Li Lin felt a sense of regret for not being able to fully resolve the Void issue, but it was only a small regret. The Void was a dimension—a mirror opposite of the real universe, and the concept of "nothingness" could never truly be eradicated. As Aurelion Sol had once said, he was born at the beginning of the sigh of the universe. By then, the cosmos had already formed. He did not create it, nor was he a true creator god; he was merely someone who added brilliance to this dark world. The Void, on the other hand, was the opposite dimension, existing even before the birth of the universe.
Despite possessing the divine power to create stars and withstand the impact of the destruction of an entire parallel universe, Aurelion had no power to annihilate a whole dimension. Being able to strike at an entity capable of tearing apart the barriers of time and space from across dimensional limits was already his limit. Even if all the Void Watchers were destroyed, they were mere embodiments of the will of nothingness, which had no concept of "death."
As for the current situation, where the Void would no longer intrude upon Runeterra in any form for thousands of years, Li Lin was content. If the Void could not access the knowledge of Runeterra, it meant they couldn't keep up with the rapid advancement of technology and evolve countermeasures. The Void posed no threat to Runeterra's future...
"Li Lin!"
Sona's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He lifted his gaze to see Sona in a beautiful gown, her eyes sparkling with tears, smiling sweetly at him. Li Lin immediately stood and wrapped his arm around her slender waist. His fingers gently traced the back of her white neck.
"How's your voice coming along?"
"Thanks to your elixirs, I've recovered quite well!" Sona blushed slightly, feeling the warmth of his touch and the breath that gently caressed her face. She caught his hand and, with a smile, continued, "Professors Heimerdinger, Jayce, and Viktor have finished their speeches. It's your turn now. Caitlyn asked me to come get you."
Li Lin turned his head. On the screen projected by the AI, the live footage of the war academy's auditorium was displayed. Today marked the first Progress Day since the final battle. The spotlight illuminated two of Piltover University's most renowned newly appointed professors, and the cheers and applause from the audience seemed to roar endlessly.
Time had passed quickly, nearly two years since the Void War had ended.
"How time flies…" Li Lin couldn't help but sigh, and Sona too seemed momentarily lost in thought. She still remembered how, during the full-scale invasion of the Void, she and Seraphine had used their magic to soothe and inspire the people, all the while worrying about Li Lin.
Seizing the moment, Li Lin quickly pecked Sona on the corner of her mouth. "Alright, Jayce and Viktor are done, it's my turn to speak."
As they exited the lounge, the mechanical soldiers and workers in the hallway stopped their tasks in unison, their eyes all focused on the savior of humanity. Li Lin smiled and nodded at each person, with Sona, her cheeks still flushed, beside him, as they approached the stage.
Skye, with eyes full of affection, adjusted Viktor's attire, while Jayce was deep in conversation with Heimerdinger. They were not alone—Caitlyn, Kai'Sa, and Zoe, who, having lost the power of the Twilight Star Spirit after the departure of the Star Spirits, had received Aurelion Sol's blessing, making her stronger than ever, were all waiting for Li Lin as well.
As Li Lin approached, Heimerdinger was the first to notice, tugging at the corners of his white beard, and said, "Ahh, at last, you've arrived, my boy."
Before Li Lin could reply, Zoe appeared at his side in a flash. She grabbed his arm, her voice full of playful sweetness. "Darling, hurry and arrange things here! I've discovered another fun planet!"
Seeing this, Heimerdinger, Jayce, Viktor, and Skye exchanged knowing glances, their lips curling into amused smiles. Quietly, they left to give the couple space.
"Another one? So the list of star systems we want to explore is getting longer, huh?"
"Fifteen, right?" Kai'Sa couldn't help but gasp in a low voice. Then, she cautiously asked, "How long will it take to visit all those planets?"
Li Lin walked up to Kai'Sa, gently taking her small hand in his, and replied softly, "This is the honeymoon I promised you all, a way to make up for the time I neglected you while I was busy with work. It doesn't matter how long it takes, as long as we're together, I don't care."
"Ugh, don't say such cheesy things." Caitlyn, standing nearby, deliberately rolled her eyes and put on an exaggerated look of disgust. "We're all nearly thirty, you know…"
Li Lin merely raised his hand, and the magic flowing from his fingertips resonated with the wind elements in the environment. A gentle breeze took shape into a transparent palm, which softly pushed Caitlyn's back. She didn't resist; instead, she took a few steps forward and, with the momentum, was swept into Li Lin's arms. He gently kissed her lips.
After a few seconds, Caitlyn pushed against his chest, stepping back from his embrace. Perhaps it was the presence of Kai'Sa, Zoe, and Sona, or maybe it was the thought of her parents and others waiting just beyond the curtain, but Caitlyn's cheeks flushed with a light red hue. She pouted at him, her lips glistening with a hint of pink, and then gave him a helpless look before walking behind him, nudging him toward the red curtain.
"Your turn to take the stage. Don't keep everyone waiting too long." After quickly adjusting his clothes, Li Lin lifted the edge of the curtain and made his way to the podium.
Under the AI's control, the spotlight converged on him, and the previously noisy audience fell silent the moment he stepped into view. The sound of his shoes meeting the smooth surface of the stage echoed through the room, causing everyone to hold their breath. No one dared to exhale until Li Lin reached the center of the podium, smiling and waving to the crowd below. The audience erupted into loud cheers and applause, welcoming the savior of Runeterra.
As his eyes swept over the crowd, Li Lin recognized many familiar faces: the Kiramman couple from Piltover, Mel, Vander, Silco, Camille, Janna, and the now-grown children; Jarvan III and IV, Barrett, Tiyana, Xin Zhao, Garen, Lux from Demacia; Swain, Darius, and Draven from Noxus; Ashe, Sejuani, and Tryndamere from Freljord; Leona, Diana, Taric, and Nami from Mount Targon; Shen, Zed, Kennen, Akali, Kayn, Yi, Irelia, and Syndra from Ionia; and even Sarah, Illaoi from Bilgewater; Gwen, Yorick from the Blessed Isles; and the whole team from Bandle City: Rumble, Ziggs, Tristana, Lulu, and Teemo.
Not only them—Azir, Nasus, and several core members of the Celestial Warrior faction were also attending this grand Progress Day celebration, seated in a separate area on the second floor.
Li Lin's heart swelled with emotion. After ten years of hardships, he had finally done it. Not only had he founded the League of Legends, but he had also fought through countless world crises, including the final battle against the Void Watchers. Unknowingly, he had become the cornerstone of the entire world.
The crowd gave him ample time, and after a long silence, he cleared his throat, putting aside his complex thoughts.
"Ahem…"
Li Lin paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm sure everyone knows the main theme for today—the plans we have for the future, the newly discovered habitable planets, and most importantly, our exploration of the cosmos…"
He shrugged lightly and added with a humorous tone, "Actually, Professors Heimerdinger, Jayce, and Viktor have already covered everything I was going to say. So, let me just give a final summary."
Li Lin's gaze swept over the audience once more, taking in their expressions. He slowly inhaled, and the AI, in perfect synchronization, changed the projection to fill the auditorium with a dazzling display of starry skies.
Then, with a tone full of grandeur, Li Lin stirred the emotions of everyone in the room: "Our journey is the stars and the sea—the stars are infinite, and humanity will endure forever."
(Book End)