The doors to the Temple opened urgently at the mere sight of her.

She made her way through the halls decisively, every step she took making the Earth tremble under her feet, thunder echoing as she moved, the sound of men and women following her every step making her presence impossible to ignore. The shackles of her enemies, chained to their imminent destiny, chimed like the bells any town would toll before sending prisoners to the gallows.

And then, the most treasured spoil of war.

The Scorn of the Moon.

Leona walked with a deadly glare on her eyes, the Crescent Blade that had struck her down so many times in one of her hands, while the other grabbed the Scorn of the Moon by the neck and dragged her throughout the halls both of them knew so very well, her enemy's head on a bag, her hands bound to her feet, keeping her from even dreaming of doing something stupid.

Nobody dared question her as she silently walked, her boots against the ground being the only sound she made, the Lunari at her hand not collaborating as she didn't walk, forcing Leona to pull her along.

Her troops, just like her, did not make a sound, except for the one of their footsteps, their prisoners only adding the constant chiming of their iron binding.

Nobody talked. The Solari that saw them arrive wondered if they were even breathing.

The guards stationed at the Main Hall's doors scattered to open them and let their Leader through.

Leona's eyes landed on Eos as he stood up from his throne-like seat, confusion and shock at the sight being evident in his expression, his body language.

"Radiant Dawn?" He questioned as he watched her stop a few steps away from him, in the middle of the room, her troops behind her, people dressed in red being surrounded by them. "What's the meaning of this."

Leona smiled at him and bowed her head. "Morning blessings, my Elder." She looked at him with a warrior's triumph in her eye, "I must apologize for my secret departure and my unannounced arrival, but I had matters to take care of and, as you can see," She pushed the Scorn of the Moon forwards, making her land on her head on the ground, a quiet grunt escaping her. "I handled them just fine."

Eos couldn't believe his eyes. "You brought the Scorn of the Moon here?"

"I captured her." Leona said, displaying the Lunari's weapon of choice to all of those present in the room before throwing it right next to the woman's bagged head, "And brought her back to execute her." She smiled at the man before saying, "In front of you."

Eos had trouble catching up with the facts Leona was telling him, narrowing his eyes as he shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "Radiant Dawn, I will need you to explain—"

"My departure, surely." Leona finished for him as she paced around, carefully dodging the fallen woman. "You see, after my last failure, I finally hit rock bottom, my Elder. I had never felt rage like that before, watching my men and women die at the hands of this Nightly Creature." Leona said, narrowing her eyes as she thought of how she had felt. "I realized I had had enough of that and decided to go on my own, hunting her down, so that nobody would suffer the consequences of my failures, anymore." She stopped pacing, "If I had to die, then so be it." Looking at Eos with pride in her eyes, she continued. "But I didn't die and I'm proud to say that, after finding her, through lies and deceit, I managed to make her trust me, even take me to her Temple, to her people." She gestured at the Lunari that were kneeling right behind her, their heads low. "It was a miracle that you sent troops looking for me, because it was with their help that I managed to make them all yield, surrender to our will, become our prisoners." She moved towards the fallen Lunari and put her foot on her head, putting enough weight on it that her head was pressed between the ground and Leona's boot. "Diana included."

Eos' eyes scanned the crowd of Solari that had entered the Temple behind Leona. "Conflicting information came from soldiers I do not see amongst your ranks at the moment, my Chosen." He commented, silently wondering where she got that peculiar armor from, the good looking shield, strapped to her back, the deadly sharp sword, sheathed to her side.

"Just like in every war, my Elder, sacrifices had to be made; soldiers had to die." Leona said, her foot still on the Scorn's head, her hands held together behind her back. "I couldn't have Diana seeing me interact with them in any friendly way if I was to keep up my act: I had to send them away, make them believe that I was not who I am. That's how I earned her trust. Once these soldiers made it back to me with reinforcements, they died in a battle fought against Noxians and Lunari."

Eos didn't know that. "Noxians? In Ionia?"

Leona nodded. "They invaded at the sight of Demacian troops marching towards lands they want for themselves."

That was something else to address. "No Demacian messenger came to tell us about your victory, Radiant Dawn."

"We left Ionia way before Demacia did, right after kicking out Noxus and defeating the Scorn of the Moon's people." Leona quickly shot back, "They could be on their way here, but the trip is long and we were ahead."

It was only then that Eos remembered someone else, someone whose face he did not see anywhere. "Where's Armin?" He asked, true worry evident in his voice.

Leona looked crestfallen. She did not answer.

"Leona," He called her name, desperation in his voice. "Where is he?"

Leona inhaled deeply, before letting the air out in a long sigh. "He did not make it, My Elder." She said, closing her eyes. "I'm truly sorry."

Eos' hands began to shake with his anger, with his devastation upon hearing that the boy who was a son to him was gone. "Who did it?" He asked, begging for the answer, "Did his murderer die at your hands, Radiant Dawn?"

"She didn't yet, my Elder." Leona responded, something dark and evil taking over her voice as she moved her boot against the Scorn of the Moon's covered head, pretty much toying with it, sending a message to Eos. "But I do plan on serving her the justice she deserves."

Eos got the message.

It had been Diana.

