The next morning, I walk into the nurse's food court with a huge yawn. Today, I decided against wearing normal nurse clothes. Instead, I wear a casual tunic and baggy pants with my boots. I slump over to the food container and search for the ingredients to make myself some porridge… like I've done every single day for the past six months. I tiredly grab a kettle. Checking to make sure there's enough water for me to make tea… maybe coffee, I am absolutely exhausted. Last night was definitely not fun, though thankfully the woman found her mother and son in the hospital. They showed a bit of overwhelming gratitude to me for saving them again, kneeling and bowing to me after pulling me aside. I did my best to stop them, though it seemed like whatever I did, they'd make even more extravagant declarations. It was starting to get overwhelming when the grandmother put a stop to it. The rest of the night was just a blur of healing, comforting, and working my butt off to help everyone. I didn't even get to sleep until the moon was starting to set. I woke up early because I can't help it now. Stupid training. I feel like I'm never going to get any sleep today.
"Let me take care of it." Yone murmurs in my ear. I yawn and nod. Yasuo's hands grab me by my shoulders and guide me over to a table in the corner. Three mugs are already full of a warm liquid. I can smell which one mine is as it has a fruity scent to it. I plop into the seat and happily take a sip before I rest my head on the table.
"Why aren't you getting more sleep? You were up later than we were." Yasuo mentions conversationally.
"I used to go running with vastaya before the sun even rose. I'm not allowed to look at the midday sun without being up for hours beforehand." I mumble.
"For six months? Is that you got so much control over your magic?"
"More like it was beaten into me that my magic and I aren't that different. It was more of changing a mentality than anything else. When did Yone learn how to cook?" I yawn.
"Well, the masters ensured that we knew how to make the simplest food to ensure we could survive in any condition. Anything beyond porridge…" Yasuo trails off. I snort into my arms and keep my eyes closed.
"What have you been up to the past six months? I would have thought you would have gone back to the monastery."
"The mission was to get rid of Navori's vulkodalks. With more and more springing up all the time, it's safe to say that our mission is far from over." Yone answers. I lift my heavy head up, too tired to jump. He sets a bowl of porridge in front of me. It's not like Mother's food, but it's not a bad attempt either.
"So, what's the plan?" I ask, starting to wake up a bit more. My magic gently eases away any exhaustion with each bite. I love my magic. Exhaustion, apparently, is something my magic can heal over if given enough.
"So far, the vulkodalk attacks are fairly isolated, though they've been going around in a spiral from the inside out. It's odd that they attacked here last night, as the next place to be attacked is south of here. If it wasn't for your borealis in the sky, we..." Yone trails off, uncomfortable with how he would end.
"Probably wouldn't have gotten to you in time." Yasuo finishes in a mumble. I bite my lips and wiggle my fingers. Butterflies flap around. Yone and his brother raise eyebrows at them.
"Sorry, I've always used borealis butterflies to make others feel better. You have no idea how many kids I've gotten to… Right. Yone, you got to me in time. There's no point in dwelling on what could have been. Trust me on that." I shrug my shoulders and scoop another bite into my mouth to avoid continuing to talk.
"Interesting. Why don't you just make an illusion Starshadow to do that for you?" Yasuo asks.
"Because Starshadow is Starshadow. I don't feel right replacing him with a fake, especially since I'd make the Starshadow go along with whatever idea I happen to have at the time. The real one would argue with me all the time before giving up." I point out. Yasuo nods, glancing at Yone without the elder brother knowing. I almost choke on my food, trying to hold in a laugh.
"Fair enough. Besides, I miss Starshadow too. We were coming up with all sorts of ways to make the two of you finally kiss the first time you were around." Yasuo remarks. Yone struggles with his tea for a moment, firmly hitting his chest to avoid choking too much.
"Excuse me?" Yone gasps out. Yasuo shrugs his shoulders.
"You were her teacher at one point. Starshadow was so tempted to leap from the roof at one point to land squarely on your head to get you to kiss. I was there for one instance. He actually climbed on the roof while you were helping her with different forms. The tension was so obvious back then that even the masters were making bets as to when you would actually confess your feelings and get together. Starshadow was the closest, actually. Called it that you guys would open up on the day you left, but not date. Everyone in the monastery owes him around a thousand pounds of gold." Yasuo remarks casually.
"Ok, enough about our love life!" I squeak, struggling to keep myself from blinding everyone. Yone's cheeks are steadily getting darker as well. "We need to figure out how to deal with the vulkodalks."
