The Star Guardian Neeko

When Sona was still an infant, she was abandoned on the doorstep of an orphanage in Ionia.

As a result, she had no memory of her birth parents.

People found her, still a baby, lying quietly atop an ancient string instrument inside an exquisitely crafted case of unknown origin.

From a young age, she was an especially well-behaved child, always quiet and content.

The caretakers looking after her had been sure she would be adopted soon, but before long, they all realized the truth—Sona had been mute since birth.

She lived in the orphanage until she came of age, watching adopters pass her by one after another in despairing silence.

During that time, the caretakers sold the unusual instrument that had been found with her to an avid collector, hoping to set up a trust fund for her.

However, the instrument always found its way back to Sona for no apparent reason, or mysteriously turned up outside the house.

Lady Lesthara heard about the instrument and Sona's strange story around that time.

She immediately set off for Ionia.

When the caretakers showed her the instrument, she stood up without saying a word, searched the entire orphanage, and finally stopped outside Sona's room.

Lady Lesthara adopted Sona without hesitation and paid a fortune for the instrument.

Under Lady Lesthara's patient guidance, Sona discovered a deep resonance between herself and the instrument.

Lady Lesthara named it Aihua.

In Sona's hands, Aihua produced such beautiful tones that they captivated every listener in the room.

Within a few short months, Sona and her mysterious instrument, Aihua, had become famous, drawing full houses at every performance.

It was as if her heart were the strings. Without a score or any effort, she could make her listeners' emotions rise and fall with the music.

"That's how it happened. Sona may not be my daughter by birth, but I love her more than anything."

Lady Lesthara finished telling Sona's story, her voice filled with emotion.

She had already had several glasses of red wine.

"Have Sona show you Aihua. You'll be captivated by both her and the instrument. Go on, Sona, take them upstairs. This old woman still has to keep the other guests company."

Lady Lesthara was so thoughtful. Jia Ruo had just been about to shamelessly ask Sona to play something, and Lady Lesthara had already handed him the perfect opening.

"Oh, don't say that, Lady Lesthara. You look no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight."

Jia Ruo had gotten what he wanted, yet still tried to flatter her.

"Please, this way."

The maid behind Sona gestured for them to follow.

Sona gathered up her sapphire-blue dress and gave Lady Lesthara a slight curtsy, then led Jia Ruo and Neeko up the spiral staircase to the second floor.

"This is Miss's music room. I'll be right outside the door. Please call if you need anything."

Once they entered an elegant room, the maid stepped out.

The soundproofing was quite good. As soon as they came in, all the noise from the hall downstairs disappeared. Jia Ruo thought to himself.

Sona walked gracefully over to a stand and lifted out an exquisite case that looked rather old.

"Could this be the instrument case you were found in all those years ago?"

Sona gave a slight nod.

"Wow. Somehow, it gives me a sense of destiny."

Jia Ruo murmured in admiration.

Sona gently opened the case. There was no dazzling display of auspicious light like Jia Ruo had imagined.

Inside lay a guqin adorned with delicate carvings. This was the instrument of the Virtuoso, Aihua.

Jia Ruo couldn't tell what kind of instrument it was, but from what Lady Lesthara had said, it was not only extremely valuable but also the source of strange happenings. Aihua had to be an extraordinary object.

Maybe it had already bonded with Sona. Jia Ruo made a little quip to himself.

Sona took Aihua out and sat down on a chair.

Then she laid Aihua across her long legs.

Jia Ruo fixed his eyes on her slender fingers resting on the strings. The instant Sona touched them, he felt the whole room fall still.

In a daze, Sona began to play.

Jia Ruo knew little about music, but even he was entranced.

Just as an exclamation of amazement and praise—"Holy shit!"—was about to slip out, Jia Ruo finally remembered that he had received nine years of compulsory education.

He cleared his throat twice, swallowed his crude words, then had a flash of inspiration and borrowed a line from Bai Juyi's poem:

"The strings clatter and whisper, mingling together, like big and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate. Beautiful. Truly beautiful."

