I can't wait to know you.
What a strange response, did she not already know who he was? Or did she want to know more about him? If so, it would not be surprising, the pursuit of knowledge is one of the greatest lusts to effect humans; mortals and immortals alike. Either way, he could see the happiness expressed by the woman, along with the sheer amounts she was attempting to suppress. Why was she so over-joyed with the development? Even if he was rather 'unique', he was just one being. Perhaps it was because she put some amount of trust into him, and found it surprisingly requited.
He was curious to whether she could actually see the long-term consequences, negative and positive, of such a development. But then again, she was a human, so even if she did, such things would not matter in the now. Such a funny thing, the present— The future will always become the now, the moment,but the present can never become the future, only the past, yet the past has a tendency of repetition. In a sense, he pitied the Demacian— But she was so lighthearted, holding such a credible glean, that one might simply believe nothing wrong could happen, not with someone as positive as she holding true.
Minutes had passed before Malzahar realized he had not spoken up, lost in his inner thoughts. Looking up again, he found her once again gazing at him… Into him, as if she somehow understood what he was thinking. His instinct made him look away, but soon he finally uttered some words.
"Well… I am appreciative you think so, I suppose-"
A pause.
"…But, do not force yourself to do so, you owe me nothing."
Do not force yourself…
Lux blinked in surprise at his statement, nearly tilting her head back. There was no need to force herself; rather, she could easily leave him behind now and continue on with her day. Looking at the Seer, she realized that she wanted this. She was so determined to become his friend… so determined to make his company, but what for? In the end, it would not matter. She would die someday and there were various ways of doing so, and if the Void was meant to purge her, then so be it. Lux would die with Malzahar's company, at least hopefully.
I want a trip inside your head, spend the day there… To hear the things you haven't said and see what you might see… I wanna see your thoughts take shape and walk right out… [Lyrics by U2]
There was no denying it; the Demacian wanted to know him like the back of her hand. As he looked away from her and murmured the simplest of phrases, she couldn't help but laugh lightly. His sudden change in personality compelled her further, as Lux found herself staring at him intently, wondering what he would say next. Why was it that he was the most mysterious being in the entire world? The mage could not see how anyone would compare to him, having the fate and past as he did. The thoughts that he had, the feelings he held in… she wanted to experience them too.
"Malzahar…" The woman began quietly. "It is not a force, it is rather my desire. But I assume no one has ever told you that before." A slight chuckle escaped her lips, as she sighed.
That was it then, there was no changing her mind, she had dedicated herself to the Seer, though he still did not understand why. Normally he would just say it was a human thing to do, yet he knew many mortals who would dare not venture as close to him as the Demacian. She was unique in the fact she wanted to learn about people, and he must have seemed like he was worth'figuring out' in her eyes. The Prophet still found the situation to be rather profound, but then again, what did he truly know of the Lady.
Listening to her response, he gave a slight sigh. She was right, barely anyone had attempted to socialize with him by their own will to begin with. Yet the woman restated what they had already concluded, as if she was reassuring the man. The strange feeling returned to the Seer, causing a hand to move to his chest, as if trying to feel something… But there was nothing, it was an emotion too deep to reach. A quick exhale through his nostrils was the only visible sign of a faint laugh, as if silently appreciating he still had something originally thought so far gone, buried beneath his tainted persona.
Returning his gaze back to Lux, his brows lightly furrowed, as if still trying to understand what he was undergoing. She was driven by desire, what kind he did not know, but she appeared to have a sort of zeal when it came to the topic of himself.
"Yes… Thank you."
Did he still not understand? Well, of course not. What did she expect? How would he, someone who had faced a drought from emotion for years be able to comprehend her determination? To grasp it all now would be questionable, for the Void had eaten away the human that he once was. Without the Void, however, he would not be known as the Malzahar that Luxanna knew. That she found herself fascinated by. The man who had always put on a cold and strict demeanor, one that she was not all too familiar with.
He was a creation of the Void, a project. A prototype of sorts designed to carry out one purpose. To expect something… real between the two of them would be too optimistic, even for her. A goal that would probably never be reached. The woman only peered up at him with grateful eyes; there was no need to push it onto him further. The Seer had accepted the situation bestowed upon them: this fateful meeting in the library. He would soon realize with the time they would spend together. She only wished it was as much time as possible, before he unleashed the wrath of the Void.
At least there would be an enjoyable journey, for they would have to eventually reach a detrimental destination.
"Thank you for giving me a chance." Lux replied, collecting her thoughts together.
A chance.
How strange it was, the amount of self-reflection and evaluation the Prophet had undergone in the past hours. The Demacian and himself were now companions, that was indefinite, yet he still had the gnawing feeling she wanted something else from him. Would this have been any other meeting he would have asked what was on his mind, but given the developed circumstances, he felt it was… Out of place to do so. Perhaps all of this was a microscopic step in the path of salvation, thought he saw his only salvation as the Void, for it freed him of all the limitations and struggles of mortality…
Didn't it?