"Agreed. Yasuo and I will make a plan for it." Yone states. Yasuo snickers under his breath but nods.
"Where am I going to be in this plan?" I ask pointedly, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow. Yasuo groans and slaps a hand on his forehead.
"Starshadow predicted that you would have your first argument while he was gone so he couldn't-"
"We need to focus on how to deal with the vulkodalks, Yasuo." Yone interrupts Yasuo before turning to me. "You are going to go to the monastery. I don't want Deviago to even have a chance of grabbing you."
"Excuse me? I can help!"
"The vulkodalks can claw at magic. It almost shredded you last night." Yone crosses his arms as well. I'm not backing down either.
"Well… yeah… but I'm still here. And you took care of most of the vulkodalks. It might be easier to bring the vulkodalks to us instead of looking for them. I can be bait. It's not the first time I've played that part." I suggest.
"I don't want you getting hurt, and you will be if you come with us." Yone firmly states. I narrow my eyes.
"I don't know if you remember this, but I go where people are losing hope. It doesn't matter how bad things can get, I can help. If I get a little scratch or lose a finger, I'll just regrow it later."
"That doesn't sound as comforting as you might think." Yone deadpans. I bob my head a little in agreement.
"It really isn't, but I'm a lot hardier than you make me out to be. Besides, I have much better control over my magic now. Let. Me. Help."
"I'm not questioning your skills, Leilah, but this, this is…" Yone trails off. I raise an eyebrow, challenging him to go on. "This can easily become personal. You can lose your judgement on this if we get hurt, and vice versa."
"Vice versa?" I can't help but ask.
"Same could happen for us. We can get distracted if we think you are in danger too." Yasuo explains quietly. I jolt a bit, relaxing my arms. I didn't think of that. He's right. As Starshadow told me, children are a great concern of mine. If I had to choose between Starshadow and kids… I wouldn't be able to choose. Choosing between my freedom and Yone's life, Deviago will probably use that on us.
"...I understand where you are coming from, I really do." I start calmly. Yone frowns. "Maybe you would feel better if I went back to the monastery. You can concentrate on your mission without any worry about me. And it might be for the best. I don't know how I would feel if I knew you were going with me to the Shadow Isles. At least I have an immunity, but you would have been hunted by the Mist the entire time we're there. I wouldn't want you to come with me…"
"But?" Yone senses and airs it out.
"I would feel better seeing that you were there with me, because then I could actually protect you. I won't have to wonder if you're ok and alive." I finish softly. Yone sighs and runs his fingers through his beard. I really don't know how he manages to keep himself from running a hand through his hair. He runs it often enough through mine.
"Leilah… I made a mistake last night. It wasn't until this morning that I calmed down enough to think it through, but I shouldn't have kissed you." Yone sighs. Yasuo's eyes widen.
"That… sounded… horrible." Yasuo comments quietly.
"I didn't mean that I didn't like to!" Yone panics a little bit. His cheeks color again as he sighs. "What have you heard out here?"
"Nothing. Haru, Luna, and Yan have ensured that I do not get any information whatsoever about Navori. They thought that it would stress me out more than I already am. Why?" I tilt my head a little bit.
"For the past six months, vulkodalk attacks have been happening almost systematically, every two weeks. From what Yasuo and I were able to piece together, the attacks aren't random. Four attacks in the city, eight in a circle outside. We wiped out a lot of vulkodalks, but it's hard to tell how many are left. Lately, there's been a shrill whistle right as we get there. The vulkodalks clear out almost instantly." Yone explains a little bit.
"Lately?"
"Last three attacks. The one before, the people who were watching thought that less than ten escaped. Last night, we killed around fifteen-" Yasuo starts to pick up where Yone left off.
"Seventeen." Yone interrupts.
"Sorry, seventeen." Yasuo rolls his eyes but returns to a more serious mood. "We took care of seventeen, but there were still others that escaped. Thankfully not that huge one, but that's the first we've seen of it. There's also rumors of people seeing large cages shaking around being brought into the city. It's not in the residential area, so no one knows where they are going."
"How many vulkodalks are there in Ionia for there to be that many?" I gasp a little bit.
"Young ones are more prevalent as they are born in bulk. The bigger ones are because they survived the harshness." Yone answers.
"What are you guys talking about?" Yan scares me. I yelp and turn around to see the good doctor standing behind me with a tray in hand. Yone relaxes into his chair.
