As far as Yuan Chen knew, reducing the influence of demons wasn't actually difficult.
After all, most demons were beasts of the spirit realm that ultimately followed their instincts. To obtain pure emotional energy, they would stop at nothing to intensify people's desires.
So cutting off contact with the outside world and reducing the emergence of extreme emotions was one way to do it.
Yuan Chen had no doubt they had ways to drive out ordinary demons. But an old Primordial like Oshirresh...
Still, that was asking too much of Gnar. What if he got scared off?
After all, Oshirresh was the sort who'd get high and pick a fight with even the Aspects...
Qiyana seemed a little displeased that Yuan Chen was avoiding the subject. She thought he didn't trust her.
But Yuan Chen's next words led Qiyana into a new silence.
"Open Ixialia's Concealment Spell."
Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Qiyana studied him thoughtfully. "Do you know what opening the Veil means?"
So the Yixialians called the Concealment Spell the Veil? Yuan Chen made a note of the term.
"Didn't I already say? We'll be going against tradition."
Yuan Chen shrugged. "You feel the same way, don't you? As the youngest daughter, becoming Ixialia's queen won't be easy. Since you've already decided to challenge tradition, why not go all the way?"
"You..." Qiyana opened her mouth, but eventually closed it again. After a moment's silence, she looked at Yuan Chen hesitantly and said:
"Ixialia's Veil is the source of the Royal Family and the Yuentar class's power. It's also a way to prove the Yuentars' ability and character. I do want to become queen, but I don't want Ixialia to fall apart because of it!"
"It won't fall apart, as long as we get the timing right."
"...Then what's your goal?" Qiyana asked in confusion. "Why open the Veil? If you're not my subject and we're only making a deal, what do you stand to gain from opening it?"
"Heading west," Yuan Chen said. "Someone told me there might be a way to solve the problem I have if I go west from Ixialia."
"The west? Shurima or Mount Targon? It can't possibly be Icathia, can it?" Qiyana couldn't help but scoff. "Do you know what those places mean?"
"Not only do I know, I even know what's going to happen in the future."
Yuan Chen glanced at Qiyana, then considered for a moment. "Bear with me. I'll check your aptitude."
"Aptitude?" Qiyana was taken aback. Then she felt an intense sense of being watched, as if she were being seen through from the inside out.
The sensation was unpleasant, like Yuan Chen had invaded her from body to soul.
Under that clammy, probing gaze, Qiyana immediately put a hand on the Ring Blade beside her and glared at Yuan Chen. "What are you doing?!"
"Don't worry. Everyone has a first time... I'm just checking your various talents. You can think of it as my specialty."
As he explained, Yuan Chen focused his attention on Qiyana's attributes.
Name: Qiyana
Status: Full of energy/Angry
Class: Rune Mage Lv. 4/Warrior Lv. 3/Great Elementalist (Epic) Lv. 1
Equipment: Oretal Ring Blade (Epic)/Yuentar Robe (Epic)/Elemental Crown (Fine)
Skills: Oretal Ring Blade (Epic):
A treasure kept in King Yuen's vault. Depending on the gemstones set into it, it can cast up to three different types of Elemental Magic at once. But because it demands an extremely high level of elemental control, it has long remained unused.
Gemstones: Heart of the Earth: An Earth Element gemstone. When set into the Ring Blade, the user's Earth Magic gains the effects of shock and Heavy Pressure.
Heart of Glacier: A Frost Element gemstone. When set into the Ring Blade, the user's Frost and Water Magic gains the effects of frostbite and Flash Freeze.
Heart of the Wild: A Wood and Wind Element gemstone. When set into the Ring Blade, the user's Wood and Wind Magic gains the effects of swiftness, concealment, and resilience.
Note: If the user loses control of the elements, their spells are extremely likely to affect them as well.
Yuentar Robe (Epic): Omitted.
Elemental Crown (Fine):
A symbol of Ixialia's Royal Family. Enhances elemental perception, increases elemental resonance during Spellcasting, and improves casting speed.
Trait: Elemental Dominion (Epic):
A favorite of the elements, with an almost absolute sensitivity to and perception of them. Depending on the region, the user can directly command, communicate with, and discuss matters with Elemental Spirits. When casting Elemental Magic, the cost is greatly reduced and the upper limit of its power increases.
After seeing Qiyana's attributes, Yuan Chen nodded thoughtfully. In the past, he would certainly have been surprised and envious.
