A/N: Well, I can say that life was really terrible and busy the past few months, but no one really wants to hear much about that. This was delayed beyond anything I was expecting, so I apologize for that. Anyways, as usual, enjoy and feel free to R&R.
The wheels of fate have turned. Peace was upon our great kingdom as the war with Icathia ended from within its own borders. Morale ran high as Arch-Priest Cyrus was inaugurated as our new Prime Magistrate. Yet even as out people cheered in celebration, an inexplicable sadness was held in his eyes. I can only wonder what it was that ailed him in that moment.
- Lost Text of Atlas
The Narthex, Undying Realm
Cool water flowed gently along her cheeks, delicate streaks forming along the side of her face as she stared into the reflective surface of a small fountain. Ripples forming as droplets fell from her chin, Fiora watched as the wounds on her battered face close up within moments, the pain behind them disappearing as the scars faded. Letting out a sigh, a part of her wanted to feel content with her partially dazed state, finding comfort in the existence of a fountain with regenerative waters similar to the subterranean spring. For the first time in what she could only imagine was days, she was around people she could trust again; her subconscious wanting to lose itself in the feeling of safety that came with her reunion.
But it's not even close to being true. It was precisely this very thought that dragged her back from her state of semi-consciousness. No matter how much she wanted to revel in her new found sense of security, there was something she could never forget. In the end, it was the bitter reality that the one person she had always counted on to be by her side for years was the one person that was still missing.
Turning to the others, her heart froze when she registered the sight before her, the looks on their faces all too familiar, sending chilling spears of ice down her spine. She held that same look at one point, looking for leadership from another whom she thought had to know what to do next. Reginald…if only you were still here. Her throat beginning to swell, Fiora fought against the rising agony as she reflected on everything that had happened. Escape from the path of destruction felt almost within her reach, finding her companions unharmed to allow her the chance to undo the mistake she made by bringing them into the Undying Realm. As close as it felt, however, it might as well have been infinitely far away, as the only person she could not afford to lose was the one person not present amongst them.
She turned her gaze away, finding herself unable to bear the expressions on faces looking to her for guidance. Clenching her fist tightly, she almost wished that she hadn't found the others; a lingering part of her personality that is instinctively avoidant of others under such circumstances of stress. "I'm sorry…I brought you into this."
The sound of concerned gasps filled the air behind her, subtle footsteps brushing softly against the stone flooring reflecting the surprise in their reactions. For a moment, there was only silence, tension in the air high enough to suffocate her as she stood motionlessly with her back turned towards the others.
"Hey, it was our choice too!" Ezreal's voice cut through the silence without even the slightest hint of hesitation. "We wanted to follow you…to come here and save Valoran, right? Then save it, we wi-"
"We should never have come!" Her voice was harsh as she jerked her head around to face him, icy blue eyes held with both sadness and anger. "I should never have come. I wanted revenge…for my parents…for Reginald. Under the guise of trying to save our world, I brought you all here hoping to exact revenge and instead, fell right into their hands. They wanted us here, and we came knocking at their front door."
Talon heaved a deep sigh, shaking his head for a moment before his voice roared through the high ceilings of the cathedral. "Wait, woah woah woah. Where did that idea come from and what makes you so certain?"
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Fiora wanted to find an alternative, more logical explanation that could avoid the inevitable scrutiny of her companions. She searched the depths of her mind, finding that she didn't even know where to begin looking for a contrived explanation that would sound believable. "Vessaria Kolminye, she told me. We were purposely led here. According to her, we have to leave now or-"
"She told you?" Anger was apparent in her voice as Vayne spoke, her face held in a look of incredulousness as she rolled her eyes. "The person who was responsible for killing your parents, opening a portal to bring chaos into Valoran, and then proceeding to kidnap us, all before trying to murder you told you what was going on and you believed her? How ridiculous."
"Do you have a better explanation?" Fiora's voice was far quieter than what they had expected, no trace of indignation over the night hunter's outburst. "You're right, she wanted to kill me. She wanted to kill me because she genuinely believed that somehow doing so would prevent Valoran from falling into chaos. Even when she failed and was on the verge of death, she told me where to find you…to take all of you and return to Valoran."
