After they had eaten breakfast for that morning, they could be found packing up their things in the room. Lux was stuffing her dresses into her bag as Malzahar simply meditated for the time being. How he simply lived the life of a nomad, even as a Void Prophet.

She sighed, gathering her things. "Are you ready? Or should I… give you more time?"

Opening his eyes to stare at her, he nodded. "Ah, yes… I can meditate in the peaceful forests of the island. Instead of here… in this… putrid location."

The Demacian chuckled, leading the way again. Malzahar has shown me his kind side… I wish he would show it to other people as well. Then they wouldn't be so scared of someone like him.

The two arrived at the docks and hoped that they could get on a trade ship towards Ionia. Perhaps it would refresh his mind… since he seemed in a better mood than normal. Was it usual for someone to have random mood swings in the Void? She wasn't sure if she even wanted the answer to that question. They both sat across from each other in the ship, Malzahar keeping himself to his thoughts. He was struggling internally with the voices of the Void and he hoped Lux was not able to see.

"Malzahar…" The mage said suddenly, causing him to look up at her.

"Yes, Lux?"

"It… won't always be like this, will it?" She asked, looking down at the wooden deck between their feet.

He was unsure of how to respond, yet the voices continued shrieking amidst his thoughts. Tell her, Malzahar. Tell her the truth. Tell her that she is meant to die by your hand. Tell her, or you will be punished.

But she was… a friend, was she not? Friends did not hurt each other, let alone kill; they stayed by each other's side. It was unfortunate that he did not have someone in Valoran to call him their "friend," until now. He would have become detached from the people of Runeterra further.

"… I…" His gaze faltered downwards as well. "No. It will not. Did I get your hopes up, Lux?" He muttered. "Perhaps we should have never spoken in the library that day. You think you have a chance of saving me, but I do not need to be saved. The Void saved me from mortal corruption and nonsense, and for me to carry out their mission is my way of thanking them."

There he went again, back into one of his moods.

She went silent as well. Did he sincerely believe that the Void saved him? No, they ruined him. He was gentle… beneath it all. Beneath that Void charade, he was a sweet, proper man. Seemingly more civilized than most people.

"No, Malzahar…" She had not realized that she had said that aloud.

"… Lux… Perhaps you should go home." He muttered, still avoiding her gaze. "You should not come to Ionia with me. Go back to the Institute, go back to Demacia, where you truly belong. My place is with the Void, something that you will never be able to understand."

The blonde blinked at him, slowly taking in his words. "… Malzahar, I can't just go home… not like this." She pressed a hand to her forehead. "I… You… We can't be friends anymore…?"

"Of course we cannot. This experience has been eating away at my mind for some time… I cannot be at peace when I am around you." The man sighed. Why couldn't she learn to let things go? She was only making it harder for him and herself. He had been troubled with her acquaintance, for even if he did enjoy her company, it did not matter in the end. She would only die at his hands, if she refused the Void for too long. Attachments were foolish…

"You are a Demacian noble. I am merely a prophet, of something that your people find rather… troubling. There is no need to explain this any further." He said, hiding his scowl underneath his scarf.

"I know that, but… I'm going to be honest. You have showed me a part of your personality that you obviously have not shown anyone else before." She said, clenching her fists. "I believe in that part of you, that part that still remains within Runeterra. You belong here, with us."

"Lux!" He snapped in frustration. "If I belonged here, the Void would not have reached me. I saw the future for what it was, and that was decimation. You and the inhabitants of Runeterra will die. Can't you understand that, at least? I am not one of you. I never was."

The flashbacks of his childhood unfolded within his mind, even though he could not feel the emotions. He simply laughed, remembering how the other children had harassed him, for his visions provided too much.

"You're a cheater, Malzahar! We don't wanna play with you anymore. You ruin all the games. Go home!"

All of the village's children had pushed him away, left him to suffer alone. He told himself he would not cry, that he would not break down. That he did not need them. And as the days passed, he had distanced himself further and further, until the voice saved him. The voice had saved him from a life of pity. The Void embraced his gift – they had not shunned him, and for this… Malzahar was thankful.

Tears had formed in her eyes by now, as Lux was struggling to keep them from trickling down her cheeks. He was so stubborn… He truly believed that there was nothing else for him. "I… I don't care about that, Malzahar. You belong… maybe not in Demacia, but you belong… with your people in Shurima."

"I have abandoned them long ago. I do not even remember my own father, and I have not seen my mother for many years." He said. "They have no place for me as well. Believe me… I never belonged, even in my youth."

"… You really can't see yourself, can you?" She finally said after a moment of silence.

"… I see myself perfectly fine." He said, crossing his arms. "I know what I was meant to do and who I was meant to be, and I will continue doing so. You should do the same for yourself, Lux."

The words that came from his mouth hit her hard. The time they had spent together meant nothing to him?

"No! There's so much more to you than… a place of horror and hunger." She choked out.

"… The Void is much more than that, Luxanna."

"No, it isn't. And you know not to call me that… Its only purpose is to destroy worlds. It wants to satiate its never-ending hunger. Do not tell me there is more to that."

"The Void will consume this world, no matter what you may believe." He said harshly, nearly glaring at the blonde. "And I will be its ruler. If you cannot accept this, then what is the point of hanging about with me? Is this what companionship truly is, to pester one until he or she cannot take much more? You are only becoming a nuisance."

Had his inner humanity suddenly vanished? Perhaps she had extinguished it from his soul by trying to convince him to stay with her. She did not know how to respond to his statement, for it was obvious that he wished for her to be gone.

"… Alright. I shall tell the crew to release me on the mainland." She said quietly as she stood up, turning her back on him. "… If I see you again… It will probably only be in the Fields."

He's only pushing me away because he's afraid… he's afraid of holding onto something in this world… She determined this within her own mind, wondering how to break down the wall that pushed them apart.

What a foolish woman. Truly, truly foolish indeed. She is running with open arms towards her own demise… She is the mere definition of idiocy. How can she not see… that there is no future for her and me?

For who could ever learn to love the Prophet?