Chapter 10 – Illusion/Delusion
Riven woke with a start. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and the stress she'd felt from it faded. A brief glance out the window told her it was nearly sunrise. After a short shower she left her room, sword in hand.
Irelia was waiting for her outside, in full armour, her blade hovering menacingly beside her.
"Good morning, Riven. I hope you slept well," She called across the courtyard with a smile. Before Riven could reply, the smile changed to a wicked grin.
"You'll need it."
In an instant, she was in front of Riven swinging her blade downwards. Riven barely had time to react, and managed to parry it weakly. She lost her balance from the force of the blow and jumped away to gain some distance.
"What the hell are you doing?" Riven yelled in frustration.
Irelia laughed, "You'll see! Just sit still for a moment!"
She charged again, and Riven was ready this time. Irelia's blade changed to its 'sting' form. Riven realized she needed to dodge or deflect this one. She wasn't at the League anymore, and she couldn't afford to absorb the hit.
By the time she considered her options, it was too late to parry. She dove to the side and rolled back to her feet just in time to block Irelia's follow-up.
The look in her eyes was dark, and it terrified Riven. It was nothing but bloodlust. The Ionian grinned, "Afraid? Good!"
With her blade still holding against Riven's sword, she stepped forward and struck Riven in the jaw.
Riven stumbled backwards, caught off guard by the direct attack. She didn't have time to recover as she heard the whistle of Irelia's blade beside her. It sliced cleanly into her right shin, dropping her to her knees. Irelia was right behind it, and before Riven could even cry out in pain, her sword was ripped from her hands by a clean kick.
"You want redemption? After what you've done to my people?" Irelia slowly circled in front of Riven and grabbed her chin forcefully, filling her vision with a look of unrestrained fury.
"The only redemption you'll get is death for your crimes," She spat, kicking Riven squarely in the chest. Riven fell backwards. The air was knocked out of her, and she coughed heavily, filled with pain. As she looked up in despair, it was not Irelia who looked down at her.
It was Ardus.
'But how-'
He was joined by the rest of Fury Company as they shuffled around her. Riven glanced at them all in confusion, and all she received in return was disapproving glares.
"Look at this sack of worthless meat," Mannen growled, "Can't even beat a single I-O. What a disgrace."
"How're you gon' 'venge us wit' your petty skills, eh?" Krim chipped in.
"Avenge?" Sal replied in his usual uncaring tone, "Ha! She doesn't plan on anything like that. She's a coward."
"Shoulda killed him when you had the chance, P.C." Dassel said gruffly, his enormous figure blocking the morning sun.
Brite was there too, holding his favourite axe. He said nothing, but his face said it all. He was just as unimpressed as the rest.
"I'm sorry!" Riven choked. She didn't know what else to say.
Ardus shook his head and drew his longsword, pointing it at her chest. "Sorry isn't good enough. You killed us."
The world was swaying. Riven was sweating and disoriented. "It wasn't me! It was him!"
"Bah, she can't even say his name," Sal commented with a chuckle.
Irelia appeared behind them and put a hand on Ardus' shoulder.
"See, Riven? Redemption, revenge, it can all be done right here."
She nudged the boy closer, the tip of his blade now touching Riven's ribs. Riven's shallow and quick breaths pressed against the metal, and she tried to squirm backwards to escape. Ardus easily kept up with her, his eyes the same as she'd seen before. Disappointed, ashamed, regretful, and most of all, pained. Riven's back hit a wall.
"I'm glad you managed to feel the same way I did before you died," He spoke softly, and then started laughing. Everyone joined him, until finally, with a sudden yell, he stabbed forwards.
Riven woke with a scream of agony, and nearly fell off her bed in a confused scramble to survive. It took her more than a few seconds to realize it had been a dream. She felt the spot Ardus had stabbed, right below her heart, just in case. She had felt the intense pain of the act, but now there was nothing to show for it.
'Riven!' Nigel's voice rang loudly in her head, causing her to jump.
'Nigel? What are yo-'
'Are you okay?!'
Riven pressed a hand to her temple. She could feel a headache coming on already.
'Please shut up and explain to me what you're yelling about.'
'Erm. What? You were calling for help, so…'
'I was?'
'Yeah.'
Riven closed her eyes and reflected back on the dream. It was ridiculous, now that she thought about it, but apparently it had affected her enough to subconsciously cry for help. '... I didn't even know I could do that.'
'Hmm. Was it just a nightmare or something?'
'Yeah. You can forget about it. Sorry to bother you.'
'It's not a bother. If you need to talk about it, I'm always available. Just focus on sending me a thought, and I'll hear it.'
'Thanks. I'll keep that in mind,' Riven replied, knowing that she wouldn't actually take him up on the offer. Her problems were her own.
She felt Nigel's presence disappear, and took a long moment to recollect her mind. She wiped the sweat off her brow. Her bed was drenched in it as well.
"What the fuck…" She groaned. She had spent months training her mind to avoid this. Was she getting weak? Or was it just a passing thing?
"Love makes you weak."
No, it couldn't be a coincidence. She was the problem. She was losing focus. A sudden frustration welled up inside of her, and she slammed her fist against the wall to vent it elsewhere.
"What am I going to do?" She muttered miserably, rubbing her face.
'You can only accomplish one thing at a time,' Her drill instructor reminded her in her faded memories. It was strange how she could hardly remember the man himself, but his message stayed true to her all these years.
And yet again, he was right. She put the thoughts of dreams aside and got up from bed. She had her goals to direct her, and she should put her efforts there first.
She dressed hastily, impatient to start her training. Before clipping her sword to her belt, she ran her fingers along the runes across the sides. They shimmered slightly in response to the touch, emitting a comforting feeling in Riven.
"Soon," she told it, imagining it could hear her. The glow extended to trace back its former shape, and Riven smiled. Now that she could accept as a coincidence.
She made to get up and leave when there was a knock on the door. A pulse of stress washed through her as she looked outside. It was well past dawn, and she was concerned that Irelia might be the impatient type.
When she opened the door, however, a different sort of stress arose. Lux stood before her, bright and cheerful as ever. Riven took an instinctive step backward.
"Good morning, Riven! Did you sleep well?"
A brief flash of the nightmare passed through Riven's mind, making her shudder involuntarily. "Somewhat," She replied half-truthfully.
"You have rings under your eyes," Lux said, frowning and examining her more closely.
Riven looked away. She really didn't want to get into the details right now.
'Priorities', She reminded herself, 'Sword first. Lux after.'
"Sorry…" Riven said without making eye contact, "I need to go. Can we talk later?"
Lux's frown deepened, "I guess so. How much later?"
"I'm not sure," Riven admitted.
Lux's eyes were downcast when Riven looked at her again. Something stirred in her, making her feel like giving in and spending all the time in the world with the girl. But it couldn't convince her it was worth it right now. The doubts arose just as quickly as the anticipations. She didn't want to throw everything away just for one chance of finding something she might like.
