(Katarina - PoV)

I barely dodge the downward sweep.

Garen and I are sparring again, and once more he seems to have notably improved overnight. I don't understand how he seems to keep improving in sudden spurts instead of steadily. It also mildly stings my pride that he barely pays attention to my body, but damn is it impressive.

I am still holding back a bit, but far less than last time. If I moved that slowly I would have already lost. I do have to keep things interesting after all.

As usual, he doesn't even seem to notice my cuts and slices, simply bulldozing through everything I throw at him. Unfortunately, I have no room for petty taunts in this fight. It is actually something of a challenge to stay away from his heavy blade.

I shunpo behind him, slice his back, duck under his reflexive spin, slide bac- fuck, he tripped me! He rarely uses his legs like that in a fight, I did not expect it.

No problem, I jump back to my feet and -

He's got my hair. Oh cra-

He yanks me back towards him, before body slamming me to the ground.

Fucking ow.

And now he is on top of me, pressing me into the ground, his hand on my throat, face directly above mine.

Well, hello there.

I do believe I made a promise before did I not?

(Garen - PoV)

We are all a lot more relaxed after our, uh, workout session.

It is a much calmer group that makes its way to Sinful Succulence for Lux's first training session, her glowing false wings attracting a great deal of attention along the way. I don't expect it to turn out the way ours seem to keep doing. Not the first one at least.

Some of the looks she gets along the way make me reconsider. We have to stop for a moment in one of the busier streets when some damned bastard actually makes an attempt to grab at the trailing light. Reaching into the crowd and picking him up with one hand, I give him one of my best glares.

"And just what, exactly, do you think you are doing to my little sister?"

The entire area goes dead silent.

"I...I...uh...umm..."

"NO." He passes out.

I drop his unconscious body on the ground.

People keep their distance after that.

...

Idiots. Back on topic, I am not sure how I feel about future sessions. I...have less anger than I did earlier. I know it is unfair to hate her quite so much, to judge her so harshly without really talking to her about things. It is just...everyone who is supposed to have helped Lux has failed her so badly, myself included. And while she is at least helping her now, it is for her own, selfish reasons.

Then again, I suppose you could argue the same about me? I don't know. People are hard.

I sigh. Hitting things is so much easier.

We finally reach her shop and she ushers us inside. It is hard to be angry at her seeing how happy she is to see Lux. Seeing how she practically fawns over her, how she adores her.

She...really does need this.

And Lux seems to be enjoying the attention and abusing the chance to be stuffed with sweets.

I lean against the window and smile softly at the scene. It is like watching her being indulged by a doting older sister.

I sigh as I note Lux take an opportunity to bury her face in Morgana's chest. Perhaps not quite the usual sisterly affection, not that I have any room to talk. At least she didn't grab her ass as well.

...

I hope she didn't grab her ass as well.

"I do believe that we will need to get to the actual training soon if you are to fit down the stairs," Kat eventually needles Lux.

Lux turns towards her and glares in indignation. It is not very effective with her cheeks puffed up, filled with cake.

Morgana chuckles. "She may have a point, little one. Your practice will only be that much harder with a stomach ache."

She grimaces but eventually acquiesces, and we descend to the magic study.

The training is, honestly, rather boring. Nothing flashy or showy, and likely nothing unique to Morgana. Lux has been deprived of even the basics, so is being taught the basics. What every mage needs to know.

"Basic control exercises, a foundation to build everything else upon, little one. Not the most exciting, I know, but everyone starts here." Morgana explains.

She seems to know what she is talking about, and Lux reluctantly listens.

Did she honestly expect to be playing with lasers in a room filled with, presumably, valuable and breakable objects?

I withhold a sigh. Again, no big special secrets but, Morgana seems a talented and patient teacher. A damned good one, one capable of handling all of Lux's eccentricities. We are lucky to have her. I can't imagine someone like Swain dealing with her nearly so well regardless of his personal talent.

...

Everything about her is perfect for us. Perfect for Lux.

...

I watch them laughing as Lux's spell spirals out of control, exploding in a riotous display of color. Lux is forced to resummon her wings after, wrapping them around herself. Morgana flares hers outward, smiling.

...

Why can I not let go of my grudge?

...