Sona paid him no mind, and the music only grew more turbulent.

Suddenly, Neeko gently tugged on Jia Ruo's sleeve.

"Jia Ruo, why do I feel magical energy moving in Miss Sona's music?"

Jia Ruo had also noticed the unnatural movement of the magical energy.

Time Warp activated silently, granting him extraordinary senses.

The melody in his ears stretched out endlessly. Within it, Jia Ruo sensed Sona connecting with the magical energy around her through Aihua.

Sure enough, Sona was also someone who wielded magic.

This answer didn't surprise Jia Ruo. He also knew that Sona was hiding her talent.

That's right, Sona's music had won her the adoration of Demacia's upper class.

However, others in Demacia suspected that her spellbinding melodies were actually a form of magic—and magic was a grave taboo in Demacia.

Though Sona never spoke to anyone, her closest companion somehow understood her perfectly.

It could always become one with her.

The harmonies Aihua played could not only soothe wounded allies but also strike down enemies who underestimated it.

Whenever she was alone, Sona practiced this art, continually improving her mastery of her talent.

At long last, Sona finished playing.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Jia Ruo and Neeko applauded sincerely.

"Miss Sona is every bit as skilled with music as the rumors say. But... you can use magic, can't you?" Jia Ruo said softly.

Sona froze.

"But don't worry. I know how Demacia feels about magic. I won't use this to threaten you. On the contrary, we'll keep your secret."

Jia Ruo paused.

"Besides, if you ever run into trouble or a problem you can't handle, you can come find me at the Hall of Tranquility."

Jia Ruo had no idea what Sona was thinking. It was a little difficult to communicate with her when she couldn't speak.

Jia Ruo scratched his head and heard a cheerful melody.

He understood. Sona was expressing her gratitude.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked at the door.

"Miss, it's very late. You should get some rest."

"That's right, we should be going too. I had a wonderful time tonight. Please thank Lady Lesthara for me."

Jia Ruo led Neeko outside.

He saw that the guests were gradually leaving, so he didn't disturb Lady Lesthara and declined the butler's offer to escort them.

Without electrical appliances, Placidium was very quiet at night, with only a few candle lamps glowing along the streets.

Jia Ruo and Neeko strolled along, deciding to walk home.

"Jia Ruo, do you especially like girls with big..." Neeko gestured in front of her chest.

"Uh, why are you suddenly asking that?"

"I saw you staring at Miss Sona all night. Neeko can be like that too."

As she spoke, Neeko's chest began to swell...

"No, no, that's not what I meant."

Jia Ruo hurriedly stopped Neeko's antics.

"Then tell me, between Neeko and Miss Sona, which one do you like more?"

"Why don't you read my mind and find out?"

Jia Ruo suddenly took one of Neeko's little hands.

He calmly lowered the defenses around his mind, letting Neeko read his Shuoma.

"Hehe, you like Neeko more after all... Wait, you really do have lewd thoughts about Miss Sona!"

Neeko's fist thumped against Jia Ruo's chest. It didn't hurt at all.

After they had finished fooling around...

"Jia Ruo, this long dress is such a hassle. My tail can't stretch out at all..."

"Then I'll carry you home. Come on."

Jia Ruo crouched down with his back to Neeko.

After a while, Neeko still hadn't moved.

"What's wrong, Neeko...?"

Jia Ruo turned around—and froze.

Neeko had used her shapeshifting ability to change out of the pale yellow dress she had been wearing.

Now she wore a sailor-style top and short skirt with light green patterns, white thigh-high stockings on her slender legs, and orange-pink hair.

This was... Neeko in her Star Guardian skin.

Seeing Jia Ruo staring at her, dumbfounded, Neeko looked rather pleased with herself and leaped straight onto his back.

"Jia Ruo, do you like me like this?"

Jia Ruo said nothing, but Neeko heard his Adam's apple bob.

"Then Neeko will stay like this from now on."