Finally, what she truly wanted was attained: seclusion from the woe that was the company of a foolhardy knight and a reckless redhead in meaningless colloquy. Looking back on her solitude and isolation; it didn't seem all troubling anymore as Riven found value in silence. Is it because the woman was accustomed to such things, like hushed and calmed tones? Perhaps it was that. Sighing became a habit; and she did that exactly, resting against the compact pillar with the lone padded side of her shoulder. Why did she ever join? The question hit her repeatedly like globules of raindrops pouring over her like a nuisance. Her body grew stiff, but it softened at the sound of patting boots on pavement.
"Leave me alone." Riven turned, looking if the person she assumed to bother her was there. She heard a sound of a clink, and just before she could breathe; she somewhat knew whoever was behind her earlier, would be behind her again. Call it a battle instinct. Swiftly turning to block the strike with her own sword, she glared at no one else, but Katarina herself. She was right.
Clashing of blades could be heard, and Katarina laughed before leaping back to part their weapons. "I'm impressed, your senses have improved." There was a grin before her lips after the assassin spoke her words. Even up until now, she still cannot sneak up on her. Katarina improved by the day, and it seemed as though Riven did as well.
"Your footsteps could be heard from a mile away," Riven exaggerated, more of jesting that mocking the skills of the daughter of a Noxian general and assassin. However, there was no smile.
Katarina went silent for a moment, being sure her own steps were as silent as that of a feline's. "You got lucky. I was hardly focused."
Riven sighed. "You've come to bother me once again, I see."
"You've got it all wrong. I wish to discuss matters with you."
"Taunt me all you want, but I don't have time for you." Riven scoffed, before turning away from her once again.
Katarina frowned behind Riven's back before saying, "You will have time. I bet what you'll hear would make your very nerves burn in anticipation." She remained where she stood.
"Oh? And what is that?" Riven continued to walk way, her voice hardly contained bits of enthusiasm. It was Katarina's way of keeping up conversation, Riven assumed; and she didn't want to listen.
"The one responsible, of course..."
With such a vague answer, Riven stopped in her path. Responsible for what? She asked in her thought. A look over her shoulder, and she awaited the coming chain of Katarina's ambiguous, ensnaring sentence.
It was the best thing to lure the exile with; being vague with dangerous words. Many thoughts could emit on Riven from such a phrase, but she knew Riven could only think of one. "Tell me." She stepped a step closer, remaining behind the curious warrior. "Do you wish to know? You see, there are eyes that pry everywhere. If you wish to talk, come with me."
Suspicion veiled the assassin, but if her thoughts were correct, Riven could find out what truly happened. In the end, she nodded even with her hesitation, and Katarina led her away from where ever those prying eyes she assumed would be.
Katarina led Riven to her room, not vast in size, enough to house two. Truly, this colossal institute had everything to offer. Riven could use a place such as this for her stay. Wondering as to why she was not informed about renting one for her own, Riven crossed an arm over the other, still managing to keep the sword she brought dangling in one hand. Despite how she carried it—it was not an effortless lift. A sword such as that took two hands for a normal person to lift. Perhaps she left early, and lost the chance to know about getting a place to settle in. Such a place would be efficient, but something about the institute was not enough. She kept sight on the room and its contents, its furniture, nothing eye-catching, assuming it was merely kept as a room to spend the night in. The exile kept silent, and glanced over the other.
"What?" Katarina asked, lazily walking further within. "Be comfortable."
Riven breathed before forcing a step forward, her arms untangled, and she finally continued to take a chair, dragging it out of the table to sit on. "So, what is it? Who's responsible?"
"You never really dilly-dally, don't you?" Katarina chuckled.
"Do I look like one who wastes time?" Her elbows rested on her knees, keeping the apex of her blade rested on hardwood floor.
"No. I was messing. Would you like a drink?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Suit yourself." Katarina went towards a cupboard, pulling out a bottle of half-empty whiskey, having a habit of keeping her unfinished drinks kept separately at a different place. She poured herself a drink and sat across Riven, who seemed to stare at every move she made. Her feet rested on the table with a quick cross, and she raised her glass towards the other before drinking. "So, how have you been?" She grinned.
"You're right, Katarina," Riven spoke, as Katarina raised a brow, she continued, "I really don't waste time." With that, she stood and took her leave.
The red-head sighed before rolling her emerald irises to the side. "I was kidding, alright?" She groaned starting to following after her, setting the pleasant drink down almost roughly. Riven couldn't pacify anymore of the words she uttered, and flashed the door open.
But the warrior never left the room, and simply; she stared at the one barring the exit. The one so noticeable about the individual: a blade located at his right arm, tied firmly. The hood made it hard to look at his eyes being shadowed by the yellow light emitted from the room. The man didn't move, and they both entered silence before he walked past her casually.
