Chapter 2: Inauspicious Encounter

A few days later, nothing had changed. The champions were still treating her like an enemy. But at least she understood them. She didn't feel safe at all. Actually, it felt like she was in hell, with angry little demons mocking her, because she had not been able to hold back her alter ego.

And then this strange presence she could sense everywhere. She had the feeling someone was watching her all the time. Someone who was part of the institute... The thought of it made her nervous. Why couldn't she have just returned to the Synapse? Because her master, Minos, said it was not safe enough. Where, if not at the Synapse, could she possibly be safe? Something did not feel right...

Luna was roaming the institute's grounds. She was even too thoughtful to react in any way when a small flurry of wind lifted up her short pleated skirt. This caused a few younger summoners to whistle to her. She did not turn around. She did not say anything. She kept going. Like always. Like she was supposed to and always had been...

Luna had been living on Earth for almost her whole life. She had been brought here by Daedalus at the age of four. But she had always been different from the humans and it was not because of her wings. She was just too... perfect. Humans could feel her aura. Also did she hate the fact that she was so well-proportioned. Sinuous, broad hips and a full C cup.

While being absorbed in her thoughts, she felt something pulling on her mind, every now and then, obviously trying to enter it. Had it something to do with that strange presence? She didn't know. She didn't even know who caused her that strange feeling. And hopefully, she never would... Whatever it was, it seemed to be powerful. Even so powerful, as to cause her body trembling with a feeling angels normally didn't know.

It was fear. Now she understood. That was the feeling. But why was she feeling something like that? It felt like someone was after her. But who? Not the champions, that was for sure, although one could think so. It was someone else. Or something?

Luna looked up. It was almost time for lunch. She was hungry, but she would wait until most of the champions finished eating. She did not want them to vent their wrath on her. They would do this often enough once she anticipated her first training match, that was for sure. They already hated her and she was sure she could do nothing about that fact. They did not even see her as an equal being because they had not even the slightest idea about her true identity. And since she had to keep it a secret, her hands were tied.

However, she had the feeling some of the champions could sense her strong powers. For instance, creatures of the Void had a strong sense for detecting magical powers or physical strength. Cho'Gath, Kha'Zix and Vel'Koz had their territories outside the Institue of War. Kog'Maw was not nearly as aggressive and dangerous as the other three and seemed to be the only one to be nice to her. Everytime she crossed by, he would look at her with a curious expression, before smiling and calling out to her.

"Hello, feather wing lady!" she heard him calling. She raised her head and waved at him, faintly smiling. He jumped around happily before disappering into the bushes again.

Alarmed, Luna looked around. She had been so absorbed in thoughts that she had not even noticed how far she had gone. She was already in the woods beyond the boundaries of the Fields of Justice. Realization struck her like a lightning: She was in Kha'Zix' territory. She hoped he would not be around to notice her, but fate was not with her.

"I sense worthy prey," she heard a vibrating voice behind her and turned around.

There he was, Kha'Zix, the Voidreaver, standing on a log, building a bridge above Luna's head. The antennas on his insectoid head twitched excitedly and he readied his claws. "Indeed. Very worthy prey. I shall enjoy feasting on you!" With a loud screech he jumped from the log and landed on the spot where Luna had just been. Confused, he looked around.

She had managed to dodge him with a sideward roll. Once again he charged for her and again she dodged him while pulling out her tanto which she always wore with her. She had no intention of attacking – she only wanted to make sure he did not get too close to her. He stormed towards her, his scythe-like claws slashing and slicing at her. She blocked and parried all of his attacks only with her blade. She looked back. He was driving her out of his territory, just as she had intended.

Kha'Zix seemed to realize what she had in mind. He quickly changed his tactics, cutting off any possibility for her to escape. She saw herself in an absolute predicament. She could not fly away, he was way too close and would more likely cut her wings or even one of her limbs off. She had to think of something to stun him long enough for herself to escape.

She had lost her concentration for only one moment, but it was enough to slow her down and allow the inevitable to happen: Kha'Zix leapt onto her, knocking her over, and buried his fangs in her left shoulder. She cried out in pain and surprise, but quickly regained her composure. She held out her hand. A sphere of light appeared within her palm. With a blinding and massive explosion, the sphere burst, spilling its luminous content all over the place and illuminating the dark forest. Kha'Zix shrieked in surprise and stumbled backwards, allowing Luna to quickly stand up and spread her wings. One powerful flap of her wings was enough to send her into the air with a great shockwave and a flurry of wind which knocked Kha'Zix over. His furious, bloodcurdling screech seemed to echo through the forest for almost an eternity. Flying, she made her way back to the institute as fast as she could. Her hand clutched her bleeding shoulder and bite marks of the Voidreaver's sharp teeth were visible.

