"Li Lin... Li Lin!"
Groggy consciousness slowly awakened as Li Lin felt something repeatedly brushing against his nose. Opening his eyes, he turned to see Caitlyn, dressed in a spaghetti-strap nightgown, playfully teasing his nose with the tips of her hair.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Not too long—just over an hour."
Stretching lazily, Li Lin seized the opportunity to pull Caitlyn closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She let out a soft yelp.
"Don't start! After last night… wasn't that already enough for you?"
"With you, how could it ever be enough?"
"Stop it already. Today's the day for your League of Legends summit. Don't tell me you've forgotten?"
"Of course not… but there's still plenty of time." Li Lin grinned mischievously and stole a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Ugh, gross! You haven't even brushed your teeth!" Caitlyn feigned annoyance, making only a token attempt to wriggle free.
"With our current physical condition, a few days without brushing wouldn't even give us bad breath."
"That doesn't mean you get to skip basic hygiene!" Caitlyn frowned, poking his cheek with her finger.
"Didn't I bathe several times last night? How could you call me unhygienic?"
Feeling his warm hands begin to wander, Caitlyn's face turned crimson. She quickly extricated herself from his grasp, her breath faintly uneven.
"Enough of this! Go take a shower and head to the War Academy. Even if you're on good terms with the leaders from other nations, as the host, you shouldn't keep them waiting, should you?"
"Also, Sona is coming to Piltover today. I've already arranged to meet her, so don't waste time."
"Got it, got it."
Shaking off the lingering drowsiness, Li Lin pulled himself together, heading into the bathroom for a quick shower. Afterward, he stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his attire. He froze briefly, lost in thought.
The last time he was in Freljord with Ryze collecting World Runes felt like just yesterday. Yet here he was today, preparing to host a League of Legends summit—a gathering he had personally proposed and invited all the ruling powers of Runeterra to attend.
The meeting was set to begin at 2 PM. While Li Lin had every confidence in convincing the attendees, he couldn't deny a trace of nerves. This wasn't just any meeting. The fate of all of Runeterra hung in the balance, and the summit would mark a pivotal turning point for the planet's future.
A short while later, Caitlyn entered the room carrying a tray with a simple breakfast of a bacon-and-egg sandwich and a glass of milk.
"All set? Eat something quick, and we'll head to the Hex Gate Tower to pick up Sona."
"What about Zoe and Kai'Sa?" Li Lin asked, catching Caitlyn's gaze in the mirror.
She rolled her eyes at him.
"They've been ready for ages. Mom, Dad, Professor Heimerdinger, Jayce, Mel, and Viktor are already at the War Academy."
"Wait, what? They're all there already?" Li Lin exclaimed, taking a bite out of the sandwich.
"Maybe you shouldn't have overslept," Caitlyn sighed in exasperation. "Even the leaders of the Kinkou Order and Shadow Order have arrived. If not for the Hextech infantry keeping order, those two factions would've started a fight already."
"I specifically told them to arrive an hour before the meeting," Li Lin muttered, quickly finishing his breakfast.
Washing his hands, he activated his battle suit, which swiftly adhered to his body like a second skin.
"Let's go," he said with renewed focus, his mind now fully on the day's monumental task.
"Let's pick up Sona first, then."
...
Two hours later, at the Institute of War.
Li Lin, accompanied by a large entourage, arrived at the grand plaza in front of the Institute's gates, surrounded by mechanical workers, drones, and aerial machines aboard a sleek airship. The symbol of the Institute of War—a full depiction of the planet—was proudly displayed, and the sprawling plaza rivaled the grandeur of the Great Plaza outside Demacia's Dawnkeep. Towering over a hundred meters, the multi-layered buildings occupied a massive area, at least ten times the size of Piltover University, housing a variety of structures such as the Council Hall, administrative offices, lecture halls, dormitories, a magic training center, and other facilities. The space left ample room for further expansion.
This place was destined to become the center of Runeterra's future, a hub for cultivating the finest talents. For both practical and symbolic reasons, Li Lin could not allow the Institute of War to fall short of the architectural splendor of other regional landmarks.
The Institute was equipped with Hex Gates, providing direct connections to capitals like Demacia's Great City, Shurima's Sun Disc, and Noxus' Immortal Bastion. Only regions like the Freljord, with its Avarosan Tribe, or Ionia's Kinkou and Shadow Orders required special airships for transport.
Arriving earlier than expected, Li Lin noted that Jarvan III, Azir, and Swain had yet to arrive. As for Sona, she had traveled from Piltover on her own, as per arrangements made with Kahina and the Buvelle family, rather than accompanying Demacia's delegation.
As soon as Li Lin stepped off the airship, Shen and Kennen of the Kinkou Order approached, having awaited his arrival in the plaza. Shen, dressed in the gray-blue ninja armor of the Eye of Twilight, with a closed face mask and two distinct blades strapped to his back, wasted no time before voicing his discontent.
"Why are members of the Shadow Order present here?" he demanded.
Li Lin, prepared for such confrontations, glanced back at Caitlyn and instructed her to lead the others to the main hall while he stayed behind.
"Why shouldn't they be here?" Li Lin's tone was calm. "The purpose of this League of Legends conference is to unite all of humanity, setting aside old grievances to face Runeterra's ultimate crisis together. You're well aware of this."
Shen clenched his fists, his frustration apparent. "Zed has committed countless atrocities—betraying his kin, slaughtering his master with the Shadow Blades... Do you truly believe that by including someone like him, his nature will change?"
"Shen..." Kennen, standing beside him, appeared uneasy.
Earlier that day, Shen had drawn his blade on Zed the moment they crossed paths, and it had taken mechanical workers to prevent the situation from escalating further. Although Shen, as the Eye of Twilight, was meant to remain rational, Zed's presence consistently shattered his composure.
"You're too emotional," Li Lin said coldly. "Don't you think that compared to the life and death of all people, the feud between you and the Shadow Order is trivial?"
"You—"
"During Noxus's invasion of Ionia, your so-called balance doctrine allowed them to burn, kill, and plunder unchecked. The truth is, the balance you sought to preserve was irreparably shattered. We haven't celebrated our most sacred festival, the Spirit Blossom Festival, in nearly eight years.
"At least the Shadow Order dared to stand up against Noxian tyranny. When Ionia wept, where was the Kinkou Order?"
"The Eternal Peak of the Ionian Soul remained silent. That proves our actions were correct!" Shen retorted, though his voice lacked conviction.
"Did you know that Karma once confronted Noxus and obliterated an entire steel battleship with a single gesture?" Li Lin asked, his tone sharp.
Shen fell into silence.
"Even Demacia and Noxus, nations with centuries of enmity, have refrained from raising objections. Do you think your grievances with Zed hold greater weight than theirs?"
Sensing Shen's rising emotions, Kennen quickly interjected, "Enough, Li Lin, let's stop this here."
"If you're unwilling to participate, you're free to leave," Li Lin said flatly, brushing past Shen.
After a few steps, he paused, speaking without turning back. "Also, are you so certain that all of this was orchestrated by Zed?"
Shen spun around, glaring at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing in particular." Li Lin shrugged and strode toward the Council Hall.
"I just wanted to remind you, as the Eye of Twilight, your understanding shouldn't remain at the surface level of things."
(End of Chapter)