The training grounds within the courtyard of the Palace Barracks buzzed with activity as the amassed strength of Victoria company stood about waiting while the officers and some of the noncoms stood in the center of the training arena speaking among themselves. In the center of the group Major Seymour stood explaining things while his lieutenants stood about with impatient frowns upon their faces. They clearly thought they had better places to be and much better things to be doing than listening to Seymour's chickenshit excuse for leadership.
Off to the side of the arena, Shyvana stood watching and listening to the other soldiers. Many were looking forward to the weekend of leave they had been granted due to the King's Ball and the decree the made weeks before. Shyvana had been worried about the ball and her duel with Xin Zhao more than anything else, despite the confidence Jarvan and Forsythe had done their best to instill in her the day before. Even with Lady Catherine's help, walking in a dress still proved difficult for the dragoness. Dancing was another thing that Shyvana had been completely foreign to before her arrival in Demacia. She had been practicing, but she had a habit of stepping on the toes of her dance partner, her cheeks burning at the thought of embarrassing herself and Jarvan in front of a crowd of his peers and subjects.
Shyvana shivered, electricity running up and down her spine, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. Shyvana ran her gloved hand along her collar as she tried to quell the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
I can feel the malcontent in the air right now. Shyvana grimaced as she looked about, trying to find the source of the discontent and malice that was seemingly directed towards her. I don't like this feeling… something isn't right here. Shyvana studied and listened to the soldiers around her, but many paid her little to no heed.
"I'm ready for the weekend… I hear that… Maybe Seymour will let us go early today… you know he's not that decent a motherfucker…" The chatter was focused on the weekend and the relaxation that it would bring. Shyvana closed her eyes and continued listening, trying to tune out what idle chatter she could. "Good food, a good lay… your girl's a hoe, man… ah bite me… maybe once that 'girlfriend' of yours is done… bastard…" Laughter followed as Shyvana blushed at the thought. Soldiers think about four things according to Vorscham… the four F's. She shook her head. Fighting, Feeding, fleeing and mating. She shook her head and then frowned, thinking back to the day she had spent with her friends and Jarvan. I suppose I'm no different. Shyvana shook her head again to clear her thoughts, taking a deep breath as she looked around, she could feel the color in her cheeks. Most everyone is looking forward to the break… but someone is looking for me.
A small knot of soldiers caught her gaze moving towards them and started a hushed conversation among themselves. Shyvana's ears perked up at the hushed tone, and she frowned as she watched them. They speak in hushed tones as if they have something to hide. Not from the officers, but everyone around them. Shyvana looked about the group and then she scanned the crowd for officers, noncoms, or even other soldiers who they might be hiding something from. I don't see anything out of the ordinary… What are they hiding? One turned and cast a quick glance at her, Shyvana's stomach flip flopped uncomfortably. Dark and piercing eyes glared back at her, hardened by years of combat and death. Those are the eyes of a veteran. They're the ones I felt crawling over my skin… Shyvana grimaced.
"Oi! Miss Dragon!" A pair of soldiers with goofy grins on their faces approached Shyvana where she stood against the wall,, stumbling out of the barracks. "Me and Jimbo here just wanted to thank you for this weekend!" Their voices were slurred slightly as Shyvana looked to where the two men staggered forward. They both wore patches that designated them from Noventus Company, a unit that had transferred into the barracks recently for training as Victoria Company prepared to deploy.
"I had nothing to do with it." Shyvana said tersely, trying to keep the irritation from her voice. The two men had stopped a little ways off and were looking about the courtyard with impressed expressions that were made to look goofy with the slack jawed gazes they couldn't quite erase. One mouthed an impressed expression and then other screwed up his face as if he was thinking about something far too hard.
"That's not what the rumors say…" The second soldier slurred, hanging from his buddy's shoulder.
"Perhaps you two should return to your drink." Shyvana said tightly, her irritation mounting. She looked back to the assembled forces but she couldn't pick out the knot of soldiers that had been looking at her before. They had either dispersed or moved off. I didn't recognize them… perhaps they were from Noventus as well?
"Aww, don't be like that, luv-*hic*." The drunken soldier looked surprised and then started to giggle.
"Yeah, rumor says is you and tha prince they's is havin' this party for…" The second grinned stupidly. "So I just thought I'd say my salutations…"
"You mean ah-pre-she-ay-shuns?" The first stumbled over the word as he tried to sound it out.
"Yeah that…" The second laughed. "Oi, girly, you paying attention?"
Shyvana glanced at the two soldiers, rolled her eyes again and turned away, looking back to the crowd again.
"Oi…" The first reached out to grab her shoulder but Shyvana turned and snapped at them, flames sparkling along her feet as she struggled to maintain her temper.
"You should go now." Shyvana growled, the two soldiers' faces paling noticeably. They didn't move and Shyvana snorted, sending curls of steam jetting from her nose. "Leave me." She growled guttural. "Less you wish to lose a hand."
"R-right…" The first muttered, turning away and slinking off. "Angry tosser… Open up a bit."
