Well, this story is slowly wrapping up, and I cannot wait until the end. After this, I will be working on two League related projects, one is a Taliyah/Ekko and the other is going to be some Ezreal short stories. I am really excited for those projects and I hope you will be too. Enjoy and Keep it Classy!
Garen looked at the vast expansion of land in front of him from the crest of a hill. The mountain of the Institute loomed in the distance and he felt the familiar unease before battle. A hand slid into his and he squeezed it. He looked at the hands owner and saw Kat looking at the Institute. The tension in his chest seemed to ease slightly and he chuckled. Kat rose her eyebrow and looked at him.
"If someone had told me two years ago that I would be standing on this hilltop preparing to march on the Institute, I would have called them crazy. If they told me I would be with you, I would probably shove my sword through their chest."
She laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I would probably do the same."
He looked at her for a minute before speaking again. "Thank you, Kat."
Her brows furrowed, "For what?"
"For showing me that the world isn't as black and white as I thought."
"I think it would be easier if it was, but I don't think I would be nearly as happy," she replied, and as her sentence finished, she looked at the Institute. The sun was just beginning to set behind the mountain, making it appear larger and more menacing. She chewed on her lip.
"What's wrong?" Garen asked.
"After this is all over, what does that mean for us?" She asked.
"I haven't really thought about it. I'm assuming my banishment from Demacia will be lifted, especially if Jarvan has anything to say about it. You might even be able to go back to Noxus."
"Is that what you would want?" she asked.
"I want you to be happy, and I know how much Noxus means to you," he said slowly.
"But I don't think you would want to leave Demacia, especially for Noxus," she said.
"Maybe not permanently, no. But I wouldn't mind having you show me around. If you'll let me do the same for you with Demacia," he smiled.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I would like that," she replied, her smile shy and sweet.
The sound of heels on stone was rhythmic and purposeful. Swain followed the sound and the glow from the candle down a narrow passageway. For his height, he had to stoop slightly but Leblanc stood tall and proud. They turned a corner and were met with a solid stone wall.
"Are you lost?" Swain asked, a slight bit of foreign humor in his voice.
"When are you going to learn that not everything is as it appears?" LeBlanc asked annoyed. She waved her hand and the wall shimmered, leaving behind a worn wooden door. She opened it and walked in with Swain behind her. The light from the candle didn't reach very far but there was a bare foot in the halo the candle cast. Leblanc lifted it and it revealed a slender, almost sickly leg to eventually a thin, naked woman. She flinched when the light hit her face and covered her eyes from the sudden brightness. The back of her hands with dirty and the skin was thin. Straggly chestnut hair, damp and muddy clung to her face and neck.
"Hello Lucinda, are you comfortable?" LeBlanc asked and the small woman on the floor seemed to shrink into herself. LeBlanc tsked at her and a black hand reached out from her own and grabbed Lucinda by the wrist before dragging her to her whole meager height. Her toes dragged on the ground as she was pulled towards LeBlanc. "Now you should know better then to ignore me when I speak to you," she said in a voice that was silky and disgustingly sweet.
"Please," Lucinda chocked out, her throat dry from the lack of water.
"We do not have time for you to play with one of your toys LeBlanc," Swain chastised, and LeBlanc sighed.
"I am afraid he is right. As much as I love our precious time together, today will have to be short and sweet," she said, her gold eyes glowing as she pulled out a dagger from under her cloak. Lucinda whimpered and trembled, trying desperately to get any traction on the ground to pull away. Instead, the inky black hand pulled her closer, pulling her wrist into LeBlancs' waiting hand.
"Don't worry love, I'm not going to kill you yet. I'm just going to make you want to," she said, twisting her wrist so the under arm was exposed. Scars and fresh wounds danced around each other gracefully on the thin skin.
LeBlanc looked for an agonizing long time before slowly bringing the knife over an old scar. The blade bit into the skin and red immediately blossomed. Lucinda cried out in pain.
