"Oh, those despicable high-and-mighty ones."Sylas wore a mocking expression, seemingly recalling a past experience, and couldn't help but angrily say:"We were born into poverty, so we deserve to die, we deserve to be locked in this dark and hopeless cage, right?""Before you came here, you were a member of the Mageseekers. Everyone knew you had magic, and you had your own rules. It's said you were even proud of what you did," Luxanna said slowly.Seeing Sylas fall silent after being talked to, Luxanna wasn't as assertive as she appeared.She even secretly transmitted her thoughts to herself:"Teacher, is it really okay for me to say this?"Luxanna doesn't like to reopen old wounds."He was imprisoned for 15 years. Perhaps he was just like you. But after so many years of torture, all that's left in his heart is hatred and the desire to vent."The voice in my mind paused for a moment before continuing:"If you want him to continue fighting for Demacia, then subdue him. If you only want a better Demacia for yourself, then killing him is the best option.""Why?" Luxanna couldn't help but ask.Because of himUpon learning of Sylas's abilities from her teacher, Luxanna's eyes flickered with surprise, which she almost couldn't hide, but she quickly regained her composure.She wasn't a perfect actress, but she knew in her heart that she had to learn to play different roles in the darkness.Fortunately, Sylas had his head down, seemingly lost in memories, and didn't seem to notice her.Luxanna maintained her tough stance, saying coldly:"I've read your file. You had absolutely no reason to kill your guards and colleagues at that time. I initially thought it was for that mage girl, but she died too."She paused, staring intently at the other person:"I died from your magic.""Hahahaha, yes, they're all dead! All dead! Because of my magic."Hearing the last sentence was like having the deepest scars exposed, and Sylas's face became ferocious and terrifying.If his arms hadn't been tied by Petricite, no one would doubt that he would have pounced on Luxanna.His eyes were fixed on Luxanna, burning with fury, as he gritted his teeth and said:"So what are you doing here? Showing off your discovery? Aren't you afraid I'll tell the guards that you can use magic?""Judging from your expression, it seems there is indeed something hidden about that matter."Luxanna felt a little uneasy, but under the teacher's guidance, she managed a smile and pretended to be nonchalant, saying:"Regarding the matter of 'possessing magic,' I can answer you clearly: I am not afraid.""Just because you're a noble? Yes, being able to get in here means that whatever I say won't get out."Sylas's wrists were handcuffed, and his fists were clenched tightly.Back then, it was precisely because the nobles had concealed many sorcerers that he became increasingly suspicious of his own actions."Your ability is to see whether someone possesses magic, and quite a few people will believe you. I didn't mean what you think; I was just saying..."Luxanna felt nervous, but still took two steps forward with a confident smile:"Even if I said I was a mage on the street, no one would come to arrest me.""impossible!"Sylas stared intently at the flamboyant Luxanna, his mind filled with suspicion.For a fleeting moment, he even felt that mages were no longer a taboo in Demacia."Nothing is impossible, Sylas. Times have changed. We suffered a crushing defeat against Noxus not long ago," Luxanna sighed.She was speaking from the heart; Demacia's recent changes all stemmed from the continuation of the war.But compared to the changing situation, she herself changed more.If she were still the same as before, she might have already run away when Sylas said that the two of them were the same kind."Lost? We didn't win many times during those years we were out there." A complex expression flashed across Sylas's face, his tone full of sarcasm. "So those gentlemen want the power of mages?"He understood those noble gentlemen well; when faced with a life-or-death situation, they would try anything, no matter how taboo.If that were the case, he wouldn't be surprised why Luxanna dared to say that. Hearing this, he could even roughly guess her intentions."I will not fight for Demacia," Sylas mocked."It's not what you think. This time is different. The Winged Protector has lost, lost to Council President Trefari," Luxanna said calmly.This happened some time ago, so much so that she can recount it in a calm manner." The Winged Protector has been defeated?" Sylas's eyes widened, revealing a look of shock for the first time.As a former Mageseeker who could detect whether others possessed magic, how could he not know about the Winged Protector?Almost every member of the Illuminator Order is a mage and a nobleman.Winged Protector had always suspected that the other party was also a powerful mage, only powerful enough to be called a god.Sylas gradually