(Garen - PoV)

Tibers is eventually "defeated", and the victorious children are hustled away by their caretakers while we retrieve Annie and Lux. A commotion at the entrance draws our attention as we prepare to leave. Shouts, calls, and whispers from a multitude of mages and guards pulling in a crowd of onlookers. The word demon is mentioned more than once, to everyone's great concern.

"Lux, Annie, keep in the back and find a position with a clear line of sight. Watch out for friendly fire," I order them. They give serious nods, keeping behind us as we advance.

Pushing to the front of the crowd, we find the nervous entrance guards conversing with a cloaked figure. A figure with cloven hooves for feet. Morgana waits at the front of the crowd with Annie and Lux, while Kat and I approach.

"Hail, stranger. Can we help you?" I ask.

Best not to make assumptions. Few demons are willing to speak to their 'lessers' (that being everyone) and there are some non-hostile beastfolk in the world. If they are willing to speak, it tends to be worth it to at least hear them out, and I would prefer to give the guards a chance to get out of the line of fire if Lux and Annie have to open up.

The guards and the figure turn towards me, with one of the guards speaking first.

"Ah, well, here he is now, in fact."

This individual is looking for me?

"Oh? Oh, yes. Yes, I can see it now...such a tangled web you weave, Champion Garen," The figure says, turning towards me.

I catch my first good look at her as the guards draw away and...wow. Not what I expected.

She draws her hood back, revealing herself properly.

"I am known as Soraka, the Starchild. I am an Oracle, and have been searching for you, I believe. I fear we have much to discuss."

An oracle...false or not, and considering her appearance, I rather doubt she is a charlatan, this is going to suck.

"Holy shit, you are a space goat?" Lux cries out as she runs over to us to get a better look at our visitor.

I wilt at the lack of tact.

Lux...please...

She stops beside me, looking the newly named Soraka up and down while Annie and Morgana catch up to her.

"I'm...sorry? What was that?" Soaraka asks, looking at Lux as if dazzled.

"A space goat. Like because of the legs and the star thing."

Lux stop digging. Grabbing her, I wrap my hand around her mouth.

"Sorry about her, she has no filter," I apologize.

"I...no. That is...quite alright. She is...something..." Soraka stares at Lux oddly, like someone looking into the sun.

"Are you ok there?" I ask.

Usually not a good sign when the oracle gets spacey on you.

"Yes...I..." She shakes her, head, and deliberately looks away from Lux.

"Apologies. The two of you...I can see...so much. The threads and patterns. You are a nexus, a great tangled web that I have been seeking, but your sister...there is something even more there, that I have never seen before. Not since I came to this world..."

...By the gods, don't tell me she really is a space goat...

Lux uses my inattention to slip free and approach Morgana, where she loudly whispers, in a volume no one, including Soraka, has any trouble hearing, "Is it bestiality if I want to lewd it?"

Kat gives up and bursts out laughing. Morgana sighs. Annie scrunches up her face and asks "What is lewd?" which I am not explaining right now.

Luckily, for the moment Soraka just blinks, staring off in the distance. I...oh, right. She is an oracle. Who knows what she is seeing.

I...admit I give Soraka a second look.

No.

No, I am not dealing with this right now.

Of course, Sylas chooses that moment to finally approach, looking for the supposed demon.

His wariness changes to confusion at the scene he finds before him.

"No," I tell him before he can open his mouth. "Do not even start. Just...Look, we are heading back to our rooms to talk to our new...guest. Send a guard to tell Jarvan we found a space goat that can see the future or something and he might want to come look into that."

We could stay here but our rooms in the palace have more privacy, and it means walking through the city with the obviously non-human magical-looking Soraka in tow. If Lux would stop being so much trouble I would buy her glitter to throw through the streets as well.


(Jarvan IV - PoV)

I am in deep discussion with my new advisors about who to appoint as the new Grand Marshal. We never filled the post after Tianna's death, something that has greatly hurt the military's organization during and since the war, when we are interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Enter," I call.

The sturdy reinforced door to the war room opens, admitting a confused looking messenger.

