Zeri had a bit of storytelling talent in her.
Although in Faen's view, his encounter with Zeri was full of coincidence. But Zeri didn't think so. Especially now that her relationship with Faen had become more intimate, although Zeri herself didn't believe in destiny and such, she deeply believed on a factual level that Faen was her Mr. Right.
This made Zeri always enthusiastic when talking about Faen. Just like now, under Seraphine's curious gaze, Zeri excitedly recounted how she met Faen, how Faen took care of her, and what he did for Zaun.
Hearing that Faen was from Ionia, accidentally came to Zaun because he was eaten by a sea monster, and gained powerful abilities, Seraphine's face was filled with surprise, because this was simply like an adventure story published in the Explorers Guild.
Many stories in the Explorers Guild had been proven false or exaggerated. But from Zeri's solemn expression, and in Seraphine's emotional perception, Zeri didn't generate any melody related to deception. Instead, she was genuinely describing related stories to her with pride.
But precisely because of this, Seraphine became even more surprised and curious.
Immediately after, Zeri talked about the changes Faen brought to Zaun.
Although until now Zeri wasn't very clear about what exactly Faen's philosophy was—even Faen himself didn't give the organization a real name, just using 'organization' and 'workers' for abbreviation and promotion—Zeri saw and remembered the changes that occurred in Zaun after Faen arrived.
With Faen as a backstop, workers united, daring to fight for the rights they deserved. Even though there were scabs, opportunists, and egoists in the process, the lives of workers whose living and working environments were originally extremely harsh still improved a lot.
Because even the Chem-Barons knew that if they really continued to suppress like in the past, the elusive Azure Demon, even if he couldn't find them, would directly visit their factories and slaughter those running dogs loyal to them.
This was undoubtedly a brutal act—but it effectively made the Chem-Barons restrain their attitude towards workers.
Because these thugs were just trying to make a living after all—risking their lives for five hundred coins a month? After two or three batches were slaughtered consecutively, in the end, even those chemical thugs were unwilling to work under them, because the risk was too high, and they might be targeted by the Azure Demon...
Unless wages were raised.
Although the changes happening in Zaun now, from the perspective of Faen's previous life, were still unhealthy, incorrect, and prone to radical and wrong paths of resistance.
But Faen's strength gave him enough confidence to forcibly correct them before they went astray.
Hearing the changes Faen brought to Zaun—or rather hearing the inhumanity of the Chem-Barons, Seraphine showed an expression of disbelief, then said incomprehensibly: "These guys are too hateful! Why do they do this?! Zaun should overthrow them fiercely!"
Hearing this, Zeri couldn't help pouting and said, "You Piltovians are the only ones not qualified to say this."
With Faen by her side, Zeri also gradually figured out the relationship between Zaun and Piltover, and understood the significance of the Sun Gates better than before. The reason why current Piltovians could live so happily, free to pursue art, culture, develop technology, and not worry about food and clothing, was all based on the exploitation of Zaun.
Especially since the Chem-Barons also helped sell out Zaun, this made Zeri's perception of Piltover worse than before, and her disgust for Chem-Barons even stronger.
"Eh? Why say that?"
Seraphine felt puzzled, big confusion in small eyes.
Feeling this pure naivety, Zeri smacked her lips, but didn't know how to express it. But Zeri wasn't without a solution. Meeting Seraphine's gaze, Zeri quickly thought of a solution.
"Can't you feel people's emotions? Then just take a trip to Zaun and you'll know? Anyway, we are at the Middle Level Plaza now, take an elevator and you'll be at the bottom directly!"
Hearing the solution Zeri gave, Seraphine froze first, standing there blinking at Zeri for quite a while, then shook her head vigorously and said, "Eh?! Can we do this? But it's not good, right? Because my mom and dad won't agree!"
"Hey, what does this count as?" Zeri said, "Just don't tell them and sneak down yourself?"
"Wouldn't that be running away from home!" Seraphine's face was full of surprise, swallowing saliva uncontrollably, obviously shocked by Zeri's proposal.
Zeri, however, looked unconcerned, saying indifferently: "Hey! Just running away from home. Zaun kids do this often. For example, the reason I met Faen was because I was angry at the Chem-Barons' evil rule and decided to run away from home!"
"Then... then what if I get caught?" Seraphine's face was full of worry.
"Nothing more than a beating~" Zeri said carelessly, "Which Zaun kid hasn't been beaten? It's just a matter of who does the beating..."
Saying this, Zeri raised her chin at Seraphine with an 'I've got your back' expression and smiled: "What do you say? Want to run away from home? Let me tell you, I'm the king of kids in our district. Before, I often helped my little friends dodge the capture of those bad adults! And I recently changed to a super luxurious big house! You can sleep directly when you're tired of playing!"
"This... this isn't good, is it?"
Seraphine said somewhat worriedly. But Zaun was close at hand, and that familiar yet strange feeling surrounded the girl's heart. Innate music magic allowed Seraphine to feel the call from Zaun. This weird feeling like a wanderer returning home made Seraphine impatient to understand Zaun, familiarize herself with Zaun, and change Zaun.
But the problem was, being a well-behaved girl since childhood, protected well by mom and dad, Seraphine almost never acted against her parents. Now suddenly wanting to be disobedient and run away from home, and to the dangerous and chaotic Zaun...
