Arcane: Twin Cities Mechanic

After a while, the carriage came to a complete stop.

Zoë, brimming with excitement, was the first to jump out of the carriage. Li Lin followed closely behind, grabbing her small hand to keep her from running wild in the royal city and causing any unnecessary misunderstandings.

Behind them, Morgana—wearing a veil and sporting two pairs of purple-black wings—stepped out, followed by Shyvana, clad in strange, scaly armor. Their presence immediately drew the attention of the guards stationed outside Dawn Castle.

Their eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and even a hint of danger. Had the two not descended from the prince's carriage, the guards would have already swarmed to apprehend them.

In truth, Zoë had the ability to temporarily disguise their "unusual" appearances to blend in with commoners, but after careful consideration, both Li Lin and Jarvan IV deemed it unnecessary.

No matter what, sooner or later, they would have to face the people of Demacia. It was better to show themselves now and explain than to have their identities exposed later, only for certain individuals to latch onto it endlessly.

"So, this is Dawn Castle? Not bad at all!" Zoë's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the towering structure. If not for Li Lin holding her back, she might have flown straight to the top of the castle, which soared hundreds of meters into the sky like a pillar touching the clouds.

Li Lin couldn't help but silently admire the craftsmanship and engineering prowess of Demacia. 

Demacia was a closed, feudal nation, with no signs of Hextech within its borders. 

Yet the towering statues, some as tall as a hundred meters, and the perfectly symmetrical, meticulously crafted decorations like the Dawn Castle before them were all chiseled and sculpted by human hands, one stroke at a time.

While Piltover was not as grand as Demacia's capital, Li Lin, having been trained for such occasions, remained composed, unfazed by the imposing sight.

As for Morgana, with her divine power, nothing in this world—apart from her sister Kayle—could stir her emotions too much.

However, things were different for Shyvana.

Most of the capital's buildings were constructed with Petricite, especially the city walls, which contained a higher concentration of the material than any other structure.

As they passed the Petricite walls, Shyvana began to show signs of discomfort. 

By the time they reached Dawn Castle, her unease was even more apparent on her face.

"Are you alright?" Li Lin asked with concern.

Shyvana was likely to become Jarvan IV's queen in the future. She couldn't afford to have any problems now.

"The Petricite here is interfering with her magic flow," Morgana explained from the side.

With a subtle glance around, Morgana discreetly channeled a tiny thread of black magic into Shyvana's body, concealed from view by the carriage and their surroundings.

Instantly, Shyvana's pale complexion improved significantly. She looked up and offered a grateful nod. "Thank you..."

Morgana returned the nod, her attention already shifting toward the sound of approaching footsteps.

Jarvan IV, having just reassured his father, was striding towards them with a smile on his face.

His eyes quickly fell on Shyvana, and with concern, he asked, "Is the Petricite making you uncomfortable?"

Shyvana forced an uneasy smile. "It's alright, Your Highness. Morgana has helped, and I feel much better now."

Jarvan IV's smile softened as he fell into brief contemplation. "I understand. I'll request that Father station you in a town without Petricite barriers."

"Your Highness, you don't have to—"

"Say no more. It's what you deserve."

With a warm smile, Jarvan IV gave Shyvana's shoulder a reassuring pat, then exchanged glances with Li Lin and Morgana.

"I've already informed Father about your arrival. This isn't the place to discuss matters. He's waiting for you inside the castle.

"Ah, and he wanted me to apologize on his behalf—he couldn't personally greet you."

Jarvan IV bowed slightly towards Morgana, offering a respectful gesture that caught the attention of many bewildered guards nearby.

"No matter. I don't mind," Morgana replied calmly. "Lead the way, Your Highness. Let's meet your father."

Jarvan IV nodded and led the way, his guards forming two lines to escort Li Lin, Zoë, Morgana, and Shyvana in the center of the procession.

The ceremonial band once again played triumphant tunes in honor of Jarvan IV's return, while another group of soldiers beat the war drums and waved the Demacian flag, continuing until Jarvan IV and his companions entered the gates of Dawn Castle.

Their destination was clear: the Hall of Valor, where Jarvan III awaited.

The Hall of Valor, a grand structure made from white marble infused with Petricite, served not only as the place where the king handled affairs of state but also as the location where the fallen soldiers of Demacia were remembered and honored.

After traversing the wide, expansive corridors, Jarvan IV and his group soon arrived at their destination.

The Hall of Valor was not fully enclosed; its design featured an open layout.

Four massive white stone pillars rose skyward, forming the primary support structure. These pillars connected to the intricately spaced stone walls, resembling a fence, that extended to meet the ceiling, several dozen meters high.

A circular opening was carved into the center of the ceiling, allowing sunlight to pour through. The specialized design ensured that the hall's central area was always bathed in soft, white light, giving it a sacred atmosphere.

Two towering statues, over 20 meters tall, of Fearless Vanguard soldiers kneeling with swords in hand, stood symmetrically on either side of the hall. They gazed upward toward two even larger, 50-meter-tall statues of upright, fully-armored soldiers in the center. Together, they flanked the Demacian king's throne.

