Since the sky was covered, the heavens began to show their holiness

The night was as dark as ink, and the suburbs of the Noxian border were shrouded in thick silence. Zhou Xian stood in the wilderness with swaying weeds, looking up at the sky that belonged to the Rune Land alone.

Starlight poured down. Unlike any known starry sky, every galaxy here seemed like a living thing. The dark blue star tracks beat like pulses, and the silver-white star clusters flickered in the nebula vortex.

Zhou Xian knew that the bright spots above the sky were by no means ordinary celestial bodies - each beam of flowing light was the embodiment of the deity of a star spirit, an ancient existence born in ancient times, overlooking the disputes and rise and fall on the Rune Continent.

"Where on earth did Zoe go? Not even the faint light of the star track could find any trace of her."

Zhou Xian stared at the galaxy deep in the sky, which was filled with purple light. The twilight-like halo should have flickered like Zoe's unbridled personality, but at this moment it was strangely silent, as if covered by a layer of solidified mist.

Alarm bells rang in his heart - as the most ancient and powerful existence in Runeland, the human body of the Twilight Star Spirit has the ability to tear space apart, and ordinary dangers cannot restrain her at all. The abnormal gloom of this star field now is definitely not a good sign.

"I hope I am just worrying too much."

Zhou Xian took a deep breath, and the night wind blew the sound of horns from the Noxian military camp in the distance past his ears. He rubbed the back of his sore neck, trying to dispel the uneasiness spreading in his heart.

Although there are many powerful people in Runeland, there are only a few who can really threaten Zoe - the Dragon King who forges stars into swords and can reshape the sea of ​​stars with a wave of his hand is one, and the cosmic street slicker Bard is another. Apart from these two ancient beings who transcend common sense, who else can make that eccentric star spirit disappear? He looked at the Twilight Galaxy that was gradually covered by clouds, and a sigh escaped from his throat. The crisp sound of the soles of his boots crushing the dead branches under his feet was particularly clear in the silent night.

"Brother, are you back?"

A silver bell-like childish voice suddenly pierced the night, and Anne jumped out from the shadows of the trees holding her burnt Tibbers doll. The moonlight fell on the red bow in her hair, reflecting tiny lights, her childish cheeks flushed from running, and her gray-blue eyes were filled with pure joy, as if they contained two clear springs reflecting the stars.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

Anne's rosy cheeks puffed up slightly, she lowered her eyes and plucked Tibbers's burnt hair, the corners of her lips curved downward into a small crescent. Ever since her parents disappeared in the accident, she always saw evasive eyes in the crowd.

Adults stepped back in fear, children of the same age ran away screaming, and even stray dogs passing by would stand up against her. It was not until she met Zhou Xian, the man who would squat down and look her in the eye and listen carefully to her doll stories, that she knew the feeling of being accepted. It turned out to be as warm as the flames in the fireplace in winter. She could finally enjoy the happiness of playing and laughing like an ordinary child.

"Well, let's stay here tonight." Zhou Xian gently placed his palm on Anne's fluffy hair, feeling the warmth between the soft hair with his fingertips.

Annie clenched Tibers's claws, her falling bangs covering the tears in her eyes: "I'm sorry, it's all because of Annie that I've caused trouble for my brother."

Her voice trembled, like a candle flame blown away by the cold wind. If it weren't for the restless magic in her body, and the terrifying name of "Daughter of Darkness", they might be resting in a warm inn at this moment. The rumors in the streets of Noxus gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake - people said that she was a walking disaster, a catastrophe that could explode at any time, and even the roughest soldiers would take a detour when they saw her. Thinking of this, she twisted the hem of her skirt nervously, and her nails almost dug into her palms. Zhou Xian gently put his hands on Annie's trembling shoulders, so that her gray-blue eyes could collide directly with his firm gaze: "People are always afraid of unknown things, so they mistake power for danger."

He gently wiped away the tears that were about to fall from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips. The warmth left in his palms was like a small flame. "Magic has never been good or evil. It's like the stars in the sky. It can light up the night road, but it can also turn into a meteor and destroy a city-state. The key lies in who holds it in their hands."

Zhou Xian knew some of his new sister's past. He felt pity for her and couldn't help but sigh. If she was born in Magnolia Continent, with Annie's talent for fire magic, who knows how many academies would be vying to recruit her.

Zhou Xian sighed softly, a faint golden light rose from his palm, and his fingertips seemed to pluck invisible strings as they passed through the void. As he stretched his arms, the ground beneath his feet twisted and piled up silently like silk lifted by an invisible giant hand. Fine pieces of soil and rocks floated up, flowing in the air into crystal light particles, weaving carved arches and glazed window edges under the moonlight.

In the blink of an eye, a villa with gilded eaves and red lacquer carvings rose from the ground. The pearls inlaid on the dome automatically lit up, and warm light flowed through the stained glass, making the weed-covered countryside look like a fantasy. The entire process of building from scratch was eerily quiet, and only when the evening breeze blew over the copper bells on the eaves did it emit a few clear echoes.

This villa is a miracle of magic. The light band wrapped around Zhou Xian's fingertips is a bright magic that condenses the power of the morning light. It turns into night-shining pearls and wall lamps, dispelling the darkness while spreading soft halos in every corner; the bricks and stones of the ground and walls are shaped by earth magic. They look ordinary but are in fact very solid and can withstand any violent impact; the winding canals and fountains in the villa are masterpieces of water magic. The clear water flows silently, reflecting the sparkling waves on the wall, which not only brings visual enjoyment, but also makes the whole space filled with a fresh and moist atmosphere.

Various magical elements were perfectly integrated under his control, turning this temporary residence into a unique dreamland in the wilderness.

Only after the night pearls on the dome of the villa lit up one after another did Zhou Xian withdraw his gaze from the starry sky.

"Annie, go back and wash up and rest first. Your brother is outside to wake you up." He deliberately slowed down his tone, and his voice was as soft as moonlight.

The little girl hugged Tibers and nodded vigorously, the bow in her hair trembling slightly as she jumped. When she pushed open the carved wooden door, warm light poured out, stretching her shadow long, and then it was swallowed up in the colorful room. The sound of gurgling water and laughter floated along the corridor constructed by water magic, mixed with the light sandalwood scent unique to the light magic in the wall lamp.

Zhou Xian leaned against the gilded column alone, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the brick and stone surface - these building materials made of earth magic still retained the residual warmth from his spellcasting. The galaxy of the Twilight Star Spirit in the distance was still covered with a layer of gray, and the night wind blew a few dead leaves past his feet, but it did not disturb the magic barrier at all.

Zhou Xian lowered his eyes and gently turned the starlight condensed between his fingers, the cold light drew a cold arc in the night. He suddenly raised his eyes to the northwest where the bushes were rustling, and his voice was filled with unquestionable pressure: "Keeping your head and showing your tail is not the style of Noxus."

Before he finished speaking, the air around him suddenly twisted and a dark shadow emerged from the shadows of the trees.

(End of this chapter)