For some reason, Seraphine felt a bit excited.
Am I... am I doing something bad?
Realizing this point, Seraphine could clearly feel her heartbeat speeding up a lot, and her breathing slightly rapid.
Looking at Faen, after hesitating for a moment, Seraphine asked curiously, "Is... is this okay?"
"What could be wrong? Just a few words of scolding at most." Zeri waved her hand indifferently, then seemingly realizing something, said in surprise, "Wait, you haven't ever..."
Hearing this, Seraphine scratched her head embarrassedly, her expression looking a bit awkward.
Actually, she didn't know why she felt awkward—clearly Zeri was making her do something bad, but in Seraphine's feeling, it seemed that she, who had always been well-behaved and obedient, was the one doing wrong.
To this, Zeri sighed with emotion: "You really are a good kid... no wonder Faen likes you so much."
"Eh? Mr. Faen likes me?!"
Seraphine seemed somewhat surprised and puzzled—she didn't think towards intimate feelings like admiration. Just simply puzzled about why Faen would like her.
"Because he said you can perceive people's emotions and use singing to make people understand each other, perhaps becoming a bridge for cultural exchange between the two cities or something... honestly I don't quite understand either." Zeri shrugged and said, "Anyway, that guy just values you very much."
Hearing Zeri's words, Seraphine froze, then recalled the scene where Faen saved her on stage.
Although a hero saving a beauty was indeed touching, how to say it... although naive, Seraphine wasn't a girl who didn't know the gravity of things. Especially since she could read others' melodies, Seraphine could feel that Faen at that time just simply didn't want to hurt the innocent, and for more joy.
Thinking this, Seraphine muttered to herself—"Could it be because... prophecy?"
Regarding things like prophecy, Seraphine believed yet disbelieved. Because in Piltover's crowded air port, she had really seen those mages from all over the world. Among them, a few left a deep impression in Seraphine's memory. But it was just an impression, without deep communication.
Those mages often maintained a considerable distance when dealing with certain things. No one was like Faen... just as Zeri said, frank and passionate.
Thinking this, a voice suddenly came from the side.
"What are you chatting about?"
Walking over from not far away, Faen looked at Seraphine with some surprise, then put his hand on Zeri's waist and asked curiously, "Although didn't hear clearly, it seems related to me?"
"Mr. Faen!" Seeing Faen's arrival, Seraphine seemed somewhat nervous and cramped, but after taking two deep breaths, she still said politely, "Um... thank you for saving me on the concert stage before."
"You're welcome. Speaking of which, this accident happened because of me." Hearing this, Faen said friendly, "Rather, I should apologize to you... Piltover finally had someone willing to conduct cultural exchange with Zaun, didn't expect it to be used and destroyed like this by Chem-Barons because of some things I did in Zaun."
Towards the end, Faen shook his head somewhat helplessly.
As the hottest star in Piltover currently, Seraphine's willingness to contact Zaun would greatly improve the image of Zaun in the hearts of Piltover civilians. Even if the change wasn't much, even just a little, it was good. But who would have thought, those Chem-Barons didn't care about this or that, only thinking about their own interests.
Thinking this, Faen looked down at Zeri in his arms.
"You started it, right~"
Not much blame, Faen just looked at Zeri curiously: "What were you chatting about?"
"Of course about you." Zeri nodded, simply repeating her chat with Seraphine.
Learning that the current Seraphine was hesitating about running away from home, Faen blinked in surprise, then nodded and said, "This matter indeed needs caution."
"Eh..."
Hearing this, Seraphine seemed somewhat surprised.
Because Zeri said before that Faen was very interested in her, even liked her, and thought she would become a bridge for mutual exchange between the two cities. Based on this, Seraphine thought Faen would definitely invite her to Zaun. But unexpectedly... Mr. Faen didn't seem to value her as much as imagined?
No, not not valuing her. But there were other reasons?
Through the perception of melody, Seraphine could vaguely feel that Faen had other things to do.
Noticing Seraphine's expression, Faen concentrated slightly, and a moment later looked at Seraphine.
"Are you peeking at me?"
Hearing this, Seraphine was startled, suddenly looking at Faen's face, meeting his gaze. This made Seraphine subconsciously want to dodge Faen's gaze. But just as Seraphine had this thought, she heard again: "Don't be nervous, this is communication in the spirit realm."
Spirit realm?
Hearing this unfamiliar term, Seraphine seemed somewhat confused and puzzled. But similarly, she also found that when she heard this voice, Faen's mouth didn't move, and Zeri on the side was just looking at her curiously, seeming not to hear Faen's words.
This is...
Melody?
Subconsciously perceiving, Seraphine quickly discovered that what she heard wasn't actually sound made by Faen using his mouth and throat, but the melody of the soul that ordinary people couldn't perceive, let alone control, only playing unconsciously.
Realizing this, Seraphine's expression quickly changed from confusion to surprise, finally turning into delight.
The girl's face smoothed with excitement, and her big eyes like sky-blue gems were full of surprise and joy.
Almost subconsciously coming to Faen, Seraphine asked expectantly: "You, you can feel the melody?! Can you hear it too?! The voice of all things!"
"Haha, I can indeed feel a little." Feeling Seraphine's surprise, Faen chuckled: "But what I feel more is joy~"