Therapy for Champions at low costs

by Ark19

Meet Cid, a simple therapist on Demacia, a simple man with simple goals, well until the institute deems him able to receive the visits of champions, now he will have to find the way to do his job while keeping his sanity on place.

26. Chapter 26

Greetings! Little over a year ago I started writing this, and I am surprised at the fact it has over 100k words in it, and that it has received the support it has up to this point. Thanks everyone, I really thank everyone of you who read this fanfiction. Now, I received a lot of great ideas, and it was too hard to just choose one, so I thought, why not do all of them in a super neat chapter? Sadly, that was impossible, so I took as many as I could and fitted them, but your advice wont go into the trash! I will use it for the future, thanks everyone!

And that brings me to this point, welcome everyone to Chapter 25! A big round of applauses to everyone who offered an idea, I tried my best and hopefully you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

As always own nothing of League of Legends, I only own my OC.

Enjoy!

---

CHAPTER 25: The traveling therapist.

Part 1

Honor, duty, and justice. Make a choice.

Sometimes is all about family and friends, sometimes is about our choices. In the end, life is nothing but a chain of choices we make.

When Cid was wondering around the halls looking for the cafeteria he ended up finding a familiar face. A blonde-haired girl who seemed dejected. Something that wasn't all that normal. Cid decided to approach her.

"Lux? Are you okay?"

Lux looked behind her and saw Cid in a wheelchair. Her curiosity at the wheelchair. Still she focused back on him.

"Cid, do you know what day is tomorrow?"

Cid shrugged. He didn't really remember what was coming. The look in the eyes of Lux spoke of how uncomfortable she felt about it.

"Sorry Lux, can't say I do, I sort of let the days fly away in Demacia"

Lux approached Cid and took his hands. The gesture really made Cid worry. What could get Lux like this…

"Memorial Day, Cid… tomorrow is the Memorial Day on Demacia"

The words of Lux were laced with feelings of sadness.

"Oh… I see… so all the champions of Demacia will be free then…"

Lux nodded her grip on his hands. Cid could feel the question coming.

"Yeah… Cid… I know you probably don't like it. But would you mind coming with me?"

Cid sighed.

Memorial Day. A day to remember the history of Demacia. The place that kept standing against the enemies it had all around. A place that kept fighting endlessly. A place that hated him.

"Is Garen not going?"

Lux eyes answered the question.

"… I will go, think you can get me a prosthetic leg? Doesn't need to be anything good, just so I can walk tomorrow, I rather not use the wheelchair on Demacia"

Lux nodded. Her eyes shining just a bit.

"I know how much you must hate the day… but thanks Cid"

Cid returned the grip of Lux with a reassuring grip.

"I don't hate the day… and honestly I don't hate Demacia… the people just don't take my presence well… but I must see the Hall of Valor"

Lux smiled at this. The sadness she fell over her seemingly fading a bit.

"We can all go together you know? Sona, Poppy, Fiora, Jarvan will be there too"

Cid chuckled. He smiled at Lux.

"Sounds wonderful. Let us all go tomorrow to pay our respects then"

Lux smiled more brightly this time nodding at Cid. She released her grip on his hands and offered to take him to the cafeteria. He nodded and accepted.

Needless to say the lunch went in peace and quiet. Everyone noticed the aura that surrounded Cid. Ahri wanted to ask, but Sona made her a sign that meant she knew what happened.

Ahri just nodded at Sona.

Lux and Cid were both silent as Sona looked at Cid.

After a rather silent lunch between the group everyone went their own ways after properly saying their goodbyes. Except for Sona who followed Cid to his office. Cid didn't say anything about it. Once in the office Cid sighed as Sona signed at him.

"You know what happens then?"

Cid nodded.

"Memorial Day"

Sona looked at the floor. She didn't know how well he would take the question.

"Will you be coming? I know you probably don't take it well"

Cid laughed.

"Lux said something similar earlier… I will be fine Sona. Really"

Sona looked at him and only hugged him. He returned the hug as he sighed.

"Is hard… but I must see the Hall of Valor. Someone ought to give the respects for them"

Sona didn't stop the hug if anything she hugged him with more strength. As if fearing he would disappear.

"Don't worry… tomorrow we will see what happens…"

The thing was that he didn't wanted the hug to end. He didn't want to sleep. He knew what would fare on his dreams tonight…

---

Seas of blood, land scorched in fire, screams of rage and screams of pain. The battlefield in motion. Gold, silver and blue figures clashing against figure in gray, black and red. Screams from both sides, hammers, axes, swords, shields, everything clashes in the form of the most dissonant melody. A melody that follows a rhythm, a rhythm that brings suffering. This is the songs of the battlefield.

"Forward! Don't you dare stop! Evil will be stomped in our march!"

Figures shouting from behind, heavy steps keep forward, clashing sides never ending to fight to advance.

Even when the real threat has come, no one dares stop. This is a battlefield. And only one side will remain.

But it doesn't.

The darkness envelopes the battlefields, the dark cloud envelopes everyone, friend or foe, both fall. Both sides start falling against the corroding mist that indiscriminately ends everyone. No one is surviving.

A lone figure runs, a lone figure, younger than many others run through the battlefield that has become surrounded by death. The figure runs as fast as he can. He sees the mist reaching him. He hears something from afar.

A scream begging for help.

"Help! Anyone!"

The young figure looks at the direction of the scream, trapped in a war horse. He runs, he offers his hand.

"Take it!"

He starts to get him from under the horse. It weights to much. He throws himself on the floor to push with his legs at the death horse.

A mistake that would cost dearly.

His leg is touched by the mist. It burns, his left leg feels as if it was corroding. But pushing pain aside he has freed the soldier. He takes it, and both take to run.

A river is close by. A river red by blood but it still offers escape.

Both fall on the river. As they let themselves be thrown in the current, they look behind. The mist seems to be fading. But the death bodies tell a story.

"They said… it wouldn't hurt us"

Unconsciousness take over both.

The next moment he is awake he feels pressure on his left leg. Yet he doesn't feel his foot. He doesn't really feel his left leg anymore.

When he looks he sees the emergency treatment given to him.

He has no leg.

The soldier dressed in the colors of Noxus looks at him.

"I had to cut it… whatever happened to your leg was spreading… I had to cut it"

He speaks as if he was trying to justify himself more than explaining.

The young man nods.

He lost his leg.

But he is alive.

"My name is Cid…"

"My name is Sion… in honor of the great General…"

"That's a cool name to have…."

"Hey! Don't fall asleep!"

Unconsciousness took over the soldier. He could hear screams

"Cid! Cid! Cid! Wake up!"

---

"Cid wake up!"

Cid woke up sweating, he removed the covers of the bed looking at his lacking leg. Everything was well. He was okay, he wasn't in the battlefield.

As his breathing got in place he sighed.

"Memorial Day…"

Cid then took on the fact of Lux who was seeing him.

"Oh… hey Lux"

Lux was taking notice of the therapist. He was in simple pajamas. But the most obvious feature was his lacking leg. She saw the horrid scar of the injury. When he lost the leg it hadn't been clean…

"Lux… I would like if you look at my eyes and not down there"

The teasing remark did its work in making Lux focus on his eyes. She got her smile in place and brought something behind her. A prosthetic, a simple one at that.

"Jarvan got one immediately when he heard you were coming with us"

Cid smiled nodding accepting the prosthetic.

"I will dress… I will see you out"

Lux nodded and left.

Outside of the room and of the therapist office a group of Demacians was in the hall.

Poppy was fidgeting in the presence of Jarvan, the prince of Demacia was speaking with Shyvana. Sona was with Fiora at her side. Lux was in the door of the office waiting for Cid.

Poppy look at Lux before speaking.

"Will he come?"

Lux nodded.

"He is just changing… don't worry he is coming"

Lux smiled feeling reassured of knowing a friend would be coming. She would have preferred family, but sadly that would be impossible…

"I am ready"

Everyone took to look at the therapist, dressed in his casual clothing, glasses in place and his long hair kept in a simple ponytail. Poppy smiled at him and so did Sona who signed at him.

"Ready?"

Cid nodded.

"Ready"

He smiled as he approached Lux.

"Well, let us go, Demacia awaits right?"

The whole group nodded. As they walked Jarvan approached Cid.

"Is good we get the chance of spending the Memorial Day in the company of our friends, I must admit, is a shame Garen is not coming"

Cid was surprised at that. Garen had a lot of reasons to go. Shyvana voice was the one to answer the question.

"True, but he is to keep Darius in check, after all he is visiting Demacia with Swain for a chat after this day"

Cid was surprised. So, the peace talks were still going… he took notice of the look in Lux face, he approached Lux.

"Hey, stop me if you heard this one before. I can only live where there is light, but I die if the light shines on me, what am I?"

The whole group kept walking while in thought. Lux smiled as she had the answer.

"A shadow"

Cid nodded.

Jarvan was still thinking it.

"Ah, I see a shadow, of course, I thought it might be ice"

Shyvana looked at him with a questioning look.

"Why would it be ice?"

As Jarvan and Shyvana got in a discussion regarding the nature of ice. Fiora was smiling pointing to Sona to look at Lux. Poppy was seeing her too, the sadness she seemed to carry before was going away being replaced by smiles. And the responsible for that was the therapist at her side.

"You got a stove, a wood stove and a match, which should you light first?"

Lux snorted at that one.

"The match obviously"

Cid nodded.

"Someone is having a fast mind today, excellent job Lux"

Lux smiled at the compliment she ended linking her arm with Cid as she laughed.

"Of course, I am the best with riddles!"

Cid smiled.

Fiora smiled at the scene and Poppy found herself happy for her. Sona was smiling but she also was hoping Lux wouldn't get so clingy with Cid.

When the group was teleported by a summoner to Demacia. Cid was hoping he would get to access the Hall of Valor.

Everyone walked to the Hall of Valor it would be a long walk from the spot they were left. The place where the fallen Demacian warriors are remembered for their sacrifices that was the Hall. As the small entourage of Champions and the therapist walked to the direction of it.

Lux was smiling.

When Garen said he would not be with her on the Memorial Day she felt saddened. They were already distant enough from each other. She hoped they would be able to show their respects for those they knew. But work and duty called Garen. And honor was always more important…

Honor, Justice, and Duty.

As she was feeling sad she felt a small poke on her cheek. Courtesy of the therapist at her side.

"Hey, don't go around feeling down now. We are almost there"

As they approached the Hall of Valor, Jarvan took the lead of the group with Shyvana close behind.

"Xin should be waiting for us in the front"

And indeed, there he was, near the entrance of the famous hall was Xin Zhao in the company of Galio and Quinn.

"Greetings prince, is good to see you"

Cid noticed the expression on the face of the seneschal of Demacia. He was teasing Jarvan.

"I told you we would be in time"

Galio, Cid knew of the famous colossus that kept Demacia safe from magical attacks. The colossus smiled while pointing at Quinn with a grin in his expression.

"I told them you would be here! Quinn said you wouldn't come in time though"

The later was surprised of being exposed and looked somewhere else, her bird in her shoulder.

"I didn't! I would never say such a thing"

Xin Zhao only nodded.

"She did"

The seneschal words were simple and straight. Everyone in group laughed.

Sona, Poppy and Fiora entered first to the hall. Jarvan was speaking with Xin Zhao. When Cid started to walk a hand on his chest stopped his advance. Quinn looked at him with something close to anger.

"And who said you could enter? Don't you know what this hall represents?"

Cid sighed. Quinn loud voice had brought the attention of the whole group to him.

"I know what they represent. And I got the right to enter to show my respect"

Quinn laughed. A fake a laugh showing her thoughts about it.

"Honor, justice and duty. Demacia is based on those, the army is based on those. You failed to keep those virtues, deserter"

The words didn't hurt Cid as much as they would have in the past. He truly had changed. Fiora, Sona and Poppy looked at the scene. Cid signed at Sona who was looking with worry in her eyes.

"You go, take them with you, I will follow soon"

Sona nodded and took Fiora hand and Poppy, ushering for them to enter.

Jarvan was looking with calm at Quinn.

"Quinn… he has the right to enter the hall"

Before Quinn could speak again Xin Zhao was in front of her.

"This isn't a place for fights, nor for petty discussions, this place is for respects. Move"

Jarvan nodded at Quinn so she moved, he felt thankful for the words of the seneschal. Quinn fumed but moved. Cid nodded his thanks at Xin Zhao who only nodded back.

Lux would have entered the argument herself had Xin didn't spoken first. As they entered the Hall of Valor, Cid looked with sad eyes at the center. They walked silently as many others were on the hall.

Lux took notice how many others were looking at them. She kept her grip on his hand as they walked.

"What is Lux doing with him?"
"Isn't he the deserter?"
"Didn't the deserter had troubles walking?"
"I heard he lost a leg running from the battlefield"

Lux anger was spiking as she heard all of them speaking. Didn't they know to just show their respect and stop speaking like that? The voice of Cid took her out of those thoughts.

"Don't put attention to their comments… we came to show our respects"

Sona, Fiora, Poppy, Galio, Shyvana, Jarvan, Xin Zhao and Quinn were all bowing with respect at the statue of the warriors of Demacia. A memory of those who died in the quest for honor and protecting Demacia.

At death one would get their name kept in the records of the hall. Forever remembered as a member of Demacia force. Names like Jarvan I, were in the Hall of Valor. He who died fighting Sion back in the first conflicts. Jarvan II was also in the hall as a sign of respect for his battle against Noxus. In that battle the fleshing arena had been destroyed, three hundred and one lives saved. Xin Zhao between them.

Cid would have gotten his name in the records had he died in battle. But thanks to his acts, he would never be remembered in the Hall.

"Find peace everyone. You fought greatly that day…"

Lux noticed the feeling on his words. She took his hand as she also bowed.

"Find peace, for you fought with honor in the line of your duty"

Everyone showed their respects.

Jarvan offered them to all go out. Memorial Day was a day to spend with the people one cared for, family, loved ones, friends, anyone one wanted to share with.

Quinn refused to spend time with Cid and left after speaking.

"I refuse to be in the company of someone who gives such a bad fame to the name of what Demacia represents, I am sorry prince"

Before Jarvan could speak Cid placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Let me, I will go have a chat with her"

Jarvan nodded at him before speaking.

"Meet with us at the plaza, I would like to have dinner with my friends"

Cid smiled and nodded. He started walking behind her, Lux quickly going after him.

"Are you sure? She doesn't seem to like you?"

He chuckled at that.

"Few people like me, but that has never stopped me from talking with them, so let's go, I have been feeling like telling her a few things for a while"

Lux smiled and nodded. She wouldn't mind looking for Quinn. Not if it gave her a reason to spend time with her friend.

Cid and Lux walked behind the figure of Quinn, she tried to lose them. But Lux eyes were good in observation, and Cid knew all the paths on Demacia to keep hidden. Keeping the trail of Quinn wasn't hard.

---

While they were walking Cid kept asking riddles to Lux.

"Lovely and round, I shine with pale light, grown in the darkness. A lady's delight, what am I?"

This one left Lux thinking for a moment before answering.

"A pearl"

Cid smiled at her.

"You are awfully sharp today, I might end up without riddles when we find Quinn"

They heard the sharp sound of a bird. A bird they knew well.

"Valor! Don't!"

They took notice in an alley without people the figure of Quinn wrestling with Valor who seemingly refused on letting her advance.

"There you are"

Quinn looked at Cid. She felt her anger spiking.

"What do you want?"

Cid sighed.

"How about a chat? I would really like to have a proper chat with you"

Quinn was about to speak when Valor poked her head with his beak.

"Ow! Stop that!"

Lux spoke with seriousness in her voice.

"I think Valor agrees with us"

Quinn let out a groan and took to stay close to a wall as to rest.

"Well. Start speaking then"

Cid sighed.

"Do you even know what happened at that battlefield Quinn?"

Quinn chuckled.

"Who doesn't? You ran away of the battlefield. Everyone died except for you"

Cid chuckled.

"That's the only thing you know? Then I am afraid you know nothing about what happened on that day Quinn. Did you even know that everyone on Noxus died too?"

This brought the attention of Lux. The record said Noxus had won the battle.

