Foresight

Chapter 6: Foresight

Sensing the strangeness in Yuan Chen's words, the boy scratched his head in confusion.

Beside them, Grandma Lupe, watching Yuan Chen's odd expression and even his cessation of eating, asked with some confusion, "What's wrong? About Milio?"

Hearing Grandma Lupe's question, Yuan Chen didn't speak. He just stared intently at the boy in front of him. Feeling Yuan Chen's gaze, the boy named Milio couldn't help but shrink his neck, seemingly not understanding what this look meant.

It wasn't without reason that Yuan Chen was so surprised. At the same time, Yuan Chen finally understood why he felt a sense of déjà vu when he heard Grandma Lupe's name.

Before, Yuan Chen thought it might have appeared in some plotline within the League of Legends universe. But he wasn't sure, because to supplement the world-building, the League of Legends universe itself had updated a large amount of plot content unrelated to the heroes' backstories.

In such a situation, unless it was an important figure from a popular hero's backstory, like Yasuo's master, it would be difficult to leave a distinct impression.

But Milio was different... Milio was the one hundred and sixty-third official playable character to appear in the game League of Legends.

Looking at Milio's confused expression, Yuan Chen returned to his seat, rubbing his head as he quickly recalled Grandma Lupe's true identity...

Human memory is like that. Sometimes it's hard to recall something based on memory alone. But with a starting point, one can quickly retrieve the desired information from the brain.

"What happened?"

Gripping her cane, Grandma Lupe asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with Milio? Have you heard his name before? Or did he do something wrong?"

In response, after a moment of silence, Yuan Chen looked up and said, "Do you remember? I said before that I'm a half-baked prophet."

"..." Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Grandma Lupe slightly withdrew the hand holding her cane, then said hesitantly, "Wasn't that just a joke?"

"If I said that in the future, I saw someone who would become a hero, and his name is Milio, what would you think?"

"?!"

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Grandma Lupe froze on the spot. Unlike her, Milio beside them blinked curiously and said, "Me? I can become a hero! That's great! What should I do?"

In response, shielding Milio behind her, Grandma Lupe didn't feel happy. On the contrary, she frowned and looked at Yuan Chen gravely, saying, "What do you mean by that? Even if you're a prophet, how can you prove it?"

"Hmm..." Hearing this, Yuan Chen scratched his head and said, "I said, I'm a half-baked prophet, which means the future I can see is extremely limited.

For example, you, Grandma Lupe, I don't know your past or your future. But by seeing some future 'heroes,' I can see the close people who appear in their destinies, like you beside Milio."

"How can you prove it?"

"This is our first meeting, right?"

"That's right, is there a problem?"

Grandma Lupe stared intently at Yuan Chen, seemingly wanting to get his answer.

Yuan Chen then said:

"Before, I didn't know your past, nor why you, as part of the Elder Council of Yuentar, would be here. But now, I know the reason."

Hearing this, Grandma Lupe's eyes narrowed slightly, but she merely stood there, saying nothing, as if waiting for Yuan Chen to continue.

Seeing this, Yuan Chen went on to say:

"Your family must have been part of the ruling class of Ixialia a long time ago. Not just you, but including your sister, Lunye."

Upon hearing her sister's name, Grandma Lupe's eyes snapped shut.

She instinctively opened her mouth to reprimand him, but seemingly recalling Yuan Chen's previous words, she only opened her mouth without making a sound.

After a moment of silence, she raised her cane, her gaze filled with seriousness as she said:

"I don't know if you are a true prophet or where you heard these stories... but if you cannot prove your identity, I will definitely banish you!"

To this, Yuan Chen stated plainly:

"You and your sister Lunye cooperated, weaving together the axioms of Earth and Fire that each of you controlled to create a new axiom. You overcame the trials of Vidarian and gained everyone's recognition, becoming a member of the Elder Council of Yuentar.

But later, because Lunye participated in a rebellion against Ixialia, you were implicated and punished, then exiled to this remote mountain village. As for your sister Lunye, she disappeared without a trace."

Hearing Yuan Chen speak of her family's past, the reason for their rise and fall, Lupe couldn't help but purse her lips. Beside her, Milio, after a moment of stunned silence, looked towards his grandmother:

"Is what he's saying true? Grandmother?"

Without answering Milio's question, Grandma Lupe remained silent for a long time before nodding and saying:

"Then how will you prove Milio's ability? I know this child has exceptional talent, and I had wanted to train him to restore our family to its former glory and return to our rightful position. But I know, Milio's talent doesn't lie in this area!"

Lupe looked at Yuan Chen earnestly, a hint of pain in her eyes. But before Grandma Lupe could explain why, Yuan Chen spoke up:

"Because the Yuan Chu Axiom is a precise, rigorous theoretical system, accurate like mathematics, isn't it?"

"..."

Hearing this, Lupe remained silent—from her expression, it was clear Yuan Chen was correct.

Seeing this, Yuan Chen nodded and continued:

"You haven't let go of the pursuit of past glory, so you've focused all your energy on educating the next generation and the generation after that. And just when almost all family members were failing your expectations, Milio showed precise application of the elements."

"But unfortunately, like some innate flaw, Milio has always struggled to control the strict concepts constrained by the Yuan Chu Axiom, making it impossible for him to be as rigorous, precise, and accurate as you understand the Yuan Chu Axiom to be.

So you gave up hope of returning to glory and stopped training Milio, didn't you?"

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Lupe took a deep breath, then nodded, a hint of loneliness in her gaze as she said:

"Yes... The Yuan Chu Axiom possesses a rigorous logical system. Anyone attempting to take shortcuts will only lose themselves amidst uncontrollable magical elements...

