"Urghhhh"

Katarina groaned. Groggily, she tossed and turned on the ever so soft mattress of her bed. Orange sunlight flared down over her eyes, and Katarina's arms rose to block out the light. A faint, overwhelming smell of sizzling fat wafted through the air, tickling her nose and baiting a small growl from her stomach.

"Bacon…"

The delicious scent snapped her out of her drowsiness. The aroma induced memories of a simpler, more peaceful time. A time when blood wasn't always on her hands. Breakfast was one of the few times she could see her father outside of training. Not that he had cared much. But he was her father, and she was glad to see him more human, rather than the emotionless machine he acted like.

Where are you, father?

Tears edged on Katarina's eyes. Did he even care about her? As a child, she had often gone to bed at night, wondering if all she was a weapon to him.

Alone at night on my bed… wait, my bed?

The events that occurred before she passed came flooding back. Why was she alive? Where had Talon taken her? Why was bacon being cooked? God it smelled good. But even in this situation, especially in this situation, Her father's teachings kept her calm.

Adapt where others cannot.

Katarina's eyes scanned across the room, looking for any points of her body was still a bit numb from her "rest", she should be able to escape unharmed. But as she looked around, her eyes only widened in shock.

This… this is my room.

The red overhanging curtains on the bed. The picture of her as a little girl standing on the bedside table. The desk she studied balcony overlooking the garden. The red fuzzy carpet that she loved rolling around on as a child. Her training daggers that were still hung up on the wall. Everything still looked the same as when she had left it. Nothing had changed. She was in the Du Couteau mansion.

Why am I here?

Now, confusion clouded her could have escaped of course. The balcony was wide open. But any thoughts of escape had left her mind. Only questions remained. Why had he saved her? What could he want? Why did he bring her here?

Katarina plopped down on her bed. Answers would come. Soon.

Knock, Knock, Knock

And with that, the door eased open. Talon floated in like a wraith,a tray in hand. On it, lay a plate of hot, crispy, red bacon and a large sunny side up egg. As the sweet scent of the fatty bacon got ever so stronger, Katarina's eyes zoomed in on the food, and her body fidgeted despite herself. Her last meal had been before taking the mission, and who knew how long had passed. Doing her best, Katarina pried her eyes away from the food and redirected them at Talon. He met her. They did not shine with the dominance she had last seen, but were cold and emotionless. If he had been amused by her hunger and actions, his eyes certainly did not betray him.

"What do you want?"

Katarina questioned him, ignoring the hunger she now very prominently felt. Talon gave her no answer, moving ever so silently with the tray in hand. He gently placed it onto her desk, and turned to Katarina.

"Eat."

Talon's voice was soft, yet incredibly resounding. It was low, husky and monotone to no end. Katarina stiffened at the command. She had almost followed it by instinct. She was the sinister blade, and yet she almost listened to some ragtag assassin. An assassin her father had nurtured, and almost killed her. As blood rushed to her cheeks and rage to her heart, Katarina pounced off the bed and marched over to Talon.

"You don't command me! I'll ask questions and you'll answer or…."

Her hands whipped to her waist to draw her daggers,but they found nothing. Damn it.

"Your daggers are outside the door. Resharpened."

Talon simply looked on, his face stone. Her cheeks were flaming hot now. Her blood bubbled, superheated by her anger. Her right fist shot out a hook, even faster than her tongue lashing out. Talon raised his left arm, blocking. Katarina saw the blindspot he had created , and immediately took the chance. Time slowed to a stop , and her body accelerated. Katarina slipped behind Talon's left side, and using the momentum, lept into the air. Spinning, she smoothly transitioned into a roundhouse kick.

The second ticked by, and Katarina was poised to strike. Her foot drove itself into the right of Talon's head. Or it was supposed to. Talon's right arm had been raised too,and he caught the leg, preventing any serious injury. Still, the power behind it knocked him back slightly, and he silently stumbled a couple steps. Katarina growled. Even now ,stumbling, he made no noise. It was infuriating how well he followed her father's teaching.

With her leg caught, Katarina twisted her body, sweeping her leg and placing Talon into a triangle choke. Talon reacted, pulling himself back and pressing his elbow down on her leg. The choke hold was broken, and both pryed themselves away from the other.

"You've gotten sloppy."

"Shut the fuck up, Talon."

The two continued staring at each other, Katarina's rebellious stare into Talon's deadpan gaze. Finally, Katarina broke the silence.

"I don't even like bacon and eggs."

"They're your favourite."

Katarina's body shook ever so slightly. It was true. Bacon and eggs were her favourite breakfasts. And she immensely enjoyed the times she had eaten them with her family. When it was less Empire above all, and more family-like. Her glare hardened even further.

"How do you know that?"

Talon shrugged.

"Curiosity."

Katarina's eyes narrowed.

"Curiosity kills the cat."

"Eat. Or don't. Your choice."

