Awakening

Ling Ying examined the space filled with purple light she was in. If she remembered correctly, this should be the depths of her sea of consciousness. Well, it definitely wasn't wrong; a sphere made of purple light was floating around her. Ling Ying remembered it was the projection of the Void Body's instinctual consciousness in her sea of consciousness, which had tormented her for a long time. If possible, Ling Ying really wished to stay far away from this thing. But, at least for now, she had to stand with it, because a common threat lay before them—a large mass of thick, gloomy black mist. Ling Ying remembered that the last time she saw it, it wasn't this big. Hmm, it had been cowering in a corner looking helpless, and now, it had grown to a size that Ling Ying and the others had to look up slightly.

"Hey!! You guy! Speak! What exactly are you?"

The instinctual consciousness was the first to break the silence between the three, drawing Ling Ying's curious gaze. She always felt that since she obtained a human body, the originally incomprehensible instinctual consciousness seemed to have gained a tiny bit of humanity, making it somewhat communicable. Of course, this guy was still full of thoughts about squeezing Ling Ying out and taking control of this body.

"There's no need to fear the shadows; shadows are born from the heart."

While Ling Ying was spacing out, the black mist suddenly spoke. It was a tone as deep as if it had settled for countless centuries.

"Hey! What are you talking about..."

"The time is far from here. When it matures, set sail again, embrace the ocean, and the truth will naturally be revealed."

The black mist uttered a long string of incomprehensible phrases like reciting poetry, then fell silent again. No matter how the instinctual consciousness cursed, it no longer spoke. Unlike the instinctual consciousness's impatience, Ling Ying furrowed her brows and pondered for a while, then...

Fine, she couldn't figure it out. Riddlers were indeed the most annoying!

"Tch! So many troublesome things..."

The surface of the instinctual consciousness sphere flickered. It seemed very displeased with the mass of black mist. Then it turned to Ling Ying and spoke.

"Hey? Is it time for you again?!"

"Ah?"

Ling Ying showed a slightly confused expression, then looked down as if realizing something. She saw her body seemed to be covered by a hazy veil, constantly turning into wisps of flowing light and dissipating. Ling Ying remembered this was the sign that she was about to leave the sea of consciousness, and leaving from here meant the real-world Ling Ying was about to wake up.

"Tch! You guy, be careful out there this time! Did you hear me? Don't go provoking any more strange fellows. If it weren't for that damned thing, this body would already belong to me!"

"Heard you..."

With a faint smile, Ling Ying's form completely vanished from the sea of consciousness.

"You slept quite a long time. Almost half a month has passed. Since you still need some time to recover, here's some good news: your vacation for this year has been completely used up in advance. Open your mouth."

"Ah."

Ling Ying parted her lips slightly and caught the apple slice handed over by Caitlyn. The sweet taste moistened her long-thirsty taste buds and seeped into her heart along her throat.

"Then I'll have to stay in the hospital for a few more days."

Ling Ying looked at Caitlyn, who was sitting by the bed, and gave a warm smile.

"Speaking of which, what about you? The sheriff of Piltover isn't at the Enforcement Department but is here in the hospital ward peeling apples for me. Is that okay?"

"Ah? Is there a problem?"

Caitlyn dangled the fork, laden with apple slices, in front of Ling Ying before suddenly pulling it back and popping it into her own mouth.

"I'm mainly worried about the contract we made earlier. You know, the risk Vi and I took to get you out of trouble. If we end up with a vegetable lying in bed, wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

"..."

"Haha, just kidding."

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

"But the first half is true. The situation this time was genuinely dangerous. That Shadowmancer from Noxus was far beyond our expectations... I can't rest easy."

Ling Ying listened, her mood suddenly growing somber. After a long pause, she said, "You... all saw... before..."

"Of course."

Caitlyn nodded noncommittally.

"Such a huge commotion, it was hard not to see. We even had to put in some effort to explain things to the Enforcement Department officers living around the docks. What, was that some kind of unique magic of your clan?"

"I..."

Ling Ying bit her lip. To be honest, she didn't want to lie to Caitlyn, but she was afraid that revealing the truth would only make things worse. Humans always harbored the idea that those not of their kind harbored different intentions. If Caitlyn knew she was actually a bloodthirsty Void Creature, could she still offer the same trust?

Torn between two choices, Ling Ying suddenly felt a pair of warm hands cover her right hand.

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

"But..."

"Shh, let me finish."

Caitlyn held up a finger to shush Ling Ying and continued, "You don't need to worry. This won't affect my attitude towards you in the slightest, nor will it affect our contract. I said it before. The union of two individuals doesn't stem from complete trust from the very beginning. To be honest, my initial desire to keep you wasn't because I trusted you, but because I thought your power could be useful to Piltover. It was a purely utilitarian view. In fact, every time you seemed to go out freely, detectives were secretly tailing you. Then, my desk was filled with reports of you retrieving balloons for little girls or finding lost cats for old ladies. I suddenly realized that you were actually like ordinary people. You could be as cruel as a beast when faced with malice, and you could be just as kind when surrounded by goodwill. And then there was this incident. It made me realize that you are indeed a valuable ally. But conversely, you also possess the strength to threaten Piltover. And to prevent all of this from happening, the best approach isn't a two-faced attitude, but to give you the trust you deserve. So, I don't care who you are, or even if you're human. As long as you don't endanger this city, this trust will be unending."