She prepared for landing when she noticed something flying towards her. Something big... She evaded the being sideways and lost her balance as a result. She hit the ground with a severe, painful impact, bouncing up and down and sliding over the grass, before painfully crashing into the wall of the Institute of War, finally coming to a stop. Immediately, she heard loud laughter.

"Perhaps it would be better to give up your flying license!" Thresh sneered. He was standing with Hecarim, Karthus, Mordekaiser and Draven.

"You have such beautiful wings and yet don't know how to use them properly? What a shame!" a girl laughed. It was the Lady of Luminosity, Luxanna Crownguard. She was standing with Shyvana, Janna, Jarvan, Ezreal and her brother Garen. All of them were laughing – except the latter.

"Luxanna!" he shouted.

"What?" she replied, innocently.

Luna felt someone gently touching her shoulder and trying to help her up. She lifted her head. It was Sona, the mute Maven of the Strings. She anxiously watched Luna and then threw a venomous glare at Lux. Luna looked at her, puzzled. Someone actually wanted to help her?

Something landed near the two of them with a loud thud, causing the ground to shake slightly. When they caught sight of the Sentinel's Sorrow, glaring at them, the other champions immediately stopped laughing. "That's enough!", Galio shouted angrily, protectively taking up position in front of Lucy. Again, someone who wanted to help her. Lucy was puzzled.

Sona touched Luna's bleeding shoulder and carefully examined it. This looks like the Voidreaver's doing... Luna could hear Sona's voice inside her head. As an angelic being, Luna was able to use telepathics and therefore could hear people's thoughts.

"Yes, that's correct," she said.

Sona looked at her, surprised. You... can hear me?

Luna gave her a faint smile instead of a reply. Sona smiled brightly, obviously glad to have someone to talk to.

Galio came closer and turned to Luna. She felt slightly uneasy by the stone gargoyle's beefy and tall figure, but his voice was so gentle and soothing that she started to relax after what had happened.

"I am truly sorry," he said, with an apologetic look on his face.

At first she looked at him in puzzlement, but then realization dawned upon the young winged being. "Oh, I see..." Galio had been the very same being she had tried to evade before.

"I really didn't mean to scare you. Are you hurt?" he asked, gently.

Just now, Luna felt how much her body was hurting, but she hadn't gotten a single scratch. She shook her head. Galio gently grasped her, helping her up and then carefully sent her to her feet again. "I am glad we found you," he spoke.

Luna looket at him, confused.

"Kayle, Morgana and I were looking for you, since you have not shown up at lunch. We were worried," he explained.

An even more puzzled expression appeared on Luna's face. They had been worried?

Right on cue, she heard the soft sound of flapping wings and Kayle and Morgana landed next to her. "Thank goodness! We thought something has happened to you!" Kayle exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" Morgana asked. Luna nodded her head, causing Morgana, Kayle, Sona and Galio to sigh in relief. "Aidan asked us to keep an eye on you, since everyone seems to like you so much here," Morgana growled sarcastically, glaring at the others who were still standing there.

Luna stared at them. They wanted to protect her? "You don't have to." she replied, feeling a bit queasy.

"That's not a problem. Really."

They had no idea that Luna once again sensed this strange presence, like someone was watching her... What was happening here?

Nocturne grinned inwardly. She was close. He sensed her usual nervosity, but this time it was growing stronger. She seemed to have detected him as well. He let his presence recede a bit, so she would not feel him anymore.

A few minutes ago, he had felt a high amount of strangely strong light magic. It surprised him only mildly, since he had already reckoned it after her arrival. Already then had he sensed the strong presence of light in her. It was much stronger than within the Lady of Luminosity.

He had tried to enter her mind from afar, but to his surprise, her mind was incredibly strong. Since her arrival he had been waiting to finally meet her in person. This being intrigued him. His fascination for her had already turned into an obsession and he was more than eager to find out what she was trying to hide. Breaking her would not be easy, but he would enjoy every second of it.

Then, finally, he found a weak spot in her mind. He laughed quietly. Now, he would finally have his chance.

"You know it?" Luna asked, concerned.

Kayle, Morgana and Galio had just told her that they knew about her true identity as the Clockwork Angel. Sona looked at her, astonished and calming at the same time. The champions who had laughed at her were now gone.

"No need to be afraid. Your secret is safe with us," Galio replied, voice with a gentle tone to it.

"This is why Aidan had assigned us with that task. He trusts us and knows how well we can keep secrets. Also do we know about the Synapse and Kayros. And I'm sure Sona will be no threat either." Morgana explained, smiling at Sona who vigorously shook her head and looked at her, indignantly.

I am mute, in case you forgot, tatter-wing...!, Sona growled, mentally.

"And he also tasked us with keeping Nocturne off your throat," Kayle continued.