"What, her legs or her mind?" His friend guffawed, spraying a mix of snot and booze addled drool down his front. Shyvana hissed and growled at them, stomping one foot forward at them and sending them scampering away. "Stupid bitch." Shyvana sighed and rolled her eyes as the two men and their muttering faded from earshot.
Shyvana returned to the wall, keeping her distance from the other soldiers. While many were not openly hostile, they kept their distance from her even among training exercises. Shyvana had earned respect from a few of them, even their admiration for her bravery in the face of incredible odds, but many of them still viewed her as a golden child, given the position given by the prince simply because of her pretty face. While some of the officers and soldiers trusted her, and her strength, they also feared her. The threat of the damage she could cause, the pain she had inflicted and the destruction that had followed in her wake had created a void between her and the other soldiers. The other soldiers simply eyed her with jealousy, the men lust, the women, envy. They were jealous of her power and her stature.
Shyvana viewed many of the other soldiers with equal contempt. Most of the enlisted men, despite being considered among the elite of Demacia's recruits, they were still young enlisted men. Yes, there were some that desired office among the government, some desired to be officers, and some even desired glory, but many were simply good at what they did, and they were serving their three years service. As such they were dirty, disobedient and horny under the rules that the others in Demacia lived under. They were the men who were charged with keep Demacia's borders and her rulers safe, and while they sat around boring themselves, and wasting their time following orders and dealing with constant training. They took their frustrations out through fighting, booze and women, often wasting away what little time they could get away with before they were called upon. Many viewed their duties with contempt, for they were young and knew nothing of true combat, of the life and death that came with the pain fighting for one's life upon the field of battle. Shyvana had experienced that pain, that terror under Kampf's heel. She had been raised in that pain, born of it, but Jarvan had seen the good in her. He had seen the strength she wielded and now her attempted to temper her into a blade that could be wielded by Demacia.
Shyvana took deep breath, turning back to the crowd of soldiers, suddenly feeling the stress of once again being an outcast. She may have become close to a few; Vorscham, Alicia, Delancey and Forsythe, but still, most of Demacia viewed her with distrust and fear. I shall earn my place in time.
Shyvana shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, looking around the quad, trying to find anyone from the small group of soldiers she had seen, but there was no sign of them. Victoria Company was spread out around the training area, some lounging and some standing at parade rest, watching as the officers stood in the center of the training arena and conversed with each other. Each of the lieutenants had their noncoms with them, and Major Seymour was shouting at the top of his lungs, attempting to appear scary with his normally mousy face. Shyvana raised a hand to cover her smile, the resulting expressions he cycled through were a strange mix of constipated and cross eyed. Shyvana stood against one of the far walls, turning her attention towards watching Vorscham take the Major's shouting and ranting.
Alicia glanced over, Shyvana letting a moment of surprise show as she watched the anger show through the gunny's normally calm demeanor. Alicia caught the crack in her armor and tried to shore it up with a smile, but the pain and frustration was still in her eyes and how the corners of her mouth were bunched up much tighter than normal.
Something is wrong here.
Vorscham looked over at Shyvana, pointed at her and then turned back to Seymour, shouting something that caused the major to sink back in surprise. The major looked at Shyvana, a sour look on his face and gestured for her to approach the group before turning back to Lieutenant Vorscham. Shyvana pushed herself off the wall, settling her gauntlets on the lip of her tassets as she approached. She tucked her helmet under her arm as she stepped forward and the voices became clear enough to understand.
"This isn't a decision to which you have any input, Lieutenant." Seymour's voice was shrill and scathing. "It has already been decided!"
"I don't give a damn about your decision, you incompetent fool, seeing as it is a stupid fucking decision. So I want you to do me a favor, take your fucking orders and your decision and shove your shit back where it belongs!" Vorscham snarled ferociously.
"Lieutenant…" Alicia said gently, resting a hand on his shoulder, trying to pull him away from the major, but Vorscham snarled and tugged his shoulder away from her, wheeling on Alicia.
"Don't even try to defend him." Vorscham wheeled back towards Seymour, the man shrinking back as Vorscham lowered himself to Seymour's level, poking him in the chest. "Maybe you'd like to step into the fucking ring yourself and show us how much of a man you really are? Or did you lose your balls the last time your sucked a cock for your last promotion?"
"Y-you… you cretin…" Seymour snarled. "Guards! Detain him!" Seymour spluttered. The other lieutenants looked apathetic for a brief moment barely able to contain their utter surprise at their fellow lieutenant's outburst. Their surprise slowly faded to confusion, glancing from Vorscham to Seymour and back again.
"Sir?" One of the other lieutenants said tentatively.
"Did I stutter?" Seymour snapped shrilly, his voice cracking.
"Yes." Vorscham barked a sharp laugh, grinning maliciously.
"I have half a mind to have you shot right here, right now!" Seymour growled, his hands shaking in fury. "This…this… t-this insubordination is borderline treason!"
"Half a mind, no spine…" Vorscham snarled, laughing sharply again, his eyes narrowing. "How do you function?"
"Shut him up!" Seymour snapped, turning red in the face. He spun, forcing himself to calm, wheeling on Shyvana and gesturing towards the ring. "You, dragon, you're up, get into the ring." Seymour hissed, waving Shyvana forward dismissively.
