Foresight

Having sensed something unusual in Yuan Chen's words, the boy scratched his head in confusion.

Beside them, Grandma Lupe looked at Yuan Chen, who wore an odd expression and had even stopped eating. Somewhat puzzled, she asked, "What's wrong? Is it about Milio?"

At Grandma Lupe's words, Yuan Chen didn't respond. He simply stared at the boy in front of him with utmost seriousness. Feeling Yuan Chen's gaze, the boy named Milio couldn't help shrinking his neck, seemingly unsure what that look meant.

It was no wonder Yuan Chen was so surprised. At last, he also understood why the name Grandma Lupe had seemed familiar to him.

At first, Yuan Chen had thought she appeared in some part of the League of Legends universe's storyline, but he hadn't been sure. To expand its Worldview, the League of Legends universe had added a great deal of lore unrelated to the champions' backstories.

In those circumstances, unless someone was an important figure in the backstory of a popular champion, like Yasuo's master, it was difficult to remember them clearly.

Milio was different... He was the one hundred and sixty-third playable champion to officially appear in the game League of Legends.

Seeing Milio's puzzled expression, Yuan Chen returned to his seat. As he rubbed his head, he quickly recalled Grandma Lupe's true identity...

That was how memory worked. Sometimes it was difficult to recall something just by trying. But with a clue, you could quickly find the information you wanted in your mind.

"What exactly happened?"

Holding her cane, Grandma Lupe asked in confusion, "What's wrong with Milio? Have you heard of him before? Or did he do something wrong?"

After a moment of silence, Yuan Chen looked up and said, "Do you remember? I once told you I was a half-baked prophet."

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

"What would you think if I said I saw in the future that someone would become a hero, and his name was Milio?"

"?!"

Grandma Lupe froze at Yuan Chen's words. Unlike her, Milio blinked curiously and said, "Me? I can become a hero? That's wonderful! What should I do?"

Instead of being pleased, Grandma Lupe stepped in front of Milio to shield him. Frowning, she regarded Yuan Chen gravely and said, "What do you mean by that? You say you're a prophet, but how can you prove it?"

"Hmm..." Yuan Chen scratched his head, then said:

"I told you, I'm a half-baked prophet. That means the future I can see is extremely limited.

"For example, Grandma Lupe, I don't know your past or your future. But I can see certain 'heroes' in the future, and through them, I can see the people close to them who appear in their lives. Like you, beside Milio."

"How will you prove it?"

"This is the first time we've met, right?"

"That's right. What of it?"

Grandma Lupe stared at Yuan Chen, as if waiting for an answer.

Yuan Chen replied:

"Before, I didn't know your past or why you, a member of the Elder Council of Yuentar, were here. But now I know."

At that, Grandma Lupe's eyes narrowed slightly. She remained where she was without speaking, seemingly waiting for Yuan Chen to continue.

Seeing this, Yuan Chen simply said:

"Your family must have belonged to Ixialia's ruling class long ago. That includes not only you, but also your sister, Lunye."

At the mention of her younger sister, Grandma Lupe's eyes narrowed sharply.

She instinctively opened her mouth to rebuke him, but seemed to remember what Yuan Chen had just said. Her mouth remained open, but no sound came out.

After a moment of silence, she raised her cane. Her gaze was intent as she said, "I don't know if you're a real prophet or if you heard these stories somewhere... But if you can't prove who you are, I'll have you banished!"

Yuan Chen replied without hesitation:

"You and your sister, Lunye, worked together to weave and combine the Earth and Fire Axioms you each knew, creating a new axiom. You overcame Vidarian's trial, earned everyone's approval, and became members of the Elder Council of Yuentar.

"But later, Lunye took part in a rebellion against Ixialia. You were punished for her actions and exiled to this remote village on the border. Your sister Lunye, meanwhile, disappeared without a trace."

Hearing Yuan Chen recount her family's past, the reason they had risen to prominence and the cause of their downfall, Lupe couldn't help pursing her lips. Beside her, Milio stared at his grandmother in bewilderment.

"Is what he said true, Grandma?"

Grandma Lupe didn't answer Milio's question. After a long silence, she nodded and said:

"Then how can you prove Milio has the talent you claim? I know he's exceptionally gifted. I once hoped that by training him, I could restore our family to its former glory and reclaim the place that belonged to us. But I know Milio's talents don't lie in that area!"

Lupe regarded Yuan Chen seriously, a hint of pain in her eyes. But before Grandma Lupe could explain why, Yuan Chen said:

"Because the Yuan Chu Axiom is a precise, rigorous theoretical system, as exact as mathematics, isn't that right?"

"..."

Lupe didn't reply. Judging by her expression, Yuan Chen had clearly hit the mark.

Seeing this, Yuan Chen nodded and said:

"You haven't been able to let go of your family's past glory, so you've devoted all your energy to educating the next generation and the generations after that. And while nearly every member of your family has disappointed you, Milio has shown a precise talent for wielding the elements."

"But unfortunately, as if because of some innate flaw, Milio has always struggled to grasp the strict concepts of Axiom Constraint. He can't make them as rigorous, precise, and exact as you understand the Yuan Chu Axiom to be.

"So you gave up hope of restoring your family's glory and stopped training Milio. Is that right?"