That got Luna's attention. She raised her head with her usual puzzled expression. "Who?" she asked, blinking a few times.

"Nocturne, the Eternal Nightmare. He is one of the champions held within the institute's dungeons, since it would be too dangerous to have them roam freely," Galio explained. "But Nocturne definitely is the most dangerous one, which is why he has his cell in the deepest part of the dungeons where no one else is around him. He is held in an energy prison, reinforced with a strong magical barrier, and is bound to a Nexus fragment. He seems to have sensed your power as well. Since your arrival, he has been behaving strangely and almost aggressive. He seems to be interested in you - which is not a good sign..."

"He definitely is not up to something good..." Kayle muttered.

Luna understood. If he really was a nightmare then she knew why she had been feeling his presence, no matter where she had been.

Suddenly, Luna felt her body trembling. There it was again, that strange feeling. Something pulled on her mind again, this time stronger. She tried to concentrate, but something was preventing her from gathering her senses. She understood, why: The being had already entered her mind because she had let her guard down.

Come... a voice rasped inside her head. It was not Sona's. This chilling voice belonged to something evil... You know who I am... the voice said.

Realization hit her as hard as the ground she had landed on earlier: It was Nocturne.

Yesss... he hissed. Come... Come to me...

Luna felt her mind being pulled toward him and she had not the strength to resist. She telepathically sought him out. She found him in the institute's dungeons, trapped in his shard. When she saw this evil being of ethereal darkness, she felt this emotion rise in her again... Fear. Not normal, insignificant uneasiness or nervosity. True fear. Her body was shaking even stronger. She felt her concentration decrease drastically and her vision began to shake and blur...

Suddenly, Nocturne looked around as if he had noticed something. Then he turned and... stared right into her eyes! She wanted to look away, but... she couldn't. Something forced her to look at him. His blank, glowing gaze narrowed and a howling sound escaped him that sounded much like an evil laughter. Luna's senses stopped working as everything went black and she felt her body giving in to the sudden darkness enveloping her mind...

When Luna opened her eyes she was surrounded by Kayle, Morgana, Sona, Galio, Aidan and a female summoner with brown shoulder-long hair and a plain and gentle face, all looking at her with anxious looks on their faces. She was lying in a soft bed inside a white room. Obviously, she had been brought to the hospital wing of the institute.

"What happened?" Aidan asked.

"It looks like she had an encounter with the Eternal Nightmare," Morgana explained.

"This is not good..." Aidan said.

Luna sat up slowly.

Sona sat next to her, with a worried look on her face. How are you feeling?, she asked.

"I... I'm not sure..." Luna replied. She had never felt so weak before.

"You should take some more rest," Aidan told her.

"I..." the female summoner stepped forward, shyly. "I am sorry for what happened... Somehow, he shows great interest in you... and I'm afraid he has already found out who you are..."

"She is Nocturne's summoner. Normally, a champion does not have the same summoner all the time, but since she is the only one Nocturne doesn't threaten all the time and even seems to respect, she became affiliated with him. She is the only summoner able to bear his presence in her mind for a longer period of time," Aidan explained.

Luna looked at the young, petite woman, puzzled. She did not at all seem like one to be able to withstand such evilness – but within her resided a strong mind. The woman held out her hand. "I... I am Marlene," she said, smiling.

Luna shook her hand and smiled back. "It's a pleasure."

"Kayle, Morgana and Sona, you will be in the next match. Go prepare yourself until you're summoned," Aidan told the girls.

"But... shouldn't someone be staying with Luna? Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, Oregano, of course," Morgana said with a smile towards Lucy. It was no problem using her name now, since all people in the room knew about her identity.

"Maybe Galio can stay with her?" Marlene suggested.

Aidan looked at Galio, questioningly, but the Sentinel's Sorrow had already made himself comfortable. He sat on all fours against the wall, with his wings folded, like a guardian. "I will stay," he replied.

Nocturne's body was once again vibrating with joyful glee. For the first time in his life he was actually curious. She was incredibly strong, physically as well as mentally. Normally, people would slowly go insane when they felt his presence in their minds – but this being defied him and the human nature in every sense.

His life in the League had nothing to offer but dull fights and even a bit of loneliness... He was a prisoner. All his life he had been a prisoner. He had already given up his freedom long ago. To flee, he would need help – and the only being offering him help was the Lady of Luminosity. The one he loathed the most. The one who tried everything to make him like her and even going so far as to call him her friend... Friend?! Such insolence! As if he would ever like this idiotic, jolly teenager. As if he would ever like anyone...

She made no secret of herself being unafraid of him and immune to his attacks, due to her already living in her worst nightmare: the League itself. She knew how much he longed to be free and was trying to convince him to flee with her. He snorted in disgust. He would not give in. He would rather accept his fate than leaving with this stupid girl who believes herself to be the embodiment of light.

