Starshadow's emergency teleport gets us just right outside the town, where Yone and I had our argument. I let go of Graves to prevent waking him up early. He doesn't stir for a bit, which is good news to me. Starshadow's entire front is gray and a little crispy. Both of us humans start to cough, trying to get in clean air. My head's spinning a little bit, but we're out. That's better than the last burning building I was in, anyway. It doesn't take too long before my magic starts to mend my lungs and throat. Breathing gets a little bit easier. Yone checks on the man that he knocked out, making sure that his lungs are clear. I scan the area for anyone nearby. I don't pick up anything. We're alone for now. Starshadow shakes his head.

What have they done to you? Starshadow whines.

Nothing too bad. Bound my magic, knocked me out almost constantly, and one almost took an eye before Graves and Tobias put a stop to that-

I was talking about my scales… Wait, did you say one of them…. Tried to take an eye? Holy Aspect of Hope, seriously? Where were those savages from? Bilgewater?

Yes. I sigh.

"They didn't do anything worse to you, did they?" Yone hands are both gentle and frantic as he forces me to look up. I shake my head. His breath is a little bit shaky as he pulls me into a hug. "Oh, thank Karma you are alright. I thought… I thought…"

"I'm alright." I bury my face into Yone's chest. His arms are tight around me.

"You almost had your eye pulled out again. That is not the definition of alright." Yone chastises me. Still, he doesn't let go.

"You… heard us?"

"Starshadow has been remarkably helpful, not cutting off our communication. Why did you think I was checking on you?" His face doesn't give away how much he's worried about me. It's his body. He's trembling. I bury my face into him, trying to convince him that I'm alright, here, alive, and complete.

"I'm right here, Yone. I'm safe." I murmur. His exhale is shaky, but he definitely heard me. The trembling relaxes a little bit.

"I apologize for my earlier behaviour." Yone rests his head on mine.

"You really don't have to-"

"I need to." Yone pulls back a little bit and lets his right hand come up to rest on my cheek. "I accused you of not caring about Ionia. That is not true at all. You want to help everyone. You always do. You'd do whatever you could, even when you are limited by your magic, to help everyone. You showed that with Deviago, willingly going into a hellhole to find the source of all the terror. You tried to help everyone, and that's what mattered. I thought… I thought that you chose to forsake Ionia, especially after everything you did to save her, but that's not true at all. Everything you do, it's to help as many people as you can. In this case, it was helping these people as they were in the most dire state, then going to protect my country."

I don't know what to say. I've never heard him really bare his thoughts so much. He's never been such an expressive person before. He's always been very reserved, wanting to be the calm person he is. Still, I have to say I am appreciating it. I'm glad he's open with me. It really means a lot.

Cute. When can I get a partner? Starshadow asks. As Yone doesn't move at all, I'm going to assume that my bonded is speaking only to me.

Find someone that can live as long as us and can actually handle your ego.

That's rude! You might want to say something before Yone wonders if you are mad at him...

"Thank you, Yone. As I said, before, you didn't need to. I know how much Ionia means to you, how much protecting Yasuo means to you." I reach up to gently cup his cheek. That triggers him into kissing me. I can feel exactly what he's feeling against my lips. It feels like an eternity passes before he pulls away.

"I care about you, Leilah. Please, don't think that I don't." Yone presses his forehead against mine.

"Considering that you willingly helped catch a thief that could cause an invasion to come sooner over letting me become merchandise again, I think it's safe to say that you do." I close my eyes. I miss this. Being held, cared for. This… this is perfect. If only I could have this on all of my adventures.

"I think you've been hanging around Starshadow for too long. The Leilah I know didn't make that many snarky comments." Yone jokes a little bit. He's calming down from my near death. Enough that I am allowed to slip out, though he seems to be glued to my side. "So, what do we do with him?"

We can take him to Bayan. They should be able to contain him. Starshadow pipes up, slithering up to my neck. He wipes soot against my cheek, staining my face even more. I think he's attempting to bother me, though I've been messier from working the fields. This is nothing.

The man in question is starting to wake up. He comes to with a groan. A hand reaches up and rubs the back of his head and he gets onto his hands and knees. He looks up to see Yone gently pushing me behind him. I'm a bit conflicted. Between the two of us, I am more capable of defending us than Yone is, but the fact that he wants to protect me instead of glaring at me makes me happy.

