(Albert Laurent, Demacian Noble Duelist and Treasurer - PoV)
The council is in full attendance, having received word of Vayne's return to the city.
The fact she did so alone is either a good sign or a potentially bad one.
Rumors of her condition imply the latter, but that was honestly expected. Garen wasn't referred to as the "Might of Demacia" for no reason, after all.
No, I can't say I expected her to kill or capture that particular monster, though it is nice to dream about. But in the end, just killing the girl should be plenty sufficient for my needs. It will undoubtedly enrage the stupid brute into doing something foolish, and drive the Crownguard name even further into the dirt, thus rising the Laurent status ever higher.
Really, I have no idea what caused the boy to commit his initial act of stupidity, but I all but danced for joy when I heard the news! Normally I have to work so hard to destroy my enemies, it is wonderful when they slit their own throats. Saves my purse the costs. Good assassinations don't come cheap, you know?
The rumors that the girl had to be dragged from her home to the academy after she was found out to be a mage certainly aren't helping the Crownguard reputation. I have made sure they are being spread far and wide, who cares if they are true? I've added a few more about proscribed artifacts being discovered in her room, and signs her parents abusing her. Perhaps something about collecting Noxian souvenirs next? Really just throw everything at them, a bit of it is bound to stick.
The Crownguards have sat so smug in their position at the top of society, and for so long. By the time I am through with them their name will be worth mud. Noxian mud.
And into this void will rise the Laurent family. Demacia even finds itself in need of a new Champion, and we just so happen to have a candidate. My lovely daughter Fiora.
Yes, the gods favor is upon us.
The great doors slamming open interrupts my musings, as the dark bitch herself stalks in. I'd say her anger is a poor sign as well, but I have never seen her any other way.
Striding to the middle of the room she says nothing, instead slowly turning around, glaring at each of us.
"Vayne. Report." Tianna demands.
The two woman stare off, glaring at each other.
Yes, Crownguard, please. Piss the Champion off even more, perhaps she will kill you off for me. Less of your cursed line will do wonders for the world.
"I tracked the targets down to the central wastes," Vayne eventually bites out venomously. Pity, for a moment it looked like she would kill Tianna right here in front of the Council. Well, Jarvan likely would have intervened, but it would have been quite the show.
"Found them in the ruins of Janusville. In the company of a group of Noxians." she spits out.
Ohhhh, yes. I glance around the room. Jarvan's eyes are closed and he looks to be in pain, Tianna and her husband look ready to kill. Yes, no one is happy about this development...well, except me I suppose. Really people, get on the ball.
"The Noxians weren't an issue, just the usual fodder. I could, however, have used some vital, need to know information, from the Council." She repeats her earlier glares, especially at the head of the Mageseekers, Gerald Crownguard.
What's this about then? The Crownguards screwed up again? Do tell, do tell.
"Information such as the fact that Lux is in fact a Champion level fucking mage," she hisses.
...What? I certainly haven't heard anything about that, Champions are always major news.
Looking around, everyone seems surprised at this revelation.
"Nonsense," Gerald Crownguard denies. "There have been no sig-"
Vayne rips off her cloak, revealing half her body covered in hideous, weeping burns and blisters. Ouch, that does look rather painful. I would almost feel sympathy, you know, if she wasn't such a vicious bitch. Certainly better her than me.
"I started the fight with Garen, and ignored the girl. I was told by someone," she glares harder than ever at Gerald, "that she was suppressed. And then, partway through the fight, she starts leveling the city."
Vayne steps back, fixing her cloak. She looks around the room, watching each of us for a reaction. I for one am not sure how to react to that information, other than to find it rather concerning, Did she kill the chit or not?
And if not...Noxus getting one Champion is certainly not good, but manageable. But two?
I grimace. Then again they are both Crownguards...hrm.
"It's gone by the way. Janusville. She destroyed everything." Vaynes voice is completely level as she continues to survey the room. "If it had been a populated area? She would have killed thousands. And she kept going."
Looking back to Gerald she continues.
"I have more experience fighting mages than damn near anyone alive, and I barely survived. Tell me nonsense again. Say it." she dares him.
Yes, please Gerald, say it. The Crownguards seem to be making all kinds of stupid mistakes lately, please, what's one more?
Gerald remains silent. Glaring, but silent.
No one is willing to doubt Vayne's expertise on the matter. Her sanity, her stability, her attitude, but not her capability.
A pity.
"Eventually, she did run out of power, and collapsed," Vayne continues her report once it is clear no one will challenge her.
"Garen intervened before I could finish her, and the two of us dueled again. I am confident I would have got her eventually, but of course his new Noxian friends had to intervene. That bitch Katarina jumped in to help him."
The room fills with murmurs, and I can barely restrain my excitement. Katarina? His supposed greatest rival? Oh yes, I can spin this so easily! The rumors write themselves...
"At that point, I finally had to retreat. I am good but I can't fight the supposed best of Noxus and Demacia. Not after having to fight one of the most powerful mages I've ever encountered as well. Maybe things would have been different if I had proper intel, but, well, I suppose it was rather foolish of me to expect the Council to actually know what they were talking about for once," she sneers.
Really, most people at least pretend to have respect for these morons. Then again most people can't massacre troop divisions, or more importantly wipe out manors full of armed guards.
"I notice," Jarvan speaks up, "that you speak as if you were aiming to kill from the start. And there at the end, after Lux collapsed. Were you not ordered to take them alive?" he asks, voice like iron.
Oh right, I forgot we were pretending that was something we wanted.
Vayne looks at him like an idiot. "Please, no one here is that stupid. You don't send me to chase down a target you want alive." She waves a hand, indicating the room "They knew what they were doing when they choose me for the mission. And you know it too, don't pretend otherwise. You want to complain about it, then bitch at them. I have other things to do."
She turns and stalks out of the room, ignoring all protests.
Jarvan glares after her, but makes no move to stop her. Instead he turns to the rest of us. Oh great, now we get to deal with the moralizer. Good thing I practiced my regretful face when I heard he had returned to the city. Now, what exactly was the reasoning I had rehearsed? Something something greater good?
Oh whatever, I just have to deflect to Tianna. She will butt heads with him and they will forget all about me. Then I sit back and watch the show. It is so much easier to let your enemies fight each other.