"The issue in Navori." Yone states neutrally. Yan nods and takes a seat between me and Yone. He sits a tad closer to me than the dual swordsman.
"It's spread out here. Last night was a nightmare. So many people were flooding the clinic. If it wasn't for Leilah, I'm sure that we would have been overrun." Yan praises me with a shoulder pat. Yone subtly tenses up while Yasuo covers a cough.
"We were talking about how we are going to deal with the invasion in Navori. Leilah wants to come along-"
"Where's Leilah?" Haru bursts into the cafeteria. I raise my hand timidly, getting his attention. Haru gestures for me to come with him. I frown and do so.
"What's going on?" I ask when I get to his side.
"We just got a letter, stating that Deviago's going to come visit us, hearing that we have a healer of many talents. He claims one of his gladiators is dying." Haru grabs my arm and yanks me away.
"I'm guessing that you don't believe him?" I yelp.
"Not at all. Not when he's taken all of them for himself. All the healers that exist in Navori have been steadily disappearing." Haru states the last bit almost silently.
"What do you mean, disappearing?" I ask. Haru remains silent until we're back in his tidy little office. Luna looks up to see us. She puts down her quill. When the door closes, I repeat my question.
"You haven't noticed, but our clinic has been slowly losing healers. We never told you, but… Most of the time, many of our healers resign. They claim that they were given a better offer, but when I try to offer them double their pay, they immediately backtrack, claiming that they hate working here with tears in their eyes. It's obvious that they want to keep working here, but something's stopping them." Luna explains. She offers me the latest paper to read. I scan through it, seeing that a healer at the clinic did indeed resign.
"What does this mean for the clinic then?"
"It means that for some things, we can't help. You are a powerful healer. Most of the patients we give you are the more gruesome ones, as none of ours can keep the patient conscious and in no pain while the injury is healed that fast. Without healers, we have to rely on stitches and bandages. That leads to a higher mortality rate." Haru looks out his window and rests a hand on his head in annoyance.
"Do we know where they are going?"
"They won't say. Just not our clinic. The fact that Deviago wants to come here personally makes me uncomfortable. You are our last healer, not to mention you told us that you left Navori because of him. He's going to hold something over you. You need to leave." Haru looks back with a grave expression.
"I'm not leaving! There are people that need help here. I can do something." I feel so annoyed right now. Why is everyone telling me to leave?
"You are too much of a treasure to get into Deviago's hands. Please, leave." Luna has tears in her eyes. I growl under my throat before bowing my head. Fine. If everyone's going to be this pushy about getting me to leave, I'll just have to do things on my own… I did say I would once. Time to make good on that promise.
"Where do I go?" I wipe my eyes, casting a small illusion to make it seem like I'm tearing up. Haru and Luna absolutely accept it with sad eyes.
"Well… uh… I don't know, but you can't stay here." Haru wraps me in a hug. I press into him a little bit, pretending to sniffle.
"I'm so sorry, Leilah, but you really can't stay here." Luna wipes her eyes. Haru lets me go so she can pull me into a hug of her own.
"Ok. I'll… I'll go tell Yone and Yasuo that I'm going." I pretend to hold in a sob. I leave the room and close the door to the two of them hugging. I'm careful to make sure that I'm sad the entire way back to the cafeteria. Yan, Yasuo, and Yone are still sitting, discussing something. Yone notices me first. He quickly stands up and maneuvers around chairs and people. I let him pull me into another embrace, though I will admit that I lean into him a little more to enjoy his scent…
"Are you alright?" Yone murmurs in my ear. I shake my head and bury my face into him.
"They told me to leave. I guess this means I'm going to the monastery then." I pretend to cry a little bit. Magic. Love it now that it's not making me absolutely tired.
"I am sorry, Leilah. I know how much you love to help, but I just… I don't want you to ever get hurt. Not while I can do something." Yone rubs my back, comforting me. I almost feel bad that I'm going to be lying, but I can't leave here. I have to help. Besides, maybe I'll see how Yone is on a mission and that'll help us when he does journey with me.
"I know." I tighten my grip for one second. Yone presses a kiss against my forehead. Yan stands awkwardly behind the younger brother, perhaps just now realizing my relationship status… Even if it hasn't been confirmed. Yasuo gives me a hug of his own.
"We'll see you after the mission is complete. Then, if Starshadow isn't back by then, you two can go on an actual date." Yasuo snickers in my ear when I glow a little bit.