"Well, that should suffice for today. Keep practicing those for, say, three or four days? Then we should meet again and see where you are at. Sound good?" Morgana suggests.

Lux nods in agreement

"Excellent!" Morgana smiles brightly.

"Finally," Kat complains, stretching as she stands up. "Anything else?"

"Just one. I must ask, Garen. You have been rather quiet, and giving me some rather odd looks. Is something wrong?" Morgana asks me.

...

I should keep my silence. I was going to keep my silence. This is a big chance for Lux. Morgana seems to be perfect for her.

...

But if I am to ever trust her...I need to know.

I close my eyes and release my breath before facing her fully.

I look at her properly.

The Angel of Demacia. Who abandoned us.

"Why," I ask her.

She waits for me to elaborate.

"Why...why are you here. Doing...that." I gesture above, to the bakery.

"You are...you know what you are to Demacia right?" I ask her. I have her full attention now. Everyone's attention.

Katarina is no longer lounging bored. Lux's playful smile is gone. As is Morgana's happy one.

What a fucking killjoy I am.

But...I have to know. I can't let this fester, like Demacia's corrupt foundations.

"People pray to you for justice, for mercy, for salvation, for deliverance. No one answers. When I was loyal I thought it was an allegory. After I turned to Noxus I assumed it was another Demacian lie. Now...I know you were here the entire time. Not listening, as people called for you."

"Why..." My voice is barely a whisper.

"Could you have helped? Could you have saved them? Could you have saved Lux when they dragged her away? Got to her before I ever got that gods forsaken letter? Before they chained her and intentionally broke her mind trying to murder her?" I ask her.

"Could...just...why."

I look down, my shoulders trembling, in sorrow, not in rage. I...don't even know what to believe anymore. What is truth, what is lies. What is right, who is to blame.

"Please...you could do...such good...couldn't you? Why...are you...making cookies?"

I just don't understand.

Morgana has remained silent this entire time, just watching me. I hear her step forward. She lifts my chin, to look me in the face.

She hugs me.

I hug her back.

"I'm sorry," she says.

"I'm sorry. Demacia's stories of the Angel, they are...they are not right. I am not some, all-powerful messianic figure."

I can feel wetness on my shoulder.

"I am powerful, yes, but, I cannot fix everything. I cannot save everyone. And after father died, after Kayle left, after most of the people I had tried to help had died...I...I fled."

She releases me and steps back.

She is crying.

I...I am crying? Why am I crying. When did I start?

"Without my sister, without Father, without my friends...I couldn't do it. I couldn't stand alone. I might have had the power, but I didn't have the strength. So...yes. I am sorry. I fled, eventually settling here. I do little things, I help people in small ways, but I no longer try to take the burdens of the world on my shoulders. I no longer try to change things. Try to fix the world's woes."

She turns to Lux.

"Luxanna...I am sorry little one...I...I did not know..."

She reaches out to her but Lux shys away.

Morgana lowers her hand.

"It's fine. I have Brother. He saved me."

Morgana flinches.

Lux comes to stand by me.

I stare at her for a moment and recenter myself. She is here. She is safe.

Because I stood.

"Stop it then."

Morgana and I turn towards each other.

"Stop hiding. Stop running. The world is broken. I don't know how to fix it. I tried fighting for Demacia. I was dead wrong. So I changed. Maybe I am still wrong. If so? I will try again. I will try again and again until I get it right. But I will try. For her."

Morgana looks at Lux.

"I am going to fight. Lux is going to fight. Will you stand with us?"

I offer her my hand.

Lux offers her hand.

Then drops it and offers her other hand.

Morgana stares at us.

"I...I suppose I don't have any reason not to do I? Hiding away clearly didn't help anyone, least of all me..."

She steps forward and takes our hands.

We all smile.

...

Kat clears her throat.

"Feeling a bit left our here guys."

We all look at her guiltily.

"Group hug?" Lux suggests.

Kat raises an eyebrow.

"You just want a chance to grope Morgana."

She nods.

"True. That said, she is one of the group now..."

She looks over at Morgana, who tilts her head questioningly.

Lux reaches out and grabs her breast.

...

Everyone stares at her brazenness.

"Yeah, these are awesome."

Morgana gently removes her hand.

"I do believe we have important matters to discuss?" she says.

She will fit right in.