Lux took a step back, allowing Riven to pass. "Mm. So… I'll see you later?"
Riven nodded solemnly, and set off towards the exit, feeling nothing but guilt.
The autumn sun felt warm on her skin, but the signs of winter were far more apparent here in Ionia. The leaves were already beginning to turn colour and fall to the ground. Riven found Irelia sitting cross-legged beneath two trees that were halfway between green and orange. To her surprise, the Ionian was dressed casually, and seemed to be meditating. Her blade sat across her legs like an obedient pet. All in all, she seemed oblivious to her surroundings.
"Good morning, Riven," She said suddenly, causing Riven to jump a little in surprise.
Perhaps not as oblivious as she looked.
Irelia stood, her blade coming to life with a twirl and hovering beside her. Riven subconsciously put a hand on her sword's hilt, her dream's images coming to mind. The feeling passed, though, as she reminded herself how absurd it had been, and the action only earned her a stark glance from the Ionian.
"You probably won't need that today," She stated.
Riven felt disheartened, "But you mentioned training."
Irelia smiled nonchalantly, "I did, and I will deliver. But we must take things one step at a time. For now, come with me. I have some questions to ask before I can begin to help you."
Riven followed as Irelia led her away from the guest chambers and further up the mountain. She let loose a sigh, her fingers tracing over the details of her sword. It was difficult to get over the excitement she'd felt at the thought of battling with Irelia, and now she was just frustrated that she never seemed to know what came next. It was always a surprise.
"Which part of Noxus do you come from?" Irelia asked upon reaching a set of stairs carved into the mountain slope. The steps were surrounded by lush greenery, but didn't appear to lead anywhere but up.
Riven stopped beside her. "The military," She answered.
Irelia gave her an amused look, "You were born in the military?"
Riven frowned, "Something like that." She disliked being asked questions she didn't have an answer to.
"I see," Irelia said a little more seriously, "I was just curious about your hair colour. It is very uncommon, you know."
"I know," Riven responded. Another answer she didn't have.
"So is it natural then?"
Riven rolled her eyes, "Is this going to help me with my sword?"
Irelia crossed her arms, "It is hard to say. But it does help me get to know you better, which is important."
Riven stared back at her defiantly a moment longer before giving in, "It's natural."
Irelia smiled and nodded. "Shall we go then?" She finished, leading onwards up the stairs.
Riven took a brief look behind her, observing how high they were now. She wanted to admire the view, but she considered that it would probably be better from higher up anyway. With that hopeful thought, she followed Irelia further.
The Ionian's blade hovered steadily beside her as she climbed ahead of Riven. It twirled every once in a while, or bobbed over to her other side. Riven couldn't help but watch it curiously. She had seen many magical items in her lifetime, but a floating sword wasn't one of them. She wondered what force was causing it to hover along like that, and whether it ever needed to stop.
After some time, they neared the top, Riven's muscles reminding her that she should have been resting instead. The aches from riding hadn't even begun to fade away.
Irelia was peering out across the landscape by the time Riven caught up. But when Riven did make it to the top, the view in front distracted her from the view off the mountain. Ahead of her lay a large plateau transformed into a gorgeous garden filled with ponds and knolls, all interwoven with intricate paths and small bridges. The area was gently shaded by large, colourful trees, their leaves scattered across the ground in places. Riven took a deep breath. The mountain air was clean and refreshing in her lungs. She felt like she could easily relax here.
Riven turned to Irelia, and found her staring back, studying her reaction.
"Do you like it?" She asked.
Riven nodded in response, despite the discomfort she felt of being watched yet again.
"It was built for me after the war. A sort of tribute to thank me for my… 'bravery'," She looked away in a depressed way, "Though I do not think I can appreciate it for such a reason."
She began walking away, her sadness all too apparent in her steps. Watching her, Riven felt strained. It was odd how calm and comfortable the air around Irelia was lately. Riven felt like she didn't have to worry about outside stress. Maybe the Ionian ways of taking things as they come were rubbing off on her. Even now, she wanted it to return to that state, and so she said exactly what she would have wanted to hear someone else say to her.
"I understand."
Irelia whipped back around, revealing how shocked she was.
"You do?" She asked, her voice a little shaky, "But then… what was all that talk about... needing to be honoured?"
Riven shook her head, "You're different, aren't you? You never wanted this war. You've probably suffered much more than rejoiced from it."
Irelia smiled sadly, "More than you know," She whispered, just loud enough for Riven to hear. But before Riven could ask what the girl meant, she motioned to follow again.
"Come, we can talk over there," Irelia directed, pointing to some stone benches nearby.
Sitting in the shade, the temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Riven's skin prickled as a chill breeze blew by. She had experienced Ionia's short summers in the past, along with the dark winters during wartime, when supplies were scarce and the freezing nights claimed the lives of the injured. Her company had been lucky in that they were among the higher class of soldiers, and received proper blankets and clothes. The front lines weren't so fortunate.
Irelia cleared her throat, garnering Riven's attention. "I know I said I would ask you some questions, but I feel I should tell you a little about myself first. Though…" She hesitated, "I am unsure of how you might react."
Riven considered her worries for a short moment. "There's only one way to find out."
Irelia gazed at her, and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
"Give me your hand."
Riven complied, and set her hand in Irelia's outstretched palm. Her skin tingled again, but she wasn't so sure it was the cold this time, as it faded away quickly.
"Do you feel it?" Irelia asked. Her breathing was shallow for a second or two before evening back out. Riven wasn't sure what she should be feeling.
Irelia looked her in the eyes, showing a small amount of concern. "You do, don't you?"
Riven hadn't a clue what Irelia meant. But she did notice her manner of speaking was a little different. Usually she gave off a very formal tone, but right now she sounded simply normal.
Irelia drew her hand back and looked away pensively, "That's… odd."
"What was supposed to happen?" Riven asked, confused.
"Well, we're not quite sure what it is, exactly," She explained, "But normally I give off a very strange… aura, if you will, on contact."
She turned to face her again quickly, looking serious all of the sudden, "Tell me, have you ever been the target of Noxian necromancy?"
"Not that I know of," Riven answered flatly.
"Have you ever died?"
In any other situation, Riven might have laughed at that question. But Irelia seemed deeply troubled, and she decided to answer as best she could. "Do League matches count?"
"No."
"Then no."
Irelia closed her eyes again and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Are you special in any way?" She asked hopefully.
Riven shook her head, answering again with "Not that I know of."
Irelia sighed heavily, "Then I am entirely stumped. There is something about you, Riven."
Riven wasn't sure how to take that comment, but noticed Irelia was speaking formally again. She needed to test something. Without hesitation, she reached out and touched Irelia's bare arm.
Irelia flinched a little, "What're you doing?"
Riven pulled her hand away tentatively, "You speak differently with human contact."
Irelia's eyes widened as her face turned a bright red in contrast with her pale skin, "How did you…?"
She turned her head and hid her face with a hand. "You figured that out too easily."