"The Heretic must die."


"Remind me again, how did you know about this secret passage?"

"It's not a passage, it's a sewer." Diana commented, doing her best to avoid the dirty waters, "And I've had my fair share of jailbreaks before."

"It's a wonder how you're still alive." Althea responded amusedly.

Diana chuckled. "It is."

Althea stared unashamedly at Diana's body. "I must admit, no matter how long it's been, you still look good." She bit her lip, "The Noxian's clothing makes you look even better."

Diana blushed, suddenly feeling how short the robes were, how little the armor covered. "Shut up." She commanded, "We're already close to the dungeons."

"Do you think they're falling for it?" Althea asked her in a quiet whisper, despite Diana's request for silence.

"Probably. If not, we would be able to hear it. This place is echoey."

Diana and Althea had split from the rest of the group moments before arriving at the Temple, looking for the sewer system of the building, its' mouth into the world being the only other way in, luckily connecting to the dungeons, amongst other different spots in the Temple.

Knowing she could use the tunneling not only to rescue the Elders but search for Helena, she had announced Leona she'd go, but not before being stopped by the Sun's Aspect, being ordered to exchange her clothing and weaponry with Riven, then being asked to choose someone to serve as her back up.

Leona's plan was actually smart; to have Riven pose as her, her white hair being good enough to make her pass as the Chosen of the Moon, as long as no one saw her face.

Without questioning Leona, she had quickly chosen Althea as her partner, fully aware of the woman's medical knowledge, hoping it wouldn't be necessary, but conscious of how handy it could be if needed.

Away from everyone's eyes, Riven and her had switched positions.

She snickered at the memory of Riven's face when they had finally finished dressing up as the other, the awkward discomfort upon seeing Diana wearing her stuff, the feeling of not being herself at the sight of the silver haired woman's armor on her body, the uncanniness of how, despite Riven's body being slightly more built, the armor still fit like a glove.

Ancient magic trickery, the Noxian had declared.

They heard the gruff, low voices of the guards and both women fell silent. The situation they were in was delicate; They did not want to fight, but at the same time, they couldn't afford being detected, because them being detected meant the whole façade going to Hell, the hostages having a high possibility of dying in the process.

So, knowing Althea was looking at her, waiting to see the course of action she was planning on taking, Diana unsheathed her blade —Riven's blade —, watching the Ra-Horak as the woman did the same.

They climbed a small ladder, pushing a trapdoor to a side, entering the dungeons from the sewers as quietly as a mouse.

Only two guards visible, one standing right next to the other, both staring into a cell that seemed to be to the women's left. Clearly, Eos thought nobody could get into the dungeons.

He thought wrong.

They slowly moved, sneaking up to them; Helena to the one further from them, Diana to the one closer.

"I feel sorry for the lass." Diana's commented. "She's suffering only because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Diana frowned, gesturing for Althea not to attack yet, hoping to hear more. Still, they approached ever so slowly.

"Sorry? She should be dead. This is mercy." The other one said.

"Can you shut the Hell up?"

Diana almost froze. She knew that voice.

The guard who had spoken first approached the cell and punched the old woman. "You shut up. Do not talk to a true Solari like that, Heretic."

The one with the bad attitude approached the bars too and spit on her. "Poor attempt at a human."

Diana was already on the back of hers, Althea with the other.

And then Diana, who had been ignoring Sekhet and Akins in the cell that was now right in front of her for the mission's sake, laid her eyes upon a fallen figure on the cell right next to it, dead eyes accidentally looking into her own, same shade of gray as her own in a way, but a different kind all the same.

"Helena?"

The guards turned around.

Althea did not waste time as she stood up in one powerful move and killed the one right in front of her.

Diana wasn't as quick.

Her guard alarmed a third one that was at the end of the dungeons' hall, right next to the door that lead to the Main hall.

Since Althea was closer, she ran towards him, not allowing him to get out, to inform the others.

But Diana's opponent took advantage of her distraction and pulled her up by her hair, ready to kill her with a stab to the neck.

Seeing the vicious glare of the blade under the candlelight made her snap out of it and she quickly headbutted the man, making him fall backwards against the cell.

She heard a body fall to the ground and saw Althea coming closer to her out of the corner of her eye.

And then she saw the guard try to lunge for her.

Try, because arms had snaked around his shoulders, keeping him in place.

Diana didn't waste time as she stabbed him with the broken sword, watching him fall to the ground, lifeless.

And she stared at him.

She stared at him, because if she dared look to her right—

"Diana?"

She slowly looked up.

Sekhet was looking at her as if she had just seen a ghost.

"Mistress?"

"Who has the keys?" Althea asked them, making Diana snap out of it, looking at the Ra-Horak, currently hanging from the bars that separated her from the fallen Helena.

Her eyes open, the pupils gray—

"The one at the door!" Akins chimed in, coming close to the bars, too.

So, as Althea ran towards him, Diana's eyes couldn't help themselves as they swayed towards the fallen Helena.

Her lip started quivering.

Althea returned quickly with the keys, freeing the Elders first.

Akins bowed in gratitude, while Sekhet moved closer to Diana, aching to touch her, to feel that she was real, that she was there.

But Diana wasn't responding.

