Quinn likened her experience on the Summoner's Rift to the first time she killed someone.
It had been a terrifying, all-consuming experience that had left her reeling. She had felt like the world was broken, and it wouldn't ever be right again and that she ought to quit trying. Losing sleep, she would see the dead man's eyes every time she closed her own, and it hadn't been just for one night, or two. It had been like that for weeks, and she had thought she would never recover, even with Valor tirelessly supporting her.
It was an abhorrent thing to do, to take another person's life.
Had she been justified in her actions? Absolutely not. She wasn't an omniscient god, who could tell whether the man had deserved to die. All she had had to go on were eyewitnesses – fallible, bitter people – and a bounty pinned to a bulletin board.
When she took the man's life, she had immediately regretted it and she had wished she had never left home, abandoning her life on the farm, a warm meal, and soft bed every night. The simple things she had forsaken had taunted her, while she was left with no other choice but to endure and adapt.
During that time, however, she hadn't thought to vow not to kill ever again, and two months later, she cashed in another bounty. The second time, it hadn't been as bad, and each subsequent time, she felt less disgust, and less remorse.
It might have been something serial killers thought, too. Killing became easier – maybe not easy, but it was something she could do and still be assured she would sleep at night.
Somehow, Quinn saw a similarity between that and the Summoner's Rift. Though she had only fought on it once, she had a feeling they were the same. It would be easier for her, if there was ever a next time, and eventually she would become like them – like the other champions.
A terrible thing would develop into an everyday occurrence which she wouldn't bat an eye at.
Quinn balled her fists, looking around for something to punch, and settling on a fence bordering the nearby farmland. It rattled in protest and a goat feeding nearby shied away from her.
The magic sickness Quinn had been predicting? It had arrived, and it had been ruthless. She had been hit full force with magic sickness after returning from the Summoner's Rift, and combined with the downright unpleasantness of everything, it had been worse than she'd ever experienced. It took her a full day of recovery before she was willing to return to the city.
Most of the previous day felt like a bad dream, and she couldn't remember much after the battle on the Rift. She could remember lashing out at Luxanna, for all the good that did. In fact, that was her strongest memory.
As for the actual match, on the Summoner's Rift – they were victorious, but not because of their strength and wit. They had won because Noxus hadn't let it be a battle. All the Noxian champions had spent the match hunting Quinn, leaving Jarvan IV and Garen free to destroy their Nexus from a northern attack route.
Somehow, during her sickness, Gerrit had caught her before she could leave town, holding an invitation from Karma for her. It was an invitation for afternoon tea, which in Quinn's state she hadn't quite been able to comprehend, but she also couldn't refuse. The Duchess of Ionia, in her mind, had seemed more important than the King of Demacia. So, despite everything, she had told Gerrit to accept the invitation on her behalf, and now she was paying for it.
When Quinn meandered into town, it was noon. She had washed her clothing in a nearby river, so she didn't smell of sweat from her sickness and long night of fitful rest and cruel dreams, but she still didn't feel clean and the city's atmosphere did nothing to help. Walking slowly through the streets, Quinn watched the people.
Over the course of her life, she had spent more hours deer watching than people watching, but she admitted that humans were much more interesting. Each and every one of them led a complex life and had their own dreams and ambitions, and Quinn would never know about them.
They didn't perk up their ears and raise their heads when they heard a sound, and they had nowhere to run when under threat. Instead, these people crowded themselves in a single place, in a small part of the world, to create their own community. It should have been uplifting, to think about it, but for Quinn, she could only think of it as foolish. Only so many people could find success in such a small area – the others would just wither and die, like a plant choked by weeds.
Valor was accompanying her for a short while, before her appointment with Karma. She could tell he wanted to be in the skies, but he also probably felt obligated to stay at her side, unsure of whether or not she had fully recovered from the battle on the Summoner's Rift and the magic sickness. Quinn knew he also stayed close to help ease her nerves. Their meeting was still over an hour away, yet she had trouble focusing on anything else.
Quinn pushed past a pair of Summoners who had stopped in the middle of the road, laughing and blind to the civilians around them. Seeing a mess of stalls against the backdrop of a giant stone wall, she assumed she had managed to drag herself to the inner market. After a brief hesitation, she delved forward into the crowd of shoppers.
The market was a step above the usual shops that layered the streets of Senta. Shops were stationary – sitting and aging in same spot, selling the same products, forever. The market consisted of hawkers and other nomadic peddlers, meaning their origins were from places scattered around Valoran and their goods couldn't be found anywhere else. Their business relied on quality and transportability, both of which Quinn considered of utmost importance. In the market, she felt a bit of comfort she hadn't expected. It was similar to the Demacian capital's market, which happened to be Quinn's favorite spot in the capital.
Markets attracted a different sort of crowd. The group of people who made their purchases in the market and set up their shops were the type of people who Quinn could best relate with. Their nomadic nature meant they weren't nobles, and they rarely cared about social etiquette. The quantity of magic users within this group was also much lower. Most magic users, no matter their type, had a school or organization in which they preferred to stay, to further refine their abilities and reputation.
The League had provided Quinn with an early payment for her first month of service, so she had set aside four months worth of wages for two farmhands, allocated some for emergency funds, and the rest she had pocketed, intending on spending in the market.
Senta had a unique urban design. It was roughly elliptical, the industrial district at the southern focal point, and the Institute of War at the northern focal point. Around the Institute of War, streets were paved and designated to the different kingdoms. Their geographical locations, relative to the institute, roughly corresponded to the kingdoms' actual locations on Valoran. Due to this design, which some councilman must have been quite proud of, Ionia avenue was surrounded by the smog of Zaun avenue to the north and the dark, uncomfortable atmosphere of Noxus avenue to the south. It was suffocating. The street made a valiant attempt not to be poisoned by its neighbours, but after walking past the homes of the Noxian champions and ambassadors, Quinn couldn't shake the growing discomfort.
Ionia avenue had cherry blossoms, making up a medley of pink colors, lining the road, and the architect was unmistakably Ionian, as if they had something to prove. Well, they probably did, Quinn admitted. They survived a Noxian invasion, and while the future was unsure, making a show of strength would be better than curling up and hiding.
Quinn stopped at a tree that caught her attention. It was taller than the rest and its branches more bountiful. It seemed almost uncanny how well shaped it was – starting from halfway up the tree, the branches jutted out at equal intervals and their petals looked fuller than the neighbouring trees. Each branch was important in contributing to the overall beauty of the tree, and Quinn couldn't believe it had grown naturally. It had to have been under the influence of magic, and carefully tended to over many years.
Approaching the tree, Quinn looked directly up. Countless petals blotted her view of the blue sky above. She inhaled deeply, appreciative of the clean air around the tree.
It brought her back to her time in Ionia, where the forests were calm and the air was pure. She remembered it as a simpler time. Her and Valor had been tracking Noxian movement throughout the kingdom, a trivial task when the forests were supposed to be untainted. Back then, the most difficult thing was perfecting an efficient communication system with Valor when they hadn't been working together for more than a year.
A light breeze passed by, bringing the northern taint. Quinn might have imagined it, but it seemed the lowest petals of the tree wilted a little, their colours paling.
"What do you think of it?" a gentle voice spoke once the breeze ended.
Quinn, caught unaware, turned. The speaker was standing next to her, having approached completely silently. She was nearly half a head shorter than Quinn and was garbed in green cloth of a style Quinn recognized as belonging to the Kinkou order. Quinn hesitated, realizing she was meeting face to face with one of the order's triumvirate – Akali.
She was holding a picnic basket but had an air of tension about her that most people wouldn't notice, as if ready to dodge a bullet at any second.
"The – the tree?" Quinn asked looking between the woman and the majestic tree.
Akali nodded, stepping closer and caressing the tree's bark as though it were a pet.
"It's... nice," Quinn ventured, again looking up at the petals.
