"The map of Yan Country is way too short..." Tsukishiro Yanagi had already sensed it. She didn't take the leave request form, instead asking coldly, "So, Asaba, what's the reason this time?"
"Uh... it's for a blind date!"
"But didn't you say last time that your blind date fell into a void and turned into an Ether Spirit?"
"Ah, uh... y-yeah! So this time, I'm going to deal with the Ether Spirit she turned into!"
"...You've used that excuse before." Tsukishiro Yanagi's voice rose slightly by two degrees. "Asaba, you have five seconds... If you don't come up with something quick, I'm rejecting your leave request."
"Aaah, don't be so heartless, Deputy Chief!"
["Walking alone in the darkness, fearing sudden obstacles, unable to comprehend what others describe seeing or hearing..."]
[Dan Shu's tone grew increasingly sorrowful. Stelle could tell she wasn't just comforting the girl in front of her but also soothing the version of herself that had walked alone in the darkness for hundreds of years.]
[Such a life would continue for nearly a thousand years for a long-life species. She had to learn to endure it on her own, rather than fantasizing about anyone's help.]
["But aren't you helping her too?" Stelle looked at Dan Shu.]
["Yes... I am indeed trying to change the situation for people like her," Dan Shu said faintly. "But before that, she must learn to endure the darkness, just as I did."]
["I... Sister Dan Shu, I can rely on myself... only myself can be trusted..."]
["Good. I hope you remember that forever, truly forever." Dan Shu gently patted her small head. "This place is too dangerous, Stelle. Let's head back to Exalting Sanctum."]
Runeterra.
"A thousand years, what a long punishment..."
By the pond in Progress Square, Viktor, leaning on his cane, watched children playing in the water nearby, his eyes filled with envy. "Unfortunately, I don't have a thousand years, not even three... cough cough..."
"The brighter someone shines, the faster they burn through their life's energy." Heimerdinger, standing beside him, felt pity but stepped forward to console, "But, Viktor, the more it's like this, the less you can give up."
"I've never given up, Professor."
As the setting sun sank in the distance, the twilight glow gave Viktor's pale face a slight flush. "I must endure this on my own, without hoping for anyone's help."
"That Miss Dan Shu's words have given me a lot of inspiration."
"But science isn't about locking yourself in a room to work alone. One person's wisdom is ultimately limited," Heimerdinger shook his head. He had seen too many gifted yet short-lived geniuses, and apart from regret, there was nothing he could do.
Viktor's condition was incurable. His fate had been sealed since childhood, unchangeable—at least not with Piltover's current medical technology.
"I know it's hard, Professor..."
Viktor recalled how, earlier that day, the blood he coughed up had dripped onto the rune powering the Hexgate, causing a mysterious reaction. With this in mind, he might be able to attempt something bolder.
He silently resolved to hold onto this thought—no one could help him, and he wouldn't dream of anyone's aid. Even if the Council opposed him, or even if Jayce didn't support his approach... he would persist with his experiments.
[After escorting the little girl home, the two returned to Synwood Pavilion.]
["Thank you again for your help," Dan Shu said calmly. "For people like us with innate deficiencies, we inevitably face humiliation in our youth. Even after enduring countless hardships and rising to the position of Alchemy Commission Chief, there are still many things we're powerless to change."]
["That's exactly why I said those words to her... They might sound harsh to you, but compared to what she'll face in the future, my words are but a gentle breeze."]
["Doesn't the Xianzhou have technology like artificial eyes?" Stelle didn't quite understand.]
["The physical condition of long-life species is predetermined from the start," Dan Shu shook her head lightly. "Beauty or ugliness, intelligence or foolishness, height or stature... all are fixed in our genetic makeup from birth. Many flaws that short-life species can correct through mechanisms or surgery are, for Xianzhou people, beyond remedy."]
["Because no matter what methods we use or what mechanisms we implant, our bodies will revert to their original state. For long-life species, innate deficiencies are an eternal trial, unavoidable."]
["My optic nerves were underdeveloped, so I can only rely on implants for treatment. But those implants are quickly 'rejected' by the Xianzhou's powerful regenerative abilities... That process is worse than death."]
["There are many similar cases... skeletal deformities, missing soft tissues, congenital heart disease, and so on."]
"According to her, all the ailments caused by innate deficiencies are completely incurable," Changsheng, coiled around Baizhu's neck, flicked its vibrant tongue, making a "tsk tsk" sound.
"I never thought the day would come when a patient's strong regenerative ability could become a problem," Baizhu sighed. "The world is truly full of wonders."
"But, Baizhu, I think there's an exception to her statement."
Baizhu curiously followed up, "Oh? Who?"
"Have you forgotten Miss Fu Xuan from the Divination Commission?" Changsheng recalled. "I remember... the eye on her forehead shouldn't be something long-life species naturally have. It's more like an 'implant,' right? Why does it seem like Master Diviner goes about her daily duties without any signs of pain?"
"Changsheng, you're underestimating Master Diviner," Baizhu chuckled. "Have you forgotten what Miss Qingque said? Apart from her height, Master Diviner's abilities are top-notch."
"That eye isn't just significant to her personally—it's also incredibly helpful to the entire Divination Commission and the Xianzhou Luofu. With that alone, someone as strong-willed as Master Diviner wouldn't easily give up her eye, would she?"
"Besides, she's someone who aspires to succeed the general one day. With such grand ambitions, how could she be an ordinary girl? Enduring pain that others cannot is probably commonplace for her."
"Hmm... now that you put it that way, it makes sense. If someone gave me an eye to help me divine the future, I'd be willing to endure a bit of pain for it."
"Oh? Really?" Baizhu cast a meaningful smile toward the little snake at his neck.
"...Hiss!" Changsheng shuddered under his gaze. "I was just joking! Geez... no sense of humor at all. Self-sacrificing stuff like that is better suited for you. As for me... hehe, I'll just stick with you."
——
["How ironic... many Abundance followers—the so-called 'Abominations'—don't suffer from this torment. Hah, as for innate deficiencies, they're probably a curse prepared by the Plagues Author for betrayers," Dan Shu said with a cold laugh.]
["Then why don't Abominations have innate deficiencies?" Stelle was quite curious.]