Nila's Condition

Reaching a tree, Yuan Chen began to try to contact the demonic mark engraved deep within his consciousness.

Since receiving the blessing from the wilderness, the Oshirresh Blessing on Yuan Chen has remained inactive for a long time.

There was a time when Yuan Chen felt intensely uneasy under Oshirresh's gaze, but after receiving protection from the wilderness, Yuan Chen could feel Oshirresh's gaze disappear.

At the very beginning, Yuan Chen could sometimes sense the demonic mark deepening its connection with him, as if it wanted to find him again. However, this connection was fine as long as Yuan Chen didn't respond or mention Oshirresh's true name.

After failing to receive a response from Yuan Chen for a long time, Oshirresh seemed to give up trying to contact Yuan Chen, which allowed Yuan Chen to relax for a while.

And now...

Was it because he left Ixialia?

Yuan Chen looked in the direction he had come from.

Ixialia's Concealment Spell isn't very large compared to the entire Runeterra, as can be seen from Paro'sa.

When the ancient Yixialian chose to isolate themselves from the world, they abandoned many surrounding counties, leaving behind countless legends about a lost civilization.

Having sheltered a nation for thousands of years without being discovered by the outside world, Yuan Chen speculated that, let alone ordinary mages, even Ryze might not be able to directly locate Yishuaoken's position for Arcane Shift without knowing Ixialia's coordinates.

But if that's the case, why is this commotion from the Demon's Mark so... uh, gentle?

For a moment, Yuan Chen was unsure of Oshirresh's true intentions.

In Yuan Chen's perception, the agitation of the demonic mark was different from its previous intense, extreme, and fanatical movements. This time it was exceptionally calm, even somewhat embarrassed.

Or perhaps, the one who contacted him wasn't Oshirresh, but rather— Nila?

"Ha! That's right! It's me!"

The moment Yuan Chen his common-sense communication with the demonic mark, received the voice that was no longer the mocking Oshirresh, who seemed to be waiting for Yuan Chen to walk into his trap and plunge into eternal bliss.

Instead, it was a cheerful, uplifting, and lively voice.

"It's me! It's Nila! I'm so sorry it took me so long to get in touch with you! It took me quite a while to tame Oshirresh! Damn it, that demon is so annoying, she exploited a loophole in the deal and controlled my body while I was resting!"

"..."

Hearing Nila's cheerful complaint, Yuan Chen fell silent for a moment.

Nila, though she may not look impressive, is definitely one of the most powerful monsters in Runeterra... Caitlyn previously mistook Yuan Chen for a monster in human skin, but Yuan Chen would definitely laugh if he heard that.

Because Caitlyn didn't know what a real monster was.

During the time he was out of contact with Oshirresh, Yuan Chen made countless speculations about the relationship between Nila and Oshirresh.

In the League of Legends universe, Nila is only briefly mentioned in the background and given some ambiguity during the Sentinels of Light event. In fact, many of Nila's stories are told by the writers on Twitter.

However, the writers' explosive opinions on Twitter are difficult to take into account. Not to mention anything else, even a major event like the Ruined Curse, which was released in the client, was eventually revised several times due to extremely negative player feedback, and was at one point pushed into a parallel universe timeline.

But one thing is certain: there is a special deal between Nila and Oshirresh that maintains a strange balance.

"Can you tell me about your situation back then and your situation now?" Yuan Chen asked. "Of course, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it."

A dog's life is more important; I'll be a grandson if I have to.

"Ha! There's nothing I can't say! Just ask me! Don't worry about my condition... well, how should I put it? I'm doing alright right now?"

Although somewhat puzzled, Nila did not change the cheerful tone in her voice. According to Yuan Chen's guess, this was probably because Nila's relationship with Oshirresh had become closer.

"When I first met you, I had just arrived in the Outside World! You have no idea how excited I was! Let me tell you, I absolutely loved the Bilgewater Sea! There were countless behemoths there! I could create countless legends every day!"

Nila said excitedly, "But when I met you, I had just arrived in the Outside World, and my mastery of the Oshirresh power wasn't as perfect as it is now. Before I knew it, this scoundrel had escaped from my soul."

"Actually, I tried my best to control it, but that was my first time encountering Oshirresh's power, and my control wasn't perfect yet, so I could only watch helplessly as she marked you. I'm truly sorry about that..."