When Quinn looked back, Akali was already sitting down, resting her back against the tree.
"That's it?" she said with a tone of disappointment.
Quinn hesitated, finding it difficult to meet eyes with the woman. "Well-"
"You missed seeing it bloom by two weeks," Akali said, her voice tired and wispy. She spoke slowly, and Quinn found herself relaxing despite the prospect of meeting with Karma, who was almost completely an unknown quantity of the League of Legends.
"Oh," Quinn said into the silence.
Akali seemed to have some unknown expectations of Quinn, which made conversation awkward and difficult.
At the moment, though, Akali seemed content to open her basket and begin sorting through its contents. Most of the food looked like small, bite sized pieces of meat. The meat was raw and unrecognizable, though she suspected it was fish. She had heard rice and fish prepared in a certain way was a popular meal in the Ionian capital.
A moment of quiet passed as Akali emptied the basket, evaluating each item before setting it on the grass. Just as Quinn was about to back away quietly and leave, assuming the conversation had ended without her realizing it, Akali spoke again.
"Don't worry about meeting with the Duchess. She can be... weird at times, but just keep your cool and try to stay grounded in the conversation."
Quinn frowned. "Grounded? What do you mean? And how'd you know I was meeting her?"
"Karma acts as the representative of Ionia in almost all international matters," Akali said without looking up. "Whenever a new champion joins the League, she extends an invitation to them. Even the ones from the Shadow Isles. For the most part, only Ionians, Piltovians, and the occasional Demacian accepts the offer, but it never stops her from trying. In fact, both Miss Fortune and Katarina accepted their offers. Katarina's was a little dicey and Karma always refuses to talk about it, but usually these affairs go well. Nothing much you can lose, right?"
Quinn nodded slowly. The mention of Katarina Du Couteau could only make her think about Katarina's father, and their mysterious meeting in the forest. She wanted, desperately, for him to be telling the truth, yet she couldn't imagine a grand reorganization of power, not without major support – yet who would support him? Mages were content with the status quo. They had no reason to want a redistribution of power – not when they held it all.
"But even though I say that," Akali continued, "you look as if you already lost. You don't want to go meet Karma looking so down. She'll take offense to it, even if she doesn't show it. So, what's wrong?"
Quinn let out a sigh that stretched longer than she intended. "Nothing, really. Nothing I can pinpoint. Maybe I could say magic is wrong?"
Akali nodded, surprising her. She had expected a blank look, which would let her laugh off what she had said as a joke. Instead, Akali looked thoughtful, and it was then that Quinn realized exactly who she was talking to.
"But hasn't it always been wrong?" the ninja said. "The more powerful an existence, the harder it is to control. Since the runic revolution, magic has been the deciding factor in every aspect of history. Every artist, scientist, warrior, and politician has been shaped by magic. That's not going to change, so instead we try to balance it, so it doesn't destroy our world. For every Syndra in the world, we have a Lux. The good and evil balance, and when it doesn't, well, something like the Kinkou Order will come along to reset the scale."
"They balance? Seems like a fragile way to go about things."
Akali nodded. "Fragile, but that's just the nature of the world. Nothing lasts forever – impermanence, in the words of the Kinkou Order. By the way, I saw a bit of the match you participated in the other day – how was it?"
Quinn forced herself to remain stoic. "If you saw even a bit of it, then you'd know."
"And how was Lux?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, every time I mention her name, you look distressed."
Did she? Quinn hadn't realized. "You say she counteracts evil, but is that really true? What if she's another Syndra? How can we know?" What if every mage is a Syndra, for that matter?
Akali shook her head. "Two things. One, correct me if I'm wrong, but she requested you lane with her, that day."
Quinn actually didn't know. It had been told to her as a fact, which she'd never thought to question. Maybe because laning with a stranger would have been even less pleasant. They had fought before, against Thresh, so Luxanna's magic hadn't had too many surprises on the Rift.
Akali waited a moment for Quinn to refute her, before continuing. "That's because she's recognized you as a good person. Dark mages – or whatever you want to call them – as long as they have evil intentions, you don't expect them to approach you and ally themselves with you, do you? And two, because of what she did in Ionia."
"What she did do in Ionia?" Quinn asked, still thinking on Akali's first point.
"Not many people can be so completely blinded by their emotions and sense of justice," Akali said. "Do you really think Luxanna would be here, if she had a choice?"
Here? At the League of Legends, did she mean?
"But that's not for me to tell," Akali continued. "Ask Karma, or perhaps Lux herself. You won't be accusing her of being another Syndra, if you hear it."
Quinn's curiosity was sparked. Generally, she wasn't curious about people. Maybe it was because she knew Luxanna somewhat – despite only a few meals and battles together, Quinn could say she'd spent more time with Luxanna in the past year than nearly anyone else she knew – but Quinn wanted to hear the full story.
"If the tree is still alive next June, come by to see it blossom," Akali said, picking a clump of rice from her selection and taking a bite. She chewed for a moment before looking back up at Quinn. "Now, you should get going. Karma doesn't like it when people are late."
And that was a very clear dismissal, Quinn told herself as she quickly stepped back and away. She didn't quite know what to make of the invitation to see the tree blossom, but apparently she wasn't the only one who thought the tree was planted in a very precarious spot, between two unpleasant neighbours. Nonetheless, something that far in the future wasn't important enough to dwell on. Quinn took one last look at the tree before hurrying down the street, suddenly very aware of the time.
The house was a large, wooden, single floor building. It was elevated slightly off the ground, as if in preparation for the rain season. Quinn took the four steps up to the veranda slowly, feeling the nervousness, which Akali had dispelled, return. The architecture reminded her of the temples spread throughout Ionia, but it seemed more modern, as if the architects had been affected by the thousands of buildings surrounding the place already. The roof was brownish-red tiles and the eaves extended several meters beyond the wall, giving cover to the veranda that stretched along the front of the place and around the corners, looping around the entire building.
The door was open – or rather, there was no door. A section of the front wall appeared to be a sliding door, and it was open several meters already. Quinn approached, but refrained from knocking. The walls were paper-thin, possibly literally made of paper, as was common for Ionian homes. She looked around hopelessly for a doorbell before deciding to peek her head in and call out.
Within seconds, she could hear the shuffling of feet. A woman Quinn's age, in a flowing yukata of floral design and sandals, appeared. Her eyes took their time inspecting Quinn, before she gave a small bow, and stepped back.
"The Duchess will be with you shortly," she said, voice quivering at first before it grew confident. "Please remove your shoes and follow me to the tea foyer."
Quinn obeyed, slightly surprised that Karma hadn't been the one to greet her. She wasn't quite sure what the girl's role was – an assistant, a maid, or perhaps even royalty – but she disappeared as soon as Quinn seated herself on a cushion in the tea foyer. It was a sparsely decorated room, but open to a courtyard that was hidden away at the center of the house.
Looking out, Quinn could see a carefully manicured sand garden, large rocks positioned seemingly haphazardly throughout the neatly raked grains. There were tall reeds growing around the garden's border, obscuring what sounded like a creek running through the courtyard. In a far corner, there was a fountain. One bamboo pipe poured water into another, which slowly filled up and, when it reached a breaking point, tipped over, clacking against a rock and pouring out its water before returning to its original position, to repeat the action again and again. Quinn watched it for a minute, almost entranced by its simplicity.
She hadn't expected such a peaceful place to be possible, within the bustling city.
Karma arrived, taking a few paced steps forward before Quinn drew her attention away from the courtyard.
Every movement refined, her green kimono swayed in rhythm to her steps. The Duchess had a faint smile as she watched Quinn. Even if Quinn hadn't known Karma, the air of authority that enveloped her and formed her very being was only fitting of the Duchess in command of Ionia. Her brown hair was short, of a tomboyish length, but she wore makeup that dispelled any notion of her lacking in femininity. She had darker skin, unlike many Ionians, and Quinn was momentarily reminded of Sivir, despite how completely different the two women looked.