calmed down and said indifferently:" Council President Trefari, who is this person?""Rumor has it that he is the most powerful mage in the world, capable of rivaling the gods. I mention him because he discovered that the Winged Protector's power originates from magic," Luxanna said without any hesitation.Based on the conversations just now, she felt that the teacher's analysis was correct.Sylas hates Demacia, but he still cares about her.When she spoke of Demacia's defeat by Noxus, Sylas's expression was one of anger, not genuine schadenfreude.Of course, perhaps he wanted to destroy Demacia himself.But deep down, she believed Sylas wanted to create a new Demacia, even if that Demacia might be a bit extreme." Winged Protector ""Magic. Just as I expected."Sylas looked away, muttering softly in the dimly lit dungeon. After processing the information, he looked up at Luxanna again:"So, because the Winged Protector used magic, you had internal disagreements. How ironic. The Winged Protector has been defeated, and Demacia is almost finished."Everyone knows that Noxus would never let go of the opportunity to eliminate Demacia.Meanwhile, Demacia was still grappling with magic internally; how could they not perish?" Demacia will be fine, we still have the strength." Luxanna's indifferent eyes met Sylas's. "Also, don't be mistaken for someone who is very strong."Hearing the teacher's words in her mind, she hesitated for a moment, but still took two more steps forward, almost reaching the iron cage.Even with his hands restrained, Sylas could still attack her from this position using the rest of his body.At that moment, Sylas did the same.He straightened the chains on his arms and swept his legs out of the iron bars without hesitation.The lack of force in his kicks clearly indicated that he intended to capture the prisoner rather than kill him.But Luxanna showed no fear at this moment; facing the sweeping whip kick, she remained unusually calm.The beam of light gathered in her hand and then exploded with a bang.Bang!Sylas grunted as he was blasted away, crashing into the wall with a loud bang.His legs, which he swept out, were bent at an odd angle, and appeared to be broken."You are indeed different from noble ladies." Sylas forced a smile despite the pain."You underestimate me. I've said before that even if I'm exposed to the sunlight, I can leave without any problem."As Luxanna spoke, her body transformed into light, and she slowly took a step forward.Sylas squinted, his eyes stinging from the light she radiated.Then, he saw something that horrified him.Luxanna walked through the iron bars step by step and entered the cell."You!?" Sylas's eyes widened."Don't rely too much on strength, Sylas."Luxanna finished speaking softly and gently stroked Sylas's legs.Warm light seeped in, and the cracking sound of bones joining together rang out.In just a few breaths, Sylas's legs had fully recovered.Sylas, whose legs had fully recovered, looked wary, and even though Luxanna was standing right in front of him, he didn't dare to make a move.It has just been proven that Luxanna is far superior to him.He scoffed at the other party's earlier warning. If only he weren't so weak...Luxanna stood up, a gentle smile on her face: "We are the same kind."Sylas himself originally said those words, but now he wants to question their validity.He stared blankly at her, and in his perception, the girl in front of him was radiating a dazzling light.He had never seen such vast magical power before. It wasn't until the other party cast the spell that he realized the hidden magic could even deceive his own senses.He doubted whether the other person was truly a mage. Even among the mages he had seen, including himself, the total magical power was less than Luxanna's.He suddenly understood what she meant; she was telling him that if he had that kind of strength, he wouldn't have been caught in this godforsaken place in the first place.What do you want me to do?Sylas asked the question, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his voice weaker.Only just now did he truly understand that the other party didn't need to rely on his strength at all. And since they had told him so much, they wouldn't let him be cannon fodder."I just want to hear your story, that's all." Luxanna smiled brightly.She sighed inwardly, completely convinced of her teacher's insight and judgment.The teacher was right after all. In the real world, only strength can win you what you want.This strength could be power, influence, birth, or connections.Ultimately, we need to bring out something that inspires fear.Upon hearing Luxanna's words, Sylas's gaze widened in surprise, finding them somewhat absurd."You just want to hear my story?"Why would someone act so aggressively and come all the way to this almost forgotten place just to hear a story?"Before doing anything else, I'll first listen to your