I'm Super, Model

Parents, elders, they never seemed to place any hope in Qiyana... In fact, it wasn't just Qiyana, but several of her sisters as well.

Ixialia's traditions and conservatism were no less than Demacia's. Among King Yuen's Ten Daughters, only the elder ones could inherit King Yuen's throne and legally hold the central tower seat, regardless of talent or personality.

Of course, this wasn't absolute. At least, in Ixialia's past thousand years, there had been quite a few who ascended to the throne as the Second Daughter or Third Daughter.

But never had a Tenth Daughter ascended to the throne...

Just as Qiyana experienced, her eldest sister, and the Eldest Daughter of the Family, Niesa, received the blessings of all of Ixialia almost from the moment she was born.

While the Second and Third Sisters weren't as favored as the Eldest Sister, they still attracted the attention of many nobles... But after King Yuen's Fifth Child, almost no one received much blessing.

And under the influence of tradition, these second daughters would often obediently follow their destined paths—being appointed Prefects in various prosperous or remote prefectures.

If she gave up struggling, Qiyana's fate would likely be the same.

Long-Term Neglect and Being Cold-Shouldered made Qiyana pathologically obsessed with gaining recognition from others.

Especially after Qiyana discovered her far-above-average talent in Elemental Magic, she became even more determined to prove herself, to prove that she was no worse than those sisters.

Those sisters who were inferior to her in Ambition, Ability, Means, and Talent!

But this attempt to rise instead made King Yuen increasingly impatient, and the nobles also had considerable controversy regarding her—they hated those who broke traditions.

And now, hearing the recognition from a stranger, Qiyana couldn't help but stop.

"Why?" Qiyana wondered—why would a stranger she didn't even know believe in her more than her own parents?

"Why?" Lupe asked doubtfully—why would Yuan Chen believe that King Yuen's Youngest Daughter could gain Yuentar's Conviction?

In fact, at the very beginning, Lupe had intended to follow Yuan Chen's advice and directly join Qiyana's ranks.

After all, the Lupe Family had nothing to show for themselves at that time.

And Lupe himself had only thought of having his family pledge allegiance to Qiyana first. That way, even if Qiyana couldn't contend for the Imperial Throne, he could follow her to a prefecture to develop and slowly cultivate descendants to restore their former glory.

But after completing the Dragon Hunt and discovering Milio's extraordinary talent, Lupe's heart also changed...

Wasn't joining Qiyana's ranks now... a bit too risky?

After all, with the resources Lupe currently controlled, both the Dragon's Offering and Milio's development of Fundamental Axioms were enough for the Lupe Family to steadily return to their past, or even reach Higher Ranks.

Yuan Chen understood Lupe's behavior—as people age, they lose their Inner Edge and tend to favor stability and peace, even unchangingly ensuring the family's eternal prosperity.

And this kind of stability, to Young People, seemed Stiff and Old-Fashioned.

Yuan Chen understood, but did not condone.

"Because of abilities, ambition, talent, determination... the outside world has changed."

Yuan Chen shook his head and said, "I don't want to show off to you, but the outside world is undergoing turbulent changes... Look at the cheese bread on the table. Food from the Valoran Continent has already arrived here with the Noxus's Expansion."

"What about next time? What will arrive next time? Cannons or dynamite? Speaking of which, do you know what cannons are?"

"I know," Lupe said with some dissatisfaction. "Yuentar knows about the outside world; it's not truly isolated."

"Precisely because of that, we must change," Yuan Chen looked at Lupe. "Do you still remember what you saw and the impact you received during your Vidalion Trial, the thoughts and ideas that surged forth?"

Hearing this, Lupe opened her mouth and fell silent.

That was many years ago. Lupe was still young then, not yet known as the Sage of the Earth.

She underwent the trial, entering the secret chamber where the Magic Loom, Vidalion, was kept, under the watchful eyes of all Yuentar in the central tower.

That grand loom was magnificent, surrounded by alloy rings, emitting a golden halo. Threads spun chaotically, weaving the truth of this world. Lupe would do her utmost to protect herself under its warp and weft.

It was the Center of All Things, the Node of the World.

Lupe used seventeen secant lines corresponding to three parallel lines, softening the Earth Axiom with the Axiom of Water to offset the increasing imbalance. Perfect geometric shapes formed the World's Silhouette... Lupe succeeded, proving the achievement of her studies.

Then, Lupe merged into Vidalion... she became Ixialia itself.

Though it was only for an instant, Lupe saw the gathered geometric patterns—the lines covering the entire world.