It wasn't just the way she spoke. The way she acted, her reactions… She seemed younger, less mature. Riven recalled the times she'd heard Irelia's informal speaking.
"And perhaps when you're linked with a summoner, as well?" She continued with her analysis.
Irelia laughed, "Well done. You're sharp. And?"
Riven closed her eyes to concentrate, considering what else Irelia wanted her to figure out. And it clicked almost immediately, having had so much experience in it herself. "The reason you study people so intently is so you don't forget how to act in front of others."
When she opened her eyes, Irelia was staring back, mouth agape in awe.
"Really, how did you figure all that out from one piece of information?"
Riven smirked, "It wasn't one piece. It was everything combined. Besides, I have my own experience to call on. I was like you, before the war."
"How did you fix it?" Irelia asked concernedly. Riven was reminded of Lux's similar question, and sighed in response.
"Why does everyone seem to think I hold the answers?"
Irelia's confused look prompted her to actually answer, though.
"I didn't fix anything. I used to be like you, yes, but I don't think the cause was the same. And I definitely don't think the… solution would be the same either."
Irelia nodded solemnly. Riven could see she'd been hoping for any helpful information. It was strange. Where Riven felt that these emotions were a burden, it seemed Irelia wanted them back desperately.
"Do you no longer consider yourself human, Irelia?"
She didn't answer immediately, instead staring into space passively. Riven felt self-conscious of the question. Had she been too blunt? She was about to apologize, when Irelia actually answered.
"I don't know what I am. I died that day. I know that much. I remember hearing Soraka's pleas, the battle happening just outside the door. I gave up. It all faded away... The next thing I remember is waking up in the infirmary two days later."
She paused and smiled faintly, "I really made a mess of the place before I learned how to control my father's blade. A few people got hurt. But nobody seemed to blame me for any of it. They just revered me as the 'Savior of Ionia'. Even then I did not feel any sense of accomplishment. It was not me that did it. It was something else entirely."
"You mean… like a second personality?" Riven asked. She'd heard of such a thing before. It was many of the things she'd researched for her own sake.
Irelia shook her head. "I would not go that far. It just seems that sometimes… I lose control, and my body fends for itself. Violently."
"Should I be worried?"
Irelia laughed, "No, not right now, I would hope. It seems to be isolated to times when I am in grave danger. And I considerably doubt this is one of those times."
"But then, in League matches?"
The Ionian cocked her head to the side, "I think that is a different matter altogether. Topics of the mind get muddled when summoning is involved."
Riven could understand that point.
"Umm," Irelia continued swiftly, "Do you mind if we discuss other things? I can feel myself getting a little depressed about this one."
"Mm," Riven agreed. She still had a few curiosities about it, but she figured they could wait.
Irelia bowed her head in thanks. "Can I see your sword?"
Riven didn't hide her surprise, "I thought you said I wouldn't need it today?"
Irelia grinned, "I've changed my mind."
Riven unclipped the sword and handed it to her in anticipation. Was this it? Could she reforge her sword with this?
Upon taking the blade, Irelia nearly dropped it.
"My gods, how do you wield this one-handed? It must weigh over two stone!"
Riven smirked, "You're not that far off, but it's three times that normally."
Irelia took a long moment to comprehend that fact. Riven was used to this reaction. It was one of the reasons she never had to worry about her own weapon being used against her. She had yet to find someone who could wield it like she could.
Irelia positioned the sword on her lap and traced her fingers along it. Riven watched in amazement as the runes began glowing, faintly at first, then as bright as she'd ever seen them. Her eyes drifted to Irelia, who appeared to be in a trance as she studied the blade with her hands.
"Interesting," She muttered.
"What?" Riven asked, impatient and anxious. This was the first time someone else had been able to activate the runes in any way. She'd always assumed they were attuned to her, and her only.
"You share a great bond with your sword, Riven. It seems quite content in your possession, aside from its current state."
Riven looked away guiltily. It was hard to believe Irelia could actually tell these things, or suggest that the sword had feelings or preferences. But still, what she had done to it in her moment of weakness… It wasn't regret she felt, but shame. She had failed too many times, and taken her anger out on whatever was available.
Irelia frowned, "And you have yet to give it a name, in all this time."
Riven's eyes widened. "How did you…?"
Irelia smiled and looked at her, "Do not be concerned. I can tell names are not as vital to you or your sword. I am just accustomed to such a thing, growing up with my father. He named every one of his creations, including Daoya here."
The floating blade spun in place, as if introducing itself properly. Riven felt slightly perturbed by the concept that it might react to a name, and settled her mind by considering Irelia did it on purpose.
Irelia exhaled deeply, "I do believe I can help you after all, Riven. But I must warn you, this will not exactly be easy. It will require a certain amount of magical ability."
The sudden worry Riven felt must have shown on her face, as Irelia chuckled again, "There is nothing to fear. Anyone can learn magic. And for your case, it will be easier than most. You only require a single purpose of it."
Riven bit her lip. She knew nothing of magic. It was never her objective, as she had decided to specialize in more concrete methods. Magic was too risky in battle.
She looked longingly at her sword in Irelia's lap. This was the reason she came. She'd traveled this far to find out how to progress further. Was she simply going to say 'no thanks' and head back?
"…How long will this take?" She asked after the short debate in her mind.
"I cannot say for sure, but with your capabilities, it could be a month. Maybe less."
"A month?" Riven repeated in surprise. She could go from nothing to everything she needed in that short a time? It was unbelievable.
Irelia nodded, "I have confidence in your ability. If you truly focus on it, I believe you could accomplish it sooner."
Riven leaned back on the bench, processing. She could do this.
"When can I start?"
A coy smirk clung to Irelia's face, "I would say right now, but I think I am in the mood for a change of scenery."
Riven frowned. They'd only been here for less than an hour. "What do you mean?"
"Well, there is a festival going on, remember?" Irelia said, her smirk evolving into a full grin.
Riven walked aside Irelia through the busy streets of the city. The surrounding area was a sea of dark hair and pale skin, which made Riven stand out whether she wanted to or not. Being beside one of the most popular Ionians didn't help the matter either. It seemed everyone was staring at her.
"Do not mind it, Riven," Irelia stated, noticing her discomfort. Her blade was tucked away on her back, presumably to save space and not injure anyone.
"Easy for you to say," Riven muttered. Riven's own blade was back safely at the inn. It would have been awkward to carry it through the crowd.
"It's alright," Irelia tried to reassure her, "You are safe with me."
Riven took a deep breath to quell some stress. It wasn't that she felt unsafe. She just didn't find the spotlight all that appealing. She looked around for an excuse to leave the main streets, and found it through the alluring smell of food. A quick check down a less-busy side street found her objective.
"Can we eat there?" Riven asked simply, pointing to the shop.
Irelia smirked. She obviously wasn't fooled, but she nodded in agreement anyway.