Quinn was sitting on one of the mats laid out at the table, and before she could think to stand, Karma had already arrived, and she made sitting look like an art. First, she knelt on the mat, bringing her hands to rest on either side of her, fingers flat on the cushion but wrists lifted slightly upwards. Adjusting her knees momentarily and keeping her back straight, she slowly lowered herself down until she was sitting on her legs. Despite her kimono being unruffled by her careful movements, she brought a hand over the cotton fabric, wiping at it to remove the non-existent wrinkles. Seemingly satisfied, she looked back up to Quinn, the smile on her face never vanishing.
Quinn felt a little accomplished at having at least properly positioned herself, if not with the grace of a duchess. If she had sat cross-legged, it would have been embarrassing.
"Quinn. I'm glad you could make it." Karma spoke quietly, as though they were in a library.
Quinn mirrored her tone. "Thank you for the invitation."
"I heard you fell ill."
"I'm better now," Quinn assured her. "Don't worry."
Karma nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. "Before we get into things, any preference of tea?"
Quinn shook her head as the woman who first greeted her entered the room again, refreshments in hand. She set a plate of biscuits on the table, before placing a larger tray next to them.
"Thank you, Misa," Karma said to the woman.
Misa gave a quick curtsy before backing away and leaving the room in silence.
Quinn examined the tray left behind. There was a large teapot, presumably of hot water, and two empty tea cups. Alongside the cups were an array of jars containing an assortment of tea leaves. Most were green or brown in colour, but there was a red one whose leaves were so far crumbled it was almost dust, and a yellow one that, if Quinn looked very closely, appeared to be vibrating in its jar.
The tea wasn't made; it was apparently up to them to finish the task. Unsure of what to do, Quinn looked up at her host.
"There have been many people to see the inside of this room, Quinn. If you so desire, relax. I suspect you do not quite understand my expectations, but all I really want is to talk," Karma said. "A little chat, if you would."
"Okay," Quinn said, unsure of whether or not Karma's words helped settle her nervousness.
Karma nodded, still smiling.
"You said you have no preference?" she asked as she poured water into her cup.
Grabbing the middle jar, which contained smaller, crumbled green leaves, Karma filled an infuser – a little cage to submerge the leaves in the water – and lowered the contents into her cup.
Quinn nodded. "I don't drink tea too often."
In fact, aside from her time in Ionia, she never drank tea. It wasn't common in Demacia, and packing it during her travels would have been too much effort for too little reward. Because of this, her short stay in Heiwa village had been the only time she'd drank tea. They had only had one type, and she couldn't even remember what it was, despite knowing the flora and fauna of the region quite well.
"Well then," Karma said, watching her cup steep, "how about some tasseomancy with the Oolong leaves?"
"Tasseomancy?"
"Tea leaf reading," Karma explained. "Divination, if you would."
Magic. Instinctively, Quinn's first thought had been that Karma could become a good acquaintance of hers. The Duchess, despite being powerful, didn't make overt use of her magic. Her commanding presence was something formed more from her social expertise and comfort with her political power. If magical leaves was the most magic Quinn would be dealing with, then she was fine with it. She wasn't all that curious as to what her future held in store, but Karma seemed keen at the prospect of reading her fortune. The process would be more interesting than the result, and she also didn't like the idea of refusing the Duchess.
"Alright," Quinn said, suspecting she wasn't the first to hear those words.
"These leaves are cultivated in Ionia, exclusively in a small area on the Ocha mountain range," Karma said, peeling the lid off a can of green leaves which were thin and rolled like small bales of hay. "The plants are grown at elevations that exceed twenty-two hundred meters, lending the leaves a uniquely sweet taste. The tea is a light type, necessary for a proper reading, and, while it's not the most popular around, the flavour is generally more well received for those who do not drink often."
Karma poured a measured amount of water from the teapot into Quinn's cup. Rather than use an infuser, the leaves were ceremoniously sprinkled into the teacup, Karma's lips moving silently, as if chanting. The low surface tension of the hot liquid prevented the leaf fragments from floating, and they quickly sank to the bottom of the cup. Quinn watched as a thin layer of foam bubbled into existence, and just as quickly dissipate.
"Now, we let it steep for eight minutes."
Quinn raised a brow. Eight minutes seemed a little long.
"Ionian tasseomancy hasn't forgotten itself – trust me on this." She pushed the cup towards Quinn.
Their tea steeping, they fell into a momentary silence. Quinn could hear the trickling of water from outside, and she panicked a little.
Has anyone ever told you that you suck at conversation?
Remembering Luxanna's gentle, teasing voice stirred up an unfamiliar, frustrated feeling within Quinn. This frustration then reminded her of what Akali said – distress. Luxanna brought her distress – yes, that sounded about right, Quinn thought. If Luxanna hadn't been a mage, things would be different. Quinn would almost be able to say they were similar – both were assigned similar missions from the army and, from what Quinn had heard, Luxanna was quite adept at those missions. Luxanna's attitude made overlooking her nobility easy, but in the end, mages were mages.
If Luxanna wasn't a mage, they would almost assuredly be friends – so why? Quinn shook her head. Regret it as she might, she had committed a grave offense against Luxanna, and she ought to be happy that she'd received no backlash – yet. She had already screwed up her relationship with Luxanna. It was time to focus on the present.
What could Quinn say that could possibly interest a duchess? She was entirely out of her element. Ionia suddenly seemed like an strange, foreign kingdom.
Unaware of Quinn's internal struggle, Karma took her time resealing their tea jars and repositioning them on the tray. Finally, she turned her eyes to Quinn.
"There are many people in this world," Karma said. "And while there's more than I'll ever meet, I want to be friends with as many as possible, Quinn. I'd like to think I can understand people well, and my understanding leads to mutual trust, where we can help each other and make the world a little better of a place."
"A better place?" Quinn echoed, looking around the empty room. "I don't think you need to befriend people to do that."
"You disapprove of the League of Legends?" Karma said, somehow reading her thoughts.
"I think there are better ways to go about it. What did you think, after your first battle in the Fields of Justice?"
Karma's smile widened, her red lips betraying a hint of amusement. "Would you believe it if I said I didn't have it as bad as you, despite all of Noxus wanting my head on a spike? If you feel like sharing your secret, I'm deeply curious as to how you angered them so. I've never quite seen such a display of obsession, and when speaking of Noxians, that says a lot."
Quinn frowned. "I was thinking about that, too. I don't really know what the norm is for these battles, but I'm hoping Talon had something to do with it – he's tried to kill me a handful of times, and if it wasn't under his orders, then I really don't know what's going on."
"I see," Karma said, fanning herself with a red, paper folding fan that Quinn hadn't noticed her ever even reaching for. "Talon does seem like a reasonable suspect, but I didn't think he had quite so much sway, in Noxian politics."
"You never answered my question," Quinn realized. "Did you never see anything wrong with the League, back when you first joined?"
"If not the League, then what?" Karma seemed to be enjoying the conversation, but her words were sharp, inviting discourse. "I can find plenty wrong with everything around us, but is there any benefit to pointing them all out, if fixing them is beyond our capabilities and overwhelming those who try to make it better? Do you think the world would be in a better place, if we didn't have the League of Legends to protect us?"
"Protect us?" Quinn challenged. "The only people who are safe are the people who live in Senta."
"Ionia is under the protection of the Institute of War."
"That's easy to say, but is that really the case? The League lets all the kingdoms think they can disband their armies and fight with words backed by nothing. Demacia's selfishness is growing, its foreign policy is practically to quarantine themselves from the rest of the world – they're becoming like Urtistan, over there. Noxus is the only kingdom that sees things as they really are, and that's bad for the rest of the world. With the League, we're just blindfolding ourselves against our enemies. When the blindfold comes off, it'll be too late to do anything."