"Sir?" Shyvana growled softly, glancing at the officer and grimacing.
"Get into the ring." Seymour snapped. "Gunnery Sergeant Juniper, since your commander seems so reluctant, you're going to run the exercise. I shall choose a squad for you to command." Seymour made a show of looking out over the quad with an imperious stare. If he'd been taller you could have called it regal, but as Shyvana stepped into the ring unceremoniously, she turned to watch the little man look about and she realized something.
He looks just like a rat standing on his hind legs… Shyvana suppressed the thin smile and spread her feet slightly, trying to calm the uneasy feeling that had settled in the pit of her stomach like a block of ice.
"What?" Alicia looked surprised at the major's orders. "But I…" The major turned, his mounting frustration clear on his face. He reeled a hand back and backhanded Alicia across the cheek, sending the gunny reeling.
"I grow tired of this constant insubordination!" Seymour snarled. "Do your job, or I will have you jailed as well!"
"Alicia!" Vorscham snarled, his eyes wild and wide, jerking away from his captors. He charged forward and grabbed the major by the collar, lifting him upwards, clear off his feet, raising his arm back. "You corrupt little fuck! How dare you!?"
"Proudmast!" Alicia shouted, grabbing his arm to keep him from striking the major. Vorscham looked down at her, his face contorted in unbridled rage. She offered him a pained smile, her cheek red, blood dripping down her chin from a split lip. "Don't! It's not worth it!"
"But… he…" Vorscham stammered, deflating slightly. His expression was conflicted, but he lowered the major to the ground and backed away. He held his hands away from his body, his palms out. Seymour bustled and bristled as he straightened his jacket. He looked down at his fist and then hauled an arm back and struck Vorscham across the chin. The lieutenant took the blow, his head twisting about, but he did not speak or move. He simply glared back at the major, his eye scathing. Seymour hissed, sucking on a knuckle, shaking his hand in pain.
"Someone shoot him, now!" Seymour snarled, but the other lieutenants stood by, silently watching, unflinching. They flanked Vorscham on either side, but no one dared detain him, his glare scathing and filled with fury. "I demand-…"
"Major, if you lay a hand on either of my friends again, the entirety of Victoria Company will not be able to contain my fury." Shyvana growled, her voice hissing almost inhumanly. The ground around her shuddered slightly, pebbles shivering atop the dust. Her bangs fluttered as heat poured from her body, her fist quivering. The major turned to glare at her, but he took a half step backwards, making a show of straightening his tunic where Vorscham had crumpled the collar.
"Do not think your idle threats have swayed me." Seymour stammered. The crack in his voice suggested otherwise though. "I order you, Gunnery Sergeant, to run this drill!"
"Why? This isn't a drill anymore, it's a pointless show of power." Alicia said firmly, and she looked to Vorscham for support, but as the lieutenant started to move forward, the men descended upon him. He tried to struggle against the men who detained him, but they had his arms firmly behind his back and he wasn't able to move so much as an inch..
"Cool it, Vorscham…" One of the sergeants growled. He leaned in slightly, but Shyvana could hear his words. "Don't make us go get the MPs, we don't like this any more than you…"
"I ordered you to run the drill, gunny." Seymour said, turning to face the gunny fully.
Alicia looked conflicted for a few brief moments before she turned to Shyvana, watching her for a brief moment and then steeling her expression. She turned back to Seymour, set her feet just wider than shoulder width apart and glared at Seymour. Alicia was tall among the other female soldiers that stood around the courtyard, her lithe and slender build augmented by the uniform and armor plating she wore. She lifted her chin up, looking down her nose at Seymour with distaste dripping from her voice. "No."
Seymour wore a bit of a smile as if he was happy he was asserting his dominance as he looked about, the comment rolling over him as if she hadn't responded. He blinked twice, the two beady eyes suddenly bugging out as he turned and glared at her, his face turning pink in anger. "What did you say to me?" He hissed, almost hysterically.
"I said 'no'." Alicia responded, her arms held behind her back, her voice both cold and firm. "I refuse to carry out this meaningless show." The disgust poured from her voice.
"Fine." Seymour muttered in disgust, sighing softly, turning to another officer. "Lieutenant, detain them both and fetch the MPs. Get them out of my sight."
The lieutenant Seymour had spoken to looked hesitant, glancing at Vorscham and then Alicia in turn. He mouthed a quick apology to Vorscham as he took him by the arm and turned him way, leading him towards the door that led into the depths of the barracks. His assistant started to approach the gunny, but she nodded her head briefly at the man. "A moment please, Corporal?" The man looked hesitant, but nodded. Alicia stepped forward, the soldiers' hands darting to their weapons, but Alicia walked past the startled Seymour to Shyvana. She leaned in toward Shyvana. "They will show you no compassion. You must show them none as well." Shyvana opened her mouth to speak, but she snapped it shut and simply nodded. Alicia stood up, nodding at Shyvana before she turned swiftly, following after her lieutenant, the other sergeant and corporal following behind her, their hands upon sabers.
