Sooo, when I said I'd be back sooner or later with the next chapter, I actually meant like, half a year later. I was kinda busy during that time, having graduated from university and all but I won't bore you with the details, you came here to read the new chapter, so here you go, one freshly baked chapter just for you guys!

Chapter 8

Pretty

Lux

We didn't head back right away after all. I had been so deprived of going outside, I practically begged Jarro that he'd take me to the market. He let out an exaggerated sigh and an elongated "fine" but what was he supposed to do, say no? Yeah, that's what I thought.

"What exactly was it you needed again?" Jarro asked as we passed the colorful market stalls on the plaza, filled with all sorts of goods, bread, fish, flowers, and people all around us. I hadn't seen that many people in one place in what felt like ages.

"Aside from genuine human interaction and something other than my own four walls, you mean?" was my rather self-explanatory response. I didn't need anything. I didn't even have any money on me right now. I just needed to stay out of Crownguard Manor a little longer, and there was no harm in going to the market, now that I was already outside anyway.

"What, am I not enough?" My escort said, rather jokingly, I imagined. I didn't even have to look at him, I knew he was wearing that signature grin of his.

"I said human interaction" I quipped and Jarro extravagantly pretended to be shot in the heart by my words. "Ouch, Lux, must you always hurt my feelings?" He exclaimed dramatically. I rolled my eyes and harshly told him off. "Need I remind you, it's still Lady Crownguard to you."

"Aww, come on, I thought we were past that? I showed you like, my third favorite spot in this part of the world, can I at least get a little appreciation from you?" He really knew no boundaries, even in public. I decided to let it slide.

"This part of the world huh? So there's others?" I asked out of genuine interest while I eyed a particularly pretty set of jewelry. I was never one for wearing anything extravagant when it came to necklaces or bracelets, but I still admired the intricate details that these craftsmen put into their work.

"Lots. For example, you'd find much prettier pieces than these on Sapphilite Row in the eastern part of Piltover, you know." Said Jarro and the vendor gave him an evil glance. "Come on, I'm trying to run a business here." yelled the vendor but Jarro ignored him. I gave the man an apologetic smile.

"Wait, hold on" I interrupted him "you've been to Piltover?"

"And to Noxus, the Freljord, Bilgewater, the Kumungu Jungle... Shurima... a couple of times, actually" he counted them on his fingers as if they were the most minor things to do, like daily chores. I was beginning to feel a little jealous. I would dream of visiting all those places one day, knowing that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

"Why do I only find out about this?" Was all I could muster. He just shrugged. "You never asked" he said and I felt a surge of guilt. Had I really been that self-centered the whole time? It was so incredibly unlike me. Even though it seemed a bit self-indulgent to think so, I always liked to see myself as a helpful and caring person. That was before all this started happening. Not only the house arrest I was currently under, but the whole thing about the civil war, the mages, my brother and Sylas… All that had completely thrown me off and I realized that there was so much about Jarro that I didn't know. I felt stupid for shoving him into a box and labeling it without even giving him a chance to prove he was actually a decent person. Maybe I should show him some appreciation after all.

"What's it like?" I asked, out of curiosity but also because I felt that I should make up for being so judgmental for the past few weeks. Jarro eyed me confusedly. "What's what like?" He asked, clearly surprised by my sudden interest.

"Piltover" I said "I hear they have an incredibly prestigious university. Have you seen it?" The University of Piltover had always piqued my interest for more than one reason. For one, the variety of subjects they teach, the amount of knowledge that its library had to contain, but most importantly, the Hextech Technology that was being explored and studied there with no restriction at all. Putting magic and technology together to create a self-substaining power source? Not only was it genius, but also miles away from what Demacia would ever dare to do, let alone show to the public. I always felt that we were a bit on the regressive side of innovation, especially when compared to the City of Progress itself.

"Countless times. One of my relatives teaches there. Not that his lectures are really that interesting." He explained. "But honestly, the university isn't all that great anyway. There's much better places. Did you know there's an ancient Shuriman tomb right underneath Zaun? Well, was, to be one hundred percent accurate... but you get the gist."

"Wait, slow down... you know this how exactly?" I would be lying if I said this wasn't at least a little weird.

"Does it matter?" He asked, trying to wave my question off. It did.

"Well, it is a very specific thing to know…" for someone who should be busy fighting the black mist I added in my mind. It seemed kind of sketchy. But maybe I was just putting too much thought into it. Sentinels did get to travel around a lot after all.

