Battle of the Two Cities: Begins with the Mage

Noxus Frontier.

The verdant mountains overlap, and the tops of the towering mountains are covered with snow that never melts all year round. No one has ever reached the top of the mountain, and no one knows what is buried in the depths of the snow.

It is rare to see towering and majestic castles, dense city-states, and no floating cities floating in the clouds. There are only endless vast plains and mountains that can never be reached.

"Wow, that's amazing."

Seraphine stepped on the luminous stage, looking at the magnificent view of the overlapping mountains in front of her, and sighed subconsciously.

Not only her, but the other little guys from the magic department jumped out of the carriage impatiently, admiring the scenery in front of them with bright eyes.

Along the way, the countless peculiar landscapes in the empire opened their eyes and called them novel.

Xin Zhao's expression was the same as usual. He rode a black tiger and stood upright in front of the open space, and introduced to the young sprouts behind him:

"The mountain to the north is called the Turku Peaks, and across the mountain is the Turkugur Plain, where the Empire's army has just liberated... The mountains to the south are called the Silver Mountains, and the mountains lead directly to the Gate of Sorrow in Demacia. ."

"Gate of Sorrow..." Seraphine repeated, "I've heard its name, it leads directly to the heart of Demacia, and that's where General Shane entered Demacia and killed Jarvan. A generation."

"Indeed." As Xin Zhao spoke, he raised his eyes slightly and looked forward, "That's Lapuzes, the former frontier fortress of Noxus, and now it's a place where the civilians of the Empire live."

"Rapp...Zeth...what a mouthful name." Seraphine frowned and whispered, "Looking at the map, I don't think the empire's territory is so vast."

"Noxus will be more than that," Xin Zhao said confidently. "Take a rest, we're camping in Lapzes tonight."

After he finished speaking, he drove the black tiger to the end of the team.

Watching Xin Zhao leave, Seraphine's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile.

Only when he was introducing the location and necessary precautions did Xin Zhao speak more. The rest of the time, he rode on a black tiger and roamed silently on both sides of the team.

After a short rest, the team set off on their journey to Demacia again.

Before leaving, Seraphine glanced behind her again. The orange-red sunset hung on the horizon, and the red glow was like a beacon of light in front of the hotel, which made people feel warm and reassured.

This time, their itinerary is not compact, they don't have to hurry up and arrive at Xiongdu as soon as possible to communicate.

The purpose of the communication itself is to let the children of the magic department, and even herself, add a part of the experience of traveling.

Even just sitting on the carriage, looking at the landscape along the way, the villages passing by, the creek flowing, the birds flying overhead... Seraphine felt inspired, and learned a lot about the talent of the soul perception.

What she saw in the books before was only black and white words, and it was not until she embarked on this journey that those black and white knowledge came alive.

Seraphine digested them, decomposed them, and finally transformed them into her own insights.

Da da da.

The wheels of the wagon rolled over the muddy road in the woods, and the ground was wet with occasional water, and it looked like it had just rained.

As the team walked through the forest in an orderly manner, Seraphine lowered the flying height of the stage, and suddenly there was a hint of surprise in her light blue eyes.

Immediately afterwards, I heard a childish, yet imposing shout from the front:

"Look—hammer!"

"Boom!!!"

The child's voice was accompanied by a muffled sound of shaking the ground, and it was also mixed with a few roars of beasts in pain.

"She's not weak," Xin Zhao commented succinctly.

"This is Empire territory, let's take a look." Seraphine moved the stage closer to Xin Zhao.

"As ordered."

Xin Zhao nodded slightly, pulled the reins, and Seraphine and Seraphine broke away from the main force, running towards the direction of the voice.

The two walked through the dense jungle, and after a while, they came to a green grassy flat.

On the grass, there was a thorn wolf lying down at the moment, with dark red bloodstains hanging from the corners of its mouth, and a deep depression in its flat head, its abdomen did not rise and fall, and its nose and mouth no longer gave out weak breaths. .

It seems that this killing has already been decided.

As for the winner...

Seraphine lowered her gaze, and in front of the huge wolf body of the Thorns Wolf stood a short figure carrying a hammer.

"who are you?"

The short figure frowned, but his eyes were glued to Xin Zhao's body, looking up and down, left and right, as if he was confirming something.