The restaurant was set up as an open-air eatery, with a large doorway and simple furniture. Riven made her way to a corner, and Irelia followed in compliance. The girl seemed respectful of Riven's choices, and she appreciated that. Most people didn't get that she just wanted her space.
Before Riven had even finished sitting down, the waitress had appeared beside them. "Welcome back, Irelia. The usual?" She asked with a large smile.
"Times two," Irelia returned politely.
After a quick bow, she scurried off towards the kitchen, pushing aside the small curtain that divided the rooms.
"You come here often?" Riven asked.
"Often enough, I suppose," Irelia explained, "The host family is a nice bunch. The mother was born in the south, and the father is a former Noxian."
That caught Riven's attention, "A deserter?"
Irelia nodded, "There are quite a few of them in the southern states. You are not the only one who did not agree with the Noxian tactics during the war. And having no place to return to, they settled here."
"How does Ionia feel about that?" Riven enquired.
"It is as I said, Riven," Irelia smiled, "We do not hold hatred within ourselves. It goes against our beliefs. Things change, people change, the world itself changes. The only constant in this world is balance, and who are we to hold ourselves to that standard?"
"You all feel this way?" Riven asked skeptically.
"Of course not. There are some who simply cannot forgive. And I do not blame them, myself. We all lost a lot in that conflict, Noxians, Ionians, you, and me..." Irelia trailed off, before continuing again, "But balance will return, as it always does. We are already well on our way."
Riven sat in thought, unsure whether she was impressed or unsettled by the open hearts of the Ionians. She couldn't believe their minds were dissimilar to anyone else's, yet somehow their mindsets were so different.
"Is loving a former enemy so hard to imagine?" Irelia asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Riven stared at her blankly. Something in her mind clicked , and she wanted to kick herself. How could she forget she was in the same situation? Maybe they weren't so different after all...
"From the look on your face, I guessed right?" Irelia added with a grin.
"Right about what?" Riven responded, confused.
"You're in love."
"Wha-? How?" Riven stuttered.
"Well that confirms it. I was only guessing, but it looks like it is true after all."
Riven grumbled in frustration. She'd been tricked into admitting something so personal.
"Tell me about it."
"Why do you want to know?"
"I am curious. You do not seem the type to fall for someone easily."
'I'm not,' Riven answered in her thoughts. She sighed.
"I still don't really understand it," She admitted, picking her words carefully.
Irelia raised an eyebrow, "Is it your first time?"
Riven didn't answer, even though she knew that would only confirm it anyway.
"Oh, this is exciting. Please go on." Irelia smiled, her tone edging on teasing.
Riven glowered at her. She was feeling a bit put-off about Irelia's formal act, now that she'd seen her true side. She slipped off one of her shoes and placed her foot on top of Irelia's sandal. The Ionian girl froze in surprise, before looking around nervously.
"Riven, someone will see."
Riven raised an eyebrow. Was she worried about her secret getting out from just this?
"I like you better this way," Riven said plainly, keeping her foot in place.
Irelia blushed and lowered her eyes, biting her lip.
'Is she really that embarrassed about it?' Riven wondered. Regardless, she was glad it had stopped that conversation. She decided to take the chance to change it.
"So why did you join the League, Irelia?"
Irelia met her eyes again for a short time, then turned her head away calmly, "For a number of reasons. It's my duty to protect Ionia, and if the League is the only way to do so, then so be it."
"And the other reasons?" Riven pressed, her curiosity growing.
Irelia shifted in her seat, but Riven kept her foot secured on the spot. She was kind of enjoying this.
"I... also went for my own reasons. I heard about the other types of magic used there, and thought I might find something that could help me."
Riven nodded slowly. She knew there were always personal reasons behind outward motives. All Noxians knew that much. However, she felt glad that Irelia's motive wasn't as typically selfish. She just wanted to be normal again.
"And," Irelia continued, catching Riven off guard, "I'm searching for my brother."
Riven blinked, "You have a brother?"
Irelia nodded, "He went missing during the war. He was headed to Demacia to request help, and then... he simply vanished."
She clenched her jaw briefly, then met Riven's eyes with a sincere, pleading expression, "His name is Zelos. Please, if you hear anything, tell me. He means so much to me."
"Yes, of course," Riven agreed. She didn't want to say she expected the worst. If someone she knew went missing for 8 years, she wouldn't expect them to turn up okay.
Their food arrived just then, and Riven inspected it before eating. She couldn't recognize much of anything. Ionian food was definitely odd. Irelia thanked the waitress, and Riven peered after her as she went back into the kitchen, trying to catch a glimpse of the Noxian man. To her disappointment, she couldn't see him from her angle.
She turned back to her food and examined it again. It was a soup of some kind with noodles and other indistinguishable ingredients. The waitress hadn't given her a spoon.
Irelia noticed her confusion and smiled in amusement. Without a word, she reached for a pair of small sticks on the table and slowly placed them in her hand between her fingers. With a precision revealing years of practice, she picked up a single noodle and displayed it to Riven.
Riven reached for the sticks and attempted to mimic the actions, but she had trouble figuring out the finger placement, despite several more glances at Irelia's example.
"Here," Irelia said, setting down her chopsticks and reaching across the table. She gently corrected Riven's grip and squeezed down on her fingers to demonstrate how to move them. Riven felt the difference immediately and attempted to pick up a piece of something in her soup. After a few attempts, she managed to snag a large piece of some sort of vegetable, and displayed it with pride. Irelia smiled widely.
They began eating properly, and Irelia started up the conversation again.
"What do you think of the League so far, Riven?"
"I haven't thought much about it," She answered honestly, "Why?"
"I'm just wondering. Most Noxians that participate enjoy the bloodiness of it, and revel in their victories. The Demacians, on the other hand, simply think of it as a way to impose their beliefs on others. The smaller city-states don't make too much of a ripple, and Ionia... We're just there to protect ourselves."
Riven processed the information. She always knew the High Command of Noxus wasn't taking the League seriously. They only went along with the charade because it wasn't in their favour to go against it at the moment. But there had to be some backroom meetings, some secret plan in case they needed to get past it.
"I don't think I've been there long enough to form an opinion properly," She answered Irelia's question, "But I think I do find it strange that a few select people can determine the outcome of a war. It's hard to believe that the losing side would accept it with their army sitting at home."
"The rematch against Noxus saved our cities from another all-out war, and there have been no repercussions. Isn't that an example of its effectiveness?"
"Would you still call it effective had you lost?" Riven countered.
Irelia faltered, and lowered her eyes, "I... suppose I would have had to accept our defeat."
Riven shook her head, "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just looking at it from my perspective. If the League wants to be in charge, it needs to reduce the militaries of the city-states, in order to keep its verdict resolute. But then that would put far too much power into the League itself, as the entire continent would be governed by the Council of Equity."
Irelia measured the information silently before replying, "I think all of the leaders of the city-states have been over this discussion, and no one wants to make a move either way. It could be a disaster."
