In the central clearing of the Fae'lor fortress, Shen, Usan (Zed), and the others gathered, waiting in silence. A moment later, Shen's eyes shifted slightly, and he said, "They're coming."
As he spoke, a portal to the Spirit Realm slowly opened before their eyes. Following that, Faen stepped out, leading Irelia, Riven, and Syndra. Of course, Syndra emerged just as she had before: wearing a cold, aloof expression, floating out while dressed in her stirrup stockings.
Seeing Faen, the group didn't overthink things. After all, in the minds of Shen, Usan, and the others, Faen had always maintained a highly reliable image—mostly because Faen didn't have a fetish for playing shame-exhibition games with his women in front of others.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. He preferred to let his women practice their ideals, pursue their beliefs, and become the versions of themselves they envisioned—only to slowly savor and thoroughly break them in privately later.
Particularly in the understanding of Shen and the others, setting Faen aside for a moment, Riven was a powerful warrior. Although she hailed from Noxus, she had realized its evil. Under Faen's guidance, she left Noxus and came to Ionia seeking inner peace, determined to change Noxus—especially that last part.
Ionians were absolute suckers for "forsaking the darkness for the light" and "the prodigal's return" storylines. In academies and sanctuaries across many provinces, the elders would use all sorts of fables to admonish their overly energetic disciples. This was especially true considering Riven had decided to change her homeland, Noxus, on top of everything else—something considered a "Grand Vow" in traditional Ionian culture, a magnificent and great aspiration.
For example, the first Enlightened One, or rather, the original Karma, was said to have made a Grand Vow that the First Lands would endure forever and prosper. Thus, she founded the Temple of the Long-Standing to protect the land from external influences.
Beyond that, the original three founders of the Kinkou Order had all made their own distinct Grand Vows.
Of course, a Grand Vow was just a vow; it carried no mandatory enforcement. Even if some overly harsh vows were never realized, people wouldn't criticize them too harshly. In many cases, simply being willing to establish such an ideal and striving to practice it was enough to earn people's respect.
Under these circumstances, possessing formidable strength and willpower, Riven was admired by Shen and the others in every aspect. They genuinely believed Riven was a noble warrior who had forsaken the darkness for the light.
For such a warrior to be willing to follow Faen as a bodyguard to repay his kindness and learn from him—and considering Mr. Faen was someone recognized by the Enlightened One, Karma, and bestowed with the Mark of the Twin Dragons—how could there possibly be any dirty, underhanded deals going on? Right?
As for Syndra, it went without saying. As the Darkness of Ionia, her awakening was entirely due to Faen. According to Faen, they spent over a decade in the illusion of the Dreaming Pool to successfully shatter the darkness in her heart, finally breaking free from the seal. Considering the unique nature of the current era and the negative legends surrounding Syndra, it was perfectly normal that they needed to discuss some things, right?
And Irelia needed no explanation. She was Faen's junior sister, and their relationship was already very close. Later, Irelia's grandmother had even personally brought up the matter of a betrothal. A talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven—even if something did happen, what did it matter? What right did anyone else have to jump out like a demon and object?
Thinking this, Shen asked, "Sir, when do we depart?"
"We'll leave right now."
Hearing Shen's words, Faen nodded. He then contacted Karma. Immediately after, the Mark of the Twin Dragons on the back of his hand gradually lit up, finally forming a vibrant, dazzling jade ring floating above it.
Meeting their confused gazes, Faen simply nodded his chin toward the portal beside them and said, "The domain here belongs to the Darkness of Ionia—or rather, it is Syndra's domain. Although Ionia is currently in chaos, the Darkness of Ionia will not be affected by these negative consciousnesses. As long as Syndra is willing, we can return directly to the Temple of the Long-Standing."
As he spoke, Faen looked at Syndra. Feeling Faen's gaze, Syndra shrugged and said nonchalantly, "I have no problem with it. If anything, I'm quite eager to meet the Karma of this era."
As she said this, she rested her hand on her chin. An undisguised, deep malice—like a true villainess—surfaced on her face.
"Proactively allowing darkness to return to Ionia... haha. If it were anyone else, whatever. But all the past generations of Karma reside in that fool's head. I guarantee you, they're probably screaming their heads off at each other right now! Add to that those stubborn old relics in the Temple of the Long-Standing... enduring the dual torment of the Material Realm and the Spirit Realm, she must be suffering terribly right now!"
Hearing Syndra's words, Shen and the others exchanged glances, then shrugged, offering no further comment. To an ordinary person, Syndra's words would be considered absolute heresy—daring to speak of Ionia's ultimate spiritual leader that way? Even if she was the Darkness of Ionia and a former part of the Spirit of Ionia, it was still unacceptable!
But things were different now. Having witnessed with their own eyes the land spirits of Ionia dying under the brutal treatment of the Noxians, and having seen lush forests reduced to barren wastelands by Noxian land-clearing, Shen and Usan had both abandoned their previous fantasies of reforming the Noxians using traditional Ionian culture.
This shift in ideology naturally led them to question Ionia's traditional culture as well. Consequently, hearing Syndra's heretical words now elicited little reaction from them.
It should be known that after the First Ionian War ended, driven by the ideological shifts in the Spirit Realm caused by the shock of war, the Navori Brotherhood—a civilian organization formed to resist the Noxians—began assassinating famous Ionians and framing the Noxians for it, all to accelerate the people's desire for revenge against Noxus.
Amidst these thoughts, with Syndra's cooperation and a brief manipulation, Faen successfully opened a portal leading directly to the Temple of the Long-Standing.
And while Faen and his group stepped inside, elsewhere, upon hearing the news of Fae'lor's fall, Swain sank into a state of profound disbelief.