She was staring at those lifeless eyes.

Althea opened Helena's cell.

Then Diana was moving, pushing everyone aside, walking in first, landing on her knees.

"Lena?" She quietly called, sounding as small as a child as she cradled the woman's head searching for any sign that she was still alive.

There were none.

Sound alike battle could be heard coming from the surface. Althea questioned it, claiming it sounded like a duel.

Diana paid it no mind.

"Lena?" She tried again, this time her voice shaking, her heart falling to the pit of her stomach, tears making the back of her eyes burn.

No response.

She closed her eyes, letting the salty water fall from them.

Nobody dared move, nobody dared say anything. They all just stared, hopeless: The Elders fearing the worst. The Ra-Horak trying to come up with rational excuses why the Solari Scholar was not responding.

Diana let out a quiet sob as she slowly leaned forwards, laying her head on Helena's chest.

She cried, silently damning herself for taking so long, silently praying for the Sun and the Moon to bring her back, even if she knew they couldn't.

But at some point in her whimpering she fell quieter and a faint sound reached her ears.

A thumping sound, like the heartbeat of that one who was staring at Death, but fighting for their life, running away from it.

Diana raised her head, looking into those eyes, "Lena?" She questioned, getting closer to her.

Being in such proximity, she realized that despite it being painfully slow and shallow, Helena was still breathing.

"She's alive." She said urgently to Althea, watching as the soldier quickly rushed in, falling to her knees on Helena's other side.

With a medic's coldness, Althea pressed two of her fingers to Helena's pulse point, checking her heartbeat. "Her pulse is quickened." She commented, before inspecting her breathing, "Her breathing is very slow, very forced, too." She added, then looked into her eyes, rapidly analyzing them.

She shook her head. "Her eyes are all kinds of fucked up."

"Eos burned them with hot gold."

Diana turned her head so fast that she almost gave herself whiplash. "What?"

"A few weeks ago, he threw her into the dungeon and changed the torture method he used with her." Sekhet offered, placing her hand on Diana's shoulder. "He switched from drugging her to her eyelids to burning her so that she'd be blind. I do think he drugged her again, though."

Althea nodded. "She has signs of overdosing on opioids. She's awake, but not conscious. It could be fatal, but she might save herself." She explained, finally reaching a conclusion.

"Why did he do that to her?" Diana questioned, knowing the man and what he was capable of, but unable to see why, of all people, Helena.

"I wish I knew, my dear." Sekhet said. "I never heard him say it, he's too clever to reveal information in front of us, but all I can tell you is that he's been doing this to her ever since you left."

And then it clicked on the Ra-Horak.

"It's my fault."

Diana looked at Althea. "What?"

The girl suddenly looked paler than before, regret in her eyes. "The day you left the Solari, when you were facing the Elders, Helena asked me to help her get into the Main Hall." She said, watching as Diana murmured a quiet Oh, no. "I couldn't say no to her, I thought it would make no harm for her to be there."

Diana looked at Helena, fighting for her life. "She saw things she shouldn't have seen and she paid for such a crime." She said, reasoning how Eos would.

The medic's hands were shaking. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

Althea looked up at the sound of Diana's voice, suddenly strong.

Like a Leader's.

Despite the tear tracks on her cheeks, Diana looked determined, calm, even. "The man who's to blame is out there, swallowing every minute of Leona's circus. Do not beat yourself up over something you could have never even imagined."

"Leona's circus?"

"Yeah," Diana said as she stood up, turning to look at Sekhet, "She has a whole show mounted up there, to buy us time while we rescue you."

Sekhet looked like she could cry, a wavering smile on her lips. "Oh, Diana." She embraced her former student, strength being found in her arms despite how thin they were. As Diana hugged her back gently, Sekhet pulled away to look at her. "I'm so sorry for that day," Sekhet apologised, gently touching the scar on Diana's forehead. "I've regretted it every day, not standing up more powerfully for you."

"We all make mistakes. It's in us whether we learn from them or not, Mistress." She chuckled at the look of awe in those black eyes, "Just like Althea, you're not to blame. Eos is the bearer of a power much more dangerous than we think."

"If I may ask, Scholar," Akins chimed in once more, looking at her not with fear, but intrigue. "I believe there's a lot we've yet to learn from these mistakes, yes?"

Diana looked at him, "There's a lot to be learned, alright. A lot of lies, a lot of secrets, but we don't have enough time to talk about all of that right now; we need to get to the Main Hall."

"Should I escort them through the sewers?" Althea asked her, making her turn to look at her, the silver haired woman dropping to her knees, quickly planting a kiss on Helena's forehead.

"No, they must come with me to the Hall, I think their presence will be of value." She looked at Althea, then. "You're to take care of Lena. I'll be back as soon as it's all over."

Althea nodded her head once. "She'll be okay."

"I know she will. She's strong."

Stronger than I could even dream of being.

So Diana stood up, slowly making her way to the door that lead to the Main Hall.

"Diana?"

She turned to look at Sekhet, at Akins.

Akins looked far more nervous than the old woman. "Are you really telling us we need to go out there, to Leona's circus, as you called it?"

Diana smirked at him. "You've always been the most curious of Elders, always seeking knowledge, always seeking truth. Don't you want to find out what's going on, how things really are?"