Oi! Let us look!

"Is that a good idea?" Yone asks. Graves looks up, a bit confused as Starshadow didn't speak out loud.

We have magic that can stop people in their tracks and heal… WHAT DO YOU THINK?

"Alright, alright, calm down." Yone slides a little bit to the left, letting me see Graves look even more confused. I forgot that that Graves hasn't gotten a good look at my bonded yet. Yone sinks into a ready stance. I pull my magic into my hands, getting ready for whatever may happen.

HOLD IT! Starshadow hisses. Both Yone and I stare at him as he slides off. A soft pull of magic and Starshadow towers over all of us. Graves pales so much he's paler than I am. I don't think it's a good thing for a man as tan as he is. Now we can continue.

Are you serious?

He's not likely to fight now, is he? Besides, you guys were getting into a fighting position. What's so wrong about me joining in? It was bound to strike terror into a person!

Did you have to make it into some sort of performance?

Of course! How else would they be able to look upon my magnificent self?

Ego, Starshadow...

"Who are you?" Yone chooses to ignore our bickering. Graves flops onto his back and attempts to back up.

Starshadow, could you hold him still? I barely manage to make my request when Starshadow's tail shoots out and wraps around the man. Graves lets out a shrill scream, one that makes me cover my ears and Yone wince. My bonded pulls him back to us. Graves remains tied up with Starshadow as his bonds.

"W-w-what is that thing?" Graves stares at Starshadow's face.

"A thing? Seriously? What is with everyone in this place calling me a thing? At the very least, I'll take snake, but-"

"Enough, Starshadow." I finally stop indulging his running mouth. Surprisingly, he actually listens to me. He keeps his eyes locked onto Graves, even if it's clear that he's not going anywhere. I'm getting a bit concerned with how pale the man is getting, so I step forward. Yone believes that Starshadow would react faster as he lets me step out from his protection. "Are you alright, Graves?"

"...What are ya?" He whispers. He's pretty confused by my kindness as I gently touch his shoulder and he gets his color back.

"I'm… not exactly sure." I tangle my right hand into my hair. That's been a question for me for as long as I have been an Aspect and a Darkin. Yone slips his hand into mine with a soft look in his eyes before he glares at the man.

"I know what she isn't. Merchandise." He spits out the last word like a curse. Graves just looks at the man passively.

"Look, Ah know that you are pretty strong and all that, but compared to a giant snake, ya ain't that scary." Graves can't seem to help commenting. I struggle to hold in a snicker. Yone seems momentarily taken aback before taking a look at my bonded.

"Fair enough." He relents. That breaks me. The giggles erupt from my mouth before I can stop them. Even then, I'm having a hard time keeping myself composed. Yone lets a smile spread on his face for a moment before looking back at our captive.

So… where shall we drop him off?

Why not in front of Bayan?

"Shall I knock him out then?" Yone offers, unsheathing a sword. Starshadow gives a nod and I step away.

"Now, hold on there, can't we just-"

Leilah? What are you doing here? Aurora asks. I groan as I seem to, once more, come to in my core. At least I'm not alone. Starshadow, far bigger than before, shakes his own head. His tail reaches around me to rub the back of his head.

"What the Shadow Isles? I'm pretty sure that neither of us took a hit to the back of the head." Starshadow grumbles. I'm just left gaping at Starshadow's immense size. He's big enough that his width is the same length as my shin. Even just raising his head is far taller than I am. He might even be able to reach the top of the massive building!

"Ah. That one, I may be able to answer. Leilah, you remember the time when you were helping those healers against a bunch of tigers?" Daamien scoops up Aurora to cuddle her. She grins at that.

"Yeah… I got a cut on my palm…"

"Magic transference. You intended to save or shield, but you still caused someone harm indirectly with your magic. Same thing happened with that Graves fellow. Starshadow held Graves still to knock him out. You were the healer for him. He was under your charge for protection. You let him get hurt." Daamien explains.

"Holy Aspects, this magic binding is remarkably confusing! Why are there so many ways I can get harmed with?" I groan, refusing to get up.

"It's not that hard to remember. Just if you affect someone with your magic, until they choose to do something without your interference. Then you are free of the binding."

