The docks of Demacia were void of imperfections - as the rest of the city was. The mint colored stone was untarnished from the onslaught of footsteps and cargo. Wooden platforms stretched from the stone onto first few steps across the ocean. The ships carried various imports. The wood from the vessels was rotted away in several locations, and colorful graffiti marked different gangs across their surface.
Malcolm glanced towards the ocean. His memories of Bildgewater barraged him - as if the tides were his memories pulling him under. The betrayal he endured served as fuel towards the burning desire he couldn't relinquish. He recalled both the good and bad memories he endured with Tobias, cursing under his breath for letting the man leave such an impact on him.
You're going to have a lot to answer to. This time you won't cheat your way out of it. Malcolm's thoughts seethed out of him. There's no way in hell you'll get away this time.
Malcolm exhaled a frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose - a low burning sensation ebbed from the sides of his head to the edges of his eyes. Despite the pain, the headache placed itself on Malcolm's lowest priorities. He forced his view from the ocean back towards Lux. She took quick strides - a map hovered in the air next to her hands. Lux gnawed on her lip, frustrated as well. With her free hand, she conjured several blue marks along the map while chanting foreign incantations. Malcolm assumed these were markings to their destination or secondary routes.
The young mage stopped abruptly, grasped the map from the air and huffed. She stepped towards the last wooden platform on the dock with no ship in sight.
"Are we going to swim there?" Malcolm said. He flashed a sly smile as the young mage turned around with her eyes rolled.
"Listen, I suggest you stop with the ornery comments if you want to save your friend. I've got other business there and don't care what happens to him. Got it?" Lux snapped back at him.
The bastard ain't a pal of mine any longer. Malcolm mused in thought.
"You should listen to her Malcolm," Jayce said with concern. "She doesn't have to go out of her way you know?" Jayce wrapped his arms around Malcolm and pulled him with away from Lux.
"Fine. I'll behave."
"Good boy. Now, stand back while I prepare our ride."
Malcolm groaned at Lux's comments and dismissed her presence as he fell into the comfort of Jayce's embrace. Jayce leaned forward and traced light kisses from Malcolm's head to his ear. The contact was soft as a feathers touch, and the warm pulses drew Malcolm's thoughts off of Bildgewater completely. He closes his eyes for a moment. The comfort was so sudden and overwhelming he could've fallen asleep on the spot.
Fuck this guy's probably alluring me, knowing my luck. Malcolm thought - his pessimism drained what comfort he felt while leaned against Jayce's embrace.
Malcolm's eyes fluttered back open and he glanced towards Lux. She withdrew her wand and began an inaudible chant . A golden aura surrounded her as she released her wand in front of her. The wand levitated around her in an endless circle while she drew shapes with her hands - dark fog followed her fingertips as she chanted. She meticulously drew a square to her front, two triangles to her side, and a circle behind her.
"Lov-ri-an-ohn-vi, still rays - radiate what was once unseen," she placed both of her palms in front of the square and concentrated in that one spot. A dazzling ray of sapphire erupted from the dreary black mist. The lights radiated to a blinding level. Malcolm closed his eyes and burrowed himself further into Jayce. Lux continued focusing her mana across the remaining shapes. Colors of ruby erupted through the two triangles, and purple within the circle.
"Tiri-vi," the intense light immediately dwindled into thin pigments of fog.
Malcolm opened his eyes, and Lux waved her wand in a circular motion to dismiss the misty colors. He opened his mouth agape, In front of him was a ship that rivaled the ones carrying cargo - free of any scuffs or foreign marks. Lux stepped forward and boarded the ship she glanced Malcolm and Jayce impatiently.
"I know you two like each other, but I'm leaving without either of you if you don't board. Now," she commanded.
"Who the fuck took her vibrator away?" Malcolm whispered to Jayce.
Jayce giggled, but he composed again himself on the spot.