"But I'd rather not get into politics," Irelia continued quickly, "Do you mind if I ask why you joined?"
Riven poked her food around, "I don't really know why."
Irelia pushed her bowl aside and leaned on her elbows, "Perhaps you were looking for your true path."
Riven smirked at the strangeness of the sentence, "You mentioned something like that before. What do you mean?"
"All of us have many paths laid out ahead," Irelia explained, "Our choices decide which one we follow. But many intersect and create a common roadway that splits off in all kinds of directions, some returning, some ending far away. Our legacy lies in that roadway."
"A modifiable fate, then?"
Irelia smiled, "That's a simplistic way of putting on it, but you've got the right idea."
Riven considered the theory. She kind of liked it. A mixture of choice and destiny. "But how do you know if you're on the true path?"
"Our minds may never know it, but if we look, we might see signs. Those times when our bodies act for us. Or in some cases, when someone else comes along and unknowingly directs us back to it. I've heard of some particularly romantic stories in that regard. It's those kinds of moments that can give us hints. I like to imagine Zelos found his way, and that's why he hasn't returned yet."
Riven was about to reply when a tall young man walked by, shouting "Mom! Dad!"
The waitress stepped out of the kitchen with a look of disapproval, "Tori, where have you been? We could use your help."
Riven could see the difference in height between the mother and son. She tried to guess the features of the father from him. Tall, stocky, a very defined facial structure, and light brown hair. Definitely not Ionian.
"Forget about that," He said, "We've got a guest. Look who I found at the festival."
He gestured to the doorway. Riven's gaze followed out of idle curiosity, but that quickly changed to complete shock. If she had believed in her true path, she definitely would have considered this a sign.
"Riven! And Irie too! What a coincidence!" Lux cheered as she entered the restaurant.
Irelia shifted her foot backwards,severing their link, as everybody had a moment of confused glances.
The waitress bowed deeply to Lux, "Welcome to our establishment, Ms. Crownguard. How can I serve you today?"
Lux waved off the formalities, "Oh, I didn't come to eat. We were just on the way to the arena, so we figured we'd stop by and say hello."
She turned to Riven and Irelia, "Are you guys done eating? You should come! Tori's gonna sign up for the martial arts tournament tomorrow. Ah! We can all go watch! It'll be so much more fun!"
"Tori! I thought I told you not to do it! You'll get hurt!" The mother exclaimed.
"Relax, mom. I'll be fine. It's what I've been training for," Tori tried to calm her, but it didn't seem to work.
Just then, the father appeared from behind the curtain. He was a large man with long brown hair and a nicely trimmed goatee. To Riven's disappointment, she didn't recognize him, and she was unsure if he recognized her. His attention was on his son.
He put a hand on his wife's shoulder and regarded Tori for a long moment. "Good luck," Was all he said, and returned back into the kitchen. The wife sighed and relaxed, giving in.
"Well, should we get going?" Tori turned around, eyeing Lux.
Riven felt a surge of annoyance. She had decided she didn't like the boy already, given his cocky attitude, but that look gave her a bad feeling.
Irelia stood, placing some coins on the table. "Well, Riven? Shall we accompany them?"
Riven looked back, and hummed her approval. If this was a chance to spend time with Lux as well as pursue her objective, she would take it. She slipped her shoe back on as naturally as she could manage. She was worried about having to explain why she'd taken it off.
She made to stand, and the Noxian man appeared from the kitchen again, carrying a tray of food. He walked over to them, looking directly at her, and placed the tray down in front of her. "I heard you were dead."
Riven stared back in silence.
He chuckled, "Don't worry. I don't care either way." He left again, wrapping an arm around his wife and guiding her into the back.
Tori looked at her oddly, "Do you know my dad?"
Riven shook her head silently, avoiding eye contact. She'd rather not spread the news that she was Noxian. She examined the food the man had brought out. They were a sort of pastry shaped in circles, with little rabbit designs etched into them.
"Moon cakes," Irelia told her, smiling, "They're very good. A festival favourite."
Riven took one and tried it. It was sweet and flaky, and filled with a sort of red paste. It was a little too sweet for her tastes, but she enjoyed the rest of it.
She noticed everyone was watching her, and felt uncomfortable. "I'm ready," She said in an attempt to move on.
Lux giggled, "Alright! Let's go!"
The streets were still packed when they emerged, to Riven's dismay. But she decided to struggle through it this time. She was determined to fight her weaknesses as much as possible, especially in this sort of situation.
"So where did you two meet?" Irelia asked Lux and Tori.
"Well, I was just kinda wandering around enjoying the festival, and Tori came up out of nowhere, asking me if I was by myself. He offered to show me around, which was very nice of him."
Tori scratched his nose and grinned, "I'm just doing my part as a host to our guests."
"That is very admirable," Irelia commented with a smirk. Riven shuddered.
They merged onto the main street, Tori leading the way. He seemed to naturally glide through the chaos, and neither Lux nor Irelia seemed to have issues keeping up. Riven felt left out and insecure. She could see them talking and laughing, but was having trouble focusing on it.
Someone bumped into her going the other way, and she lost her balance, falling into someone else. They caught her, and she apologized quickly before turning back to continue on, only to realize in fear that she'd lost track of the others. She looked around in a slight panic as she tried to catch a glimpse of them again.
Riven suddenly felt the crowd all around her. Her breath caught in her throat as the anxiety set in. There was too much happening. Hundreds of people passing by, yelling, screaming, all the noise, the sheer amount of information was overwhelming. She heard Irelia's voice, calling out to her, but she couldn't distinguish where it came from in all the background noise. Everything was blurring together.
A hand grabbed hers and pulled her away. Riven closed her eyes and followed it, hoping it would lead her out of the mess. She bumped into people, but didn't care. She just wanted out.
The noise died down, and she didn't feel the presence of people surrounding her anymore. Riven opened her eyes and looked around. Irelia stood before her, and she saw they were in an alleyway off the main street. She took a deep breath to recollect herself.
"Thanks," Riven said quietly.
"Are you okay?" Irelia asked.
"I'm fine," Riven answered simply. She didn't want to talk about her weaknesses. She noticed Irelia still hadn't let go of her hand, and glanced up at her.
"Is this weird?" Irelia asked, stepping closer, and gripping her hand tighter.
Riven flattened against the wall behind her in reaction. Why was she getting closer? Was something wrong?
"Irelia?" Riven managed nervously.
"Forgive me for being so forward, Riven, but I have to say it again. There really is something about you. You've captivated me."
Riven's throat was suddenly dry. Did Irelia mean what she thought she meant?
"Irelia-"
"Call me Irie," She interrupted, sliding a hand along Riven's arm. Riven shivered involuntarily. It was clear to her now.
"Irelia, I can't."
The Ionian paused, "Why?"
"You're acting strange," Riven said quickly, not mentioning the other more blatant reasons, "Please stop."
Irelia moved closer again, trapping Riven against the wall. Her face was just inches away. Riven didn't want to use force, but she was getting far too close.
