A laugh echoed in an empty hall and resonated upon its pillars and naked walls , the sound growing further distorted the longer it floated in the air. Luxanna let her eyes wander over this gray scenery but was unable to identify the place she found herself in , the laugh echoed again but this time more distant as if it was beckoning her to follow it through these endless corridors. Her steps left no sound just like there was none in this alternate world , only this taunting laughter could be heard. The sovereign's sight grew blurry and the edges of her vision blackened the closer she seemed to come to the end of the corridor until she grew completely blind by the time she reached two heavy ornamented gates , the last image she had the chance to see before the world was engulfed in darkness.
Sweat rolled over the sides of her head and on the curve of her forehead as Lux awakened in a shaken state. For a moment she believed she had overslept and anxiety gripped her chest but the sight of Annabelle still peacefully sleeping in the bed next to hers considerably soothed the woman who leaned back into her own bed with a quiet sigh. It was all simply a strange dream induced by stress and apprehension from today's meeting and yesterday's warnings and tales. Whether or not those proved themselves to be true mattered not after all , it would not keep her from seeing the end of this journey and return to Demacia no matter the outcome.
Well... If it turned out to also be a failure she would be in mighty deep troubles with no solutions. This very idea frankly terrified Luxanna beyond anything and she didn't believe she would quite be able to stand it becoming a reality. But , it was no use worrying over something that had not happened and maybe would not ; slipping from below her sheets as silently as possible in order to not wake her lady - in - waiting , the noble decided to quickly clean herself and get out of their shared bedroom. Whereas the outfit she had chosen to wear regularly was quite simple in design despite its bright colors , Lux's regal outfit would clearly draw the attention with its vibrant golden and amber accents , assorted jewelry and , finally , veil of the same hue but she did not intend to remain among the shuriman crowd once this meeting would be over with.
The bustle of the marketplace could already be heard in the distance , the cacophony of citizens bargaining prices and coins jingling from hands to hands. She would miss being able to witness this liveliness from up close and being one with it , Lux figured she preferred these sorts of warm interactions than the distance status brought between two individuals.
Pearly white gates and a duo of men in light brown armor stood before the distant view of the great palace , their neutral gazes shifting from the main place to the sovereign short stature accompanied by the slight rise of one of the men's eyebrows. Of course they were quick to inquire about the nature of her presence in this place and she had no intention to cover the truth of her visit but she was swiftly denied access further. The sovereign was about to voice a complaint and try her luck once more when a figure from within the palace came forth and leaned towards the gate , a hood obscured their features therefore Lux had no chance to catch a glimpse of their face but it seemed they had slipped some sort of approval into the ears of the guards for the gates parted when the secretive stranger disappeared.
Sights of beautiful painting like gardens unfolded before the noble's very eyes and she almost halted to simply stare at the magnificent hand grown plants and fruit bearing trees but Luxanna wouldn't allow her mind to slip away.
Her steps brought her to a corridor Lux felt she had already seen before. Tall naked walls reached the ceiling supported by pillars made of marble far above her head ; the stone carved floor echoed the tac - tac of her short heels with each movement , breaking the silence filling the hauntingly empty hall. The inner structure of the palace seemed as if they had been elongated on purpose , to build up the pressure from getting closer to the throne room.
At the end of the corridor stood two heavily ornamented doors that pushed themselves open at the sovereign's approach. The imagery behind kept Lux immobilized with awe for a moment : tapestries made by the finest weavers proudly hung against the walls , immense square openings were cut in the rock and allowed the rays of the sun to grace the palace's interior. She was gazing at an otherworldly painting , a depiction of holiness.
" Come on , Lux. " A few cheering words from her to herself accompanied by the soothing sensation of her digits brushing against the ring she wore on her little finger. " The only way is forward now. "