"I don't know, but we'd be best to listen. Let's go,"
The two moved forward onto the ship and the wooden walkway de-materialized in a puff of red smoke. Lux motioned them towards the single room centered in the middle of the ship. They stepped in after her and shut the door behind them. Malcolm noticed it looked like the Library's setup with the number of seats, except it was comprised of dark brown wood.
"Alright, guys. This is gonna be a two-part assignment. I'm going to take down this succubus and get some information out of her, while you two save Malcolm's friend," Lux said. She took a seat in a cushioned velvet chair.
"Ok, how are we gonna go about that?" Malcolm asked - he and Jayce sat down next to each other.
"I have magical spells that I'm going to provide in the form of colored crystals. They need little mana to activate," she paused for a moment to withdraw and show them to Malcolm and Jayce. "I have a few for defending yourself, disarming traps, and damaging things. I was under the impression you also have a weapon you can conjure as Jayce can, so there's that too."
Lux passed the colorful gems to Jayce and turned her attention back towards the map she marked. Of all the blue lines she traced, a single one emitted a golden glow from the ink.
"We only have one route we can take without being detected. It's gonna be risky since it appears your assailant can be stealthed. It takes way too much mana to blend more than myself into light rays, so we'll be treading with care," she continued.
"Ok, and once we grab Tobias and kill the bitch we'll be back in Demacia?"
"Yes, but I'll have some questions for your friend once he's safe. I need to make sure our kingdom's information isn't compromised beyond this wench."
Lux sighed, turned towards Jayce, and handed him a clear gem.
"This is what you'll need to use in case things go wrong. Shatter it and you three will be teleported out by drawing off my mana reserve. Use it for emergencies only - otherwise, you could kill me in combat."
Lux placed the palm in his hand and turned her attention back to the map.
"Mkay. I understand," Jayce replied.
I mmight need to steal that gem from him if she pisses me off enough. Malcolm thought.
The two sat in silence during the sail to the new location - only to broken by Jayce. He traced his thumb around Malcolm's palm and held him close.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered in Malcolm's ear.
"I know."
The waves were calm, and the lighting shifted from gorgeous rays to a dreary green mist that encased over a nearby island. The shadow isles welcomed them, and the boat nudged against the edge of the sandy entrance.
Lux reaffirmed the plan with the two once more, stepped outside the ship and walked onto the slimy sand that caused her to sink further with every step. The young mage scanned the area with her wand held in front of her - a trail of bright dust clashed with the dreary mist. With no enemies in sight, she turned and motioned the other two forward.
Malcolm exited the ship first while Jayce followed suit. Lux gave a quick twirl of her wand after the two disembarked, and the ship de-materialized with a pulse of light. Malcolm stared back at her in disbelief. Their only escape route was gone. Lux returned his expression with a swift roll of her eyes and paced onward. She scanned the area and stopped to chant an occasional mantra. The two men were only a few footsteps behind her.
Jayce wrapped his arm around Malcolm's waist and drew him closer. Whether that was for Malcolm's own comfort or the sudden change in temperature, he wasn't sure. Malcolm suddenly felt chills run up his spine, and a feverish burn spread throughout his body. The pain was akin to hot needles poking his body.
This whore has got to be nearby. He thought with anger.
The feeling was unforgettable, the same burning sensation he endured with the succubus - though on a lesser scale - ran rampant throughout his body. Malcolm pinched the bridge of his nose as twinges of pain jolted across his head. Jayce and Lux continued onward, alert to their surroundings, without signs of exhaustion. Malcolm gave them a confused look and wondered why the pain didn't impact either of them. He could only describe the pain as agony's embrace and assumed the creature held his memories captive to torture his physical and mental state.
"Stupid bitch," Malcolm cursed under his breath.
"What's wrong?" Jayce said and turned towards Malcolm.
Jayce's alert composure melted into worry at Malcolm's physical condition. Jayce draped his hand around Malcolm's and fiddled carefully with the free crevices of the other man's. After he studied Malcolm a bit more he abruptly switched back to his focused stare in the distance, with his hand locked onto Malcolm's.
"If we need to stop a moment let me know," Jayce said.