"Now." Seymour said, taking a deep breath and letting it out in frustration. "With those cowards are out of the way, we are going to be holding a live combat drill with full arms and armor to simulate the experience of being outnumbered and outmatched. You shall be first up, dragon, seeing as you've been spending all this extra time training with Prince Jarvan instead of your duties as a member of this company."
"What duties?" Shyvana growled, forming fists. "I have never been assigned any extra duty…" She could feel leathery skin tighten over her knuckles as she could feel the leather of her gloves begin to tug as her fingernails turned to claws. She could feel fire and anger building in her chest.
"You didn't hear?" Seymour said, grinning thinly. "You were to clean the latrines. Consider this your punishment." He laughed aloud, and Shyvana struggled to keep a wall of flames from erupting around her. She exhaled a cloud of steam slowly, stretching her hands out to try and keep the transformation from progressing.
"I assume this is an order?" Shyvana growled.
"Of course." Seymour said, grinning coldly and gesturing towards the arena. "You are still a member of this company. Or perhaps you think yourself too good to be included in our training exercises?"
"Very well." Shyvana said softly, stepping towards the center of the arena. "Do what you wish." Shyvana pulled her helmet on, shaking her head slightly to clear the hair from her eyes as she dropped down into a fighting stance to await her opponent.
"Lieutenant." Seymour said sternly, adopting a pose of superiority, looking over the dragoness as she stood in the middle of the dragon. "You shall command Delta squad of Second platoon. They recently transferred in and need to be evaluated. This will be a good test for them." Seymour raised and hand and beckoned towards the crowd of soldiers. "Gentlemen?"
"Uh… yes, sir." The lieutenant said hesitantly, a frown on his face. He looked to the crowd where several soldiers were already moving forward. "Second platoon, delta squad, you're up!" He shouted, waving the men forwards. Ten men emerged from the crowd, smiles upon their faces. Whispers started to fade through the crowd, it was obvious that these men were no new recruits and had been recognized by some of the men.
Shyvana felt the ice coalesce into a solid lump of dread in the pit of her stomach.
It's those same men… that means… Shyvana snarled, turning to Seymour and glared at her. He shriveled slightly, but there was a cold gleam in his eyes. What are you playing at, Major?
"This is a live combat exercise, men." Seymour said haughtily, turning away from Shyvana. "I want you to replicate the stress of true combat. No going easy on anyone. Shields!"
Seymour and the other officers left the arena, letting the mages step forward. Their staffs went up and then shimmering blue energy spread out around the edges of the arena, walling Shyvana off from the rest of the company.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt much." The first man growled, grinning thinly as he cracked his neck. He drew his sword from his belt, holding the shield on his left arm forward and away from his body. His compatriots did their same, drawing weapons from their persons, a mix of axes, knives, swords and lances. They shifted slowly, keeping shields forward with lances just behind and other weapons dispersed through the group. Shyvana locked eyes with the leader of the men, his dark eyes glistening in the overcast day's light. His eyes were cold and dark, they looked like Vorscham's eyes, not the eyes of the men and women Shyvana had trained with over the past months.
These men aren't trainees… they've seen real combat. They've tasted blood. Shyvana posted her fists upon her waist, an imposing grimace upon his face. "Explain just what it is you're doing here… You're no trainee… you've the eyes of a man who has seen enough blood to learn to enjoy it." She sniffed the air, the fowl stench of copper lingering about them. "You stink of spilt blood." The men looked surprised at first, but that surprise soon turned into a mix of excitement and smiles. The men tried to look imposing, and behind the wall of shields, Shyvana couldn't help but feel the pressure of their gazes.
"We're just participating in a little training exercise." The one with the dark, angry eyes said with a sharp and boastful laugh. He was obviously the leader of the group, it showed in his stance and his dress. The gorilla like thugs he surrounded himself with wore the traditional Demacian uniform and armor, though the leader wore a sergeant's rank tabs. His sleeves had been rolled up, revealing scars and sun darkened skin. His stance was aggressive, his weapon and shield forward, his feet spread wide and his knees bent, ready to dodge or charge in an instant. Shyvana frowned, looking around the rest of his men. The rest of his thugs seemed slightly less prepared, but they were all attentive and their weapons were held at the ready. Their uniforms were tattered but well maintained, they had seen heavy usage and there were signs that they had been repaired in places and patched from wounds. Most of the leader's stooges nodded their heads lamely, grinning with sloped brows. Behind them all, the lieutenant looked lost as he glanced left and right, surprised by the men's immediate movements and well-coordinated actions.
"I can't believe they called us to spank this pretty little things tail." One of the larger, dumber looking ones said with an audible grunt. Shyvana snarled at him, and he shrunk back a fraction of a step. He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Shyvana. They were small but intelligent, a clear green color. He was as broad as a house and his hands looked rough as if they had been cast of bricks. He may not have been the type of soldier who would just bull straight through a wall rather than opening the door, but it looked like he could have easily done so if he needed. Not that he could even fit through a normal sized door. "I think I recognize her…"
"Stow it, Holtz." The leader growled.
