It was easy to lose focus in the Misty Ridge. Filled with jovial people even in slow hours, the inn was loud and had an atmosphere unique to it. During peak hours, the stench of alcohol and sweat and the sound of song and dozens of voices in different conversation made it hard to even think. Yet, her mind was sharp like a blade's edge. It had to be, because of the unknown elephant in the room.

The new performer.

The new performer Hartley told her about seemed pleasant. Olive skin and black hair reminded her of Asians back on Earth, though she wasn't aware that phenotype existed in Demacia. When he had arrived, he wore the expression of irritable common after a hard day's work. She saw that he had a hard jawline and grey eyes that spoke of experience; perhaps he'd gotten just off of deployment. But, Hartley spoke praises about his wisdom; the bartender noted a close, open relationship with the friends he rode in on. Of course, included in this circle was the lady of a local house; that should've been the red flag. But, instead, she let her guard down and now was caught by an impossibility.

After soaking up the applause from the half-sober crowd for his performance of Centuries by frickin' Fall Out Boy, the bastard walked up to her with a shit eating grin that screamed "I know you know." Granted, her competitive nature prompted earlier Cheshire Cat smiles earlier, so karma was likely due. But still, to this extent? To drop such a massive bombshell on her life?

As he approached, the questions filled her mind. Who was he? What was he doing here? Was he hunting her, and if so, for what reason? Was he actually from Earth?

The performer stopped before her, a smile on his face as he asked, "What'd you think?"

She flinched, then felt her face frown, despite the all-consuming rage in her chest. Was she shaking? It didn't matter, she was going to-

Cheston answered the question for her, "You did great! It's actually interesting, you know; your style of singing seems similar to-"

Actually, Cheston only tried to answer.

She stood up and stuck a finger in the new performer's chest, "You-"

The words got stuck in her mind again, so she paused, exhaled, the continued with a deadly whisper, "You are going to tell me where you heard that song."

The performer gave that grin she was getting more irritated by, "I'd be happy to. Just... quieter? You're making a scene."

She glanced and found a few eyes turned their way. Some of the Ridge's regulars chuckled to themselves, others turned away at her gaze. She grumbled and turned her attention to the performer. Cheston stood up and pulled a stool for the performer, who took it gladly.

"Are... are you two exes?" Cheston asked, apprehensive.

"Hardly; we just met," the performer said.

Cheston narrowed his eyes, "I didn't catch your name. Who are you?"

"Imuren Sha, once of the Arbormark," the performer introduced himself, "I now serve House Sharpstem, as assistant to its lady. Perhaps in time I may become heir..."

"Arbormark? Are you..."

"Cheston, he's like me," She cut in, "...Not just in that way. He... he's also like me in that way."

Cheston paused to think, then gaped, "You weren't lying?"

"No, I wasn't! Why do you think I'm losing it right now?"

All the while, the performer - Imuren - chuckled to himself.

Cheston closed his mouth, glanced around, then asked, "Should... I be here?"

Imuren shrugged in her direction, "Your call. Though I must say, you'll likely be confused at some stuff if you stick around."

Eventually, she nodded. The performer pointed to a group of people sitting at the back - likely his friends - then sent Cheston off. He sighed, then sat down.

"I suppose I should apologize for my display there," were the first words he said.

"What would you be referring to?" She asked.

"Not telling you in advance?" The performer chuckled, "You... heh, you seemed half ready to shit yourself when I hit that chorus."

"I've had a stressful past few days."

"I'll take your word for it," Imuren replied, "Though at least for me, this makes it worth it. I mean, did you think you'd meet someone from Earth again?"

"... I don't know what to think. I've lived here for so long, and... Earth comes to mind so rarely. It's like... I don't know..."

"A half remembered dream?"

"...yeah, that sounds about right," she sighed.

As Imuren spoke, she realized just how paranoid she had become. That didn't make the concept of simply thinking about her predicament any easier, but lashing out was clearly not the right play. She sat on her words for a moment before calling Hartley over.

He gave the new performer the slightest stink eye, "You haven't been causing any problems, have you?"

The performer shrugged with an awkward laugh, "Maybe a little? I promise, I meant no harm."

She ignored them both, "Hartley, something hard, please. I think I'll need it for tonight."

