"Whether it's cynical speculation or not, we will find out very soon." Faen shook his head, unbothered.
Ultimately, Usan's mindset was common across Ionia and even most of Runeterra.
Harboring constant malice and suspicion toward others was considered very "unbalanced."
But Faen wasn't speculating; he actually knew exactly what the future held.
Explaining this via prophecy worked in other places, but in Ionia, it was a hard sell.
The historical inertia of centuries of peace was just too strong.
Seeing that Faen didn't want to explain further, Usan remained curious but didn't press him.
Shen spoke up: "Alright, enough of that. The journey was long. Let's find a place to rest and enjoy a home-cooked meal."
Shen added peacefully, "After wandering abroad for so long, it's time you tasted the flavor of Ionia again."
"That, I can agree with." Faen nodded in deep agreement.
Though not world-famous, Ionian cuisine ranked near the top in Runeterra.
This rank had nothing to do with cooking techniques—culinary methods are tied to the environment.
You eat from the mountains or the sea depending on where you are.
The Freljord has stews; the rainforests have refreshing dishes; the desert has grilled meats.
To Faen, it was like being able to eat spicy food or not—there was no "better," just different styles.
Thus, Ionian food stood out because of its quality and taste.
Even Yordles, who are notoriously picky about food due to Bandle City's spiritual purity, find favor with it.
In the story of Tristana, she scoffs at most food in the material realm, but she explicitly approves of Ionian white fish.
Faen guessed this was directly related to Ionia's water quality.
The people here farmed in harmony with nature spirits, without the pollution of magic or chem-tech.
The simpler the preparation, the more it highlighted the quality of the ingredients.
Under Shen's lead, they went to a restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere.
There were no flashy decorations, but the taste of the ingredients themselves satisfied Faen.
It had been a while since he'd eaten food of this caliber. Returning to his "hometown," his mood lightened.
Actually, Faen's interest in food was only moderate. He still had his memories of Ionia.
But for Riven, these flavors were unheard of.
By the time they finished dinner, the stack of plates in front of Riven was higher than Shen's and Usan's combined.
Of course, that was also because the practitioners of the Kinkou Way were very disciplined in their worldly desires.
Shen, Usan... Great Master Kusho loved naming his disciples after words representing restraint.
Having filled her stomach and seeing her pile of plates towering over the others, Riven blinked, but her face showed no shame.
She wasn't the type to be embarrassed by a large appetite. As a warrior, she believed maintaining energy was far more important than "saving face."
However, that didn't mean she didn't have thoughts to share.
"The portions here are way too small!" Riven couldn't help but complain.
"I finished it in three bites. If you served portions like this in Noxus—or even in Zaun or Piltover—the owner and the chef would definitely get a beating."
"It's the environment. Haven't you noticed Ionians are generally slender?" Faen shrugged, looking at the passersby outside the window.
"Ionian farming is tied to the spirits of the land. It's not just about eating what you grow; it's a spiritual relationship.
Aside from what's needed for daily labor, most Ionians just drink tea."
Riven shrugged. She couldn't understand it, but she didn't bother to judge it.
After dinner, they agreed on a meeting time for the next day and went their separate ways.
Arriving at the hotel, Faen straightforwardly booked a room with one large bed.
Though Riven had expected this, seeing him actually do it still made her rub her temples and let out a heavy sigh.
In the room, Riven finished a quick wash and looked at Faen. She couldn't help but ask:
"You rarely talked about Ionia before."
"It's alright. There just wasn't much to say."
Faen felt a touch of sentimentality.
For him, before leaving Ionia—specifically, before receiving the blessing of the Joy Factor—he felt like a dark cloud was always over his head.
That cloud was his knowledge of the future.
All the disasters of Runeterra hadn't happened yet, but to him, they might as well have.
Back then, even as Master Xynia's disciple, his power was merely that of a mortal.
He was a bit stronger than the average soldier, but in the grand scheme of Runeterra, he wasn't a true powerhouse.
In the face of the tides of the era, he would have been crushed.
But now...
Faen looked back with a hint of nostalgia. "It was okay. At least I wasn't straightforwardly exiled for 'spreading heresies'."
"...Ugh, heresies?" Riven looked surprised. "Aren't you a prophet?"