"That's a lie, everyone knows that Noxus won, and we promised to fight harder next time"

Cid smiled mockingly.

"Everyone knows that? Were they in the battlefield? Did they saw the corpses? Did they even saw the result of the battlefield?"

This time Quinn stayed silent. Lux was expectant.

"Two people survived that day Quinn. A Noxian scout and me"

This brought a gasp from Lux and Quinn.

"You… not only did you ran away, you even betrayed the army?!"

Cid chuckled at her. Lux didn't know what was so funny.

"I saved a life. He would have died on the battlefield if I had chosen to leave him behind… there had been enough death already"

Quinn tried to understand what could push him to save the enemy. Lux wasn't questioning that, but rather she was wondering what happened in that field…

"Allow me Quinn, to tell you what happened"

---

"Cid! Wake up!"

A weakened soldier woke up at the call of his name.

"Sion?"

The Noxian scout let out a breath of relief.

"You are alive, I was worried you were death from the wounds…"

He chuckled at the words of his companion.

"Don't worry… have anyone appeared?"

The soldier dressed in gray and red moved his head in denial

"No one… I think we were the only ones who made it out…"

He sighed before speaking.

"That thing probably didn't work on water… the river saved us"

"Good… but what are we going to do now?"

That was a good question for both, the battlefield they were in was in middle ground between Demacia and Noxus. The river hadn't throw them too far. The soldier without a leg sighed.

"I got an idea… we will go to Noxus…"

The soldier was surprised at the idea.

"They… they would end you in place…"

He chuckled.

"Maybe. But you need to go back home. And if I take you to Demacia chances are you won't make it out"

The soldier sighed.

"Then… let us go together. I can walk the path to Noxus faster than you can walk to Demacia"

He nodded.

"Okay. We will do this… I am sure there is a port close… we can each get a boat to our cities…"

He started to faint. He felt really tired.

"Hey… do you know… you can send me a letter…"

He started to close his eyes

"Cid!"

Unconsciousness took him away.

---

"When I woke up… Sion had dropped me off on a merchant ship that was going to Demacia. He stole my uniform and dropped me on the boat. When I asked who had dropped me off, the man said a young man had done it. I knew it had to be Sion, he even left me a letter"

Lux was surprised about what he had told them. Quinn had been silent the whole time looking at the floor. Valor had been looking at Cid the whole time.

"So… what did the letter said?"

Cid chuckled.

"He apologized about taking my uniform, but he didn't want to risk it, the letter also said how I could keep contact with him"

He chuckled again before starting to laugh.

"He is still in Noxus… he does well as a blacksmith…"

This time Quinn looked at him.

"Why… he should have killed you, you should have killed you… why none of you killed the other?"

Cid shrugged.

"Why would I kill him? I saved him. I even lost my leg because I saved him. Had I run away I would have both legs, and probably my health wouldn't be as bad as it is"

Lux looked at him with a smile.

"And he wouldn't kill you… you had saved his life even though you were an enemy"

He nodded smiling.

"He is a good person… Noxus is different from Demacia, Quinn, do you know how Noxus works?"

She chuckled.

"They are barbarians"

Cid sighed.

"They are a society in which anyone can reach power, Noxus appreciates talents, and they hope everyone develops their talents. Sure, they are different from us, but in Noxus anyone can reach a high position through effort. Darius and Draven for example, they do not come from high families nor anything…"

Quinn looked at Cid with tension.

"You speak in their favor?"

Cid chuckled.

"I speak the truth, I don't especially support a side Quinn. Demacia is my home, but I know that Noxus is just like us… well I mean out of their wishes for constant expansion"

Quinn looked at the floor.

"Why, I just don't get it, what killed everyone?"

Lux spoke before Cid could.

"By the time Cid fought, Noxus had already been using Zaun chemical weapons… probably it was a weapon from them that went out of control"

Cid nodded.

"I came to that conclusion a few years later while I was studying. That was the most logical explanation, as if it was magic, those with resistance to it wouldn't have died"

Valor pecked at Quinn softly with his beak, trying to reassure her.

"If what you said happened… why run? Why not stay on the battlefield with the others?"

Cid sighed.

"I wanted to live… I didn't want to die there Quinn; my crime was wishing to live"

Lux got close to Cid offering a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"If you hadn't survived… no one would have known what happened on the battlefield… you told Garen right?"

He nodded. Memories of the interrogation feeling fresh.

"Garen knows the whole thing, and he placed the file. But it never went public. They didn't want people to feel panic. So, it was said a side had won, and that I run away, that way the soldiers would feel inspired on keeping the fight"

Lux kept her grip on his shoulder.

"Sion had more luck I guess?"

He nodded.

"He explained the result of the battlefield, they thanked him for the information, he later offered his services as a blacksmith, he said the exposition to the mist had taken away his condition to keep fighting"

Quinn punched a wall close to her the sound brought their attention to her.

"I don't get it… I just don't get why you did it"

Cid sighed.

"When you see what I saw that day. You are trapped with no options. I chose to keep on living… simple as that"

Quinn walked against him. Lux felt for a moment she would punch him but she simply extended her hand. She stayed in silence for a moment before speaking.

"I am Quinn… and this is Valor…is a pleasure to meet a veteran scout"

Cid laughed while taking her hand. She was at a miss on this reaction from him.

"Cid, therapist for the Institute of War, therapist on Demacia, and good old scout"

Lux got between them and brought them all together in a hug.

"Great! Seeing as this gloom theme of conversation is gone, what do you say we all go eat with the others?"

Cid nodded looking at Valor.

"What do you say Valor, feel like going for dinner?"

The bird let out a noise of approval before flying to stand on top of his shoulder and Quinn looked at her friend with surprise in her eyes.

"Traitor! How could you?"

Valor let out another noise, the group went on walking. Lux chose the chance to get close to Cid before whispering to him.

"You… don't mind sharing your story with us?"

Cid smiled at her.

"Not at all. You are my friend and rival, aren't you?"

Lux smiled before feeling embarrassed at his words.

"You are too nice…"

Cid smiled before hearing Quinn laugh.

"Hey! You got a pretty laugh!"

She looked embarrassed before looking elsewhere, Lux got out of her embarrassment too.

"You should laugh more often Quinn"

Quinn kept her gaze focusing elsewhere.

She didn't need their comments. As nice as they felt.

---

In the dinner with Jarvan everyone was in a place he had reserved to spend with his friends. Everyone screamed while drinking. Everyone except for Poppy, Cid, and Sona. The first two because they didn't drink and Sona because she was unable to scream.

Cid nudged lightly at Sona.

"Is a nice night isn't?"

Sona nodded smiling warmly at him. Her hands moving slowly, slower than they usually moved.

"It is. I got a riddle for you"

Cid smiled at the idea.

"Shoot it, I am curious what kind of riddle you got for me.

Sona smiled warmly before making the signs.

"Three words that are often said, yet not said enough?"

Cid kept his mind on it. He didn't really had heard that one before.

"Mmm is a hard one…"

Lux came close to Cid placing a shoulder over him.

"What is hard?"

Cid chuckled before telling her the riddle.

"Oh! I know that one"

She smiled, it seemed she had drunk a bit too much.

"Really? What is it?"

She looked at him with a smile.

"I love you"

Everyone in the table kept silent for a moment hearing Lux words and seeing her. She felt their eyes on her before sputtering the explanation.

"T-that's the answer! Three words often said, but not said enough, the answer is I love you"

Galio started laughing together with Shyvana. Jarvan couldn't hold it in him any longer, even Xin Zhao held a smile in his face. Poppy simply looked happy seeing everyone smiling. Fiora threw Quinn a look as if to say, look at that. Quinn spoke while laughing.

"You know, you don't need to keep your feelings hidden Lux, isn't he a mind reader? Surely he knows without you speaking"

Lux looked embarrassed before keeping on drinking.

"Jerks!"

Everyone laughed including Cid. He made some signs at Sona.

"Was that the answer?"

Sona smiled and nodded while keeping an obviously looking mischievous smile at him.

"The point was for you to answer it"

He chuckled before bowing at her.

"My apologies, it was a hard one"

Everyone kept eating in the enjoyment of the dinner with friends. Shyvana and Jarvan seemed to be especially close. Galio decided he would defy Xin Zhao to a contest of strength. Everyone expected the seneschal to deny the challenge. Surprise came in the form of him accepting the challenge.

A simple challenge of strength, they would try a game of arm wrestle. As ridiculous as it looked, they were more surprised at how easily the seneschal had made the colossus fall on the floor.

"Again! I demand a rematch, I wasn't ready!"

Xin smiled before keeping the game. Needless to say, everyone took notice how strong he truly was. Fiora was chatting with Quinn and Poppy regarding her duels and how she had faced Jax too recently.

"I am telling you, that dodge of him is horrendous!"

Poppy spoke softly of this.

"It does work though, I haven't seen anyone able to hit him when he spins the lamp"

Quinn nodded feeding Valor a bit of meat.

"No matter how much bolts I shoot, he dodges them all"

Fiora kept explaining them the logic behind the dodge.

Cid had taken to stand up and go out for a bit of fresh air. The tables in the outside were without people thanks to Jarvan reserving the whole place. Cid took the cold air of the night in Demacia and looked at the sky. He heard the soft steps behind him but said nothing as he spoke.

"They come to witness the night without being called, a sailor's guide and a poet's tears. They are lost to sight each day without the hand of a thief"

He heard a soft giggle before an answer came.

"The stars"

Cid chuckled looking at Lux inebriated state.

"You need to stop drinking you know?"

Lux chuckled before resting in the wall near him.

"Nonsense, I am still rather conscious on all I do"

Cid smiled at her.

"Thanks for the help with Sona riddle, I didn't know the answer to that one"

She smiled while nodding.

"No worries, thanks to you for keeping me company today"

Cid nodded.

"It was my pleasure, I doubt I would have been able to pay my respects without your help"

Lux smiled and for a moment Cid thought she was shining.

"It was my pleasure to help you Cid… is a shame Garen didn't made it"

He walked to her and offered a hug.

"I know you wanted for him to be with you, everyone wants their family to stay with them on this day"

She hugged him back accepting the hug and speaking softly.

"He is never here you know? This isn't the first time… is just the one he actually has a reason to say no"

He sighed as he only hugged her tighter.

"You got your friends, so don't let it pull you down"

Lux smiled hugging him back.

"Yeah, I got them… and I got you, too right?"

Cid smiled letting go of the hug.

"You got me too"

She kept her smile before turning back and entering back to the party. When Cid entered he saw Sona offering him a smile and a spot close to her.

"How did it go?"

He smiled at her and signed.

"Good"

Sona offered him a kiss in the cheek before going back to her drink. Cid asked for more water. Truly it was aiming to be a long night.

---

After everyone had their good time and made their way to their homes and posts Cid took notice of how resilient everyone was to alcohol. He was surprised at how Sona seemed to only be affected in the fact her signs came slower. Everyone took their separate ways, Jarvan and Shyvana were in the company of Xin Zhao and Galio who took to the castle. Fiora, Lux, and Quinn were going to be in a pub for a while. Poppy said her thanks and said she would go to the Hall of Valor a last time to speak with Orlon. Sona and Cid were making their way to her home. Cid had said it would only be better to go together.

Sona signs were slow as she spoke with Cid, he took notice

"Lux seemed to be really happy with you"

And sort of bolder.

"She was just being nice"

The expression of Sona showed her lack of belief on that.

"Even as dense as you are, you should notice how she was shining with you"

Cid chuckled.

"She was just being nice, she invited me, and I accepted… that's all"

Sona looked at him before signaling again.

"Are we going to chat about last time?"

Cid looked at her eyes full of curiosity and longing.

"I guess we will… better now than postpone it"

Sona and Cid were close to a park and she chose to sit, patting the spot next to her. He sat, and their conversation started.

"So… will this work?"

Cid sighed.

"Is not about working or not… I just think we should wait"

Sona smiled with mischief while looking at him.

"Is this because you like Ahri?"

At this Cid eyes opened in surprise at what she said.

"Mind repeating that?"

Sona smile turned to one of innocence.

"Of course, is this because you like Ahri?"

Cid sighed.

"Is not like that… we are just friends…"

Sona kept her focus on him.

"I'm mute. Not blind Cid. I know how Ahri looks at you, how she moves around you… are you truly unable to see her feelings?"

Cid kept quiet while remembering… the memories of Ahri with him.

How they would laugh, how she would help him, the jokes, the teasing, Ahri was a great friend… and one who had made many memories with him recently.

"Do you think she likes showing her fangs when she smiles? Do you think she likes to stay so close to someone exposing herself? No, she cares, she cares too much for you"

Cid sighed.

"So, what is you are trying to say with this Sona?"

Sona smile turned into a serious expression.

"Me or Ahri? Can you choose? I don't care if is not either of us! I just want you to choose someone"

Before he could speak Sona placed her hand on his lips. She motioned for him to stay silent.

"Just… choose someone will you? Even if you were to choose Ahri I wouldn't mind it. What I can't accept is your indecision Cid… I love you… why can't you say those words back to me?"

She stood from the bench leaving a stunned therapist behind. Cid had a lot to think as Sona left and he stayed in the bench the rest of the night. Sleeping in a park wasn't new.

Sleeping in a park wasn't new. What was new was waking up to the voice of Draven.

---

Part 2

A country born of war. Noxian Chess.

In a country born of war, everyone is the same. Everyone can be amazing.

Waking up to the voice of Draven was new to Cid. His laugh was loud, but it did the work of waking him up.

"Draven?"

The laughing stopped as he stopped in front of him to speak.

"Morning man, aren't you from here? Shouldn't you be on your home?"

Cid chuckled before pointing to the bench.

"I like to sleep on the park, makes me humble you know?"

Draven chuckled before offering him a hand.

"Thanks"

As he stood up he decided it would be a time as good as any to go back to his office and get a bath.

"Well Draven I will go change clothes, if I'm lucky my old stuff should still be on the office"

Draven nodded and started to walk behind him. Cid didn't say anything judging that by his reactions Draven was probably bored in Demacia. Couldn't blame him, mornings were mainly for work, and the places to have fun would be closed.

"How has the peace treaty been going?"

Draven chuckled as he scratched behind his neck.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you, Darius and Swain are the ones doing the talk, I just came as a bodyguard for Swain"

This caught the attention of Cid as they were on the road.

"Bodyguard? Isn't with Darius enough?"

Draven smiled as he enjoyed hearing the question.

"Oh of course bro is good, but I am the best after all, no one can get close to Swain with Darius there, but with me there no one can try to run"

Cid knew of the legendary precision of Draven, plus he heard some others in the Institute speaking of how Draven could easily catch up against anyone running away from him. He wasn't only precise with those axes he carried on his back. He was fast.

"I heard you can ricochet your axes easily"

Draven chest filled with pride while he spoke of the complicated process. How he would hit the enemy in specific angles forcing the axe to jump back from the target giving him the chance to catch them, how he could run and make the process faster. How it was impossible to get away from him once he had them on his sight.

"Is like juggling, but ten times deadlier and better looking"

Cid chuckled at this.

"I am guessing, is better looking because you are doing the juggling right?"

Draven laughed at this before speaking to him.

"You are getting it now!"

Cid nodded, they were approaching his office.

Draven looked at the surroundings of the area of the office and whistled.

"Humble area?"

The truth of the zone in which Cid lived was that it didn't had the golden and silver demacian colors, it was simple and cheaper to live in that area. Plus, it was far from the main area of Demacia meaning people wouldn't stumble with him. He enjoyed his loneliness back then…

"Yeah, I liked the silence"

Draven nodded as they reached the door. Cid thought then he didn't have a key. But there was a trick to the door.

"Draven, got a knife?"

Without even nodding Draven presented him with a short knife, he wasn't going to ask where he had gotten it out from. Better not to know in his opinion.

"You going to open the door with it?"

Draven looked with surprise as the therapist opened the lock of the door with the knife. He simply placed the tip in a spot and made a dive with the knife. In the end the door opened. The therapist smiled as he offered him the knife back.

"Don't go around telling everyone you can open my door with a knife"

Draven laughed before entering in the opened office.