At Yuan Chen's words, Lupe took a deep breath, then nodded. Her gaze held a trace of sadness as she said:

"Yes... The Yuan Chu Axiom is built on a rigorous system of logic. Anyone who tries to cut corners will only lose themselves amid uncontrolled magical elements...

"Milio can't grasp the strict concepts of Axiom Constraint. If he keeps studying, he'll only hurt himself."

Yuan Chen didn't know much about the Yuan Chu Axiom, but as an Elemental Mage, he understood some of the dangers that could arise when working with the elements.

Although the theoretical system of the Yuan Chu Axiom resembled mathematics, the two were absolutely not the same. At least when studying mathematics, people didn't have to worry that one mistake in an equation would make the elements explode and swallow them whole.

In these circumstances, being unable to properly apply Axiom Constraint was like a physical disability in Ixialia. It wasn't impossible to succeed, but the odds were simply too slim...

Yuan Chen nodded in understanding. He looked at Lupe in front of him, then at Milio beside her, and said, "But there's something you haven't noticed, Lupe.

"Even though you've given up hope, Milio is still interested in Elemental Magic and continues to study it in his own way."

At this, Lupe froze. Then she looked at Milio, a questioning look in her eyes.

Milio seemed a little afraid. After all, Grandma Lupe had once told him herself that he mustn't dabble in Elemental Magic, because it would only harm him...

"Is it true, Milio? Tell me honestly. I won't blame you."

Lupe looked at Milio with an indescribable expression.

She had once hoped that Milio, a gifted child, would lead their family back to its former glory.

But after discovering his flaw, she had given up on the idea. Now, hearing Yuan Chen's words, the hope that had withered and died in Lupe's heart suddenly showed a faint spark of life...

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

Lupe swallowed and instinctively asked, "The Earth Axiom...?"

"Fire Axiom," Yuan Chen said before Lupe could finish. "It's the Fire Axiom you refused to teach the younger members of your family..."

Lupe didn't say anything. Her expression was complicated as she stood there. A moment later, she let out a long sigh.

As an Elemental Master, Lupe could freely wield nearly any element. Of them all, she was best at the Earth Axiom. As for the Fire Axiom... that had been her sister Lunye's specialty.

After her sister disappeared for taking part in a rebellion, and her own family was sentenced to exile for complicity, Lupe had also come to despise the Fire Axiom...

Compared to the other Yuan Chu Axioms, the Fire Axiom was more intense, volatile, and destructive. Lupe firmly believed that perhaps its destructive nature had influenced her lively younger sister.

That was precisely why, even when it came to the younger members of her family, Lupe would rather they lacked the talent than teach them anything about the Fire Axiom.

"But there's no need to worry. Milio isn't the kind of child you imagine. I'm not entirely sure, but let me ask you anyway: how old is Milio now?"

Lupe answered, "He's twelve... Why?"

"That means his awakening isn't far off."

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

"Although I don't know much about the Yuan Chu Axiom, my homeland, Ionia, shares this world's roots, and its understanding of the elements is different from Ixialia's."

"What do you mean?"

Lupe asked in confusion—

She hadn't noticed that the way she and Yuan Chen spoke to each other had subtly changed. Before, she had treated him with suspicion.

That was only natural. Lupe was the village elder and had to keep the village safe from outsiders. In turn, Yuan Chen had treated her with caution and humility, maintaining the courtesy and distance appropriate for a guest.

But now, she had realized that Yuan Chen's identity as a "prophet" might be real...

Even if he was only a half-baked prophet, Lupe's voice held much more respect, even a touch of deference...

In a world without magic, someone who could predict tomorrow's weather by observing nature could still be called a prophet and earn the respect and admiration of an entire primitive tribe. All the more so in a world of magic and the supernatural...

Even though Yuan Chen was much younger than her, the title of prophet could erase any difference between them.

Yuan Chen replied, "Though I've already said this before... I'll say it again: balance."

"Magic fills every inch of Ionia. People, animals, nature, history—all forms of life in Ionia exist in a state of balance. The veil between the material and spirit realms is especially thin here. So when the Spirit of Ionia is disturbed, it reacts accordingly.

"Live in harmony with the earth, and you'll reap a bountiful harvest. Live in harmony with the waves, and you'll bring in a boat full of fish. And if someone tramples the living things on this land, the Spirit of Ionia will change in response. So at least in Ionia, magic—or the natural elements—doesn't have only one side.

"I won't deny that Ixialia understands the Yuan Chu Axiom far better than any other civilization on the Runeterran Continent.

"Even the once-glorious Shurima Empire came later. Long before the first Sun Disc rose, your axiom towers had already been built throughout this rainforest. But I don't believe nature, or Elemental Magic, can only be explained through the Yuan Chu Axiom...

"To put it simply, in Ionia, even the elements have wills of their own. How you communicate with them determines how they respond to you."

Grandma Lupe didn't reply to Yuan Chen's words—

If he had said such things in a large county town or in Ixialia's capital, Yishuaoken, they would have caused an uproar—or even ridicule. But by now, Yuan Chen had proven that he truly could see the fate of the future.

Even if it was only a glimpse, and he was only a half-baked prophet, it was enough to leave Lupe unable to voice any of her doubts.

In a world where the supernatural existed, a prophet's authority and status were beyond imagination.