Good news, everyone! I'm not dead! I've just been super lazy but last night I decided I'm gonna finish this chapter so y'all can read it! Enjoy, and as always, feedback is much appreciated!

Chapter 5

Lady Crownguard

Ezreal

So it turns out that the rebellion didn't really know what they were actually doing. I imagined a lot of things, but nothing could have prepared me for what I ultimately found. There was no base of operations or a beginners guide to overthrowing an oppressive government. The exile's camp was quite literally just a camp. There was most likely a plan but I doubted that there were actual resources to execute it and I wasn't really told what was going on either. All of this was nothing but a huge mess and as sorry as I felt for it, I was under the impression that this revolution didn't really have a chance of going anywhere. Sure, they had half the people of Demacia on their side, but it became a bit problematic with Sylas' no-leadership philosophy. I got what he was trying at and I also understood that it was mostly symbolic, but if I knew one thing about politics, it was that bringing symbolism into it was stupid. I mean, yeah, okay, you don't want to be a hypocrite, I can understand that, but having a mob consisting of literally half the demacian population without anyone on top to hold it all together? That sounded pretty damn stupid to me, if I do say so myself. At some point you have to cut your losses if you want to make it anywhere, and the fact that a twenty-year-old guy from Piltover with no experience on warfare whatsoever knew that better than the man who had actually initiated the demacian civil war was kind of sad.

Anyway, there wasn't really any use in ranting about this right now. As stupid as I thought this rebellion was, right now, I had to pretend to be part of it. I had been participating in this so-called "operation" for a solid week and needless to say, I was pretty pissed by now. My hair looked like shit because the only way to wash myself here was to walk a few miles to a nearby lake with a tiny piece of soap all under the constant surveillance of at least two trusted members of the rebellion. That's right. Two dudes were always watching me while I was butt naked trying to scrape the dirt off my skin. I wouldn't mind if it were one or two of the pretty girls that I saw at camp on one or the other occasion, but the rebels were pretty set on only sending guys to watch me clean up.

Like the soap, all food supplies were rationed so aside from looking like one of the zaunite street kids, I was also constantly hungry. And I didn't even volunteer for this bullshit like the rest of these idiots.

So I was dirty, tired and occasionally hangry, and I felt like everybody in this god damn camp hated me for not being as enthusiastic about freedom fighting as they were. I was really close to breaking to them that I didn't give two shits, that I didn't even live in Demacia. I didn't even live near Demacia. I wanted to go home and live my privileged life for like, a week until I'd probably get tired of helping my uncle out at the museum and set sail for another adventure. But anything was better than this.

So naturally, when Sylas had me ordered into the main tent at 3 o' clock in the morning, I made sure to let it show how god damn pissed I was at literally everything. That guy had the nerve, the audacity to call me here when I have had only two hours of sleep and half a slice of bread. I was so ready to flip the fuck out on him, I almost forgot that I was trying to gain their trust.

"Good, you're here" Sylas spoke before I had the chance to start ranting about everything that was wrong with his entire organization. He was standing at the other end of a giant table which was covered with maps and pins. What an idiot. One glance at the map in front of him and I had figured out the camps exact location. I guess sneaking into the cartography lectures at the university finally paid off. "I have a mission for you."

That caught me off guard. A mission?

"You mean, as in actually running an errand for the rebellion?" I was a little perplexed and forgot to be mad for a few seconds. "That early? I thought you guys didn't trust me?"

"Don't let it go to your head, kid, we don't have much of a choice. This is the only opportunity we have at doing this"

I couldn't guess what he was planning. This sounded very ominous.

"Jeez Louise, can you stop being dramatic already? Whatever you need me to do, I'll get it done. I'm actually pretty good at what I do, remember?"

I didn't think I'd ever see Sylas roll his eyes in annoyance, but when he actually did, I felt a little insulted. "I suggest you take this a little more serious, Lightfeather."

I didn't bother answering that. Instead I went straight back to the topic at hand. "So what's the mission? Do I have to go fight someone to the death? In that case, I'm gonna need my gauntl–"

"Don't get your hopes up. You're not going to fight anyone. This is an infiltration mission."

"Infiltration? What makes you think I'm any good at that?" Yeah, I was pretty terrible at being stealthy and I had no problem admitting to it. Going in, guns blazing was more my style. Or, well, shuriman power gauntlet blazing, in my case.

"Sometimes I ask myself how you ever got that title of yours" Sylas sighted. 'Simple', I thought. 'I didn't'.

"I don't think you're good at it, loud and obnoxious as you are, but your position in the military will make it a lot easier for us to get you where you need to be." Ah shit. I knew this would come back to bite me in the ass.

