Lux traipsed down the dungeon, keeping herself near the walls so as not to bump into any guard. She approached the last corner of the hallway and pinioned just in time to avoid the two pairs of soldiers who ambled right from the darkness of the path in front of her. The dim light of the torches flickered slightly upon the daft of air but didn't gave her away, nonetheless. The men slowly, almost painfully, strolled forwards, turned and then walked away from her, getting lost again.
She smiled and then kept up again. Her feet almost shuffled on the cobblestone as she took the only path which was kitty-corner from her, almost in pitch black. She walked for a couple of minutes and spotted finally a silhouette of a metal door at the end, which was barred and looked sturdy as hell. Mirth swelling inside her chest, she made it hasty to it.
Stopping in front of it, she peeked inside.
A figure laid there in the middle of the room, kneeled and hunched, with both of their arms restrained witch shackles that were pinned to the ceiling. He was definitely a bloke, bare-chested and with longs tufts of black hair veiling his visage. She would've worried on the spot if she didn't know any better.
With a flick of her staff, Lux's body became visible again, being almost engulfed by the darkness. With a sweeping flourish with it, she created an invisible light wall that would reflect any light coming to her side, effectively blocking vision from whoever on the hall. Just in case. Then, she rapped on the door and walked in without waiting for an answer.
"Sylas…" She whispered, shutting the door behind her. It went off without a hitch, soundless. "I'm back, are you taking a kip?"
Just as she was about to prod in, his head raised, beady-eyed. Lux snickered.
"Lux…? You're back again?" He slurred, fixing his eyes on her. "It's been thrice this week. Won't you raise suspicions?"
Lux shrugged off his angst. Literally.
"Ah, don't worry about those dunderheads. I made nice face at the party yesterday. Mom's pleased so she didn't have nobody tailing me." She answered off-handedly, sidling towards him as though talking about being followed was something to laugh about. "I brought something for you. You'll love it."
Sylas' eyes perked up. He watched her with interest while Lux snatched a book out of nowhere. She kneeled too and opened it, leafing through its pages. She casually felt teensy-weensy magic twinges coming from him, lentamente appraising her so-bright magic. She repressed a knowing look, having known since the first day of her visits about what Sylas was trying to do.
"Ever since the first time I came to call, I've been meaning to bring this." She spoke cheerfully, coming to a halt at the page she was looking for. Sylas tried to catch on the title, his curiosity obviously stirred, but she forestalled him. "The Tales of Beedle, The Bard!" She squeaked, excitedly.
He stared at her in stunning silence.
"Come again, little light?"
"The Tales of Beedle, the Bard is an array of stories-"
"Which I reckon they're merely fiction, I've heard about it twice before it was banned." He cut her off almost willingly. And the words before I was thrown into the nick went off unsaid.
"…which are worthy of being given the benefit of the doubt," She interrupted him with an annoyed look," because we ourselves have been witnesses of what magic can do. Plus! Everything Demacia bans is probably gold! As a figure of speech, of course. They want to lobotomise us!"
Sylas blinked but nodded, silently agreeing with her on only half of her wording.
"I'll read the Tale of the Tree Brothers". She began, clearing her throat and ignoring the raised eyebrow that he threw at her. "Yes, the tale. I think it's amazing."
"Little light, what about the book I-"
"Yes, I know. I'm getting there. Be patient."
Lux steadied herself on her butt and started reading. Sylas stood there, not having any other choice.
"There were once three brothers who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at twilight…" She said in her mistiest, most faraway voice.
….
"And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life." She whispered, starkly enthralled with the end. She looked up, beaming. "Well, did you enjoy it?"
Sylas peeped at her thoughtfully. It was indeed quite entertaining, but he couldn't simply shake off the feeling that it was make-believe. However, he didn't dare contradict her.
"It was really interesting. "He acquitted. "The youngest brother was very cunning and even Death itself appeared impressed… At least, to me."
"I know! It's an amazing piece of writing." Lux breathed dreamily. Sylas looked at her expectantly. "I wonder if it's real. I think I'll go looking around for that river."
"Hopefully Death won't appear in front of you." He quipped, smiling.
Lux glanced at him, a sinking feeling sagging inside of her. She couldn't keep stalling his request anymore. He wanted to be free and she was the only one who didn't have an irrational spite towards him. Because in the end, both he and she had magic flowing their insides. She was "lucky" enough to have been able to be of service to Demacia. He was a wretch.
Closing the book and standing up, she spoke. "Next time I'll bring that book you asked me for." She said soberly, eyeing him up with a front. He beamed up, so she deemed necessary to add. "You'll teach some stuff at last!" She said gaily.
"I will. I promise." He said almost noncommittally.
He thought his face didn't show it, but Lux couldn't be fooled.
