(Garen - PoV)

I am actually grateful to our family for once, at least in some small, tiny measure as I stand clutching my giggling, damaged sister. The natural mask they instilled into me is the perhaps only thing keeping me from joining her in breaking down like a madman.

I have never felt such a storm of emotions. Towering rage, fear, hurt, betrayal, relief, love, everything. It seems impossible to separate them all. How do people endure this?

Fear for Lux.
Love, for Lux of course.
Hurt, and betrayal, for what those FUCKING BA-.

I slowly unclench my fists.

For whatever was done to Lux.

Relief, in knowing that my actions were beyond any shadow of a doubt justified.

In truth? I have been conflicted. Now, I haven't felt regret, not for a moment. Lux is worth it. But the conflict was always there, always gnawing away at the back of my mind. Attempting to undermine me. Making me question if I was really doing the right thing.

What if she would have been better off in the academy? What if I was wrong? What if I was not only betraying my country and breaking my oaths, but ruining her future as well with my doubt and poor decisions?

Once more, my own hysterical laughter threatens to bubble up. That question is fucking answered loud and clear.

All that golden glitz and shine. The pure white statues, and fountains, and gleaming marble. The poems, and books, and paintings, and fucking comic books. The speeches, the sagas, the promises. All. Those. Fucking. LIES!

Despite my rage, my arms remain rock steady around Lux's thin shoulders as we stand in the muck. At least the training worked. They need their good, iron-disciplined soldiers.

Years defending lies, a lifetime, really. How easily I was duped, even when I could see it all around me.

How they molded us into good little tools, to break anyone who didn't do whatever they demanded, and I ignored it. I saw how anyone who didn't conform was removed, and I ignored it. I saw and admired all the unique and interesting people we encountered...and then crushed them under my boot without question like a good little soldier.

I fought the wars, posed for the pictures, made the speeches. I spent years wandering the world putting down all who resisted, so that the fucking bastards who had the gall to call themselves my family back home, so that all the people that I fought my hardest to protect, could try to crush the will of my little sister behind my back the moment I left.

Then when she wouldn't submit to their cruelty...it's been mere days and even I of all people can see her mind breaking. By all that is right in this world, what did they do to her? WHAT DID THEY DO TO HER!?

The nearest tree splits down the middle before I can reign in my will, drawing a curious stare from Lux. I have no idea what's going through her head. There is...entirely too much going on in there.

Damn them, and damn myself. The hero is supposed to arrive in the nick of time. I spent half my life being called a hero, and the moment I am needed, the moment it counted...I had years, and I came back days too late. In the end, I was nothing more than another blood-soaked conqueror, with a good PR team.

I was given so much time to realize it, to see the truth and come back for you Lux, but I didn't. I was too damn blind and stupid. You know that, you know better. Shit like this is why I need you. Gods damnit, I cannot fucking lose you, I just fucking got you back!

I...I...I have to focus. This is not the time to stand around lamenting the past, whatever is going on is too rapid. Lux needs help now.

I look down on Lux's tired face before picking her up, princess carry of course. She doesn't complain, instead settling against me. I don't know if it is a good sign or not how quiet she has gotten.

I close my eyes and harden my resolve. I will help her get the help she needs. There can be no other potential outcome. This worrying was pointless. Move soldier!

The question is, should I head straight to town or stick with the caravan? I can make it to the town faster on my own. Is there any reason to stick around? Not really, no. And Lux needs help as soon as possible. Running it is. I will at least inform them before I leave, it will only take a moment and Carnos did right by us, he deserves that much.

(Carnos - PoV)

The carts are still in place, and most of the boys are drinking something, even if I made sure at least a few are keeping an eye out. The "we're somehow not dead" celebration is in full swing, with the civies joining in as well with whatever they have on hand.

Technically we really should get moving, but even I'm not enough of a hardass to insist on it after surviving certain death. Really, the gods seem to be fucking with us. Throw us in the fire then yank us back out without warning, not that I don't appreciate the save. Speaking of, here comes the man of...the...hour. Fuck. Back into the fire we go?

Someone has made a serious fuck up and is going to die for it. I can tell just looking at him.

I fucking hope our celebrations were not premature, and that we are not about to get massacred by our new hero.

That said, considering he is carrying his sister now I would assume it involves her, and none of my boys are that kind of stupid. I do not tolerate any of that sort of shit.

I keep steady as he approaches, trying to act casual. Fuck it's a bitch to keep from shaking, even if he doesn't seem to be looking to tear me a new asshole today. Man is way beyond anything I've ever dealt with.

"Carnos," he addresses me. "I am sorry for lying about our names." No surprises there, or offense taken.

"I am Garen Crownguard, my sister is Luxanna Crownguard." Holy shit. Well, that explains a lot. Fucking Champions play on a completely different level.

"We are defecting from Demacia." I'm sorry, what?

"The academy did something to her. She needs help, and quickly. " Fucking what?

"We are leaving. Good luck."

With that, he turns and fucking blurs away. By the fucking gods.

...

First things first, having finished the fancy shit, I crack open a new bottle of my regular Not-Gragas knockoff, because I am not nearly drunk enough. The Ionians may make tasty shit but it was weak as all fuck, I shoulda expected it. Luckily no one has the balls to come up and question me yet cuz I am not in the mood to talk to idiots right now.

Ok, secondly, well, that answers a few questions. And brings up a few more, like why is he suddenly talking like a rock, and "Who the fuck is that godsdamn stupid?" I hiss.

Really, fucking with a Champion's baby sister? Do they have a death wish? By Kled's blood-stained ballsack there are things you just do not do in this world and damn near the top of that list is "Anything that pisses off a Champion." Fucking Jenkins, Lamb rest his soul, wasn't nearly that stupid.

I sigh.

Really I know the answer. I've seen the type before. Hells, they are the reason I am here now. Why me and my old mates jumped ship after the carnival of gods forsaken horrors that was Ionia.

Arrogance.

Almost certainly pure fucking arrogance.

Some stupid, petty, limp dick bastard thought he could get away with it, and now...now a whole fuckton of people are going to die. I've seen that look before, on far too many faces. He may focus on saving his sister first, but after? Garen will want his revenge. And I doubt even the gods can help us if she can't be saved.

When a dangerous man has resolved himself to revenge more than a few people can die. A Champion is...quite a bit beyond that. And defecting? Fuck, he is going to join Noxus. Oh gods fucking damn it all, this whole fucking continent is going to drown in blood, isn't it? We are certainly going to lose cities...I would run but is there even anywhere I could run to?