"You got the style of Noxus, points for you... but more points to me for being able to know you got the Noxus style"

Cid shrugged. That was a compliment coming from someone who always enjoyed being the center of attention or the main topic in any conversation.

"Thanks Draven, and I know you got more points, after all, you are Draaaaveeeeeeeeen"

Cid tried to imitate the phrase Draven often said. The result was Draven eyes shining.

"Someone gets it!"

He laughed as he took a place on a couch abandoned to the side. Cid could only nod in approval at Draven. He saw that while his books weren't there, some stuff had been left behind, mostly his old clothes that were abandoned in the bath. They were clean, but as he didn't have a closet for them he had just let them lying there.

"I will take a bath, feel comfortable in the office"

Draven gave thumbs up on approval.

As Cid entered to take a bath Draven started moving silently around the room. He was hoping to find something he could use to make fun of the therapist, he noticed the lack of anything in the room aside of a desk, the couch he was on, and some drawings.

"Really… more barren than I thought, how am I supposed to make fun of you if you have nothing?"

Draven heard a laugh from the shadows and was about to throw a knife at the source of the noise when he saw someone he knew well.

"Katarina? Shouldn't you be with the boss?"

Katarina flicked her hair as she took a place on the couch.

"Swain is doing well on the castle, plus Darius is with him, I thought I could use the chance to just pass time, I noticed you got a friend in here"

She said pointing to the door as Draven only shrugged.

"We know each other from the Institute, he is a friend of Sona and Riven... he was dancing with Morgana on the Heart seeker dance"

Katarina smirked.

"Oh, the therapist in a dress then? I heard all about it from Evelynn, she mentioned he was cute… but considering her way of expressing I thought better than to keep asking her anything"

Draven shrugged.

"Wouldn't know really, is hard to compare anyone to the magnificence of Draven!"

He screamed the last part earning a hush from Katarina.

"Your friend doesn't know I am here remember?"

Both heard as the therapist was clearing his throat as he came out drenched in water. His long hair giving him the look of a ghost. His bottoms were covered with a towel. His prosthetic leg clearly seen on the part the towel didn't reach. Katarina noticed how thin he was.

"I don't mind having visitors"

Katarina was speechless looking at the frail figure in front of her. Was he alive? Or merely surviving? What was with him? Her focus on the prosthetic leg. He truly gave a more feminine air than one of a rugged soldier.

"You know, my eyes are up here"

Katarina immediately stop her staring of the leg and went to look at the eyes behind the glasses of the therapist of the Institute. She was at a loss of words for a moment before Draven laughed.

"Ha! You heard that?! He caught you looking!"

Katarina glare silenced Draven who immediately found the roof incredibly interesting.

"Nice roof you got here, wood?"

Cid chuckled as he went away to get dressed.

Katarina looked at Draven before speaking.

"Was he a soldier Draven?"

Draven shrugged.

"As far as I know he is a therapist for the Institute, and as the rumor mill goes, he can read minds, but I know he is from this city, saw him long ago in the company of Sona and Riven when we visited here with Swain"

Katarina nodded. She had heard of the mind reading talents of the therapist of the Institute, everyone had heard of them. But she knew better than to just fall on rumors, she needed actual proof. Plus, Swain had been clear. If there was a chance to recruit the talents of the therapist. They were to get them.

Swain had seen the future of Noxus, and he had seen the future of an especial unit of spies. One with members able to move through the plain sight, able to learn everything from the people surrounding them, able to learn and steal secrets without revealing themselves.

Who better to train such a unit than a man with the talents of reading people as books by plainly seeing them. Noxus would give them the strength, the therapist would give them his skills.

Her musings were cut by Draven screams.

"Katarina! Can you hear me!"

An angry glare silenced Draven.

Cid ended up coming back now dressed in his casual clothes. Simple pants and shirt, Katarina was surprised at the lack of golden and silver on his colors. They were a dull gray and dark pants.

"Well, I'm dressed, who feels like getting something to eat?"

Draven nodded as Katarina approached him, she felt she should present herself.

"Katarina Du Couteau"

She extended her hand and he answered the handshake. He immediately noticed the strong grip she had.

"Cid, no last name… Du Couteau as the missing general?"

Her grip got even stronger making him wince in pain as she approached him.

"What do you know of him?!"

Draven ended up taking Katarina away with a light push.

"Chill will you?! We are guests, Swain said we couldn't cause any problems"

Katarina eyes were focused on Cid still waiting for an answer. He thanked Draven before seeing the question in her eyes.

"I had a friend who knew all about the generals of Noxus… he would often speak names like Sion and the famous Du Couteau who no one knows where he is"

Katarina let out a long sigh. She was hoping he knew something.

"My… apologies"

Cid nodded.

"I understand, is a delicate matter, I should be the one apologizing for bringing it up"

Katarina smirked before nodding.

"Yes, you should"

He bowed while apologizing making Draven chuckle.

"Well, back to the important matters, let us go get something to eat"

Draven followed swiftly behind the therapist as Katarina looked the room once again. She didn't see anything interesting and followed behind the therapist.

---

As they made their way through Demacia, many were giving Katarina and Draven looks. They didn't care, but they both took notice of how people saw the therapist. They saw their expressions and heard their comments. Katarina was the first to speak about it whispering to Draven.

"Popular in his city, isn't he?"

Draven nodded.

"Not the sort of popularity I would want though"

Katarina nodded. As they were walking she took the sight of Darius walking with Swain. Draven and Katarina made a salute to Swain who waved them off. Swain looked different from the last time. If anything, he looked more imposing.

"Ah, the mind reader, I have heard you been enjoying the Institute"

Cid nodded.

"I have been having a good time, you been well? Haven't heard much from you since our last meeting in the concert of Sona"

Swain nodded. He extended his right hand at Cid. He answered the handshake. Darius was surprised at the gesture. Swain wasn't one to be kind to demacians… then again, they had met before.

"I still got the book you signed me, I am thankful for it"

Swain nodded while having a small smile.

"It was nothing, is good to know someone has a taste for fine literature in this city that refuses to adapt"

Cid was thankful for the compliment and chuckled.

"Well, life is all about adapting or dying in the spot"

Swain agreed with those words. Adapt or die.

"Indeed, hopefully something will come from this visit to Demacia"

Darius nodded before speaking.

"General, Crownguard said we couldn't go far from the castle"

Swain chuckled before looking at Darius.

"He said we couldn't get out of the walls of Demacia. He never said anything about walking in the city"

Swain looked at Katarina and Draven.

"And tell us, where were the pair of you going this early?"

Draven was about to speak but Katarina beat him to it.

"We were just offered the chance to go eating with the therapist"

Swain nodded looking at him.

"Is that so? Well, I think I would feel more comfortable if you were to come with us to see the prince and his father. I don't think they would mind me bringing a guest"

Before Cid could answer anything about it he found himself feeling Draven arm behind him.

"Come on! You don't want to seem rude right?"

Cid sighed. He knew this situation perfectly.

He was trapped, he just wouldn't be able to say no to them.

Nodding he shrugged.

"Let us go then, surely Jarvan wouldn't mind seeing me again"

---

In the castle Garen and Lux were by the sides of prince Jarvan, the seneschal of Demacia, Xin Zhao was together with the king Jarvan III. Garen had a stern look on his face, his sister tried to make him stop.

"Stop that Garen, you have been looking like that ever since you saw the ambassadors from Noxus"

Garen spoke with a serious tone in his voice.

"I don't trust them, they are barbarians wishing for war"

At his words Jarvan III looked at him with disapproval in his eyes.

"They came to speak, and we will do just that… if you can't keep your aggression away Garen Crownguard, then you might be better suited for the barracks and not as a guard"

Garen looked at the floor.

"This couldn't get worse…"

Lux took on how Garen looked and tried to cheer him up.

"Smile brother, things will go well today I am sure of it, you might even come to like this meeting"

Xin Zhao simply nodded. But in his mind, he was only hoping no one would fight. The only one with a weapon in the talks would be him. His legendary spear would prove Noxus not to fight against him. Yet he wished no one would fight.

Quinn was in the upper part of the room, she was to keep attention if anything were to happen. Valor was also alert with her. There was enough tension already.

Lux was in a better mood than Garen. She had enjoyed a great night the day before with everyone, especially she felt cheered at the gesture of Cid of keeping her distracted from her heavy thoughts. She was at the best of her game today.

When the ambassadors of Noxus were announced to having entered the castle everyone expected the group that had been brought in the beginning, Swain, Darius, Draven and Katarina. Yet there was a fifth figure chatting with Draven.

The prince was the first to speak.

"Cid?"

Garen was already in a bad mood. And the presence of the therapist didn't really help. Garen looked at Lux before speaking.

"… you were saying?"

Lux in the other hand was waving at Cid.

The king was surprised at the presence of the new figure close to the Executioner of Noxus. What's more, he was sure he wasn't one of the ambassadors of Noxus.

As if hearing the question Xin Zhao whispered at him.

"That's the therapist for the Institute of War. His name is Cid, he is a citizen of Demacia"

The kind nodded before standing up to receive Swain from his throne.

"Welcome once again great general of Noxus, I hope you have enjoyed the sights of Demacia"

Swain nodded.

"I have indeed, I must say is an interesting place… if albeit paralyzed in time"

Garen tensed, but the prince and the king only nodded.

"It is indeed a place that has keep itself… now shall we move along to speak of the terms you wanted to discuss?"

Swain nodded.

"I will be taking Darius with me if you don't mind"

The king nodded smiling.

"Of course, my son will be coming with us, also Xin Zhao will be following us too, I am not so young and need my dear friend with me in case I miss a step on the stairs"

---

As the king and his seneschal walked with the company of the prince to another room with Swain and Darius, the rest was left alone in the main room. They all seemed to be tense for a moment before Cid spoke.

"So, how you been Lux?"

Lux walked to them with a smile on her face. Draven didn't seem intimidated by Lux and got into conversation soon.

As they were speaking Garen was approached by Katarina.

"Why the long face? I thought you be happy to see me"

Garen kept silent as Katarina smirked.

"What happened? The last time we fought you were happy the whole time, I mean that smile of yours sure was attractive"

Garen tried to keep his composure but Katarina was having none of it as she stood near Garen.

"Come on, what got you so down?"

Garen eyes seemed to pass to look at Cid and Katarina got the whole thing.

"What? You and the mind reader aren't friends?"

Garen seemed to nod. As if he didn't want to confirm it yet didn't deny it either.

"He is awfully nice, albeit too feminine for my tastes. I prefer me with a rugged look you know?"

She got her reward as Garen seemed to turn red albeit just a little.

"Why you don't like him?"

Garen sighed.

"If I tell you, will you leave me alone?"

Katarina nodded. But her smile said she wasn't making any promises.

"He ran away from a battle…"

Garen told her a small version of how he had abandoned a battlefield. She wasn't impressed.

"So? He chose to live, what's wrong with that?"

Garen sighed.

"His duty was to die, he had to fight till the end…"

Katarina just looked at Garen with an expression that showed she wasn't impressed.

"I repeat, he chose to live. Soldiers got that right. Noxus believe anyone can do whatever they want and rise if they got the talent for it. Your mind reading friend chose to survive. He can fight another day, isn't that better?"

Garen kept in silence.

"You wouldn't understand. Is a matter of honor, we never retreat from a battlefield"

Katarina smirked.

"You do, all the time"

Garen looked angry at her before she raised her hand.

"When you come back to Demacia after a battle, you are technically retreating, you don't keep advancing until you got no more soldiers. You go back home, and come back to fight later"

Garen wanted to tell her that made no sense but before he could try Katarina pointed at the therapist.

"He is just a survivor. A soldier who made it out, and even then, he lost a leg for what I saw this morning, the whole city hates him. Is your city so judgmental Garen? Is Demacia so closed that it finds it impossible to move forward?"

Garen wanted to say she was wrong.

But he knew of it. He knew how people treated the therapist. He even was part of that treatment. It seemed the only ones who didn't mind him were people like Lux and Jarvan. And if they didn't mind him. Why did he care so much?

What did he had to prove against him?

Katarina looked satisfied at the expression in Garen face before deciding to tease him a bit more.

"You should be careful with him though, I mean, your sister looks really into him"

She pointed with a smirk in her face as Garen took notice of how close Lux was with him. Before he could say anything to Katarina about it Draven spoke loudly.

"You said you loved him! Oh man! I would have loved to see that"

An embarrassed Lux was trying to explain the situation to Draven about the riddle of Sona as Cid only laughed remembering the expressions of everyone in the room that night. Katarina was smiling seeing them get embarrassed. But Garen was blank.

The therapist was marrying Lux. What could he do? There would be no way but to accept him in the family…. He had to speak to Lux. Walking forward surprising Katarina and a Quinn who was suppressing her laugh at the situation.

Garen took Lux by the shoulders and looked at her directly.

"Lux, I respect your independence, you are a woman who can make her own decisions, but shouldn't you consider marrying someone else?"

At this Lux was red with embarrassment, Cid came to her rescue as he was laughing.

"Lux is not marrying me Garen, Sona made a riddle, three words often said yet not said enough, the answer to the riddle was I love you. Lux said them, and everyone thought she said them to me"

Lux nodded fast at Garen as to confirm the situation.

Garen let out a sigh of relief, the relief was close lived as Katarina approached Lux. She moved silently and without no one noticing, the only who noticed was Quinn from her upper position on the room.

"Well, that might have been the answer to the riddle, but surely our dear Lux does likes the mind reader, right?"

Lux looked at Cid and then at Garen. She released a sigh before simply regaining her composure.

"I… think we should all focus on what is important… look the door is opening"

And right she was. As Lux pointed to the door of the opposite room Darius and Swain came out. Swain looking pleased and the King looked pensive.

"Katarina, Draven, we are going, our business is done"

As Draven and Katarina approached Swain, the general looked at the therapist, his eyes showing his victory.

"Also, you should get ready therapist. You are coming with us"

Lux eyes widened hearing this as many others. Jarvan looked calm, but those who knew him well saw the anger in him. The king nodded in direction to the therapist.

"Take your things and leave with the ambassadors, you are to study the Noxian culture and report back to us… Noxus will send one of their own to study our culture"

Cid couldn't say a word as he felt the hand of Darius pressing his shoulder.

"Let us go"

Cid nodded. He offered a wave at Lux. She waved back albeit slowly. As the group left the hall of the king, Garen was the first to speak.

"What is going on?"

Jarvan looked at his friend with a look that spoke his distrust.

"Swain offered to relent on his campaign for a while… in exchange he asked for a citizen of Demacia to live in Noxus for a while, as a show of good will"

The king sighed. Before speaking.

"As of this moment, the therapist you know as Cid is no longer a citizen of Demacia. He is a citizen of Noxus starting now"

Everyone was in silence for a moment before Lux spoke.

"We… we gave one of our own?"

The king nodded.

"For a chance of peace, it was necessary. Worry not, Swain has promised the safety of the therapist, he will live in the quarters of a member of high standing on Noxus. He will live in luxury"

Lux looked at the floor remembering his office in Demacia and the office on the Institute. They were by no means luxurious, they were simple, the one in Demacia even felt humbling. Cid wasn't a man for luxuries.

He was the sort of man who would just sleep in the bench of a park if he could.

Garen hand tightened before he spoke.

"Will he ever come back to Demacia?"

The king showed a negative at this.

"He is a Noxus citizen. If they release him, he is welcome, but as of now he is no longer a citizen of Demacia"

Lux only looked at the floor. Her words a whisper only heard by the seneschal.

"Why? He… he often wanted to go but he always stayed. This city was his home"

Quinn moved from the top and to the outside, looking at the figure of a therapist who walked in the company of the ambassadors of Noxus. She could see a certain sadness around him. But he didn't walk any slower nor faster.

His were the steps of a man who had accepted the cards that fate had deal for him.

---

Swain was in a great mood. He would relent his military campaign in the borders of Demacia. But he would not lose his chances on Shurima or the Freljord, he only had to stop his efforts on the place that offered the most resistance. Truly he had got the better part of the deal.

He wouldn't have minded a few territories from Demacia. Alas he could just conquer those in the future. For now, he had gotten something better. A high value hostage. But more than a hostage, he had taken away an academic from Demacia, one that hid in plain sight. Hiding his talents, but in Noxus those talents would bloom to heights not even the therapist could imagine.