"I really don't think that I'll be able to go on a normal date… ever." I remark. Yasuo lets go and pats my head. I want to pout. He's so much taller than me now. I remember when he was so small…. Times really have changed.
"You never know." Yasuo smirks. I turn to Yan last. He offers a hand.
"It was nice working with you." He stammers a bit. His eyes are glancing over my right shoulder to Yone. I resist the urge to roll my eyes as it would probably alert them that I'm not as sad as I'm making myself out to be. I don't understand male interactions.
"It was nice too." I give a teary smile before going back to Yone. I unwrap my signature scarf from my neck and give it to him. Yone blinks in surprise. After all this time, my scarf has never changed. Always perfect, always an icon. I've tried to change the colors, but it refuses. It just changes it's material. The image is permanent. So, since it's been a part of me for so long, it has to be away from me if I'm going to be sneaky.
"This is the last thing your parents gave you. Why-" Yone stammers a bit in surprise. I wrap it around his neck.
"Bring it back to me, ok? This way I'll know you'll come back." I don't have to fake the worry I have for him. If it's as dangerous as he says it is… Well, it's really not like I'm going anywhere. I'm planning on being nearby. Still, maybe this would convince him that I'm trying to leave.
"I promise." Yone's throat is a little bit closed. He tilts my head up for a quick kiss. "You know the way back to my home?"
"I can cast magic to guide me." I say ambiguously, not lying fully. He nods before turning to his brother.
"We need to get back to the city." Yone becomes the same stoic man he's always been. Yasuo nods. Yone, knowing that the only thing I ever carry with me is my scarf, doesn't bother asking if I need to pack. He grabs my hand and pulls me with them outside the building. When we're outside, he lets go and moves off towards the city. I start to run in the direction of their home, as I can see Yone look back. My scarf dims the farther away it is from me. I almost want to frown. That might be a problem… for later though. And if he even notices… I'll figure out that problem later.
I run. I follow my little white light… in a circle, so I'm behind the clinic. There's a little water spot where I can think. What Yone and Yasuo believe is not reality. I feel a little bad for lying to them like that, but they weren't going to listen. Maybe this will wake up Yone into realizing that I am capable of being in trouble and getting myself out… Sorta. I usually have Starshadow… but I'm powerful now… probably. I shake my head. It doesn't matter if this is technically the first time I've done something this crazy on my own. Still, I have to try.
Once I'm by the stream and certain that I'd be out of sight from most people, I stop. A quick scan with my magic reveals that no one else is around. I look down into the stream. The corners of my mouth tilts down. My biggest issue is that I'm too easily recognizable. If it isn't for my hair, my skin, and my eyes, I would be a normal person...
I get an idea. I don't even need Starshadow to be nearby to tell me that this is horrible idea and that if he could kill me, he would, but… This is the only way I can think of that lets me go where Yone goes… and he wouldn't know. With a call to my magic, I run a hand through my hair. The stars disappear as my hair calms down. My old color of chestnut brown hair streaks as I comb it. I carefully run through every single strand of hair, not wanting a single star to shine and give me away. It hurts me to do so, but if I'm going to be there, I can't be recognized. No one in Navori should be from a little village in Targon on the east side. No one here would know what I originally looked like. I create my old scars from when I was a farmer. I can't help but feel a little odd, seeing the scar on my chin that melted away before. I'm… I'm not the same person I was.
That proves true when I try to change my eyes back to the brown I inherited from my mother. I can actually feel my eyes refuse to turn back to my original colors. I want to cry. I want to see my Mother's eyes again. Father's eyes are a little brighter, with flecks of green, so I try them. Still, my magic resists it. Tear, real tears, fall down my face. I'm a little bewildered that I'm actually crying over something so silly, but I can't focus on that. I have my own task I have to do, and I have to disguise my eyes… somehow. I remember that Starshadow created an illusion over my eyes to look somewhat normal. Blue and black. Each color represents one of the beings inside my core. Maybe that's why I could change them in Demacia. And maybe that works here. I smile softly when my eyes finally look more normal. My right eye is a blue-green color, the perfect merge of the borealis. My right eye is a black color, like the cracks of red have cooled down and solidified. If I look closely enough, there's still some red trails in it, but now, I look different. If I didn't know that it was me, I would have been convinced.
With that, I get up and go right back to where I came from. I pass by the clinic, casually walking by. Nurses that I have spent so much time with simply glance at me before tending to more patients. I want to celebrate my magic's success, but that would bring attention to me.
