"You know? When I'm with you I feel safe" Damien said, hugging a girl in a white dress from behind. She blushed slightly, smiling shyly as she hold his hands with hers, turning around and leaving a sweet kiss on his cheek. "Safe? There are no dangers to be afraid of, my dear." she giggled, pulling her hair away from her face, revealing her bright golden eyes, staring at Damien's.
"Yeah, I know. Indeed you are the only dangerous thing in my life right now" he said, kissing her forehead affectionately, as a warm smile appeared on his face. "I love you, Iraki." She hugged him tightly, hiding her red cheeks as a low, shy voice came from her mouth "I love you too, silly, but don't say that thing out loud. People could hear you and they would start asking too many questions."
He laughed a bit, pulling away from her just enough to see her face and holding her hands carefully. "I don't care about other people's thoughts about us. I just want to be with you for my whole life. That's why I want to ask you.." He cleared his throat nervously, pulling a small jade ring from one of his pockets and offering it to her. "Iraki, will you marry me?". Those were good days back in home. They could enjoy peace and love without worries.
If only those times hadn't changed. If only war hadn't come, they could be happy. But war came and the question didn't got answered. The call to arms is the only thing they heard as their land was once again profaned by Noxian hands.
The council had only four members: Irelia led them, as a leader of the resistance. Karma was the least warlike of them all, carrying the two twin dragons on her back which denoted her condition as the reincarnation of Ionia's wisest soul. Shen, the Eye of Twilight, leader of the Kinkou, was totally opposed to the offensive, believing that fighting on the defensive for the sake of balance was all they had to do. His dark blue armour and mask hid his face, but you could feel the tension between him and another council member. Zed, leader of the Shadow Order, was the most aggressive of all, thinking they should even invade noxian lands after repelling the invaders. His signature red and grey armour, with some shurikens on his back, gave him an obscure aura, honouring his title. Damien had been invited to participate in the council because of the fame he had gained among Ionians and Noxians, although he could simply give his opinion, but he couldn't vote.
Karma, Shen and Zed were already arguing when Irelia and Damien entered the room. Only four seats surrounded a large table, one for each member. Upon noticing Irelia's entrance, the others were silent as she took her seat, gesturing Damien to stand behind her. "Today" she started "we have met because we have received some very important information for the liberation of our home". Her tone was far from the calm one he used before with Damien. Now, her authority was indisputable as she spoke. "An ally has warned us that there are indications that something very similar to what Zed found in Noxian lands long ago is in the Shuriman Desert. Kayn's still using it?" she asked Zed
As the Shadow Order's leader nodded, Shen cast a deadly glance at him, while Karma, aware of it, sighed tired. No matter how hard they tried, Shen would never forgive Zed for everything he did, from killing the Kinkou's father to allowing Kayn to use that cursed scythe of his. Still, Irelia kept talking, ignoring the silentconfrontation of the two ninjas.
"Also, there's also an ionian using another version of it, Varus." She continued "I know this is a very risky mission. We can not afford to lose any more soldiers, but if the Noxians find that weapon, it will be the end of Ionia and its people. That's why I want this council to approve sending The Ionian Whisper in a secret mission to get the weapon and return here." She raised her tone with those last words, while silence was made between the five present there for several seconds that seemed eternal. "This is a desperate situation for Ionia, so we must do it, no matter what the risk is" she added, almost begging for an affirmative answer. She truly was desperate. Ionia wasn't strong enough to stop Noxus, not this time.
"Lady Irelia" replied Shen in a calm, yet strict tone "I can stand Varus, as he's completely under control. However, that Kayn brat becomes more and more unstable each day. If that weapon in Shurima is what we think it is, it could end us both, Noxians and Ionians, at the same time. Im sorry, but a disagree with this completely. Another Darkin in Ionia would only bring even more chaos and suffering to its people"
"Im afraid i have to agree with him, Irelia" Karma said "As far as Im concerned, we have our right to defend ourselves from the invader, but bringing that thing here won't change anything. Mayhem and damnation are the only things those creatures seek. Our current power should be enough to keep us alive as we negotiate with vastayans tribes to help us more actively." She explained with her wise, deep voice "Then, we should be able t-"
"We should?" Zed interrupted the sage "When those freaks decide to help us, we will be all dead. They don't care about us while they can live freely in nature. We should get as much power as possible and then kill all that Noxian scum" His tone was more emotional than the others, charged with frustration and hatred of Noxus. "Kayn can control the scythe's power, why couldn't him?" he pointed Damien with his finger before giving a cruel glance at Shen "After all, you are still the same coward, Shen. You are afraid of risk. You would rather die obeying your laws than breaking them in order to survive. You are weak, Shen." The kinkou looked down, knowing the situation was a very bad one for them. "Then I can't vote, because I wouldn't be someone impartial who looks out for Ionia's best interests. My desire to execute you, unfortunately, makes me wish you and your order were destroyed, so I will vote blank on this occasion." admitted Shen, making Karma sigh, as she remained silent, still nodding off.
"Enough. We are talking about Ionia's future, not about your pasts. Ionia's first, remember it. Anyway, that makes a total of two votes in favour, one vote against and one blank vote" Irelia sighed slightly and looked at Damien, with a slightly softer look, speaking to him in a much less authoritative tone "Damien, as you can see, our will is to win this war, and for that, we need you to go to Shurima and bring the weapon. It won't be an easy trip, you might even die. You can refuse if you don't want to."
He remained silent for a few seconds, thinking about all that this mission would take. Then, he looked to all the four members of the council after opening his mouth "Well, Im not used to this kind of formalities, so I'll go straight to the point. If you think that Im the perfect candidate to get that...Darkin was it? Then I'll go to Shurima and back victorious. However, I need information about all these Darkins and weapons you are talking about." He smiled confidently at Irelia, feeling honored to have been chosen for that mission. "If it ends this infernal war, then it's a worthy sacrifice for me."
"Then we should discuss it no more" said Irelia with a light smile. "Now, we shall prepare you for the trip and explain you all we know about Darkins, Shurima and this mission." and the four who were sitting got up and looked at him, feeling a mixture of guilt for sending him on such a dangerous mission, pride in how quickly he had accepted without hesitation, and fear of what might happen if the mission failed.
To be continued...