Before the throne stood two winged statues symbolizing Demacia. Their wings, resembling Morgana's, hung downward, much like Galio's twin wings. 

[At this moment, Jarvan III was seated on the throne at the very center of the Hall of Valor.

He wore a golden crown, held a golden scepter symbolizing his reign, and was clad in golden battle armor crafted entirely from pure gold. A pure white cloak hung from his shoulders, and a knee-length cloth with a white background and blue border naturally draped down before him.

The passage of time had taken its toll; Jarvan III's hair and beard had turned completely white.

Standing behind him were two men and one woman, one of whom, Barrett, was someone Li Lin had gotten to know well along the way.

The other two were both donned in rune-steel armor, adorned with the blue, yellow, and white colors characteristic of Demacia, complete with the nation's signature wide, heavy pauldrons.

One of the men, with an Ionia-like appearance, held a long spear. His black hair was tied up into a high ponytail, which naturally draped down his back.

The woman had flowing golden hair that fell to her shoulders. She stood tall and straight, her expression cold. With her hands clasped behind her back, her slightly raised chin and icy gaze projected an air of superiority, as if she were looking down on everything.

Even without using his "Data Mind," Li Lin could immediately recognize them.

One was Xin Zhao, Demacia's trusted Grand General, and the other was Tiyana Crownsguard, who had recently been appointed as the Grand Marshal of Demacia. She was Garen and Lux's aunt and the political wife of Eldred, the leader of the Mageseekers' faction.

It seemed that the footsteps echoing through the corridor had already reached Jarvan III's ears. As soon as Li Lin and Jarvan IV arrived at the Hall of Valor, Jarvan III rose with a hearty laugh and swiftly moved forward to greet them.

Barrett, Xin Zhao, and Tiyana closely followed in his steps.

Jarvan III's eyes first focused on Li Lin, who was faintly positioned as the leader among the group, then quickly shifted to the figure beside him, none other than Morgana, one of Demacia's legendary winged protectors.

Upon noticing the dark, iron-shackled wings extending from her shoulder blades, both the king and even the ever-stoic Xin Zhao and Tiyana couldn't help but be startled.

However, Jarvan III quickly regained his composure, his royal upbringing allowing him to shake off the shock in mere moments. With a hint of respect creeping into his tone, he said, "Forgive my rudeness; I was unable to personally welcome your return..."

Behind him, Tiyana frowned slightly, as if she disapproved of the king's deferential attitude toward another.

Moreover, the woman before him was meeting the king with a veil and scarf, and her identity as the winged protector was not even fully confirmed...

At the very least, Tiyana had never heard of the winged protector being part of a sisterly pair.

Why had the crown prince brought back two individuals skilled in magic?

Tiyana's sharp gaze quickly swept over Morgana and Shyvana.

Li Lin was the prince's benefactor, and she wouldn't go against him, no matter the circumstance.

As for Zoe...

Just a child, it seemed, somehow related to Li Lin. Siblings, perhaps?

A sense of discontent and wariness stirred within Tiyana.

But just as she was about to rebuke Morgana, a sideways glance from Barrett caught her eye, and she noticed his furrowed brow.

In a brief exchange of glances, Tiyana understood that Barrett was giving her a "warning"—he didn't want her to act recklessly.

Thus, the words that had been forming on her lips were swallowed down, turning instead into a deep breath.

Even without magic, Morgana's senses were sharp. She naturally picked up on the subtle shifts in demeanor from the two behind the king.

This country... has changed too much...

Morgana sighed inwardly, clearly displeased with the heavy political atmosphere.

"You don't have to be so formal with me," she said calmly.

Jarvan III's eyes filled with confusion, and Morgana explained, "In the past, when my sister... Kayle and I were the winged protectors of Demacia, at least from my perspective, we treated everyone equally."

Jarvan III's expression showed a brief moment of realization, though his excitement was hardly concealed. "The winged protector has returned! Demacia will once again ascend to glory and thrive for eternity! Hahaha..."

After a brief exchange with Morgana and some lofty sentiments, the king managed to rein in his excitement. He then turned to look at Li Lin, who stood nearest to him.

"You must be Li Lin of the Kiramman family from Piltover, the one my son spoke of as his savior?"

Li Lin crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave a slight bow, offering a respectful yet composed response, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Good, good! So young and so accomplished!"

Jarvan III took two steps forward, placing his hands on Li Lin's shoulders and giving them a light pat. "You saved my son's life. He is the sole heir of the Lightshield family. Such a favor... is beyond what we can ever repay."

He paced back and forth, deep in thought, before stopping to meet Li Lin's gaze again.

"But regardless, as the king of Demacia, I must show my gratitude in some way...

"How about this: I bestow upon you the honorary title of Lord of Sasanli, a town on the Demacian Plains south of the capital. You will hold all the rights and receive most of the taxes from that region. How does that sound?"

(End of Chapter)

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