Imuren frowned, "With our subject matter, I don't think that wise..." he chuckled briefly, "I'd hate to have to explain everything to you with a post-blackout hangover."

"Maybe something to cool the nerves?" Hartley offered.

The two singers nodded. After a brief show of mixing alcohol, Hartley handed the two their drinks. He leaned closer than usual.

"Do you two need a private space?" he asked.

"This isn't... business," she replied, "But I think that'd be good."

He nodded, "The storage room has a few tall barrels if you need desks."

"Thanks."

She stood up with her drink, "New guy, with me."

"I have a name, you know," came the reply.

"So you do," she said, "Now come on."

The performer followed her to the back room, where spare alcohol was kept in boxes filled with glasses, massive kegs, and even a small cabinet with wine inside. As she closed the door behind her, the atmosphere of the Misty Ridge faded to silence. Turning back, she found him on a stool raising his mug to her, offering a toast.

"Well, don't leave me hanging."

After a pause, she toasted him and drank.

"My name is Aislynn, but just call me Lynn," she introduced, "And, to be clear, that wasn't my name on Earth."

"Figured. Can't think of someone I knew with that name back home. Then again, I did live in Asia," the performer said, "Name's Imuren, though you already know that. And no, that isn't my Earth name either."

He set down his mug and smiled. Perhaps it was meant to be comforting, but to Aislynn it came off arrogant yet again. She looked at him cooly.

"Well, Aislynn, what would you like to know?"

As it turns out, expecting something on the first day was perfectly reasonable. And I say I'm unlucky...

It took damn near all of Xander's self control to not laugh with glee. Even in Hartley's storage room, he suspected he'd wake he whole town. But could he blame himself? Aislynn was everything he was looking for. She seemed popular in the community, meaning she held influence; her closeness with Hartley, enough to trust her with a private room, implied local connections; and her talk with Cheston suggested that she indeed was a mage. It was hardly confirmed, but with how his luck was going and how Aislynn seemed to act, it wouldn't surprise him if she was a leader of a local Rebel Sect.

All of that without counting their shared origins!

But, the time for rejoicing wasn't now. It seemed the other reincarnate wasn't as keen to make bonds. Perhaps paranoia born of leading a rebellion? With slight effort and a sip of alcohol, Xander turned a stupidly goofy grin to a reserved, calm smile. The path to a total victory would be given to him shortly, he believed.

"Well, Aislynn, what would you like to know?" He started.

Aislynn was stone-faced and silent for a moment, before melting to curiosity and asking her first question.

"Probably not the most useful, but... who were you?"

"No one interesting or influential," Xander replied after short consideration, "I believe the term 'nerd' would be a perfect description. And not even for useful things, like Physics or engineering..."

"Mhm..." Aislynn glanced at him warily, "I was hoping for a name..."

"Ah... I'll share mine if you share yours."

"You first."

"...Thomas Asper. T-H-O-M-A-S. A-S-P-E-R."

Aislynn pondered his old name and nodded, "Ashley Woods. I don't think I need to spell that out."

Xander snorted, "No, indeed. Well, I suppose it doesn't matter; we have new names now."

Aislynn - or was it Ashley? - narrowed her eyes, "You'd throw away your past so quickly?"

"I hold on enough to pay homage," Xander answered, "After all, I may claim to uphold Demacian ideals, but the truth is I uphold ideals born on Earth; Demacia only shares them."

Aislynn raised a wary eyebrow, "...Fair enough."

Xander smiled, "Indeed. Now, if you don't mind a question on my end..."

"Are we trading them now?"

"Why not? Seems fair. I give one, you give one. Well, actually I ramble so you probably get a bit more."

"I had to tell you to give me your old name. After that you asked me for mine afterwards," Aislynn pointed out, "Now you're asking, so wouldn't you be ahead?"

"I would, but after you give your answer to the question, I'll give mine," Xander sighed, sipped, then spoke again, "As far as we know, we're the last remnants of Old Earth. There's no need to be so stiff with our conversation."

"Alright, fine. Shoot."

"...hmmm, let's see... Where did you live?"

"Land of the Free, Home of the Brave," Aislynn smiled bitterly, "The Once-United States of America."

"Once united, heh," Xander grimly shook his head, unable to wipe away his grim mood, "I had a soft spot for your country, you know. I mean, champion of Western Civilisation that it was, could you blame me?"