Alas, he could do nothing of it, for he had seen horrors beyond the scope of humans, monstrosities that would make Nocturne quake, and no matter what future developed, no matter the time frame, they all ended with the same, inescapable fate— The will of the Void was absolute: submit or perish, there was no middle ground. One day, should she live to see it, Lux would face the Void beside her comrades and fellow Champions, and the Seer would have to watch their slaughter…Or perhaps something even crueller.
If only the people of Valoran would heed his warnings and give in, then no one would have to be killed, and the process of engulfing the land would be much more humane. But Malzahar knew humans and their persistence to live, to cling to life; they did not like change, nor the unknown, and with the Void's reckoning they would no doubt take up arms in a futile effort of resistance.
Pity.
Once more silence had befallen him, caught again in his inner-most thoughts.
"Well… You certainly make it difficult not to, Lux." Malzahar replied, though in a half-joking, half-serious manner. "In all respects, however, I should be the one thanking you for that."
He seemed to be more comfortable with her, as his reply was simply… sweet. He seemed so adorable, which was not really the right word to ever describe someone like the Seer. Malzahar seemed like a little kid, as if he were discovering everything for the first time. Well, to be fair, that was what it truly was. He had not experienced these emotions ever before, and she could not help but smile, even laugh a bit. It uplifted her mood, something she would never expect from a being of the Void.
Lux chuckled, clearly amused. "Well, besides obtaining other knowledge, what do you like to do for fun?" She was not even sure if the man even had any fun, let alone list activities. Thinking about it now, she realized that she could spend the afternoon with him as well without harm or interference. It would only matter if Ezreal or Garen went looking for her again… If he claimed to have no activities, Lux could certainly offer her own. The question was, would he enjoy them? They were both mages, so perhaps the two of them could practice or teach each other… whatever he preferred, she decided she would go along with.
She began going through the ideas in her head, the last resort being a tour of Demacia. She had rather not lead such a… contradictory person around her country. He would surely attract more attention than needed. And the palace would not take too kindly to the idea of Luxanna Crownguard befriending the Prophet of the Void… and there was absolutely a guarantee that Lux would not travel with him to Icathia, whatever day it might be. The risk was just too high, even though the descriptions of the Void rather perplexed her. She wanted to see the tragedies for herself, but at the same time, saw it fit to remain "pure."
"I have no idea what we would do." She spoke again. Usually, she wandered around with Ezreal and followed him to places he had explored, but would Malzahar actually enjoy that? Lux pouted. The realization that she did not have much company either soon befell upon her mind. What exactly could they do?
Fun?
The Prophet tilted his head slightly, the thought rolling around in his head. He did not desire to please himself in recreational activities as most mortals did, but he assumed he did find a few things enjoyable. Pondering a moment, his gazed shifted back to the Demacian, her's bright and shining, as if more than pleased to have made his acquaintance. Malzahar did not know why, but he felt rather pleasant in the woman's presence, her aura making him feel a bit less on-edge.
"I feel that your definition of fun differs from mine, Lux. There are, however, some activities I find pleasurable— Meditation, reading, and, I suppose you would call it, 'sightseeing'." He replied, giving a slight nod. "Pantheon and Leona dragged me to the 'beach' with them once, along with a group of Summoners… But everyone stripped down to minimal clothing before venturing into the water, some of them did not even bother to swim. It was rather, strange, since in Shurima water is a blessing, and if one found an oasis, they would dive in with clothing and all. That way, once you left, the dampened fabrics would act as a temporary cooling system in the unforgiving sun… I am unsure if I would like to repeat the experience, though the view was wondrous, water as far as the eye could see." The Seer mused, remembering the odd event. He would not be surprised if humans came for sightseeing as well, however, for a different sort of 'view'.
Valoran's mainland lacked anything spectacular in his eyes, so Malzahar found himself traveling to Ionia on the occasion, its ancient landscapes and architecture something he could critique and enjoy. Though, knowing humans, these things must have sounded rather bland, especially for one of the Lady's caliber. Being born in Shurima, he had little to do as a child, be it from playing with the camels to conversing with his kin— He might have been a prince, but a prince of the sands knew little about luxury.
"I am sure you spend your time with a variety of activities, but though I was born royalty, I found little to do myself— You seem lost in thought as well, is there something you desire to do?"
"Ahhh, I should have assumed that you enjoyed reading." Lux mused, gazing at the ground between their feet now. Why was she so surprised? This very meeting, this very encounter between the two of them was in the library. Malzahar did mention he had a thirst for knowledge, while Lux had a thirst for her own… guilty pleasure. They could have continued on with reading in each other's presences, but she was not sure if that could be defined as having funtogether.