"Yes but I don't want to die, Acolyte."

Diana couldn't help the laugh that escaped her at the scared tone. "You won't be in danger as long as you stay close to me." She offered, that mysterious air of hers surrounding her, like the promises of subtlety and secrecy the night usually makes, "Let's go."

So, turning around once more, sheathing Riven's blade to her side, Diana quietly made her way, Sekhet and Akins following closely.


The Heretic must die.

Leona smirked at the man. "I agree, my Elder. the Heretic must die." She said as she walked towards him, the Scorn of the Moon some steps to her side and behind her, on the ground.

She unstrapped the shield from her back and let it fall to the ground before unsheathing her blade and moving towards the one dressed as the Chosen of the Moon.

She took her rightful place to the fallen woman's side and grabbed her by the neck, making her kneel, her head still covered by that tight bag. Leona placed her blade's edge to her neck, as if getting ready to strike.

"Your Goddess has abandoned you, miscreant." Leona said loudly. "This is your new God, now."

She brought her sword back.

Eos saw it suddenly start towards Diana, fast.

But before it could behead the Lunari, she rolled forwards, successfully ducking before the impact.

They didn't know when she released herself from her chains, but they knew she had done so, for the Lunari was now standing, her Crescent blade in hand.

As she moved towards Leona, she took that bag off her head, throwing it on the Chosen's face, using the distraction to strike.

Leona felt a knee to her stomach and moved to a side before the Scorn could do any more harm. Her eyes landed on Eos, how he opened his mouth to command they killed the white haired woman, "She's mine!" Leona roared, managing to make him stand down.

And she fought the warrior who stood against her.

The warrior with paint on her forehead, instead of a scar.

The warrior with short white hair, instead of long silver.

They were thankful for the Empyreans that stood surrounding them, for it made it harder for the Solari troops to see Riven's face, recognizing it was not Diana.

Leona carefully met each swing Riven took at her, deflecting the blows and barely hitting back, the experienced warrior being good at keeping her occupied with protecting herself, not even giving her the chance to attack, to strike back.

It would serve as a convincing fight.

It would also serve the purpose of not letting Leona move to Eos' side, for it would mean Riven's face would be to him, their little show being brought to an abrupt stop if he ever realized he was being fooled.

Blow after blow, strike after strike, Eos saw the Scorn of the Moon viciously advancing over the Chosen of the Sun.

But then the white haired warrior brought the Crescent Blade towards Leona's neck, as if trying to behead her in one insanely fast slash.

Leona saw it coming and ducked right on time, before striking the khopesh with her own blade, sending it flying away from them, then lunging for her.

As the warrior came in contact with her, tackling her, Riven used the momentum of her fall to roll backwards over her shoulder, taking Leona with her, lifting her with the strength of her legs and landing on top of her, straddling her, while Leona was trapped between the white haired woman and the ground.

Everything had been so quick that Eos didn't see Riven's face, because once they landed, her back was to him, again.

Quickly, Riven stole Leona's blade.

Eos saw as the Scorn of the Moon, Zenith blade in hand, raised the sword up, its' tip aimed at Leona.

She brought it down in one deadly quick motion.

Everyone fell silent as the sword landed on its' mark.

Right next to Leona's neck, the Radiant Dawn unscathed.

They remained like that, breathing heavy, recovering themselves, gathering their breaths for a minute.

"You fought well."

Then Riven stood up and offered Leona her hand.

"But I fought better."

Leona took it. "You get me with that trick every time we fight."

She brought her up with one quick pull of her arm, "Then you should start thinking on how to avoid it or, even better, use it against me."

Whether it was the voice or the heavy accent, Eos did not recognize the Scorn's sound as her own, "What's the meaning of this?" He finally asked amidst a frown.

Riven looked at him, snorting at the look on his face when he saw hers. She threw the sword in the air, catching it by its' blade and giving its' grip to Leona, who took it and sheathed it. "We were just sparring a bit, nothing too serious, though." She licked her fingers before rubbing them hard against her forehead, wiping the Lunari symbol from her face.

Eos looked from Riven's face to Leona's, then to Riven's, then back to Leona's. "Where's Diana?"

Leona raised a brow. "Who?"

"The Scorn of the Moon?"

Leona tried not to laugh at his angered tone, but had a hard time doing so as she exaggeratedly inspected Riven's face. "Well, you're right! This one looks nothing like Diana." She looked at him, a painfully badly hidden smirk on her face, "Beats me how that little detail managed to slip past me."

"Radiant Dawn," Eos began.

"Yes?" Leona responded, despite it not being necessary, her little comment making Eos angrier by the second.

Eos had had enough of her antics and he spoke without thought, "You'd better have a good explanation for whatever's going on right now or—"

"Or what?"

He froze at the tone she had used, how the mirth that had been all over her face vanished in just the blink of an eye.

Leona did not relent. "What could, what would happen to me, my Elder?" She questioned, her eyes never wavering from his. "Would you write me off as a traitor, a heretic of sorts? Put me on a blacklist and demand my head?" She took a step towards him. "Or would you forgive my sins and ignore them, shrug them off?"