"This is me, Riven. The real me. It isn't strange, it's natural. I'm doing this of my own accord. So please..."
She leaned in, craning her neck to close the distance. Time moved slowly for Riven as she struggled to grab hold of her feelings.
'She's trying to kiss me.'
Is that what you want?
'I don't... know.'
You like her, don't you?
'I don't know. Not like this, I think.'
And what is 'this'? Would you be okay with it if it were Lux?
'I don't... yes?'
Then...
'This is wrong.'
Irelia's lips pressed lightly against her own before she could react properly. The instant afterwards, however, she was an arms-length away, Riven's hands pushing away on Irelia's shoulders.
Irelia's face was flushed, her breathing deep. She stared back, making no effort to resist Riven's hold on her. Riven's lips tingled where Irelia's had touched them. So this was what it was like. It was strange...
"This is wrong," Riven voiced her thoughts.
"It's no-"
"It is!"
Irelia didn't respond. Riven couldn't look her in the eye any longer.
"I'm not the one you love, am I?" Irelia asked softly.
"What?" Riven asked in surprise.
What gave her that idea? Their talk earlier had...
"Oh god..." Riven groaned.
Irelia finally looked away gloomily, "It's her, right? Lux?"
Riven snapped back to attention. She opened her mouth to respond, but realized it wouldn't matter. The secret was out. She prepared herself to be ridiculed.
"So then..." Irelia continued, "What are you waiting for?"
Riven blinked.
"What?"
"You love her. Go get her."
"Irelia..." Riven felt entirely conflicted. She was causing pain to someone she respected, who was telling her to ignore her own feelings. What was the right thing to do here? Was there even a right way through this?
She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. She let go of Irelia's shoulders. The Ionian watched them longingly as they receded.
"Irelia, I'm really not good with these things..." Riven started, unsure if she should be saying anything, "I don't dislike you, but..."
She took a long moment to gather her thoughts. The sound of the people in the streets echoed down the alleyway, and Irelia waited expectantly. Riven sighed, frustrated with her lack of words. Her mind was too mixed up for this.
"Is that all?" Irelia asked, "You don't dislike me?"
"No, that's not it. I just can't... I'm sorry."
Irelia gave her a disheartened look and sighed, "That is enough apologizing to me for one lifetime, Riven."
"There you are!"
Both Riven and Irelia turned in unison to find Lux and Tori at the entrance of the alley.
"We were looking all over for you two! What are you doing back here?" Lux chimed.
"Riven was feeling ill," Irelia answered smoothly, "So I took her away from the crowd."
"Hm, really?" Lux directed towards Riven with an impish grin, "It wouldn't have anything to do with some late-night training in the cold, would it?"
Riven looked away. For some reason, even seeing Lux didn't stir her right now.
"I'm just tired," She replied, going along with the white lie. If Lux found out what had just happened, she wasn't sure what she'd do.
"Well then," Irelia stepped forward and bowed, "I believe I will be returning to my quarters. I have work to do, and I have wasted enough time for today."
She turned back to Riven, "Do not hesitate to come see me regarding your sword."
Riven didn't miss the hidden message there, and it pained her. In other words, business only.
Irelia gave one final bow, and disappeared into the streets. Riven could tell her mood was definitely worse from the way she walked.
"Well that was sudden," Lux broke the silence, "Did something happen?"
Riven felt a new swell of stress wash over her as she was forced to continue the lie, "Nothing important."
Lux regarded her for a moment before shrugging, "Well, I guess that makes it the three of us."
"Actually," Tori interjected, "I'm going to have to leave as well."
"Aww," Lux pouted, "You're going already?"
The tightness in Riven's chest returned with Lux's far-too-friendly tone. Did she not see that the boy liked her? It wasn't like he was trying to hide his advances.
"'Fraid so. I'll need all the practice I can get for the tournament tomorrow."
"Humm. Okay. I'll just have to settle for Riven then."
Before Riven could debate that sentence, Lux was attached to her arm. She suddenly didn't mind Tori as much, and tried to look as if it were natural for Lux to be beside her like this. Tori seemed unphased by the action, though, and Riven had to admit it was probably normal for him to see girls linked in arm here in Ionia. A sight like this in Noxus, however, was beyond rare.
"Have yourselves a good time. I'll see you tomorrow, Lux." He barely gave Riven a nod before taking his leave, which only irritated her more. He was obvious to the point of ridiculous. As soon as he was out of sight, Riven posed the question to Lux, more out of annoyance than concern.
"You know he likes you, right?"
"Of course," Lux laughed.
"And..." Riven asked hesitantly, "Do you like him?"
"Hmm. I haven't decided yet."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Lux put a finger to her chin in thought, "Well. He's a nice guy and all. Not too bad-looking either."
Riven regretted bringing up the subject. "And the problems?" She asked hopefully.
"I don't think he'd keep my attention for very long."
Riven smirked, "Well aren't you fickle." She was feeling a little more bold with Lux still grasping her arm. It was a good sign that she was still so friendly, despite the possible rival.
Lux nodded in response, though she seemed lost in thought. After a quick repose, she snapped back to reality.
"Well, where to?" Lux met Riven's gaze.
Riven suddenly felt the urge to kiss her, her lips still tingling a little from Irelia's action. Was that wrong? She couldn't decide, with her complete lack of experience. The one thing that held her back was the thought of being rejected just as she'd done to Irelia. She couldn't let herself fail here. She needed to know if Irelia was right. She needed to know how Lux felt about her.
"Riven? You're staring," Lux grinned coyly.
Riven shifted her gaze away from the girl's blue eyes, "Sorry, I was just thinking."
"Don't do that," Lux replied.
Riven's heart jumped. Was she mad about the staring? "Do what?"
Lux smiled, "Overthink things. All I did was ask where you wanted to go next."
Riven calmed down significantly, "I don't really do well with vague questions," She admitted.
"Really?" Lux sounded surprised, "I thought you seemed so confident in everything. Like you always knew what was next in line."
Riven took that as a compliment of sorts, and smiled. "Then do you just want to walk around and sightsee?" She suggested.
The blonde nodded once, "I'd like that."
The two of them left again for the streets and into the crowd. Riven braced herself for the anxiety to return, but to her surprise, it didn't feel so bad with Lux right beside her. She could breathe. She could think. It was calming.
"So what's this about your sword and Irelia?" Lux asked casually.
Riven glanced at her. She looked like she was trying to hide her curiosity.
"Information-gathering?"
A small smile grew on Lux's face, "What do you mean by that?"
"Irelia told me about your profession."
"Ah. So I've been caught, huh?" Lux cocked her head to the side and closed her eyes defiantly, "But it's not my profession. It's my life."
"How so?"
"I have a... 'need' to know things," She said, tapping her nose with a finger, "I believe the words 'information whore' have been used to describe me."
Riven laughed. She wanted to meet the person who used that term.