Seraphine did not perceive the maliciousness of the other party. She smiled and floated forward, introducing herself:

"My name is Seraphine, are you a yordle? It's my first time seeing you."

A cute little man with two big pointed ears, a face that is slightly different from that of ordinary people in the legend... Let Seraphine guess the identity of the other party.

In Noxus, she had only heard of one Founding Father who was a yordle, but she had yet to meet one.

However, her teacher also said that yordle people are inherently fickle, whimsical, and always pursue something different from normal people.

"I'm Poppy! Seraphine... such a strange name

Character. "

While Bobby spoke, his eyes swept across the small glowing stage under Seraphine's feet, revealing a strange look:

"Why don't you step on the ground?"

"Uh..." Seraphine's expression froze suddenly, but she quickly recovered and smiled, "For some innate reasons, I can't get off this."

"Oh I see, you are so pitiful!"

Poppy glanced at Seraphine's legs pitifully, with sincere sympathy in her eyes and tone.

Seeing this kind of gaze felt a little uncomfortable, Seraphine rolled her eyes and hurriedly changed the subject:

"That... Poppy? Why are you here, is there a yordle settlement around here?"

Speaking of this, Seraphine revealed the nature of curiosity.

She had seen in her teacher's collection that most of the yordle lived in a mysterious place, and the only way to get there was through magical teleportation.

As for why this is the case, Seraphine also asked her teacher, and the answer she got was that the yordles lived in a place called "Bandle City", which was an independent space, relying on Runeterra to exist.

In addition, the yordles are born with a certain magical talent and long lifespan. They have opened up portals to all corners of Runeterra and can travel anywhere in the world.

"I'm not a yordle, I don't have a common language with those naive guys, I'm a great and glorious Demacian!"

Poppy raised the super-long giant hammer in his hand, like raising the flag of his own country, with solemnity, recognition and pride on his face.

"Well, okay. Poppy is a Demacian, so why are you here?" Seraphine asked with a strange feeling in her heart.

For some reason, she always felt that she was not calling the other party's name, but the collective name of a group.

She even wondered if all yordles were called Bobby...

"Hey, good question! I'm looking for a Demacian hero. I climbed a long mountain and ended up here." Poppy swung the hammer behind him.

"You should be crossing the Silver Mountains. Ordinary people can't cross there. Usually, you will cross the plains over the mountains from here, and then go to Demacia from the Gate of Sorrow." Xin Zhao speculated on the trajectory of Poppy's actions.

Although his words were not ups and downs, the eyes he looked at Bobby at the moment were full of vigilance.

The presence of a suspicious Demacian on the Noxian realm was enough to draw his attention.

It is not an easy thing to climb over the Silver Mountains. The mountains are covered with ice and snow all the year round, and the rocks are rugged, and there is almost no good way to pass safely.

At least he had to have a physique like him that could ignore most of the dangerous terrain and obstacles, and then it was possible to cross the Silver Mountains.

"Poppy is really amazing. It is estimated that it takes hundreds of kilometers of mountain roads to get here from Demacia." Seraphine clasped her hands together and applauded Poppy's behavior.

She couldn't hear Poppy's voice, which meant that he was at least on the same level as General Xin Zhao.

Even weaker hero-level humans, she can already fully understand their souls.

Before she left, Ms. Syndra said that it was a journey that she could break through as a hero.

Well... the implication is that if she doesn't break through to the hero level, Lady Syndra and her teacher should not welcome her back to the Immortal Castle.

It is said that... her two teachers were both born heroic mages, and upon awakening, they had a talent that was far stronger than that of ordinary mages, which made her envious.

After listening to Seraphine's words, Poppy sensed something was wrong and frowned:

"Wait, what do you mean... this isn't Demacia?"

It wasn't until now that she found out about it later.

"This is Noxus. We are an exchange group representing the Empire on behalf of Demacia, and then we will go to the Demacian capital." Seraphine nodded and explained to Poppy.

"You are Noxians!!!"

Poppy's face was broken at the moment, he instantly raised a hammer higher than himself, and took three steps back, seeing Seraphine and Xin Zhao's eyes immediately full of vigilance.

Oh, Demacian heroes, she just thought a Noxian would be a Demacian hero!

