(Jarvan IV - PoV)
I try to hold still as the light-haired medic changes out my bandages again.
As bad as the ointment they are soaked in smells, I can't complain. Being able to sit up is a huge improvement.
"How bad?" I ask Shyvanna as she enters the small room.
They offered to move me to the palace but I declined. What's the point, I figured? It won't make me heal any faster. In retrospect, I perhaps should have accepted, opened up the private room for another patient, but it's too late now. Everyone already knows to contact me here, the disruption wouldn't be worth it.
"Many," she answers. "Too many of the buildings were occupied."
...Looking her over I can't help but grimace. She is hardly in any condition to be questioned. Honestly, she should be here with me. One of her horns is still broken. We have no idea if they grow back, as it has never happened before. I know she had many broken bones, and she still moves gingerly when she thinks I won't notice...
But she never was one to sit still and I am not about to order her to.
The deaths...the deaths are not a surprise. Champion fights in urban areas are never bloodless affairs. One of this scale?
...
"Galio?"
There is anger in her eyes. Anger, and satisfaction.
"Dealt with. Moving the remains will have to wait though. Too much else to do. Finding someone to look at them will take even longer, since we killed all the specialists."
I will have to ask someone else for more details on what exactly happened. Xin...I glance to the corner of the room, where he watches silently. He remains tense, his eyes...broken. Perhaps not.
Karn. I will ask Karn. And I still need to find out what happened to Cithria...
As for the specialists, aye. I can't imagine those we arrested survived the prison break. Or that the mages showed mercy to those they cornered. Hrm.
"What about the mages, could we ask them? Actually, what about the mages? What are we doing with them?"
Shyvana blinks.
"Right, I should have mentioned that. They wanted to leave, so we let them go. I think they defected to Noxus," she says with a shrug, before stepping to the side to allow the medic to leave, having finished their work.
...
Of course. That...makes sense. They wouldn't want to stay after...everything. Even if I...
...
I sigh.
And wince at the pain it causes.
When I open my eyes Shyvana is kneeling on the cot beside me, her fingers a hair from touching me, concern in her eyes.
"It's fine, I am healing," I reassure her.
She looks into my eyes carefully, before sitting on her knees in front of me.
Shaking my head, I dismiss the matter. She has been rather protective since the fight. I don't believe she has seen me hurt quite so badly before.
I don't know if I have been hurt quite so badly before...
Even the first time she found me, or when I was captured by Urgot...
Shaking my head, I focus my attention on the moment.
"Anything else significant?"
She nods. "The Council has admitted that we cannot win the war, so is suing for a League match to attempt to keep the city."
That is... not a terrible idea? I honestly didn't think they had it in them at this point.
"Truly? That actually makes sense." I pause for a moment to consider. "Ok, hit me. What is the catch?"
"They threatened to break the League's conventions on banned weapons and wide-scale destruction to get Noxus to agree."
...
They were so desperate to deny Noxus, to keep the status quo, so desperate for a chance to hang on to their power...that they risked bringing utter annihilation down upon the city. Risked the deaths of every soul in the city.
...
Yes, that sounds more along the lines of what I expected.
I slump.
"Why am I even fighting for these people?"
...
I blink in surprise when I feel arms wrap around me.
"You are not," Shyvana says, her head next to mine. "You fight for many things, but never them."
...
"Will I even be able to fight in the match?" I ask.
"Yes, you should have sufficient time to recover."
...
"Do I...want to fight...in the match?"
"...That is something you will have to decide, my prince."
...
"Will you fight, Shyvanna?"
"Well, that depends."
"Depends on what?"
She leans back and looks me in the eyes once more.
"On you Jarvan. I fight for you."
She kisses me.
...
...
...
Xin is still watching, isn't he?
(Cithria, Dauntless Vanguard - PoV) (Recent Past)
I...
I am fighting for...the people.
The people...who are fighting to escape. Right now. Fighting for their freedom. For justice.
...
Yes. Yes, so I should help them...get justice?
Justice...
I...know exactly where to start.
(Thaddeus Brightroar, Demacean Mageseeker and (Former) Academy Doctor) (Recent Past)
The massive explosion, followed by the clanging of bells certainly has me rather alarmed. Mages, it has to be!
Seeing a Vanguard running up to open my cell fills me with relief.
"Girl! What is going on? Are the mages attacking the prison?" I ask as she unlocks the door.
I admit I may not be able to keep the nervousness out of my voice. I...don't want to think about what exactly those monsters plan to do if they get ahold of me.
"Not quite," she answers, swinging the cell door open and taking my by the arm, leading me down the hallway. "They are attempting a mass breakout."
A breakout? Even worse!
"Monstrous! I told you they should simply be put down! I told you all!"
"You did doctor, you did," she agrees.
I blink, surprised at her agreement. Am I finally getting through to them? Perhaps seeing the mages' madness for themselves has helped prove my point? Her tone is...odd, however. And the ruckus seems to be getting louder, rather than quieter?
"Umm, are you quite sure we are going the right way?" I ask.
"Very sure doctor. See, right around this corner."
We turn the corner, and...oh. Oh no.
We come face to face with several dozen mages, many in the process of freeing more of their misbegotten kind. I try to run, but the Vanguard, she won't release me!
"Cithria? I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Who is it you have with you this time, my dear?" One of them, a shirtless barbarian with eyes that reek of madness, asks.
"This is Doctor Brightroar. I believe Donnovan is familiar with him? I thought you all might want to meet with him." the...the traitor answers cheerfully!
No! Nonononono!
I try to pry her fingers off but her grasp is...it is too strong!
"Aye, that's him," another voice answers from the crowd as their attention turns towards me.
"Oh, Cithria. You do bring the best gifts," the abomination says while walking towards me.