(Garen - PoV)

Kat arrives home in the morning as we are eating breakfast. Entering the dining room, she blinks and shakes her head at Annie's presence before joining us.

"Shouldn't be too much longer now," she says.

It is my turn to blink at the context-less announcement.

"Until what?"

She rolls her eyes.

"Until things begin. Until we move against Demacia." she clarifies.

"Oh."

...Right. What we have been waiting for. I suppose that should have been obvious.

...

There was a time, so very, very recently, when I wasn't sure if I could do it. If I could turn my sword against my countrymen. Now? Now I find myself rather eagerly awaiting the opportunity. The chance for vengeance comes at last.

A smile forms as I eat another spoonful of cereal, watching Lux and Annie arguing about who's cereal is the best.

No, not vengeance. Justice. The only justice it seems at times. Justice taken by force.

"You ready for another training session afterward big guy?" Kat asks me, smirking.

"Don't hold back," I tell her, nodding. I think I am ready for her this time. Her raised eye brow implies she believes otherwise. I suppose we will see then, won't we?

(Garen - PoV)

Kat and I stand across from each other, fully clothed this time, with Lux and Annie watching. No games. Not that it stops Kat's teasing sway of her hips or the licking of her blades. Not surprising, considering she likes to play do all of that even in real battles.

I smile at her in return, and focus.

I remember everything that they did to Lux. Every injustice. It enrages me, but it does not control me. I will have justice. They will pay. My right foot steps forward, and then I am dashing across the arena, my blade hurtling downwards towards Kat.

Her eyes widen in surprise and she barely manages to sidestep, the blow cratering the ground beneath us, ruining her footing.

She has no chance of dodging the next strike, the upswing of my sword slashing towards her, forcing out a to Shunpo to avoid it. By reflex and habit, she Shunpos behind me.

Right into my elbow.

Or not. She's still too damn fast, ducking under it and slashing me across the ribs. She jumps over my leg sweep as well, but it puts her in a position where she can't dodge my blade as it finally swings around, forcing her to take the blow full force, attempting to block it with her own.

Her smaller blade shatters from the impact, and she is sent flying into the reinforced wall, cracking it from the force of the impact.

She catches herself, standing up immediately despite her injuries, but I am there, thrusting my sword deep into the wall a fraction of an inch next to her head, close enough to cut a few strands of hair as her eyes widen.

I smile at her, my face inches from her own. "My match."

After the match we make sure to get the metal shards pulled out of her stomach (the process finally dampened Lux's riotous cheering) and get her all bandaged up.

Kat is quiet the entire time, which concerns me, but she doesn't seem upset.

Once everything is taken care of she finally speaks.

"I...didn't expect it. Not like that. How? How do you keep just, randomly spiking all over the place in improvement? It's absurd..." she trails off.

I shrug.

"I don't know, it's just..focus? Determination? Especially for something like this. Emotional control? I already have all the skills, the talent. I'm already a fully trained soldier. A Champion. All I need is the motivation, the drive. That is far more about moment-to-moment breakthroughs. Once I have it, well, that's it right?"

Kat is quiet, considering the matter.

"I suppose it is foolish, to expect it to go anything similar to training new, inexperienced warriors. It just seems odd...and is so very hard to gauge what to expect. I can kick your ass all over the arena one day and then the next...well, this" she gestures to her stomach. "Even if some of it was me being admittedly overconfident."

I shrug at her again.

"I don't know what else to tell you. Are we good for the upcoming war?"

Now she smiles. A vicious, brutal, smile, that I am very glad is not meant for me.

"Oh yes. I was a bit hesitant before, with you still being unfinished, and having to hold back so much, but now?"

She shudders. Literally shudders. Did...did she just?

"Demacia will never know what hit it."

Afterwards we go to visit Morgana for Lux's session, Annie still tagging along with us. Given Lux's occasional whispers of "Mine," I don't expect this to change any time soon.

Fortunately, Morgana takes the additional mouth in stride and has more than enough prepared for everyone.

Annie's eyes widen at the new chocolate monstrosity placed in front of her, fork clutched in eagerly waiting hands.

Lux leans over to her. "Big Sis is the best right?" she asks.

Morgana's smile is as bright as Lux's wings.

Morgana ends up giving lessons to Annie as well as Lux. Despite her absurd power and natural talent, it seems the cause of many of the girl's past...outbursts, is a complete lack of formal training. Or any training at all besides "kill it with fire," or instinctive outbursts. Thus, she is now starting on the same basic exercises Lux did so recently.

I admit I am in the same boat as Kat this time. I remember Lux losing control of her light and dazzling the room a few times. I could see that being rather more problematic with fire.

Morgana assures us she has things well in hand, with shimmering shields springing into existence around the room.

Well, that certainly makes more sense than carelessly training young mages in a room full of easily damaged priceless objects.

During the after training sweets session (when did it turn into before and after?) Kat and I speak to Morgana a bit.

"The war will be starting soon," Kat informs her. "We probably will travel back and forth a bit, especially if they decide on League matches for a bit of it, but we won't be around nearly as regularly. Have you decided on what you will be doing?"

Morgana remains silent, considering.

She really doesn't want to go into battle. She is a horrifyingly capable combatant for sure, I very much doubt I would have any chance against her in a true fight one on one if she was not holding back, but in a large-scale war? Killing hundreds, thousands of men she has no personal grudge against?

"I...I cannot leave my new family, not so soon after getting it," she finally replies. "And Luxanna, for all her power, remains quite vulnerable." She looks over at Lux, laughing while poking fun at Annie's chocolate-smeared face.

"Yes, I will accompany you, but not on the front lines. I will stay with Luxanna, and protect her from harm."

I nod, quite happy with her decision. "That is a relief actually. I was worried about the possibility of Vayne trying for a round two with her while my back is turned."

We all wince.

"What about Annie?" Morgana asks.

...

Shit.

"I..suspect she will stay here? She is monstrously strong as well but...I doubt she is ready for war?"

Kat's eyes are narrowed, considering.

"I...don't know. I don't think she is any less prepared than Lux? She will have no problem killing opponents, her main issues would be carelessness and lack of understanding the seriousness of the situation, problems Lux has in spades."

I sigh. I can't argue with her. Lux may technically be blooded from the skirmish with Vayne but I worry greatly how she will fare in a proper battle. But she is quite insistent on not being left behind again, and I am very much unwilling to argue against her. Not with what happened last time we were separated while I went off to war.

"It should be up to her then?" Kat suggests.

I don't like it. She is so fucking small, and of course she is going to follow her friend. I can see Kat is manipulating more tools to fight for Noxus...

...

And to fight for us?

Her gaze is on Lux as much as Annie...

I sigh again.

Whatever, I decided before to leave the hard thinking to my girls. I hit things with my sword, they do the complex stuff. If they all think it is a good idea? I'll just try to keep everyone alive.

And Annie is a Champion, she is quite familiar with combat, if not war.

I look to Morgana, who nods at me.

"I will look out for the both of them if she chooses to come."

That's that then.

...

That will be 5 Champions, for our group alone, not counting whatever other forces Noxus sends.

...

I smile.

Demacia is so fucked.