"Hey, that's not funny. It's mean!" Lux punched her shoulder playfully.
"But it somehow fits," Riven replied, attempting to stifle her laughter.
Lux crossed her arms and turned away, but the smile she couldn't hide gave away her act.
The both shared a small laugh, before Lux's expression dropped solemnly.
"So... Is that why you've been avoiding me?" She asked.
"What?"
"Since the attack on the ship, you've been... distant. Is it because I'm a spy?"
A bout of worry appeared in Riven's mind. Her awkwardness was creating a rift, and her denial was expanding it. She realized that if she wanted this to work, she couldn't simply prioritize objectives. She had to act on it now...
"No, it's not that. It's-" Riven started, before catching herself. What could she say? "It's not that. I really don't care about it. Or the fact that we're supposed to be enemies... I'm glad... to have you as a friend."
Lux looked touched, and immediately pounced onto Riven, "Aww, Riv, that was so sweet! I'm glad too!"
Riven felt a rush of adrenaline as Lux came so close. It felt good to have her near.
"Pardon me," A man's voice sounded near them, "I don't mean to interrupt, but did I hear a Noxian accent over here?"
The girls both turned to face the man. He appeared to be a Shojin monk, to the best of Riven's knowledge of the region, with a strange blindfold over his eyes.
"Oh hey!" Lux cried out, surprising Riven, "You're Lee Sin, that monk who set himself on fire!"
The man smiled politely, a slight slur apparent in his pronunciations, "Correct, and by the sound of it, you must be Lady Luxanna Crownguard of Demacia."
"Eh, really? You can tell by my voice?" Lux asked in amazement, "I mean, I know I'm popular, but that's impressive!" She added with a small laugh.
"And who is your Noxian friend? Forgive my curiosity, but they are a rare breed this far North."
"This is Riven," Lux introduced her, "She's here for a super-secret project with Irie."
Riven wanted to interject. Why was Lux saying so much needless information?
"With Irelia...? Now that is something. She's never had a Noxian for company before. She always said they were not to be trusted. You must be something special indeed."
Riven grimaced, her gut writhing from guilt. So she was the first Noxian Irelia trusted, and she'd gone and destroyed it. As much as she tried to convince herself it wasn't her fault, she still felt terrible about it. She'd have to go talk to her about it... But how?
"I'm not all that special," Riven replied, downcast.
"Hmm..." Lee sin hummed in thought, "But you have the air of a warrior about you. You fight, yes?"
"When I have to."
Lee sin nodded, "And that gives me the answer I was looking for. Now then, I have a request for you."
Riven stared at the man she's just met and wondered what he was getting at. "A request?"
He nodded, "Please take part in the martial arts tournament."
"The tournament? Why me?"
The monk laughed, "Well, I would like to say I'm simply looking for some good competition, but the truth is that there is no competition."
"What do you mean?" Lux asked.
"Udyr is fighting this year," He answered.
Lux nodded knowingly, but Riven didn't understand. "Who's Udyr?"
Lee Sin stroked his goatee pensively, "He is a... gifted individual. Very determined. Very powerful. He fights in the League using only his fists against all manner of weaponry and magic. You can imagine what chance regular martial arts has against that." He laughed softly.
Riven frowned, "Then what chance would I have?"
"You never know what feats you can perform until you attempt them," He said mystically, before smiling again, "But to be perfectly honest with you, Lady Riven, I am only suggesting this to you as a means of enjoyment. And of course, the offer extends to you, Lady Luxanna."
"Me?" Lux questioned, her voice's pitch revealing her shock, "But I don't know how..."
"I hear you're a quick learner. Perhaps Riven can teach you some of her Tilas?"
Riven squinted at the man, "How do you know...?"
"A lion studies its prey before approaching it. The way you walk, the way you hold yourself. For an experienced martial artist, it's an easy giveaway."
"An experienced blind martial artist?"
Lee Sin grinned, "Well, knowing a bit of magic helps."
"I should have known," Riven grumbled.
"Hey Riven, let's do it!" Lux interrupted excitedly.
Riven looked at her, bewildered, "What?"
"Let's enter! You can teach me how, right?"
The thought of training Lux flourished in her mind. Close proximity, physical contact, intimate situations... "I... don't know..." She answered, attempting to push away the ideas.
"Please!" Lux pressed with puppy-dog eyes, "You were so cool fighting those pirates! I wanna do that too!"
"It takes years of practice, you know. It's not something you can achieve in a day." Riven tried to reason. Lux didn't budge.
"...Fine."
Lux whooped and jumped up excitedly.
"But in return," Riven continued, "... I want to learn some magic."
Lux paused her celebration, "Magic? What for?"
Riven looked away, "I need it. For my goals."
"Hmm... Okay." Lux agreed with a nod. Riven raised an eyebrow. That was easier than expected.
"Excellent," Lee Sin said with a clap, "I'll see to it that you are both registered. The first match begins at nine tomorrow morning. I cannot be sure when you first compete, but it would be wise to show up regardless."
He nodded deeply, and began to walk away, until Riven reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Wait. Umm... If possible, could you enter me under a pseudonym?"
Lee Sin directed his 'gaze' at her, as if contemplating her expression.
"Yes, I believe that would be fine," He answered casually, "Any preference?"
Riven thought for a brief moment. "Celt."
"Alright then, Celt, I hope to see you tomorrow," He smiled bowing his head, "Do you wish for a pseudonym as well, Luxanna?"
"Nope, I'm fine," She answered happily.
"Then, my best regards to you both."
He walked away and vanished into the crowd seamlessly, despite his unusual appearance. He reminded Riven of a summoner in some way, and she shuddered at the thought of it. Still, she considered him interesting in a way. A blind martial artist. She wanted to know how skilled he was.
"Omigosh, this is exciting!" Lux exclaimed brightly, "Maybe we'll have to face Tori!"
Riven scoffed, a little annoyed just at the mention of the boy.
"Hey, don't be like that. He's good! I think he'd be a challenge for you."
Riven kept her doubts to herself this time, afraid of upsetting Lux. Couldn't she see they just wouldn't get along?
"So?" Lux asked quizzically.
"So what?"
"When are we going to train?
Riven took a deep breath to calm her thoughts. She was beginning to get ideas again.
'You can use this.'
This was an opportunity to act. Without a word, she took hold of Lux's hand and led her away from the main streets. The mage seemed content to keep the silence, and followed obediently.
Riven wasn't really sure where they were headed. She just needed a place where they wouldn't be bothered, and more importantly, where they could be alone.
They came across a park of some kind, densely forested with tall, thick trees, and only a small dirt path winding through it. Riven lead the way into it. There were several groups of people on the path, so Riven left it, venturing into the thicket of trees. The light was sparse inside, the foliage blocking the majority of it. Their footsteps crunched on the fallen leaves as they continued on quietly.
Lux didn't ask where they were going. Riven was glad for it. She'd rather not tell her she didn't actually know.