"Define they choose to do something without my interference."

"Well, if you had released Graves and he took off running, you and Starshadow would still be conscious. While they are under your care or control, you are affected." That actually helps me understand what happened... but I'm a little confused.

"What about the man in Navori? The victim of Jhin?"

"That one... you weren't magically powerful enough to help... The magic limiters on you are far different from mine. I wonder what changed exactly..."

"Never mind that, what were you thinking when you decided to self-harm?" Starshadow hisses at me.

"I wasn't feeling clean." I shrink a little bit. It seems like Aurora's promise to talk has come far sooner than I expected, but I'm not going to stop it. They wanted to talk, and I'd rather do it now. At least they won't be too aggravated.

"I can understand why you would feel that, but make no mistake. Hurting yourself is not worth it. At all. Am I clear?"

"It was a one-time thing!"

There is a strong chance that you can fall back into it. Aurora speaks up. All three are staring into my soul. I wish I could wake up, but I was knocked unconscious.

"Ok… what do you want to do then?"

"Starshadow will be watching you very closely if you fall back into it." Daamien speaks for them all.

"Is that it?" I am a little surprised at the small demand.

And you come see us once a week to talk about it. Clear? Aurora demands. I nod feebly at the request. That makes everyone relax.

"Now that that is done, how long will it be before we are conscious again? I have soot on my scales that needs tending to, and I'm not sure what size I am when I'm unconscious."

"Don't worry about that. I'll step into Starshadow's body and mend you. You should wake up relatively quickly." Daamien slips down into the black hole easily. Starshadow tilts his head.

"You can control us?" I gape a little bit.

We are beings of immense power. I'm here in your core. We could take over whenever we wanted. Neither of us want to for two different reasons. You know Daamien's. The world turned their back on him. He doesn't want to be a part of that world anymore. Mine is more along the lines of who is best for the role of Guiding. I may be the borealis high in the sky, but you… you connect with people so much better. You are a person that never cared about if you were far outclassed or if you were in a dangerous situation. When someone seemed lonely or scared or unsure, you were there. You inspire people around you to be better. To make the hard choices. That's not something I can just do. Aurora shines even brighter, blinding me. That really just reminds me how truly powerful she is. Everything that she's let me do, has been of her permission and my own choice.

"Wait… if you have that much magic, then why was I sick for so long?"

You needed to grow into it, dear. Now, I believe your courter is getting a little antsy at how long you've been asleep. I'll be right back. We'll give you guys this freebie for once. Aurora presses a kiss on my crown and blinks out of sight. Now I'm just left with my bonded.

"...Well, normally it's the other way around. Think we'll be in here long?" Starshadow asks.

"It's Aurora and Daamien. They are the masters of their respective magic. I'm pretty sure that we'll be out shortly."

"...Until then, wanna watch?"

"Alright."

"Thank Karma, you're alright." Yone pulls my body into a soft hug. Aurora gently pushes against him. Yone blinks in confusion at 'me' pushing him away. It's only a moment before he sees something is wrong. His eyes narrow. "Leilah's eyes are two different ones. Yours at the same. Both are a mix of blue and green. Who are you and where is she?"

"Leilah is alright, though she's not going to be able to come out and actually interact with you until Graves has woken up from being knocked out." Aurora explains. Yone's eyes widen in understanding.

"Am I right in assuming that you are Aurora?"

"You are correct. Now, where's Daamien?" Aurora turns my head, trying to find my bonded's body. This is a little weird to think about. I'm both in my body and not in control.

"I'm right here, Aurora. Leilah and Starshadow are still in the core." Daamien slips out from under Graves, a small snake. Yone turns around to see the still prone man on the ground.

"I don't understand. I only hit his head. Why did Leilah and Starshadow collapse?"

"It's the nature of our magic, young warrior. When we come into contact with another, through our touch or magic, we are responsible for that person. Once the person or creature has made an action without our assistance or interference or they are unable to be affected by our magic, we are no longer affected by our patient." Daamien slithers up my body. He presses pointy scales into my cheek. I feel Aurora reach a hand up to touch him. Yone blinks a few times before sighing.

