We Made a Promise

Ahri raised her hand, and a firefly flew to her curved fingertips. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said with a smile:

"Child, do you see this little firefly on my fingertip? It's not a real soul, but a fragment naturally decomposed from the remnants of a powerful soul after it dissipated."

"These are the memories of certain beings from their lives, and the last proof that they walked this Material Realm. Although the living cannot see them, nor do they know about this matter."

"After living beings in the Material Realm die, the powerful natural forces impact the rift between the two realms. Through the gap, their souls are transported here. After a period of gestation, they will form spiritual bodies.

Newly born spiritual bodies cannot fully regain their consciousness. They forget who they are and what they are supposed to do. If they are allowed to remain lost in this world, they will slowly be tainted by the resentment of this world and become Nightshades."

"Of course, I'm not speaking ill of Nightshades, don't misunderstand."

"To live again with too deep an Obsession is not a good thing."

Ahri raised her hand higher, pouted, and gently blew the firefly away with her red lips. Her Pink Sleevelet fluttered in the wind, and she continued with a smile:

"My name is Ahri, and I am also a soul in this world. But I am a little different from them, and also different from you.

I am a soul Naturally Born in this world. This world has entrusted me with a responsibility, and my duty is to lead lost souls to find the right direction, guide them, and help them find what they truly desire, to find their own way of survival in this world, or to leave this world."

"So, child, you have clearly left this world, why have you returned?"

Ahri extended both hands, pointing her index fingers at her eyes, then at Li Ke, and said with a smile: "I can see that your Vitality is boundless and you are very healthy. You don't belong here. You came here on your own, didn't you?"

Ahri asked Li Ke. Her voice was truly like a mature older sister's, yet very gentle. Paired with her ever-smiling expression, her Affinity was truly maxed out.

Li Ke indeed had a good impression of Ahri. After all, when playing LoL, Ahri was his favorite Hero.

Every time he saw someone say his Ahri dealt Scratch Damage, Li Ke would argue a few words in her defense.

But in reality, Li Ke was wary. He was afraid that if he said the wrong thing, he would attract Ahri's attention. However, looking at Ahri's expression, Li Ke subconsciously blurted out: "I came here to become stronger."

After speaking, Li Ke's expression became a little unnatural.

He didn't even get hit by Ahri's E Skill, did he?

Why couldn't he control his mouth?

But how could Li Ke know that this was one of Ahri's abilities? As the Spirit of Salvation of this world, Ahri's Affinity was maxed out from the start. Anyone who saw her would develop a good impression of her, even the Deities of the Nightshade faction.

This was also why Ahri's territory was Lotus Valley, but she could go anywhere within the Soul Blossom.

"Oh yo~"

Ahri drew out her tone, placed one hand on her hip, and her slender Beautiful Legs extended from beneath her Short Skirt. She took a step forward.

"Become stronger? Hmm. Indeed, your soul is stronger than the last time I saw it by..." Ahri separated her thumb and index finger slightly, making a dismissive gesture, and said with a smile, her Fox Eyes twinkling: "a tiny bit."

Li Ke's mouth twitched slightly as he instinctively leaned back. Ahri's Charm was truly natural. But what was most charming was the hint of Innocence and Purity she revealed when exuding her Charm with every gesture. Her Charm was languid, not sharp. It was a Charm that wasn't deliberately displayed, not ostentatious, which was truly lethal.

It was precisely this point that struck a chord with the man.

King Zhou did not deceive me!

"Don't be afraid of me. I don't care about your secret, nor will I stop you from getting stronger here. Of course, as long as you don't harm the souls here and lose yourself."

Ahri stretched, then lowered her body, and transformed back into a little fox. She scratched her neck with her hind legs. She looked at Li Ke, "But you have to be careful. If Thresh and Cassiopeia find you, they won't be as easy to talk to as I am. Your soul is truly magical, it's delightful."

Li Ke nodded, acknowledging Ahri's words. Then, he glanced at the time and realized he only had the last thirty seconds left in the Soul Blossom.

"Eh? Why is your soul starting to dissipate?" Ahri also noticed. Just as Thresh had seen something unusual about Li Ke back then, she also saw it. She circled Li Ke elegantly with her snow-white, big tail, her small head and long, pointed face leaning close to Li Ke. Her dark, small nose sniffed Li Ke a couple of times.

"You're leaving, right? Wow~ You can enter and leave this world freely. Even I can't do that. You really are amazing. Hey, kid, you still haven't told me your name."

"My name is Li Ke, a Zaunite."

"Zaun? Where is that?"

"A city across the sea from Ionia."

"Aren't you an Ionian?" Ahri asked, somewhat surprised.

The Soul Blossom and Ionia were considered to have been born together. It was precisely because of the magic of the Ionian spirits that, in that magic-rich land, the Soul Blossom, this mental realm world, could connect with Runeterra.

Because of this, although Ahri was a powerful Deity, she was also a bit of a country bumpkin.

"No."

"How interesting. If possible, I'd like to see the outside world too," Ahri said.

Li Ke's eyebrows shot up, and he quickly said, "Then, if there's a chance, I'll take you out?"

"You?" Ahri was stunned, then shook her head. She didn't mock Li Ke's overconfidence because of his weakness. Instead, she said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, but this world will not allow me to leave. It still needs me."

"That's not necessarily true," Li Ke said with a smile.

Li Ke remembered very clearly that among the favorability levels of the main characters in the Soul Blossom, reaching the "Life and Death Friendship" stage, which was 1200 favorability points, would allow him to request combat assistance from relevant characters.

Meaning, like a summon?

If that were the case, Li Ke might actually be able to bring Ahri to Zaun.

If he really brought her over, wouldn't Li Ke directly become the King of Two Cities?

Ahri was a genuine Strong Demigod!

But

Seeing Ahri's affection level at just one point, Li Ke could barely keep it together.

But suddenly, the System notification chimed.

[Ahri's affection for you has increased by 1!]

"Then it's a deal~" Ahri no longer argued. Instead, she raised her paw and placed it on Li Ke's pant leg.

Another point added.

"My time is up, Ahri. I'll see you next time."

With three seconds left, Li Ke said to Ahri.

[This Advent has concluded!]

[Calculating exploration value.]

[Acquiring cumulative rewards.]

[Settling rewards for this Advent--

Settlement is as follows:]