The woman sat there for some time, trying to take in all of his story. He had been to the beach? With Leona and Pantheon? So it seemed he did enjoy some other champions' company, to which then Lux gave a slight smile. "The beach is a beautiful place, I agree." Lux had not been to the beach in some time, for who really could go with summoning and the League and all? "We could go there sometime, or even somewhere else if you'd like."
The irony was that Lux also loved the rich differences of the island Ionia and not her own mainland. She loved going there in her free time, either it be to visit a fellow champion or to enjoy the scenery. Indeed, the mage rather loved traveling. If she could not go to Ionia, she preferred Piltover. The vast city of countless inventions, creations — it was all a place that felt new, modern. Lux could not deny that she also seemed friendly with the champions of Piltover as well, especially since her best friend lived there.
He had presumed wrong, however. There were hardly any activities she found herself doing, besides taking walks around Demacia, yearning for a chance to… leave? No. It was rather to find herself. Lux wanted to define herself as what she wanted, and not what her parents had set for her…
"I do not do much, honestly. Sometimes I may find myself wandering about the streets and gardens of Demacia, sometimes I may visit my friends and roam about the Institute as well. Other than that, I am indeed a representative of Demacia so I have a duty to the palace." She sighed as she did so. "There is not much time for fun, so I try to indulge myself in the company of others as much as I can."
He couldn't help but look off to the side as she spoke to him, still not used to her gaze. It was odd enough being eye level with the woman, as he had actually been seated when she arrived, and did not get up once during their conversation. Malzahar also could not help but chuckle a bit, remembering the reason why she had come to the library. She was a strange one, but her private matters were her own, he would not ask the Demacian of her personal exploits.
Lux seemed to put on an amused face when she heard him speak of the beach. Though he had little choice in the matter, she appeared to agree with him on its natural beauty. Going to the beach again would not bother the Seer at all, and pondered the thought of going with the girl. It surprised him slightly that she brought it up, but should she desire to go, he would not stop her from accompanying him.
"I see… Your duties to Demacia no doubt fill most of your personal time as well as your daily life. I do not wish to impede your duties, but as long as the location is tolerable, I have no quarrel with accompanying you to someplace— Wanderlust has ran in my veins since birth, a trait given to all the children of Shurima." The Prophet replied, his tone still level and rather calm.
It was odd. If this had been anyone else, he would have simply desired to leave, for he had obtained what he originally came for hours ago. Yet he felt an unseen force keeping him from doing so, as if urging him on to converse with the Demacian. She had shown him kindness when he blatantly did not deserve it, and still continued to do so… Humans were such strange creatures, and although he once was one, they seemed alien to him.
"A visit to the beach seems viable, though it would only be fair if you stated what you desired as well, would it not?" He soon inquired, deciding that would be a 'friendly' thing to do. What interested him about the woman, however, was that, in certain aspects, she was much like himself, though completely different in others. Was that how they had gotten along without much conflict? Perhaps there was more to her than he could see.
"What I desire…" The mage repeated, dazed. She looked away in shyness, staring at the rows of colors that laid against the bookshelves, yearning to be opened. Why did she find herself trapped by him? Lux turned her attention back towards him, where she found Malzahar still turned away. A faint hue of red formed across her face — was he embarrassed by her? Was her curiosity too blunt? Thinking about it now, perhaps she did overdramatize her wish to befriend the Seer.
Would she mind going to the beach with the man? The Demacian could easily go swimming with him… or go and wander about the area with the Voidbeing. She would treat it as any other vacation… yet somehow, the weight she felt in her heart prevented her from thinking so. This was just not any other vacation — she would be with a companion, and it would be with him. Her hands crossed upon her lap, as she twiddled her fingers together.
Lux could only muster enough confidence to say, "I will make sure my duties do not get in the way. My true desire is to spend time with you, of course. And if you would like to go to the beach, then so be it." What did you just say to the Prophet? Are you crazy? "I do prefer Ionia, to be perfectly honest. The vast landscape always intrigues me and brings me to peace. The beach is not a bad idea though."
At this rate, she would become too attached. How would she ever be able to let go of him once that day came? She would have to come to terms with herself and her feelings, and be forced to choose. She knew exactly what — who'd she choose, but of course, her duty always came before that. How pitiful.
Somehow, she saw herself in the Prophet. Even if they seemed on opposite ends of the spectrum, even if he seemed less open and optimistic than she was, they were one and the same. Is that what had pulled her to him? That somehow, they were both suffering and needed saving.
But why would he save her?
