Four;

Usually, it takes one moment for someone to be stupid. And to obviously cause a domino effect. The strange thing about the world is, that everything is interconnected. Many might scoff over this statement, but the Queen of Freljord breaking a nail might cause the Sheriff of Piltover to miss a bullet. Well, if it were such a romantic comedy. He wished his life was a romantic comedy, or, scratch that, a comedy would do. Anything would do, instead of living such a grotesque life, hiding in the shadows and shedding blood. He'd rather wish to be an actor in a soap opera, than take part in an unfolding tragedy. He felt restless, as though his heart was somewhere else, but he had no idea where.

Night was still fooling around with daylight, the shadows not intending to let the sunrays break through their most sacred place, but sooner or later, the endless circle will begin anew. Hazel locks framed his strong features, as his boots echoed heavily against the floors of the Institute, head bent and heart unsteady.

Talon was just returning from the unaffiliated quarters, where he visited a certain someone a few minutes prior, and to return to his own room, where Katarina was awaiting him, he had to pass through the Ionian quarters. It wasn't going to run smooth, though, he knew it. Judging by the stubbornness of the darkness to stick around the area, or the fact that there was a chill in the air, or how lovely the moon suddenly looked. And as he rounded the corner, she was there.

Clad in delicate lace of lavender, silver hair bathed in the moonlight, ethereal eyes staring right at him, and those orbs of purple floating around their Sovereign. She wore a nightgown of lavender, with its straps fallen to her shoulders and leaving little to the imagination. Yet, the image of Syndra didn't faze him in the least.

"Good morning, lost bird. Isn't it a bit too early for you to rise?" She hummed, with that alluring voice of hers, floating closer to Talon, so close, that he hair might have caressed his cheeks.

But he regarded her with cold eyes of frozen amber. It felt as though autumn was coming to an end, the touch of winter freezing the forests and the fallen leaves, such were the eyes Talon had, ever since a while ago.

"I'm not in the mood to play games, Syndra," he spoke curtly, and was about to pass her by. Then again, she was a control mage for a reason.

The assassin was able to make two steps – at most – before he felt the ginger touch of silver hair around his shoulders, closing in around his neck. It was annoying.

"So I hear you're preparing for a trip to Ionia." Syndra whispered smoothly, every trace of playfulness leaving her voice.

Talon knew something was up, since the Sovereign rarely assaulted people, and at such gruesome hours. But then again, he was not one to talk. How she found out about that, it was mystery, but Talon wouldn't dwell on it too much, since weirder things than that have happened. And besides, she must have had a reason to do such a thing, in the first place. Not that he cared.

"I don't see how that is any of your business. And I certainly won't play the messenger for you." He retorted with a glare, but Syndra just rolled those enchanting eyes.

"Foolish man," she made a face, and her hair set him free. Talon turned his back at her, ready to leave. Except, he never got to do so, for her words stopped him mere seconds later. "The fact that you are the cause of a possible mass destruction of balance in this world has everything to do with me."

Talon turned back to face her properly this time, not wasting a moment to hide the grimace he'd made. "And you're the one to talk about balance? The one who nearly destroyed Ionia?"

This time, she let out a sigh. "Darkness cannot exist without light. But it's a fact nobody in Ionia seems to understand, not the Elders who tried to wipe out my existence, nor the Kinkou Order who tried to annihilate The Order of the Shadows. You, on the other hand, caused the only light mage to lose her sight, and now balance is weeping."

This was tiring. Everyone was intent on blaming him for not returning Lux's feelings, making such a fuss about it. The possible havoc in Demacia her departure might cause, that was understandable. But the magical issues were on a whole new level. What balance, what universe? Magic had nothing to do with him, even if it had everything to do with Lux. He wasn't, after all, an important piece in her life. Sure, she might have been in love with him, but he was only one single man, and his decisions wouldn't throw the whole world into doom.

How do you think this world is going to end? Her voice from years in the past echoed in his mind, as a mortal reminder of how wrong he was.

"Looks like something sparkled in there." Syndra noted with no expression. Daylight was creeping in, making place within the shadows.

"Nonsense. I'm just going to bring back a stupid girl from ruining herself." And that was absolute.

But usually nothing goes as planned, and even if he did expect for some problems to rise in his quest, he never thought they would float around mysticism. He wasn't a believer, he didn't wield magic, he was just a shadow. Nothing more, and nothing less.

"Indeed. Because that same girl will probably bring an end to this world. If the only source of light disappears, darkness will swallow us whole."

