Prologue

Irelia's feet touched down lightly on the castle courtyard. She turned around in a slow circle, observing the towering walls and ominous structures that loomed over her. Fear. Instinctively, Irelia felt the hairs on the back of her neck prick upwards. The structures themselves were nothing out of the ordinary, but that was not the source of discomfort. It was the unsettling atmosphere. The castle walls themselves appeared to almost emanate dark energy, giving the entire fortress an aura of evil.

"What do you want." A hollow voice suddenly snapped from behind Irelia. Irelia whirled and readied her blade, but she instantly lowered her weapon as she regarded the woman behind her with a scanning gaze up and down.

"Syndra…" Irelia breathed, with a small smile on her face.

"Yes, that is my name. What do you want?" Syndra snapped again through gritted teeth. Irelia blinked, taken aback by Syndra's abrupt rudeness. Slowly, the smile faded from Irelia's face. She shuffled her feet awkwardly and looked down at the floor.

"Syndra, I…" Irelia's voice trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

"You. What." Syndra pressured relentlessly. Irelia twitched slightly at Syndra's attitude.

"Look, I'm sorry..." She finally blurted out; she balked, as though it were difficult for her to form words. Syndra let out a hollow bark of laughter. It was a cold, cruel laugh that grated in Irelia's ears. Syndra tilted her head backwards slightly so that she was looking down on Irelia.

"You… Dare…" Syndra said in a quiet yet furious voice, her face twisted with anger.

"Syndra, I said those things to protect you! I didn't mean any of it!" Irelia said, pleading for Syndra to believe her. Behind Syndra's eyes, there was a tiny flicker of acknowledgement, but Syndra blinked and the flicker was gone.

"Is that all?" Syndra questioned coldly, her eyes had returned to being hard chips of ice. "If it is, then leave."

"Syndra… please…" Irelia begged "Come back with me… things will be like they used to…" Syndra's eyes adopted a distant look, but the look disappeared as quickly as the flicker did.

"Leave." Syndra repeated cruelly.

"But-"

"I said leave!" Syndra roared suddenly, causing her hollow voice to echo off of the castle walls. In response to her sudden outburst of emotion, Syndra's magic surged through her veins, causing her body to illuminate with resplendent violet energy. Around her, small pebbles and rocks began to rise into air as her aura began to reverse the force of gravity.

"Can't you just believe in me one more time?" Irelia choked out, her throat constricted by an uncontrollable surge of emotions.

"Believe in you?!" Syndra exploded "You dare to come here and say 'I'm sorry', believing that would be good enough!?"

"But-"

"You were everything to me! You were all that I had!" Syndra shrieked. "And you betrayed me! You destroyed me more than anyone else ever could have! I don't need you anymore! I don't need anyone anymore!" Syndra finally finished, her breathing was quick and agitated; her eyes blazed with fury. Syndra brought her right hand before her and clenched her fist, causing pure energy to crackle around her hand.

"I have everything I need." Syndra spoke coldly, allowing Irelia to witness the extent of her evolution. Irelia backed away slowly with an expression of horror on her face.

"What have I done to you…" Irelia almost sobbed "I just wanted you to live…"

"And you have accomplished just that." Syndra spat venomously, implying that she wished to have died rather than live alone. Silent tears rolled down Irelia's face as she listened to the resentment in Syndra's voice. She could muster no words in response to Syndra's anger. Finally, Irelia reached into a bag at her waist, pulling forth a small box, wrapped in brown paper. Irelia didn't speak; she only sniffled loudly as she gently set the box on the floor by her feet and turned away. Syndra was sure that Irelia was still crying as she mounted the floating sword at her side and slowly drifted off of her island.

Silence…

Several minutes passed before Syndra moved from her position in the courtyard. Irelia's figure was no longer visible beyond the setting sun. Finally, Syndra slowly walked over to the small box that Irelia had left for her. She stared at the box for a while, debating whether or not to take it. Sighing, she turned her head back in the direction that Irelia had disappeared to. Suddenly, she scowled, furious that Irelia had even dared to set foot on her castle. Immediately, Syndra turned and stormed back into the depths of her floating castle. The box remained untouched on the floor, the wrapping fluttered slightly as a gentle breeze wafted through the courtyard.