Darius watches the Demacian's smile falter and her eyes widen. He wonders if its fear or just disbelief.
His captor may be an adult but she's naive. She was quick to fall into a conversational atmosphere with him. At first he thought it was a ploy to try to lull him into a false sense of security, but now he sees she's just beaming with kindness. Typical Demacians. When they aren't babbling on about justice they're babbling on about friendship, all the while they oppress their poor and their outcasts. Hypocrites and weaklings the lot of them.
He shifts his sitting position and groans at how much effort it takes to just sit up a bit more. His muscles and bones feel like they're made of molasses and he still has a pounding headache. He sees the Demacian's eyebrows furrow with worry as she watches him struggle to get comfortable.
"I believe it is my turn now." Darius says breathing deeply as he leans back against the tree. "What is it that you did to me exactly?"
He watches Eryn hesitate. She looks at the ground with a furrowed brow. Darius can almost see the cogs in her head turning as she debates an answer. He wonders if he should have thrown her a softball question first to lighten the mood more before digging for information. Gain her trust more.
"It's hard to explain since I don't fully understand it myself…" She begins without looking up at him. "I have power over people's energy. Their life force, their strength, whatever you want to call it. I can coax it to heal wounds faster, or I can enhance it to make someone incredibly strong…" Images of the destroyed war machine and the two demacians standing in its wreckage flash through his mind. "I can also drain their strength. Make them as weak as a newborn, or so exhausted they just fall asleep." She finishes her explanation still avoiding eye contact with him.
She's a mage, and a powerful one. A rarity in Demacia, most mages don't get to see the freedom of the outside world. And the ones who do are members of powerful noble families who have essentially bought their freedom. Not the type of person to end up a low ranking army recruit.
"Mages in Demacia typically keep their identity secret, yet you open up not only to a complete stranger, but your enemy." Darius notes watching her reaction.
"I have no doubt you would have pieced it together on your own. We will be together for a decent amount of time and the effects of my magic are noticeable to the viewer. And I'm sure you've seen all types of magic in your many battles." She's speaking slowly now, taking time to carefully pick her words. Until the final sentence where her voice becomes almost melodic, seeming to be almost praising Darius. An attempt to entice Darius to share some of his battles if he so chooses but not phrased in a way to waste her turn for questioning. She smiles at him and it's not as warm as when they had shared laughs just moments before.
Darius smirks back. She's learning the game quickly. Conversations between enemies do not end in friendship. This is a time to goad one another into divulging as much information as possible without giving up too much. It's a game of chess as Jericho says. Darius personally usually hates these types of conversations. But usually he's the captor instead of the captive. Now he's the one with his life on the line and he can't help but enjoy the thrill of it.
She's quiet as she thinks carefully of her next question. She takes a breath, about to begin, when a loud voice cuts her off. "Oh good the prisoner's awake!" Entering the forest grove is the Demacian he had exchanged blows with the previous day. He shares a slight resemblance to Eryn. Both have tan skin and bright brown eyes and similar round faces. But the man has a strong jawline and is much taller with broad shoulders. He also carries himself tall and marches like a soldier. Unlike Eryn he's been in the Demacian military for quite some time.
Eryn smiles warmly as he approaches the tree they're sitting at. A genuine smile unlike most of the fake ones she has been throwing towards Darius. "Find anything to eat Claudius."
"Sure did." He tosses her a cloth bag, which she opens and inspects the contents of, pulling out a handful of berries and nuts. "Enough for all three of us." Claudius turns his attention now to Darius. "Which we will be willing to share with you, Noxian, if and only if you cooperate with us." Darius rolls his eyes and scoffs at his attempt at a threat. "Care to share what's so funny Noxian?"
"Many things Demacian. Firstly that you believe I'd fall for your bluff. You need me alive, otherwise you would have killed me on that field and ran, so you will not let me starve. And I do not fear an empty stomach. You reek of Demacian privilege to believe that threat holds power over me."
Claudius balls his hands into fists as his brow furrows and jaw clenches. He looks like he's about to throw a punch before Eryn grabs his arm. "Claudius, a moment please." She picks up the bag of food as she leads them to the opposite side of the clearing, leaving Darius alone to stew in his own head.