With that, Talon left her room, shutting the door behind him, putting an end to their not so informative conversation.

Katarina frowned. The answers she expected did not arrive. All she had were more questions. Like how did he know so much about her. Snarling, she sat back down on her bed, pondering her next move. Escape would be easy. Talon had made no moves to contain her. He had even told her where her daggers were. But she felt no need to escape. Not yet anyways. He showed no malice, even during her assault. He even prepared food. Which probably wasn't poisoned. Seeing how he had so many chances to kill her anyways.

Her eyes returned back to the food. A meal wouldn't hurt. And they were her favourite. Going over to her desk, she picked up the fork and knife. Cutting a little bit of bacon and egg, she gently placed them into her mouth.

The fatty flavour of the bacon melted in her mouth after the initial crunch. The egg was unbelievably soft. Katarina gave a small sigh of satisfaction, before hunger kicked in and she dived right back in.

From behind the door, Talon rested against it with his eyes closed. His ears picked up the small noises Katarina made as she tucked in. He pondered quietly.

Talon's hand brought up the blade he held. He had named it after his first and only failure. He stroked the blade and watched the light reflect off its blade. What he was thinking, maybe only Raum knew.

Sheathing the blade, Talon carried on. Into the darkness of the Du Couteau corridors.

Katarina slumped back onto her bed, contentedly. She wondered if Talon made it, or he just ordered someone else to make it. Probably the latter.

Laying there, she wondered what to do. She should most likely go and report to Swain. And set Hawk on fire at the same time. Launching herself off the bed, she slipped out the door. A satchel and two daggers laid on one of the many shelves of the Du Couteau manor.

Attaching the satchel to her belt, she flipped the daggers of the ground with her foot, catching them with each hand. The blades were exceptionally sharp,even by her standards, and we clearly polished, even though nothing shone. A matt finish. Nowadays, she rarely did them, but under his tutelage, it was a regular occurrence. Anything that shines in the dark was a dead giveaway after all. Not quite her taste, but they would do.

Sheathing them, she returned into the room, and slipped out the balcony window. While she still had no idea why Talon let her live or why he brought her here, she did know that Talon didn't intend to keep her there. And for some reason, she thought she might see him soon. But for now, that report.

Stretching her body, Katarina let out a purr. The sun had long set, and now, from the clear sky, moonlight reached down and wrapped itself around her graceful figure. The light seemed to highlight her hourglass figure, and if men were around, would have drawn their eyes to her bust and legs.

Katarina leapt up onto the balcony railing and took in a deep breath. The air was cool and clean. As she breathed in, she felt her muscles tense, and her knees bent. And as her breath came out, she left the balcony like an arrow let loose. There, midair. She smiled. It felt good to be moving again. Landing on the walls of the mansion, she paused. And looked back.

There was no one there. Yet, she knew she felt the presence of someone. Narrowing her eyes, she caught a small glimmer of golden yellow. But it vanished, merely a trick of the light., Frowning, Katarina gave one last hard look, then she ran off. Into the night.

Once she was gone, the light above the mansion shimmered and bent. As a woman's pale slender body appeared out of nowhere, a pair of golden yellow eyes flashed open darkly.

"How… interesting" The Deceiver stared off into the distance.

In a small dark corner of the Du Couteau Mansion, Talon lied flat on the cold hard steel bed he always used. In the perturbing silence, he was a corpse. And like his still body, his mind was a tranquil ocean. And standing on that ocean was himself.

At first, Talon just stood there. Then a second Talon appeared in front of him. They looked at each other, unblinking. They eyed each other, and shifted their forms. The first raised their arms up, chin tucked in, right foot forward, left foot back. A standard boxer's forms. The second kept a fist raised at waist level, a palm raised at chest, his feet shifting constantly. The Imperial Army's boxing style. The two Talons shot forth. Imperial Talon struck first with a palm slice at Boxer Talon's chest. Boxer Talon stepped back, avoiding the strike, and sent a straight. Imperial Talon tilted his head, and the straight shot by his face. However, it left a cut, and blood slowly leaked out. Imperial Talon, undisturbed, got in close and started grappling. Boxer Talon backpedaled, keeping his one arm stretched and limiting Imperial Talon's field of view. Overhead punch, palm strikes, jabs, hooks. The two Talons went back and forth, each with the intent to kill. The moves became more diverse, as both Talons now showed new styles. Kickboxing, Ionian martial arts, Demacian hand-to-hand. Then weapons came into play. And daggers weaved a brilliant dance of blood and shadow. Blood turned the ocean red as the Talons' daggers sliced and diced and danced and cried. Finally, a Talon dropped to the ocean's surface, riddled in cuts and bruises. Which one it was, no one could tell. And as he dropped, the world shattered, and Talon opened his eyes.

This was what the General called Omniscient Shadow Training, or the Omnishadow. Closing his eyes, Talon recalled when the General had first introduced him to it.