"It's a trick." Ezreal's fists clenched tightly, a feeling of certainty in his voice that as he spoke. "It has to be. She couldn't kill us so she's trying to get us out of the way."
"No…she only tried to kill me." Turning away from the others, icy cerulean orbs focused on the top of a pipe organ, adorned with countless rune symbols etched into each of the individual pieces. She couldn't tell how long she stood cemented into that position before shaking her head, crossing her arms over her chest a few heartbeats later. "If she truly wanted us out of the way, she would have killed all of you long before I got here. Instead look at yourselves…there's not a scratch on any of you. She didn't just leave you unharmed, she healed your wounds."
Even without seeing them, the lack of commotion behind her over those last words made it painfully obvious that each of them had suspected as much. Hearing it said aloud, however, made their suspicions disturbingly more tangible, tearing through their subconscious repression of the truth.
Accepting this truth offered her no comfort, instead only serving to flood her mind with despair as Fiora realized the futility of her situation. "Everything seemed so straightforward at the time." She closed her eyes in bitterness, tilting her head slightly as she thought aloud, no longer able to hold back the mistakes of her past from tearing her apart. "Come to this place, take out the enemy, stop the ones responsible from succeeding. I oversimplified things so much that I couldn't even imagine how things would end up. I'm finally beginning to understand how he felt that time…I have no right to lead any of you."
The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps echoed from behind as Ezreal swept past her, his shoes skidding roughly against the floor as he came to a halt just a few feet in front of her. "So what are you saying…we give up and leave Lux behind? She was the one who wanted us to watch you…to come support you when you decided to try and leave in the middle of the night. She did it because she couldn't bear to let you go at this alone, and this is how you repay her? By abandoning her in this God forsaken place-"
A quick swing of her arms materialized her Ragnarok, a choking gasp escaping the explorer's throat as she brought the tip of her blade just inches from his throat. "Abandon her? My whole life she was like the younger sister I never had. Deep down, I want to save her…I have to save her. But it was this same blind desperation that led us into this shithole to begin with."
His muscles tensed to the point of tetany, Ezreal found himself unable to stop himself from falling backwards, his heart pounding against his chest as he landed on his buttocks. Pushing himself in the opposite direction on instinct with his feet, he found uttering even the most simplest of sounds an impossible feat as he stared back at the swordswoman.
Closing her eyes, she lowered her divine blade as her right arm hung limp to her side, fading away moments later as she stood motionlessly. "I'm not asking you to abandon her. I don't know what Kolminye's words meant, but the decision to weigh the life of one person against the fate of the world is not one I have the right to make. I don't know what will happen or how it'll happen but if there's even a chance I…"
Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head, purple bangs falling forward to become plastered against her face by the residual water that had yet to evaporate. If there's even a chance that my decision could make things worse…I'd never forgive myself.
Ezreal let himself release a long needed sigh, having held his breath to the brink of suffocation as he felt his muscles relax instinctively to the softening of swordswoman's facial features. Struggling to his feet, a part of him felt ashamed to have responded with such distress to the threat. It wasn't until he saw the pained look on her face that he realized his own moment of vulnerability was nothing compared to what she was trying to conceal.
Pacing slowly away from the others, Fiora stared into a circular frame hung just a few steps away. At first glance, it resembled a large mirror, only the image within its borders did not reflect anything that was positioned in front of it. Countless rune symbols pulsated a dim blue, intensifying with every step she took towards it. She felt entranced as she peered into the round surface, her gaze meeting streaks of light filtering through the dense foliage of a lush forest. A set of wild boars rode past the landscape, stopping long enough for her to recognize them as a species indigenous to the jungles of the Estharian Sunscape just south of Demacia. Home…so close I can literally touch it. Yet…it's as impossible to reach as the stars themselves.
