The Awakening

Ling Ying surveyed the space around her, suffused with purple light. If she remembered correctly, this should be deep within her sea of consciousness. Well, there was no chance she was wrong: a sphere made of purple light was floating beside her. Ling Ying remembered it as the projection in her sea of consciousness of the Void Body's Instinct Consciousness, which had tormented her for a long time. If she could, she would have preferred to stay far away from it. But for now, at least, she had no choice but to stand beside it, because a shared threat loomed before them—a huge mass of dense, gloomy black mist. Ling Ying remembered that it hadn't been this big the last time she saw it. Back then, it had huddled helplessly in a corner. Now it had grown so large that she and the others had to look up at it.

"Hey! You! Speak up! What the hell are you?"

The Instinct Consciousness was the first to break the silence between them, drawing a curious look from Ling Ying. She had a feeling that ever since she'd gained a human body, the once-unreasonable Instinct Consciousness had also become just a tiny bit more human. They could at least communicate now. Of course, it was still dead set on pushing Ling Ying out and taking control of her body.

"Do not fear the shadows. The shadows are born of the heart."

While Ling Ying was distracted, the black mist suddenly spoke. Its voice was deep, as if it had settled over countless centuries.

"Hey! What are you—"

"The time has not yet come. When the time is ripe, sail once more, embrace the sea, and the truth shall reveal itself."

The black mist recited a long string of baffling words as if it were composing poetry, then fell silent again. No matter how much the Instinct Consciousness cursed at it, it wouldn't say another word. Unlike the Instinct Consciousness, which was growing impatient, Ling Ying knitted her brows and pondered for a while. Then...

Well, she couldn't make heads or tails of it. Riddlers really were the worst!

"Tsk! What a pain..."

The surface of the Instinct Consciousness's sphere flickered. It looked thoroughly displeased with the mass of black mist. Then it suddenly turned toward Ling Ying and spoke.

"Hey! Isn't your time up again?!"

"Huh?"

Ling Ying looked confused, then seemed to realize what it meant and glanced down. Her body seemed to be covered by a hazy veil, and wisps of flowing light were constantly peeling away from it. Ling Ying remembered that this was a sign she was about to leave her sea of consciousness. And leaving it meant that the Ling Ying in the real world was about to wake up.

"Tsk! You! Pay attention out there this time, got it? Don't go getting mixed up with weirdos again. If that damn thing weren't here, this body would belong to me by now!"

"Got it..."

With the faintest hint of a smile, Ling Ying's form disappeared completely from her sea of consciousness.

"You've been asleep for ages. It's almost been half a month. Since you still need more time to recover, here's some good news: you've already used up your entire vacation for the year. Open your mouth."

"Ah."

Ling Ying parted her lips and accepted the apple slice Caitlyn offered her. Its sweet taste moistened the taste buds that had been parched for so long, then flowed down her throat and warmed her heart.

"Then I'd better make the most of it and spend a few more days in the hospital."

Ling Ying gave Caitlyn, sitting beside her bed, a warm smile.

"What about you? Is it really okay for Piltover's Chief Constable to leave the Enforcement Department and come to my hospital room to peel apples for me?"

"Huh? Why wouldn't it be?"

Caitlyn waved the fork holding the apple slice in front of Ling Ying, then suddenly pulled it back and popped it into her own mouth.

"I'm mainly worried about the pact we made. You and the Enforcement Department risked so much to save me. If all you got in return was a vegetable who could only lie in bed, wouldn't that be a terrible deal?"

"..."

"Haha, I'm kidding."

Caitlyn noticed the reproachful look on Ling Ying's face and quickly explained with a laugh.

"But the first part was true. This situation was genuinely dangerous. That Noxian Shadowmancer was far beyond anything we'd expected... I couldn't stop worrying."

As Ling Ying listened, her mood suddenly sank. After hesitating for a long while, she said, "You... saw it all... before..."

"Of course."

Caitlyn nodded without denying it.

