(Garen - PoV)
"And Swain agreed?" I ask.
"He did," Kat answers simply, no doubt watching me for a reaction.
I am unsure how to respond.
On the one hand, I feel denied my revenge. Right on the cusp of victory.
We are quite literally staring at the gates of the city. Our small army is camped not terribly far away, on a small hill overlooking the plains outside the walls. Honestly, we don't have the power to take it ourselves, but nor do they have the power to remove us. A standoff until Darius and the rest of our forces arrive.
Or it was, until we saw signs of battle within the city, followed by a small army of mages leaving to join us. At that point, we were rather busy trying to figure out what in the hells was happening.
Demacia, tearing itself apart, as the subjected take matters into their own hands. And as Jarvan at least attempts to make good on his promise...
Now, word has reached us that there will be no final battle. No great conquest of the city, where we bring the bastards to justice through force of arms. Instead, they managed to make one last attempt to wiggle their way out and called a League match.
...
While I am confident in our chances in a match as well, I don't like even the potential for any of the bastards to escape justice. However...
However, I admit I may be letting anger cloud my judgment.
We have been speaking to the mages. Indeed, I am keeping an eye on Lux below, where she and Annie speak enthusiastically with their leader, Sylas, likely demanding he regale them with the rather drawn-out fate of Dr. Brightroar once more. It is good to see the two of them making more friends, though I do wonder what the man has against proper shirts.
That is the rub though, isn't it? Brightroar, and all the other Mageseekers. The ones directly responsible for everything done to Lux, and indeed the worst of the Demacian atrocities. They are dead. And most of their leaders did not die quickly.
I found Uncle Gerald's death, bound in the chains he sentenced his people to, particularly poetic. I wish I could have witnessed it. Or better yet, participated. Sylas, you damn kill-stealer, everyone I personally wanted revenge against you took instead...
...
My fists still clench at the thoughts of...
...
There are not even words to describe Gerald, whatever he was. He was supposed to be family. And yet his policies, his decisions, led to everything that was done to Lux. To his own kin, along with everyone he was supposed to be responsible for as part of the Council. He was more of a monster than any mage I have ever met.
And Tianna...I have heard she died, in a riot of all things. I well remember her mentorship, and encouragement. She was more of a mother and parent to Lux and I than our actual parents ever were. And yet, I know she sat on the Council as well. The same Council that sent Vayne to hunt us down.
She was no idiot. She knew what Vayne would do to Lux. And she sent her anyway.
...
I...almost regret adopting Morgana right now. I rather wish to be rid of the Crownguard name entirely. But I suppose making those bastards spin in their graves as we bring glory to Noxus will have to do, as much as it shames me to be associated with them.
Well, they would spin in their graves, but Sylas managed to smuggle Gerald's body out along with his new followers. He heard Noxus has experienced necromancers and hopes to further desecrate the corpse. Kat and I rather like his thinking and ordered the medics to preserve the body as best as possible. She promised to contact the best necromancers when we get back to Noxus.
Lux took things a step further and suggested finding people with some rather...disturbing, tastes as well. I mean, look, I know I shouldn't be casting stones but, dead people?
And why does she even know that is a thing? Between this and a few of the other weird subjects she has brought up...where in the hells did she learn about all of this? Is it the comics? I don't want to be a prude, but I am beginning to think the lot of them need to be purged in flame.
But I am getting off-topic. The League match...the remaining members of the Council having a chance to escape justice angers me greatly but, how many innocents would die if we didn't agree? How much loss and pain is prevented with this game?
...
And how much does Noxus stand to gain for almost no cost if we do win? Yes, as, frustrating, as it may be, it is a good idea for Noxus and the people. Besides...
"Unlikely as it may be, if we do somehow lose the match, and Demacia escapes our grasp..."
I turn towards Kat.
"Exactly how hard would it be for most of the Council aside from Jarvan to have unfortunate accidents?"
She smiles at me.
"Garen, sweetie."
She wraps her arms around me, pulling me down for a kiss.
"After everything they have done? Everyone wants them gone. It doesn't matter who wins the match, they are screwed."
...
I can live with that.
Fuck Demacia.
(Dunel White, Ex-Demacian Mage - PoV)
I had been unsure about going with them when they broke open my cell, but they had promised me a better life...A place where me and everyone else would be safe, and free. Free from the cell, and the shackles. Safe from the seekers, and the experiments. And safe from...my powers.
It was hard to believe them. The seekers, they had promised much as well...but it was a lie. The potions they gave me, they only made things worse. They weakened me, sure, but they made control even less possible and gave me such...such thoughts. Bad thoughts. And the way they made my brain itch...
Then came the shackles...
I don't like the shackles. No one likes the shackles.
To feel cut off from...from life. And caged, like an animal...
...
I didn't participate, in the battle. Or the chaos, that was our escape. Too much of a chance of everything going wrong. I was more likely to hurt my friends than our enemies. But then Sylas led us to the Noxians, and we met her.
The Angel.
She is...she is teaching me! Safely! Those shields...those wonderful, beautiful shields...
I can actually control it! For the first time in my life, I can control the power! All it took was her showing me how...
I can't stop the tears of happiness. I am...complete. At last, I feel complete.
But I should have expected nothing less from the Angel.
The Angel...The rumors were true. She truly fights for Noxus, and grants salvation to the downtrodden! Praise Noxus! And spit upon Demacia!
The Angel has come to save us, and we were led to her by her prophet Sylas!