"After everything that had happened, she was the one person who never gave up on me." Her knuckles turned white as she held her fingers into a tight fist, her arm trembling from the force behind it. "Even if going back is the right thing to do and that somehow saves the world, I don't know how I'd live with myself knowing I had to give up on her in the process. My life would forever be plagued with sorrow, yet if that's what it takes, it's a burden I'll accept.
"But I won't accept it!" Ezreal's voice exploded through the air, his fist slammed into the ground with a dull thud as he propped himself against his left knee. His breathing was heavy as he held his jaw tightly clenched, anger fueling his words. "I won't accept it. You're right, she never gives up on people. Even if I thought there was no reason to believe in myself and lived wandering this world to avoid being responsible for another, she believed in me… just like she did with you."
Tilting her head to gaze upon the explorer's face, Fiora saw an expression that felt far too familiar; pain and mourning that she had tried to stifle into oblivion for so many years. For her, such a reaction was a demonstration of weakness, something that had no place in the harsh reality of life. "So what, you want to give them what they want? Save one life only to sacrifice the lives of everyone?"
"No…who says we have to?" Lifting his amulet closer to his face, green eyes stared at the swirls that glowed within the arches that rose from his forearm. "We still have no proof that what that Councilor said was true. Even if it is, who says we have to follow suit? Everything we've done, we did it to defy the cruel fate they had in store for us, right? So far, we've done exactly that! We've survived overwhelming odds, defeated two of the three Councilors already, and even brought the world together against a common enemy."
Letting out a soft snort, the swordswoman crossed her arms over her chest, closing her eyes as she tilted her head away from the others. As much as she desperately wanted to believe those words, she knew it wouldn't be so straightforward. Reality never was. "And yet, all of it would be meaningless if they get what they want."
"It would be equally meaningless if we abandon her here." A bright glow illuminated the walls of the cathedral as Ezreal rose to his feet, energy flowing smoothly resembling flames along the surface of the crystal arches over his amulet.
"What?" Icy blue eyes focused on the explorer as her gaze shot up from the ground, moving instinctively towards the source of the magic.
"She was the reason why we're all here…why we're together. She never once stopped believing that there was hope for you…for me…for all of us. How would we be any better than our enemies if we give up on that so easily the moment things look bleak? We do that and all we've accomplished is losing someone who means so much to us." His heart raced as he took a few steps towards Fiora, not allowing the cold gaze that glinted of killer intent to deter his will. "We go forward…on our terms, not theirs. We stay together and leave together…no one gets left behind."
"And what will you do after?" Fiora sprinted forward, stopping abruptly as her armored hand curled over the jacket that hung loosely on the explorer's shoulders. Dragging on it to jerk the blonde towards her, she felt a choking gasp escape behind the thin fabric. "You risk the world to save her; what'll you do after we get her back? Are you going to abandon her and run off to some far corner of the world like you always do?"
The look of sheer horror on Ezreal's face faded as he processed those words, letting out a relieved sigh as a calm grin appeared on his face. Being honest with himself, he felt surprised at the Demacian's words, never having imagined her being the type of person who would be protective of others. "Relax. I'll never do that to her as long as she wants me to stay. Things have changed; she saved my life and showed me there were things worth living for other than myself. Not just me…she's changed all of us. Wouldn't you agree?"
Closing her eyes, no words were needed to express her reaction as she relaxed her grip over the Piltoverian's collar. As bitter memories of her past began to surface in her mind, so did glimpses of happiness and tranquility embedded in friendship with Luxanna. How? He read right through me so easily when even I didn't realize it until now. Taking a step back, her arm fell loosely to her side as she stood motionless in reflection. "Her life wasn't perfect, the circumstances far from it. Yet she never once stopped believing that our bonds with others meant everything. Something as simple as being there when a friend lost her parents and letting her know that the world wasn't over…she believed that such an act of kindness would ripple outwards like waves and change everything about the world."
"And she was right…wasn't she?" His words were calm, yet their effects were poignant as they formed knots at the back of Fiora's throat. "Her actions kept the darkness inside of you at bay for all of these years…saved my life and allowed me to be a part of all of this. I won't abandon her, not when she refuses to give up on me…I promise."