"There was so much commotion, it would've been hard not to. We even had to go to some trouble explaining things to the people living near the docks. Was that a kind of magic unique to your people?"

"I..."

Ling Ying bit her lip. Honestly, she didn't want to lie to Caitlyn, but she was also afraid the truth might make things worse. Humans always believed that anyone who wasn't one of them must have ulterior motives. If Caitlyn learned that the person in front of her was actually a bloodthirsty Void Creature, could she still trust her?

As Ling Ying wavered between two difficult choices, she suddenly felt a warm hand settle over her own right hand.

"If telling me the truth causes you so much pain, you can keep it buried in your heart."

"But..."

"Shh. Let me finish."

Caitlyn raised a finger to her lips, signaling Ling Ying to be quiet, then continued.

"You don't need to worry. It won't change how I treat you, and it won't affect our pact. I told you before: our partnership didn't come from either of us trusting the other completely from the very beginning. Honestly, when I first wanted to keep you around, it wasn't because I trusted you. It was because I thought your power could be put to use for Piltover. That was all—pure self-interest. In fact, every time you seemed to go out freely, detectives were secretly keeping an eye on you. Then my desk started filling up with reports about you helping a little girl retrieve a balloon stuck in a tree or helping an old woman find her missing cat. I realized you were just like ordinary people. You could become as cruel as a beast in response to someone's malice, but you could also become just as kind in response to the goodwill around you. Then there was this incident. It made me realize that you really are a valuable ally. But on the other hand, you also have the power to threaten Piltover. And the best way to prevent that isn't to play both sides—it's to give you the trust you deserve. So I don't care what you are, or even whether you're human. As long as you don't threaten this city, my trust in you will never end."

Caitlyn rattled on and on, leaving Ling Ying staring at her blankly. It took a long while before she finally came back to herself. She felt, inexplicably, as if a little warmth had been added to her heart. It was an emotion she'd never experienced while wandering through this world. Suddenly, she was glad she'd come to this city. The upright yet gentle Caitlyn, the carefree Vi, and Ezreal, who seemed unreliable but was actually considerate and thoughtful—these heroes she'd known so well from the game were now opening Ling Ying's frozen heart with their own unique emotions, filling it with the warmth of their humanity.

"Then I won't let your trust go to waste."

Ling Ying took Caitlyn's arm in her hand and spoke with conviction. Caitlyn glanced at Ling Ying's face, then suddenly slipped out of her grasp, stood up, and took a step back. She solemnly declared, "Officer Cecilia Iliana!"

"Uh... Present..."

"I'm issuing you an order from the Enforcement Department: focus on recovering. Once you're well, return to your post as soon as possible and begin working without a day off for the rest of the year!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Ling Ying gave Caitlyn a proper salute, and then they both burst out laughing.

"Pfft... I wasn't going to laugh, but you were so ridiculously serious with that pose. Haha..."

"You're one to talk. You definitely made up that last part yourself. Hahaha..."

Nearly half a month passed. Even Ling Ying, who'd been saying she wanted to stay a few extra days, was starting to get restless. No normal person would find it comfortable to spend all day lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Besides, Ling Ying had already recovered; she only looked a little weak. That was why the doctors had insisted on keeping her there until now. Thankfully, her days of fighting with the bed were finally coming to an end. And she hadn't really been idle during this time. She'd been figuring out her new power. With a twitch of her right hand, a Shadow Orb appeared in Ling Ying's palm. It was a change that had appeared after her earth-shaking battle with the Noxian Shadowmancer. She'd begun to control some of the shadows' power, as well as magic. After all, she'd practically "welcomed" both the Shadowmancer and her enormous summoned creature into herself. It would've been strange if nothing about her had changed. Whether this was good or bad remained to be seen. Ling Ying had once worried that it might harm her somehow. After all, Shadow Magic was one of Valoran's most notorious forms of evil power. But so many days had passed, and Ling Ying hadn't felt anything wrong with her body. If anything, she'd only gotten more and more practiced at casting Shadow Magic. She was almost certain that all of this had something to do with the mass of black mist in her sea of consciousness. But no matter how much she asked, it wouldn't speak. In the end, Ling Ying decided to stop wasting her energy worrying about it for now. It didn't seem like a bad thing, anyway. Her fighting style had previously relied almost entirely on Void Flames. It was powerful, but still too limited. Now she had Shadow Magic to back it up, making up for some of her weaknesses. Hm, Void in her left hand and shadows in her right. Ling Ying couldn't shake the feeling that she'd gone too far down the path of a villain to turn back.