Noxus would bloom as the greatest empire. And he had obtained a strong piece for his game against those who conspired against him. A knight disguised as a pawn.

He lacked the strength of a rook, he lacked the mobility of a bishop. He was a knight who wore the disguise of a pawn. Able to show his true colors in the face of adversity.

And that was the piece he needed in Noxus. He knew many kept plotting against him. And if he could manage to keep the therapist close, well hopefully his talents would prove useful.

The biggest thing that he found useful on the therapist was the simplest.

His honesty.

Honesty, and true loyalty were things hard to find in Noxus. That was why they were even more treasured.

---

"So how is this going to work? I mean I stay in the Institute almost all the time"

Swain nodded in the company of the therapist as they were all walking to a summoner in the Institute.

"Is easy, you spent a day each week on Noxus, and if you ever feel like going out of the Institute you come to Noxus instead of Demacia"

Cid thought that it was a bit too easy, it didn't sound hard at all.

"That's all? One day a week in Noxus?"

Swain nodded.

"You are welcome to stay more than that if you wish, but in the end, we only ask for you one day a week"

Cid nodded in understanding.

"Sounds easy… where would I be staying?"

Swain smiled a smile that told Cid he was not going to like it.

"You see, it has come to my knowledge the situation of the youngest member of house Du Couteau"

Cid didn't understood why would that be important, but judging by the face of Katarina and her body language he already guessed where it was going.

"You need her to have therapy?"

Swain laughed as he reached the summoner.

"Indeed, her talents are well needed for Noxus, but for that I need to asses if she is able, and who better than the most recent addition to our ranks?"

Cid raised an eyebrow at this before he heard Darius spoke.

"You are a citizen of Noxus, meaning Swain request is an order"

Cid nodded at Darius.

He had been expecting such a thing when they spoke of the whole going away of Demacia conversation.

"Sure, let us go then"

When they reached the summoner and were teleported to Noxus a figure had been curious of the group. If what she heard was right she was going to need help… and a disguise. With more black in it instead of the golden colors she wore.

---

In Noxus Cid was surprised at what he saw. The diversity of the people walking and the look of fortress the city had, forges all around and the many different locations made Cid feel loss. If he felt Demacia was big, Noxus was a monster in terrain, there was too many people moving from one place to other. But he also saw the many different standings, soldiers, beggars, sick people and others. Noxus mixed everyone in here.

The words of Katarina brought him out of his surprise at seeing the nation he had fought against. Noxus wasn't Demacia. But in its own way it was impressive.

"Let us go, you heard Swain"

He nodded.

Swain had been clear with them, he should see the youngest member of house Du Couteau and asses her mental state. Report back to him in his office. He would be escorted by Katarina once the job was done.

Cid walked behind Katarina, moving through the streets. He was glad he was wearing gray clothes, had he been wearing the colors of Demacia he wondered how people would had reacted. Yet in the many movements and sounds of Noxus he notices a lacking sound.

No one was throwing insults at him. No one was speaking behind him.

He was a shadow in a sea of darkness. And that brought a weird sense of comfort.

As they moved, Cid noticed the different construction and the sizes of the homes as they went to a deeper part of the city, one that started to show probably the sort of families that lived in it. As Katarina brought him to the House De Couteau mansion he was amazed of the size. It was bigger than the house Laurent had been.

Katarina opened the ornamented door offering him to enter.

"After you"

Cid nodded and entered. He saw the walls of red and the paintings. A figure in the middle of the stairs for the upper floors caught his attention. A man with an imposing aura was in it. He already knew who it was without asking.

"General Du Couteau… my father"

Cid nodded and spoke.

"He looks great… he must be an amazing man, I hope to one day meet him"

Katarina smiled thankful of his comment. He had spoken of her father as if he was still alive. She hoped one day to know what had been of her father, but she always thought he was still alive. Hiding, but still alive.

"He is… one day you might see him, who knows"

Katarina walked to a side of the stairs guiding Cid to a room in darkness.

"Take those stairs. They will take you to the deepest part of the crypts of House Du Couteau… I can't go down there"

Before he could ask about it she answered.

"Cassiopeia doesn't take well to my presence… you will have to be alone… she will give you a chance to speak…"

As Cid nodded and went down the path he could hear the voice of Katarina sighing.

"Hopefully…"

With steps full of confidence, he walked to the bottom. He wasn't sure how much time he had been going down, it didn't feel long, but it didn't feel short either. But in the end, he was going to a crypt, it was normal to think he might be rather under the ground.

He took the shape of the door in the darkness; his eyes had coming to adjust to the lack of light on the crypt yet he wouldn't be able to see figures, at most he would simply avoid tripping. As he opened the door he heard a hissing sound. Like that of snakes.

"Who is it there… you are not Talon… nor Katarina…"

Cid chuckled in the darkness. Unable to see he just sat on the dry cold floor of the crypt.

"Nice place, the name is Cid, therapist for the Institute of War… and seemingly starting now a citizen of Noxus until Swain gets bored about me"

He could hear the movement of something rattling on the floor. As the movements of a snake, and he feared that maybe Cassiopeia was a fan of snakes and she kept them on the crypt.

Her voice was heard again, this time seemingly closer.

"A tool of Swain then?"

Cid shrugged from the floor.

"I guess, but there's not much to do about it, it brings a sort of hope for peace…"

The sounds came closer and seemingly stopped in front of him.

"What do you get from this? Money, status, fame, what is for you on coming here"

Cid shrugged.

"I am a therapist… the only thing I get is satisfaction in knowing that you are well"

A laugh echoed on the crypt, a laugh that showed her disbelief.

"Do you think you can lie to me?"

Cid only spoke with honesty.

"No, I am a horrible liar, and my poker face is horrible too, but sadly you are losing that show with this darkness"

In a swift move, claws created sparks and the crypt seemingly came to live with torches at the sides. Cassiopeia took on the presence of the one in front of her. She was sure it was a man but looking at the frail being she suspected he might be cursed too. But that wouldn't earn her sympathy. No one could look at her, she was a monster.

She looked at him with a smile. Showing her new looks at him, she expected many things in his eyes, fear, horror, the feeling of dread, the feeling that his life would be forfeit. She didn't expect wonder.

"Amazing… you are like Ahri?"

Cassiopeia had matches in the Institute and knew of the Vastaya. But she was still grasping his lack of fear.

"No… I am not a Vastaya… are you not afraid? Or are you blind?"

Cid smiled looking at her. Taking on all her features, her claw like fingers, her sharp eyes of emerald color, the scales in her arms, the bottom as a snake. Cid was thinking of how incredible a sketch would look. It would be different from many others he had done. She was amazing.

"I am neither blind nor afraid, I am too used at seeing people out of the ordinary"

At his words Cassiopeia found herself surprised.

He said people. Not things, not monsters, but people, he called her people. And in a way this brought a sort of relief she hadn't feel in a long time. A relief from the past. From when everyone would marvel at the beauty of the youngest Du Couteau.

"… are you really not afraid? I am a monster…"

Cid nodded.

"I am afraid of this crypt, I don't like being around dead bodies so much, plus is a bit cold. But I am not afraid of you by any means, if anything, I would like to ask you if I could draw you…"

If her surprise wasn't clear, the last words spoken had done the trick. Cassiopeia was surprised. She approached Cid, her face close to his, her eyes looking for any sign of fear, repulsion, rejection of any kind. Finding none she made distance.

She missed someone making her portrait.

"I accept"

---

When Katarina heard steps, she thought Talon was visiting, but when she took notice the source of the sound was from the stairs leading to the crypts her surprise was evident.

She opened the door looking at the therapist chatting with her sister.

"And that's the reason I keep my hair long"

Cassiopeia nodded.

"So you are too lazy to get it cut, but not lazy enough to get it styled?"

He chuckled.

"Well, is not like I get it styled on purpose, Ahri just like messing with it"

Katarina was surprised, and she couldn't hide her surprise at looking at her sister coming out of the crypt. Cassiopeia moved faster and lightly patted Katarina in the head.

"I must admit, is nice seeing you surprised at something"

Cid was humming as he reached Katarina.

"Got materials to make a sketch?"

Katarina composed herself before pointing him to a room in the house that wasn't used so much. The study wasn't really a place anyone spent their time. In the past, Cassiopeia would have played the piano in it, general Du Couteau would have told stories to his two daughters and surrogate son.

The study just wasn't as lively as it had been in the past.

Cid found a notebook and a pen, Cassiopeia taking her place in the study. Remembering the good old days, she sat in the chair close to the piano. A shame it wasn't being played anymore.

"Well, feel comfortable, this is your home Cassiopeia, just stay in a pose and I will get working"

She nodded, she placed herself in the couch with her tail coiling as she relaxed. The sounds of pen and paper were the only sound in the home of the Du Couteau.

Katarina observed as the therapist spoke with her sister.

"So, I told you of my hair, mind telling me about yours?"

Cassiopeia sighed, and she told him the story of Shurima. As she spoke she expected many times the same words and reactions she got from Katarina, the same disgust, the same words. But she got silence and nods instead. When she ended up her short tale he spoke but a short set of words.

"A shame, sounds like you really liked walking"

Katarina who had been hearing it couldn't believe the interaction. Was he a madman? What kind of answer was that?

"I do miss walking… I miss my hair… I miss having fingers properly and not claws"

Cid nodded.

"Ever thought on asking the Institute for help?"

She sighed.

"My curse is something far older than what they can do…"

He nodded.

"Sure it does, is from Shurima, but even if that's the case, surely they can help you at least to have fingers or hair"

She kept in thought. She knew of the Institute, and some of its disguises. Some champions would look totally different through the usage of magic… she had tried to ask for a cure… not something to change her appearance.

If they could make a tree become candy, maybe they could help her look more human.

"You are right… maybe they can"

Cid nodded.

"Done, want to look it?"

She moved from the chair and approached him. She took a look at the sketch. As inhuman as she looked, nothing in the sketch showed a monster. She looked elegant, imposing, but never something out of nightmares as she pictured herself.

If this man could draw a sketch that showed her like this. Why couldn't she see herself in such a way?

"Like it?"

She nodded in approval.

"I love it… have you ever thought on taking on painting portraits? Many nobles of Noxus would appreciate the service and would pay handsomely for it"

He shrugged before offering her the sketch.

"I like sketching, but I do not know if I could work making portraits for the rich and powerful"

She took the sketch with a smile before nodding at her own idea.

"I think you got what is needed to raise on that world, there aren't many artists nowadays in Noxus, mostly due to the focus on development of military and tools for war"

Cid nodded. He figured as much with a look at the city, he was sure of something. When war ended Noxus would strive in development in other areas due to the policy of Swain that every talent had to be cultivated to its fullest potential.

Katarina was still in surprise at seeing her sister being so social. When they had seen each other after her trip in Shurima she proceeded to stay in the crypts, never coming to see her. She thought she was at fault by her initial reaction…

What had the therapist done to get the approval of Cassiopeia so fast?

Cassiopeia was speaking to the therapist about the many ways he could sell his portraits, how he could make a name for himself in Noxus quickly and how she could even help him rise quickly with the more noble houses of Noxus quickly. Cid waved the idea off saying that if he started to make portraits he wanted them to be because he wanted, not because they would be showed off as a symbol of their status.

Cassiopeia could only laugh.

"The point of having a portrait is so everyone can see it, but I understand what you mean, I never liked statues so much"

She smiled at her own. After the curse she found herself able to turn any being into a statue if they gazed at her when she used her power. Funny indeed, she didn't like statues, but she could make perfect statues.

The irony didn't go unnoticed by Katarina who remembered more than once being turned into a statue in the matches in the Institute. It wasn't a pleasant experience.

"I can make small figures with clay, but I have never tried making anything bigger than a fist"

Cassiopeia started to explain to him about how some nobles preferred having busts in their homes, but she made an emphasis on the importance of a portrait.

"A portrait is more than just a painting, it shows the family itself, it shows their pride, it is a symbol that is meant to show anyone who enters that they should remember where they are"

Cid nodded in agreement. That was sort of the main function of a portrait in a noble house.

"You can always paint a window, you know for those time the house lack windows"

The horrid joke made Katarina groan, but it made Cassiopeia smile. It had been too long since she had been in conversations that didn't had anything to do with politics of Noxus. Her curse had given her abilities she enjoyed, but the physical changes had been the hardest.

No one spoke of her the same way. She wasn't the beautiful Cassiopeia, the youngest of the Du Couteau sisters, she had become the monster of the Du Couteau. But now she felt as if the past was back. Not in the same way, but rather in the sense that she could speak normally with someone.

There were not any signs of hate, fear or repulsion. She was chatting with someone who had a genuine interest in talking. Either that or she was in the presence of the best liar on the whole land. But she knew the latter to be impossible. As they had walked in the stairs it had been obvious. The stairs had been a long road, and they offered the chance for questions to find more of the therapist.

---

"So are you dating anyone in particular?"

He tensed awkwardly at the question.

"No, not at all, I am by no means dating anyone…"

She could only smile at his nervousness. His lie was obvious.

"So is complicated?"

He sighed.

"You got no idea"

---

He couldn't lie to her even if he wanted, it seemed he had a hard time lying. He was good at being honest, and that was something that had been lost in Noxus in the politic games that went on the city.

As the time passed freely, the night had come to Noxus. Cid had managed to learn a lot of the status of Cassiopeia, the biggest issue he found was her lack of self-image. She hated what she had become, but out of that she was by no means crazy. She had a brilliant and sharp mind, yet sadly those only helped her feel less as she would understand the fear in the eyes of others.

But she was well outside of that. The solution to her problems were an easy one. Family and friends, she would need to be able to have chats to keep her from thinking less of herself, she was still Cassiopeia Du Couteau… even if she didn't feel like that.

Their thoughts were cut short by the sound of knocking in the door. Katarina was surprised at the knocking so late. She went to the door and opened the door to find herself in the presence of a yordle holding a big hammer and wearing noxian armor.

"Greetings Lady Katarina. I have come to escort the therapist to the presence of Swain"

Katarina could only sigh at the obvious disguise of the Keeper of the Hammer. She would give her points for ditching the gold and silver colors.

"Poppy. I know is you… why are you in Noxus?"

The yordle tensed, yet she only kept her posture firmer and looked at her.

"I came to see my friend is okay"

Katarina chuckled before letting her enter. There was no use in fighting a champion. Especially not one like Poppy. She had showed more than enough times how strong she could be.

"Therapist, you got a visit"

Cid looked at her direction stopping his conversation with Cassiopeia and looking at the yordle who was obviously Poppy.

"Poppy? Why are you in noxian armor?"

Poppy rushed to him. When she saw Cassiopeia she only bowed respectfully and spoke her name before looking at Cid.

"Cassiopeia. Cid! I was worried! I heard they took you here!"

Cid chuckled and placed himself with a knee on the floor. The prosthetic wasn't making it comfortable, but in his eyes Poppy deserved the act.

"Well, they did take me here, but you should know it was a deal between Demacia and Noxus. So I will have to stay here for a while. Only one day a week though"

Poppy looked worried at him but nodded. She offered a hug at him which he answered back.

"Thanks for worrying about me though, it means a lot to know I have such a great friend"

Cid winced at the strength of Poppy. She was stronger than she looked. But considering the hammer she often carried, it was obvious she had to be strong.

"I will stay here then! Every day you need to visit Noxus I will stay with you!"

Cid chuckled while nodding at her.

"Sounds good then"

He looked at Katarina and Cassiopeia with a look that asked if he could keep a puppy.

"Can she stay? I promise she will not do anything"

Katarina sighed about to say no but she was beaten by it to Cassiopeia.

"Of course, she can stay with you"

Katarina was about to speak when Cassiopeia kept speaking.

"She already wears the noxian armor, so is a good costume from others who are not champions, plus if you say she is good then I shall believe you, now if you allow me, I would like to go to my room… the crypt was getting boring"

Without any more to say Cassiopeia moved upstairs, Katarina following behind her. She went to look back at Cid and Poppy.

"You two can sleep in the guest room, stairs then right"

Needless to say Poppy and Cid looked at each other with confusion at Katarina as she kept following Cassiopeia.