A soft growl escaped her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, turning to see the faces of her other companions frozen by the tension between them. "Fine…I'll hold you to that promise. And what of the rest of you? What's your move?"
The stern look on Talon's face melted, giving way to a familiar grin as his eyes peered towards Fiora; a look that she could only assume meant a crude remark was imminent. Burying his fist into the palm of his other hand with a soft thud, he let out a grunt under his breath. "Can't say I'm as enthusiastic about this as lover boy over there, but I'll be damned if I'm the one to leave a pretty girl behind before the party starts."
Purple bangs fell forward, partially hiding the twitching of her eyebrow the moment she heard those words. I swear, one of these days if we make it out of here alive, I'm personally going to kill him. The sound of laughter reached her ears moments later as she tried recomposing herself, peering through thin strands to watch the others struggling to stifle their reaction. Her cheeks flushed a bright red as she realized their attention was focused on her; her reaction not quite as subtle as she had expected. "Enough! If you have time to laugh then use it for something useful…let's keep moving."
Gazing one final time at the tranquil shrubbery of the Estharian Sunscape on the other side of the portal, Fiora curled her fingers into a fist. Freedom and beauty…things in the world we regard as ever-present essentials in life. It isn't until we lose these things that we realize their importance. Mustering the resolve to leave behind the untaken path of better judgement, she descended upon a set of spiral staircases. She forced herself not to look back, fearing that by doing so, she would allow doubt to flood the recesses of her mind.
Draugr's Catacombs, Undying Realm
Footsteps echoed off of the weathered stones that lined the walls around them as they traversed through the Catacombs. Fiora couldn't explain why she chose to descend into bowels of the cathedral, only that some subconscious part of her mind pulled her in this direction rather than returning to the fiery world outside. What followed was a seemingly infinite labyrinth, lined by ancient wooden torches that appeared to burn endlessly. A disquieting silence lingered in the air, broken only by their movements and the soft crackling of rising embers.
Something doesn't feel right, it's too quiet. Her muscles felt rigid as she took point, using the distance between herself and the others to hide the unease in her features. I should have known this was a bad idea. Vessaria was right…it's like they want us to go this way.
The sound of rapid thumping against the floor tore through the thoughts in her mind, her fingers curling into a tense fist. What do you want? Twisting her head slightly, her gaze met the figure of the blonde explorer, stopping abruptly just short of a few feet to her side.
"Do you know where you're going?" Ezreal's voice was not without frustration. Even as he tried to maintain the nonchalance in his expression, subtleties in the tone of his voice gave away the discomfort building in his mind.
The rhythmic steps of Fiora's footwork gave way to a short but noticeable pause. Staring past him, she focused on the burning torches that illuminated their surroundings, staring blankly into the dancing flames as her only temporary reprieve from the bleakness of her reality. She had asked herself the same question on multiple occasions during her time here. Each time, she found no answers and rather than trying to force one out, she did the only thing that would keep her sanity intact – she chose to ignore it. How can I explain that I'm dragging them along on some subconscious hunch? I can't even justify it to myself.
"Fiora…" Forcing himself to break the tense silence against what he knew was better judgement, he watched the tense pose on the Demacian change suddenly; her muscles relaxing to allow a pink color to gradually return to ghostly white knuckles. "Look, I know that I can't even imagine what you had to go through by yourself in this God forsaken place. But we both want the same thing, and we want it done fast. Unless-"
"I'm not ignoring you." Stopping her movements altogether, she tilted her head slightly, cerulean eyes glaring momentarily at the blonde explorer before turning to stare into the distance ahead of her. Letting out a soft sigh, she crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head in a defeated fashion. "I just don't know how to answer you…it just seemed logical to search a more isolated area first rather than searching the vast expanse on the other side of those doors."