"Reporting in."

"Come in."

After receiving permission, Ling Ying turned the handle and opened the door to Caitlyn's office. Miss Chief Constable was writing furiously at her desk. Maybe it was just her imagination, but Caitlyn seemed a little thinner than before. It looked like...

"You're here."

Caitlyn didn't even look up. She pointed to the side with the tip of her pen.

"Change into this first."

"Uh..."

Ling Ying looked at the tea table to Caitlyn's left, confused. A set of clothes was folded neatly on it: a fitted, pale blue uniform jacket with golden leaf-shaped decorations and tassels at the cuffs and collar, a white shirt, a bow tie, a white pleated skirt with blue trim, and black over-the-knee socks. It looked just like a school uniform.

"There's a small dressing room inside."

Caitlyn still didn't look up. She simply pointed behind herself with the end of her pen. Ling Ying was filled with suspicion, unsure what Caitlyn was up to. But in the end, her trust in Caitlyn won out over her doubts. She picked up the clothes and headed to the dressing room. A few minutes later, Battle Academy—Ling Ying... No, Student Uniform Ling Ying—appeared before Caitlyn.

"The top fits pretty well. The skirt..."

Ling Ying tugged at the hem of her pleated skirt, looking a little awkward.

"It's a bit short..."

"Do you know how many Piltover wives would give anything to have legs like yours? They'd be glad to go without a skirt."

Caitlyn finally looked up, gazing at Ling Ying with open interest until Ling Ying began to feel embarrassed.

"Don't... keep staring at me like that..."

A flush spread across Ling Ying's fair face. Along with her fidgeting hands, it somehow made her irresistibly adorable.

"Oh? Are you blushing?"

Caitlyn rose from her seat with a teasing smile, then suddenly stepped forward and leaned toward Ling Ying. Her long index finger lightly touched Ling Ying's chest, nudging her back against the wall. Before Ling Ying could react, Caitlyn stepped in and pinned her legs in place, then pressed her right arm against the wall beside Ling Ying's face with an almost domineering air.

"You... I..."

The sudden turn toward something more than friendly left Ling Ying flustered and helpless. Her face was bright red. Her reason told her this was wrong, but her body seemed to be bound in place, and she couldn't move at all. All she could do was watch as Caitlyn slowly closed the distance between them. She smelled Caitlyn's fresh, delicate scent, then felt the warm breath coming from her nostrils. Their bodies were pressed completely together, and their faces were now extremely close. Ling Ying had no doubt that if Caitlyn moved just one more centimeter, their lips would meet.

"N-no... don't..."

"Oh?"

Caitlyn gave her a slightly wicked smile, then abruptly moved away from Ling Ying.

"I was just teasing you."

Caitlyn casually returned to her chair, leaving Ling Ying still pressed into the corner, her expression changing in a dozen different ways. She didn't know whether she should feel embarrassed, angry, or something else about being teased like that.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I admit I went a little too far."

Perhaps Ling Ying's flustered reaction had made Caitlyn feel bad for her. After apologizing sincerely, Caitlyn's expression returned to the serious one she wore when handling official business.

"But make no mistake: you really do have that kind of charm. It makes me worry that once you get to the academy, those spoiled heirs from the families might devour you whole. That's why I wanted to test you first. Uh... now I'm even more worried. The way you looked just now made even me want to devour you... Fine, fine, I'll stop."