I opened my mouth to ask what exactly I was going to infiltrate, but Sylas cut me off again. "You're to infiltrate Crownguard manor in High Silvermere. More specifically, I need you to keep an eye on three individuals. Tianna, Garen and Luxanna Crownguard are our primary targets."

"Wait wait wait. Lemme get this straight" This time, I was the one to cut him off. "Garen Crownguard? Are you insane? Isn't that guy in the Vanguard? Look, I am capable of lots of things, but messing with the Dauntless Vanguard? No offense, but I'd like to live a little longer."

"Aren't you a hero among the Sentinels?"

"Uhh, yeah but the Vanguard is like, super elite? And they have petricite armor! I wouldn't stand a chance. I'm not saying I'm lacking skill or anything, all I'm saying is that these guys have an unfair advantage."

"That's why you're not going to fight them. You're going to spy on them and report your observations back to me."

"And how would I do that without them noticing?"

I could see that Sylas was slowly losing his patience. "If you would stop interrupting me for once then you would already know."

I answered that with provocative silence. Sylas cleared his throat before he explained.

"There's an open position. The Crownguard family is looking to hire a capable personal guard for young Luxanna. With your background, it is pretty much assured that you will get the job once they receive your application."

"Woah woah woah, what do you mean 'receive?' You've already sent it without my consent?" I couldn't believe it. The audacity...

"You joined the resistance, isn't that consent enough to do anything it takes to free the mages of Demacia? Tell me, Jarro Lightfeather, do you not care for these people?" He motioned to the tents entrance, most likely referring to everyone outside. "These are our people, and we fight for their freedom. They fight for ours. Is your temporary consent to take a job not a small price to pay for the freedom of thousands of people?"

I sighted. "Yeah yeah, calm down, I'll do it, just shut up please, I didn't come here for a dramatic speech. Yikes."

Sylas looked like he was completely done with my bullshit so I decided to just leave it be. "So when do I get started?"

Half a week and a briefing later I was now standing at the gate of Crownguard manor. I had first received specific instructions by Sylas and had now been briefed on what I was supposed to be doing as a personal guard by Tianna Crownguard. I had to admit, that woman was actually scary. She practically radiated authority and I had to take notice how no one dared to speak during my job interview. She kind of reminded me of someone back in Piltover, a woman they called the Grey Lady whom I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting during one of my unapproved exploits within the city. Spoiler alert, I had managed to escape with my life. Barely.

As Sylas had predicted, I of course got the job. Tianna had said that the interview was a mere formality, since my résumé made it obvious that I was overqualified for the job anyway. I mean, who'd be more qualified to guard their youngest family member than famous national hero Jarro Lightfeather. Oh, if only they knew...

Tianna motioned for me to follow her inside. I made sure to maintain composure, which wasn't usually my style, but I reminded myself that I only had to do this until the resistance trusted me enough to give me my things back.

"Call for Luxanna, would you" Tianna calmly instructed the maid. Even when she spoke so calmly, you had to be a fool to not notice the authority in her voice. The maid bowed her head slightly and hurried up the stairs of the massive atrium.

I knew the Crownguard family was very influential in all of Demacia (yes, even I do my research every now and then) but I still wasn't prepared for the extravagance of the family residence. I had grown up as the son of two esteemed archaeologists and the as the nephew of an important professor of the Piltover University, so naturally, I had always lived a pretty privileged life. But my comfortable living conditions cowered in the shadow of this monstrosity of a residence. I couldn't believe it was even legal to be this rich.

In contrast to my last clients' residence, the hall of Crownguard manor was barely decorated at all. The wall facades were rimmed with intricate carvings and there was an enormously large family portrait above the isle where the stairs parted in the middle of the atrium, but other than that, there was nothing to fill the oversized room, except for me, Tianna and two guards.

I recalled my instructions in my head once more to make sure to keep them in mind. I was to accompany Luxanna Crownguard everywhere she went and keep every person who looked even slightly suspicious as far away from her as possible. Apparently, there had been an assassination attempt on the young Lady Crownguard, although Sylas hadn't mentioned anything of the sorts. I wondered if he had planned it all along. A failed assassination attempt in order to infiltrate a high ranking family. But he couldn't have predicted the Crownguards reaction now, could he?

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a soft but high pitched voice from the upper half of the atrium.

"You called for me, aunt Tianna?"

I looked up and was immediately mesmerized. There she was. Luxanna Crownguard. Damn. They didn't tell me she looked like that.