"Come on, Fury." Another of the men growled. "We only just got home, why the hell are we doing this shit for Jorgun? I just want to go take a god damn break for a few days before we have to deal with more of his shit."
"For fuck's sake, I thought I told you morons to shut the fuck up?" The leader, called Fury, growled, shaking his head, his shoulders slacking slightly as he looked back. "We do this for Jorgun and we all get a nice fat bonus, so shove it and get fucking ready!"
Shyvana blanked, blinking several times as she dropped her guard slowly. Jorgun… I've heard that name before… Jormander?
"God, fuck." Fury muttered, shaking his head as he turned back to Shyvana. He sighed and scratched the back of his head, shrugging when he looked back to Shyvana. "Sorry love, can we make this quick? Me and the boys just want to get back and take a load off, we've been on deployment for the last few weeks."
"I don't even know who you are." Shyvana growled, raising her weapons back up, dropping slightly into a more defensive stance, glancing about the other men, sliding back slightly. "This Jorgun you speak of... do you mean General Jormander?"
"Oh so you do know the general? I don't know what exactly happened between you two, but it's not my place to ask." Fury shrugged, grinning viciously. "General Jormander wants you dead, sweetie. I'm just doing my job."
"What!?" Shyvana hissed, her eyes wide, her nostrils flaring in anger. "That bastard…"
"Oi, what are you men even doing here?" The lieutenant from Victoria Company said, looking closer at the men he was in the arena with. "I've never even seen you before."
Fury sighed again and shook his head. "Holtz, if you please?" The large man frowned, but nodded. He took two massive steps and slammed his fist into the man like a shot from a cannon. The lieutenant's eyes went wide as he tumbled backwards and crashed to the ground, rolling several times before he ended up on the ground, his mouth hanging open, no movement coming from his body at all.
"What?" Shyvana blinked several times, again taking a step back. "Just who are you?"
"We are called Judgement, for we end all of those who deserve Demacia's righteous fury." Fury chuckled, shaking his head, offering Shyvana a mocking bow. "I'm surprised you've never heard of us before, we carry a reputation for taking care of all of the dirty jobs that Demacia doesn't want to be tied to." He wore an evil grin that spoke of just how much he enjoyed his job. His expression turned cold and angry in an instant. "Who the fuck are you?"
"I'm telling you, Fury, I've heard about this one..." The large one named Holtz murmured.
"Oh, stow it." Fury chuckled. "She won't be able to do anything against us." He snorted and leaned forward, grinning. "I just want you to know, you were shit out of luck when you crossed the general. There is nothing ahead that with change your fate. The only thing that awaits you is your inevitable doom."
Shyvana smiled, bearing massive fangs. "So, what's your point?" She slammed her fists together and snarled, flames exploding around her gauntlets and flaring up brightly as she reared back, roaring into the sky. Her skin faded to a blue hue, scales rippling up amid her skin and hardening like leather. Her clothes burned away, the ash falling to the ground around her, getting whipped away by the wind as she stood up straight, taking a deep breath and looking to Fury. Glowing orange slits burned bright as she watched him with a wicked, fang filled smile on her face.
"W-w-what the fuck?" Fury stammered, stumbling back a step, his men faltering slightly. "What are you?"
"My name is Shyvana, the half-dragon." The dragoness's voice cold was and inhuman, a deeper sub tone causing it to echo menacingly. "I serve the prince, and no one else, and you, Fury, are going to learn the definition of that word." Flames swirled along the ground around her, the armored braid that hung behind her swinging about menacingly, ridding the waves of heat that swirled about her.
"She's the one who beat Captain Crownguard in a duel." Holtz said softly, sinking back slightly. "She's not just half dragon, she can transform into a full dragon when she needs. This is looking bad..." Murmurs began to pass through the men around them, their weapons dropping slightly.
"Shut up!" Fury barked angrily at his men, trying to calm them. It wasn't working though, and his men were starting to waver. He was running out of time before Shyvana won from the simple fear she had already instilled in the men before her. "It's just a rumor. Hearsay from the Royal Guard and their nonsensical sensationalism."
"Send your best then." Shyvana said, settling into a fighting stance, one arm raised and back, the other held in front of her, one ready to defend, the other ready to strike. "And don't bother with your scraps, I forgot my broom to sweep out the trash." Fury's face was red in anger and his fists quivered. He waved the men forward with a violent grin on his face.
"I'm going to make you eat those words." Fury snarled, rolling his sleeves further up his arm. "Get her, boys. Let's teach this bitch her place! Charge!"
In an instant he turned their fear into strength, their trepidation into anger. Shyvana indulged in a thin smile. This shall not be an easy fight.
The front half of the squad of men that hung around him like a bad stench charged forward, surging like a wave to meet Shyvana head on. Lumbering was probably a better choice of words, they seemed to come like a tidal wave of girth and muscles, their hands apart and settled into grappling positions, their sword and shield practically cast aside as they charged, driven wild by their fear and anger.
Left, then right. Shyvana steeled herself, lowering her stance further. Her flames burned higher and hotter as she indulged herself in a smile.