She saw him subtly take a step backwards. "I am not amused by whatever joke you're pulling on us, Leona."

"Oh it's a joke to you, I see." She bared her teeth. "It's not a joke unless it's funny, my Elder. I'm not making a joke."

"Then what the Hell is the meaning of this—"

"I think you'd punish me." Leona mused out loud, going back to the first question she had made. "Surely, for wasting your time with our little display of swordplay skill."

Eos didn't really know where she was going with it, but he didn't like it nonetheless. "My Chosen, I would never—"

"Punish me?" Leona said, her eyes glued to him. "Even if I committed a sin?"

"I don't think you'd be able to sin—"

"But what if I did? What if I could be guilty of heresy?" Leona asked him.

Eos shook his head, "I couldn't, I don't know—"

"You couldn't know?"

"Why do you need to know?!" Eos finally screamed in answer, sick and tired of Leona's constant questioning.

Leona had him where she wanted.

She relaxed a bit, an easy smile on her lips. "Because I need to know what kind of punishment could come for those in the highest ranks amongst us."

"Did you commit heresy, my Chosen?"

Leona decided not to answer such a question.

Not yet, at least.

"Could I be punished for it?"

A deafening silence took over the room.

Eos did not respond.

Leona did not relent. "Answer me, my Elder."

"I don't think you could be a heretic, my Chosen, and I don't know what we should do in case you, of all people, renounced the Sun, but if you were to sin, you'd have to be punished for it. No one's above it."

Leona's smile slowly grew. "Because no one's above the Sun, above their condition of humans who follow our Goddess, not even me." She lolled her head to a side. "Right?"

Eos did not like it. "Right."

"Then that would mean everyone under this roof could be punished," Leona said, raising her voice as she spoke. "Me, this impostor," She pointed at Riven, then stopped walking. "Even you."

"Yes, my Chosen." Eos replied. "In case a sin has been committed."

Leona looked at him, "Then I accuse you, Eos." She said, staring into his eyes as confusion and fear swirled in them, "I accuse you of the worst of crimes."

Whispers began all around them.

Eos snapped out of his shock with a laugh. "Accuse me of what, exactly, my Chosen?" He asked, "I haven't been praying to any false light as of lately, we all know that."

"You have lied to us all and kept information from us. That's the worst thing you could do."

Eos got defensive. "Renouncing the Sun and following the Moon is the worst thing anyone could do, my Chosen." He glared at Riven. "Even pretending to be the one who the Moon Chose is just as bad."

Riven shrugged. "Can't judge me by the Solari rules if I'm not a Solari." She said, uncaring for her accent, for this man, for everything.

"Then what are you, Noxian?"

Riven smiled. "An Empyrean."

Except for those behind Leona, no one knew what an Empyrean was.

Silence.

Eos looked uncomfortable.

"And what is an Empyrean?" He asked her, using a teasing tone, as if making fun of her.

But he did not laugh when Leona began speaking. "An Empyrean is that who veneers both the Sun and the Moon equally, for they are the keepers of balance, the ultimate force of life and death." She puffed her chest out, pride evident in her words, "The Chosen of the Sun and the Chosen of the Moon are the representatives of their deities and highest authorities."

Eos chuckled nervously. "Are you telling me you are an Empyrean too, my Chosen? The highest of them all, even?"

"Well, I can't be the highest, Diana is up there with me, too." She said, much to Eos' dismay.

Whispers started once more.

"So you did." He said. "You turned away from the light."

"I'd say I opened my eyes to it."

The murmurs grew louder.

Eos was seeing red. "You did what Diana had done—"

"Diana had found out the truth and tried to tell you all about it and you didn't hear her. Even worse, you tried to silence her. Now you have me standing here, trying to do it one more time. Maybe you'll hear me."

"Which truth, Leona?" He asked rather aggressively, "What are you even talking about?"

"The truth of the Solari." She took a step closer to him and turned to address at all the remaining Solari. "The truth of how Solari and Lunari used to be one, joined under the name of the Empyreans until they got split due to your family's doing."

"My family's…" He started laughing. "Oh, Chosen, you've spent too much time around the Scorn, it seems. She has turned you into one of hers, believing her lies."

"You're right," Leona said, making him stop in his laughter. "I've spent enough time by her side that I cannot go back to being under that darkness of yours anymore, for you keep your family's legacy intact, protected by how, throughout the years, you and those before you have abused your influence, keeping the lies told so many years ago alive."

"Are you even listening to yourself, Leona?!"

"Are you afraid of hearing the truth, Eos?"

He had turned red on the face. "I will not hear another insolence coming from your mouth. Repent right now."

Leona raised a brow. "Or what?"

"Or there will be consequences."

Leona smiled.

Eos was fuming.

And people were murmuring.

"I cannot repent for a sin I haven't committed." Leona simply stated. "Do not accuse me of crimes which are not of my doing."

"And then why would you accuse me of nonsense my ancestors did? Nonsense you can't even confirm has even happened? I cannot be judged for a sin I haven't committed, either." Eos said, using her logic against her.

She heard the murmurs and decided to acknowledge them.