"The alternative – what you're proposing – is chaos. Chaos, in hopes that it will eventually sort itself out. As it is now, the Institute of War is delaying a total war. For years, a war like those from the Rune ages has been brewing, but tensions have stagnated since the League of Legends was created and started acting as intermediary. If we make use of this time, we will find a solution. In fact, the solution may actually be time itself. Noxus is changing. Once, they had the Black Rose, but it withered and died. The royal bloodline a few years later, and then several generations of disorganized generals fell quickly too. Even General Du Couteau is dead, and he was known as the wisest man Noxus has ever seen. It's a very real possibility that one day, no new leader will step up to the plate and Noxus will undergo great changes, or else see themselves decline into an insignificant nation."
Noxus decline on its own accord? Unlikely.
General Du Couteau wasn't even dead, but all this talk of the League of Legends made Quinn wonder. How exactly could a new world power be created, with the League regulating everything? Would Du Couteau be going against the League, or did he have another plan?
"Already, support of the capital has been dwindling," Karma said. "The economy was strengthened by the war, but now Noxus has a massive army but nothing for the soldiers to do."
Karma motioned towards the biscuits, and Quinn took one, taking a thoughtful bite.
"You don't think they'll go and find something for the army to do?"
"I think they respect Summoners too much to do anything violent. If we were to simplify the situation, we could say a Summoner is equivalent to five hundred normal soldiers. How big is the Noxian army?"
"Two point two million strong," Quinn instinctively replied.
Karma frowned, her violet eyes betraying a hint of surprise. "Yes, that sounds about right. Yet Senta is the largest congregation of magic users in the world. Not only would the Summoners have several days notice of the approaching army, but without a tried and true general, the Noxus army would lack organization necessary to form and supply such a large invasion. I imagine a contingent of four thousand magic users could protect this city."
"What about Swain?" Quinn interrupted.
Karma took a biscuit herself, taking a small bite out of it. "Do you ever get the feeling that Swain isn't interested in leading Noxus?"
"What do you mean?"
"He joined the League," Karma said, shaking her head. "That just doesn't seem very Noxian, even if it was in response to Prince Jarvan's entry. Swain has been very quiet, and spends a lot of time within Senta. I have a hard time imagining him returning to Noxus to rally its forces any time soon. It's almost as though he wants to be usurped. Sources tell me that even the council back in Noxus is getting tired of his lack of presence."
Now that Karma mentioned it, Quinn realized Noxus did seem leaderless. Swain didn't do much to step up to the plate, and Du Couteau left it vulnerable when he could have taken complete control and turned the kingdom into what he wanted. Something didn't add up.
Karma smiled, tapping her wrist as though she wore a watch. "It's done. Careful not to drink too many of the leaf fragments – not that they have a particularly enjoyable taste on their own – and leave about half a teaspoon of tea left in the cup for the reading."
Quinn pulled the saucer closer, and regarded it warily. The tea was a rich, golden orange and steaming hot. It didn't contain any notable amount of magic, which left Quinn doubting its abilities to read the future.
Out of curiosity, Quinn stole a glance at Karma's cup. It was a green tea, much like what Quinn had drank in Heiwa village.
Slowly, Quinn lifted the cup to her lips and tilted it back. The hot liquid seared her tongue, but felt pleasant on the way down. She had elected to try only a little bit on her first sip, but the warm feeling in her stomach and the tea's surprising lack of bitterness made her take a larger sip. The taste wasn't as agreeable as the first try, and she vowed to only consume it in small sips.
She couldn't even think of a proper comparison – it truly was a flavour unique to Ionia. It certainly wasn't an earthy flavour, which Quinn would have been able to immediately recognize and appreciate. Rather, it was much softer, almost flavourless but not quite.
She set her cup down on its saucer at the same time as Karma did. The cups clacked on their saucers in unison, and Karma cleared her throat.
"What do you think?"
"It's... unique," Quinn said, failing to find a better word to describe it.
"Such an impartial answer, though I can't say an unexpected one. You've spent some time in Ionia, haven't you, Quinn?"
Quinn hesitated, before nodding. Her mission hadn't been classified. She'd met with some Ionian fighters, and though they were disorganized and spread out over a large area, Quinn was a little surprised the news of a Demacian spy hadn't trickled through the grape vine and reached Karma.
"And did you like it there?"
Quinn nodded again, no hesitation necessary this time. She took a sip of her tea, wincing a little at the taste. The scenery was nice and the people were nice, but their favorite drink was a little questionable.
"If not for the League of Legends, Ionia would be no more. Occupied by Noxus, our culture would slowly die, and in a decade it would be no longer recognizable.
The battle came down to a few key soldiers, who stalled long enough for the Institute of War to declare themselves arbiter. The lengths the Institute underwent, getting involved in such a war, is immeasurable. In the end, it took ten soldiers to determine the outcome, and none of these soldiers lost their lives. Is this the League you are against?"
Quinn took her time, tending to her tea for a minute. "You said it yourself – that friendship should be about mutual help – so why didn't you just enlist magic users from the mainland? Go around the Institute's control, and bring in magic users to fight."
"That was proposed. Are you familiar with the division of public opinion in Ionia?"
"Vaguely," Quinn said. She knew many Ionians wanted peace, while others wanted vengeance, and it had caused discord when it came time to sign the peace treaty.
"People such as myself wanted to fight with politics, rather than lives, but not everyone had the same aspirations. Master Yi, our foremost practitioner of the Wuju style of martial arts, was vehemently against making concessions to Noxus. He wanted to push the front lines back. Start a counter attack, if you would. Whether or not we had the resources to do so was a completely different question, but he – and several other powerful nobles – would have dragged the world's superpowers into the battle. They wanted an all out war, believing they could win."
"Sounds like a bad idea," Quinn admitted.
Karma gave her a gentle smile. "We did consider it, but the lives that would have been lost – it wasn't something we could commit to, even if the outcome had been assured."
It had been about preserving lives. Was that why the Institute of War was in power, and nobody wanted to question it?
Demacia didn't care for politics outside its own borders, so for them, having the Institute of War regulate things, and prevent any insanity from reaching their lands, was convenient. Noxus wasn't yet confident in its abilities to handle the Summoners in a war, so for them it was a combination of fear and respect – nothing permanent. Ionia used the Institute of War for protection, while trying to strengthen the bonds with their allies before time ran out. Quinn could understand things a little better now, but there was one question that surfaced.
"Why does the Institute of War want?" she said. "What do they get from all this?"
Misa passed through the room, on some unknown business, while Karma took a drink of her tea and ate another biscuit from the shrinking pile on the plate.
"The Institute of War comprises of many Summoners," she said, setting her tea down and picking up her paper fan, fanning herself patiently. "Back in the day, with the original three High Summoners, they had a single interest. They wanted to create a community where they could practice their powers – much like the Chronomancers of Urtistan, but less insular. When war threatened them and their desires, they proved how resourceful they could be. By acting as mediator, they've put themselves in a unique position, where anyone who attacks them will suffer the wrath of the rest of the world. Now, as long as they keep doing their job, they're free to do whatever research they desire. They even have a city of millions of people to boost their economy and help fund their efforts. Since Senta and the surrounding region isn't, by definition, a kingdom, there is no royalty or noble families. Instead, Summoners hold the power. They are comparable to the nobles and royalty of Demacia. That is what they get – an exceptional arrangement, if you ask me."
An image of Gerrit, her nearly bald, gibbering assistant for the week, came to mind, and Quinn nearly laughed aloud at the thought of him being comparable to royalty.
"Something funny?" Karma asked.
If the Summoners did all that, then maybe they too, were interested in immortality? Quinn would have to look into their research.
"Not really," she said aloud. "It's just that magic is ridiculous."
"I've heard many ways of describing magic, but never 'ridiculous'. I didn't see you use magic during your match on the Rift – do you have something against it?"
Quinn snorted, before quickly raising her hands up apologetically. "Sorry, but that's something of an understatement. Not to mention, I can't use magic, so that's why you didn't see any."