"That explains why Leilah lost her fingers in Navori when we were fighting vulkodalks… Are you and Daamien in a relationship by any chance?" Yone crosses his arms. I tilt my head in confusion. Aurora keeps our head up straight.

"We are. Might I ask as to why?"

"Aurora, dear, you are not of this realm. Mortals prefer to be monogamous. Even if you are you, you look an awful lot like Leilah. And I'm sure he's feeling a little jealous." Daamien snickers.

"I am not jealous." Yone's cheeks turn a little bit red.

"Don't worry about it. We aren't planning on coming out all that often. She's been doing such a good job of being an Aspect that this time, she and Starshadow can get a little help from us." Aurora dismisses it lightly.

"If you're the Aspect, why haven't you protected her when she's dying?" Yone's tone is furious.

"The guide must walk on this land. Something is coming, Yone. Many events of time will erupt soon. Hope must be there to guide it, whether it is human or celestial." Aurora explains. That chills me to my soul.

"Starshadow?"

"It's true… I'd still be alive if you died, but Aurora took over your body."

"Then why save me? Why not let your Aspect walk this land?"

"She said it herself. She doesn't want to walk this land. She's happy in your core, being away from the others. Daamien being there just makes the core to live in that much sweeter." Starshadow nuzzles my chest. My Darkin, he is huge. "Are you mad?"

"I don't know. This makes me feel like I'm not that important."

"You are important. To Yasuo, to Qiyana, to Ashe, to Sylas, that bastard, and especially to Yone. That's more than enough, isn't it?"

"I guess you're right."

"Why save Leilah then? Why not take over her body?" Yone demands. Aurora gestures to Yone to hold onto Graves. He does so. Daamien tightens his grip on me.

"Because she's young. She should get a chance to live before she leaves with Kindred." Aurora looks at my hand fondly. Her right hand gently pats my left.

"When will she come back? If she comes back?" Yone still looks wary.

"Do not worry, young warrior. I have no desire to be in control all the time. I am quite happy letting Leilah be in control." Aurora gently places a hand on his shoulder. Yone looks at it longingly before he closes himself off.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"After we teleport, we'll wake up Graves with healing. Only one person can occupy the body at a time. A body can operate without a soul, but it's more like a vegetable. As such, expect Leilah to collapse. I would advise holding onto her body once Graves is secure and she heals the goose egg on his head." Daamien gives a mini lecture. Yone doesn't bother looking at him.

"Your eyes… they aren't Leilah's. The two different colors and shapes are enough to determine that no matter how similar you to are, you are different." Yone points out.

"Huh. He's right. Good. That means that you can see things that others will not be able to easily pick up. I like that." Daamien remarks. Aurora scratches under Daamien's chin with her left while waving her right over our left eye. My courter peers into my eyes before nodding.

"It looks like her… Do I have your word that Leilah will come back safely?" Yone repeats himself. That just melts my heart. Aurora tilts her head down, feeling what I'm feeling. She smiles and nods.

"Of course you have my word that she will come back. I have to say, I am very pleased to see how concerned you are for Leilah."

"I wasn't there to help her when she needed me most. I want to be. As much as I can." Yone's brief explanation sends all kinds of butterflies in my stomach.

"Even at the cost of your country?"

"She would never let my home fight alone."

"Fair enough." Aurora nods my head before waving a hand over our left eye. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Yone braces for the teleport. The shadows don't even creep up. It seems like a blink into the next and we're standing in front of Bayan in his meeting room, with Graves still unconscious on the floor. Aurora doesn't even stumble. Bayan yelps at the shock of seeing us appear out of nowhere.

"Why don't we teleport like that?"

"Different people. I happen to enjoy the deep clean the shadows provide." Starshadow shakes his head lightly. Sure enough, as Daamien slithers out of view, he's clean.

"This is Graves, one of the thieves that had you so worried. Would you mind getting some cuffs to hold him? He's still out cold." Aurora asks in my voice. Yone casts a neutral glance at me, though he seems annoyed.

"Lady Leilah- You… how?"

"Simply they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Please, would you get some form of restraint?" Aurora presses. Bayan scrambles through his desk before finding a rope. He ties it around Graves' wrist. Aurora bends my body down and gently touches his shoulder. Yone's hand is on my shoulder, tight enough to hold me upright. For a moment, my body relaxes. I reappear back into my core with Starshadow by my side as Aurora gently pushes me up. When I open my eyes again, I have control over my body again. Graves also wakes up and starts to fight his bonds. Yone forces me to look at him. When he sees what he wants to see, he sighs in relief and gently kisses my forehead.