"Well…guess you're right about that." Rubbing the back of his head, Ezreal couldn't deny that there was merit to her answer. Prior to the attack and subsequent capture, they had wandered in the Void for hours, finding it to be a barren wasteland that was rather fitting of its name. They built this place for a reason. There has to be something here. In light of this, however, there was a lingering unease in his mind. It wasn't the answer itself that bothered him, but rather the hesitancy in her voice. The Demacian swordswoman he knew always rushed in head-first, damn the consequences. Though much had changed since the last time they had fought in the Fields of Justice, it was hard to believe that her confidence was lacking to this extent. Either something happened during the time we were separated that broke you or…there's something more you're not telling us.
"Look, unless you have a better idea, let's keep moving."
Rather than rejoining the others, he continued to remain at her side as they moved through the winding hallways. Having been the lone wolf figure throughout most of his life, he knew exactly of the pains of isolation. Though both of them were searching for the person they had lost, he knew that Fiora was still far too proud to confide in others under such circumstances. "Don't worry. We're going to find her."
"How do you know?" Her voice was soft as the words passed absentmindedly through her lips.
"Because I believe in us." Kicking a loose pebble into the distance gave him an odd feeling of satisfaction as a subtle smile appeared on his face. "The same way that she would believe in us had it been the other way around." Tightening his fingers into a balled fist, he held his amulet close to his chest in a gesture of hope. "She'll be all right. She's strong…with the exception of you, she's stronger than all of us at this point."
Stopping in her tracks, Fiora brushed the side of her cheek with her exposed hand, bringing it to rest on her hip moments later with an abrupt shake of her head. "No, that's not quite true. She's stronger than I am…she's always been."
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Stopping to lean his arm against the cool, rough surface of the stone walls, Ezreal scanned her facial features held in an expression of melancholia.
"Because you said it yourself earlier. She always keeps hope close to her heart, no matter how desperate things gets." Turning to stare blankly at the opposite wall, she hid her face, lowering it moments later to shade her eyes from the light of a nearby torch.
"And what about you?"
"That time was lost long ago." Her voice lowered to almost a whisper as she spoke. A part of her wondered why she felt the need to explain herself. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to stop the words from escaping her lips. "My parents died and I needed to be strong. I wanted to forget the pain of my past. The last thing I wanted was pity from others so I became the arrogant girl you met in the Institute of War. I thought that by changing the way I interacted, I could change the core of who I was. I'm still nothing more than that sad, lonely kid devoid of hope."
"So that's how it is."
"Lux tried to tell me," Taking off on a quickened pace to avoid her words being heard by the others who were fast approaching, Fiora closed her eyes tightly. Memories of herself dismissing her friend's pleas came rushing back, the voice of the younger Crownguard clear as though she was standing right in front of her. "I didn't listen…I ignored her. I kept pushing her and everyone else away until…until it was already too late."
An uncomfortable silence filled the air as they turned the corner, descending upon another set of staircases to reveal another series of empty stone labyrinths. Red lights traveled rapidly in parallel along the grout that cemented the stone blocks together, flickering at random intervals.
"You know…if you think about it, our situations aren't that different." His words caused her to spin on her heels, a surprised glare shooting at him between purple bangs.
"How do you figure that?"
"I was an orphan. I never knew my parents." Ezreal let out a deep sigh, moving quickly to keep up with the Demacian swordswoman. "Before Cait took over as sheriff to establish PSION division of our security forces, Piltover was exactly as its name suggested – a work in progress. Kids without parents contradicted its philosophy of progress, and people like me were shunned by society. So, as soon as I was able, I abandoned it and the people I knew."
"Ezreal…you-"
"That's not even my real name." Pausing momentarily, he slammed his fist into the wall; a soft thud filling in the air as the sensation of pain reached his consciousness. "I abandoned everyone and wanted them to think I was dead. I hated the life I had then so I gave it up, ran away, and became someone else. A hero…a pioneer…an inspirational figure rather than a loathed orphan kid."
Fiora rested her chin on top of her fingers, watching as the blonde Piltoverian propped himself against the wall. "So who are you really?"
"It doesn't matter anymore. That person died a long time ago. I left it all behind for something that isn't real; a life made up of moments of glory and fame…moments that flashed brightly like the cameras pointed at me, then fade away to leave behind emptiness."