Aislynn raised an eyebrow at Xander, but remained silent. Xander narrowed his gaze.

"What?"

"You do realise... never mind."

"Oh, I see," Xander chuckled, "I suppose that's fair. As much as it was a land of shining ideals, it had attached militarism, and bloating corruption… well, I just described every empire in history, but hey."

"And yet, you still called it 'the champion of Western civilization'," Aislynn scoffed, "It wasn't. You want to look for a champion to that cause, maybe pick somewhere in Europe... not that Western civilisation was something to take pride in being the champion of. I mean, slavery, oppression, genocide,..."

"Slavery, oppression and genocide? Dear, that's damn near every civilisation in human history, both here and on Earth," Xander countered, "Hell, if you want to talk about slaves and genocide, my side of the ocean had that in spades too."

Aislynn open her mouth to continue the debate, but hesitated and instead followed up on Xander's new information, "Wait, sorry? Where were you from?"

"I was born in the Philippines, but I lived in Singapore in the last days. Don't really recall much anymore about my birthplace, but Singapore? Brilliant place; egalitarian, wealthy, multicultural. Maybe you could put it up there for your championship debate?" Xander waved off the jest and continued, "Truly, I was privileged. Nothing to complain about... except for the fact that a belligerent and unapologetic superpower was in the region. Now, I was aware of your home's failings. I mean, with the information access we had on Earth, how could anyone not. But, maybe you could forgive me for thinking the grass was greener on the other side."

"...I suppose I can, but-"

"But it actually wasn't, right?"

Aislynn's eyes narrowed in irritation, and Xander took note to not interrupt her anymore as she replied, "No. It wasn't. They were corrupt, egotistical hypocrites and... well, the end of the world was a tragedy, but maybe some of us deserved some of it."

Xander nodded and frowned deeply - what other reaction could he have to such a grim statement?

After a pause, he tried by asking, "Some more than others?"

Aislynn's eyes narrowed further, but this time in curiosity, "What do you mean?"

"Everything you've said thus far? True. It was a shit show back home for you... but by who's standards?" Xander chuckled, It's a fascinating thing to consider, at least if you ask me. See, way I think it? The reason people bitched wasn't because of diametric stances on policy; it was because of false advertising. Your lot believed the world was one way, but it didn't happen. Cue revolution. But then again, that revolution... you weren't trying to install a new government, you were trying to force the false advertiser to pay up."

"But there's still a problem, isn't there?"

"Absolutely, I'm not trying to debate that, and that's the thing. First thing you need to do to solve a problem is see the issue, right? In this case, promise product not given. But, when there's no promise…"

"You can't hold them to anything?" Aislynn blinked in realisation, "Ah. Is that your argument? Our side could at least recognise a problem, therefore it isn't so bad?

"Basically… well, either way it didn't matter," Xander sighed, conceding, "Earth was a shithole before the nukes fell, and as much as what-about-ism is a deflection tactic it does hold some merit. Gotta deal with all problems eventually."

A grim silence filled the room as the conversation died down. For a good minute, it was only interrupted by sighs; not much left could be said.

Aislynn was the first to finally break the quiet, "Aren't you a downer..."

Xander chuckled, then admitted "Tis a depressing, controversial topic. A somber tone is only appropriate."

Aislynn nodded with a sigh, "Yep... so, it's my turn now?"

"Ask away."

"Who are you now?"

Xander sighed, "You want my life story?"

Aislynn shrugged, "Your story to say."

"Can I be trusted" is the real question. Fair enough...

Xander smiled, "I'm Imuren Sha, son of the Arbormark merchant Kiren Sha, who recently fell into debt. He accepted aid from Lady Elia de Recht of House Sharpstem, who has accepted my sister and I as assistants. I suspect for this gift, my father will be assimilated into Lady Elia's industry coalition, but given that she's single and childless, that doesn't matter: my sister or I could become heirs to the House."

Aislynn raised an eyebrow, "Truly? Quite the life you've lived."

Xander chuckled, "You have no idea. There's a lot I'm missing out on, but I trust that as we... get to know one another I'll reveal it in time."

"That wasn't ominous at all."

"In case you haven't realized, I'm a dramatic little troll. But anyways, it is your turn..."

Aislynn seemed to shell up at this.

Bingo. All but confirmed...