Karma raised her eyebrows, apparently disbelieving. "No magic? At the very least, I'm glad you weren't handicapping yourself in the match, but – and forgive me if this sounds a little condescending – but are you sure you can't use magic?"
"High Summoner Vessaria even verified it. I have a strong constitution – strengthened further by the time I spent working on my family's farm – but that's it. Conveniently, the Fields of Justice helped put me on more even footing. My quiver was enchanted so it wouldn't run out of bolts, and the bolts themselves seemed different. Stronger."
Karma kept staring at her, a little too intensely for Quinn's comfort.
"I would have never guessed," she finally said, giving Quinn a gentle smile. "You're very fortunate to have Valor as an ally."
"What do you mean?"
"From what I've heard, he's a very powerful Demacian eagle. However he received his magic, it must have been quite spectacular."
Quinn nodded slowly.
She had always had the feeling that Valor was a little different. Nothing ever seemed like a new experience for him – there weren't ever any 'firsts', as far as Quinn could observe. He didn't learn, when exploring the world, but rather he seemed to know the regions, their geography and local flora and fauna. He had instinctively known Noxians were her enemy, when they first ran into a patrol, which was something few other Demacian eagles would be able to even learn. From the moment his wings healed, as small as he was, he had been hunting and helping her. When they fought the monsters and beasts of the forest, his attacks and fighting style seemed flawless, as if he had perfected them while still a nestling.
Quinn had never questioned him, but from an outsider's perspective, he must have seemed extraordinary.
"If you did have magic," Karma said, "hypothetically speaking, would you use it? Would you have fought magic with magic on the Rift?"
Quinn stared at the leaves floating in her cup. "I couldn't say." If she had magic, then it wouldn't affect her negatively, would it? "Probably."
Karma nodded, as though the vague answer brought her some greater understanding. "Though you didn't really seem to need it. You always seemed to know when Twitch was sneaking up on you. How?"
"Oh, that's easy," Quinn said, somehow managing a smile despite remembering her battle. "Two things come to mind immediately, and there's a handful of smaller details. The most obvious one is the smell. When the wind is just right, we can sense him coming from a mile away-"
"We?" Karma said, teacup suspended just before her lips as she listened attentively.
"Squirrels, birds, frogs. Me. Dragonflies along the river, and a mink, too. The forest may be artificial, but the High Summoners did a good job filling it up with animal life. Sometimes I feel sorry for them, though. I can't imagine how many times the animals have died from stray magic when the champions are fighting."
Karma's lips twitched, as though she were amused. Finally, she took a sip of her tea, leaving Quinn to continue her explanation.
"The second warning is caused by Twitch's lack of caution. The dirt of the forest is pretty compact, so footprints and dust generally won't reveal his position, but he runs everywhere, ignorant to all the flora around him. Stray blades of grass in the path sway to one side – it's indication of him passing by. Leaves on a tree rustling – anything is enough. If I had been alone, I wouldn't have noticed him half the times, but multiply my senses by ten, or twenty, and it becomes much easier. We only need one of us to notice him, and react to it, and all the others follow suit. Like a chain reaction, I'll eventually be caught up in the realization that something unpleasant is coming our way."
"I see. You have very keen senses, Quinn. Despite Twitch's reputation for being a – a very odorous mutant rat, I've never heard of his scent giving away his position."
Quinn kept silent, unsure of how to react to the compliment.
"But it feels as though I have been the one asking all the question," Karma said. "Is there anything you wish to ask of me?"
Quinn looked up, surprised at the straightforwardness of the Duchess. "There is," she said after a moment's thought. "I heard something from Akali, just an hour ago. Back during the war – actually it might not have been then, I'm not sure – but Luxanna Crownguard was in Ionia, and she was involved in something big? Well, I was wondering what exactly it was."
Quinn might have imagined it, but a flash of irritation seemed to cross Karma's face, her dark brown eyes showing a hint of anger. She nodded, and the faint smile that had been on her lips their entire conversation returned.
"Demacia, despite all its weaknesses, has an admirable chain of command when it comes to protecting their own."
Quinn frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means what happened – what Lux did – was covered up."
Karma's words sounded really damning. Didn't Akali say it was supposed to clear up her doubts about Luxanna?
"Not many in Ionia even know all the details," Karma continued, "but I shouldn't be surprised that Akali has that information, and I think it's a good thing she didn't tell you. I know I owe you answers, but I won't answer this question – not now at least. Lux should be responsible for admitting to her mistakes. If you ask her, and she refuses to answer, then come back to me." Karma swirled the remaining tea in her cup. "I don't imagine you're quite happy with that response, but that's how it is. Perhaps you've another question for me?"
"Why did you join the League?" Quinn said, wincing when she realized it was a much more personal question than she had intended.
Karma didn't seem to be bothered, however, as she gave Quinn a large smile. "Do you believe there is a solution to the world's problems?"
A short silence hung over the tea foyer. Quinn wasn't sure if it was a rhetorical question or not.
"I do," Karma said, answering her own question with resolution. "But the solution won't be found in Ionia. It won't be a powerful magical artifact waiting to bring peace to the world. It will be people, working together, to stop those that seek to destroy."
Quinn realized then that Karma wasn't only talking of Noxus. She wasn't speaking on the scope of wars between kingdoms, which marred Runeterra's history. Karma meant everything. Starvation and disease, the Passengers and bandits, the Shadow Isles and the Void. There were so many threats to the world, that most people focused on only one or two, if any at all, but Karma – perhaps growing up as royalty in Ionia had instilled a unique perspective on the world – but Karma was thinking on a much greater scale than everyone else.
"Never should one generation look back on another, and think things have declined. The world should be improving, incrementally, as we learn from our mistakes and evolve. My presence in Senta isn't just for Ionia. Selfishness can only bring us so far-"
The words reminded Quinn of Demacia's policies. Was that intentional?
"-and it just so happens that, at the center of Valoran, people from all over the world flock. What better place to abandon selfishness and look towards the future?"
"I can't tell if you're an optimist or not," Quinn admitted.
"I wouldn't classify my world view as optimistic, but a few close friends have told me I don't spend enough time thinking in the present."
Even as she spoke, Quinn could understand. Maybe it was their topic of discussion, but Karma did seem a little disconnected, as though she were split between two dimensions, the other her busy piecing together the formula for a better world.
Quinn took one last sip of her tea, before setting it down on its saucer and nodding towards it.
"It's done," she said.
Karma smiled. "When you're ready, give the remaining tea three swirls, and then set it upside down on the saucer, letting the remaining liquid pour out. Try to think about your future, as you're doing this – but you don't need to stress too hard about it – it just helps a little, is all."
Karma's voice had taken on a more mystical tone, and Quinn listened carefully.
Despite her earlier claims of not caring about the result, Quinn felt her her anxiety grow. Taking a few calming breaths, she reached for her teacup.
"Left hand," Karma interrupted.
Quinn flinched, before changing hands. As directed, three times she swirled the tea. It felt weird to drain the tea into her saucer, but she did so, carefully, as she upended the teacup and set it in place.
Her future. What did she want? She wanted what everyone wanted – happiness. She was human, so she wanted to be safe and happy – it was only natural. While Quinn loved hiking the forests and mountains of the world, she wanted a place she could always return to, somewhere to call home. Heiwa village jumped into mind. It was a place she already knew she felt safe and comfortable at. The people were friendly and helpful, and the magic was at a minimum. If she could build her own house from scratch, and start a life there, able to come and go as she pleased, then what more could she ask for?
Karma pulled Quinn's saucer towards her but Quinn hardly processed the sound. A minute passed, where they were both frozen likes statues.
But there was something else that apparently didn't fall into the scope of human greed, for some reason or another. Quinn didn't want to die. Ever. The world was such a vast, interesting place, and given a thousand years she wouldn't be able to explore half of it, and if she had, there would be more, beyond the world, to explore. There were other dimensions out there, as evidenced by Taric, the Passengers, the Fields of Justice, and so many people. To die without knowing anything about the universe would be too depressing.