A long silence followed before Fiora finally moved again, taking a few steps towards the Explorer to place her fist softly against the back of his chest. She felt his muscles tense up in surprise, her gesture taking him by surprise. "That's not true. The moments may burn away in your mind, but not in others. They persist in the form of the legacy that you leave behind for others."
"Wha-"
"Look at Piltover. You claim you abandoned it, but look at what it had become. You gave it your discovery and turned it into a utopia. Though short-lasting it might have been, you gave people years of happiness that would never have been possible."
Turning around to face her, Ezreal examined the soft features on the Demacian's face, a stark contrast to the cold and callous expression he'd been used to. "Maybe…but for me, none of it was real. It was all just a farce." He paused only for a moment before walking past her.
"No…but Lux was real, wasn't she?" Her words forced him to pause momentarily, allowing her to catch up to where he was.
"Yeah…that's why I have to find her. I have to believe that she's still alive. I won't allow her to die like-" He stopped himself from finishing that statement the moment he realized the mistake he was about to make. His muscles rigid with hesitation, he forced himself to face her, finding her eyes weighed down by a sadness that even she couldn't hide. "I'm sorry…I-"
Like him… Fiora felt her heart racing momentarily, a wave of panic beginning to rise as she fought against the sadness beginning to well up in her chest. "No…you're right. We have believe that there's hope. Without hope there is no purpose. Fight without purpose, like I've been doing all these years, and the only thing that awaits us is death. I want her back as much as you do. We can do it."
"Well…lead the way then." Slowing his pace, Ezreal allowed himself to fall a few steps behind, watching from behind as the raven haired Demacian sprinted forward. You've changed…for the better I'd say. However, there's still something you're not telling us…but what?
Reaching a corner, Fiora stood with her back against the wall, peering around it to find yet another empty hallway that seemed to extend on forever. Leaning her head against the rough wall, she let out a heavy sigh, her frustration beginning to overwhelm her. Her eyes focused on the red specks of light that flew by along the walls, forming streaks of neon red to resemble the passing of a vehicle's tail lights on Valoran. Though their random appearance initially piqued her curiosity, staring at them now only served to irritate her more.
Is this really the right way? Or was I wrong, and we're just wasting time here? She closed her eyes angrily, her hand rising to her face as she pinched the bridge of her nose. The mustiness of the air was becoming unbearable; the stench of stagnation pervading her senses, convincing her that nothing had been through this place for what must have been centuries. The identical appearance of the tunnels, no matter how far they traveled, was becoming disorienting. Her attention became split between taking the necessary precautions to avoid being ambushes, and holding back the panic of being trapped in this maze forever. Gesturing with a hand behind her back, she signaled for the others to advance, as there was no visible threat in the vicinity.
"Hey, not for nothing, but do you think this is really necessary?" Talon's voice filled the air as he neared her, an expression of clear boredom on his face as he closed the distance between himself and Fiora. "This whole formation thing, I mean. This place looks like it hasn't seen signs of life in years. You really think there's something here?"
"Be quiet." The irritation was subtle in her voice as she shot the assassin an annoyed glare. It wasn't so much that she disagreed with him, but rather her actions gave her an odd feeling of security. By maintaining the heightened sense of suspicion she had become accustomed to, it gave her at least some familiarity. It kept her mind preoccupied with the possibility of incoming threats, restraining the fear that her choices had cost her the only remaining person she genuinely cared about.
The moment Fiora took a step forward, a loud crash filled the air followed by the sound of stone cracking. Tremors ran along her body as the ground underneath her feet began to shake wildly, rendering all of her attempts at maintaining her balance futile. Shit…an earthquake? The thought instantly caused an icy terror to run through her body; an overwhelming claustrophobia beginning to emerge at the possibility of being buried alive underground.