Luckily she didn't say it, otherwise it would have put the Demacians in disgrace.

"Poppy, don't be nervous... we're not bad people." Seraphine waved her hand, helpless.

"Noxus are big villains, they have wings on their backs, they have four hands, their faces are hideous, they are cruel and vicious..."

Poppy's mouth was like a machine gun, spewing out a series of bad adjectives in one breath.

Hearing these unremarkable descriptions, Seraphine's eyes twitched twice, she hurriedly stopped Xin Zhao who wanted to do it, and showed an impeccable smile:

"Then look, do we look like the kind of people you said?"

Poppy looked up and down Seraphine and Xin Zhao, and after a while, she shook her head to herself and muttered:

"Well...not like, not at all...hey, are you fake Noxians?"

She thought that the other party had just played a joke on her.

Perhaps in fact, both of them are heroic and beautiful Demacians! Maybe there is a hero she is looking for!

Seraphine couldn't help crying after hearing this

Looking at Bobby, he said sincerely:

"Bobbie, we're real Noxians, there's no doubt about that. Noxians are people, and Demacians are people, so what's the difference?

Before Poppy could answer, Seraphine continued:

"Could it be that Demacians, who claim to be fair and equal, also deny others with conjectures?"

Poppy shook his head decisively: "No! Demacians, be realistic!"

Now Poppy doesn't doubt the identity of the other party, but instead has a feeling of shame in his heart and face.

She is a righteous Demacian. How is her behavior different from an evil Noxian?

Ah, no... I have two Noxians standing in front of me, neither looks nor voice is evil.

"Poppy, think about it, where did you hear the rumors about the Noxians." Seraphine's eyes were slightly curved, the corners of her lips were upturned, and she smiled quite friendly.

Seeing Bobby, she had a good idea in her mind.

The teacher once said that the talents of every yordle should not be underestimated.

"Where did you say...?"

Poppy blinked, showing a blank expression, she lowered her head to look at the grass, thought for a while, and then said:

"Nowhere...that's what everyone in Demacia says, the villagers say Noxus...uh."

Bobby paused, she glanced embarrassedly, and glanced at the beautiful and lovely Seraphine, she really couldn't say anything bad.

It can't be said that Noxians are dressed in a good-looking skin...

She had never heard rumors of this, and as a true Demacian, she shouldn't have such thoughts.

Poppy puffed out his cheeks, lowered his head, and warned himself in his heart.

Immediately afterwards, when Seraphine and Xin Zhao had no expectations, Poppy suddenly stopped and stood at attention, and bowed straight to the two:

"I'm sorry, two Noxians, I'm sorry for my previous actions."

"Pobby, you don't need to apologize." Seraphine said, floating the stage forward, leaning down and pulling Bobby up.

"It's not just you, the Demacians think of us that way."

Seraphine comforted, as if she didn't want Poppy to feel too guilty, adding:

"We didn't know each other even if we didn't know each other before. Now we are just going to Demacia. If you don't mind, we can take you on a ride."

"I can go back the same way..."

Poppy opened his mouth, just about to stubbornly refuse, but after looking back at the scene around him, he lowered his head in embarrassment.

She doesn't even remember the way she came.

If she was allowed to turn herself around in Noxian territory...

Oh, the heroes of Demacia are above, she's afraid she'll never go back.

Holy Hammer... my old friend, Oren...

no! She's Demacian, she hasn't found the perfect owner for the Hammer, the hero she's been looking for!

"It's alright, you have climbed the Silver Mountains for so long, you must not have eaten anything good. We will show you the local customs of Noxus."

With her signature smile, Seraphine reached out to Poppy and offered her own invitation.

Feeling the sincerity and enthusiasm in the other's voice, Poppy felt even more guilty.

What a good Noxian! How could she have that thought just now, I'm ashamed...

She secretly decided in her heart that she must escort them to Demacia safely.

Poppy put away the hammer, stood firm again, and said solemnly:

"Thank you, you are all good people!"

seeing is believing.

She had never been to the front lines before, and had only heard rumours of the Noxians in Demacia.

Obviously, the performance of the other side is not the same as the rumored Noxus.

"Come on, Lapzes is ahead, let's go!" Seraphine said.

She stepped on the small stage and floated forward first, with Poppy and Xin Zhao following behind her, chatting harmoniously as they walked towards the team.