It would be a lie, however, to say her desire for immortality was fully explained by her curiosity of the world. She was also afraid of death. Even since before dying on the Summoner's Rift, she feared the nothingness that followed it. She didn't want her existence to end, ever, and when it was completely, entirely possible to avoid it – as so many others in this world did – then why would she settle for less?
Out of the corner of Quinn's eye, she could see the bamboo fountain outside – the only thing moving in her field of view.
Quinn wondered, did immortality fall under the scope of happiness?
She had read stories where the immortal heroes, over time, lost the appeal of life and became empty, discontent souls who were bound to wander the earth forever. These stories, she unequivocally scorned, thinking to herself that they had been broken humans before they achieved immortality, and that was why they had fallen apart. Sitting in the temple-like house of a duchess, however, a seed of doubt was planted in her mind. So few people chased immortality, so perhaps the stories weren't all great fabrications of years gone by?
Slowly, the Duchess lifted the cup and turned it over. Quinn waited with bated breath.
"Huh," Karma mumbled, looking troubled and oblivious to the tense mood that had been building. "I know I told you not to drink the leaves, but it would have been fine to drink some. Well, that's not entirely your fault – or it is, because it's your future, but it's also the cup's fault. It just really wants to talk."
Frowning, Karma began to rotate it, as if expecting to find something of interest on the floral pattern. She began to hum a mystery song, tilting and rotating the cup for nearly a full minute. Finally, Quinn couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Um," she said, fearful of interrupting the reading, "is something wrong?"
Karma looked up, almost seeming shocked at Quinn's presence. "I'll confess, I've never had a reading quite like this before, and I've read for some very interesting champions."
"Let me guess," Quinn sighed. "Death."
"No," Karma reassured her, before backtracking. "Well, yes, but no. There's more. Death is in every other cup – it's hardly mention worthy. This, on the other hand, is good – I think. It almost warrants me revisiting some of my old scripts, because if I'm reading this right..." She tipped the cup, so Quinn could see inside the cup. "It's love."
Quinn looked at the seaweed plastered to the ceramic cup.
"Love?" Quinn repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief as she stared at the inside of the teacup.
Karma nodded slowly, as if about to change her mind. "Success with love. I haven't read something like this for years. Since before I joined the League. Of course, champions of the League still fall in love – left and right, with Ahri around – but reading it in the leaves is something different altogether. This isn't a platonic love, like the love I'm sure you feel for Valor. That love is read as friendship, in tasseomancy, and is much more common. This love refers to your love life, and it begs the question, Quinn, is there someone you love?"
Love? She was hardly close enough to anyone to call them a friend. She and Prince Jarvan had once been on close terms, but that was a thing of the past, and she had never been physically attracted to him in the first place. Had she ever felt attraction for another person? The angelic mage, who descended from stormy skies to save her from the Passengers, came to mind. Her pale, flawless face and long, flowing blonde hair had left Quinn speechless. Quinn had found her saviour attractive, but would likely never see her again. And in either case, it might have been because she'd been on the verge of death, that a friendly face seemed so beautiful.
Completely unbidden, Luxanna Crownguard came to mind. Quinn could remember the day she had been discharged from the hospital, and Luxanna had been waiting for her in a cute little cyan sundress, adorned with a colourful floral pattern. She had smiled when she caught sight of Quinn, and – and the best explanation Quinn could offer for having such a vivid memory of Luxanna was that she had a thing for blondes.
Karma really didn't hold back, and though she tried not to, Quinn could feel her face heat up. Was she really so prude as to blush at such a simple question?
"It's fine," Karma said into the responding silence. "Whether or not there's someone you love, whether or not you're willing to tell me – though I am known to give excellent advice in the romance domain." Karma gave a conniving wink and Quinn was a little surprised to hear the Duchess boast. "Just be aware, Quinn, that success might be easier to achieve than you would think."
Quinn gave a quick nod, before looking out into the courtyard, finding the rocks of the garden intensely fascinating.
"Though," Karma added, her smile disappearing, "there is more than love, waiting for you. Quinn, have you been planning to leave – go travelling somewhere? A journey, perhaps?"
"Yes," Quinn said, still watching the rocks outside. The sun was beginning to set, and the courtyard was darkening. A raven landed in the middle of the sand garden, pecking at unseen insects and ruining the carefully made lines of sand.
"Where?"
"Heiwa," Quinn mumbled, a little reluctantly. She didn't know why she was telling the Karma her plans, but the Duchess did seem to be a trustworthy person.
"Ionia? You were planning to go to Ionia? I'm sorry, but you can't."
Quinn eyes shot up. "What?" Had she just been denied entry into the kingdom, by the Duchess herself?
"It's very clear that you'll die, should you attempt the journey. Or, in the proper words, as foretold by the tea leaves: in your near future, you will embark on a long journey. You will be alone, in this journey, and it will end in failure – it will end in your death."
Quinn let out a defeated sigh. Why now, of all times? She always travelled alone, so it seemed a little absurd that suddenly her next trip would end in her death.
"Right," Quinn said. "You did say there was death in the cup. And how accurate is all this supposed to be?"
"Normally, I would just advise you against it, but this is something more serious. I don't imagine even Valor's company would be enough to divert it. This particular reading has occurred before. Duchess Mirellie of Ionia lived two centuries ago, and despite being read the same thing, she left one night to visit her lover in a nearby city. Her body was found months later, yet no one could say how she died. Tea leaves are one of the stronger divinations. Mirellie was a very powerful duchess – not one to fall prey to animals of the forest. What happened that night, no one knows, but ever since then, Ionians have been particularly careful about readings involving journeys in isolation. That's not to say we aren't careful about all readings, though."
"So I can't leave the city? For how long?"
Karma gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "It's all relative. If you really must leave, wait a few weeks and find someone to accompany you."
Quinn frowned as Misa arrived, collecting their plates, cups, and the tea leaf jars. She bowed and wordlessly backed away.
What was that even supposed to mean, it's all relative? City life didn't suit Quinn, but was something really lurking out there, waiting to kill her? Quinn didn't understand how fortune-telling worked.
A shattering sound made Quinn jump to her feet. Across from the table, Karma didn't flinch. Quinn turned to the source of the sound. Halfway to the kitchen, at the center of the wooden boarded floor, Misa stood frozen, a look of terror on her face. On the ground, Quinn's cup, shattered into many pieces and spread out on the floor. For a moment, Misa stared, dumbfounded at the remnants of the cup. Then, she looked up to see Karma watching silently, quivered a little, and tried to speak. Her mouth opened and close a few times silently, as if her voice had been stolen away.
"Misa," Karma spoke.
The girl squeaked in response.
"I think we'll have an Chowa-style salad tonight. Could you go out and buy the ingredients? And tell Irelia to drop by too."
She nodded, the movement jerky as she quickly broke eye contact and moved for a broom. Karma rose to her feet in a single motion.
"Don't touch the cup – don't worry about the cup," Karma said, causing Misa to freeze once again. "Now get going. Ingredients and Irelia. Make sure to buy enough for us three. I have a feeling Irelia will be be having an extended visit."
Once Karma sat down again, Misa disappeared in a flash, almost tripping as she slowed down to grab her purse by the door. The door slammed shut, a little harder than Quinn might have expected, and the place became silent a second later, when the walls stopped shaking. Quinn looked at the glass table in front of them, unsure of how to react. Misa had been terrified, but Karma hardly reacted at all.
"Have you ever fought any of the Du Couteau's, Quinn?"
"No, I haven't," Quinn said. "Well, aside from the battle on the Rift."
"Outside of the Fields of Justice. You ever meet them? Perhaps you've shared a conversation with Katarina, since coming to the League?"
"Katarina? I haven't."