She saw a small amount of light ahead, and aimed towards it. If her experience in traveling gave her one thing, it was a feel for nature, and that light meant a fairly large clearing.
As they approached, Riven slowed her pace, realizing she had reached their destination. Lux let go of her hand and passed by her, looking around in awe. She spun slowly, taking in the area with an amused smile on her face. Riven watched silently with a different sort of smile. This place felt right. Seeing Lux like this felt right.
"This is beautiful," Lux declared cheerily, "How did you know this was here?"
Riven shrugged, "I didn't, really."
Lux didn't look convinced, "Then how'd you find it?"
Riven looked up to see the sky beyond the trees, "I followed the light."
"Chance!" Lux shouted.
Riven looked back down to see Lux charging towards her. Her instincts took over and she grabbed Lux's arm. With a quick twist of her body, she knelt down and threw Lux over her shoulder.
Lux landed flat in a sitting position, giggling uncontrollably.
"You're not supposed to call out your attacks," Riven advised, both amused and confused.
"Oh hey, lilies!" Lux said excitedly, "They're my favourite!"
Riven stepped beside her to look as well. A small patch of white lilies was growing at the base of a nearby tree. Riven felt a slight warmth seeing them, along with the idea that she'd lucked out in not only finding this place, but Lux's favourite flower as well. It seemed too good to be true.
Suddenly, her legs twisted beneath her, and she fell to the ground beside Lux.
"Gotcha," Lux beamed.
Once Riven got over the initial shock, she laughed, "That's better."
Lux giggled again.
"Put your weight on your left leg. When I move forward to attack, step forward and use your body as a lever. Let the attack pass just enough, and then twist and throw me over. Use your opponent's movements against them. Got it?"
Lux nodded. The orange glow of twilight kept the area just illuminated enough for them to continue training, though Riven knew that time would be up soon. She was determined to settle matters here.
Riven stepped forward and threw a punch. Lux stepped into her arm and bent backwards to absorb the blow, then grabbed Riven's arm and twisted sideways, dragging Riven over and onto the ground.
Riven landed softly, having expected the counter. "That's better, but you're trying to use too much of your own strength. Pivot your body and use my weight and momentum instead."
"Mkay," Lux responded.
Riven got to her feet and brushed herself off. "I think I'll teach you a new one this time."
This was her chance to act. She readied her stance, "Come at me."
Lux complied, sending a quick left jab at Riven. Riven deflected the blow with her right hand and dragged Lux inwards with her free hand. She stopped at the point where she would counterattack, leaving Lux only a short distance away. She felt herself tense at the proximity as they came face to face, yet felt strangely comfortable with it. Her gaze stayed steady on the other girl as her heart started beating faster. Lux made no attempt to move away, and met the look, her mouth slightly agape. Were her lips always this red? Or was it just the light playing tricks? The sparkle in her eyes was ever-present. Riven felt like she was floating.
Before she realized it, Lux had stepped in and closed the distance herself. And before Riven could get a thought through her mind, she felt Lux's lips against hers. They were soft, and sweet, like the moon cakes. When they parted again, Riven opened her eyes. She didn't remember closing them. Lux was staring back playfully, her face just inches away.
Riven was tingling all over. She wanted more. She let her restraint go and leaned in to kiss Lux again, only to be stopped as Lux placed a finger on her mouth.
"Have you fallen for me yet, Riven?" She asked quietly, removing her hand and allowing Riven to respond, but Riven didn't know how. The blunt question churned in her mind, and the best response she could come up with was a slight nod.
"Really?" Lux asked excitedly.
Riven nodded again, slowly and unsurely. This was feeling surreal. Lux had just kissed her, right? It was exactly what she had wanted. She couldn't believe it. Irelia was right after all.
Lux spun away gleefully, "This is great! Better than expected!" She laughed.
Riven smiled, though she was confused by the girl's reactions. And instantly Lux was right in front of her again, beaming. "Tell me, when was it? When did it happen?"
If Riven wasn't blushing already, she knew she was now. "Umm... I don't really know. I guess I realized it on the ferry."
"Hmm? So soon? Oh wow, that explains a lot then," Lux mumbled in thought, "Still, this is good. The plan worked so well."
"Plan?" Riven asked, perplexed.
Lux grinned, "The make-Riven-fall-madly-in-love-with-me plan."
"What?" Riven half-smiled. Was that a joke?
Lux cocked her head to the side, "Isn't it obvious? I never would have gotten this far without a strategy."
Riven's smile faded. "What are you saying?" She asked pointedly. She didn't like the sound of this.
Lux suddenly seemed meek and averted her gaze. "Well, I knew it was a bit of a stretch to have it happen normally... so I may have had to use an itsy bitsy amount of... manipulation to-"
"Manipulation?" Riven's mouth spoke, though her entire mind was in shock.
Lux winced, "But it's okay now!" She replied earnestly, "Since... Since we feel the same way, don't we?"
Riven took a step back, horrified, "Are you kidding? You planned this entire thing?"
Lux squirmed a little on the spot, "Isn't this what you wanted? I understand you, Riven. Better than anyone. How else could I have done it?"
Riven couldn't even form a response to that. She didn't want to. The memories of the past few days rushed to mind. How much was an act, what parts were scripted, in order to lead her here?
She turned around. She couldn't look at the girl right now. Five minutes ago she couldn't have imagined being angry at Lux. But right now, she only felt disgust.
"... Not like this." She said quietly. She wanted to be understood, but this was just...
Lux didn't reply.
With a heavy sigh, Riven walked away from the clearing, back towards the city streets. Just how had it turned out this way? Why was it that when she tried to reach out to people, it only turned out worse?
'You're destined to be alone,' The thought returned. She shook it away angrily. Tears threatened her eyes, blurring her vision, but she fought them back. She needed to be strong again. Betrayal was something she was used to. Manipulation was something she'd experienced. She could deal with it.
...But then why did this time hurt so much?
She kept walking, painstakingly analyzing every bit of her journey since she arrived at the League. It all made sense now. Lux's speech and actions all seemed so artificial, organized. She had fallen for the charade, and her feelings had gotten caught up in the process. That was all it was.
'She tricked me into falling in love with her,' Riven repeated in her mind, 'She tricked me.'
She stopped, noticing she'd entered the inn already. She hadn't been conscious of the time. Even more offsetting, though, was where she found herself standing. Irelia's door loomed in front of her.
Irelia...
She raised a hand, hesitated, then knocked once.
Moodkilling Author's Note: Riven's fighting style, Tilas, is based on Silat (I'm so original at naming things, aren't I?). Look it up. It's pretty awesome. I wish I knew it.
Also, 'two stone' is 28 pounds (which puts the total weight of Riven's reformed sword at about 90 pounds!). I actually did a bit of rough calculating to figure this out, and that's pretty much the lowest weight it could be, assuming black stone has the same weight as ordinary stone, which is a little doubtful to be honest. It should be much denser. But meh. And don't ask why I decided to put it in stone. It just fit.