Xander's tone rose with concern, "You don't need to share anything if you don't want to."

Aislynn opened her mouth to respond, but closed it quickly and nodded, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. But... it is my turn again," Xander smiled to himself, "I'll just go ahead and avoid the present, so... My question: what did you do in your free time?"

Aislynn chuckled, "Well... normally I hanged out with friends and posted stuff on Tumblr and Instagram. Also played games and watched YouTube, of course. In the last days, life was trying to salvage all that whilst the world burned."

"Mm," Xander dipped from his mug, "Did you read much?"

"All those Dystopia novels came in handy, I'll say."

"Damn, beat me to it."

Aislynn chuckled with Xander briefly before pausing, then continuing, "I, uh, may have gone on a few of the protests you may have heard."

"Why so shy about it?" Xander raised his mug in cheers, "You had the balls to rise up in a system where you had no power. Quite heroic, if I may say."

"You exaggerate," Aislynn shook her head with a smile, "It was..."

"Not as bad as our current predicament?"

Aislynn froze. Xander fought to keep the smile down. There it is, he thought.

"I mean, again, for all the shit that went down in America, at least they weren't overtly, publicly, unapologetically causing a genocide," Xander feigned ignorance of his target's reaction, "Those dystopian books... they more useful now?"

Aislynn stood quiet again, but quickly calmed herself. Her follow-up question was laced with a guarded tone, however, "Are you a mage?"

"You are, I suspect," Xander smiled, "Even if I wasn't, I'd mean no harm."

He leaned closer and filled his voice with his heart, "It's disgusting what's happening here. People need to be better, and not just the aristocrats. This is Demacia, the would-be moral center of Runeterra, and they're pulling a Nazi Germany? People have to rise up, I say."

After a pause, Aislynn smiled, "I'd drink to that."

And she would have, if there was still any alcohol between them. They clinked their mugs together and, in sync, drank, realized there was nothing, and frowned. Looking back at Xander, Aislynn gave an awkward chuckle.

"So, uh..."

"Oh well," Xander threw the mug behind him without a care, "Lets get back on topic, shall we?"

"Sure..." Aislynn raised eyebrow before continuing, "What did you do with your free time?"

Xander sighed in blissful remembrance.

"I was serving mandatory military service on work days, and my free time was spent playing League and doing digital art."

"Mandatory service and... League... League of Legends?"

"...yeah?"

"Ok, that was never my game, not that I played much at all... do you mind reminding me?"

Xander opened his eyes with barely contained surprise in his deadpan expression, "Huh?"

Aislynn snapped a finger twice, but she seemed to be struggling, "League, League... what was that... come on, help me out here!"

"Wait, wait, how do you not remember what League of Legends is? You literally just sang Warriors! And those were the 2WEI chords!"

"I'm sorry, I only played Minecraft; my parents didn't want me spending on-"

"League was Free-To-Play-" Xander facepalmed, then sent an incredulous glare at Aislynn, "Where did you hear it then?"

"W-well, I first heard Warriors from the original Imagine Dragons version-"

"Which was made for Worlds 2015, but ok..."

"I heard the dramatic, orchestral, 2WEI version from SAD-IST's-"

"SAD-IST's Dream SMP War animatic," Xander sighed and looked up to the ceiling, looking for salvation that wasn't there, "Of all the people who could've reincarnate with me into Runeterra, I get a normie Dream Stan."

"...uh..."

"I could've had two badass, lore-fanatic self-inserts, but nooo, that would be broken," Xander sighed then chuckled, "Oh who am I kidding, it's still great to meet another reincarnate; regardless of their... quirks."

"Appreciated, I guess..." Aislynn flinched in realization, "Wait, self-insert..."

"Yep. Demacia, Runeterra, the Mages and the King? All a fictional story back home; specifically, the story of League of Legends."

"I thought League didn't have a story," Aislynn squinted, "I heard it was just a multiplayer game."

"You've been lied to, then," Xander scoffed, "No, League had a story, and an expansive lore. Only it was on a separate website, so barely anyone knew."

"Huh. Damn shame, would've helped me here, that's for sure," Aislynn was silent for a moment before a smirk widened her lips, "Should I be calling you 'main character?'"

"Everyone's the main character of their story," Xander smiled, "Everyone has their own path, and it's a path they make. I just know the terrain better."