"I did not renounce the Sun. I still follow her and make her will be heard on our lands. I did finally see the Moon, though." She said, making everyone comment on it. Making her voice louder, she continued. "I've met the Moon, I've gotten to know her and both her and the Sun have shared secrets from long ago with me." She smirked. "They shared their knowledge, their past and our mission in life with me and the other side of my existence, my counterpart that evens me out. Diana." She ignored his angered face. "I found out the truth so I renounce the Solari and join my ally, my friend in the religion we were both destined to bring back, to revive and lead."

Friend. Alright.

Baby steps, my Goddess.

She could see the murder in Eos' eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. "Then if you're an Empyrean now, Leona, you cannot judge me by your rules." He let out between gritted teeth, remembering what Riven had said that sparked that mess, done with Leona's antics.

"You're right, my Elder. I cannot judge you based on simple accusations, let alone crimes others committed but you're wrong on your defense. I'm not declaring you a sinner under my religion's rules, I'm doing so under the Solari's." She smirked, "And I will not judge you on crimes that came before you. I will judge you on crimes you committed."

"Really?" Eos asked her, "What have I done?"

"You've murdered Commander Khait of the Ra-Horak, locked Elder Akins and Mistress Sekhet away and accused Diana of killing them all to clean your hands."

He had been discovered and he knew it, Leona could see it in his eyes.

Still, he refused to go down easily. "That's all lies, Leona."

"It's the truth."

"You're lying! You're lying to protect the Heretic!"

Leona shook her head. "I know the truth, Eos."

"You're just saying lies."

"I'm not and you know it."

"Oh, really?" He asked in a harsh mocking tone. "And do you have any proof of it? Or are these as stupidly bland accusations as the ones you did before?"

"I do have proof, actually." Leona stated matter-of-factly.

Eos laughed, being so deep in his act that he knew he had no way out of it; he had to gamble. "Don't make me laugh, now—"

"No, I actually do." Leona interrupted him. "My proof is standing right behind you, Eos."

He felt his heart stopping as he turned and caught the sight of Diana, Mistress Sekhet and Elder Akins flanking her, the secret door to the dungeon open, revealing the stairs that lead to it behind them.

"You did an excellent job hiding this door," Diana began, "But you didn't even try to secure the sewers."

He watched as Diana unsheathed a black, broken blade and threw it high in the air. Following it with his eyes, he saw the Noxian catch it, before throwing her the Crescent Blade, Diana dexterously catching it with one hand, letting out a tranquil Your blade is too uncomfortable, making the Noxian chuckle.

They were all friends.

He looked at Diana, then he caught a glimpse of her two companions.

Sekhet was murdering him with her eyes.

"You had said Diana killed them and here they are." Leona calmly said. "Malnourished, beaten to near death and reeking like actual corpses, but much alive. Escorted by the one woman you said wanted them dead."

Eos turned to look at her. Had Leona and the white haired impostor moved closer? "They were planning on betraying us!"

"Oh, so you do confirm that you lied to the Solari and accused Diana of crimes she did not commit?"

"I did not—"

"Even then, it would all be so odd," Leona continued. "You did not let them face trial and, knowing you, if they so wished to betray the Solari, then you would have had them executed."

"But I—"

"But you're lying, Eos." Leona stated. "It's all lies. Sekhet and Akins were the only ones who dared listen to Diana and spare her for the blasphemies and you disliked their mercy, locking them up so as to be free of their intervention." She grew heated, anger evident on her face. "You knew they'd do the right thing and you put them away so as to avoid it!"

"And not having enough with that," Diana added, making them look at her. "You tortured my best friend because she was the sole witness of the assassination of Commander Khait." Diana took a deep breath at his face of faux confusion. "Helena, the High Scholar. You made everyone believe she had gone mad due to me, while it was just you, drugging her up so as to torture her, making her delirious to keep her quiet."

"You did what, now?" Leona murmured.

Diana could see the violence, the aggression in her eyes.

"And you did it all just to aid your own desires. To keep yourself in power and everyone below you." Diana stated.

Eos was shaking his head, but the desperation of having been caught was clear like water in his eyes.

"Take it like a man, you monster." Sekhet commented. "They caught you red handed."

He was growing more desperate by the second.

"You would have gotten away with it, you just committed a minor mistake."

He looked at Diana, a sneer on his face. "Yes, I should have killed you."

Diana shook her head. "You should have killed Helena."

"Your own bloodlust, the pleasure you find in hurting others, sabotaged you." Leona added from behind him.

Eos was gritting his teeth, but in his desperation, he quickly thought of something. "Guards!—"

A hand on his mouth was keeping him quiet, "I've had enough of you and I just met you." Riven murmured, uncaring of the guards that were unsheathing their blades, unsure of whether to attack or not, but wary nonetheless.

She tried to hold the man as he thrashed around, trying to release himself from her.

As he moved, Diana caught sight of something shiny in his hand, the room's candle light making it glare underneath the flames.

A dagger.

"Riven—"

Eos managed to grip the dagger properly and tried to stab the woman behind him.

Riven quickly released him and moved backwards, grunting at the sting of the blade scratching her midsection, but managing to come out of it safe and sound.

Eos raised his knife, "Guards!" He called, "Kill them all!"

The guards unsheathed their blades.

So did Leona.