Milio cannot control the strict concepts of the Axiom's constraints. Continuing to study will only harm him."

Yuan Chen wasn't very familiar with the Yuan Chu Axiom, but as an Elementalist, he could somewhat understand the dangers that might arise when interacting with elements.

Although the theoretical system of the Yuan Chu Axiom was similar to mathematics, the two were absolutely different. At the very least, when people studied mathematics, they didn't have to worry about an error in a certain part of a mathematical formula causing an elemental explosion to engulf them.

In this situation, being unable to constrain the application of combined forces with the Axiom was like a physiological defect in Ixialia. It wasn't that success was impossible, but the hope was simply too slim...

Nodding in understanding, Yuan Chen looked at Grandma Lupe before him, then shifted his gaze to Milio beside him. Yuan Chen said, "But you failed to notice, Grandma Lupe.

Even though you've given up hope, Milio has still become interested in Elemental Magic and is studying it in his own way."

Upon hearing this, Grandma Lupe froze subconsciously. She then looked at Milio beside her, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

Milio appeared somewhat frightened by this—after all, his grandmother, Grandma Lupe, had personally told him not to dabble in Elemental Magic, as it would only harm him...

"Is that true? Milio? Tell me the truth, I won't blame you."

Grandma Lupe looked at Milio with an indescribable expression.

She had once hoped that the talented child, Milio, could lead their family back to its former glory.

However, after discovering Milio's flaw, she had once abandoned this idea. Now, hearing Yuan Chen's words, the long-dead hope in Grandma Lupe's heart flickered with a faint spark of life in an instant...

Feeling his grandmother's gaze, Milio opened his mouth, then nodded and said, "Yes, but I've only learned a little..."

Hearing this, Grandma Lupe swallowed and instinctively asked, "Is it the Earth Axiom..."

"It's the Fire Axiom."

Before Grandma Lupe could finish, Yuan Chen beside them said, "It's the Fire Axiom that you refused to teach the younger generation of your family..."

Grandma Lupe didn't speak, just stood there with a complex expression. After a moment, she let out a long sigh.

As a master Elementalist, Grandma Lupe could freely use almost any element. Among them, she was most proficient in the Earth Axiom. As for the Fire Axiom... it was the magic her younger sister, Lunye, excelled at.

With her sister disappearing after a rebellion, and her own family being exiled as a consequence, Grandma Lupe had also developed an aversion to the Fire Axiom...

The Fire Axiom was more fervent, volatile, and destructive compared to other Yuan Chu Axioms. Grandma Lupe deeply believed that perhaps it was the destructive nature of the Fire Axiom that had influenced her lively sister.

It was precisely because of this that even when facing the younger generation of her family, Grandma Lupe would rather they lacked talent than teach them anything related to the Fire Axiom.

"But you don't need to worry, Milio isn't the kind of child you imagine. Although I'm not entirely sure, I'll ask anyway: how old is Milio now?"

Hearing this, Grandma Lupe said, "He's already twelve... What's wrong?"

"This means he's not far from awakening."

Hearing that Milio was already twelve years old, Yuan Chen nodded thoughtfully and said:

"Although I don't know much about the Yuan Chu Axiom, it is also rooted in this world. My hometown, Ionia, has a different understanding of elements than Ixialia."

"What do you mean?"

Lupe asked doubtfully--

She didn't notice that the way she and Yuan Chen conversed had subtly changed. Before, she had treated Yuan Chen with scrutiny.

This wasn't Lupe's fault. As an elder of the village, she needed to ensure the village wasn't harmed by outsiders. Conversely, Yuan Chen had been cautious and humble towards her, maintaining the proper etiquette and distance of a guest.

But now, after realizing that Yuan Chen's identity as a "prophet" might be true...

Even if he was just a half-baked prophet, Lupe's voice now carried much more respect, even humility...

In a world without magic, someone who could predict tomorrow's weather by observing nature could still be called a prophet and receive the respect and admiration of everyone in a primitive tribe. How much more so in a world where magic and the extraordinary existed...

Even though Yuan Chen was much younger than her, the identity of a prophet was enough to erase all differences.

Regarding this, Yuan Chen said: "Although I've said it before... I still have to say, it's about balance."

"Magic permeates every inch of Ionia. Whether it's people, animals, nature, or history. All forms of life in Ionia are in balance. The veil between the material and spiritual realms is exceptionally thin here, so the Spirit of Ionia will react accordingly once stimulated."

"Harmonize with the land, and you will reap a full harvest. Harmonize with the waves, and you will catch a boat full of fish. If someone tramples on the living beings of this land, the Spirit of Ionia will also change accordingly. Therefore, at least in Ionia, magic... or rather, natural elements, do not have only one side."

"I don't deny that Ixialia's comprehension of the Yuan Chu Axiom far surpasses any other civilization on the Runeterran Continent.

Even the once glorious Shurima Empire, long before the first Sun Disc rose, your Axiom Towers were already established throughout these rainforests. But I don't believe that nature, or elemental magic, can only be explained by the Yuan Chu Axiom...

Simply put, in the Ionian philosophy, even elements have their own will. How you communicate with it dictates how it responds to you."

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Lupe remained silent--

If Yuan Chen's words were spoken in a large county or in Yishuaoken, the capital of Ixialia, they would have caused a huge uproar—even ridicule. But now, Yuan Chen had already proven that he truly possessed the ability to see future destinies.

Even if it was just a sliver, a half-baked glimpse, it was enough to stifle all of Lupe's doubts.

In a world where the extraordinary existed, the power and status represented by a prophet were unimaginable.