The convoy did not stop because of the departure of Seraphine and Xin Zhao. They arrived at Lapzes first and were waiting at the entrance of the fortress.

The students stepped down from the carriage, breathing air, stretching their limbs, or looking around curiously.

Anne was the last to jump out of the carriage, her left hand clutching the bear that never left her hand, she glanced around, then lowered her head in disappointment, and started kicking stones in a bored way.

There are many friends around her, but she has no interest in communicating at all, and kicking rocks is more interesting.

When Seraphine's figure appeared at the gate of the fortress, Annie's boring eyes disappeared instantly, and she trotted up with a happy face holding the bear:

"Sister Seraphine, you're back!"

"Hello, Noxian! I'm Poppy!"

Bobby on the side seemed to have suffered the loss last time. As soon as they met this time, he stood upright and greeted him with a solemn face.

Although she thinks such a cute little girl, it doesn't match the Noxian people in her impression.

"Well..." Annie tilted her head and looked at her "new friend" who was about the same height as her, with a friendly face, "Hello, my name is Annie,

This is my little bear, Tibbers. "

Oh... Demacia heroes, what a lovely child.

Noxians, they seem to be no different from Demacia...

"Annie, take Poppy to meet your friend, she will follow us to Demacia."

"Okay, Sister Seraphine."

Annie's little face had a rare obedience. She grabbed the bear with one hand and pulled Poppy with the other to walk towards the team.

Whatever Seraphine says, she will unconditionally obey and do it.

The days at the Zhanzheng Academy brought the warmth of home that Anne never had. And the source of all this, she knew very well, was Seraphine's love for her.

Poppy was pulled by those warm and soft little hands, and she was a little embarrassed, but after introducing each other a few times, they became familiar with each other. Hit a piece.

‘General Xin Zhao, are you wondering what I have done? ’

A voice that went straight to the soul echoed in Xin Zhao's mind.

There was no surprise in Xin Zhao's expression, he just shook his head slightly:

"Captain Seraphine, you are the leader of the exchange group. The orders I received are to obey all your instructions."

Seraphine smiled silently, and now she couldn't hear Xin Zhao's soul, compared to what she could vaguely hear when they first met.

It's not that she's getting weaker, it's that General Xin Zhao, with the guidance and help of her teacher, has broken through the boundaries of heroism and reached a higher level.

But after so many days together, even if she couldn't hear the voice of her soul, she could understand what Xin Zhao was thinking now.

This is a respectable general who always prioritizes obedience to orders, even if he has doubts or dissatisfaction in his heart, he will never say it.

'General Xin Zhao, as you saw today, Poppy actually represents the minds of most Demacians. The people of Demacia don't know us well. They just rely on rumors that are not true or false to demonize us. . ’

Hearing the voice transmission in his head, Xin Zhao nodded in agreement.

When he followed Ryan's army to Demacia, he was met with strong resistance from the people there.

Demacia is different from other principalities and kingdoms in that their people will not be oppressed and can live and work in peace and contentment.

The Noxian invasion, on the contrary, provoked their courageous resistance. Instead of seeing Noxus as their rescuer, they saw Noxus as a demon who would rather be killed than submit.

In Xin Zhao's thoughts, Seraphine's voice continued to sound in his mind:

‘It was also through the conversation with Poppy just now that I understood the mission of our mission this time. Communication is only second, we need to let Demacia realize that Noxus is an empire with superior institutions and can be rewarded with hard work, so that those people naturally yearn for it. ’

‘Longing for ease and peace, choose Demacia. But if you want to achieve your ambitions and pursue strength, Noxus always welcomes you. ’

Promoting the Noxus idea...

There was a hint of understanding in Xin Zhao's eyes.

Today's Noxus is completely different from what it used to be. Under the leadership of Trifali, he believes that the Empire is now the most suitable country to live and fight for.

Everyone can find their own place in the empire.

Everyone can play to their strengths in the empire.

everyone...

This was also the Noxus he recognized in his heart.

Xin Zhao felt the tremor in his heart, and he turned his head slightly, looking at Seraphine with a smile on his face, with a little respect in his eyes.

He saw the shadow of Ryan and Swain in Seraphine.

Although it is still a little immature, it is a matter of time to grow up.