When Ling Ying shot her a sharp look full of anger and embarrassment, Caitlyn quickly raised her hands in surrender.

"What academy were you talking about? And what's this outfit for?"

Once she'd calmed down a little, Ling Ying voiced her questions. Caitlyn had been saying things that made no sense to her from the start.

"Ah, that. It's related to your next assignment."

Caitlyn calmly took a sip of coffee, then pushed a small, exquisite badge with a golden gear-shaped border toward the edge of her desk. Ling Ying lowered her gaze and glanced at it. It bore the alias she was currently using.

"Congratulations, Student Cecilia. You've been accepted to Hextech Academy. Please report to the academic affairs office in two days."

Caitlyn read the announcement with a completely straight face. Then she looked at Ling Ying, who was growing even more confused, and burst out laughing.

"All right, that's the new assignment I mentioned. While you were in the hospital, the Enforcement Department's intelligence division received a report that an enemy might have infiltrated Hextech Academy. We don't know their purpose yet, but Vi and I have picked up a few leads. The higher-ups at the Enforcement Department are taking it seriously, too. After all, the Academy is full of Piltover's most important scientific minds. To get clearer intelligence and respond to any potential danger, we need to plant someone inside. We can't send detectives into the Academy openly and fully armed. That would only alert the enemy, and ordinary detectives have limited ability to protect themselves or handle sudden incidents. So after thinking it over, I decided you were the best fit. First, you're a complete stranger to them. Second, I think you could handle another Shadowmancer like the one we faced last time, if one showed up."

"Maybe..."

Ling Ying rested her chin on her hand and mentally sorted through what Caitlyn had just told her, then spoke.

"So my assignment is to enter Hextech Academy as a student, keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and handle emergencies?"

"Bingo! You can also experience Piltover's distinctive school life."

Caitlyn smiled, then turned serious again.

"But I have to tell you that we have very little information this time. In fact, the Enforcement Department is still trying to confirm whether the report is even true. So you'll have to determine for yourself whether there's an enemy at the Academy, and who it is. If you notice anything suspicious, contact us first. Likewise, we'll pass along any information we get as soon as possible. But..."

Caitlyn paused, looking troubled. Ling Ying immediately understood.

"But I don't have the right to refuse, do I?"

"That's right."

Caitlyn looked at Ling Ying and sighed.

"The assignment came from above... It sounds heartless to put it this way, but your safety isn't among their concerns... And it's not just you. Even the detectives officially employed by the Enforcement Department aren't worth their spending so much as a little effort."

"But I can go."

"Huh?"

Ling Ying met Caitlyn's gaze and spoke seriously.

"Not for the higher-ups at the Enforcement Department, and not for this city. Only because I believe in you, just as you believe in me. If you need my help, I won't hesitate."

Ling Ying's words left Caitlyn stunned for a moment. After a long pause, she finally replied with a wry smile, "You know, if you said that to a young woman in trouble, there's a nine-in-ten chance you'd win her over."

"But it won't work on you."

"Exactly. I've seen too much to fall for that."

Caitlyn crossed her legs with an air of confidence.

"Since you've decided to go, be careful. Piltover isn't as peaceful and uneventful as it seems on the surface. Especially somewhere like the Academy, where families, the Academia, and all sorts of other factions are tangled together. One wrong move, and you could be caught in the undercurrents with no way out."

"I understand."

"Oh, and make sure to keep your distance from those heirs. They're not like me. They might actually devour you."

"I understand!"

Ling Ying glared at Caitlyn in annoyance, then turned away as if in a huff, ready to leave. But Caitlyn called after her.

"There's one more thing I need you to take care of. Mr. Ezreal seems pretty worried about you. He's come to the Enforcement Department several times and pestered our people, asking if we'd made a mistake because you couldn't possibly have killed anyone. So... find a chance to let him know you're safe. And tell him not to come by anymore. Our receptionists are all about to fall for him."