Karma frowned, something Quinn thought was probably a rare sight. "I see. Interesting..."
"What's interesting? Why are you asking these questions?" Quinn said, feeling a little irritated.
"Because of the teacup, Quinn. And because of the tendency of the Du Couteau's to get involved when they shouldn't. While it's not detectable by humans, the cup was a magical artifact, coming from a collection of a dozen. I have ten remaining. November is now laying in pieces on the ground, and let me tell you something, Quinn. Magical teacups do not accidentally get dropped, nor do they simply break. Do you believe in prophecies?"
Quinn shook her head, not really considering the question in complete honesty.
"The word prophecy has been tainted by many years of history, until we can no longer tell the factual stories from fiction. It is because of this reason that everyone thinks of something different when they hear the word 'prophecy'. A prophecy, in reality, is like burnt paper. It is light and fragile. Move it or touch it, and it may disintegrate. Disregard it and it will subsist." Karma's eyes were trained on the broken pieces of the cup. "Do you understand what I'm saying, Quinn? Prophecies tell what will happen, if no one takes a step awry. They aren't to be feared, because they can so easily be crushed."
"Are you saying," Quinn hesitated, "that the cup over there – it just – it's a prophecy?"
Karma met her eyes, and Quinn froze, not even willing to breath.
"Yes."
"A prophecy of what?"
"That remains to be seen, Quinn. A burnt paper can't be so easily read. It may take some time, but rest assured, when it's complete, I will inform you of what it has to say, if anything of substance at all. These cups are a treasured inheritance, so I do expect it won't be a disappointment, but in some ways, you could say a prophecy is weaker than tasseomancy. Oh, and one more thing. I recommend you do not tell anyone about the prophecy. Now, it's darkening outside," Karma observed. "Perhaps we should call it an evening. I had an enjoyable time, and I hope you did, too."
"How was it?"
Quinn jolted. Without realizing it, Akali had joined her, matching her step for step down the paved road.
"I – I'm still thinking," Quinn said. "A lot was said."
Akali gave a single, understanding nod. "You get your fortune told?"
"Yeah," Quinn said. As she'd suspected, it was something Karma did for all the champions who accepted her invitation.
They walked in silence, the sky darkening. The shuffling of their footsteps the only sound on the street.
"I'm going to go ahead and vouch for Karma, here," Akali said eyes downcast and voice quieter. "Do not take her readings lightly."
Continuing to walk in silence for awhile, Quinn wondered if Akali was speaking from personal experience.
They were entering the intersection where the Zaunite housing started. A few of the Zaunite houses looked to be bunkers, built to withstand strong, magical explosions. They all had chimneys, and a few were expelling a smoke that Quinn wasn't convinced was a by-product of a normal fire. Compared to the Ionian buildings behind her, it was drab and lifeless. Grass grew in small patches, but most of it was yellowed and probably hadn't seen water in months. The trees that managed to grow were leafless. The most colour she could see was from a cactus in front of a house, with reddish pink flowers blooming on it. She wondered who it belonged to.
With her next step, Quinn recoiled, cringing her nose. A sickening smell stopped her, and she turned to Akali, who was looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"Is there some kind of barrier, here?" Quinn asked. The smell reminded her of the sulphur mines in the northern salt domes of Demacia. It was a smell she hadn't ever expected – or wished – to experience again.
Akali nodded. "There is. Impressive that you can tell."
"Impressive? It's hard not to – I don't know how Zaun's champions can live with it."
Akali rubbed her nose. "Oh. Right. Well, Janna provides the barrier as a favor to us, so at least it doesn't extend onto our street."
"Janna?" Quinn recalled reading the name on the roster of champions.
"Speak of the devil," Akali said, motioning down the road. "Well, actually she's about as far as humanly possible from being a devil, but it's just a figure of speech."
Three women were walking down the road. Trailing in behind, Quinn recognized Misa. She looked distressed and kept her distance from the two in front, tightly clutching a basket from what was likely her trip to the market. In front, one woman seemed to be at the throat of the other. Four blades hovered ominously around her waist. They lacked handles but Quinn could tell from their distance that the swords were as sharp as any she had seen before. They glinted in the setting sun, and Quinn diverted her eyes slightly until they rotated to the woman's other side.
The swords' owner could only be one person. Irelia, the Will of the Blades, didn't seem to notice her and Akali standing in the middle of the road. Instead, Irelia was walking sideways, shouting indistinct words and throwing her hands out to the side when she failed to get a reaction from the third woman.
As if seeing Irelia in person for the first time hadn't been enough of a shock, the third woman was the very woman she had just thought she wouldn't ever see again. By process of elimination, Janna was being ruthlessly lectured by Irelia. Janna seemed a little more human, this time around. She elected to actually walk on the ground, though her high heels gave her a height advantage over Irelia, and her magical staff wasn't anywhere in sight.
"Her – it's her," Quinn whispered, stepping forward. Unmistakably, Janna was the angel who had saved her from the Passengers.
Akali quickly brought up a hand to block her path. "They're at it again. You don't want to go between them when they're fighting. Let's just leave them alone and let them pass."
The approaching group was now closer, and Quinn could hear Irelia's words, even as Akali pulled her to the side of the road and out of the way.
"You know – we all know – where they're coming from. If you'd just quit being so cautious for once, we could delay, we could find something!"
An unnatural wind buffeted Irelia's hair, but Janna didn't even turn her head to face the words.
"Answer me, dammit," Irelia swore. "Is all you care about your reputation? If you have something to prove, then do it by saving them, not killing them!"
She waited a beat, as though it were a script in which she knew she wouldn't get an answer. "Fine, then. If you think you're so high and mighty, then I'll do it without your help. If I see you out there, though-"
"Irelia," Janna said, her voice just as Quinn remembered. "Please, stop. Neither of us want to hear you say anything you'll regret."
Surprisingly, Irelia did fall silent. Her blades slowed their revolution, sagging as though under some invisible pressure, and she seemed to drag her feet more, the liveliness she was showing a moment ago completely gone.
Moving aside appeared to be for naught, as the trio saw them – first Irelia, who slowed to a stop with furrowed brows – and then Janna, and reluctantly, Misa. They were all staring at her.
Akali, as though feeling left out, took a few steps back to join in their staring. "Did you kill their puppy, or something?"
Quinn ignored the question, trying to find words while under the sudden, unwanted stares.
"The Demacian," Irelia said, eyes widening a second later as she turned to Misa. "She was with Karma?"
Before Misa could respond, Janna stepped forward. "Warrior," she proclaimed, and Quinn half expected lightning and thunder to accompany the word.
Misa tugged sheepishly on Irelia's sleeve. "The Duchess is waiting for us, we should go."
Irelia's eyes narrowed as she glared at Quinn and then Janna. "Warrior?" she echoed darkly.
Quinn winced, not liking the direction of the conversation. She was no warrior, but she was tired. Since the beginning of the day, haggling for decent prices in the market, Quinn had been interacting with people constantly, and it was draining, when compared to a day spent in the forest.
"Oh," Akali whispered, though no one seemed to pay attention to her. "I just realized – I have some bonsai trees that need trimming – got to go. Catch you later, Quinn."
And before Quinn could think to respond, Akali abandoned her. Quinn took a deep breath and met Janna's eyes.
"Janna, is it?" Quinn said.
"I didn't expect to cross paths again, so soon, but I am glad nonetheless. We never did have an opportunity for introductions, with you assisting me against the Passengers, and all."
Assist wasn't the way Quinn would have worded it, her life being saved and all, but the word seemed to have been intentionally picked to aggravate Irelia.
A cold breeze passed through the area, and as though it had no regard for her clothing, she could feel its cold against her skin.
"From the muddied streets of Zaun's darkest corners, weather mage extraordinaire and chess enthusiast, Janna Windforce, at your service."
Janna gave a small bow, causing Irelia to stomp off, hissing something under her breath.