Shyvana stepped forward into the surge and reared her fist back as she stepped into the arc of the first man's attack, clothes-lining the first man that had charged ahead of the rest. His feet lifted up from beneath him, leaving him hanging in the air for a few brief moments as Shyvana spun, her hair snapping through the air like a whip. She brought her elbow down hard on his sternum, slamming him into the ground so hard that blood fountained from his mouth and dust rippled from beneath his body. Shyvana swung across her body with a left hook that caught a second man upon the temple snapping his head around. He was lifted off his feet as the momentum carried his body further on, his head swinging down around his body as he stumbled to try not to fall, his weapon and shield hitting the ground and bouncing away. Shyvana turned and slammed her right elbow into the second man's face as he reeled, splattering blood down the front of his armor. The man continued stumbling backwards from the force of the blow as he tried to stay on his feet. Shyvana took two steps and spun about as she followed up the first elbow strike and slammed the second man in the back of the head with the broadside of her arm. His skull cracked loudly against her gauntlet as the man slammed face first into the ground, his teeth shattering upon the packed dirt. He tried to scream in pain and grasped at his mouth and nose, blood pouring down his face, a pathetic gurgling coming from his throat.
Shyvana leaped backwards, rolling along the ground and bringing her head up as an ax crashed through the air where she had just been standing, striking the dirt and the stone beneath with a few sparks hitting the ground. Shyvana grinned as she let flames swirl around her hand. She threw the flames forward, feeding the projectile with her anger, watching as the man coiled backwards, trying to dodge what he could and defending his face with the ax as flames bounced across his body. Shyvana took the brief moment of distraction to launch herself forward, tucking both legs into her chest as she kicked out, catching the man's ax with her boots. The broad side of the weapon stuck him in the face, the man crashing backwards, barely managing to stay on his feet as he brought the weapon up to strike blindly. Shyvana had just landed and brought her gauntlets up as the ax came down like the headman's stroke, catching it in the crook of her gauntlets as she crossed them. The man looked surprised as Shyvana pushed upwards, breaking his stance, the handle of the ax starting to creak as flames flared around the dragoness. She snarled and twisted her arms about, ripping the ax from his arms and bringing him jerkily forth. Shyvana brought her fist back and slammed both fists into his chest, sending him cartwheeling away, skidding along the ground into a bloody pile, his body twisted about at an odd angle.
The remaining men had skidded to a halt as they watched with horror as Shyvana shook the blood from her gauntlet as if it were nothing. Shyvana cracked her neck and twisted her arm across her body in a simple stretch. She switched arms and wheeled her arm about, holding her shoulder as she did.
"She's inhuman..." One of the men murmured. Shyvana grinned, again bearing her fangs.
"No shit." Another muttered. "What's the plan, boss, she's much better than Jormander said." Fury grunted, his eyes upon the three men on the ground. None of them had seen it coming at all, and the remaining men seemed hesitant to charge again, though it came as a relief to fury that they had spread out in a half circle around the dragoness.
Divide and conquer. Shyvana scanned the group that had started to surround her. Thin the herd and then clean up the scraps. Right three first.
One of the men took a step too far and Shyvana lashed out with a boot, catching the man by surprise. The blow caught his hand as he tried to dodge, a trail of flames following the arc of Shyvana's kick. The man yelped and jumped back, his sword tumbling to the ground, and skittering through the dirt, disappearing into the chaos. The second soldier took advantage of it and charged in with his lance held around gut level, and he was nearly a head taller than Shyvana. The dragoness caught the weak charge of his lance by trapping it in between the fangs of her gauntlets and twisting to apply force keep it locked in her grip. She ripped him forward and grabbed his hand by the wrist and twisted it across his body, pulling the man in and across her body, driving him down, using his mass against him. She brought his arm down onto her knee as she twisted his wrist down and across her knee, raising an arm up above the man's wrist, bringing her elbow down to smash his arm with a sickening crack of bone. The man screamed in pain as his wrist snapped, his sword tumbling from his grasp as Shyvana brought her rearward knee up and into his temple, twisting him about and lifting him upwards off the ground. She held him for a moment while he squirmed, pulling her arm back and striking him in the lower back. She twisted her arm about, sending him spinning away, letting him slam him into the dirt unceremoniously.
The third man was standing slightly back and he held his sword at his side, his shield hanging freely as well. Shyvana launched herself forward, planting a flame cloaked blow directly onto the man's chest. He blew a breath out explosively as he stumbled backwards, and Shyvana spun low and swept his feet out from under him, and then slammed a fist into his face. The man slammed into the ground and bounced backwards, his weapon and shield bouncing away from him. Shyvana spun, trying to reacquire the man she had disarmed with a kick.
"You bitch!" He lunged at Shyvana and wrapped his arms around her, trying to trap her. "Now, get her!" His mates began to close, the second three barely moving as they watched. Their comrades shout started them from their stunned state and they started forward. Two charged forward, their weapons raised and aimed for Shyvana's gut. Shyvana sucked in a breath and exhaled sharply, a quick cloud of flames forcing them to bring their arms up in defense of their faces. Shyvana took this moment to kick off the ground and used the man she was being grappled by to lever herself up, tucking her knees to her chest and then kicking out, catching the two who were charging in the chest, knocking them backwards. Shvyana continued through her arc, ripping her arms from the man who tried to hold her. He managed to keep a grip on her arm though, producing a knife from somewhere and sinking it into the Dragoness's leg.