Lux rolled her eyes and said, "Jayce, enough. We have shit to handle. If he can't take care of himself leave him behind."
"It's s'okay. keep moving," Malcolm said.
"I'm worried about you. Sorry."
They continued onward through the marshy island, crossed through dense brush, and paused occasionally when an unknown sound echoed through the island. Lux halted the two abruptly after an eerie scream came in the distance. It was abrupt - the young mage's entire posture changed from relaxed to stiff. She spread her hands apart and drew a half circle with each one, and - after a few moments of chanting - bright trails of golden dust accompanied the shapes she sketched in the air. Lux's wand rotated above them - sprinkling a diamond-like particle around them.
"Prismatic barrier, cloak us within the light," She commanded.
The particles spun rapidly around them, and the green lighting they were surrounded in became a tint brighter. Malcolm's chills and feverish symptoms subsided as the dust from Lux's spell dissipated. He breathed a sigh of relief from being free of the pain.
The brat could've done that sooner, but okay. Malcolm thought. I guess I should thank her.
"Thanks. I was starting to think I'd have to stop a moment," Malcolm mumbled.
"Please. That's a fortunate side effect. I cloaked us to remain undetectable, not stop you from sniffling," Lux snapped back at him.
Okay. Typical bitchy response. Nice. Malcolm thought, regretting his expressed gratitude.
"I heard that," Lux said - her gaze shifted to Malcolm with a glare.
Good. You know it's true. Move along now and stop invading my thoughts.
"Listen, I don't want inside your tiny head either, but my spell links our mana together. We can either risk being killed or I'll toss you out of here. Take your pick."
Malcolm rolled his eyes, annoyed that the mage could invade his privacy at any moment. He continued forward with them, with Jayce's hand still clamped around his like a vice. He admitted lux's spell had come in handy almost immediately. Creatures that ranged from giant demonic frogs to humanoid spiders and ghostly centaurs roamed the area freely. Their eyes were all a bright yellow color. Malcolm shuddered, remembering the succubus' beady gaze. They continued at a stealthy pace and stopped occasionally to wait for the abominations to move along.
"We're here," Lux said in a whisper.
Malcolm looked above the mage on his tiptoes - through the thin brush he made out a lengthy wooden building with a purple aura that encased it. He stepped forward ahead of the mage to get a better look and regretted the reckless decision.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Lux shrieked.
Malcolm felt all his feverish symptoms return full swing, the wooden house in front of him engulfed in a pitch black color, and the memories began to replay once again where the house once stood. Tobias' departure stung as if it happened for the first time. Watching his cocky smile as the cards whirled around to teleport him out was like a knife in Malcolm's back. The scene didn't end there though, it continued with Tobias teleporting outside of the Capitol. He dropped his cocky grin and stared at the familiar succubus a few feet away from him.
"I'm without the extra baggage now, Evelynn," Tobias said - his tone cold.
"Oh, what a good boy. Now, I'll give you your reward," she said while walking towards him.
She draped her arms around Tobias, his expression not shifting. After getting a loose grip on him, her sharp fangs punctured his neck. The human features she held evaporated away in a puff of smoke, and Tobias' appearance collapsed to discomfort.
"Ngh," a quiet moan escaped him.
Evelynn glanced up at the other man, amused. She continued to trail soft nibbles from his neck to chest - her fangs left small scratches across his body. Evelynn licked at the small wounds and let out a pleasured moan. She brought herself back up to face Tobias eye to eye and cupped his chin with her long thin claws, drawing droplets of blood in the process.
"One touch... with desire," she spoke. Her hands moved from his face. She cradled the trickles of blood with her claws then licked at them playfully. "That's all I need."
Malcolm felt a familiar pair of arms embrace him and pull backwards. The scene before him ripped away and the wooden building returned. He glanced back at Jayce and tried to thank him but found himself mute. Malcolm was drenched in sweat, and his pulse raced at an uncomfortable rate. His attempts to speak were croaks at best.
"Shh. You'll be okay," Jayce said.