This time, it was Talon's turn to roll his eyes. "Cut it out. If we were to talk about light, there's Leona's sunlight and Diana's moonlight. Then there's that dragon sprouting nonsense about the stars and the universe. You're just being dramatic about this all. And making me waste precious time." His words were final, so he turned his back at the mage once again, and this time walked away, not turning back or halting, no matter what she were to say.

And Syndra did not let it end there. "And who is the source to all the light? You're too ignorant to realise the danger, and that ignorance will be the end of you. Don't say I never warned you."

Shadows couldn't exist without light, he was aware of that, but darkness... Darkness was an equivalent of light. And he, he could never turn completely dark.

Returning to his room, he found Katarina nestled in an armchair, holding the mug of coffee in both hands. She finished it all.

"So? Did you get any clues?" She asked the moment he walked in, and headed to his closet. Light was creeping in through the windows, so there was no need to keep the lamps running.

Talon nodded with uncertainty. That talk with Syndra definitely made him feel a certain amount of uneasiness, but he'd brush it all off. "Apparently, she's in Ionia, so I'm headed there. Meanwhile, try to gather as much information as you can about her mother and whatever she's scheming."

It was going to be a long trip, so he'd need some supplies, but travelling with lots of luggage would only hinder his movements, so clean clothes and other necessities would do. He wasn't going sightseeing after all, but hunting down that silly girl and to bring her back to her senses.

"All right. I was going to visit Demacia with Garen soon anyways, so I'll try to find out then, without letting Garen know about this. I'll let you know once I find anything important, but you should also contact me when you find her, and make sure she's fine."

That sounded like a plan, and Talon was content with that. Even if her mission was dangerous, Katarina was the best at sneaking around and gathering information. So, with everything he needed packed up, Talon was ready to set out. She will be fine, Katarina was strong and she knew how to watch out for herself. And besides, she wasn't alone.

"If you will need anything at all, feel free to rely on Quinn. She was quite insistent on helping out however she could," he said as he put his travelling cloak around his shoulders. What a weird thing to say, telling his sister that she could trust someone else, someone who wasn't him. They lived their lives trusting nobody but one another, and now, he was the one telling Katarina to seek help from outsiders. Then again, he did the same.

The redhead was just as confused about his statement, but she only nodded, letting the words process in the back of her head. They weren't used to trust anyone, but slowly they were learning. Granted, it was easier for Katarina, since she came a long way from what she used to be, to fall in love with a Demacian, and a Crownguard at that, but times were changing, and so should they.

Just as Talon was ready to leave, she asked one vital question he never regarded as very important.

"How will I contact you?"

Stopping with his back at her and hand on the door handle, he could word the only thing which came to his mind. "The shadows will know."

And with that, he was gone.

He was running through the darkness. There was a buzzing sound in his ears, closing out the burning of the villages and the desperate screams of people engulfed by flames, or cut open by swords. He couldn't care about all that, nothing else mattered, as he had but one goal in mind: to find her.

"Fucking snake and her fucking scheming! I knew she'd set us up somehow, but to want to kill us both? Just what is she thinking?!" He screamed internally, trying to move faster and faster, ignoring the pain and the screaming of his body.

He was hurt, bleeding from multiple wounds, but the worst one was the cut nearly slicing open his stomach. Regardless where he went, he left a trail of blood behind, and anyone skilled enough at tracking could find him with ease.

The shadows did offer some leverage, as he was able to move with ease, in that condition, where he was knocking on death's door, but he was running out of time. He was wasting his time not finding her, and wasting her time, by letting her perish. The longer it took for him to find her, the more it meant that she was dead. And that was the one thing he could never accept.

It was cruel, indeed, losing the one person who made him feel alive for the first time, all because he couldn't reciprocate the feelings his step-sister held for him. And she was cruel, oh so cruel, that she decided if she couldn't have him, then no one would.

What a stupid play. Dying before he even got to enjoy some more of that fragile thing called happiness.

His body was giving out, however, and much to his chagrin, he had to stop, to rest for a bit. Just for a bit, until he would regain some of his strength and could properly search for that one woman. He dragged himself into the nearest cottage, hidden among the shadows, to rest for five minutes. He closed his eyes for a bit and then it turned into a blur.

Someone else appeared beside him, some villager who could use magic. So stupid, why didn't he just cut her throat? Why did he have to be so weak at such a critical moment?