"Well… you heard the lady of the house, lets go, I need to rest. I slept on a park bench last night, so I feel like sleeping in a desk"

Poppy laughed at what she thought was a joke. But as she looked at his expression, surprise took on her features as he went behind him.

"Wait, you actually slept on a bench in the park? And you actually want to sleep in a desk?"

Cid chuckled as Poppy followed behind asking more questions regarding his unhealthy sleeping habits.

Katarina was in the room of Cassiopeia; the room was clean thanks to her efforts of keeping it in order for the day Cassiopeia got out of the crypt. Needless to say, she didn't expec the events that took place today.

"We can't let a champion of Demacia stay here you know, Swain would end us"

At the words of her sister Cassiopeia smiled.

"She would end you, head of the house Du Couteau, after all I am just the youngest"

Katarina groaned, yet inside she was smiling. It had been too long since she saw the Cassiopeia that had been the most social girl in Noxus. The one who stole secrets and found lies in everyone by faking to lack knowledge.

"Still… is good to see you here"

Cassiopeia looked at Katarina and smiled.

"Is good to be here… how has Talon been?"

Katarina shrugged.

"Doing his work, haven't seen him today, he didn't go with us to Demacia, Swain had given him a special job"

They heard the shuffling of a window and saw Talon in it.

"It was interesting… Swain wanted me to keep tabs on Leblanc, you know she is not trust worthy"

The sisters nodded. They all knew Leblanc only spelled problems. Swain would use her for the better of Noxus. But Leblanc couldn't make use of Swain because he wasn't doing things for himself. He was doing to create a stronger Noxus. He wished for the glory of the empire. Not his own.

And to Leblanc this was a danger, she couldn't let Swain go around like that. But in their game of power Leblanc simply couldn't outsmart Swain who was ever vigilant, and in the same manner Swain couldn't stop Leblanc of trying due to her many disguises.

"Found anything?"

Talon nodded.

"Leblanc been trying to recruit spies. She hopes the intelligence network of hers will move faster with spies all over Noxus"

Katarina sighed.

"That plan will not work… is just a cover isn't?"

Talon nodded.

"Indeed… whatever she is trying to do she is keeping it highly hidden"

Before any of them could speak Cassiopeia entered the conversation.

"Talon, you should know the guest room is busy, we got a visitor who will be coming each week, and Poppy too"

Talon was about to ask how they captured Poppy before Katarina spoke.

"She is keeping him company… she is a friend of his"

Talon simply nodded noticing the reactions of his sisters.

"I see… I will rest then"

They all agreed it was time to rest.

Needles to say the morning in Noxus was different from what Poppy expected. For one she didn't expect the bed to be comfortable enough as to fall sleep so deeply. But what she didn't expect to see what as a therapist sleeping over a long wooden desk.

He had been serious regarding he wanted to sleep on the desk.

As she moved to get her armor back in place she couldn't avoid chuckling at the posture of the therapist in the desk. It was obvious he was comfortable. Once she had her armor back on place she went to wake the therapist up.

"Cid wake up, is time for us to go back home"

Cid groaned but got up. He had slept with the same clothes of the other day, he was hoping to get a change of clothes on the Institute. He looked at Poppy. She was smiling, it was obvious she was glad they were getting out of there.

"Let us go then, home await us."

---

Part 3

True Ice never melts…

They say that true ice never melts. Is such a shame they compare it to the hate between the sisters…

When Cid and Poppy went downstairs they were met with the figure of Talon. Poppy was at the ready with her hammer. Talon waved her off before looking at the therapist.

"Swain asks for your presence in the command center"

Cid nodded.

"Will you take us there?"

Talon nodded.

"Well, let us go then"

Poppy had many questions regarding the situation, but Cid made a sign for her to just follow him.

"Don't worry, he is not an enemy… just a more silent person"

Poppy made a sign of agreement and followed behind him. They were in silence the whole time to the center of command. Noxus was big, but with Talon as a guide the city seemed to just flow away as they moved through many passages and paths with no people in them. Talon really knew how to move through the city unnoticed.

---

When Cid and Poppy were in one of the many paths Talon made a sign for them to stop.

"I heard something… don't you move from this spot… I will come back soon"

They saw Talon climb a wall with an incredible agility before losing him from sight. Cid sighed before looking at Poppy.

"He is not bad… but that silence of his unnerves a lot"

Poppy nodded before offering her two cents.

"Talon is a quick assassin… in matches on the battlefield he has proven to be truly efficient"

As Cid nodded seeing that possible judging by the character of Talon a voice sounded giggling.

"He is great, isn't he? But he can be quite easy to fool"

Cid and Poppy looked at the woman who was in the end of the path. She looked dressed in clothing's that spoke of her humble status. A beggar. But Cid knew better. He tensed immediately at what he was seeing in her body language. She was coiling herself. Ready to jump at them. Whoever she was, she was no beggar nor a street urchin.

Cid whispered at Poppy.

"Poppy… get ready… she is not a beggar"

Poppy nodded. She grasped her hammer tightly. Whatever was coming she would be ready.

And ready she was indeed. Instincts took over what she could see, in a flashing movement the beggar seemed to jump at them with an unnatural speed. Cid didn't know what had been faster, the beggar or the golden aura of Poppy surrounding them. The resulting sound was like if someone crashed at high speeds with a wall of iron.

The beggar ended up being sent back with the same force she used to jump at them. Cid could see the obvious signs of flinching in her. Poppy aura had truly hurt her. When the beggar stood up Cid could see that the image of the beggar was breaking in places, opening the look of someone else.

"How? How did you saw through my disguise?"

Before Cid could speak, countless knifes came flying in the direction of the beggar who started to dodge before looking at them.

"This is not over!"

The beggar seemed to fade out of existence as Talon came back to them.

"She went away…"

Poppy looked at Cid, her eyes lost the focus of battle and in them came shining admiration.

"How did you know that she wasn't a beggar?"

Cid chuckled before answering.

"She was walking too proudly… she looked as if she had been a beggar for long, yet she showed no signs of being one… but out of that, that shield of yours was amazing! You send her back with little effort"

At this Poppy smiled, but Cid could see the humbleness in her shining.

"It was nothing, I am just a yordle with a hammer"

Cid chuckled before looking at Talon.

"So… she distracted you?"

Talon nodded.

"She had someone making noises… he said he had been paid to make noises when someone informed him. I am taking it as they knew I would escort you today"

Cid nodded. The conversation died there as they resumed the walk to the center of command.

---

The office of Swain was full of books, a portrait of the great General himself in the office. Cassiopeia was right. Portraits were meant to show who was the one in charge in the place.

Swain welcomed them without a smile. He was focused in his work. He raised his eyes from the papers in front of him to look at the therapist.

"Report the situation regarding Cassiopeia"

Cid spoke of what he knew of Cassiopeia and how she was in a good mental state, though he recommended that she should be spending more time with people close to her.

"I see. Interesting, good to know her mental sanity didn't went away with the curse. Anything else to report?"

Cid shrugged saying there was nothing more regarding Cassiopeia.

Swain told them off except for Talon.

"Report"

Talon told him about the appearance of the woman. Swain smiled. She had failed in her intentions to end the life of his newest chess piece. What was more. She had been hurt in the fight, the Keeper of the Hammer had been able to punish Leblanc.

"I knew she would try something… I must say, I didn't count with the Keeper of the Hammer coming to make sure the therapist was safe… truly things went better than expected"

Talon nodded before daring to ask a question to Swain.

"Are you sure he will help us? He is from Demacia after all"

Swain looked at Talon showing how sure he was of his plan.

"He is a man who has no nation. He will help us when the time comes"

---

Poppy and Cid were back in the Institute. Poppy smiled at the familiar halls of stone.

"Great! Well, I need to get out of this thing, my armor is missing me, and I am missing the colors"

Cid chuckled before patting Poppy on the hair.

"Black hair suited you though"

Poppy smiled at the joke before leaving.

"Take care! And take a bath!"

Cid chuckled knowing he needed one indeed. As he made his way to his office, he could only smile at the familiar place. Two days had passed and in such a short time he had come to miss the office.

"Man, I am growing fond of this place"

After a bath and changing clothes he heard a knocking on the door.

"Is open!"

As the door opened Cid saw an elegant figure that seemed to carry herself with a regal feeling. Behind her entered a man whose chest was exposed. Many scars covered him, but what was more impressive was the obvious look in him. It spoke of rage.

"I don't need therapy!"

A look of the lady seemed to frost the whole office as the rage went down. She instead to look at him and smiled. The cold sensations went away in a second in exchange of feelings of calm.

"Greetings, my name is Ashe, queen of the Freljord. This is my husband Tryndamere"

Cid nodded.

"Cid. Therapist for the Institute"

She nodded back respectfully.

"I been told of your talents with… situations before regarding temper. I was hoping you could help us with this situation"

Cid smiled at them nodding.

"Of course, how can I help?"

Ashe clapped her hands.

"Excellent! I would like you to help Tryndamere with his anger issues, I must meet Sejuani in a few days, and I would like Tryndamere to be calmer before another fight ensues"

Before Tryndamere could speak a glare of Ashe made him stop.

"I expect you to behave… if I hear that your temper gets out of control again… we will chat"

Tryndamere nodded, albeit he still looked unpleased with the situation. As Ashe left the room waving at them and telling them to behave Cid could notice Tryndamere looking at the emptiness of the room.

"Marriage sounded like a great idea… a beautiful wife… a chance for family… a place for the tribe… and now therapy"

Cid chuckled and offered his advice.

"If it helps, your marriage seems solids, is obvious she cares for you if she decided to come here with you"

Tryndamere grumbled before answering.

"If she cared enough she would let me be"

Cid nodded.

"Maybe, but anger is quite a poison in the soul, so why not tell me about this anger of yours?"

Needless to say. That had proved to be a mistake. Once Tryndamere started speaking about his anger, an aura of red started surrounding him, the rage of Tryndamere was so big Cid was starting to worry about how the office would end up.

Tryndamere didn't had an easy life. Being of the barbarian tribes offered little rest, life was tough on the Freljord, and either you got tougher or the snow would reclaim you. Battle after battle, enemy after enemy, be human, animal, or the elements themselves. Tryndamere had it hard. But he had proved he was the toughest.

Tryndamere spoke of battles and the hardness that Freljord offered.

And then Cid knew that Tryndamere wasn't going to get out of his rage through normal means. It was something that had been born through a life time of needing it, rage was his weapon. Rage was what kept him alive, and in a lot of ways, it was the memory of the people who fell before. In a way the rage was a mechanism to keep himself motivated to look forward.

A reason to advance, a reason to keep raising his sword… but he needed to let the rage separate from his daily life.

"Okay, normally I wouldn't suggest this, but we need to take the rage out of your system… so we are going to go looking for a fight"

At this Tryndamere looked surprised.

"Isn't the whole point of this for me to… suppress my rage?"

Cid waved his hand as to deny this claim.

"Not at all, suppressing emotions is never good, it will only make them burst with more intensity when your will breaks, is not healthy at all. So, we need you to release all that rage that you have been having steadily growing"

Tryndamere nodded not at all sure of the idea.

"So… you say I need to let out all my rage?"

Cid nodded. This caused Tryndamere to scratch his head, he removed his helmet in thought.

"So… who are going to look to fight?"

Cid smiled. He had the perfect option.

---

"No"

He thought he had the perfect option.

"Please Jax, you are the one who has the most chances to fight him off"

Jax seemed to be in thought.

"Mmm appealing to my vanity… no. I do not mind fighting Tryndamere, but today Nami is in a match, and that means the lake lost its protector, if I want a big catch today is the best day for it"

Jax was with all his fishing gear ready, and it was obvious he would not relent. Cid sighed, but received a pat in the shoulder.

"Your plan is good, but if you need someone to fight with Tryndamere, Olaf is your best choice… after me of course, I will always be the better choice"

Cid smiled thankful at him.

"Olaf should be in one of the sparring areas, ask a summoner and they should teleport you to him"

Cid nodded and Tryndamere followed behind. He had seen the small exchange and spoke with curiosity.

"You are friends with the Master of Arms?"

Cid thought that might be the title of Jax and nodded.

"Well, yeah, he is nice, though he always seems to hide a lot of stuff"

Tryndamere nodded. No matter how many times they fought, Jax always seemed to have a trick hidden in his sleeves.

"Indeed… so who did he recommended you look for?"

Cid spoke the name and Tryndamere body tensed. He was worried maybe he had made the wrong choice in mentioning Olaf.

"The Berserker"

Tryndamere seemed to carry a lot of rage with him just then. And before he could ask Cid saw someone looking at him. He was hoping he had more time before they saw each other again.

He waved at Sona. She waved back albeit slowly. She made no signs at him and kept moving.

Noticing the sadness in his face, Tryndamere spoke, rage leaving slowly.

"Hey… what got you down?"

Cid sighed. He wasn't sure if he could tell Tryndamere about it, they were supposed to be helping him. Not speak about a therapist relation.

"Is just… Tryndamere… do you tell Ashe you love her?"

Without a second of doubt Tryndamere spoke his answer with a firm resolution and a smile.

"Of course, she is my wife, every time we go away I remind her that I love her"

Cid sighed. Sona words in his mind.

Words that are said, yet not said enough

"I see…"

Tryndamere looked at him and it hit him.

"You love someone, and you are not sure how to express it?"

Cid chuckled. He was sort of right, not right on the spot, but close.

"Yeah. I like someone, but I am not sure if I should go ahead with it"

Tryndamere was in thought before speaking.

"Ashe is incredible… she is patient, she is able to look the bigger picture… see what a barbarian simply can't imagine, yet she accepted me. And sometimes I think she deserves someone else… but when she tells me she loves me, it all goes away, I don't need to have doubts if she doesn't have them either"

Cid was surprised at the honesty of Tryndamere. The king of the Freljord carried himself with an incredible honesty, something that showed how much heart he had in him. He was the type of king who could rally others to help him with a war cry and nothing else. It was impressive and worth of admiration. A Champion indeed.

"Thanks, Tryndamere, I will take note of it"

The man nodded, and they kept their path to look for Olaf.

---

Sona had been wishing to share some words with the therapist. Yet a part of her was doubting it to be a good idea. She heard through Ahri what happened. Ahri found out through Lux what had happened after the last time she saw the therapist. And she wanted to chat with him. But she remembered her own words.

She wanted him to make a choice. And a part of her was scared that maybe he had taken his choice already. And what scared her the most was that the choice might not be the one she hoped for.

She had placed a strain on their relationship. Their friendship which had been fun and full of good moments now was strained with a choice in it… maybe he had been right, maybe they shouldn't try to date each other.

To say that she blamed herself was accurate.

Sona sighed. She wanted to go back to speak with him. To just offer him a hug and feel his warmth presence. The soothing aura he offered that gave her the feel things will always go right in the end.

Falling in love was dumb.

And she felt even more dumb at how silly she was acting.

She needed to be honest with herself. And simply face the facts, that whatever happened, whatever he chose, she would still be a friend to him. If their friendship couldn't survive such a thing, maybe it wasn't meant to be. And she knew that their friendship was strong enough to make it through.

She went to get her instrument. Music was flowing through her. Inspiration had come again.

---

When Olaf was met with the frail figure of a girl asking to fight he wasn't going to say no. The honorable thing was to fight anyone who asked for a fight. When he saw Tryndamere behind the girl he knew that the girl with glasses meant for him to fight with Tryndamere. And he smiled. It was time to show the Avarasoran that the Winter Claw was stronger.

"So… I just need to fight him?"

The girl with glasses nodded.

"Yeah, go wild, I see you two have a lot of rage inside"

He snorted. The girl was good it seemed. He had some rage to throw out.

They asked the summoner for their weapons. The great sword of Tryndamere the Barbarian King, against the axes of true ice from the Berserker. It would be a fight worthy of history.

"Move aside girl, things will get violent"

Tryndamere chuckled before raising his sword, pointing it at Olaf.

"The girl, is a man, his name is Cid. Maybe you should check your eyesight, you won't see my sword coming at you"

Olaf laughed. He tried to mess with his mind.

"I think I can see the difference in a girl and a man, long hair, frail and thin, is obvious she is a girl, but enough! Let us fight!"