"And now?" Yuan Chen asked, "Are you alright now?"

"No problem!" Nila said with a grin.

"After this period of adjustment, I have completely mastered the power of Oshirresh! As for that bad guy's consciousness... well, since I made a deal with her, I can't kill her, but I've sealed her consciousness into the flask on my waist!"

"But this guy still tries to run away sometimes, which means I have to constantly chant scriptures and pray... You know, it's driving me crazy! I just want to leave behind legends and fight those mythical beasts! I don't want to pray or anything like that!"

Upon hearing Nila's words, Yuan Chen nodded thoughtfully—this was somewhat similar to what the screenwriter had said.

According to Carnival Knights, the author of Riot Games' official lore, in a reply on a North American forum:

"Nila is designated as one of the most powerful women on the planet Runeterra."

She spent almost all her time meditating, reading, or praying in the dark to prevent herself from being devoured by demons.

Occasionally, she would get up and kill a sea snake as tall as a forty-story building, then continue with her own business. In today's terms, she didn't care about anything.

This writer was involved in designing many of the main universe and skin universe settings—such as the Omega Squad and the Predator Hunters.

However, there is one difference: the world Yuan Chen is in is clearly not the main universe's timeline, because Yuan Chen has already mastered the Dawn Bringer's job change medium.

Is it one of many parallel universes in a multiverse similar to Marvel or DC? Yuan Chen isn't surprised by this, as League of Legends and Marvel have already collaborated on numerous background story comics.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

There are many...

"Um... how about you tell me a few things that are of most concern to me first? I'll come to see you later and you can ask me about them in person?"

"Good."

Yuan Chen paused for a moment to choose his words, then asked, "What was your deal with Oshirresh?"

"My deal with Oshirresh ..." Upon hearing this, Nila thought for a moment and said, "Oshirresh gave me all her power to control, so that I could fulfill my dream. But in return, after I die, this body will be under her control."

"... So what is your dream?"

"Of course, it's about becoming a hero!" Nila exclaimed joyfully. "Challenge those mythical monsters! Defeat them, kill them! Hunt them! Become a hero passed down through generations, a legend in mythology, and live on for eternity!"

No wonder you hunt giant beasts whenever you have the chance... Yuan Chen thought to himself: But it's also thanks to that, otherwise I might have already been digested into a pile of sea scum by the sea serpent.

Yuan Chen did not try to dissuade Nila from taking such actions. He was certain that while Nila's will belonged to her, her spirit had been distorted by Oshirresh's power.

Simply put, she couldn't feel any emotions other than happiness.

"Then, do you still remember that little girl?" Yuan Chen asked softly, "That girl who ventured into the bottomless abyss with a yearning for heroes and a curiosity about stories..."

"I remember her!" Nila exclaimed joyfully. "She is me! But I am no longer her!"

"I made a deal with Oshirresh, and everything about me has been forgotten and erased by Oshirresh's power! My past is a blank, and my future is yet to be written! But I don't regret it! I am happy!"

Nila said in a cheerful tone, "Oshirresh has erased my ability to perceive all emotions except joy. But actually, I can still observe other emotions. And I also wish to acquire other emotions."

"I have experienced much sorrow and farewell, but each time, I feel nothing but facing it positively... I know this sounds contradictory."

"It's strange, but I've truly lived the happiest life I've ever had!"

"As it says in Chapter 10, Verse 7 of the Oshirresh: 'I grant you pleasure and indulgence, I grant you fame and success. I send you to the halls of honor, to be among the heroes. The only price for such special treatment is you.'"

"I don't remember where that little girl came from... or what my past self was called. But I remember my dream: I want to become one of the heroes in the story! I am her ideal! So I will not stop!"

"Yes, I heard you hunted a dragon? I saw it! Through the mark of Oshirresh, I witnessed the dragon being killed! That's amazing! I want to be like you!"

"I've heard there's a powerful dragon in Camavor! I think it's called Vora? Or something else... Whatever! It's her! I'll come find you after I kill her!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen immediately felt the difference in power.

Vora, an undefeated legend residing in Camavor in the lore, is the oldest pure-blooded dragon and one of the progenitors of the dragon race... She is also, in our memory, one of Nila's prey.

"Oh, right! I remember why I came to see you!"

Nila seemed to remember something and said, "I'm here to tell you your true demonic name!"