But after seeing Dawn Bringer Nedeli's seemingly cheat-like abilities, Qiyana's attributes no longer seemed quite so hard to accept.
What stood out was the combination of the Oretal Ring Blade and the Elemental Dominion trait... Going by its attributes, the Oretal Ring Blade seemed tailor-made for Qiyana.
Complete mastery over elemental power, paired with an elemental relic that could only be fully wielded by someone who had mastered that power.
And then there was Ixialia's natural environment... Well, if Qiyana had met Nedeli before she became a Dawn Bringer, she probably wouldn't have stood a chance in a head-on fight.
It was much like the game—if Nedeli landed a spear first, Qiyana's small frame would probably leave her at death's door.
There were always countless variables in a fight. Without actually fighting, no one could know how it would end...
Even though Yuan Chen could see everyone's class levels, a level only represented their minimum potential in battle. A fight's upper limit was the sum of combat experience, willpower, intelligence, and preparation.
Then there was Great Elementalist... An Epic Class?
From what Yuan Chen already knew, special classes differed from ordinary ones. Like Nedeli's Legendary Dawn Bringer class, they had only three levels.
If he remembered correctly, Epic Classes had only six levels.
Qiyana was only Lv. 1, which meant she might not even realize she'd inherited the class...
If so, it was less an Epic Class than a Trait Companion Class. Otherwise, there was no reason she wouldn't have noticed.
He didn't know exactly what it could do, but one thing was certain: in a place like Ixialia, rich in natural elements, Qiyana's combat strength was far greater than her level suggested!
"...Your gaze is making me uncomfortable."
Feeling Yuan Chen's thoughtful stare, Qiyana shifted her legs uneasily. Her black stockings reflected a muted sheen. Because she was sitting upright on her knees, her already full hips and thighs looked even fuller.
They visibly bounced with elasticity.
"Sorry, Perception Magic tends to cause some discomfort." Yuan Chen said, "But I learned a lot."
At his words, Qiyana raised an eyebrow. "Perception Magic? That foolish kind of magic that gets you turned into an idiot when an enemy's magic power rebounds against it? Impossible. Only fools learn it, and I didn't sense a spell path from you!"
"It's a minor talent."
"More importantly, aren't you curious what I sensed?" Yuan Chen asked.
"What did you sense?" Qiyana asked, but Yuan Chen didn't answer. He just sat there, looking lazy.
Qiyana gritted her teeth, but held back her displeasure and said, "Sorry. I shouldn't have called it something only fools would learn..."
"You should learn to rein in your forceful nature," Yuan Chen said helplessly.
"I suddenly understand why your parents don't like you... You're too eager to prove yourself. It makes you look like an attention-seeker trying to stand out. In a traditional place like Ixialia, that isn't a virtue."
Noxus, on the other hand, welcomed people like that.
"None of your business!" Qiyana hated being lectured. Yuan Chen was the only person who'd acknowledged her; otherwise, she might have already turned on him.
"I'll do things my way!"
Right now, Qiyana was like a child who hadn't come of age.
Well, not far off. Going so long without recognition or encouragement from the outside world really could affect someone's personality. A healthy family environment mattered more than a good school, and with a traditional Royal Family like this, there clearly wasn't much of one...
Just competing for the throne alone would involve plenty of open and secret schemes.
Yuan Chen didn't force Qiyana to back down. Instead, he gathered his thoughts and told her about her various abilities.
As she listened, the displeasure on Qiyana's face quickly gave way to excitement. Like a child whose abilities and talent had just been affirmed, she clenched her fist and said:
"I knew it! I'm the best! My parents must be blind to let my sister become the Ritual Host!"
She paused, then awkwardly scratched her cheek. "Um... That Great Elementalist you mentioned. How do I switch classes?"
She'd just said, "None of your business! I'll do things my way!" and now she was asking him for advice. For someone as proud as Qiyana, it was a little embarrassing.
"I don't really know either, but we can figure it out together," Yuan Chen said without deliberately giving her a hard time.
Qiyana was a little disappointed, but surprisingly, that didn't create any distance between them.
The more a child cared about their pride, the more important it was to make them feel respected. Otherwise, the divide between them and the child would only keep growing.
Why was I always taking care of kids?
First Milio, now Qiyana...
Somehow, I felt like I'd ended up on the wrong path.
Before you continue