Without a warning Olaf threw his ax at Tryndamere who deflected the ax with his sword. When Tryndamere did this Olaf was already over him with his other ax. Both clashed and when Olaf seemed to find a weak spot in the defense of his opponent, he was presented with a punch to his face that sent him back.

Cid was amazed at the fight, both had a lot of aggression in them. The summoner had made a barrier before they fought to make sure their fight kept in a closed space and they weren't in danger.

"Are you sure this was a good idea therapist? They can get more aggressive than this I am afraid"

Cid nodded. Taking into every moment of the fight, unable to look away. He had to take as many details of it as he could.

"I am sure. They both need to release their aggression"

A scream resounded through the clashing of the axes against the huge sword.

"For Winter Claw!"

The axes kept clashing and for a moment Cid was worried that maybe he had made a mistake. These thoughts went away as with a war cry Tryndamere pushed Olaf against the border of the barrier they were in. His eyes shined red. He went spinning against Olaf and started to throw slashes with his sword. Olaf was on the defensive.

The only reason both weren't dead was because the barrier stopped them from getting fatal wounds, still the blows hurt as if they carried the same lethality in them. As Tryndamere kept releasing his war cry and pushing Olaf the latter released a war cry of his own and started coming with more strength and speed against Tryndamere.

Now both had throw defense through the window. This was a match of speed and power. For each slash of Tryndamere, two blows came from Olaf. The more the fight went the faster the movements of Olaf turned. Tryndamere seemed to be also pushing his sword with more strength behind its swings. In a moment both reached a deadlock in which swords and axes were fighting for dominance. In the end, Tryndamere rage proved to be bigger as his sword broke the deadlock and with a mightier swing through Olaf through the barrier sending him against the wall of the room.

Olaf was standing up, but in the end, he fell unconscious to the floor. Yet he was carrying a smile on his face as he fell. Tryndamere was in a similar state, rage flowing out of his body. Without the extra energy he fell on his knee. Never losing the grasp on his sword.

The summoner was surprised at the fact his barrier had broken. Cid was smiling looking at the more relaxed Tryndamere. He walked close to him and looked him in the eyes.

"Feeling better?"

Tryndamere smiled tiredly and nodded.

"I don't remember the last time I felt… so light"

Cid chuckled.

"That's the rage out of your system, sure you will always have it with you, but if you release it, you will be fine"

Tryndamere laughed, he fell with his back against the floor and started laughing loudly. His loud resounded in the room, the summoner left flashing with Olaf asking for Soraka. As his laugh kept resounding Tryndamere could only smile. He felt relaxed. He smiled even more thinking how happy his wife would be about it.

With a push of strength, he stood up and gave a small vow of gratitude to the therapist.

"Thanks for your help, now, I need to look for my wife!"

Cid whistled in admiration at the strength Tryndamere carried with him. Seconds ago, he was on the floor, and now he looked as if he hadn't fought as wildly. Cid could only admire that as he saw a running Tryndamere.

"Well, I am sure I will be seeing him later"

---

Cid was about to make his way to his office, hoping for a bit of relaxation before he lost his balance. His prosthetic leg had been caught in a sort of whip like weapon making him lose his balance. Without any grace he fell, avoiding damage by falling with his arms.

A strong voice spoke behind him.

"You made me lose a warrior… got anything to say in your defense?"

The same weapon made him spin and look at the figure of an imposing woman. She was wearing armor seemingly strong for places with cold. Her eyes carried determination and strength in them. She also seemed to carry an aura similar to the one Ashe had.

"He should be fine, the summoner made sure no one took real wounds, he must be tired"

The girl looked at him. Measuring his words.

Sejuani was many things, but she was no fool. She was a warrior, a warrior who fought for the throne of the Freljord. It was already enough she had to fight her sisters, it was enough she had lost a lot of supporters against Ashe. It was already more than enough that Lissandra used magic and trolls to fight her battles. But now she had lost one of her best warriors. And she was about to have a chat with her sister in a few days…

"What's your name girl?"

Cid chuckled at her words.

"My name is Cid, therapist for the institute"

Sejuani took a look at her. She got near her and noticed she wasn't a girl. But a rather frail man.

"I am Sejuani, leader of the Winter Claw"

Cid nodded. She released his legs and took back her weapon, Cid noticed it looked like the true ice of Olaf axes. He had heard many legends of the true ice. How it never melted. And how the only weapons around of true ice belonged to powerful individuals.

"I apologize about Olaf… but I assure you he will be fine"

Sejuani sighed. Fighting the frail therapist wouldn't solve anything.

"I hope so… Ashe always was the luckier one…"

Cid took notice of her tone of voice.

"Hey… do you want to talk about it?"

Sejuani looked at him with a questioning glance.

"What do you care? What do you win of hearing me?"

Cid shrugged still on the floor. He was doing his job.

"Nothing, but you seem to have the need to chat a bit… and well I got the time, we can go to my office and no one will hear a word of what we speak"

Sejuani was in thought. She wouldn't lose anything by trying to chat with the therapist. Plus she doubted he could try anything.

"Sure… but no funny business"

She offered him a hand and he took it. She was able to carry him with little effort. Sejuani took notice of how frail he was. No doubt he seemed to look like a girl.

"Guide the way"

---

Ashe was having a pleasant day. Her husband had come back looking incredibly relaxed, he even took her in his arms and spin around saying how relaxed he felt. The therapist had done his job, she would give him a gift to thank his services. Maybe something like a small poro. Everyone loved them and they all could use a home. Plus she had no doubt the therapist would take good care of it.

Her day could only go better hearing the story of how he fought Olaf and won. She was happy for him. She had seen him rather tense, and now he was relaxed. The only thing left to solve was how to chat with Sejuani. She wasn't one to chat… she would probably try to hit her with her weapon before she spoke…

"He is great you know? For someone so frail, he carries himself with a lot of knowledge. He could make a solid advisor one day"

Ashe chuckled at the words of Tryndamere. He was always hoping to get more people on their side.

"I am sure he would. But I am glad to see you so happy love"

Tryndamere smiled before feeling dizzy.

"I guess I am more tired than I thought love… mind giving this to the therapist?"

He took from behind of him a small chest. She knew what was inside of it. Gold. They often carried the gold to buy stuff for people on Freljord to give them things to make life slightly easier.

"Are you sure?"

Tryndamere nodded.

"Is a small amount, but it should be enough to pay him for his services"

Ashe nodded. She went close to Tryndamere and kissed him on the forehead so he could rest. He smiled and nodded his head getting the message.

"I will rest… be safe love"

Ashe smiled as Tryndamere closed his eyes, the exhaustion finally coming to him. She smiled imagining how great he must have looked fighting.

She would pay the therapist for his services right then. Tryndamere would have done it right then too had he not been exhausted.

"Well… hopefully he doesn't charge a lot"

---

Sejuani was sitting in a couch posing. She wasn't sure why she had accepted to remove her helmet. Her short wild hair was scratching her shoulders. Her helmet always kept the whole thing in place. She didn't want to chat about anything related to Ashe or the Freljord with a stranger. So the therapist offered her a drawing. He only asked for her to pose for it. Without her helmet preferably.

Reluctantly she had agreed. And now she found herself curious of how she looked in the drawing. She could hear the constant sounds of paper and the pencils.

"Is it done yet?"

He chuckled.

"Halfway done, so, why the rush?"

She sighed before trying to peek at the paper.

"I have to be ready to form a plan against Ashe… we will chat in a couple of days"

He nodded at her before speaking.

"Really? Why need a plan to chat? I mean, you didn't plan for us to chat and here we are"

She sighed. He wouldn't get it.

"You wouldn't get it, you don't know what it means to grow in the Freljord"

He shrugged before speaking to her.

"Cold, the law of the fittest, either you survive against the elements and the other tribes or your corpse gets buried in snow"

She opened her eyes at his word before he chuckled.

"Tryndamere told me about the life in the Freljord"

She found herself chuckling. Typical that the barbarian would know all about it.

"It is… but the Freljord is strong, it has managed to survive against the elements, its people are proud and strong… and we must keep being that way to stop the threat of Noxus"

The therapist nodded before speaking to her.

"Want to hear a fun fact? I am living in Noxus, I was born in Demacia. And suddenly they tell me I will be a citizen of Noxus, no longer a Demacian, can you believe it?"

She didn't find the fact funny at all. If anything, she found herself nodding before speaking something she didn't thought she would say.

"I am sorry…"

The therapist looked with surprise at her.

"You don't have to be sorry… is not you who made the decision"

Still she wouldn't relent.

"If I was told I had to abandon the Freljord… I would probably be feeling like you"

He nodded before letting the pencil at a side.

She was in heavy thought. She gasped in surprise pointing a finger at him.

"What kind of sorcery is this?"

Cid chuckled. He had been found out.

"What sorcery?"

She looked angry her finger still accusing him.

"We are chatting! And I didn't want to do it!"

He laughed before waving for her to relax.

"Humans are social creatures, we like to chat, more when we are relaxed, which you are. But changing the topic, here you go"

He offered her the drawing and she took it.

She was amazed. She looked regal in the drawing, her armor a contrast of the warrior, and her face and hair the regal queen she knew she was… that she could be.

"Is amazing… your talents as a sorcerer and an artist are commendable"

Cid chuckled before speaking again.

"I lack talent for magical skills, all I do is my own ability"

She felt a small respect growing at the therapist, frail as he was, he carried himself with his own talents and skills in a world that demanded the survival of the fittest.

"You would do well in the Freljord… are you good at tactics? I could use a good tactician on my side"

Cid chuckled before waving her off.

"I couldn't take such a job, I am a therapist, not a soldier"

Sejuani didn't relent, she wanted a new tactician, and someone who was able to seemingly get information out of thin air was a good ally for her cause. Volibear was strong, but he wasn't a thinker.

"Of course, you could, all you got to say is yes, if the cold is a problem don't worry, I will keep you warm"

Cid eyes got open behind his glasses. And it took Sejuani a second to understand what she had said.

"I mean I would get you an armor to face the cold! Don't get any funny ideas!"

Cid laughed outright there, the powerful leader of the Winter Claw. Embarrassed. This proved how even through the cold of Freljord, there was a kind person behind the cold and tough exterior. She had become tough to survive, but it was obvious she wasn't one to deny help or look for solutions that didn't needed to end in combat.

Of course, she preferred combat, but wasn't against a solution that didn't hurt her soldiers.

"So, what do you say? You would get a lot of respect on the Winter Claw. And Olaf already knows you I am guessing, so you would do well in our side"

Before Cid could answer the door of his office opened. Revealing Ashe carrying a small chest with her. She was smiling at him before she looked at the side. Her smile faded a bit. Yet it didn't go truly away.

"Hello Sejuani… I didn't know you visited the therapist"

Sejuani kept her glare focused on her before speaking.

"I… just met him… I was hoping he would become a tactician for the Winter Claw if you must know"

Ashe nodded but said nothing. She didn't want to have a discussion with Sejuani. She wanted peace, and if the cost of peace was to stay quiet she would kindly do so.

Cid felt the tension palpable in the air, he came with a quick solution.

"Ashe, I made a drawing for Sejuani… would you like to have one too?"

Ashe smiled at the idea of a portrait, she nodded. What neither her or Sejuani expected was what came next.

"Perfect! Now sit near Sejuani"

She was surprised. But as Sejuani didn't say anything she just sat close to her sister. She had taken notice since entering that Sejuani wasn't wearing her helmet. She decided to make conversation with her sister.

"You look nice without the helmet…"

Sejuani nodded.

"Thanks…"

Both sisters were in an impasse.

They weren't sisters by blood. The Freljord and family links long ago made them more of cousins than anything else. But Ashe had always thought they had the bonds of family in them. When she had offered Sejuani the chance for the Winter Claw to never be hungry again she had taken it as an insult.

Ashe couldn't get why she felt it was an insult. But things had gone wrong since that day. Sejuani wanted only for the strong to survive, but her views were different, he wanted a Freljord in which everyone could live and spend their lives growing together.

Their views of Freljord collided. The fact that she had even offered to take the therapist as a tactician was surprising. Sejuani never liked those who were weak. She had to be truly impressed by his talents to consider him for her side.

Tryndamere had spoken highly of his ability. Two people, different sides, and they agreed on the same. The therapist was great at his job. So that was what gave her hope on Sejuani. If she had decided that someone so frail was worthy having on her side… maybe… just maybe she would accept the idea of peace. Or at least to join forces against the Watchers and Lissandra.

"Sejuani… have you thought on my offer?"

Sejuani looked at Ashe. It was obvious both were having a hard time speaking.

"I did…"

Ashe smiled.

"I was making a battle plan…"

Her smile faded a bit. It seemed she hadn't changed at all…

"But the therapist offered a better option"

Ashe looked with curiosity at Sejuani who seemed to be in doubt in speaking.

"Let us chat"

Ashe smiled. She didn't remember the last time she smiled so openly at Sejuani, but she did. Sejuani looked serious, but Cid had already understood that was her own way of smiling. He kept his work with the sketch. A simple sketch really.

The sisters of Freljord. Side by side smiling.

Truly moments like this were the reason he enjoyed so much the wonders of therapy. The sketch would stay with him. He would give it to them if the chat between them went well. Time would tell…

---

Part 4:

The thoughts of the Virtuoso, a shadow, and a sovereign.

We can only cry because we felt happy before, so I shall cry rivers, knowing I can only do such a thing because I have enjoyed oceans of happiness.

When Sejuani and Ashe left the room, both had left with a sketch of their own. Ashe had offered to pay him, which he denied, saying he didn't need any money. The only reward he needed was knowing he had helped them. When they left he looked at the fish of his desk.

In the end Cid was surprised at the ability of his fish to survive. He found out that Ahri had kept the fish with food. It had been made clear by the note on his desk.

Koi ate well, be more careful, what would you do without my help? Ahri.

"How you been Koi? Missed me?"

The fish had an expression that showed his lack of love at his owner.

"You hurt me man, you really do"

The fish kept swimming his bowl without a worry as Cid decided he would hit his bed. Yet it seemed his stomach had a different opinion. He hadn't eaten at all in a long time. As much as helping filled his spirit, it didn't fill his stomach. He decided it was a good time to get something to eat.

Seemingly he didn't need to go out as someone came with a batch of cookies and sandwiches in a plate.

"Greetings dear, I missed you, seems you were busy"

Morgana smiled kindly at him. He smiled back thankful for the food. As he offered for her to sit she also took his hand sitting him close to her in the couch. Cid remembered the words she had said. She was intent on courting him.

"So, how you been? Please tell me about your recent adventures"

Cid chuckled as he took a cookie from the plate.

"Who said I had an adventure? As far as you know I was trapped in a cage"

Morgana chuckled.

"Stuff just seems to happen around you all the time, I am feeling like betting something interesting must have happened since our last chat"

And it indeed had happened. He went and told her all the stuff that had been going around, from Ionia to Noxus. From his recent meeting with the members of Freljord and of Poppy disguise. Morgana found herself chuckling at his stories.

"I would dare say Poppy holds you as a dear friend if she went to Noxus for you"

Cid nodded. Agreeing wholly about Poppy friendship. She was truly humble too.

"Yeah, she did, I wasn't expecting anyone to visit me in Noxus"

Morgana smiled.

"I wouldn't mind going with you on your weekly visits, it would give us a chance to chat out of the Institute"

Cid smiled at the fondness in her voice. Morgana was truly nice company.

"Thanks, I would appreciate having a friend with me on Noxus"

As he smiled he felt a kind pressure in his hand as he took notice of how Morgana was holding his hand. He felt funny with her hand holding his, before he could ask he was met with a cookie in front of him.

"Open wide, for me yes?"

Cid found himself embarrassed but did as told. As the cookie reached close to him he took a bite on it earning a smile from Morgana. She opened her mouth after him, taking notice she expected the same treatment he took a cookie and offered it to her, the embarrassment never really leaving him. This small exchange went in private on the walls of his office, the only witness being Koi. As the cookies and the small sandwiches went away Morgana sighed.

She had been enjoying their lunch. But sadly, the supply wasn't infinite.