He tilted his head slightly at the woman's speech, a bit confused. She desired to travel with him to learn more about himself, but he simply wanted to enjoy the sights of nature. Though, it didn't really matter to him, he knew the Demacian's interests were different than his own, and decided to respect that. Malzahar certainly did not find her presence burdensome, and felt a strange, but positive feeling with her around— In stark contrast to how he found most to be intolerable and annoying.
Offering a nod in agreement, the matter was resolved. Malzahar did not spend much of his time with recreational activities, but then again, neither did Lux, so perhaps these trips would do them both some good. Logically, it would make sense to visit the beach first, since it was closer in proximity than Ionia. However, if the woman desired to travel to Ionia first, he would not argue. What would it be like, at the beach at least? The soothing waters lapping at the sand's threshold. The whole experience felt like a dream to him, and now that he was actually going on his own free will, perhaps he could find it even more enjoyable.
"As I have said, I have no quarrel with accompanying you to such places— That is what friends do, correct?" The Prophet mused, a small smile flashing across his face. "Now with that decided, which site shall we visit first: the beach, or Ionia?" He asked, folding his arms, assuming his usual posture.
Did he actually just smile at her? Lux felt the heat rise to her cheeks, turning away. How did she manage to make him smile? It should not have been so flattering to her, but yet, here the two of them were. The Prophet must have smiled plenty of other times, probably from killing someone. The woman winced in response, but seeing how calm and lighthearted that he seemed now made the fateful day disappear from her thoughts. It seemed as though it would never happen in the first place, and that he would stay with her in Runeterra until she passed.
At least that was what she wished for. They both knew that their paths would have to diverge once their life was threatened. Except, he would be the one to threaten it all. And she would have to turn her back on him… No. Stop. Don't think about that now. The mage hesitated, closing her eyes and took in a breath. She should have just walked away; did she not know what was good for her? Instead, she was going to the beach and Ionia with him. But what for? Pure enjoyment? That enjoyment would end soon.
"I'd prefer going to the beach first." Lux smiled at him warmly; hopefully it did not cause him any discomfort. "Since it would be a lot closer and we could relax." Plus, the trip back here from Ionia would give us more time together…
"Do you agree?" Lux tried to push her thoughts away, but staring back at the Seer only made her feel more conflicted. She could easily open up to him, but that was the exact problem. He was an evil being… someone she should not have trusted so easily. But as he looked t her with those eyes…
I don't care anymore.
Being a friend to one such as the Lady was strange, but Malzahar found it to be less of an inconvenience than originally expected. Now that the two were well acquainted, he felt much less hesitant about speaking with her, and found himself pondering the human social persona once again. Why did she want to constantly meet new people to begin with? The Seer could understand if that was a byproduct of her natural wanderlust, but that did not seem like the right answer.
Now she seemed flustered for some odd reason, unable to look at him for too long. What was she up to? Was she hiding something? Soon he realized she turned away as he smiled. Such a prompted reaction seemed rather dramatic in the Seer's eyes, but then again, he did not genuinely smile often. After a moment she seemed to regain her composure, causing him to shaking his head a bit. For one with bountiful social experience, she seemed to be faltering when it came to the likes of himself… Something Malzahar found rather amusing.
Was she still looming on the premise of fate? What would happen would happen, there was nothing he nor she could do, for better or worse. Why did mortals have such a hard time accepting the fact they had no say in the grand scheme of time? Those who would challenge fate's will were fools, deserving of whatever calamities befell them. The Prophet thought that the Demacian had overlooked these factors to befriend him… But now it seem as if she was having second thoughts.
Hearing her voice suddenly filled with confidence made the man raise a brow, curious about the internal struggle taking place within the woman, though he would not ask of it.
"Yes, my thoughts exactly." The Seer replied, giving a nod of affirmation. Lux had acted rather peculiar in the past hour, thought Malzahar could not tell why. As if she were a child, entranced by a flame— Eager and interested, but all too knowing of the consequences should they attempt to grasp it… In a sense, she was being careful not to get burned.
"So when shall we go?" The mage asked, with a new profound confidence. She had enough of letting the future bother her thoughts, when instead she should have focused on their current plans. With the time they had, she would enjoy it all. There would be no talk about his intentions of the Void and what it meant, for now, she would be with him at the beach, and soon Ionia.
"I'd be free to go now, but I'd need to pack and everything." Lux smiled warmly at the Seer, open to any of his suggestions. "What do you think, Malzahar?"
The mage was actually excited, thinking about going around Runeterra with him. She did not know why she was so flustered earlier; perhaps because he had always made her uneasy, with his "obsession" with the Void. Looking at him now, he was… rather humane. Even if he had no interaction before, it was rather a start.
If one were to see her now, they would presume the idea that she was enamored with the man. The fascination Lux held for him was peculiar indeed, for she had earned herself the friendship of the Prophet. It seemed that she lusted after him in a way — she had wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. That was so unlike her, even around Ezreal.
What is wrong with me?
