(Lux - PoV)
I look up at the big, dark, spiky, gothic manor.
The exact same big, dark, spiky, gothic manor that the Red Witch lives in in the Black Rose comics.
Brother, by the gods, your stupid obliviousness is going to get us sacrificed to a Demon God in some kind of weird murder orgy.
You are so very lucky my lasers are no longer on the fritz.
...
Well, I suppose we could maybe go ahead and let the orgy part go through? Kat is kinda hot...unless the Demon God joins in with tentacles.
No tentacles.
Once inside, yes, ok, I admit, it is tasteful as fuck. I rather like the place in all honesty, but I can't admit that because, again, it looks just like the fucking comic. There is absolutely No Fucking Way this is a coincidence.
Now, I just have to try to remember where that secret door is...
(Garen - PoV)
Lux has been surprisingly quiet the trip over, barely even paying attention to the city. I expected her to be more interested in wandering the streets of Noxus. I worry she is still dwelling on Kat. The sheer suspicion in her gaze as she examines every part of the manor doesn't help.
Entering the sitting room I try to put her down but, no, she still refuses to let go, forcing me to sit with her in my lap. I can't see it, but I can feel the smug grin she shoots at Kat, who drops herself almost lazily into a chair.
Thankfully, Kat merely rolls her eyes dismissively, reclining backward with her feet propped up on a desk, toying with various sharp objects.
We sit in silence for a moment. Lux glaring at Kat, Kat smirking at Lux.
Gods damnit you two, I am good at breaking things, not fixing them!
"So...what next?" I ask Lux.
Seriously sister, tell me what to do. I am a soldier, give me orders.
Other than stab Kat because a comic book told you she was a witch.
...
This is my life now.
...
I squeeze my arms slightly, hugging Lux closer.
I can live with it.
The girl in my arms points at Kat.
"Show me the ritual chamber!" she demands, ruining the moment.
I sigh.
Kat raises an eyebrow.
"Not a mage," She replies dismissively. "I don't have a ritual chamber."
"I don't believe you. And not mage, witch!" Lux insists.
Kat rolls her eyes again.
"And why, exactly, are you so convinced I am a witch?"
"The comics told me so!" Lux announces without shame.
Sister. Please.
"Comics. Really." Kat states drily. "And what exactly makes these, comics, so convincing? So much more so than all the other Demacian propaganda nonsense you have been fed?"
Lux flushes but rallies forth. She rarely knows when to give up.
"They keep getting things right! Things Demacians don't know! They had the mirrors, and how to activate them, and the password, and the streets of Noxus, and your Manor, even the decorations inside!"
The bit about the mirrors certainly catches her attention, but the comics matching her interior decorations causes Kat to freeze. "Come again? You said these comics showed the inside of my manor? Correctly?"
"Yes! So I know the truth, witch! And I'll prove it!"
Lux jumps from my lap, takes my hand, and drags me through the house.
Kat rises, almost gliding after the two of us.
Lux rushes along, leading me to a secondary staircase, where she fiddles with a candle...opening a hidden doorway, revealing a hidden set of stairs leading below.
What. The. Fuck.
I turn to look at Kat, who is staring wide-eyed.
"How...fucking how..." she whispers under her breath.
"See! See! I told you Brother I told you! The comics were right! She's a witch! The ritual room is right here!" I can feel her literally bouncing up and down beside me, pointing a finger at Kat.
Who...certainly has some serious explaining to do.
What the hell is going on?
Lux suddenly stops bouncing, and again, I can feel her glare. "No sudden moves missy or you get the lasers!"
...Lux's pointing fingers are suddenly a whole lot more dangerous.
Kat gapes like a fish for a few moments, a look I certainly never expected to see on her, before placing her hand on her face and shaking her head.
"Right...ok...focus, figure it out later." I hear her mutter to herself.
"Ok," She addresses us. "So, I have no idea what the fuck is going on, or why some Demacian comic artist thinks I am a witch. Or how they know...anything. That doesn't lead to a ritual room, that leads to a hidden armory and prep room."
"I don't believe you!" Lux insists.
"You are more than welcome to check."
"Go down into the ritual room? And get tentacled? No thank you!"
Tentacled?
"We are at something of an impasse then. I don't know how to prove myself otherwise. But there are no magic rituals or anything else down there. I am an assassin, and proud of it. I have never been anything else. Everything down there helps me towards that job, and nothing else."
I am grateful to Kat for remaining calm and collected in this...difficult situation. For all Lux's bravado...Kat is far, far too fast for Lux to have any chance against her. But I think Kat knows that I would have to side with Lux. No matter what.
"Lux, we can check it out."
"What!?"
"You have me with you Lux, you don't have to worry about getting...whatevered."
"...Ok fine. But if anything goes wrong I am turning this entire place into a crater. Then we can fill it in and make a swimming pool. A huge swimming pool. And have a beach party. With tiny swimsuits. And you have to wear a speedo for dragging us down here. And rub lotion on me."
I think this scenario has gotten away from her entirely.
"Lux. Hidden basement. We are checking it out."
"Right. Ok. I got your back!" she declares with enthusiasm, cocking her fingers like pistols. This is going to be a thing, isn't it?
I gesture to Kat for her to lead the way, following after.
We descend the stairs and find...exactly what Kat described. Crates, racks of weapons, mannequins, various supplies. It looks more like a tiny cramped warehouse than anything else.
Lux is crestfallen, rummaging through the various boxes, looking for...I don't think even she has any idea what she is looking for.
Kat leans against the wall smugly.
"Satisfied?" she asks.
"Yes." I nod at her. "I apologize for the suspicion. The wall rather...caught me off guard."
She grimaces. "Yes, that very much caught me by surprise as well. Someone has a lot of questions to answer."
Lux stands up and lets out a huff.
"Ok!" she announces, spinning around to face us.
Kat turns her attention to her.
"You probably are not a witch. Probably! I will be keeping my eye on you, but for now, you are in the clear!"
"My relief is limitless." Kat's voice is entirely deadpan.
"There is another very important question I need answered, however!"
"Oh?"
"Umm," Lux hesitates, looking embarrassed. "Where is your bathroom? The comics never showed..."