"I was really enjoying this… I should have brought more"

Cid chuckled holding her hand.

"Well, this was fun for sure… different, but fun"

Morgana smiled closing the distance between them and kissing his cheek. The gesture took Cid by surprise. Morgana had that effect on him, on making him feel embarrassed.

"I had fun too… Cid, I would like to speak with you"

She focused her gaze on his eyes as she spoke.

"I heard from a source of your relationship with Ahri and Sona"

He was expecting the same conversation with Sona to repeat. He didn't expect what Morgana said.

"I will keep being the same way with you, if you keep being the same way with me, so whatever happens, know things between us won't change"

She smiled. Her white fangs a contrast of her aura of darkness. Cid was always curious about how Morgana dark aura always brought him a feeling of safety instead of fear. He was surprised and nodded.

"I will keep being the same always"

Morgana patted his cheek with a humming of approval.

"I know you will… just wanted to tell you that I wasn't going to change"

She stood up from the couch with grace as she went away she waved at him. Cid never understood why no one was able to see the caring side of Morgana.

With hunger away and feeling relaxed about his chat with Morgana he took to rest on his office. It was truly time for a well-deserved nap.

---

Jhin was many things. But the biggest one, he was an artist like no other. And it was a shame knowing that so much talent lacked in the Institute. They kept him in vigilance, and in a sense, always bored him. He had met the Maven of Strings, and the small group she was part of, the so called, Penta Kill… loud music alone it was.

He wanted to see someone who had a talent for painting, for the finer arts of ink.

That was what caught his attention of seeing a sketch in the hands of the queen of Freljord. The sketch was rough, it lacked certain aspects of beauty, but the technique in it was obvious.

It had been done quickly, throwing away beauty in exchange for an incredible amount of efficiency, it was a work of art, as much as it was a work of technique. It was beautiful because of the technique behind it rather than by the result itself.

He had to find the artist. Somewhere in the walls of the Institute was another artist. And he only had to ask a simple question to the queen.

"Excuse me your highness… who made that sketch?"

---

Needless to say, Cid was surprised when a man entered his office by kicking dramatically his door. He was more surprised at the sounds of the man who had seemingly taken all his sketches and took to observe them and judge them.

"The technique is impressive… years of practice must lie behind the traces… and this one, the technique is different… more time went into this than in the others, an obvious focus in the eyes… and this one, a different work from the usual yet the technique behind allows for a constant and steady trace… incredible"

Cid wasn't sure of many things of the masked figure. But he was sure of something. He had prosthetic limbs…

He was surprised as a hand stretched at him.

"My name is Khada Jhin, and is nice to see a fellow artist in this place"

Cid took his hand.

"Cid, but I am no artist, I am a therapist for the Institute"

Jhin chuckled as if he heard something funny.

"No need for humbleness, your art speaks for itself, allow me"

In a quick movement, Jhin got to work, and the more Cid observed the man he was sure that he seemed to walk too straight… how much of him was enhanced with prosthetics?

"There, take a look"

Cid was surprised at the speed and easiness with which Jhin had made a self-portrait of himself. Cid wasn't sure. But something was amiss with Jhin. He just wasn't sure what it was.

"Incredible"

Jhin made a small vow before clapping.

"Well, this is interesting, but if you want to see my art in perfection, please look at my match, and you will see how great my art is"

Cid nodded. He could sure go and see a match.

---

Seeing the match had given him an insight on the personality of Jhin. A psychopath. It was impressive, because he kept surprised at the changes in his attitude. His calculative demeanor, the way he moved, the way he planned for his shots, and the inhuman level of precision which he worked with. Jhin had turned killing into art. And he was a true artist in his field.

Jhin was a champion regarding skill level. But he wasn't one who inspired others, rather it was someone who pretty much brought fear in those who faced him. And he was a sociopath who enjoyed his presence. He felt a shiver on his spine.

A hand on his shoulder made him look away from the match.

"Shen?"

The ninja nodded and saw the screen. He spoke in his neutral voice.

"Is impressive. His level to master arts, yet his morbid fascinations have always been the cause of his deliriums… my father wrote all about him in his notes…"

Cid nodded.

"Mind if I give them a look?"

Shen seemingly gave a nod.

"Not at all… be careful therapist… the Golden Demon is truly an enigma…"

Cid nodded. As Jhin was kind with him he didn't doubt for a moment he could turn in a second… he had a lot to read.

---

The notes of Master Kusho offered a lot of insight not only regarding the man known as Khada Jhin, the Golden Demon, the self-called Virtuoso, but also it brought insight regarding Zed, the star pupil of Kusho and his son Shen…

The more he read the more he saw about the man known as Khada Jhin… but the bigger insight of the notes wasn't focused on the Golden Demon. No, the notes focused on someone else.

Zed…

"Oh Kusho… you saw it coming…"

Zed, a star in the sky, worthy of one day becoming the next master… his demeanor has changed… and I feel I have failed him. Resentment has bloomed in his heart regarding the mercy given to Khada Jhin…

I know that my choice might seem illogical… but there have been enough deaths already…

Maybe one day Zed will understand why I gave mercy to Khada Jhin.

I can only hope for the best.

Cid sighed at this. The notes kept going about how Zed changed with Shen, it seemed Shen was of quick wit and someone who was fun. But the four years in which they studied the cases of the Golden Demon ended up taking away his smile…

Cid sighed in thought. How many lives had changed in four years. Zed had lost his way, Shen lost his smile. And Kusho lost the will and would later end up losing his life to Zed…

So many events started from Jhin…

A particular note took his attention.

Khada Jhin seems shy and timid in the prison, yet the monks say he is a man of innates talents, there is nothing that he fails to understand or learn. His potential seems endless. If only he would focus on other arts and abandon his morbid fascination… he would become a force of good…

Cid left out a huff of breath. Kusho failed to notice the signs of Jhin psychopathic behavior. They were there, the thing about Jhin was that he just wouldn't change. He would need to truly change by himself. Because no exterior force would ever be able to make him change.

As Cid placed the notes in a safe place to give them later to Shen he heard a knock in his door.

"Enter, is open"

Khada Jhin took to enter. His mask hiding any expression, and his unnatural body language stopping any intent of knowing what he was planning.

"Hello, did you enjoy the match? I even offered you a particular piece of art in it"

Cid nodded. He knows what he meant.

"I saw the pattern in the bombs, you wrote my name"

Khada Jhin laughed in happiness. Or the closest it seemed to be happiness.

"I knew you would notice it, but of course, it would be hard for an artist to not notice a work of art"

Cid nodded. He had to admit, Jhin didn't seem shy at all. The years had changed the man.

"Indeed it was a work of art… those bombs have a rather… interesting way to explode"

Jhin nodded. Obviously proud of them.

"They are works of art themselves, just like my own weapon…"

Cid had to admit his weapon was a work of art.

"You got a great aim there, I was amazed at your shots"

Jhin gave a vow as an actor gives in a play.

"I live to please… now if you excuse me I feel like painting, maybe we could work together in a project"

Cid nodded.

"Maybe, we shall see, have a good day Jhin"

He nodded before going out.

"We shall see indeed, take care Cid"

As Jhin left the room Cid sighed.

"Come out, there is no use faking you are not here"

From the shadows of the room Zed appeared. He didn't look happy if his body language was anything to go by.

"Do you know who he is!?"

Cid sighed before revealing to Zed the notes of Kusho.

"I might as well ask the same, you know him even better than me I dare say"

Zed felt a knot in his throat at seeing the notes. He knew whose notes those were.

"Where…"

Cid kept silent before pointing to the file.

"Shen gave me this, so I could understand more of Jhin… he is a psychopath, but you already know that"

Zed nodded. His hands curling into fists, the rage was there.

"Why be kind with him?"

Cid sighed.

"I was being professional, Jhin has given me no reason to treat him in a hostile manner… plus acting hostile against him would earn me a bullet between the eyes… or worse…"

Zed rage went away in a moment as he took to sit on the couch.

"He didn't deserved mercy… Kusho was a fool"

Cid kept silent. He wanted to see where Zed was going.

"Four years…. Four years trying to understand… the things he did, the people… he had no right…"

Cid nodded.

"I took to notice you are highly efficient Zed… you take no pleasure in killing, do you?"

Zed seemingly kept quiet, but Cid could read his body language clearly. The tension of being caught.

"Is nothing but a tool for you… you kill if you must, but not because you enjoy it… and that's what make you different from Khada Jhin"

Zed removed his mask. Cid was surprised at the face of someone who couldn't be much older than he was. A face full of scars, the ninja had been in many fights…

"What makes me different? We both kill…"

Cid stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. Zed wasn't expecting the contact and felt surprised.

"Khada Jhin… kills and enjoys it… because to him is nothing but as if I sketched someone in paper… for Jhin the world is paper… and we are nothing but pigments for his brush… that gun of his"

Zed stayed in silence as Cid kept going.

"I got nothing to say that could justify his acts. But I will tell you Zed, that as long as you don't enjoy killing, you will never be like Khada Jhin… you are human"

Zed sighed before speaking.

"He is a monster… the day this place goes away… he will be free"

Cid nodded.

"Maybe. But that day you and Shen could stop him"

This surprised Zed. Before he could spoke Cid took the notes from the desk.

"This. The notes speak of your teamwork with Shen. Whatever happened before… I would like to believe that if the time comes, you two will stop Jhin"

Zed nodded. He knew he was right.

If things ever went out control… they would work together…

A smile grazed the man as he placed his mask back on place. He took a blade aiming it at the therapist.

"If you speak about this with anyone…"

Cid nodded.

"My lips are sealed, what was spoken here today is something I will never reveal… I will hide your more noble side of others Zed… but if it helps, take this advice"

Zed kept quiet, waiting for him to continue.

"If you got someone you care for… let them know. The people who we care for sometimes can offer us great advice, because at times, they also care for us, and we don't know it"

Zed vowed slightly. A sign of respect. And in a way, the closest he would get to a thank you.

In the shadows he faded once again. Leaving behind a therapist who took to make a sketch. He would draw him without his mask, probably no one would know who the sketch belonged to. After all, not many could say they saw the face of a shadow.

Who would believe such a thing?

---

Needless to say, Mordekaiser was having a hard time in the particular setting he found himself in. Pentakill was needed. At least, that's what the summoner had told him. But the thing is that Olaf was seemingly in the care of Soraka.

Not a problem, he would be better soon. But having practice without their drums would be hard. Still, Khartus also seemed to be in thought, on who only he would know. What truly had him worried was Sona.

Yorick was tuning his bass as Sona was seemingly playing lots of notes, whatever was happening the Maven of Strings seemed to be possessed.

Yorick had been clear with Mordekaiser.

"Let her be… she needs to let out all in her head"

Mordekaiser had taken notice of a change in his fellow band member, it had been noticeable as the man had suddenly become relaxed. He always carried a weight in him, similar to the weight one carries when thinking the route life has taken. And suddenly he wasn't. It had been a weird change.

And now with Sona being in a similar way he decided to speak.

"Okay, enough! It seems not all of us are focused. The PentaKill concert for the Institute will be in five days, and with Olaf under Soraka care we won't go anywhere today. So! All of you rest!"

Yorick nodded as he went away, pushing a in thought Khartus with him. Before Sona moved, she felt the metal grip of Mordekaiser stopping her.

"You, you need to go see whoever helped Yorick. Is obvious you are not focused"

Sona had her own way of speaking with Mordekaiser, this way was musical notes. As she played in dissonance to show her disapproval Mordekaiser didn't relent.

"You are going to see the therapist of the Institute, I am guessing he helped Yorick, so you go! And don't use that tone with me again!"

Sona sighed. Mordekaiser was right. She left her instrument in the room they used for practicing before going out.

She took the road to the therapist office. The office of her friend.

She was thinking on not knocking the door and simply wait for time to pass.

She didn't need to knock the door after all…

---

Luck wasn't on her side as the door opened revealing a therapist with surprise on his face.

"Oh, hello Sona… I was… going nowhere really… want to walk with me?"

She found herself nodding. Cid noted she seemed to be in thought. Without warning he took her hand and got both of them in his office.

"Okay, stop. You are never this quiet… what's wrong?"

Sona sat on the couch and had a downcast expression. As a child who knows they did bad and don't want to speak of it.

"I… I don't know"

Cid decided that this wasn't something with therapy, rather a situation in which a friend needed advice. He took to sit next to Sona on the couch.

"Is this related to what happened in Demacia?"

She nodded. She took to breath as if in thought before signing.

"I felt I was… a bit too hard on you"

Cid sighed and waved off her thoughts.

"You weren't hard… you just want someone who loves you, who is not afraid of saying it"

Sona looked at him with surprise before this time she waved him off. She started to make quick signs at him.

"No! Is not like that! I know you are not used at all to relationships…"

Cid was surprised at this and she kept going.

"You adapt on the go, you are always trying to help, but you are not good with shows of affection, you get embarrassed quickly, yet you accept any source of affection… you are alone. And you want someone who makes you company"

Cid let out a sigh as she described him.

"And that's all I want too. I want someone who is there, someone who knows I am there by their side, I want someone who is by my side without me needing to tell them to do it, someone who is there for me… just because he wants to be"

Cid smiled taking her hand.

"If it helps, you are my friend, and you will always have me by your side"

Sona had a small smile on her face before pulling him in a hug. Cid was surprised at the strength she had. The hug almost made him wince with how strong she was keeping him close to her. The message was clear.

"I care for you too"

Cid returned the hug and for a moment, the aura of the office was one full of warm. Sona let go of the hug with a smile on her face.

"Would you like to come to a PentaKill concert? I promise it will be fun"

Cid smiled nodding. It sounded interesting.

"Sure, who is PentaKill?"

Sona smiled proudly signing their names.

"Olaf is the drums, Mordekaiser as the lead guitar, Kharthus in the vocals, Yorick in the bass, and I am on the group with the chords of my instrument"

Cid chuckled. He only knew three members of the group, but it sounded like a rather metal band.

"Do you dress up when you play in the band?"

Sona smiled and nodded with emotion.

"I look the best of the group"

Cid nodded, and she smiled. She stood up and signed at him excitedly.

"The concert is in five days, I will get you tickets, that way you can bring Ahri and Riven too!"

He took notice how she seemed more relaxed than in the beginning. This brought a smile to him as he spoke something he had been thinking.

"I will give you the answer to your question in five days"

Sona eyes opened wide at this. She wasn't expecting for him to bring that up. She didn't mind, but it was surprising to hear him speaking of it. She could only wait for him to continue.

"I… I will have an answer by then, but whatever happens… I won't change the way I am with you, as long as you don't change either"

Sona smile was one soft, the smile of someone who has heard great news. She offered a last hug before going away saying nothing as she left.

Cid found himself with a smile on his face. The words of Morgana had brought him wisdom and in that wisdom the chance to make things right.

---

In Ionia, in a flying fortress a girl was juggling orbs around her with her power. She took notice of a figure coming from the shadows, but she knew who the figure belonged too without much trouble.

"Zed? What brings you here?"

Zed stayed in silence before walking to the light of the setting sun. Syndra wasn't worried, but she was curious of what would bring Zed up with her. After their mutual meeting with the therapist he had come to simply sit in close in her fortress. Sometimes he never spoke, or if he spoke it was a short question.

"Have you ever killed someone?"

The question was a curious one, but not one she wasn't against answering.

"Long ago… I didn't enjoy it"

Zed nodded. Trying to focus on his words.

"What do you know of the Golden Demon?"

Syndra face turned into anger. Few didn't know of the infamous Golden Demon.

"Enough as to know he is a living threat… being kept by powerful people on Ionia… why?"

Zed threw his thoughts out. Syndra was surprised, as she had never expected that Zed was one to speak so much, but what truly surprised her was his involvement regarding the Golden Demon.

"…Zed… are you well?"

He removed his mask. The gesture surprising Syndra as he took to vow in front of her.

"I need your help… I fear that one day Jhin will take on Ionia again… and I fear I might not make it alone"

Syndra had never seen the face of Zed, and she couldn't avoid approaching and trace with her hands through his scars.

Zed was expecting repulsion. Yet he received acceptance. Two people had seen his face, and neither of them showed fear of his face. Life was truly a mystery.