"Welcome back, Leilah." He mutters too quietly for anyone but us to hear. I press my face against his chest briefly before tending to Graves. He's struggling to stand up. I do my best to help the massive man up. He stares at me warily, though he doesn't say anything.

"Guards!" Bayan howls. Men enter the room, only to be surprised that we are standing there. Graves spits at the ground before glaring at them.

"Come at me, then! I'll take you all on! You haven't got the nerve!" Graves snarls. I sigh at his behaviour.

Want to knock him out? Starshadow asks far too cheerfully for my tastes. Yone raises an eyebrow.

Can he do that? I ask for him.

He's clearly making his own choice right now to fight. I think it's safe to say he can be knocked out without our interference. Starshadow points out. I look up just in time to see Yone slam his sword handle into the back of Graves' head. He's on the ground again, but I'm conscious. Yone puts away his sword before looking at me.

"He talks too much." He shrugs. I shake my head affectionately as I step back into his side. He easily lets an arm wrap around my waist. It feels good to be in his arms again. Better than having my eyes nearly ripped out by a long shot.

"Mr. Bayan, we are still searching for the thieves… as we… speak… Lady Starshadow?" Lord Laurent barges into the room to see Yone far too close to me to be a simple bodyguard, even if he tries to retreat quickly. Starshadow is hidden in my scarf. Graves is at our feet. Bayan almost seems to be dancing at the realization that he can open his bank again. He already seems that much stronger.

"We've already caught one and I chased off the rest. I think it's safe to say that they will not attempt to rob the bank again. Not when I believe we have caught one of their leaders." Yone speaks up.

"One of their leaders?" Laurent perks up. He pulls out a pair of glowing cuffs. I shrink away from them. He notices and gives me a sympathetic look before cuffing Graves. He's more secure now. Bayan's men pull Graves up and drag Graves behind them. "Lady Starshadow, I can not thank you enough. We've been here for a week and had no progress in the capture of the thieves. How did you manage to find and stop them?"

"How did you indeed?" Leblanc almost seems to shimmer into the room. Laurent is tense, but doesn't pull out his sword. He just stares evenly at the Noxian woman. Leblanc doesn't seem phased. If anything, she ignores the lord. Her eyes are locked onto mine.

"They thought me an easy target. I assure you, I am not." I can't help the coldness in my tone. Yone steps up slightly behind me. Leblanc's eyes flick to him before she smirks and bows her head.

"I can see that you are not to be underestimated. Very well. Next time we meet, I do hope that you are capable of protecting those you care dearly about. I have a feeling we will be on opposing sides." With that, Leblanc once again disappears. Sebastien snorts softly before nodding to me and leaving.

"Thank you. You saved so many people today. You saved my town and Demacia." Bayan practically falls to my feet to bow. Yone and I share a saddened look, knowing exactly what the other is thinking.

But at the cost of Ionia.

All's well that ends well. A bit of a short arc, but I'm pretty sure we are going to appreciate it as time comes. We still have quite a few chapters left before the Noxian Invasion starts, so hold onto your butts for that! We also see a little bit into how her magic works, as she didn't die when Jhin's victim did, but she could have if she chose to help Deviago's men more.

Believe it or not, I was planning to go straight into the Noxian Invasion from chapter... good lord, is that chapter 33? It was only after I had my wonderful beta reader read it that I realized... I CAN TUG SO MANY HEARTSTRINGS IF I WENT INTO THE THREE YEARS BEFORE THE NOXIAN INVASION! Yes, I'm a menace. Yes, I am a jerk, but that's what makes reading extraordinary this fun! It also means... That we are going to meet people and make what happens to them that much better or worse! HEE HEE HEE!... I'm evil.

Anyway, onto today's champion... BRAND! HOOOOOO boy... May you have the burning passion to fulfilll your desires, but you keep true to yourself. May you be as extraordinary as I believe you are, and I would love to get more reviews! Having you guys give feedback and things you'd love to read inspires me so much to keep going.