"Your boyfriend is fucking suicidal Jayce," Lux said with fury.
"He was only trying to scout ahead. I agree he shouldn't have left your barrier though."
"Next time leave him in his state of panic please."
"Absolutely not. Now, are we going to get this over with or what?"
I'm sorry, Lux. Please, let's get this over with. Malcolm thought.
Lux sighed and pointed her wand towards Malcolm. A trail of green dust emitted from the tip, and she swirled the mass of particles over his head."
"Heal," she spoke.
Malcolm felt his pulse lower as the dust turned a blue color and pass through him. He breathed a sigh of relief at feeling in control once again. It was tough to admit, but he knew without Lux's proficiency in magic he'd be a dead man thanks to his vengeance driven anxiety. Malcolm glanced back towards Lux, who was focused on chanting mantras and drawing shapes around her. He studied her in awe and fell back into Jayce's grip once again.
"Thanks," he mumbled towards Lux.
"It would be too much trouble to leave you dead. Jayce wouldn't forgive me either."
"You're damn right I wouldn't," Jayce said.
Lux continued to chant, and a small clear prism appeared in the air above her head. A spectrum of color entered the prism, and the colors crescendoed to a blinding level. Malcolm closed his eyes to shield himself; however, the light was still blinding with the spectrum bleeding through his closed eyes. He groaned, annoyed by her magic.
"You two need to move forward right away and get him out of there. I'm drawing her out and disarming her lair with this one spell. If I give you guys a signal to run use the crystal to escape," Lux commanded.
Malcolm nodded while she completed her spell. A bright beam of light shot across Evelynn's lair. Waves of heat dissipated the purple aura, and a bright rainbow formed in the vast gloomy field beyond her home. Lux turned towards the two and gave them a confident smirk.
"See you boys in a bit," she said. Lux stepped forward and dissolved into the surroundings.
Malcolm scurried himself upright and ran towards the entrance. His anxiety-driven thoughts attacked him like a starved cannibal.
I want my answers.
He reached for the doorknob and tossed the door open - a loud thud echoed inside the poorly lit chambers. Malcolm turned to his right, recalling the location from the visions, and noticed Tobias. He was unconscious, his face void of color and in shackles to the right of the entrance. Blood stains were scattered along the walls, and the other captive victims groaned from a holding cell to the left.
"Help us," they cried. "She's going to kill us all..."
Malcolm ignored them and turned towards Tobias. The rusted shackles he was held in glowed a bright green color where they held his arms and legs were in place. Jayce followed behind Malcolm and withdrew a blue crystal used to unseal locks. Malcolm grabbed it frantically from Jayce and pressed it against the shackle holding Tobias' right arm. The green color surrounding the shackle shattered into tiny glass shards - leaving small nicks on Malcolm's face.
"What a pain in the ass," he groaned.
Malcolm pressed the crystals onto the remaining locks, taking care to sidestep the small explosion of shards. Once Tobias was free of restraints Malcolm raised a fist above his head, ready to strike. Jayce intervened and held his arm firmly as he swung forward.
"Now's not the time. Wait until we get off this island, then you can beat some sense into him, 'kay?" Jayce said.
"Fair enough," Malcolm replied with a bitter tone.
He hoisted Tobias' body upwards onto his back, amazed at how light he was to carry. He was so frail and delicate - it was like carrying a small glass object. Malcolm carried Tobias outside of the home and could feel his breathing accelerate.
Oh boy. Now sleeping beauty is awake. Malcolm thought.
Malcolm glanced back into the field with the bright rainbow.
"Kill the whore and get out of there, Lux," Malcolm muttered under his breath.
Malcolm followed behind Jayce as he carried Tobias above him, wondering what answers he'd get from Tobias, or if he'd die from the brutal beating first.
"M-Mal..colm.." Tobias rasped in a groggy whisper. "Leave me behind and leave. I don't want her to hurt you."
"Don't be stupid Fate," Malcolm said with a cold tone. "You should be worried about your own safety. By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish that whore killed you."