She rode a line around Yishuaoken, flying at incredible speed, instantly returning to her hometown, arriving at Ixialia's Boundary Wall.

Then, Lupe broke through the wall—

She had expected chaos and annihilation, expecting to see ruin and scorched earth. But what met her eyes were sky-high snow mountains, an impregnable fortress, sky-burying yellow sand, and a peaceful and serene holy land...

She even saw a Purple-Skinned, Big-Bearded Mage, carrying heavy scrolls and books, traveling to every corner of the world through warped paths of space...

That powerful Arcane Magic was so exquisite; the shapes it outlined upon release even surpassed Lupe's cognition of magic itself.

The outside world, why could it also grasp the Yuan Chu Axiom?

Wasn't the outside world supposed to be scorched earth?

Lupe could no longer recall the complexity of her mood at that time. She only remembered being incredibly flustered, her lifelong worldview precariously shaken. But in the end...

"The truth of this world cannot be simply explained or told; you must see it with your own eyes, possess sufficient wisdom, let go of your initial reactions, extract reason from the panic and confusion, and thus attain the final enlightenment..."

Lupe said quietly, "I convinced myself and strengthened my heart... Then, magic formed threads, weaving my Vydalian Robe."

"Your sister too," Yuan Chen said calmly. "She also tenaciously accepted the truth... But she is different from you. She refused to be deceived any longer and decided to change everything. Thus, she initiated a rebellion."

"No... to be precise, it should be called a revolution."

Yuan Chen said:

"She wanted to let everyone know that the Outside World, separated by the Vine Wall, was not a Scorched Earth, but a new civilization."

"But she failed!"

What started as a discussion about the family's future suddenly turned emotional for Lupe upon hearing Yuan Chen speak of his Sister:

"This is the tradition of Ixialia! Even Yuentar cannot change it. To rashly touch upon—"

"Has it always been this way, and is that right?"

Yuan Chen stared at Lupe, unyielding:

"The world is changing. Things that remain Unchanging will only be eliminated! I've seen your collection of books. Ixialia has never lacked philosophical discourse. You know this very well!

Just like your Sister, Lunye. There are more than a few in Yuentar who wish to change Ixialia's isolated and passively reclusive status!"

"..."

Lupe seemed to want to say something, but remained silent. Because he knew Yuan Chen was right.

Yuan Chen had read Lupe's books. Although Ixialia was nominally a magic country, its philosophical discourse was extremely prosperous.

And in Ixialia's introductory texts on the Yuan Chu Axiom, the explanation of the Yuan Chu Axiom was extremely similar to Euclid's Elements.

In the eyes of the people of Ixialia, the entire world was an intersection of numerous forces between substances. All the permutations and combinations of Elemental Magic, from the simplest to the most complex, were determined by a series of axioms.

By mastering these axioms, from shallow to deep, people were able to grasp the power within. Therefore, for the people of Ixialia, the tower that imparted axiomatic knowledge was supreme and inviolable.

Ixialia's passive reclusiveness was largely due to tradition and conservatism—the people feared disease, war, and Chaos. The Nobles, on the other hand, feared losing power in the midst of change, so they constantly exaggerated the awfulness of the Outside World.

"Some people want to change, but they cannot bear the consequences of that decision alone."

Yuan Chen said this, his eyes fixed on Lupe.

Feeling Yuan Chen's gaze, Lupe seemed to realize something—Yuan Chen was a Prophet. He could see many things others could not.

Those Threads of Fate from the future, those shining ideals and decisions of great figures throughout the long river of history...

And the major historical nodes that these ideals and decisions had brought about...

"Are you saying, Qiyana..." Lupe appeared somewhat surprised.

Shrugging his shoulders, seeing that Lupe had begun to understand, Yuan Chen nodded:

"I hate Noxus... because in the past, it brought me countless nightmares from the future. But I cannot deny that some of Noxus's ideals are excellent."

Yuan Chen said with great conviction:

"Meritocracy!"

After speaking, he paused, as if sensing something, and Yuan Chen turned his gaze toward the nearby window.

The carriage Yuan Chen and Lupe were traveling in was sealed using the Axiom of Wind, so sounds would not be transmitted to others.

And now, through a gap, the breeze blowing across the wilderness told him a stranger had arrived.

A stealth operative who had almost merged into the wind, becoming one with it.

"Who is it?" Yuan Chen asked, the knife beside him rising from its sheath, reflecting glints of cold light.

"Your future queen!"

Qiyana unceremoniously pulled back the carriage curtain and looked at Yuan Chen. Her body, having received his approval, was filled with a burning heat, her gaze scorching like a sharp claw, raking across Yuan Chen's chest.