Talon stood in the General's office, at attention. The General's back was towards him. He was looking out of the window.

"How was your first time using the full technique?"

Talon remained silent.

"The Omnishadow is a technique that allows you to learn and improve skills at rates mortals would never be able to. Yet, do you know why nobody can use the full technique? Why we only allow the even the most elite the incomplete technique?"

Again, Talon remained silent. This was not his place to talk. The General continued.

"While the technique is great in and of itself, it has its flaws. First are the obvious side effects. Increase in hormonal production. Aches and pains around your body. You've experienced them just now. Second are some of the prerequisites. The technique can only be used in a state of complete tranquility. The user needs a affinity, not matter how tiny, for mana"

"But these can be solved of course. Regulation of hormones is easy with what science and magic have become. Medicine exists. A state of tranquility can be forced,using either drugs or exist across the land. You've killed some before."

"Its fatal flaw lies in the shadow it summons."

"The shadow summoned is a fake. However, everything about it is copied from the user. Personality. Technique. Strengths, Weaknesses. That's what allows you to become stronger. Because you're always beating yourself. Always surpassing your limits. Always overcoming yourself."

"In the incomplete technique granted to the Noxian elites, the practitioner can clearly tell which is the shadow. The wisps of black surrounding them, a clear indicator. Not only that, upon submission or at the threat of the user's life, the shadows instantly dissipate. The user cannot fully surpass himself, because for only after death may rebirth occur."

"The full complete technique removes this 'boundary'. The shadow doesn't stop until either of you are dead. It allows you to fully overcome your previous self. In return, the shadow is now completely identical to you. No clear indicator, nothing. With the same mind. With more killer intent."

"Now we have seen and killed people with more than one personality. But there are no two people completely alike. It's impossible for that to occur. So what happens now?"

"There are two of you in your body when you practise the technique. Who gets the body? There is only space for one. A body cannot handle two of the same person. So one has to die."

"But there's the trap. Who's who? Is the owner of the body the shadow? Or is it the practitioner? Doubt clouds them. They lose themselves. They fear themselves. Because they don't know. They lose the edge they once sharpened to the extreme. It just renders the training useless."

"You ,however…"

Talon straightened his back.

"You care not about. And care not if you lose yourself as long as you get the task done. You know not fear. You don't doubt yourself. Others, maybe. Not yourself. So you have come not to fear at all. That is your greatest advantage. And also your greatest weakness."

"But that is another lesson. You are dismissed."

Talon bowed and left.

It was a rather ordinary memory, if he had to be honest. As for why he learnt martials arts and the like, that was something else entirely.

Talon's eyes opened again. Slowly, he picked himself up and dusted himself off. He had a guest.

"What do you want?" His low, husky voice growled out. The words echoes out of the cell, and down the corridor

"Why so cold, Talon?"

A cold flirtatious voice echoed down the corridor. Talon's eyes narrowed a fraction, and showed a little irritation, before they dulled again. Walking up to the cell gate, he opened it before laying down back on the steel bed.

"I'll never understand why you choose to sleep here of all places." A woman materialised into existence, leaning against the door of the cell. Her head was tilted, and her short, shoulder length purple hair cascaded like a waterfall over her golden yellow eyes. While she wore a cloak, it did little to hide her slender waist and ample assets, which were hugged by a skimpy dark dress that left little to the imagination.

Talon continued lying there, knowing it would be over faster the less he talked.

Silence encased the two of them. One staring, one ignoring.

"Always so cold. You'll break my heart, you know?"

Talon finally shifted, sitting up now.

"You speak as if you have one."

Clack

"Of course I do. And you're the one that's so heartless all the time."

Clack

"What do you want?"

Clack

"Why can't a woman just want to visit a dashing man in the middle of the night?"

Clack

"And why would the pale woman of the Black Rose want to visit me?"

Clack

"Truly, a difficult question. And I've told you, call me Leblanc."

Clack

Silence engulfed them once again. Leblanc now stood over Talon and they peered into each other's eyes. Talon felt the vast knowledge, cunning and wit behind her eyes and she knew he felt it. She only ever let others see what she wanted to see after all.

"Are you done, Leblanc?"

Talon's monotonous voice broke the silence. Leblanc felt the small amount of boredom within it. And she knew he knew she knew he knew she felt it. An amusing man he was.

Leblanc placed her hands on his chest and whispered into his ears.

"You know the answer to that, Talon." Pushing him back down onto the steel bed, she climbed onto him

"Do as you will, Deceiver."

A.N. This was meant to be out way earlier, but work, writer's block and some incredible amount of procrastination has delayed this for what, 2-3 months? Yeah don't expect shit from me. Reviews and criticism welcome. Roast me alive eh?

A.N(2) this was updated since I didn't like how I wrote the Omnishadow Tech. which makes me cringe. But fk it. Hopefully its better now.