"What were you doing walking with Irelia?"
"Keeping her company," Janna replied as she started back in the direction the three had come from. Quinn followed, not yet tired enough for her curiosity to drag her back to the forest.
"What?" Quinn said, remembering Irelia's aggressive demeanor. "Why? She wasn't exactly being friendly."
"She went through all the effort to knock my door in," Janna said, and Quinn couldn't tell if it was literal or not. "When Misa interrupted our conversation, I decided to accompany her to the Duchess' to let her vent a little while longer."
"Let her vent," Quinn echoed, still a little confused. Were the two of them friends or not?
"I feel obligated, at the very least, to listen to her words, lest I make a mistake she could have prevented me from making.
"A mistake?" Quinn asked, wondering if she should be prying or not.
"Quinn, I first met you fighting the Passengers. You lent me a great deal of assistance, and for that, I owe you. The Passengers are my sworn enemy, and it is my goal to destroy them all. I want to erase their existence – a task that's not so easily accomplished by injuring their bodies – and I want to do this for a selfish, personal reason. Irelia believes that the people trapped within the Passengers can be saved. Perhaps influenced by Blitzcrank's existence, and her own unique situation, Irelia wants to save them. Since we do not fully understand the Passengers and their abilities, it could take years – and do you know what allows these blights into our world?"
"Tornadoes?" Quinn ventured.
"Correct. For some reason, in the wake of tornadoes – of which I am responsible for – they awaken from some unknown dimension and wreak havoc on innocents. If the Passengers aren't a direct attack on my reputation, Quinn, than what is? I cannot stand idly by, while others look for a cure and my reputation is sullied. Though, I also operate under the belief that the spirits trapped within the Passengers do not want to be freed. I believe they want death, after everything they've seen and experienced. For my own sake, as mage of the weather, and to bring their nightmares to an end, I shall destroy them."
Quinn frowned. The battles with the Passengers was so vivid in her mind, she nearly felt noxious. She rubbed her abdomen, where a Passenger's halberd had once sliced her. The scar was one of the more prominent ones on her chest. Having had first hand experience with the Passengers, Quinn knew that Janna was right in at least one regard. The people who fell victim to the Passengers weren't looking to be rescued. She clearly saw, in their eyes, that they just wanted the horror to end.
"At least you're doing something," Quinn said. "There should be more mages like you."
"Funny," Janna said, not sounding truly amused. "I was once told the very opposite. Let me tell you a story. I don't know what you'll make of it, but it will give you insight into at least one mage. Several years ago, when I was but a child in Zaun, I had a friend. This friend, like you, wasn't blessed with magical abilities. When my powers manifested themselves, and I went from a helpless orphan to a magical savant, she did not – could not – hide her bitterness. She was jealous of what I was given, and wondered why she, alone, was left on the dirty streets to fend for herself. She expected me to save her and cleanse Zaun – but when I offered her my hand to her, she could only look upon it in disdain. Though I never abandoned my humanity, like so many others who come upon great power, we could no longer see eye to eye. Our friendship quickly ended, and I discovered that my power would become a burden, if I didn't change myself alongside it.
"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more," Janna recited, as though reading from an ancient scripture. Then, she scoffed, a look of disgust crossing her face. "Long ago, someone said that, before marching off alone, to fight a war for his people. He died, and so have many others like him. Those who rise to the challenge, they will face demise at the hands of monsters like Singed, and we aren't able to thank them, or even ask them if it was worth it. What if you were a mage? Would you willingly live such a life, dealing with everything malevolent in the world? Mages don't choose to be born with their inherent magical abilities. They don't choose their parents – none of us do. I am aware of filial and civic duty, but I do not believe it is right to put expectations on someone because of their abilities. Their free will should not be forfeit due to circumstances beyond their control. Without delving into deontological ethics, I believe it is morally permissible, as a mage or otherwise, to not help others. Rather – and this applies to everyone – inaction is not a sin, and it is not our duty to fight against evil."
Quinn remained silent. She could so easily see herself in the same position as Janna's friend, and it scared her. In fact, Luxanna had come to her, after the battle on the Rift, to offer assistance, and what had Quinn done in return?
"That having been said, I'm no heroine," Janna continued. "I'm not running a crusade against the world, trying to fix its wrongs. The Passengers have offended me – my battle is selfish, and those who get involved, I owe them. If there is anything you need from me, do not hesitate to ask. But, enough about me. You were visiting Karma, I take it?"
Quinn nodded, no longer wanting to talk, to be around people. "Yeah. Did you... accept her offer when you first joined the League?"
"I did," Janna said. "Karma is a very helpful person, and I'm glad I took the opportunity to meet with her."
Quinn silently agreed, before a thought occurred to her. "Actually, she reminds me of an information broker."
"You could say she is," Janna agreed. "Jarvan the Third, and Swain, too. Though Karma is unique in that she goes to the source of the information, meeting with people firsthand. Knowledge is power, as they say."
At the moment, Quinn felt weak, and her lack of knowledge only partially explained it.
"Quinn, I am in your debt. If there is anything you need that is within my abilities, simply ask."
They had arrived in the Demacian district, without Quinn ever realizing it. The sun had set but a fair number of people still roamed the streets for the time of day it was. Janna drew a few more stares in their direction from the men around them than Quinn was comfortable with.
"I'll keep that in mind. Did you have business in the Demacian district?" Quinn asked.
"No. I was simply walking you back."
"I don't live here," Quinn said, feeling a little awkward. "I'm... in the outer district." Homeless. Or, if she wanted to be strictly honest, her house was a thousand kilometers away, back in the Demacian capital.
Janna looked genuinely surprised. "They did offer, did they not?"
"They did. I refused."
"I see. Personally, I would want to keep close to my allies. I do suggest you reconsider their offer. Now, which gate are we headed towards?"
"It's fine," Quinn rushed to reassure her. "I had some other business to attend to, anyways."
The other business was bashing her head against a wall for her stupidity. Of course, she decided she would postpone doing so, in anticipation of needing to think of some very apologetic words for Luxanna Crownguard.
She had done a great injustice to Luxanna, when the mage only offered friendship in return. Luxanna was rich, a noble, and a powerful magic user, but Quinn had seen nothing to indicate Luxanna was a bad person. It had just been her prejudice against mages and nobles that kept Quinn acting so standoffish. She shouldn't have needed others to make her realize that, but the important thing was that Quinn had come to a decision.
Tomorrow, she would apologize to Luxanna. Even if the girl hated her and refused to hear it, Quinn would apologize. It might have been a selfish thing, closure that she needed, but still, she would apologize. And if there was even the smallest chance that Luxanna would forgive her, and they could spend more time together, evading the military's banquets and eating strange foods at fancy restaurants, then it was worth it, no?
Quinn had nothing to lose.
She was at the edge of the forest when she stopped mid stride. An involuntary shiver took hold of her entire body, and she took a step away from the shadows of the forest, her eyes roaming the darkness for signs of life.
Danger, she could feel the forest whisper. Death.
Quinn held her dagger in hand, but she wasn't willing to enter. There was no enemy visible, and no enemy she could sense, but nonetheless, she couldn't ignore the fact that something was amiss.
Quinn made a decision. She turned back towards the city and began retracing her steps. All the while, Karma's words rang in her head. You'll die, should you attempt the journey. Quinn hadn't intended on leaving on a journey, so why? Why?
There was a single, unpleasant realization which she couldn't ignore. She couldn't do anything alone. Quinn was trapped, a prisoner by some mysterious force.
A/N: Thank you, readers, for sticking through this long, uneventful chapter, and a big thanks to my beta reader, HGoltara, who has been a great help in making my work presentable.
Lesson learned: no more large chapters. It grew out of control, and the quality suffered for it. League lore will probably continue to be butchered as the story continues to unfold. The original goal was to finish by the end of summer, but now I really don't know. Ideally, things will return to a pace of 1 chapter a week.