A huge man crouches out of the door of the clinic. I resist the urge to dive into hiding, recognizing the huge man. I didn't even leave that long ago. At most an hour, tops. And yet, somehow, Deviago's already here. The short, slimy man follows Goliath out, with Haru supporting Luna with the best of his ability. I casually walk closer to the clinic, wanting to hear what's being said.
"I told you, the girl you're looking for isn't here. She stopped by last night to help us take care of everyone, but she left in the middle of the night. You didn't need to hurt my wife!" Haru snarls. I want to help when I hear that. Luna's eyes are watering. Other medical staff are timidly flitting around, wanting to help but not risk being hurt themselves.
"And I told everyone in Navori, tell me where the girl is as soon as possible. You didn't report it to me." Deviago sniffs. He actually sniffs, taking out a square cloth and wiping his nose on it.
"We had a massive amount of patients that were under our care. There was no way we could have sent you a letter while tending to those in need." Haru persists.
"None of my gladiators were here, doctor. Therefore, you had time." I am really starting to get mad at this boss, but I can't do anything about it… or maybe I can…
"E-e-excuse me!" I call out. That interrupts their argument. Deviago looks over his shoulder lazily. Haru is alarmed that I would get this mad man's attention. Quite frankly, so am I. Still, I did it. Time to hope that I can make a convincing act as well as convincing appearances. "I… I need a place of work! My family, we have extra mouths to feed and I… I don't have the money for them. Do… Do either of you have a place where I can earn money to send home?" I stammer a little bit. Please work. Please work. Please don't recognize me.
"What good are a bunch of hungry mongrels to me?" Deviago scoffs.
"I was always the best at cleaning things!" I 'desperately' offer. The man raises an eyebrow. He snaps his fingers. I yelp at Goliath's rough handling as he picks me up.
"Well, a cleaner. We could use someone like you to mop up messes, I suppose." Deviago leans in closely. He smells of expensive, disgusting stuff. I try not to shiver at his attention. He's quiet while he walks around me. I feel him tug at my clothes. At one point, he smacks my butt. I yelp a bit and try to squirm away. He circles back around and gestures to Goliath. The big guy forces me to kneel in front of the man. He grabs my chin and turns it left and right. He focuses on my eyes. I gulp. Please don't recognize me. "I suppose you'll do."
"Boss?" Goliath says something.
"We can always use another call girl for the gladiators that won." Deviago checks his nails while glaring at him. I pale so much I'm mildly worried that my illusion faded.
"P-p-p-please no!" I don't have to act horrified. Deviago lazily looks at me before sighing.
"I can take you as a nurse!" Haru offers. I look at him in gratitude. It is the perfect offer as Deviago's face turns sour.
"Fine. You can be a servant." Deviago apparently can't even let one person slip from his grasp. I almost sob in relief knowing that I'm not going to be used by other men. I would never be able to look at my parents again, much less Yone.
"We can pay more!" Haru is desperate to save me. Deviago snorts.
"You already have enough taxes to pay for all the nurses and doctors you have. Can you really afford to pay one more?" He sneers. The urge to strangle him, even if it would cause me to suffer, is almost too much.
"We can make it work." Haru glares. Luna whimpers and clutches him tightly.
"Pleasure doing business with you. Excuse us." Deviago doesn't even care. With a snap of his fingers, I'm picked up again and brought to a golden, ostentatious carriage. Goliath drops me next to the carriage as he hops in.
"Uh, sir?" I feel a little confused.
"If you want the job, you have to keep up." Deviago snorts. Goliath closes the door of the carriage and covers the windows. A man sitting on the top, controlling the horse, looks at me with pity. I cover my mouth with a finger and lightly leap onto the back. There are no windows outside, like the man can't have anyone look at him unless he wants them too. Apparently, Deviago doesn't like people outside as he doesn't have anyone other than the driver outside the carriage. The driver nods his understanding and starts moving the carriage. I carefully maneuver myself so I'd be sitting comfortably without anyone noticing.
It was a roughly two hour long ride. During those two hours, I started to make a plan. The most important thing that had to happen was that Deviago had to go. There was no way he should be allowed to be in power. He's abusive to so many people. Healers, doctors, normal people should not be afraid of defying him. I'm pretty sure he's the one in control of the vulkodalks. It explains why he was at the clinic today. Why else would he go to this clinic after all this time? He knew I was there. That's the only reason he would be so persistent with taking something from Haru. After almost seven months, one vulkodalk attack and he's there the next morning. There's almost no way he isn't connected to the vile creatures… Now… What's the first thing I need to do?