"How literate of you."

The room was filled with content silence. Xander observed his fellow Earthling, noting that her eyes seems more colorful. They flowed a vibrant sky blue for a moment, then faded to normal. Xander chuckled and responded in kind with his indigo.

Aislynn broke the silence, "Well, Xander, how have you been using that knowledge?"

Xander opened his mouth to respond, closed it, then chuckled awkwardly, "Not well, I'm sure you've noticed. You know, with the civil war still going on?"

"Cheat code not enough to speedrun the game?"

"It's hardly a cheat code. I'm playing this game for the first time, and I've only read a few wiki pages on set characters," Xander shrugged, "Though, to be fair, I'm playing a specific route. If I just wanted to be a kill-everything, conqueror player, the ending cinematic would've started up by now."

Aislynn crossed her arms with an amused smirk, "That so? I'll take your word for it... so what have you been doing, if not fixing Demacia's Nazi problem?"

Xander paused, thought, then guiltily said, "Stuff abroad... I could, and am willing to, explain those operations... but not here, not now."

Aislynn narrowed her eyes, "Why?"

Xander smiled, "For one, I think a dreamscape would aid tremendously."

Aislynn first gaped, then chuckled, "So, you are a mage. Like me."

"Exactly like you," Xander confirmed.

Aislynn shook her head, "Why not just say that from the start?"

Xander said nothing, only smiling.

"Fuckin' troll."

Xander grinned, "Everyone loved Deadpool. I'm not an immortal, but I kinda have that 4th Wall breaking power here."

"So you're a shameless troll."

"Implying there are shameful trolls."

"Touché."

Xander sighed contently, "So... would you be up for a dre-"

With a smacking sound, the storage room door opened. The two dream mages stood to attention immediately, then, in sync, sighed. Held by his waist, a wasted Cheston faintly sang a song that, to Xander, sounded like A Small World. Slightly more sober than Cheston was the man holding him.

Gerris Ex Machina. What even is my luck?

"Cheston?" Aislynn stepped forward with blazing blue eyes, "Let go of him!"

As Gerris did (unceremoniously dropping Cheston to the floor) the singer slurred, "Hee's aa frieend..."

Still wary, Aislynn dropped to her knees to help her friend up, "What was that?"

"They're maaageeyyy," Cheston whispered, "I saw one make the other bleeed!"

"Bleed?" Xander paled as he helped Gerris sit on a crate. The ex-reckoner uselessly chortled to himself.

"That one guy kissed the girl with the brown hair, then she bled through her nose!"

Aislynn glanced to Xander with suspicion. The Left Hand of Noxus only snickered to himself.

"Oh, I am not letting her live that down..."

Aislynn gave a soft smile, but her tone was deadpan as she spoke, "That's just an extreme reaction..."

"But they beat me in a drunken contesh!"

Cheston pointed a finger at Gerris, "You're maggy..."

Aislynn shrugged, then sent an analytical gaze to Xander, "Imuren, are we... you know, awake?"

Xander shook his head, "I don't know how your friend got drunk this quickly."

"Drinking is an intense sport!" Gerris boldly declared before delivering an unsightly burp, "Ah, and the best of the best put their hearts into it! Like Ermen, look at him go!"

The prompt of Erret's cover name got Xander to glance out of the storage room. The Left Hand beheld the strangest scene. The patrons of the Misty Ridge chanted "chug" around the table by which his team had sat. Only Yin took a seat now, a grand blush spreading to her shoulders as she giggled. Xander noticed a few red stains on her knuckles and chuckled himself, then gave a guffaw as he saw the center of attention. Chugging straight from a bottle as long as a shortsword was Erret: a monument to stupidity.

Gerris approached Xander from behind and whispered in his ear, "Heard yells. Seemed like you needed an out."

Xander rolled his eyes to keep appearances (he hoped it appeared as a reaction to a drunk slur) then addressed Aislynn, "That's a damn shame. I, uh, guess we'll need to reschedule?"

Aislynn held up Cheston with an over-shoulder carry and frowned, "Probably for the best. But why not tonight?"

"Have you tried long distance relationships?"

Xander narrowed his eyes with a teasing smirk, and hoped he wouldn't need to give more incriminating clues. They were still in public, after all.

Aislynn first squinted, confused, then shook her head.