Riven's gaze followed his form, before she let out one breath that seemed like a mocking laugh as she looked at Katarina, then proceeded to look down, with a grin out of sheer displease. Why him of all people? How long has it been, again?
"I judge there is no need for introductions," Katarina said after Riven broke the silence with her own air; but she began feeling a discomfited cloud looming above all three of them. It was too noticeable, and Katarina somewhat had an idea as to why it was the case.
Riven wasn't convinced to stay, even with her tightening chest and the small want of staying. She took another stubborn step towards the door, but to her surprise, the exit was gracelessly blocked once more, by, of course, the same man. This time, her gaze remained to his feet, gauche to look at him once again, and coolly, she uttered, "Let me pass."
"Just stop complaining and listen." His voice was husky and low, the first words he ever spoke to Riven… in such a painfully long time.
He was there, Riven knew, but his face—his expression pained her so. "That's all you have to say, Talon?" bitterly, Riven said with a forming fist.
"Do you expect sweetness?" He replied stonily.
Katarina sighed. "What's with this atmosphere? Riven, you don't need to be impatient. I'll tell you now, so, just sit down," she said, motioning her hand sluggishly to the back of her neck.
Beyond doubt, Riven felt his closeness, simply because she felt his breath very faintly startled the fringe of her silvery hair. She spoke no more, and after a brief pause, she went back to her chair. Talon followed soon after, who now remained with his back against the now, closed door.
Katarina delayed no further and functioned to her bedroom with mild vexation, grabbing a stack of parchment from inside the drawer of a table beside her bed. Looking for a moment to check the text written; she went back, only to see Talon and Riven unmoving and still, as if their looks never changed even after she left. She dumped the papers on the table as the stack fell to the side, like cards being laid out by magicians. "What do you know of your comrades' death—the massacre that day?"
Riven set the blade down on the floor before frowning in hard thought; remembering all detailed events. "What I only know… they were done by Zaunites. The chemicals let loose made skin burn and melt. Ionians and Noxians alike. We were wiped out, and the Noxians died without honor." She demonstrated by untangling a bandage on her right wrist to reveal distorted, grotesque dermis. "It was their victory, and the Noxians should have accepted that. Alas, things are different."
Katarina grimaced at the sight, out of disgust and pity, but regardless, it disappeared soon after Riven covered it up again. "Reports here say it was an alchemist; he goes by the name of Singed, who led the operation." Katarina pointed to the paper placed on top, showing the face of the one who murdered Riven's companions, her enemy as well.
Although the man's face was covered, Riven will never forget; it made her blood boil violently in her system. It was a surprise her face remained impassive, but she gritted her teeth beneath, before her expression changed from staring at the picture with narrowing brows. "Is that all? I don't believe it is."
"No." Katarina looked to Talon. "It isn't. You were loyal to the late general, weren't you?"
"The late general?" Riven asked.
"My father; Talon's master," she answered almost quietly. "A lot has changed in your absence. The Grand General changed, my father has disappeared, and Darius took his place."
"I'm aware of that, but not of your father's disappearance. I only assumed he was relieved of his duties."
Katarina dryly chuckled. "As if he'd give away a position such as that so easily. Surely you know him well enough."
The exile nodded. "Your father is a great man, and I was loyal to him." But she paused. "What exactly is it that you ask of me?"
It was the question Katarina waited for, and she already had the answer. "Help me find him. In return, my father and I will do whatever it is in our power to clear your name." An authentic tone of request echoed in Katarina's words, bearing a face unlike her usual; it was stern and sober.
"I don't know." Riven hesitated, clearly seen by how she moved away from the table. "There may be a reason as to why he's gone. I don't want to get involved. This thing you ask; it may do more harm than good to me." She took the paper on the desk, presenting it to her eyes as she skimmed through its contents.
"You won't kill anyone. What I want from you requires more stealth and clandestine movements," Katarina reasoned.
"Almost every Noxian knows who I am. Stealth is not my specialty." Riven set the paper back down after sighing.
"I'm not sending you to Noxus." Katarina took the same drink from before and took a generous gulp.
If not her city, she said to herself, "…then where?" Riven inquired.
"Ionia," Talon replied and broke his streak of silence; his gaze was elsewhere. Both women faced him with different expressions.
"Don't talk nonsense." Riven frowned, this time unafraid to glare daggers at him.
Katarina raised a brow, grinning. "I forgot you actually talk, Tal." Talon only groaned in reply at how she always tried to vex him, and went back to his customary uncommunicativeness. "I'm afraid Talon wasn't kidding, Riven," Katarina told.
"I can't even return to where I came from, and you want me to go to the place where even more people despise me." Riven laughed deprecatingly. "You might as well tell me to rid of myself now."
