours." Tiana patted Lux's shoulder and spoke earnestly. "But there are reasonable people among the nobles, too—like Dili!"

"Dili isn't reasonable!" Lux gritted her teeth. "He switched sides so quickly only because his son found out I wasn't at the inn—"

"I know." Tiana nodded and smiled faintly, unconcerned. "He told me as much. But you should understand that it really isn't a big deal."

"...He's no different from those bastards." Lux finally raised her voice. "He lies to those above him and those below him, just like they do. He's every bit as despicable!"

"There's a big difference. He has good judgment, and he knows how to follow the rules." Tiana shook her head, seemingly helpless in the face of her niece's stubbornness. "That's his value."

Her aunt's words left Lux speechless. On the surface, she only looked thoughtful, but inside, a storm was raging.

Dili was no different from the nobles in Silvermine City who'd paid their fines and trembled in fear!

Lux could tolerate the nobles' elaborate etiquette, since it was, at worst, a harmless and pointless custom.

But she couldn't tolerate someone like Dili escaping punishment just because he followed the rules and knew which side to take. She could overlook his scheming against her, but she couldn't accept that he'd been steadily promoted for it!

More importantly, these words had come from the mouth of the aunt she respected most!

"That's unjust..." Lux could only try to keep her protest steady. "How can it be like this?"

"Nobles socialize with nobles, and commoners unite with commoners. That's what justice looks like in Demacia." Tiana made no attempt to hide her stance. "Dear, you've gotten too close to that little girl named Eno."

"But Eno is innocent..." Lux pressed her lips together and made one final plea in a low voice. "She doesn't know anything..."

"Judging by your behavior, she already does." Tiana shook her head. "That's how Demacia works, silly girl. At your age, many people develop feelings they shouldn't. In truth, I'm glad you've only made a friend you shouldn't have, instead of falling too deeply in love. That would be real trouble."

"..."

"Twelve is an age when emotions run high. I understand." Tiana looked down at the silent Lux. "So I hope you'll cut off those ties you shouldn't have formed. Dear, you're the most talented child I've ever met. Don't waste your thoughts on meaningless things. Take a breather, and everything will be all right."

"..."

"The Magic Seekers will take care of everything." Tiana picked up her book again. "Dear, don't be sad. Time will heal your wounds."