Caitlyn rambled on, leaving Ling Ying with a stunned expression. After a long while, she finally came back to her senses. Ling Ying inexplicably felt a warmth spread through her heart. This was an emotion she had never experienced since she started walking in this world. She suddenly felt it was wonderful that she could come to this city, with the upright yet gentle Caitlyn, the boisterous Vi, and the seemingly unreliable but actually meticulous and considerate Ezreal. These heroes, once familiar from games, were now in reality, using their unique emotions to open Ling Ying's already cold heart and showering it with the warm glow of humanity.

"Then I will not let this trust tarnish."

Ling Ying turned and grasped Caitlyn's arm, saying with a firm tone. Caitlyn glanced at Ling Ying's face, then suddenly broke free from Ling Ying's grasp, stood up, took a step back, and said seriously, "Officer, Cecilia Iliana!"

"Uh... I'm here..."

"I am now issuing you an order from the Enforcement Department: focus on your recovery. Return to your post as soon as you are well, and begin working year-round, without rest!"

"Yes!"

Ling Ying saluted Caitlyn with a practiced air. Then, the two of them burst into laughter.

"Pfft... I didn't want to laugh, but your pose was way too serious, haha..."

"You're one to talk, you definitely added that last part yourself, hahaha..."

Nearly another half a month passed. Even Ling Ying, who had insisted on staying a few extra days, was getting restless. No normal person would find staring at the ceiling from a bed comfortable all day. Moreover, Ling Ying had already recovered; she only looked a bit weak externally. It was precisely because of this that the doctors had forced her to stay until today. Fortunately, the days of battling her bed were finally coming to an end. And during this time, Ling Ying hadn't truly been idle. She had been busy contemplating her new power—with a flick of her right hand, a shadow orb materialized in Ling Ying's palm. This was an anomaly that appeared after her earth-shattering battle with the Noxian Shadowmancer. She had begun to grasp some of the power of shadows, as well as magic. It was true that she had "accepted" both the Shadowmancer and their terrifyingly large summon in one go. It wouldn't make sense if her body showed no changes at all. However, whether this was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen. Ling Ying had once worried that it might harm her. After all, shadows were considered one of Valoran's most iconic evil forces. But after so many days, Ling Ying hadn't felt anything wrong with her body. Except that she was becoming more proficient at conjuring shadow magic. Ling Ying could basically confirm that this was definitely related to the black mist in her sea of consciousness. But no matter how she asked, it wouldn't speak. Ling Ying finally decided to stop racking her brain over it for now. It wasn't a bad thing anyway—Ling Ying's previous fighting style relied heavily on Void Flames. While powerful, it was too one-dimensional. Now, with the assistance of shadow magic, it perfectly compensated for some of her weaknesses. Hmm, Void Flames in her left hand and shadows in her right, Ling Ying felt like she couldn't turn back from the path of a villain.

"Report."

"Enter."

After receiving a response, Ling Ying twisted the doorknob to Caitlyn's office. The sheriff was engrossed in her work at her desk. Whether it was an illusion or not, Caitlyn seemed to have become a bit thinner than before. She looked...

"You're here."

Caitlyn didn't look up, instead pointing to the side with the tip of her pen.

"Change into these clothes first."

"Uh..."

Ling Ying looked at the coffee table to Caitlyn's left with some confusion. Neatly folded on it was a set of clothes—a form-fitting jacket in light blue, adorned with golden leaves and tassels at the cuffs and collar, a crisp white shirt, a bow tie, and a white pleated skirt with blue trim and black over-the-knee socks. It looked like a school uniform from any angle.

"There's a small dressing room inside."

Caitlyn still didn't look up, merely pointing behind her with the barrel of her pen. This made Ling Ying suspicious, wondering what she was up to. But ultimately, her trust in Caitlyn overcame her doubts. She hugged the clothes and walked towards the dressing room. A few minutes later, Ling Ying—no, Ling Ying in a Battle Academy student uniform—appeared before Caitlyn.

"The top... fits perfectly, the skirt..."

Ling Ying said, tugging at the hem of the pleated skirt somewhat self-consciously.

"It's a bit short..."

"You know, if the young married women in Piltover had legs like yours, they'd probably not wear skirts at all."

Caitlyn finally looked up, her gaze fixed on Ling Ying with undisguised interest, staring until Ling Ying became a little embarrassed.

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

A faint blush spread across Ling Ying's fair face. Coupled with her fidgeting hands, she had unconsciously reached a state of maximum lethality to her surroundings.

"Oh? You're blushing?"

Caitlyn stood up from her seat with a half-smile. Suddenly, she stepped forward, leaning towards Ling Ying. Her slender index finger lightly tapped Ling Ying's chest, pushing her back against the wall. Then, before Ling Ying could react, Caitlyn stepped forward, pinning her legs and placing her right arm somewhat dominantly on the wall next to Ling Ying's face.