"Zed… I will help you in anyway I can when the time comes"

Zed let out a smile to show on his face as Syndra spoke. She smiled too at him. In a way, they had found a relief in the company of the other. Zed had an order of ninjas, but that wasn't the same as having company or friends. And Syndra lacked friends, and someone who could chat with.

The sovereign and the ninja had found a feeling of company in each other presence.

Syndra took to guide Zed to sit with her as they watched the sun setting on Ionia. From the fortress seeing the setting of the sun was incredibly peaceful. And it offered a relief of the day for Zed.

"Sometimes they care too…"

Syndra looked with curiosity at Zed who answered the question in her head.

"The therapist said that to me"

Syndra nodded laughing lightly.

"He is a weird one, isn't he? He has no place to call his own, and he moves around like if he ruled the world"

Zed ended sharing a laugh with Syndra. They just couldn't picture the therapist as owning anything. He had proved time after time that his biggest virtue, was his simplicity. He didn't look for luxury or reward, he did what he did for the act itself. A simple man, with simple wishes. A simple man who offered good advice.

Both chatted as the flying fortress kept moving traversing the night sky. They chatted of everything and anything. A dam had been released, and it flowed freely with knowledge of each other, their choices, their pasts, their presents, and the hopes for the future.

It simply was a time to forget who they were, and what each represented in the world, it was a simple time to reflect and enjoy the company of someone who could offer advice and company without judging.

As they kept their conversation the moon was in full, lighting the night sky.

"This… feels different"

Syndra voice broke the silence they had found each other in. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence by any means.

"Indeed… may I visit you more often?"

Syndra nodded. A smile grazing her lips.

"You can visit anytime… I could go look for you too, I think it wouldn't hurt to go down the fortress occasionally"

Zed found himself liking the idea.

He found himself really hoping for better days…

---

Final Part

Nagakabouros, keep in motion. The sad mummy.

A partner, a friend, someone who is willing to help us because they share our goals. What else could we ask for?

Cid expected many things on the mornings going to get something to eat, but he wasn't really expecting

"So, I would appreciate if you could get away from him…"

Cid had decided he would keep an open mind, you don't get as surprised about stuff if you consider that everything can happen. The world has many infinite possibilities and scenarios going around so is not that hard to picture a particular situation happening.

Yet while keeping an open mind that everything was possible he wasn't expecting to see the menacing woman protecting a taller man behind her. The man was trying to soothe her worries, but the woman who seemed to have a set of particular extra limbs didn't seem to get the hint.

"Xayah… don't worry, really let us go"

The girl named Xayah grunted never losing the sight of her enemy.

"Rakan… I won't let her get near you"

The other girl chuckled mocking her words.

"I won't let her get near you… Sure, how are you going to stop me?"

At this Cid coughed loudly earning the attention of everyone except for the girl named Xayah.

"Is there a problem? Going on? Should we call a summoner?"

Rakan seemed to be in thought, actually considering it, Xayah was still focused on the girl in front of her who had seemingly taken an interest in the one in front of her.

"Who might you be lady?"

Cid chuckled, he was used at the misconception of who he was in the mornings, he needed to get his hair cut.

"Is courtesy for the gentleman to present himself first wasn't it?"

At this the girl smiling making a small vow.

"Evelynn, at your service"

He nodded speaking politely.

"Cid, therapist for the Institute, now what if we all go our separate ways?"

The name made Evelynn reconsider her thoughts as well as focusing better on him.

"Ah, my apologies, I thought you were a woman"

Cid smiled while nodding at her.

"Common mistake"

The whole time Cid had kept the attention of Evelynn he had made signs with his hand, trying to make Rakan go away. The tall vastaya got the hint and took Xayah away smiling. Cid could only found himself feeling happy for them, it was obvious the vastayas were a couple.

When Evelynn took notice of the steps she looked at him with a hint of anger.

"Why mess in the problems of others?"

Cid chuckled shrugging at her question.

"A therapist is paid for caring of the problems of others, I will always help people with the tests they find themselves in"

"That's a good answer!"

Both Evelynn and Cid looked at the direction of the voice, they came to see a tall woman with dark skin, she looked strong and was carrying what looked like a head of gold. It was a weird shape, it looked like an artifact. Her body language spoke of her pride and how confident she was.

"That's a good answer you gave therapist…"

She looked at Evelynn.

"And you should know better than to cause problems, or do you feel like getting tested again?"

She raised the artifact over her shoulder and Cid took notice of how Evelynn seemed to shudder in the presence of the tall woman.

"Now, go if you don't want to be tested!"

Evelynn seemingly grunted in anger before going away, fading from their sight. Before Cid could thank the woman for her help she placed her hand on his shoulder making him almost fall at the strength she had.

"Is good to meet you therapist! I heard about you!"

Before Cid could speak she gave him a pat on the back, sending him to the floor, the woman was strong.

"I am Illaoi, Priestess for Nagakabouros"

Nagakabouros.

The serpent head surrounded by tentacles, all in motion. With no beginning and no end. He had read a brief article written by Ezreal regarding the religion of the Great Kraken. Ezreal had given no names but offered a small information on Nagakabouros and his presence.

"Cid, therapist for the Institute"

Illaoi smiled as she helps him stand from the floor. She looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"Impressive, your body is weak, but your spirit is strong, have you ever been tested before?"

Cid was about to ask her before she continued.

"Has life placed you on a test? A situation in which there was no right answer, rather the answer was to keep in motion?"

Cid tried to remember, his memories focusing on the battlefield, focusing on the fact he always moved.

"I guess I have been on situations like that"

Illaoi nodded.

"Your spirit has become strong through being tested, but it still could grow more"

She smiled.

"Keep up in motion, and never forget the universal truth of Nagakabouros"

Cid nodded before asking.

"What truth is that?"

Illaoi smiled, she loved sharing her faith with others.

"Every spirit was born to serve the universe; desire was built into every living being in the universe, and the most important, the universe only moves towards its destiny when living creatures chase their desires. Always stay in motion Cid, and your spirit shall keep strong"

Cid nodded and offered thanks at her. Illaoi offered him the chance to be tested should he ever feel like trying.

"I will keep it in mind, thanks Illaoi"

She smiled while walking away with her relic.

"You are welcome, stay in motion! Never stop moving!"

Cid found himself smiling at the words of the titanic woman. She was strong, but it was obvious her strength was nothing compared to her strength in her faith to Nagakabouros. Cid found himself liking her advice. Keep in motion, never stop moving.

---

When Cid saw a mummy walking around he didn't thought it was weird. When he took notice of how no one dared be close to the mummy he then understood something was wrong. So he took to ask one of the summoners what was going.

"That's Amumu… if you touch him chances are you will start corroding, his touch carries a heavy curse"

Cid nodded. Looking at the dejected fellow.

"Nothing can touch him?"

The summoner nodded.

"Nothing alive at least"

Cid took note of that before approaching the mummy.

"Amumu?"

The sad mummy took to look at him with a questioning glance. Cid could see the sadness he moved with.

"I need a hand with something, mind coming?"

Amumu nodded. Sadness still around him. He was feeling curious as to why the man asked him for help. He wasn't a summoner, he wasn't wearing a robe so he wasn't a summoner. Amumu kept going behind him, soon they reached the library.

"Nasus! You here?!"

Amumu was surprised at how he had just screamed in the library, soon Nasus came out with a expression of fun in his face.

"There are better ways too look for me Cid"

Cid smiled before nodding.

"They aren't as fun or fast, I was wondering if you could point me to a book on curses"

Nasus nodded guiding them both to a direction.

Cid was careful, if what the summoner had said was true, Amumu could simply end his life with a touch.

"Okay Amumu, you are going to help me, get as many books as you can and get them here, that's all"

Amumu nodded. He was curious as to what they were trying, and he didn't mind helping someone. Solitude could be lonelier than death. So he would make the best of the chance of being close to someone.

Amumu brought books upon books, Nasus was curious as to what Cid was trying and figured it quickly. He wanted to see if there was a curse like Amumu recorded in the books. Sadly the ascended warrior sighed he knew well there was no similar case to Amumu.

"Nothing… man sorry Amumu, I kept you here bored"

Amumu denied this with his head as he looked at Cid.

"You didn't kept me bored… this is the closest I have been to someone in long"

Cid found himself smiling with sadness. Cid had seen sick people before, and people would often abandon them and let them to their luck. Amumu touch was death, and this was saddening. For Cid could tell the small mummy probably was looking for a friend all the time…

"Still, sorry, I wish I could help you"

Amumu waved him off. He carried a lot of sadness but Cid saw the small relief in the mummy.

"Just… chatting is enough"

Cid sighed.

"I am afraid I got no magical talents, I thought maybe there was something they didn't saw… guess that was just wishful thinking on my part, I mean… if all the magical heads didn't found a solution, what hope I had of doing it"

He let himself fall on the chair of the library. Amumu simply spoke with a voice that was laced with something different than sadness.

"But you tried… no one had tried…"

Hope.

"Everyone just… tried to recreate it… but no one tried to see if there was something similar…"

Before Cid could speak the voice of Nasus expressed his thoughts.

"Is far easier to ignore the things around us and fake they don't happen. Few are those who dare to get involved, or even try to look for a solution. Don't look down upon yourself. You are too young for it"

Cid chuckled. Of course he would seem young to the ascended warrior.

"I just wish there was a solution… no one should be treated like you are"

Nasus took notice of the tone in his voice and nodded.

"You know what is like right?"

Cid sighed looking at Amumu who was expectant to hear the story.

"Yeah… yeah I know"

No one dared approach him, why would they? He had failed. He had gone with everyone and came alone. Without honor and without a leg. A cripple to the eyes of everyone, but worse, a pariah in their eyes.

He simply wasn't a citizen anymore, he was less than a beggar. And sadly, he could do nothing, only stay still and hold as best as he could. Try to ignore their comments and keep moving forward. What else was there to do?

No one would help him. And so he walked, alone in a city that no longer felt like home.

"I was hoping maybe there was a solution…"

Nasus chuckled lightly.

"You placed an effort, and for now that is enough… look"

He looked at the direction Nasus pointed and took to see how Amumu had seemingly left them as he took to read.

"He has never read before. And differently from you, he is immortal, Amumu will find his own answer"

Cid sighed looking at Amumu reading.

"Who knows… but I hope he does indeed"

Nasus took to take a book and showing it to Cid.

"Do you know this book?

Cid took a look at the cover and read the simple title.

A chain made of solitude.

Cid nodded. It was a rather known book.

"The story of a man whose solitude linked his spirit as to never rest right?"

Nasus nodded.

"A horrible book, bad characters, and pretty much a horrible work of fiction"

Cid chuckled. Opinions were always varied. Nasus continued his speech.

"Yet, the point in the book is that the chains of solitude broke when someone was willing to offer help. Look at him"

Cid looked again at Amumu, reading, in silence and sadness, but looking slightly better.

"His curse doesn't allow for contact. We tend to forget how valuable the ability to make contact with others is…friends, family, lovers, all of them share their touch. And Amumu is unable of that. Yet with words you have done more than others"

Cid sighed and took to look at Nasus with curiosity.

"You tried to help him before?"

The ascended warrior chuckled.

"Tried, but didn't work, yet your words reached him… maybe he saw something in you that he couldn't find in me"

Cid nodded.

"He knew I understood loneliness"

Nasus looked with curiosity expecting a better explanation.

"Lonely people are good at knowing when people are feeling lonely, because they are experts at loneliness"

Nasus nodded in thought.

"That is not your case anymore right? I mean… I think everyone has heard of your relationship issues"

Cid sighed. He wasn't expecting that from Nasus.

"How do rumors go around him so fast?"

Nasus kept a smile in his features as he chuckled.

"There is not much fun in the Institute, whenever something slightly interesting happens, you can bet everyone will listen and everyone will tell it others"

Cid found himself shrugging.

"What's next, having bets on it?"

Nasus nodded.

"Indeed, there are bets going around, I find myself betting on the Maven of Strings"

Cid looked with disbelief at Nasus, he expected that from others, but not from him. As if reading his thoughts Nasus chuckled again. He had been laughing a lot at the cost of the therapist.

"Is a casual bet, Yorick is also supporting Sona, and if you must know I heard from a reliable source that Lux placed one on Ahri"

Cid wanted to ask about this reliable source but before he could ask anything he heard Amumu calling for him.

"Could I chat with you… again?"

Cid nodded smiling at the small mummy who had placed his book down for a moment.

"Look for my office, and we will chat as much as you want"

Amumu expression was hard to read, but Cid could see the happiness radiating from him. He nodded fast before going back to his book. Cid looked at Nasus wanting to ask about the reliable source before Nasus pointed to the entrance of the library.

"I would dare say your time in the library has ended. Someone has come to pick you up it seems"

When Cid looked at the entrance of the library he found himself looking at Ahri waving at him. A smile plastered on her face as she had a fishing cane in her left hand. It was obvious what she felt like doing.

"I guess I will go fishing Nasus… but this is far from over, I want to know who was spreading all the rumors"

Nasus found himself laughing.

"They are rumors Cid, in a place with over the hundreds, good luck trying to pinpoint the source"

Cid looked with a smile at Nasus.

"Was it you by any chance?"

Nasus let out a chuckle.

"Maybe. Who knows"

Both were brought back to the presence of Ahri as she coughed loudly to earn their attention. Cid nodded at her before waving at Amumu and Nasus.

"I will see you all later"

Nasus and Amumu nodded. As the therapist left, the ascended warrior took to take a sit close to Amumu reading a book himself. He couldn't really offer much on conversation to the sad mummy. But he could offer a form of companionship by reading close to him.

And in a way, that was enough.

---

As Ahri had taken to link her arm with Cid as they walked outside and reaching for the lake, she was feeling great. The bets on her were going well, so far, she dared say they were almost even. Some Champions decided to not enter the betting pool. But she wasn't feeling great because of the silly bet going around the champions.

She was feeling great because she found herself in the company of someone she cared, and while she would have loved to stay with only him, she had planned something funnier.

"Here we are!"

Cid found himself smiling as he took to see Sona and Riven already fishing, Jax was there too and Wukong and someone else was with him. Everyone had fishing canes as they were simply enjoying the place, Wukong took to look behind and saw them.

"Master! Look he is my rival!"

Cid chuckled, so that was the master of Wukong.

"Greetings, Wukong has spoken about you before, thanks for keeping an eye on him"

Cid nodded. While jokingly waving him off.

"Oh, it was nothing, he also often speaks of you"

Yi helmet had many lenses, and while they all seemed to focus on many things, Cid knew they were reading him.

"Oh, good things I hope"

Cid nodded and took to sit near one of the fishing canes that were in place.

"So what brought so many people here? Nami won't get mad?"

Jax laughed from the far side.

"She is already on this lake making sure the fish don't get near, but she doesn't know that is no obstacle against my ability"

Cid took to see Riven had been focused on the lake and so was Sona, before he could ask Wukong spoke.

"They entered a small competition, whoever gets a fish first wins, seeing as Nami is keeping them afar is a hard competition, but Nami said she would let a big fish get near as long as we released it back"

Cid nodded as the words of Wukong made him smile. It was good that everyone was having fun.

"Well, we better get ready ourselves"

As Ahri sat in the ground near the lake she patted the spot next to her, Cid took to sit and took the cane Jax had offered him. And by saying offered, it meant he had simply let it on the floor for anyone to pick.

A moment of peaceful silence went by as everyone just stayed in the lake. A moment in which everyone was sharing the relaxing aura of the lake.

A moment in which Cid remembered that he wasn't alone.

Not anymore.

---

CUT! Golly chapter, there were many ideas, many advices, and I will take them all into the future, but for now I took the most I could use in here. This ended up being longer than expected, thanks everyone, and by everyone, I mean everyone:

Josie, Valguien, Disturbato, 24th Collusus, john19i, badvarusmain, DoctorateinPepper, MarteUltore, Llike, Oddroof, Clemerl, Loner Soul, LordGhostStriker, oh also thanks Kaminari Ikazuchi and all the guests who have commented before, thanks everyone.

See ya all on the next chapter when we will get to see Varus and Warwick.

Chapter 26: An arrow carries will and intent. What's your goal?