LeBlanc pulled out a vial and the blood slowly began to fill it. When it was full, LeBlanc released the Head Summoner who slunk onto the floor and crawled into her corner, using her other hand to hold the fresh wound.
"We're done here," she said, spinning on her heel and snapping her cape behind her.
The door shut behind them and the wall materialized into place. As they navigated the labyrinth back to the surface, LeBlanc spoke. "Have you made the necessary preparations?"
"Of course, they are coming from the north, exactly as I predicted. Scouts spotted them days ago."
"What are their forces?"
"Small, disbanded, untrained. Against your Watchers, they would struggle. With the support of the Noxian military behind you, they will be crushed."
"Then why do they still come?" she asked, raising a slender eyebrow.
"It seems they only have pieces of information, enough to make them think they have a chance. Unless they are planning the main force as a distraction and are sending a more elite party to take you," Swain said, rubbing his chin.
"With Katarina not having resources within the Institute, she will be hard pressed to try anything on her own, even with the street rat. Assuming he's alive. The Demacians aren't assassins. They will take the front line. With the relationship between the Demacian and the Noxian, she might stay at the front lines."
"All valid points. However, I have arranged a surprise for them none the less. This is to crucial. If we are to cement your rise to power, we must account for everything."
"And with my power in the Institute being absolute, Noxus will have the power and resources it will need to start the biggest conquest this world has ever seen. We will be the most powerful city-state to ever exist in written history."
"Until then, I will make final preparations. We will confront them in the morning."
"See it done."
Emerella startled awake entwined with Malayah, her curly hair smelling of spice and flowers. She let out a soft snore and Emerella moved. The curved blade under her pillow sprang out, ringing against metal behind her head. It began to glow a mystic green, illuminating the shrouded face of a stranger. Emerella pushed forward, knocking the assailant off of his feet temporarily as a fire ball wizzed by her face, the heat making her gasp. It knocked into the attacker and blossomed into a raging inferno, his screams of pain drowned out by the cracking of flame. Before he could take another step back, Emerella planted an arrow into his chest. The flame that engulfed him disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
"Move Em. Move!" Malayah said, her hands still glowing, ready to cast another fireball at her will. Emerella stood and knocked another arrow, her eyes scanning the darkness of their tent for any shadows that looked like they had ill-intentions. Malayah moved past her, flinging herself from the tent, conjuring another fireball between her palms. She threw it skyward and it burst above the camp like a firework, a boom followed by brilliant light. Another dark, masked figured turned to her, but an arrow planted itself into his throat before he could move.
Malayah gathered her nightgown and ran as chaos erupted around her. Emerella was not far behind. Malayah saw the intricate runes mere seconds before they exploded, tossing her to the side as if she were made of nothing more then feathers instead of flesh and bone. Emerella joined her side.
"Are you alright?" she asked, and more runes began to glow behind her. Malayah grabbed her arm and they both laid down flat as dirt and dust covered them. "Where is it coming from May?" Emerella asked.
She felt the familiar pull of magic. "South about 400 yards if I had to guess."
"I cannot shoot that far, even in good light. Lead me so I can find my mark," Emerella said, helping Malayah to her feet. She nodded and ran, just as the sky was starting to lighten with the promise of dawn.
Garen woke up to the sound of a loud boom and the canvas from his tent was lit like it was midday instead of late evening. Kat had already sprung to life beside him, daggers ready to find throats. The light that had been there before slowly faded but he grabbed his sword before he was plunged into complete darkness. Kat moved out of the tent and nearly avoided an axe to her head. She rolled, planting a sword into the axe mens exposed under arm. He howled in pain as her off hand found its mark in his throat.
Garen emerged from the tent with his sword ready and his eyes widened at the battle before him. A bright light about 30 yards to his right caught his attention and he saw Shyvanna launching a large fireball at a group of black armored men. Jarvan fought beside her, bringing his javelin down on an unsuspected assailant. Talon appeared beside Kat, with Quinn at his back. He could feel the familiar ache of war in his chest and he launched himself in the throngs of battle like he had never left.