story.""Is that so? Hahaha, my story. Since you want to hear it, then I'll tell you a story of Demacia, a country ruled by nobles!"After understanding the reason, Sylas suddenly smiled and burst into a hearty laugh. He looked up at Luxanna and agreed without hesitation.Although their conversation was not pleasant, she was still the first girl who wanted to hear his story.Before he entered this place, no matter how he tried to plead his case, no one was willing to listen.Not a single oneIt's as if possessing magic is a capital offense." You should know my story of joining the Mageseekers. I was born into a commoner family in Demacia. My parents reported my demonic possession to the Mageseekers, who are loyal citizens." Sylas's voice was a little hoarse as he began to tell his story.Luxanna nodded slightly as she listened, and standing not far from Sylas, she added:"After that, the Mageseeker recognized your abilities and assigned you special supervision to search for Demacia's mages.""Do you know what the first thing the disciplinary officer taught me was?" Sylas grinned, his voice full of sarcasm.Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!Seeing that Luxanna did not reply, he laughed and said:"He told me to only test the people they designated, and not to say anything about the others unless asked.""At first I didn't understand what he meant, but then I got it. What a load of bull, the Mageseeker, they only search for commoners and the powerless. The Capital is full of mages, but not one of them has ever been locked up in this dungeon.""I stayed there for a few years and witnessed the deceit and treachery of Demacia. I began to question my own behavior and the rules set by Demacia."Sylas looked at Luxanna with a half-smile. Seeing that she still had no expression, he seemed somewhat disappointed and continued:"While I was agonizing over right and wrong, I ran into that thing you know about."It's impossible to say that Luxanna wasn't moved by Sylas's narration.If the teacher hadn't reminded Sylas that he was using words to guide her, she might have already spoken out in rebuttal.According to Sylas, the truth of the matter was revealed:"At the time, I found the girl first. She was so young, I couldn't bring myself to do it. But Mageseeker arrived just in time, and I didn't have time to save her.""My magic erupted when I touched her.""The out-of-control magic destroyed everything. The girl died, Mageseeker died, my discipline master died, everyone died."Luxanna's expression flickered; she knew Sylas's words were only half true. But the pain and sorrow on his face when he mentioned the girl didn't seem fake."I escaped and hid from the wanted man. By then I had no scruples, and I kept killing Mageseekers and rescuing the mages they imprisoned."Sylas laughed heartily as he said this:"They call me the most evil sorcerer in history, a very fitting title. But those sorcerers respectfully call me a pioneer. I like that title.""But in the end you failed," Luxanna said."Yes, I failed. I accepted Judgment, life imprisonment." Sylas made no attempt to conceal his fate.Now, he seemed to understand Luxanna's thoughts somewhat.But he wanted freedom more than submission.But he had no choice; the other person was the only Shimmer in this dark and gloomy dungeon."You want change?" Sylas asked."Perhaps," Luxanna said noncommittally. "The story is very well told. However, there is a part that needs to be corrected.""Correct?" Sylas's expression faltered slightly.He made no attempt to conceal anything in order to achieve certain goals. Sometimes, it's only necessary to tell part of the truth."Your true ability is to extract magic from mages and use it for your own purposes. Your mistake back then stemmed from this very power," Luxanna said, suppressing her astonishment and maintaining a calm expression."Yes, I only found out later." Sylas raised an eyebrow, not surprised.His abilities had already been exposed, otherwise he wouldn't be worthy of these Petricite handcuffs."What would you do if we let you out?" Luxanna asked.Sylas was slightly surprised by this unexpected question.He thought he would hear this question at the very end of their conversation."To seek justice for the mages and to establish a Demacia that allows mages to exist," he said truthfully."Is there anything else?" Luxanna asked with a faint smile."Nothing else, that's enough." Sylas remained seated cross-legged, leaning back slightly, looking as if he had seen it all.Luxanna looked at her, a satisfied smile in her eyes:"I believe you, Mr. Sylas. It was a very pleasant conversation with you today, and I will come again in a few days."As Sylas watched Luxanna walk through the iron bars, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he suppressed his emotions and replied with a smile:"It's nice to have someone to keep you company."He did not get up, but sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly watching Luxanna pick up the torch and walk to the door.The moment the door opened, Luxanna suddenly turned around and shouted angrily at Sylas:"This is utterly absurd! You should read more about the founding history of Demacia; you're completely distorting the truth!"The noise was so loud that even Captain Kuris, the Mageseeker captain standing at the door, was surprised.Immediately afterwards, the cell door slammed shut, taking away the last ray of light from the room."Fun Girl"Once again in the dimly lit environment, Sylas's eyes flickered, and it was unclear what he was thinking.After leaving the dungeon, Luxanna walked out while eagerly communicating with her teacher in her mind:"Teacher, was his last statement a lie? He wouldn't have simply wanted to rebuild Demacia after he left.""Whether it's true or false doesn't matter, as long as he agrees with what I'm saying."Upon hearing such a profound answer, Luxanna's fair face immediately fell. She tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment, and then replied uncertainly:"Teacher, do you mean that regardless of whether he's being sincere or just going through the motions, we should make sure he has this mindset before he comes out?""That's very well understood, Luxanna. The fact that he's willing to tell you his story is already the first step to success."Luxanna nodded thoughtfully and boldly began to analyze her thoughts:"I remember my teacher saying that when someone opens their heart to you countless times, they will subconsciously trust and believe in you because you know them well enough. I'm not sure if this applies to Sylas, who has ulterior motives.""Everyone needs a sense of belonging, especially someone who has been forgotten by the world for more than a decade. He longs to leave this place, and the only person he can reach is you, so he will desperately want to get close to you and understand you. In this process, you can reshape his thoughts in your own way, which is not difficult."Hearing the teacher's calm tone, Luxanna shivered slightly.He felt that his teacher's words were somewhat extreme; if it were the old her, she definitely wouldn't have done such a thing.Even now, she still has a slight hesitation in her heart:"Teacher, is this really necessary?""If you believe your ideas are wrong, then there's really no need to do this."The voice in her mind was faint, but it made Luxanna suddenly realize the truth.Yes! She was clearly doing what she thought was right, trying to make Sylas think the same way she did.This is something she has been looking forward to for a long time, so what is there to question?"Teacher, I understand!" Luxanna nodded firmly.However, the teacher's next question made Luxanna's face freeze.Have you decided what book to bring to Sylas?Hmm. The book I brought him. Luxanna's eyes flickered slightly.Her angry rebuke of Sylas when she left earlier had two purposes.One was to tell Captain Kuris and the other guards that she was in good condition, had not been bewitched by Sylas, and that she would come again in the future.Another purpose was that, according to their plan, they should bring something for Sylas on their next visit.A person who has been isolated from the world for 15 years needs to know a lot of information in order to keep up with her quickly.Of course, the information he learned had been processed by Luxanna."Does the teacher have any recommendations?"Luxanna didn't struggle much, but instead chose to ask a question. However, she awkwardly smoothed her blonde hair behind her ear with her left hand, and her tone became soft.She had thought about this issue before.Initially, she chose books about Demacia history, but after listening to her teacher's analysis, she suddenly realized that history books might not be very effective.Luxanna's anxiety didn't last long; her teacher quickly gave her a satisfactory answer."Among the books you've read recently, 'On Empire' would be very suitable. Although it comes from Noxus and was co-authored by their councilor, many of the ideas described in it resonate with your current situation. You can draw upon them and instill your own ideas in Sylas.""On Empire is indeed a book that has greatly benefited me."Luxanna nodded in agreement, agreeing with her teacher's suggestion.Because I've been receiving a lot of messages from Noxus lately, quite a few books have also been distributed to me.With the teacher's open-minded advice, she read almost all of them.Even as a Demacia, she had to admit that Noxus was far ahead of Demacia in politics and thought.There is so much they can learn; Demacia shouldn't keep clinging to the past!With that thought in mind, Luxanna hurried home.She heard that another batch of new books arrived today.This time the quantity is large, unlike previous smuggled goods; this is the first batch of officially traded goods imported from Noxus.