Well, I guess I'm already doing the first thing. Infiltrating. I'm 'hired' to work at his place. Seems like he isn't super concerned about anyone attempting to infiltrate as he didn't care if I had a history… he might try to figure out my story later. He doesn't strike me as the kind of person to take unnecessary risks. Seems like I'm going to have to come up with a believable excuse for why I came to Navori when there are so many rumors over how bad it is… Maybe I can say that I've been travelling for a while? And a kind family gave me new clothes? That's a possible option… I can't change my appearance now, that would be suspicious… And then where would I send the money? Perhaps to Yone's hometown. From what I remember, it could use a little touch up.
I shake my head a little bit. I need to focus. Once I'm in, how do I stop him? I can't fight. Maybe get the brothers in? But that doesn't solve my vulkodalk problem, or the healer issue. So, first I need to figure out exactly how many vulkodalks are in Deviago's possession… Or maybe I find all the healers. Once I find out how many and where, I can grab the brothers and let them clean up the beasts and I can get the healers out. Deviago would have his bodyguard gladiators to keep him safe, so I need to find a way to distract them. Then… I don't know. I guess Navori will have to take care of itself after that… And I'm pretty sure they will. People are often good like that.
So, I have a somewhat plan. Starshadow would definitely be proud of me for that. I sigh at the thought. I could really use his help right about now. He'd be able to tell me when I'm being an idiot… like he'd probably be telling me right now. I can't wait for him to come back. I'd love to see what he'd think of my newfound abilities.
"Pssst." The driver pulls me out of my thoughts. I realize that we're back in the city. I guess I was in deeper thought than I realized. I quickly hop off the carriage and run alongside it. It's been going the same pace it has been. If I was a normal human, I would be completely winded. I carefully cast the magic to ensure that I would be completely exhausted to them, while also keeping the other illusions up. As much as I hate to admit it, Rakan and Xayah really did help. I'm not even feeling a little bit tired. Running with the horse gives me a moment to notice the state of the place.
Navori was once a place where kids could run around and have fun, They used to smile and play. Adults would let them do so. It was an energetic place. Well, the city still has energy, but it's nervous. Scared, terrified. It breaks my heart to see everyone looking into the alleyways fearfully, expecting a vulkodalk to swarm out and attack them. Even the food stalls are suffering. Almost no one is around, trying to get food or just having a fun time. It's practically bare.
We come to a stop outside the colosseum. I pretend to pant on my knees. It's really not that hard to fake after years of being exhausted from my magic. I'm careful to make sure my forehead is caked more than sweaty. It might seem odd, but I remember working in the fields. The longer one works, the sweat will crust and not be so wet. Not until I get water, so if I just ran for what seems like two hours and be sweating buckets, even the gladiators will pick on something being wrong. Huh. I never had to think this hard before when going undercover… granted my version of undercover was broken within seconds or minutes of getting to know people, but still.
"Huh. You're still here. I'm impressed." Deviago snorts as the door opens. The driver is impressed with how well I'm acting.
"I… need… the… job." I pant.
"Well. Follow Trixie. She'll tell you what your job is." Deviago shrugs his shoulders. I turn to see a scantily clad girl walk towards us.
"So, you're the new girl? Well, you certainly have the colors to work here. I hope your figure does as well. I'm Trixie." She grabs my wrist and pulls me with her.
Whatever happens… it's to help. I will not turn my back on those that are in need.
Oh boy, Leilah... Times like this is when Starshadow would definitely be wanted, eh? You have five different people begging you to leave, and instead you still go in. The need to help overcomes any sort of self preservation. I blame her childhood. Sheltered and full of dreams. Don't get me wrong, she's a wonderful kid, but she has a bit of a naive sense of how bad the world can go. It's not that she doesn't think of the consequences, she's been historically more focused on the here and now. First instance, alllllll the way back with Taric, proves it. And time and time again, she's willing to sacrifice herself to help others. This... this is no different.
Anyway, I almost never say this, but I would greatly appreciate reviews. She's going in deep, and anyone wonder if she'll be able to come out? And sunday, we'll see exactly what kind of situation she's got herself. Until then, my ordinary readers... we're on Ahri? (We'll pretend that I know my alphabet and didn't skip over Ahri.) May you charm your days as easily as the nine-tailed fox (Yone mains unite in our hate for her. We can unite again for Zed's turn later.) and I hope your days turn out to be some of the best days in your life.