"Haven't tried. Won't work out?" She guessed.

Does she get it? Oh well, it works out.

"Not to my knowledge. I'll try meet you again earlier, but Hartley mentioned another music night this week?"

"Right! We can meet then!" Aislynn said as she trudged through the storage room door, Cheston in tow, "Until next time?"

Xander nodded, "Until we meet again."

Amidst waves, compliments, and clueless drunk people, Aislynn and her friend left the Misty Ridge. Xander and Gerris waded through the same to get to Erret and Yin. The Left Hand stole his subordinate's seat, leaving him standing.

"If you lean close to the table, you just might take a nap," Xander explained, "I'm not dragging your heavy ass to bed."

"I wouldn't sleep," Gerris spoke with an almost sober tone, "I'm only tipsy."

"You really aren't. You're definitely drunk," Yin corrected the reckoner.

"I'm still conscioushh," Gerris rebuked shamelessly, "Erret's the drunk one!"

Erret was, indeed, worse for wear. The saboteur snored loudly as he slept on his lover's shoulder. As Yin rebuked Gerris for missing Erret's cover name, Xander's gaze fell to the table. It wasn't as though the drunk patrons would notice the slip. What they would see, though, was the tall empty bottle that stood on their table; Erret had at least gone down in a blaze of glory.

"What a mess..." Xander chuckled.

"Some yells from your talk caught attention; we distracted," Yin reasoned; Xander noticed her blush, though faded, remained.

"So you guys took this chance to get smashed? We still have a work week ahead of us," Xander reminded.

"Ugh, don't remind me. But honestly, if I can forget about that Laurent shit I'd be happier."

"Mmm, agreed."

After brief interruption from semi-conscious Erret ("I'm a champion..."), Yin switched topics, "So how was your date?"

"Date? I think mutual interrogation would be a better term."

"People don't smile after being interrogated," Yin countered, "And she does seem nice."

"She does, but I'm not looking for love," Xander smiled, "I was looking for copper."

"Copper?"

"But then I found gold," Xander snickered.

Yin betrayed no emotion on her face, "...I'm assuming that's Earth humor."

Xander shook his head, and his tone turned gravelly, "You wouldn't get it."

He chuckled again, then continued, "Aaaanyway, all things considered this night's been an absolute success. I'll say right now; we got a lead, and likely a big one. Aislynn - the performer - is like me, cautious, and intelligent."

"You admit you're an idiot?"

"... like me, colon, cautious and intelligent."

"You're not cautious."

"A calculated risk is no risk at all," Xander shrugged, "The only problem is that we don't knowledge on where Miss Aislynn resides, but it's easily amended."

"Next music night, right?" Gerris recalled, "So we continue as usual for the next four days, then negotiations begin?"

"We could... but considering what she is I'm a bit impatient. And, why not, time is money."

"...oh," Yin paled, "No, that's a bad idea and you know it!"

"Perhaps. But, I have faith no feelings will be hurt," Xander smiled, "He was tame enough the last time, wasn't he?"

What the hell happened last night?

Aislynn's eyes opened as a chill traveled down her spine. Faced with the worn ceiling of her room, the dream mage could've sworn the cracks and edges were darker. The room, she then realized, was chillier than usual. It faded as quickly as it came, like a small animal shuffling away.

Rising from her cot with a headache, Aislynn groaned. The dull throb echoed in her head, and her mouth felt dry. After a brief scuffle, the performer found her waterskin and drank. She hadn't been drunk yesterday, had she?

She sat and silently pondered... then smiled. As her drink refreshed her mood, her memories returned as well. The new performer, their secret meeting... Aislynn giggled to herself.

What are the odds another person from Earth would be here!

She drank more as she recalled the details of their conversation. Of course, having another Earthling would be nice, and Imuren being a mage was a bonus. But, if what he said was true... if this place was fictional back home, and they were self-inserts of a kind...

This rebellion might not be as daunting a task as I thought.

A knock at the door broke her out of her thoughts.

"Come in," Aislynn said.

In came one of her close friends: Cheston's sister, Laura. Bright green eyes framed by oaken brown hair, Laura looked the part of her magic speciality: nature magic. As the existential concepts raised last night rose to Aislynn's mind, she idly suspected intentional creation. The younger girl bore a sheepish smile and held a plate of food and a waterskin.