"Katarina," Talon interrupts. "Why even try with someone already useless and ruined?"
"Talon," Katarina scowled. What was he thinking?
"No, he's right," Riven added, standing up to march towards him with a glare, her sword in hand. "But unlike you, I have seen things you haven't. Things that would destroy the proper mind if one would see the tragic things I have. Yes, I'm ruined… now get out of the way."
Talon obliged by moving, with a chilling glare of his own. Riven opened the door and began to leave, Katarina and himself left behind with the angry sound of slamming wood.
"Way to go." Katarina snarled and sank to her seat. "She could have been of use to us."
"It's a bad idea," Talon mumbled.
"Wait; wait Talon, wasn't it your plan to ask for her help?" Katarina gave puckering brows of misperception towards him.
Talon mirrored her movements. "So? I shouldn't have thought of it the first place." He shrugged. "Besides, I thought she knew more information."
"So that's why you angered her, to make her say no because you regret this plan of yours. What if she tells?" Katarina asked rudely, both hands raised to the height of her shoulders, dropping strongly to her sides.
"I doubt she would, Kat. She has no one to tell to anyway." Talon undid his hood before breathing heavily.
"You'll have to kill her if she does. If you won't, I will." However, Katarina hoped not, not because of pity, but because dealing with a warrior such as Riven was physically exhausting, more so with Riven being exceptionally skilled in knowing her approaches.
"I know that already."
Katarina stood up and gathered the papers back to properly stack them once more. "Still, she could have been great help."
Talon groaned and glared at her. "I know what it is you want."
"What?" She feigned a chaste smile.
"…I'm not doing it."
"Even if I don't force you, something tells me she'll come back. Freedom is quite the tempting thing. Now it's my plan. Convince her to agree." She stands and heads for her room.
He followed. "I just said I'm not doing it. You pretend deafness."
"Fine, I'll send you to Ionia."
Immediately, he interrupts, "Alright, I'll do it." He gives up, placing the hood back to over his head and took his leave as well.
Once she was finally left alone, Katarina laughed. "He really wants her to come back."
…..
Somewhere in his heart; he knew that he truly wanted her to accept it. He was irked at the feeling of confusion and to what he did. Finding the supposed Riven wasn't a task of difficulty. In fact, he already found her. There she was, in the garden once more gazing somewhere at the horizon. The sight of her was somewhat relieving, having not seen her in what seemed to be too many years. "Just stop complaining and listen…" Talon repeated his words to himself. It was pathetic to hear upon first meeting. Not that it mattered; it simply entered his mind. Quickly; he approached with intent, before quickening his pace further as he stabbed at her like a sitting duck.
"This is the second time today. Can't I have time away from assassins?" Riven asked tiredly as she blocked his strike with the flat side of her blade.
"You're always on your guard, it's getting tiring." Talon made a verbalized complaint. He unfettered his blade from hers.
Riven took is as the first compliment she received in a long while. "At least you're faster than before." She sets her blade back down. "What do you want?"
"Ah, nothing. You just looked terrible and friendless."
"You haven't changed, I suppose." She turned away, back to how she was before he arrived.
"…but you have."
Her chest heaved. "Do I need to repeat myself again as to why I have?"
"Yeah, I'm aware. I'm aware." There was a long pause after. Both sides knew not what to say to the other, but Talon knew she was still troubled. "Why are you holding back?"
Turning back to meet his crimson gaze; she quirked a brow. "Excuse me?"
Talon chuckled. "I read you. You were going to accept the offer, the chance of a clean slate. What made you refuse?" In the end, Talon actually paid attention to her the whole time.
Surprised was the exile, but it did not show. "Did I say I refuse?" Riven questioned.
"You didn't accept either."
Riven met the grassy ground as she sat on it. "Like I said, I don't know if I want this."
"Freedom?" He twitched a brow upwards in a slight conduct. "Well, if it were me, I'd take it."
Riven breathed again, asking, "What if you fail?" Her voice grew softer.
Her tone shook him, different from how she spoke before; he kept it all inside with a humorless countenance, nonetheless. "For me, it's better than not trying. No offense, but, the life you're living isn't something I want to experience. Not the life of an exile, but the life of a coward, scared to take the chance to live again."
It silenced Riven, not wanting to admit the fact that the offer caused her qualms and trepidation. She looked away; still unable to use her tongue. The last words she could utter: "What's the point…?"
He ignored her last statement. "Come to her room again. You have until midnight to decide. Katarina and I have other plans after that." Talon left after stating his last words.
In his absence, Riven asked to him in secret, "Is that what you did? You took the chance to live?" She gave yet another sigh. He was not wrong; she was frightened. Talon's knowledge always proved useful to her, and now she'll have to decide.