Inspiration

It has been a month since Jia Ruo arrived in this jungle.

Over this month, his wounds have healed considerably. Nidalee's ointment seems to be very effective.

He usually followed Neeko around, picking fruits to eat. Although Nidalee didn't particularly like him, she would occasionally bring back some game.

Even without any seasonings, just simple grilling was enough for Jia Ruo to have some meat.

Life in another world was far from pleasant. The jungle was full of various problems: biting insects, dense forests where one could easily get lost, and beasts lurking in the shadows...

This meant that for the past month, Jia Ruo had basically been trailing behind Neeko.

Furthermore, there was no entertainment whatsoever. Jia Ruo's free time was spent learning the common language of Runeterra with Neeko and continuously learning about the specifics of Runeterra—Neeko had encountered many humans before, and through their souls, she knew many things about Runeterra.

Having arrived in this fantasy world, Jia Ruo naturally yearned for extraordinary abilities.

When he asked Neeko about it, Neeko was unable to teach him the magical abilities of shapeshifting and manipulating plants.

Neeko's magical powers were innate to the Wu Wei Clan; they were her instincts. She simply had no way to teach Jia Ruo, a human who couldn't even sense magical elements, how to use magic.

Jia Ruo was disappointed. He had immense interest and curiosity towards magical, fantastical abilities.

But Neeko had also told him that when they first met, she had discovered that Jia Ruo's body had no fluctuations of magical elements.

This was not normal, because in Runeterra, magic was the source of life for all things. Every living being contained magical elements within their bodies, the difference being only in quantity.

However, this was also a reasonable explanation. Jia Ruo was not from Runeterra. Having grown up on Earth, it was natural that he had not been exposed to magical elements.

But after a month of observation, Neeko noticed that traces of magical elements had gradually appeared within Jia Ruo's body.

It seemed that Jia Ruo, who came from the magic-less Earth, could also absorb magical elements from the world around him through breathing, just like all the creatures in Runeterra.

Neeko could see that over the past month, Jia Ruo's "Shuoma" had become a few shades brighter.

Jia Ruo also felt changes within himself—his body had become stronger, and he felt more energetic.

This was naturally a good thing, but Jia Ruo's longing for the power of magic remained...

In the old campsite, Jia Ruo was leaning against a tree, fiddling with a pale blue stone in his hand. One side of the stone was flat and smooth, with some indecipherable symbols on it, while the other sides were irregular.

It was clearly a fragment of something.

Last night, he and Neeko had seen a pale blue light emanating from a river in the forest. Neeko had also noticed that the magical elements there seemed more active and concentrated.

When they fished the light source out of the water, it turned out to be this fragment.

Neeko could feel energy radiating from the fragment. And as Jia Ruo took it from Neeko's hand to examine it closely, an unexpected event occurred.

The fragment dimmed in his hand until it no longer emitted any light...

Just then, Jia Ruo, who was holding the rune, trembled as if some energy was continuously pouring into his body along his arm.

Immediately after, a cool sensation spread through his mind, making his thoughts exceptionally clear, just like the ancient saying of a "clear spirit platform."

This fragment must be no ordinary object!

Meanwhile, Neeko could clearly see the scattered energy around the fragment gathering, no longer leaking out. It converged into strands of light that flowed along Jia Ruo's body and entered his "Shuoma." Jia Ruo's original "Shuoma" was then dyed a faint, ethereal blue.

At the same time, Jia Ruo felt the presence of magical elements around him. They were so ubiquitous, filling heaven and earth, and entering his body with his every breath.

"This can't be 'Blue Crystal,' can it?" Jia Ruo guessed. This thing actually increased his "Mana."

"Neeko, I can feel the magical elements!" Jia Ruo was extremely excited. This new and wondrous feeling made it difficult for him to calm down.

"Can I learn magic now!" Jia Ruo raised the fragment, smiling brightly.

"It's really strange, why is it okay when Neeko holds it?" Neeko took the fragment back from Jia Ruo's hand and examined it carefully.

Away from Jia Ruo's hand, the fragment slowly lit up again, emitting a faint blue light in Neeko's palm.

And Jia Ruo, after leaving the fragment, no longer felt the influx of energy and retreated from his state of clear-mindedness.

"I don't understand," Neeko returned the fragment to Jia Ruo, knowing it was of great help to him.

Jia Ruo eagerly began to try manipulating mana. Following Neeko's guidance, he attempted to control the magical elements within plants...

From last night until now, Jia Ruo hadn't slept at all, constantly practicing communicating with the magical elements in plants.

He could now coax plants to grow in the direction he desired, although the speed was far inferior to Neeko's—this required much longer practice and stronger mana.

Through continuous attempts, Jia Ruo also confirmed his connection with the fragment: as long as he was in contact with it, the fragment would stop emitting light and instead transfer all its emitted energy into his body.

However, after this energy flow, which he could feel directly through his skin, entered his body, the magical elements within Jia Ruo didn't increase much. Instead, his five senses became sharper, and his thoughts quicker.

Even when Neeko taught him the Common Tongue of the continent, he could master it with great ease.

In the following days, besides learning the Common Tongue, Jia Ruo spent all his free time practicing the manipulation of magical elements.

One day, Nidalee walked into the old camp carrying a plump rabbit, its hind leg caught in a trap.

Suddenly, upon seeing Jia Ruo, she dropped the rabbit, gripped her spear with both hands, and crouched low.

She stared at Jia Ruo, clearly sensing the change in him. Her hunter's instinct told her that Jia Ruo was no longer the defenseless person he was a few days ago.

Although killing Jia Ruo would still be as easy as crushing an ant, the unusual situation called for caution. Being cautious was the correct choice for a hunter.

Jia Ruo's hair stood on end the moment Nidalee fixed her gaze on him. It felt as if a lioness, ready to pounce, was staring at him.

"Nidalee!"

Neeko broke the stagnant air. "It's been two days since you last visited Yi, Neeko missed you so much!"

Neeko pounced on Nidalee, wrapping her arms around her neck, her long tail even coiling around Nidalee's legs.

The atmosphere eased, and Nidalee put down the spear in her hand.

As long as Neeko was fine, she could rest assured.

When Nidalee had gutted the wild rabbit, skewered it with branches, and set it to roast over the campfire, Neeko and Jia Ruo recounted what had happened before, talking over each other.

Nidalee listened silently. She didn't dislike this feeling.

Nidalee, who had been found and raised by a pride of lions, only learned to speak by mimicking the various Vastaya tribes nearby.

And because she spent most of her time with the lions, she rarely needed to speak.

But now, Jia Ruo and Neeko's chattering made her feel a different kind of warmth...

Meanwhile, in an underground stone hall in Demacia's Nullstone Forest, four complete World Runes floated quietly: the dark red "Dominion," the yellow "Precision," the deep blue "Sorcery," and the green "Resolve."

The fifth rune, "Inspiration," was still in fragmented form, scattered across the corners of Runeterra...

Those were Ryze's next targets.