"I thought I told you to wake me at sunrise everyday," Aislynn chided.

"You did, but the last time you had a hangover you told me to... uh... f-"

"Fuck off for three hours, right," Aislynn sighed, "Well, you don't need to fear my sailor's tongue today."

Laura shrugged, "Couldn't risk it; Cheston's still cranky... to put it lightly."

Aislynn shuddered, remembering how drunk her fellow singer was the previous night, "I can imagine..."

"Wild crowd?"

Aislynn smiled, "You don't know the half of it... though, now that you're here, I suppose we can have our report."

"Well, we finished the harvest an hour after you left, and will be ready for the next sowing this afternoon. Of course, we don't need to, given our surplus, but..."

"I'll be comfortable with an extra month's supply, but don't feel the need to get it done soon," Aislynn said after swallowing a mouthful of bread, "Heats off of us, after all."

"Small graces, all things considered. I'll have the greenhands take a day off," Laura frowned, then continued, "Water supply is at a surplus; we have enough for a week."

"As expected... The steamworks are also resting?"

"The waterworks are. Last I checked, Cyrus and his men are experimenting with the masons. Something about getting metal."

"What do we need metal for? We're not instigating fights."

"Cyrus suggested keeping small arms or forging armour. "

"I thought I'd talked this through already..." Aislynn growled, then rose from her bed, "Anything else noteworthy?"

"Uh, no. Everything's normal."

"Great. Follow me, then."

Laura walked in beat with Aislynn, creaking wooden planks as they stepped. As she walked down the three stories of staircases present in their safehouse, Aislynn reflected. The mage-mason was doing this out of good will; that she was certain of. But, he was being stubborn. They had agreed not to take up arms. This went against their decision; the whole reason they left. And, if someone was attacking them, it was because they knew of their magic. In such a scenario, magic would be far better than steel. All arming everyone would do was plant seeds of paranoia in everyone. As if a secretive sect of mages wouldn't have enough of that already...

Well, given that it is Cyrus, I suppose I can't be too hard on him. Only makes sense he'd be so set on this.

Leaving the door, Aislynn found herself face-to-face with Cyrus. The ex-soldier was unusually timid; his tall frame curled, his eyes seemingly ashamed. Perhaps he'd realised his mistake early.

"Cyrus," Aislynn crossed her arms, "You know what I'm going to say?"

"Yeah, we don't need steel to defend ourselves," Cyrus' eyes hardened, but his voice remained quiet, "I disagree, now more than ever... I..."

"We're not being attacked, unless you've betrayed us?"

Cyrus grit his teeth, "I swear I didn't tell him."

"Him?" Aislynn squinted, "Who is 'him'?"

The dream mage's mind did a quick recollection. Names came to mind as to who it might be. Perhaps Happ decided to join her? But no, Cyrus wouldn't be so worried; maybe ticked off, given his dislike of the kid, but that seemed unlikely. Maybe it was Miss Crownguard? No, she was a Miss; her conflicted heart lowered her chances further. Could it be her brother instead? That would scare Cyrus... but if Garen was here she'd likely have woken up at sword point. Then who...

Cyrus opened his mouth to answer, "It's-"

A familiar baritone cut him off, "I believe I can introduce myself."

Aislynn's breath hitched.

Cyrus looked to her with a pained expression, "He... just, good luck."

As Cyrus walked past her, Aislynn felt the blood leave her face. She could barely believe the sight; the chains on the ground, the scarred arms... the charged eyes that looked at her with a flurry of all the wrong emotions.

"It's been a while, Aislynn," Sylas of Dregbourne smiled, "I'd like to speak with you privately."

Aislynn glanced to Laura, hoping for her a way out. Alas, the nature mage had a pale face and a shy apology in her eyes.

"I... I'll give you two some space."

"Go ahead," Aislynn mumbled.

As Cyrus and Laura Left her view, Sylas approached, "Shall we?"

"We'll talk upstairs."

They didn't; Aislynn barely passed the first staircase before asking her first question.

"I thought you were going to the Freljord."

"We returned," Sylas replied, "It was a hard journey, and we lost some men... but it was worth it."

"How many men?"

"Twelve came with me. Nine gave their lives," Sylas at least held a somber tone as he spoke, "They knew the risks."