And then light wrapped itself around his stomach, warmth invading his insides, and bringing him back to reality, albeit for a bit. He forced his eyes open and through the blur, he could make out those small hands healing him, but her image was blurring. The colour of her skin kept changing, and a scar appeared and then disappeared on her forearm. Pushing himself to the limit, he decided to take a look at her face, even if it was dark and he couldn't see well. Yet, as her image blurred out some more, shifting back and forth, all he could see was a pair of cobalt blue eyes, and suddenly, he was drowning in the ocean.

Talon awoke with a start, but he regained his posture immediately after, and looked around suspiciously. He was currently on a merchant ship, sailing from Noxus to Ionia. He left the Institute asking for a break and made his way back to Noxus with ease. Getting on a ship to Ionia was harder, since nobody from Noxus could gain access easily towards the island. Ever since that war, Ionia tried to close out Noxus as much as possible. But he was good at getting what he wanted, and with a certain sum of money, he managed to embark on a ship.

It's been three days since he left the Institute, and so far, nothing much changed.

Running a hand through his hair, he sighed heavily and decided to leave the room he was provided with and head to the deck. It was probably afternoon, by the way the sun shone down on the ocean. The wind was blowing too, a nice shift of the atmosphere.

"That dream," Talon began with narrowed eyes, as he looked at the ocean.

He had had that dream occasionally, but never to this extent. And he could never make out the face of the woman before, but seeing Lux there did shake him up a bit. It just made no sense, for her to be there, with him.

Talon shook his head in disbelief. "It must've been my subconsciousness, messing with me. Why would she be there?" Then again, there was a tinge of disbelief growing in his heart.

Lux was good at changing her appearance, and she was awfully bad at healing. And the warmth suffused within him, with the light coming from his wound... It couldn't be, could it?

They couldn't have met, way before Katarina's birthday... Lux couldn't have saved his life back at that cottage. She... couldn't have been there, when he was in despair over Riven's loss.

Could she?

Golden locks were set free, given sacrifice to the playful breeze, as a small figure sat on a rock, at the edge of a forest, and looking down at the beautiful scenery. Light brown cloak was protecting her shoulders from getting sunburned, as she was wearing a navy shirt, beige pants and black boots. She bit into an apple, while humming something to the wind.

She's been gone for nearly a week, but as far as she was concerned, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. So she was safe to assume that nothing will happen from then on either. Leaving behind everything had been a difficult task, especially disappearing without a word, and abandoning precious people, but it was for the best, on the long run. Her heart was torn, and soon her magic will destroy her.

And besides, she was upset with the League as well. Who would have thought that her mother had such influence over a neutral institution? Then again, her wish wasn't fulfilled, upon joining the League. She had come with nothing, and she left with nothing in turn.

In truth, there was but one thing she desired the most, and she was ready to give up everything to have him but... As expected, she was not allowed to have anything. She was doomed to solitude and sorrow.

A shadow grew behind her, blocking out most of the sun, and her smile widened, upon realising that after such a long time, he had finally decided to seek her out. She wasn't afraid of him, though.

Turning around, she gazed up at the imposing figure of the man, sporting baby blue eyes at him as she smiled her prettiest smiles at him. "Hello, Master of Shadows! I've been looking forward to finally meet you!"

Wohoo! An update! Well, I still don't know how frequently I'll be able to update, but I'll try my best :D How did you find this chapter? I just, I like how complicated I make everything be (no I don't, it just sort of happens ;_;) But trust me, it will make lots of sense! Teheheh xD I'm soo excited of your reactions!

And, as usual, the chatting corner with my dear readers who reviewed 3

Yvanor: I'm glad I managed to widen your horizon! I'm very happy you consider it one of the greatest stories ever, but you know, as an author, I always find holes X_x I'll try not to get too lazy and leave you hanging :D The feedback I receive from everyone helps a lot to make me go on.

Yeah It's Small: I'm glad you do! I wanted to portray her as a human being, with problems and all, and make her a round character. Thank you for your support!

EDGLayla: Hehe, then I'm sure you'll love this chapter :D

Birraga: Oh, my :3 Thank you very much!

TalonxLux FTW: I hope you'll have some remaining nails then! Because there's more to come :D

Adonna2424: Thank you for reviewing every chapter up to now! Sorry about the cliffhangers though, but you know... Hope you won't hate me for leaving you hanging again . I really appreciate it! I'm trying my best to make this story appealing, and aside from the plot, the wording has to be acceptable as well, so I appreciate the fact that you enjoy both! And, well, their relationship is rather shady, but what to expect from broken people.