Hearing Faen describe the prophet's appearance, a tremor of shock flashed through Kalan's eyes. However, remembering the prophet's warnings, Kalan didn't make any drastic movements. He simply stood there in silence, waiting for Faen's next words.
To be honest, Faen didn't have many thoughts regarding Kalan. The only thing that surprised him was that the Kiilash had appeared so early.
Kalan the Kiilash makes his appearance in Syndra's short story, The Dreaming Pool. He is a renowned and famous figure among the Kiilash tribes. He participated in the entire Ionian War, but in the beginning, he stood firmly on Ionia's side. It was only at the very, very end that he defected to Swain. In fact, shortly after his defection, Swain suffered a crushing defeat at the Placidium, where Irelia even severed one of his arms.
Before that point, Kalan chose to garrison the Noxian rear base on Fae'lor—this was absolutely not a good choice, because the island was a barren wasteland. There was no war to fight there, and thus, no military merit to earn. The same applied to the elite troops of Swain's personal guard that Faen had just wiped out. Logically, once the Ionian War officially broke out, these elite soldiers should have been transferred to the fiercest front lines, not left to rot in the rear.
Under these circumstances, to anyone else, Kalan looked like a deeply unlucky fool with terrible foresight—akin to joining a doomed army right before its total collapse. But in reality...
According to the descriptions in The Dreaming Pool, Soraka gave Kalan two choices.
The first was to stand with Ionia and fight for the First Lands to the bitter end. If he chose this path, Kalan would become a revered hero, a sage, a master respected by all Ionians and Vastaya alike. On his path to becoming a hero, Kalan would fight alongside his Linxi and all his like-minded comrades, ultimately winning victory for the First Lands. However, during this process, his two children would die tragic deaths.
Linxi is the Vastayan term for a soulmate or beloved.
The second path was the path of darkness. Kalan had to choose to join Noxus. This would damn him for eternity and force him to leave his wife and children forever. His wife would never understand him, his children would hate him, his brothers and friends would spit on his name, and eventually, even he himself would be sealed away in eternal darkness.
What he had to do was remain stationed on Fae'lor after Ionia's victory, ensuring his wife could live safely and raise their children. His children would grow up to be respected paragons, thriving elsewhere even if not in Ionia.
The price was that Kalan had to walk into the darkness alone and resolute. The slightest deviation, and his two children would die.
It could be said that Kalan knew from the beginning that Ionia would eventually win, which was why he chose the latter option—sacrificing himself so his children could grow up safely. Of course, in Faen's view, the real reason Soraka revealed such a future—or rather, chose a Kalan who would have such a future—was for the latter part: making Kalan march firmly into the darkness.
This way, Kalan's children could thrive, and the negative emotions of war and dark energy within Ionia itself could be released.
As one of the few beings in all of Runeterra who acted purely to make the world a better place, Soraka was one of the very few people Faen could completely trust regarding the fate of Runeterra.
However, the current situation was somewhat unusual—the war had only just begun, yet Kalan was already here.
With these thoughts in mind, Faen recounted the entirety of Soraka's prophecy to Kalan from start to finish. Although he omitted the parts regarding the War Spirit and the Spirit of Darkness, the crowd's eyes filled with astonishment upon hearing his words. They turned their gazes toward Kalan, and seeing the absolute disbelief in the beast-man's eyes, they realized Faen was likely telling the truth.
Realizing this, the group exchanged glances and fell silent, leaving the stage to Faen and Kalan. After all, the current situation seemed to involve that ancient entity known as Soraka. If that was the case, it was better for them "juniors" to stay quiet, lest they meddle blindly and cause some headache-inducing disaster.
As for Kalan, while Faen was curious, the real reason he kept the Kiilash alive—and even took the time to explain the cause and effect—was naturally due to his own considerations and plans.
Looking at Kalan, Faen asked bluntly: "Is Soraka still in Ionia?"
"..." After a brief silence, Kalan nodded and said: "She... should be."
"What do you mean 'should be'?" Faen asked.
"The reason Prophet Soraka sought me out, according to her, was because among those she contacted, I was one of the few who could ensure the world returned to its Great Destiny," Kalan said.
"But later, just a few weeks ago, Prophet Soraka said the threads of the world's destiny had been plucked into chaos, requiring a new, longer-term prophecy. The prophecy you just spoke of is indeed the one Prophet Soraka gave me, but not long ago, she told me the plan within the prophecy had to begin early."
Hearing this, Faen nodded thoughtfully.
Faen didn't fully understand the "Great Destiny" Soraka spoke of, but judging by the name, it likely referred to the future pre-designed for the people of Runeterra by the Eternal Celestial Realm in Soraka's lore. Given Soraka's benevolent nature, this plan was highly likely a good one—it was just that humanity kept messing up its execution.
As for the subsequent change in prophecy...
Was it because of what happened in the Twin Cities and Bilgewater?
Thinking this, Faen nodded again.
Soraka was involved in many events across Runeterra, including but not limited to the legend of the Three Sisters, the Darkin War, the Void War, and the Rune Wars. It was just that, most of the time, Soraka remained unknown to outsiders. She always appeared in the forgotten corners of history, standing beside the fated ones, silently changing and guiding the destiny of the entire world.
For example, in Syndra's story, Soraka used Kalan to return darkness to Ionia. And during the Great Ruination of Helia—the catalyst for the Rune Wars—it was Soraka who told Kalista how to enter Helia, leading to the subsequent chain of tragic events.
Since Soraka had made a new prophecy because of his arrival, Faen knew that, no matter what, he had to pay a proper visit to this true, native prophet of Runeterra.