Shyvana snarled and lashed out at him, smashing the side of his head with a haymaker, sending him stumbling away, but the third man of the new group had finally closed and he took advantage of the brief moment of Shyvana's reaction to try and grapple her in a similar fashion to the one before. Shyvana's leg was dragging slightly as she tried to turn to the second thug who was trying to grapple with her arms behind her back, but he was bigger than the first and his footing was better. Shyvana snarled as she summoned flames around her arms, the heat dripping from her hands like molten metal, the man screaming and releasing her. Shyvana ripped her other arm free, reached up and around, grabbed the man' by the collar of his jacket and slung him across her her back. She rolled as she tucked her knees into her chest and kicked out, sending the man arcing through the air. He slammed down onto the energy barrier and bounced off with almost equal force, arcing back through the air toward Shyvana.. Shyvana waited a brief moment as his arms flailed back towards her, taking a single step to the side and reaching her arms back. Shyvana slammed his nose with a windmill blow that spun him about and sent him cartwheeling across the ground, rolling to the ground at Fury's feet.
Shyvana yanked the blade from her leg and cast it aside with a snarl. She grimaced against the pain and then charged the last two men who were just regaining their balance. Shyvana hauled off and decked the first, slamming his head into the ground and then slamming an armored boot into the side of his head so he wouldn't get up again. The second turned and started to run, but Shyvana summoned her flames, letting it swirl around her arm like a living creature before she cast it outwards. The flames incinerated his heels, and he cried out in pain as he crashed to the ground. Shyvana watched him flail for a brief moment before she lunged forward and slammed a gauntlet into his stomach so hard that he blacked out and fell silent.
Shyvana looked back over her shoulder. Nine down, one to go...
"Just who the fuck are you?" Fury snarled with anger, wearing a horrified expression. Shyvana turned to the crowd that stood behind the magicked barrier, watching in aww, most of them simply standing with their mouths hanging open.
"Can one of you go and get the doctor?" Shyvana said to the group of officers that stood behind the barrier. They all looked utterly stunned and none of them moved at all. One of them finally nodded silently and then scampered off.
"Pay attention to me, you fuck!" The soldier left in the arena bellowed, a savage expression on his face. Shyvana twisted about, a dark grimace upon her face. "I'm not done with you, yet!"
"I told you not to send your scraps." Shyvana hissed, grinning cruelly. "If you have the balls to face me like the man you claim to be, then come forth and meet your maker!" The man's jaw was hung ajar in disbelief.
"I will end you!" He practically screamed. His face brightened and he smiled as he turned and started to fumble with something on his belt. Shyvana frowned, watching as he drew a odd, angular piece of metal from a leather pouch on his belt. He wore a victorious smile on his hand as he leveled the metal at her. A strange hole had been cut in the front of it, with little gaps spaced evenly around the hole.
"What is..." He squeezed the trigger and the crack of the gun firing sent Shyvana rolling away. She hissed as red hot pain blossomed from her arm. As Shyvana rolled, she hit the ground much harder than she meant to and ended up tumbling, landing at an odd angle. She started to get up, slowly. She touched a hand to the pain and it came away red.
"What are you going to do now that you can't get close to me?" Fury boasted happily, keeping the pistol in one hand and his sword in the other. "This pistol is the very latest model, straight from Piltover. You managed to survive one shot, care to try for two?"
Shyvana got her feat beneath her and got up, her eyes burning like the sun, anger clear in her expression. Shyvana took a deep breath and let flames begin to build around her, the heat literally dripping from her like magma. It pooled on the ground and started to burn, Shyvana beginning to move around the edge of the arena. A trail of fire was left in her wake, the fires burning higher as smoke began to rise.
"What are you up to, bitch?" Fury snarled, following her with the gun as she finished her circle. She offered him a smile as she stepped backwards through the firestorm that raged around her. The last thing Fury saw was her golden orange eyes disappearing into the flames. Fury blinked a few times and then started firing wildly. "You think you can hide from me?" He emptied the clip in a wild arc around him, roaring in frustration. He dropped the empty clip and slammed another home, turning around and trying to look through the flames. Something dark flashed behind the flames, and Fury spun and snapped off two shots. "Show yourself, coward!"
"You missed." Shyvana purred happily, laughing. "You can't see me!"
"But I can hear you!" Fury barked, turning towards the voice and snapping off two more shots. Shyvana remained silent, only the crackle of the flames and the stench of burning hanging thick in the air. "Oli, oli oxen bitch!" Fury snarled into the wall of flames. "Come out you snarling cunt! Face me!"
"Why?" Shyvana hissed, something rumbling amid the flames as she circled him out of sight, hidden by flames and smoke.
"You've proved just how much of a monster you really are, so why don't you do yourself a favor and come out so I can rid Demacia of this plague." He barked a sharp laugh, but the confidence he carried earlier had gone, replaced by unease. "It'll be easier to get it over with now, don't you think? Instead of when the prince finally discards you like they all do?"