"You... I..."

Ling Ying was stunned by the sudden turn of events, her face flushing red. Her rational mind told her this was wrong, but her body felt as if it were imprisoned, unable to move at all. She could only watch as Caitlyn closed the distance between them, smelling Caitlyn's fresh scent and feeling the warm breath from her nostrils. Their bodies were pressed together, their faces now incredibly close. Ling Ying had no doubt that if Caitlyn moved even a centimeter further, their lips would meet.

"No... don't... like this..."

"Oh?"

Caitlyn flashed a slightly wicked smile, then suddenly pulled away from Ling Ying.

"Just teasing."

Caitlyn casually returned to her chair. Ling Ying remained pressed against the corner of the wall, her expression a whirlwind of emotions. She didn't know whether to feel ashamed, angry, or something else entirely after being teased like this.

"Okay, I apologize. I admit I took it a bit too far."

Perhaps Ling Ying's flustered state made Caitlyn feel a little too bad to continue. After a sincere apology, Caitlyn's expression returned to the seriousness she usually wore when handling official business.

"But don't doubt it, you truly possess such charm. It makes me worry you'll be completely taken advantage of by the spoiled brats from those families once you get to the academy. That's why I wanted to test you first. Uh... after testing you, I'm even more worried. The way you looked just now, even I couldn't help but want to devour you... Alright, alright, I'll stop talking."

Facing Ling Ying's direct gaze, filled with both anger and shyness, Caitlyn promptly raised her hands in surrender.

"What academy were you talking about just now? And what's with this outfit?"

After calming herself down, Ling Ying voiced her confusion. Caitlyn had been saying things that were completely lost on her.

"Ah, that's related to your new mission."

Caitlyn slowly took a sip of her coffee, then pushed a small, exquisite name tag with a golden gear-shaped border across the desk. Ling Ying lowered her gaze and glanced at it. Her current alias was printed on it.

"Congratulations, student Cecilia, you have been accepted into Hextech Academy. Please report to the academy's academic affairs office in two days."

Caitlyn announced this with a solemn air, then looked at Ling Ying, who was even more bewildered, and let out a chuckle.

"Alright, this is the new mission I mentioned. While you were recovering in the hospital, the Enforcement Department received a report that enemies might have infiltrated Hextech Academy. Their motives are still unclear, but Vi and I have caught some faint clues. The higher-ups in the Enforcement Department are also taking this very seriously. After all, the academy gathers Piltover's important technological talents. So, to obtain more concrete intelligence and to deal with any potential crises, we need to place someone inside the academy. However, detectives can't openly enter the academy fully armed; that would only alert the enemy. Moreover, ordinary detectives have limited capabilities for self-preservation or handling emergencies. So, after much thought, I believe you are the most suitable. Firstly, you're a completely new face. Secondly, I suspect you can handle another Shadowmancer appearing, just like last time, right?"

"Perhaps..."

Ling Ying tapped her chin, organizing Caitlyn's words in her mind before speaking.

"So, my mission is to enter Hextech Academy as a student, monitor suspicious situations for you, and handle any emergencies?"

"Bingo! And you can also experience the unique academy life Piltover has to offer,"

Caitlyn smiled, then turned serious again.

"But I must tell you, our intelligence is very limited this time. Even now, the Enforcement Department is still trying to verify its authenticity. So, whether there are enemies in the academy, and who they might be, you'll have to determine yourself. Once you find any clues, remember to contact us first. Likewise, we'll inform you of any intelligence we gather. However..."

Caitlyn paused, a troubled expression on her face. 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.

"This mission has the meaning of the higher ups... It's a bit heartless to say it like this, but... your safety is not within their scope of consideration... In fact, it's not just you, even the regular detectives in the Enforcement Department wouldn't be worth their concern even a little."

"But I can go."

"Huh?"

Ling Ying met Caitlyn's gaze and said earnestly.

"Not for those higher-ups in the Enforcement Department, nor for this city. It's simply because I believe in you, just as you believe in me. If you need my help, I will not hesitate."

Caitlyn was stunned by Ling Ying's words. After a long moment, she said with a wry smile.

"You know, if you said that just now to a young girl in distress, you'd have a ninety percent chance of winning her over."

"But it's useless on you."

"Indeed, I'm experienced and can't be fooled."

Caitlyn struck a confident pose and crossed her legs.

"Since you've decided to go, then be careful. Piltover is not as calm and peaceful as it appears on the surface. Especially in places like academies, where family and Academia factions are a mixed bag, a slight misstep could land you in treacherous currents from which it's hard to escape."

"I know."

"Ah, and especially be sure to keep your distance from those Family Disciples. They're not like me; they'll really eat you up."

"I know!"

Ling Ying glared at Caitlyn indignantly and turned to leave as if sulking, but Caitlyn called her back.

"There's one more thing you need to take care of. Mr. Ezreal seems quite worried about you. He's already come to the Enforcement Department and pestered our people several times. He said we must have made a mistake, that you couldn't possibly kill anyone. So... find an opportunity to let him know you're safe. And also tell him to stop coming around; our Front Desk Officers are about to collectively fall for him."