Eos was mad with power.

"Kill them all!"

The guards moved towards the Ra-Horak, the Elders behind Diana, Diana and Leona themselves, even Riven.

"Kill them—"

Diana watched as Leona's Zenith blade suddenly came out of Eos' chest, the warrior having pushed it in from his back.

Right through his heart.

"They say that a strike through the heart is lethal for you, freaks." Leona said in a low, dark voice right against Eos' ear, Diana picking up on it, on the morbidly familiar words.

Diana moved closer to him, being face to face. "But just to make sure…"

Leona pulled her sword out of the gaping wound.

Diana grabbed Eos by his hair with one hand and, with the other, she gripped her khopesh tightly, her eyes not moving from his as she brought the blade against his neck.

"Good luck on the other side," She began to say as she moved the blade against his neck, cutting it open with a contrasting gentleness. "You're going to need it."

She released him as she finished, his neck cut open from one end to the other, his blood spraying her as he bled out, falling to the ground.

Dead.

Diana watched him for a few minutes, aware of how suddenly everyone in the room was frozen, staring at him, at her, at Leona.

She still couldn't stop staring at him.

You're not satisfied.

Not really.

She sheathed her blade, Leona doing the same.

Diana kept looking at the dead man.

So Leona looked at the staring crowd.

"Can you feel it?" She asked them. "Can you feel the aggressiveness leaving your body? The rope that had been tied tight around your heart, loosening?"

Everyone looked at her, at each other, discomfort in their eyes.

They knew exactly what she was talking about.

"I've been used and abused as much as you. I've felt the same pain, I've felt the same release." Leona said as she began to pace around the room, closing her eyes as she sighed, "I've had the same rope around my heart, my neck, my wrists and ankles. Doing, saying, thinking, believing, even breathing and living the way I was told to," She looked at Diana, pain in her eyes. "Even if it didn't sit right with me, even if it felt wrong at heart and I wanted no part in it."

Leona moved, her eyes going from Diana to Eos, "My body was not my own, my decisions were not of my doing, being guided through my own life, my every move being dictated, what to believe in, what to do, what to say, who to love and who to hate." Her eyes caught sight of Diana and climbed up to meet her face once more, "No matter what, I'd always follow, like we were nothing but simple puppets, for the puppeteer to use as his own leisure. That was all we were: simple puppets with a role to play, so I know how it feels," She turned, looking at them, her eyes going from one to another, "The sudden lack of drive, of motivation, of mission to fulfill. I know it all, I lived through it."

She ran her eyes all over the room, watching as they all whispered, as they nodded their heads, as they sighed in relief.

She looked at the fallen man. "Eos was the owner of a power that allowed him to bend everyone to his will, make them do his command, believe what he told them. A power that has been in his family for ages, being passed on to the following generations, time after time." She moved towards Diana, her eyes on silver ones. "A power that he and his family have used to make us believe that we're enemies. To make us believe the Sun and the Moon are enemies."

She grabbed Diana's hands, looking at them. "I couldn't take the restlessness in my heart and I sought out the one that would never leave my mind." She looked up, finding Diana staring at her. "Once together, the Sun and the Moon showed us the truth: Solari and Lunari used to be one until one man, Eos' ancestor, made a deal with a sorceress in order to gain this power and destroy our people, just to aid his own, selfish desires."

"With this power at his command," Diana started, "This man persuaded people to rise against the Moon and he murdered her Chosen. With a broken heart, the Chosen of the Sun gathered her power and fought him, bringing his life to an end. What she couldn't do, though, was kill his child. She died no long after that, her people forever divided."

"The people who had been known as Empyreans, followers of the Sun and the Moon, seekers of balance, had been split in two; those who had been manipulated, who had believed that man's lies, shunned the Moon and called themselves Solari. Those who had ran away in a desperate attempt to survive, forced themselves to turn their backs on the Sun, choosing the name of Lunari." Leona explained. "But we have never been enemies. We have never been nothing but pawns in a game that we could not win, characters in a play with a tragic ending."

"Eos and his ancestors kept the lies alive because divided we're easier to control, to dominate. Divided, it was easier for him to remain in power." Diana said, looking down at him, a few steps behind Leona, "Now that he's gone, his legacy ended, we're free from him."

Leona looked for her eyes, smiling at her as she found them. "He made us all believe the Sun and the Moon chase each other throughout the sky out of anger, out of a desire to fight, when the game of chase they play has a different motive behind it, one always making room in the sky for the other."

Diana smirked. "The desire to be together being stronger than their obstacles."

She tried not to laugh as she saw Leona mouth, I really want to kiss you right now.

"As of today, the Solari and the Lunari are disbanded and no longer exist." Leona said, looking at everyone around them, still holding Diana's hand tightly. "But you all have a choice. You can join us and become an Empyrean. Learn the truth, help us reforge what we once were, step by step, bit by bit."

"Or you could walk away." Diana added, "We will not force you to stand for something you do not believe in. A lack of faith is not a crime, not a sin, not some sort of heresy." her gaze softened as her hand gripped Leona's tighter. "You're all welcome, but that doesn't mean you'll be forced into it."

"No matter what you choose, it will be respected."

And silence took over once more.