"Oh, won't you look at that" he quickly changes the subject as he pretended to be interested in one of the displays we were just passing. I walked ahead a little, lost in my own thought. Was I being paranoid or was something off? I felt like I had been so concerned with myself lately that I may not have noticed how weird a lot of what Jarro was saying seemed. But then again, I might just be overthinking it. I mean, yes, it was a little curious that he had relatives in Piltover, but it wasn't exactly an impossibility either. And whatever he had been doing in all those other places, I was sure he had his reasons. People could do whatever they wanted in their free time after all, so why not travel an awful lot?

I was so deep in thought that I hadn't even noticed that I'd walked pretty far ahead until Jarro came running up to me.

"Hey, don't you run away from me now. I know the opportunity presented itself right now, but I have abandonment issues, okay? You can't just leave me in the middle of the street." I was sure he intended for that to come across as a joke, but I felt like there was a hint of truth within those words. It just seemed all too specific once again…

"Sorry, I didn't notice." I apologized.

"Woah woah woah, hold on… Did you just apologize… to me?" he asked, more surprised than ever.

"Huh? I mean, yes, I am sorry that I walked on ahead." I said, a little dazzled. "Why, is that so hard to believe?"

"I mean, I don't want to be presumptuous, but a day ago you would have taken the opportunity to get out of my sight in a heartbeat." He said and probably wasn't wrong "so please forgive me for being surprised at your genuine interest to make my job easier."

It wasn't like I actually did want to make his job easier. I just wasn't exactly trying to get him fired anymore either. I hadn't even noticed it, but I felt like the small gesture of taking the risk of taking me outside against aunt Tianna's authority made doubt my initial first impression of him. Maybe it wasn't all too bad with him around. It wasn't ideal, but to be fair, it could have been much worse. Tianna could have ended up hiring a brainless, rule abiding brute to get the job done, and at least this way, I was getting to enjoy at least a little freedom. I might have started to get a little used to his presence after all, but that didn't mean I'd give him the satisfaction of admitting to it. "Don't get your hopes up, pretty boy." I laughed. We had passed all the market stalls and were now making our way to the upper class district and back to Crownguard Manor.

"You think I'm pretty?" He put that stupid grin back on and smugly beamed at me. That idiot really managed to obnoxiously ruin any positive thought that he might inspire in people for even a fragment of a second.

I shook my head. "Do you have to take everything I say literal?" I sighted tiredly.

"Well, with you, I'll have to take what I can get. Speaking of getting things, can you give me your hand for a second?"

An audible gasp escaped my throat. "Wow, I did take you for an idiot, but I did not expect you to be this openly inappropriate! Have you no shame?" I scolded him although the way he rolled his eyes he clearly thought I was overreacting.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, princess, I wasn't going to hold it, celestials forbid anyone ever did that in public." Jarro mocked and I started to feel the old familiar annoyance bubble back up again. Just as I was going to exclaim my displeasure at his mockery, he had already grabbed my wrist without my consent and had let it go again before I could protest. "There. Though I would appreciate it if we kept that one between us, I'm supposed to be acting professional."

I eyed my wrist, irritated by the light weight his touch had left behind. After a long glance I noticed that it wasn't his touch at all that had added it, but the thin, intricately carved bracelet I was now wearing. It was the one I had eyed earlier.

"What…? When did you…?"

"I'll bring you a more special one from Piltover next time, but for now, this will do just fine."

"With… with what money did you even buy that?" I asked, still a little shocked.

"My own" he replied rather simply, walking backwards so he'd face me "no biggie." He shrugged but looked as though he wanted to be acknowledged for noticing which one I liked. Yesterday I probably would have scolded him for not behaving like he was supposed to as a guard, but instead, I just smiled and muttered "Thank you. I like it." While looking at the piece of jewelry fondly. "Don't worry, I won't tell." I promised.

He breathed out a relieved breath. So he was nervous about taking another risk, even though he wanted me to think that he was being casual about it. I was beginning to get the impression that underneath the tough guy façade was actually a fairly decent human being with even a sensitive side to him. Who knew, maybe he was just hiding a whole lot of insecurities behind that mask of obnoxiousness.

"For the record" he said and I swore I noticed a hint of shyness in his tone, even though he likely would have denied it "I also think you're pretty."