Pain ran through her shoulders as they impacted against a nearby wall. Even though she knew it was pointless, her eyes shifted wildly on instinct to look for a way out, only to find something far more terrifying. Spikes of energy emerged from the walls around them, merging to form a barrier. The next moments seemed to pass with surrealism. She desperately tried to stabilize herself long enough to allow her to strike at the barrier, knowing full well that even if she had managed to do so, it wouldn't make escape any more within the realm of possibility. Watching as her companions fell one at a time, her heart raced as a sense of dread overwhelmed her.
We're all going to die here.
No sooner had this thought gripped her heart within its icy fingers than the trembling suddenly stop. Breathing heavily to overcome the suffocating panic, she forced herself to move against the rigidity of her muscles, taking a few steps away from the walls.
"What just-" Vayne's voice was cut off as the sound of cracking once again erupted around them. She instinctively dropped into a crouched position, straightening a leg behind her while forcing a hand to the ground as she braced in anticipation of another earthquake. Only this time, the tremors never came.
Shifting her body as she frantically looked for even the most subtle signs of an impending attack, Fiora felt her heart sink as the walls around her began to crumble. A warm sensation surrounded her armored hand as she instinctively channeled magic to blast through the collapsing walls. Logic kicked in moments later, stopping her moments later to tell her that this far underground, any such attempts would only accelerate her demise. In the midst of the calamity erupting around her, she caught sight of the walls long enough to notice the embedded specks of light had paused in their trajectory; a tail of light trailing them like meteors suspended in time. It was then that she felt her body beginning to lift itself from where she had stood. For a moment, it seemed as though realty suspended, and along with it, all of its properties including gravity and time itself.
Turning her gaze towards the others, she was surprised to find that they were not frozen as she had expected. Feeling her breath slowly passing through her throat, it was the only sensation she noticed as she watch their futile attempts to move through the air. What is happening? A pained groan passed through her a heartbeat later as the stones lining the walls transformed into a brilliant column of light, blinding her as her hand rose desperately to her eyes. A high pitched ringing filled the air, piercing her ears mercilessly like needles.
The agony ended as quickly as it began, however, as Fiora felt her body dragged down without warning. Thin streaks of light entered her field of vision as she opened her eyes again, her vision clearing to give her barely enough time to brace herself as her body slammed into a smoothly paved platform. Pain shot violently through her body as she landed with a dull thud; a stabbing sensation rising relentlessly from her elbows and knees, causing an agonizing scream to escape her lips.
Get up, get up! Pushing herself up against the pain of what was likely a dislocated joint, all regard for her injuries vanished in an instant the moment she saw her surroundings. Gone was the stony passage that confined them; along with it, every concept of what believed to be within the realm of possibility. Specks of light speared past them through the air, imposed on an unnatural green background that pulsated in intensity at regular intervals. Nebulous clouds of yellow contrasted the eerie green backdrop in the distance, bearing resemblance to the celestial bodies that she'd marveled at in the Demacian night sky. Shifting her focus, she watched as thin plates that glowed a dim white flew past her alongside the trails of light, suspended in flight by unknown means.
"What the…" Crawling uneasily on her knees, Fiora reached the edge of the platform to peer over it. She found to her horror that like the mysterious objects flying past them, the narrow platform they stood on levitated in space. A sense of desperation appeared on her face, cerulean eyes held wide open as she felt herself hyperventilating at what she was witnessing. It didn't take long for her to realize what was responsible for the phenomenon around her.
The sound of groans reached her ears moments later, causing her attention to quickly shift to her right. Watching as her companions struggled to move in spite of their injuries, she quickly forced herself to her feet, casting a healing spell on her wounds as she dragged herself along the smooth platform underneath.
"Where in the world are we?" Ezreal strugged to prop himself off of the ground, breathing heavily as his eyes shot wildly in wonder of his surroundings.
Stopping shortly from the others, she allowed the cooling sensation of her healing spell to flow along her elbow as she stared contemplatively into the distance. "Exactly where we need to be." Examining the blonde explorer's face with icy blue eyes, she noticed the momentary shift in his expression that reflected his understanding of her words. "Chaos is distorting the very reality of this place. We're close…let's heal up, we'll need it. Everything we've done was to get us here."