"It's hard to make such a decision when your core beliefs are being shaken, brought to the ground." Mistress Sekhet's voice was powerful once more, a certain raw feeling to it that made her be heard. "But it's hard to ignore it when something deep inside you knows you're being told the truth. It's a feeling that's born inside the heart, like a hunch, and it shall not be ignored. I don't know about you all, but I'll follow my Chosens into the light. It's never too late to learn."

"The truth can be harsh." Elder Akins commented, "But it must always be respected, sought, protected." He looked at Leona, "If this is the Sun's will, then I'll follow." And then his eyes turned to Diana. "I'll learn what the Moon is willing to teach."

And everything had been said.

And everything had been done.

And suddenly it was over.

Slowly, they moved around the room.

Diana and Leona could see it in their eyes.

A few of them wanted out of it, desolation in their hearts, evident in their eyes.

Most of them were really thinking about it, considering it.

They moved around as they analyzed their options, as some of them apologized to Leona and left the room in peace, not without looking back at Diana with betrayal in their souls.

But it was done. It was over.

Minutes, hours.

Some left. Most stayed.

Then Diana heard it, quiet, faint, yet still there.

"Diana?"

She turned around at the sound of a voice she hadn't heard in years.

Helena was standing, being held up by Althea, but standing, there, searching for her.

With blind eyes.

Diana felt it like a blow to her gut, relief and sadness at the same time. "Helena," She whispered, releasing Leona and moving towards her friend.

She cradled her face, watching as the still groggy Helena flinched at the touch, yet leaned against it. "Helena," Diana let out once more in a quiet whisper, unaware of the tears in her eyes.

"Diana?" Helena asked once more, invaded by the same feeling that the Chosen of the Moon felt, letting go of Althea to place her hands on Diana's face, slowly feeling it.

"She woke up and begged me to let her see you," Althea explained. "She hadn't been drugged in a while, what we saw before being withdrawal after a long overdose. She's still weak, but she's slightly better."

"Shut up, doctor." Helena mumbled, "I can't even see my friend."

Althea turned red, "I didn't mean—"

"Shut up." Helena said, turning her head towards her, "Idiot." She mumbled, then turned her head back to Diana as she heard her chuckle. "And what the Hell are you laughing at, donkey?"

"I'm just so glad to finally see you." Diana said, crying freely, hugging her.

But then Helena was pushing her away, "You're not allowed to do that." She said, anger in her voice. "You can't do that."

It felt like a stab to the chest. "Do what?"

"Leave for Gods know how long and then hug me like nothing happened!" Helena complained loudly, tears in her lifeless eyes. "You have no idea of what it felt like, having you gone and being…" She couldn't bring herself to say it. "Being—"

She quieted at the feeling of Diana's hands on her own, grabbing them and placing them on her face, letting her feel her tears.

Her scar.

"There was nothing I wanted more than knowing what had happened to you." Diana quietly told her. "My fear for your safety was so deep I kept it secret, even from the Night. I thought that, maybe, if I didn't speak of it, not even in my solitude, then it wouldn't be real."

Helena was glaring at her. "You thought wrong, stupid."

"I know I did, Lena." She bit her lip at how Helena shuddered at the sound of her nickname, "I know I did and I'm sorry." She touched her forehead against Helena's, "I'm sorry."

And she saw her struggling, she saw her thinking what to say next.

Then Diana added, "Out of the two of us, you were always the smart one."

And so Helena was crushing her in an embrace, hiding her face on her shoulder.

"I'm just so glad you're back."

And Gods, she was crying like a child.

Diana hugged her back as strongly. "I'm back, Lena. I'm back and I'm not going anywhere." She felt her heart breaking at how Helena sobbed, "I promise you that."

And despite what she felt, despite the tears and the sadness, the happiness, the anger, Helena chuckled. "I always knew you'd make it. I might want to punch you right now, but I've always known you'd win."

"You did say you'd never turn your back on me and that I was always welcome in your heart, no matter how badly we fell apart."

"And you did say you'd remember it." She pulled away, feeling Diana's face once more with her hands. "And I did mean it. I've always been loyal to you, gremlin. I've always rooted for you."

Diana hugged her again, as if trying to memorize how it felt, to hold her tight. "I'm so glad I'm with you again."

"And I'm glad you're alive and well, even if you're too stupid for your own good."

And Diana couldn't antagonize her like before, couldn't play their little game.

She could only laugh at her, at her words.

And Leona, standing a few feet away from them, watching them reunite after so long, couldn't bring herself to interrupt them, couldn't bring herself to steal Diana away from her best friend.

Because it was the end to the story, to the fighting, the battles, the lies and deception. The suffering and pain.

Because Diana was finally hers.

Because they were finally together.

Because they had all the time in the world, so what harm could it make, for her to let her be for a minute?

"Well," She heard Riven say as she patted her back. "How do you feel about it, Sun Queen?"

Leona looked at her with a raised brow. "How do I feel about what?"

Riven smiled. "About it all being over."

It was finally over.

It's over.

Leona beamed at her.

"Free. I feel free, at last."

It's over.

Free.

She saw Diana look back at her, a smile on her lips, tears of joy in her eyes.

She smiled back.

We're free.