Instead he took pleasure in breaking the minds of the champions he was offered to fight and slicing them up, even though none of both was permanent, due to the summoners' magic. Since he had nothing else left and was confined to the League, this was his only pleasure.

Beings like this mysterious girl made a welcoming change of circumstances. If he could not break through her mind, he could at least watch her every move. Since she could feel his presence, this would hopefully drive her insane, eventually... or not... Actually, Nocturne didn't know himself what he truly wanted. No, he did: He wanted to be free. To be free and enjoy his freedom with all his non-existent heart.

What was he actually doing that all for? It would always be the same, and it would always be the same people. After some time, the girl would become used to his tricks as well, just like the others... He hit the bars of his prison in frustration. As a reward, he received a blinding light show, causing the bystanding guards to jump and scream in fright.

Nocturne laughed viciously at the uneasiness he caused those humans. There was one thing he knew for sure: One day, he would have his revenge on the man who did this to him - the summoner who was the reason for his pitiful life behind magical bars, his solitary confinement. He would not only tear his body, but rather his soul apart. But right now, he had to accept his fate and play with the new arrival.

And once again, Nocturne laughed.

The following night

Luna tossed and turned. For some reason, she couldn't wake up. Suddenly, her head started to terribly ache. She cried out in pain, her hands clasping her head as if trying to mend the pain somehow. Slender hands of darkness with long sharp claws grabbed hold of her wrists and pulled her hands away from her head, restraining them to the ground while the other hands held her legs in a tight grip. More hands appeared, gently touching her body. One hand grasped her head. Luna cried out again as the pain became unbearable when the creature tried to enter her mind. She felt as if her head had started to burn. The hands molesting her began to caress her body, touching every bit of her they could reach. Images of her unpleasant memories shot through her head, when she heard Nocturne's evil laughter. His face appeared above her, blank, white, glowing eyes stared into hers. He raised one bladed arm to her neck...

Luna let out a short, bloodcurdling scream and jolted upwards. Panically, her eyes wandered over her now sweat-soaked body and around the room which was lit up by the eerie, cold light of the full moon. Her chest was heaving with her breath. She could have sworn she had felt hands touching her. She clasped her head in disbelief.

Why had she dreamt? She hadn't dreamt in months...

She slowly relaxed. She got out of her bed and opened the window. The summer breeze slowly cooled her hot skin down. She strided around the room, switched on the light and wiped her face with one hand when she heard a gentle knock at her window frame.

She almost slipped as she jerked around. Alarmed, she immediately grabbed a candlestick and her head jerked around to her window. She saw the head of a familiar giant figure. It was Galio.

"Don't be alarmed. It's me," he said, gently.

She slowly dropped her hands, still grabbing the candlestick tightly, and let out a relieved sigh. "Geez..." she muttered. She froze. That was a word she had never used before. Normally, she stayed factual and objective, in her doing as well as in her saying.

"Please forgive me. I didn't mean to frighten you. I heard your scream and got worried," he explained.

Luna calmed down and breathed another sigh of relief. "Good grief... I had hoped I wasn't too loud..." she whispered, putting the candlestick back on the ground. Another phrase she had never used before. She was becoming insane.

"Actually, you weren't. I was near."

"I see..."

"What happened?" he asked. "Nocturne?"

Luna nodded her head.

"Talk to me. It helps, trust me."

"But... please don't tell anyone..." Luna pleaded.

Galio shook his head. "Your secrets are safe with me, you have my word."

After a long struggle, Luna unburdened her heart and told Galio everything about her nightmare. After that, she felt relieved. Talking to him had comforted her somewhat. He looked at her in sympathy. His presence was somehow very soothing and she felt less afraid.

"There is no need to worry. Nocturne is trapped and confined to the League. He cannot get out, nor can he hurt you. You should take some rest. I can already feel your mind becoming unsteady," he said.

Luna shook her head. "No way. Not after that dream," she replied. What was wrong with her? Why was she being so... strangely human?

Galio looked at her for a while, before he finally spoke again. "I can stay for tonight."

Luna immediately looked at him, unsure and undetermined.

"I can watch over you. Perhaps knowing that someone is here to protect you will calm you down. If you don't want me to stay I can ask one of the girls."

Luna thought about what he had just said. Maybe he was right. After another long struggle with herself, she gave in and nodded her head. It was at least worth a try. She let him climb inside her room and closed the window.

She got back into her bed, Galio sat with his back against the wall opposite to her bed and once again took his place as a guardian. Strangely enough, she felt herself relaxing as he watched her with those calm glowing red eyes of his.

And really, after a few minutes she felt her mind drifting away into the world of sleep... this time, however, without nightmares...