Parting

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

In these two months, Jia Ruo had completely mastered the common language of Runeterra.

This was thanks to that fragment. Otherwise, for Jia Ruo, who barely passed English in the college entrance exam after nine years of compulsory education and three years of high school, it would have been quite a struggle.

To put it bluntly, the fragment made Jia Ruo smarter. This was reflected in, but not limited to: his perception, memory, comprehension, logical thinking, and his sensitivity to magic.

At the same time, the wound on Jia Ruo's chest had completely healed, leaving behind a rather gruesome scar.

---- A brief interlude ------

Many years later

In the icy wilderness of Freljord, the biting cold wind howled, whipping up large swathes of snow.

Jia Ruo and a Giant sat facing each other, both with their upper bodies bare, holding large yak-hide wine skins and drinking strong liquor together.

Even while sitting, the Giant was still two heads taller than Jia Ruo.

Beside the Giant stood a huge and heavy shield—it looked more like a wall, or a thick door panel.

"Jia Ruo, I'm curious. As a warrior as powerful as you, who could have left such a scar on you?" The Giant stared at Jia Ruo's chest.

"You might not believe me if I told you."

Jia Ruo wiped his mouth. The wine spilled at the corners of his lips instantly froze into frost in the cold wind.

"It was a Rift Scuttler."

"You're joking with me." The Giant touched his bald head.

"How could I? This is my secret. Don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry!"

The Giant raised his arms, flexing his powerful biceps, and said, "You can completely trust Braum!"

----- Interlude ends ------

Tonight, to celebrate Jia Ruo's recovery, the three of them decided to have a small bonfire party.

Nidalee had specifically hunted a robust wild boar. They weren't worried about not being able to finish it. Nidalee's Lion Pride had recently welcomed several cubs, and the lionesses needed to ensure sufficient milk supply.

"Sizzle~" A large piece of pork rib was roasted golden brown by the flames, its fat dripping continuously into the firewood.

"To Jia Ruo's recovery!" Neeko cheered excitedly.

She and Jia Ruo held bowls made from hollowed-out coconut shells, filled with a mixed juice of Honey Fruit and other berries. It was cool, sweet, and a perfect match for the roasted meat.

Nidalee did not drink. (She) disliked this kind of beverage because it contained honey juice, which could make people drunk.

Nidalee would not allow herself to be in such a defenseless state. Her habits were closer to those of a beast.

Amidst the eating and drinking, a joyful atmosphere was brewing intensely.

"Jia Ruo, Jia Ruo, tell us about your past," Neeko was already half-drunk, leaning against Nidalee and resting her head on (her) shoulder.

"What's there to talk about?"

Jia Ruo burped, then said, "Don't you already know everything clearly through my Shuoma?"

"No, I want to hear you say it yourself, and Nidalee doesn't know either." Neeko's small face, flushed with a rosy hue, became even redder under the firelight.

Nidalee also looked towards Jia Ruo, assuming a listening posture.

"Alright, alright."

Jia Ruo had become very familiar with them, even intimate, so he no longer refused.

"In our place, there were also clouds in the sky, and trees grew beneath the clouds, and rivers flowed beside the trees."

Jia Ruo tilted his head back and drank all the remaining juice, continuing, "It's just that human pollution has been quite severe recently. The clouds aren't as white as here, the trees aren't as green as here, and the river water isn't as clear as here."

"So, aren't you happier here? And you have two beauties accompanying you."

Neeko, having spent three months with Jia Ruo, had also learned to banter. "Do you dare say you don't like us?"

"What I have isn't liking, it's clearly..."

Jia Ruo did not finish speaking, while Neeko covered her mouth and giggled.

Nidalee did not understand, merely pulling Neeko closer as (she) almost slipped.

"But I grew up there after all. Just like Nidalee loves this jungle, I love my hometown."

Jia Ruo hastily changed the subject.

"We also invented many things. Some allowed hundreds of millions of people to avoid starvation, some allowed us to prevent diseases, and some could let one person communicate with another across thousands of miles... Most people there could eat their fill and dress warmly. Oh, and there was also nine-year compulsory education, hahaha!"

Jia Ruo spoke with growing excitement. He was also drunk.

"I went to school for a very, very long time, always with peers. I even had a childhood sweetheart, a girl we grew up with, but I never dared to confess. I don't know what she thought..."

At this point, Neeko suddenly stood up. With a turn, (she) transformed into a girl with long black hair, paired with a white dress, truly a lovely sight.

A gentle and familiar face met Jia Ruo's eyes.

"Si Ying!"

Jia Ruo suddenly stood up.

Neeko walked over, took Jia Ruo's hand, and pulled him around the camp.

The laughter of the two gradually became unrestrained.

Suddenly, as if a lifetime had passed, Jia Ruo felt his heart clench.

Jia Ruo thought of this childhood sweetheart, and also of his parents: an ordinary couple, but also a loving father and a gentle mother, the people who had been with him the longest.

Jia Ruo stopped abruptly.

"I... I miss home."

Two tear tracks had already appeared on his face.

Of the three present, Jia Ruo was alone in a foreign land; Neeko's entire clan's fate was unknown; Nidalee, even more so, was an abandoned orphan.

The night breeze seemed to have stopped.

All three touched a vulnerable spot deep within their hearts.

"Neeko misses home too."

Neeko began to whimper, burrowing into Nidalee's embrace. "Neeko wants to go back to find them, Neeko wants to go back home."

Neeko fell asleep in Nidalee's arms.

In her dream, she saw her ancestors. They led her to see the pale branches on dead trees, again and again.

Trees needed color, they needed to flourish again—Neeko was certain of this.

The next morning, Neeko found Nidalee. "Nidalee, I'm going to find my people. Jia Ruo has already agreed to go with me. Will you... will you come too?"

"No, I can't leave them."

Nidalee was referring to the Lion Pride; the lions were her family.

Although disheartened and reluctant, Neeko did not change her mind. Even if she couldn't find her kin, she was determined to find the true culprit who destroyed the Wu Wei Clan.

The time spent living with the Wu Wei Clan might be gone forever, but Neeko couldn't help but fantasize about a near-magical future—a larger tribe formed by like-minded Vastaya, Yordle, humans, and any creature willing to share the same dream.

In her vision, everyone could find their place in this new tribe.

She longed to find such souls, to befriend them, and to protect their Shuoma with her own life.

Once you understand Neeko, you will love her. And once you love Neeko, you will become her.