"The risks?" Returning to her room, Aislynn turned on her heel and jabbed a finger at Sylas, "How can you say any of this was worth it? You got nine of your mages - nine people - killed... and for what? Ultimate power?"

"They gave their lives for the cause," Sylas spat back at her with equal venom, "They knew the risks and knew that if we were successful, we'd be able to bring this war to an end."

"War? I thought this was a revolution," Aislynn crossed her arms, "Are you declaring a new, mage state, perhaps?"

Before Sylas could respond, Aislynn shook her head and cut in, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you," Sylas responded, "For all of you. The powers I gained in the Frejlord can end this war; I want you all by my side to see our victory."

"End this w-" Aislynn groaned in exasperation, "Don't you get why we left? Why we ran from the rebellion and formed our own sect?"

"You feared the Mageseekers' wrat-"

"We feared you, Sylas. The assassinations, the patrol raids, how does that help our cause?"

"We're at war; we kill our enemie-"

"How does that help the mages of Demacia?" Aislynn growled and turned her back on Sylas, "You don't get it, you just don't..."

"What don't I understand?"

"The nobles you killed did nothing," Aislynn sent a glare at Sylas, "The soldiers did nothing. They weren't even Dauntless Vanguard; they were just conscripts, recruits from the fields. Were they Mageseekers? Did they bully and kill our brethren? Did they force petricite down our throats?"

"They did nothing," Sylas repeated with a hateful growl, "Those noble soldiers did nothing as our brethren died. They are complicit; good little cogs in the machine I seek to destroy."

"Even if they're innocent?"

"They aren't innocent."

Sylas punctuated each word with a step closer to Aislynn. The dream mage felt the blood race through her veins, but her limbs, ever frigid, barely backed her away. Sylas' glare glowed a ghastly grey that grew blinding as he continued to approach. Aislynn felt her heart beat with fear. Yet, as quickly as they burned, Sylas' eyes faded to their normal iron grey. Aislynn was vaguely aware that she'd been backed against her worn desk. Alas, her focus remained mostly on Sylas.

"I want you by my side in the new order," Sylas whispered, "Why won't you join me?"

Still wary, Aislynn leaned against the desk for support. She mustered all the steel in her heart to reflect cold in her eyes.

"If your order is built on the bones and ashes of the old one..." Aislynn swallowed, shuddering as she felt her words were bitter. Yet, she continued, "I won't join you."

"...fine, then."

Sylas smiled and stepped forward.

Aislynn reached back further on her desk and felt... steel?

The glow in Sylas' eyes returned has he took another step.

Aislynn channeled her own magic within herself... and knew.

Sylas took another step and raised a hand.

Aislynn aimed a red-gold titanium gauntlet and blasted the Unshackled with a beam of plasma.

She snapped her eyes open and sat up, ramrod straight. She aimed an arm before her in warning, ready to repeat her dream action. Her eyes acquainted themselves with the dark.

The dark looked back with white daggers.

"What the hell are you?" She whispered, feeling her blood freeze up in fear.

The cause of her fright regarded her cooly before a shadowy hand covered its face. The action caused it to disappear, prompting her to stand up. Just as quickly, though, it revealed its face again.

"What are you?" She demanded once more with a yell.

"An eager fool," it replied, "...Foolish indeed. May we see each other again..."

"Wait-"

The shadow floated past her to the only source of light in the room: a window glowing with moonlight. She stepped off her bed to chase, but it was already gone. She clenched her fist.

That thing got into my dreams... it made me see him... and after-

That can't be a coincidence.

Aislynn slowly stepped back to her cot, a single name on her mind.

Author's Note: Apologies for the slightly-longer wait. Had a bit of a busy week working on college applications. Inktober also started, so I have to juggle that around. But, this chapter was shaping up to be short regardless of my schedule: I just needed to iron out the conclusion.

Apologies for anyone who disliked my commentary on the US political system. I figured a brief discussion on the protests/riots could be applied to my fic's arcs decently well. Not to mention that a conversation about the old world would be inevitable when two isekai inserts are in play.

Also in play are a few more references. Hope you can catch and appreciate them all.

As always, leave a review; I appreciate the feedback.

[Edit 20/03/22] - A third attempt to amend the shit-show was my take on US politics. Tried making it more vague and applied it to the in-fic lore of Earth going through nuclear armageddon.