I frown.

"What is it?" I ask. "Most messages can wait until after our session." We would never get anything done otherwise, with constant interruptions.

"Uh, yes sir. We...don't know if this can or not," he admits.

"I see. Better to be safe then, out with it."

"A messenger from the mage camp arrived, with word from Champion Garen. He said...uh..."

My frown deepens signficantly. It is very unusual for a messenger to hesitate so, they are trained extensively to avoid this. Someone may need to be reassigned.

Or so I think, until the man finally gives me the message, and I understand his hesitance.

Days. Noxus has been in control for days, and already this madness is seeping in.

Did I choose wrongly? I just have to hope the populace doesn't...find...out.

Garen sent a messenger from the Mage camp. Despite the fact he is coming to the palace.

He paraded the...whatever, through the town and sent a messenger when he could have either waited there or sent an internal message after he reached the palace.

He wanted to make sure news spread everywhere.

Gods damnit man, would you stop it already?! This is hard enough without you "helping"!

With a heavy sigh, I dismiss my advisors.

"Prince, this is a very important decisi-"

"I know, I know, but look! Look at what Garen is doing!" I speak over him. I don't think my new advisors understand Garen as well as I do. "I need to get all of his business taken care of and him and his family out of the damned city as fast as possible before they tear it down around us with their petty 'pranks'. Swain leaving them here was a mistake..."

The man looks affronted at the idea, but cannot argue with me. Bowing, they file out of the room.

Now, let us go see what Garen invited into the palace this time. Hopefully it does less damage than when we smuggled a boar in. The look on Hightowers face was priceless, admittedly...

Ah, but I should have realized he had a vengeful streak where Lux was concerned, even back then.


(Garen - PoV)

"...death and nothingness, across all of Runeterra. They are possibly the worst futures I have ever seen, surpassing even the Rune Wars..." Soraka explains.

...

This. This is why no one likes oracles. They only ever come with bad news. Doom. Death. Destruction. The literal upcoming apocalypse. Oh, and of course, it is somehow my fault.

"HAH!" Lux exclaims as loudly as she can, jumping into the air, arms raised as everyone stares at her. "Take that Demacia! Oh no, mages are evil and destruction incarnate! Well now, it turns out it is perfect, amazing Brother who is going to help kick off the apocalypse! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

She actually falls to the floor as we watch. Rolling back and forth, arms clutched against her sides, she shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

...

"Well, she does have a point," Kat agrees. "Though I suppose they would argue that it was Lux corrupting him that caused it."

I look around the room, and everyone seems remarkable blase with me supposedly being the harbinger of the apocalypse. Then again, oracle. Their visions are always highly questionable to begin with.

"So, what exactly am I supposed to do to supposedly end the world?" I ask, raising my voice a bit to be heard over Lux's laughing.

"I don't know," Soraka admits. "That is why I am here. I can only see vague threads. I travel the world and try to help guide its inhabitants towards better paths. I sought you out to attempt to help steer you towards a better future."

So about as useful as most oracles so far then.

Well at least she isn't pretending to be all-knowing, and she is good at ignoring Lux's antics so far. Something made more difficult as she begins climbing up my leg.

"Brother! When you start to annihilate the mortal realms, I want dibs on Demacia, ok?" she asks.

I sigh.

"Lux, I don't plan to-" She kisses me before I can finish then climbs into my lap.

"So! Space lady! Did you come to join our harem?" she asks.

I feel myself die a little inside. She wasn't listening at all was she?

Soraka blinks.

"I...came to assist in whatever manner necessary, to avoid the dark future ahead," she answers.

Lux brightens, perking up even further. "That's not a no!"

Our attention is drawn by a knock at the door, which opens to reveal the Prince.

"Jarvan!" Lux shouts, causing him to pause warily mid-step. "The apocalypse is coming, and apparently Brother causes it! Don't worry though, we can avert it by fucking the space goat!"

...

He turns around and walks back out, closing the door behind him.

...

"Do you think he is coming back?" Lux asks.