"Yes, I did. I want to introduce you to Jarro Lightfeather, former Sentinel of Light. He will be your personal guard from now on." I stood up straight and nodded my head once in her direction. I didn't want to be this stiff but I couldn't afford to appear unprofessional in front of my employer.

"Aunt Tianna, I told you, I don't need–" Luxanna didn't get the chance to finish her sentence.

"This is not only for your safety, Lux. You've been stepping out of line quite a lot lately, so consider yourself under surveillance, young Lady. We cannot afford to risk the family's reputation because of your little escapades."

Yeesh, that was quite harsh. I mean I knew that some families didn't have the best internal relations. I myself had to learn it the hard way, having been moved to a less affectionate environment after my parents had disappeared when I was just a kid. Don't get me wrong, my uncle did what he could to raise me, but it was never quite the same as it was with mom and dad. Uncle Lymere had never asked for a child to raise and it often showed that he was simply overwhelmed with the task of taking care of a growing teenager. I knew I sometimes seemed ungrateful that he took me in, hell, even most of the time, but I really wasn't. I just had a hard time adjusting to the situation that I often tried to distract myself by being the rebellious teenager that I was. I guess it was some kind of defence mechanism inside my brain or whatever. I'm an adventurer, not a psychologist, so what do I know.

But enough sentiment, I was here to do a job, not have childhood flashbacks.

Luxanna frowned but didn't try to object anymore. I could tell that she had exhausted the trust and tolerance of her aunt, but I also had a feeling that the standards she had to live up to weren't exactly lose.

"Now, if you would be so kind and show him to the staff's quarters." Tianna said. It was phrased like a request, but it was obviously an order. This woman was clearly in charge here.

"Yes, Aunt Tianna" Luxanna sighted in defeat. This didn't seem to be the first time she was put down like this. "Jarro Lightfeather, was it? Come, I'll show you around."

"So, Luxanna it is, right? It's uh… it's nice to meet you. I'm Ez– eerrr, I mean Jarro. But, uh, you already know that. Obviously." Great. Not only had I almost accidentally revealed my real name but also made an utter fool out of myself within the first five minutes of meeting Luxanna. I was an idiot. And I didn't even understand why I was being one. Sure, she was pretty, but nothing to freak out over.

We were walking down the hall of the second floor. This hallway was a little bit livelier than the one at the entrance but it still felt a little cold for a home. I shrugged. Might as well be the petricite walls that made me feel so uneasy.

"Uh, so what are you showi–"

She flung around to face me for the first time. She didn't look impressed. At all. "Just so you know, I don't need you to babysit me. I'm fairly capable of protecting myself." Her words were carefully chosen and her way of talking was pristine, like you would expect it to be from a person of her origin.

"Wow, okay. Way to tell a guy to fuck right off." I said, faking disappointment.

She grunted in frustration. "See, this is what I mean. Just because I get injured once, my whole family seems to go into emergency state and thinks I need protection from a non-existent threat. And that's not even the worst part."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is the worst part?" I asked.

"The fact that the guy they hired doesn't even take his job seriously."

I was a bit taken aback by that. "Okay, ouch."

I didn't know why she was so angry at me. Technically I was just doing my job.

I tried to change the topic in order to cool her temper a little.

"So, what do you normally do all day? You got a job or…"

She hesitated a little before saying: "I'm with the Illuminators."

"The what now?" I was genuinely confused.

"Really? You're a Sentinel and you've never heard of the Illuminators? The radiant ones?"
I shook my head. "Doesn't ring a bell."

She looked tired. "We're a charity organization dedicated to helping those in need."

"Oh, okay, I get it. So you're in a cult."

She stopped abruptly, looking very offended.

"It's not a cult. It's a religious order which helps the sick and the poor. I simply volunteered to be a member."

I waved her off. "That's just a fancy way of saying you're in a cult."

"It's. Not. A. Cult!"

"Yeah right. So what do you do all day? Do you eat baby's and sacrifice virgins?" I was being provocative on purpose now. Maybe I could try to lift a spirits at least a little. Or at least have her be mad at me for being me instead of being the guy her family hired for her protection against her will.

"Well, I haven't sacrificed you yet, have I?"

It took me a few seconds to get the joke.

"Touché, Luxanna." I had to resist to chuckle but I couldn't hide the grin on my face.

"That's Lady Crownguard to you." She tried to sound authorative but her high pitched voice didn't really help her case.

"Alright alright. But just for your information, I'm not a Vi–"
"I don't care. For the celestials' sake, please spare me that information." She was trying to conceal it but I could detect the slightest hint of a smile on her face. I congratulated myself on successfully diffusing the situation and lifting the tension.

"Okay, Lady Crownguard. Whatever you say."