Marcus emerged and joined them, fending off attacks with ease. "Where was our watch? How did they get so close without us knowing?"
"Dead, they sent a small assassination squad hours before they moved in," Talon said.
"Fall back and form ranks, or we'll be eaten alive!" Garen called but the forces who had come in the night were already retreating.
"What are they doing?" Kat asked.
"This was a first wave. A show of power and to soften us up. They don't want us dead yet," Marcus said. Light from the dawn crept across the battlefield.
"Clever," a voice said from behind him and they turned. Lucinda stood before them, her hair wrapped up tightly on her head and clear hazel eyes glinting. A black cloak hung delicately on her shoulders.
Kat moved quickly and flung a knife at her shoulder. It passed through it like smoke and the form became solid again. She brushed her shoulder off as if the knife were nothing more than dust.
"Are you done?" she asked, and Kat growled. She looked at her nails, unbothered. "This was your practice round and you failed. Miserably, actually. You can't handle a couple bands of mercenaries and yet you think you can march on the Institute? Against one of the most powerful military and political presences' in the world? Especially with the support of the Noxian military and supportive militia, you don't stand a chance."
"So, what would you suggest?" Garen asked, his teeth grinding.
"Surrender, and I'll see what mood I'm in. Maybe I'll let you rot in a prison for a few years, maybe more. Depends on how charitable I feel. And the more time of mine you waste, the less bright it looks for each of you."
Malayah pushed through the crowd, her eyes never leaving the woman that addressed the crowd. "Where is Lucinda?" she asked.
Her addressee looked at her carefully. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you are not who you claim to be, witch," Malayah said squinting her orange eyes.
Lucinda broke out into a fit of giggles. "Why, what a plucky little girl you have! Brave, powerful, but not very bright, is she?" She waved her hand and a long staff appeared. The silver metal shown brightly in the sun, like it was freshly polished, instead of an ancient tool of destruction. The top was a half-metal ring, and large purple stones that hovered delicately in the air. They began to glow, and soon the were inches from Malayah's face.
"Shame. If I got to you first, I could have made something out of you. Well, live and learn. Except you won't be doing either," Lucinda said, and the purple stones began to hum.
A mystic green blade struck out, knocking the staff upwards as a powerful blast of dark magic emanated from it. It burst into the air, showering the group with purple smoke. Emerella stood, her blade back handed and ready. She struck out, slashing across Lucinda's chest.
"You will not touch her!" She said, her voice radiating anger and power. It echoed slightly, and the blade pulsed with her heartbeat.
"Insolent child! How dare you. Do you have any idea who I am?!" Lucinda shrieked. Her hand covered her chest but red began to seep through her fingers. "I tire of these games! Now you all will die at my hand and you can blame these two for that!" She pulled her cloak around herself and turned into a large raven, that took to the sky.
"Why were you able to hurt her?" Kat asked.
"She was an apparition when she first came. When she materialized the staff, she had to be here to hold it. So where ever she was casting the apparition from, it couldn't have been far. If it were to far away, the switch between the apparition and the real self would not have been so smooth. If we move quickly, we might be able to catch her before she gets back to the Institute."
"Let's finish this," Marcus said, and the group nodded.
Swain watched as LeBlanc materialized back into the carriage. She clutched her chest as blood slowly oozed from between her fingers. "You are growing cocky," he said, and she glared at him as she shifted into her original form. "The plan was that you would stay a safe distance and project Lucinda to send a message, and then you disappear."
"It was a slight oversight-"
"It was suicide. You are safe if you can keep up the smoke and mirrors. This entire plan hinges on it. Instead, you decide to deviate and look what happens," he pointed at her chest and she narrowed her eyes. "My entire job is to plan. My plans only work if you stick to them."
"Take me back to the Institute Jericho. And be ready to deploy your troops."
He returned the glare before finally speaking, "As you wish."