"You spew more hot air than I do." Shyvana growled, but Fury knew what he was doing, a grin growing on his face. "But hey, after I'm done with you, I'll go and visit the prince. We'll see what he has to say about it all."
"That means..." Shyvana said softly, putting two and two together. These are the men who attacked Jarvan!
Shyvana exploded from behind the cloak of flames, her arms stretched back as she let out a fearsome roar. Fury smirked and brought his pistol up, firing two shots directly at Shyvana's center mass.
Shyvana fell short of her lunge, crashing to the dirt as the flames subsided. A collective gasp erupted from the crowd.
Fury smirked as he stepped forward, his pistol still leveled at Shyvana. "It wasn't exactly painless but this end was inevitable. I hope you burn in hell, girl." He rolled Shyvana over with the toe of his boot, keeping his pistol leveled at her head. "What!?" Golden orange eyes glared up at him with hatred and fury burning in them, two strike marks decorating her red armor.
"Suprise." Shyvana snarled, lashing out and slapping the weapon from his hand. The report echoed around the arena, a smoking bullet hole sitting mere hairs from Shyvana's head. She exploded upward, lashing out at him with her fist, an explosion of flames launching her upwards at Fury's head. Her gauntleted fist connected with his chin, knocking him into the air.
Fury hit the dirt, bouncing once and then falling still.
Silence filled the arena.
The barrier fell as Seymour stepped forward into the arena, looking about and then frowning as he looked down at Fury. He forced a smile onto his face, looking to the dragoness. "Well done, it seems you've—AH!" Shyvana stepped forward and hauled Seymour off his feet, lifting him into the air by his collar.
"You're scum!" Shyvana snarled, shaking him like a ragdoll. "These men tried to kill me! They tried to kill Jarvan! Why were you working with them!?"
"Put him down!" One of the lieutenants shouted, his men charging forward, their weapons raised at Shyvana. She looked around and she felt regret, instantly, though she did not release the major. "Do not harm the major!"
"This bastard is no officer." Shyvana spat, growling as she glared up at the man. "Maybe I should just end it here and now. Put you out of your misery..."
"Please! Don't hurt me!" The officer begged. "I was only following instructions!"
"What?" The lieutenant looked surprised as he stepped forward. "Please, release him." He asked Shyvana calmly. Shyvana glared at the officer, snorted steam from her nose, and frowned but let him fall, the major stumbling slightly and ending up on his butt.
"Perhaps you'd like to explain yourself?" The lieutenant asked softly with a frown. "What is this she speaks of?"
"I was told the order was coming from higher." Seymour whined. "I was just following orders..."
"Who's orders?" Shyvana snarled. The lieutenant frowned at her and she sneered but took a step backwards. She looked around the other men, all of them leaving a healthy distance between them as she frowned. She looked to their eyes. Fear... they fear me... Shyvana looked down at herself, her eyes growing wide as she looked over herself. Her hands were red with blood, her gauntlets tinged a crimson color save for where it was black from the blood and flames. She looked out over the arena as medics rushed to the men. One had a sheet pulled over him, blood staining the white cloth.
A jolt of fear ran through her body as she looked around, the fear and resentment that shown in the faces and eyes of the men who gave her a wide margin, refusing to get near her.
They think I am a monster... She looked back to the arena. Oh Jarvan... what have I done? She shook her head and shrunk back silently desiring to disappear as the others watched her. Hands rested on weapons, and though they were not directed at her, Shyvana could tell that they were ready for her.
"General Jormander..." Seymour said, his voice wavering.
"Crap." The lieutenant said softly, shaking his head. He looked to Shyvana and beyond to where the medics worked, as a doctor pulled a sheet over a second body. "This is going to be a mess. Hal, go get the MP's on the double. Portho, I want you to head to the hospital and get a clean up and emergency response unit over her on the double. Lim, go let Alicia and Proudmast free, it's pretty obvious what happened here." The soldiers saluted and headed out, each hurrying away as quickly as possible. "Kikis, go fetch the XO, I need to brief him before the MP's get here. Celty, start informing the other platoon leaders that their men are to remain in the quad, the XO is probably going to want to address them." The lieutenant looked to Shvyana and then the rest of the men around. They were all casting fearful, wary looks at her, a growing void between her and the others. "Go get cleaned up." The lieutenant said, running a hand along the side of his head. "You may wish to stay in your room till someone comes for you."
Shyvana opened her mouth to protest, but the cold looks she was getting from all around sent the point home. "Yes, sir." Shyvana said softly. She turned and headed for the barracks, the other soldiers parting to let her through without having to get close to her. There were whispers throughout the crowds and though many of them couldn't be made out, Shyvana could hear some of them.
"She's a monster... She killed a fellow Demacian... who's to say she won't kill us? ...beast..."
It's just like before... Shyvana shook her head and moved quicker, wishing to escape the words that swarmed around her. When I lost control and nearly killed Jarvan... Shyvana shook her head, breaking into a run as she headed for her room. She slammed the door behind her and collapsed onto the bed.
What have I done?