Neeko

When Yuumi had arrived earlier, Neeko had sensed the magical fluctuations coming from the portal.

Noticing this, she had decided to come and investigate.

But she hadn't expected to hear a strange commotion from so far away.

So she had come closer and hidden beside a bush to observe first.

Neeko couldn't understand what this scantily clad person was saying.

But the word "Neeko" did sound a lot like her own name. Did this person know her?

Ever since Neeko's home had been destroyed and she had ended up in Ixtal, she hadn't had anyone familiar by her side.

Her only friend was a newly met huntress who could transform into a cougar.

Neeko longed for news of her people.

So when Neeko heard Jia Ruo say a word that seemed to be her name, she wasted no time in channeling magical energy and throwing a seed at the Rift Scuttler.

The seed was magically stimulated in midair, growing into several vines that bound the large bird securely.

The bird screeched nonstop, but couldn't break free.

Seeing that things were going badly, the smaller birds scattered and fled, watching the commotion from a distance.

Neeko then turned to Jia Ruo.

Jia Ruo was both delighted and astonished. "Are you really Neeko?"

Neeko still couldn't understand what he was saying, but she wasn't worried.

She had a way.

First, though, Neeko's origins needed some explanation:

Neeko had originally been a member of the Wu Wei Clan, on an island somewhere in the east.

The Wu Wei Clan was one branch of the Vastaya, descended from the shapeshifters.

The Wu Wei Clan possessed unparalleled potential.

Their souls—which they called "Shuoma"—could merge with the creatures around them, even allowing them to imitate those creatures' forms.

Within the Wu Wei Clan's tribe, its members could share everything through contact between their souls: experiences, memories, feelings...

It was like a local network of souls, with each soul able to connect to the others.

As a result, there were no secrets among the Wu Wei Clan, which was why its tribe was exceptionally harmonious.

Neeko, of course, possessed this strange ability.

She approached Jia Ruo and touched his Shuoma with her own.

Before long, Neeko had read Jia Ruo's memories—and was left stunned.

She was so shocked that she even began to doubt the ability she'd been born with and had used all her life.

Jia Ruo's life, the world he lived in, and the game set in a world based on her own all challenged everything Neeko believed.

"Are you a prophet?"

Neeko had acquired Chinese from Jia Ruo's memories, but she couldn't use it fluently yet and still needed to refer to his memories often.

Jia Ruo's almost omniscient understanding of Runeterra made Neeko feel that this strange person was a prophet who had descended upon the world.

"A prophet?"

Why Neeko had called him that, Jia Ruo didn't know.

What he did know was that he'd been saved.

"I'm not a prophet. I'm just someone from Earth who crossed over."

"Then do you know if Neeko's people are still alive?"

Why had Neeko suddenly asked that?

Let me think...

Jia Ruo began searching his memories for anything relevant.

"I don't know either."

Jia Ruo loved the game League of Legends, and he was very interested in the lore of the Rune Continent.

Neeko's backstory never explicitly said whether her people had all been wiped out, but judging by the description, they probably had been.

And given Riot Games' track record, there were far too many tragic heroes whose entire families had been killed.

But with the mood as it was, Jia Ruo simply didn't dare—and didn't want to—say something like that to this poor girl.

But Neeko was already biting her lip, her big eyes brimming with tears.

"Neeko will never see them again..."

As soon as she finished speaking, tears spilled from her eyes.

She was unable to stop sobbing.

Jia Ruo understood. Neeko had already connected with his soul.

He knew Neeko could read other people's souls.

But he hadn't expected her to do it so easily, without him noticing at all.

"Neeko, don't cry. I was only guessing. They might still be alive."

Jia Ruo comforted her softly and was just about to reach out and wipe away her tears when the movement tugged at his wound.

"Gah—"

Jia Ruo sucked in a sharp breath.

He hadn't felt much when his wound had first been cut open, but now that he'd come around, the pain was excruciating.

He'd lived an easy life for twenty years. He'd never suffered an injury like this.

If Neeko hadn't been there, he'd have rolled around on the ground in agony without caring how undignified he looked.

"Neeko, can you do anything to treat this wound?"

"Neeko?"

Jia Ruo called her again. Only then did Neeko wipe away her tears with her wrist and help him to his feet.

"I have a good friend here. She can treat you."

Jia Ruo looked down at his chest. The wound was nearly twenty centimeters long, and the flesh had been slashed wide open.

A great deal of blood had already poured out, nearly staining half his body red. His whole chest had gone numb with pain.

Jia Ruo hurriedly grabbed Neeko's hand. "Take me to her, quick. I need treatment!"

"Okay. You can still walk, right?"

Jia Ruo followed Neeko for a couple of steps. He felt weak, but he could still move.

Even without any medical expertise, Jia Ruo knew that with this much blood loss, he'd be done for if he didn't get treatment soon.

Without wasting another word, Neeko found the right direction and helped Jia Ruo along.

Neeko also remembered to undo her magic.

The freed bird quickly led the smaller ones away.

Moving through a primeval jungle was exhausting, especially for a human like Jia Ruo.

By now, Jia Ruo's mind was beginning to wander.

His body seemed to grow heavier and heavier, and all he could do was sling an arm around Neeko's slender shoulders.

They slowed down even more.

Neeko smelled so nice, with a fresh, leafy scent.

That was Jia Ruo's last thought before he passed out.

Jia Ruo fainted without putting up much of a fight.

At that moment, a faint rustling sound came from the jungle.

It was a group of agile cougars.

The commotion Jia Ruo had made and the strong smell of blood had drawn them there.

Even though cougars preferred to be active at night, they were already beginning to gather.

The cougar leading the group spotted Neeko and Jia Ruo first.

Her emerald eyes passed over Neeko and fixed on Jia Ruo.

An astonishing sight unfolded. A flash of light enveloped her, and the cougar rose onto her hind legs, transforming into a woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail. Narrow strips of animal hide covered her ample breasts and lower body.

She was Nidalee, the Bestial Huntress and the friend Neeko had made in this jungle.

"Neeko, who is this human? Humans aren't welcome in this jungle. Take him away at once—or leave him here as a meal for my brothers and sisters."

"No, Nidalee, you can't hurt him. This human is special. He isn't one of those hunters." Neeko hurried to explain. "Please, help him first."

A large patch of her body was stained with Jia Ruo's blood, too.

"He's going to die!" Neeko said.

Nidalee didn't answer, her green eyes filled with doubt.

"Don't you trust Neeko? Neeko explored this person's Shuoma. He won't hurt the jungle."

Nidalee knew about Neeko's ability.

And after spending so much time with her, Nidalee also knew how pure and kind-hearted Neeko was.

Though she was prejudiced against humans, after hesitating for a moment, she chose to trust Neeko.

Nidalee took Jia Ruo from Neeko.

"Let's go."

She spoke.