"What?!"
Hearing the messenger's words, Elder Guchuan, who had been sitting calmly, suddenly bolted upright. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he stared at the newcomer. "What exactly happened? Speak clearly!"
Unlike his demeanor during the debate with Faen, the sheer suddenness and gravity of this news caused an invisible aura to erupt around Elder Guchuan, creating a faint whistling wind within the magnificent Temple of the Long-Standing. The messenger, who had run here with all his might, was so overwhelmed by this pressure that his mouth hung open for a long time, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Calm yourself."
At that moment, a cool and gentle voice drifted from behind the crowd. Sitting cross-legged upon her throne, Karma's eyes shimmered with an emerald luster. She pointed a slender finger toward the messenger, and a clear, pale-green light sank into his mind. Almost instantly, the man regained his composure. He took a deep breath and said:
"The new Noxian leader, Jericho Swain, has forcibly launched attacks on numerous towns and settlements along the coast of the Navori province! The pretext is the 'theft of magical materials capable of granting eternal life'! According to the latest reports, the coastal regions of the Earp River are also under Noxian assault!"
Under the influence of Karma's magic, the messenger's spirit had relaxed significantly, and his logic became much sharper. He quickly and accurately relayed the situation in western Navori and the southern Earp River regions.
Faen was not surprised, nor did he offer any mockery. He knew very well that his confidence stemmed from his status as a transmigrator—the First Ionian War was a clearly defined and recorded event in the official League of Legends timeline. Furthermore, before returning to Ionia, he had utilized LeBlanc's intelligence network and the Twin Cities' trade channels to confirm Noxus's recent troop movements.
As the trade hub of Runeterra, Piltover could glean much through the monitoring of merchant and military vessels. These factors combined allowed Faen to be certain that the next "Great Event" was the Ionian War.
In any other region, where lore might be a messy mix of Arcane and older versions of the universe, Faen wouldn't have dared to be so certain without specific reconnaissance.
While he was happy to exploit this information gap, he knew he had to adapt to local conditions—at least in Ionia, being too "all-knowing" wasn't always a benefit.
Thinking this, Faen didn't turn his gaze toward the messenger like the others. Instead, he looked directly at Karma.
Similarly, upon hearing the news, Karma's face showed a hint of concern but no overwhelming shock. She then cast her gaze down toward Faen.
Through that simple eye contact, the two of them almost instantly sensed each other's thoughts. Without saying a word, Faen gave Karma a nearly imperceptible nod, and Karma responded with a silent, dignified inclination of her head.
Then, Faen turned to the messenger and swept his gaze over the various Masters and Elders present.
"Look, this is the 'spirit of struggle' inherent to this world! Even if Ionia is separated from Valoran by a vast ocean, even if Ionia remains isolated from mundane conflicts, cherishing peace and treating every traveler with kindness, the world itself will not reciprocate with goodwill. Because this world is filled with countless stalks of bamboo and trees that wish to pierce through rock to grow green leaves and soak up every bit of sunlight, driving their roots into every corner of the earth for nutrients to become a forest of one!"
Hearing Faen's words, the elders present showed various expressions. Some eyes flickered with wavering doubt, while others merely radiated a strange firmness and rejection.
"Now is not the time to discuss this! We must formulate a response!"
Elder Guchuan took a deep breath, unmoved by Faen's voice. In truth, while Guchuan appeared to be Faen's greatest opponent, his arguments were always focused on the importance of "Balance" for Ionia. Faen didn't think he was wrong—because for the past millennium, Guchuan had been right.
"Today's exchange ends here," Karma suddenly announced. "Elders, please return to your respective sects. Convey the importance of Balance to your believers and disciples, ensure the safety of the people, and if necessary, prevent further Noxian aggression—"
Before Karma could finish, an elderly man cried out in terror: "No! We cannot fight! Evacuation is enough! We must avoid conflict at all costs! Once combat and slaughter occur, the malice in the Spirit Realm will only grow stronger!"
Hearing the old man, Faen said calmly, "I should probably kill you first."
"If my death could prevent all this, I would gladly offer it!" The old man's eyes held no fear, only a twisted resolve. Faen's gaze held no respect, only an increasing disgust.
He doesn't realize that his own brand of 'goodness' is the greatest evil.
Following the old man's outburst, the elders in the Temple began to argue amongst themselves. It was clear that even the leadership of the Temple of the Long-Standing was not of one mind regarding this unprecedented crisis. After all...
The last time Ionia faced a threat from across the sea was thousands of years ago, during the time of Ivern the Cruel, before he became the Green Father and when he cut down the God-Willow.
That history went back to the era of the Three Sisters in the Freljord—an era even older than Ancient Shurima.
Ionia had been untouched even by the Rune Wars that ravaged Valoran a thousand years ago. And now, in this seemingly mundane era...
"It's you! I understand now! It must be because of you!!" another elder suddenly realized, pointing at Faen with hatred. "It must be the ripples you caused in the Spirit Realm that brought this calamity upon the First Lands!!"
Faen almost felt like laughing.