Fire exploded on the barrier shields, splashing waves of flames across the arena. Shyvana dropped to the ground, skidding backwards, trails of dirt and clouds of dust rising up around her feet. She snarled as she clawed as the ground, shaking sand and mud from her gauntlets as she clambered to her feet. Shyvana dropped down into a defensive position, her hands raised as she looked around, watching the clouds of smoke and dust clear around her. "Come out and face me, you bastard!"
Xin exploded out of the shimmering cloud, leading his spear, jabbing directly for the dragoness's heart. Shyvana dropped and raised her gauntlet, catching and twisting the spear past her. She rolled, hooking the horns of her larger gauntlet over the spear head and yanked Xin past her, sending him stumbling past, spreading his feet and sliding as he struggled to regain his foot. Shyvana spun, knocking the spear up as she reared her main shield back, striking in towards his chest. He started to spin, but the blow glanced heavily off his side, sending his skittering further away. Xin ground to a halt, raising his lance up, his breathing ragged and heavy.
"You strike quickly, but you struggle to disengage when your initial charge does not succeed." Shyvana hissed, her breathing noticeably less labored than her opponent. "If you continue to drag this out, you're not going to win this."
"You can try and taunt me all you wish, but my temper is not as volatile as yours, girl." Xin murmured, stepping forward, moving slowly along the edge of the shield wall. Shyvana slowly turned, following the seneschal as he moved. Xin's breaths were shortened, and he limped slightly when his right leg crossed his left. Shyvana waited till he crossed his leg again, watching as he winced. She surged forward, striking at his spear, knocking his spear aside and landing a rapid series of blows in his side again, pummeling the wounded side. Xin snarled, spinning his lance and striking at Shyvana's torso. She raised her shields up and while it took the brunt of the pain, the sheer force of the blow sent Shyvana skidding away. She snarled as she clawed at the ground, leaping backwards and Xin charged after her. Xin buried the lance in the ground, a geyser of dirt falling down over Shyvana as she landed nimbly rolling away as Xin stabbed at her chest once, twice and a third time. Shyvana juked out fo the first, but the third caught her in the stomach. Shyvana grabbed the lance before it could strike, thought Xin shouted, powering through her block and knocking her into the air.
Shyvana twisted in the air, driving a fist down towards his skull, driving him backwards. Flames sparkled around her fist as the armored strike passed straight through the air. Shyvana landed, dropping to her knees as Xin slid backwards dropping his shoulder and charging again. He jabbed at her exposed neck, but Shyvana swept her gauntlet across her face, catching the spear. She jumped away, clearing the distance between then again.
Xin smiled. "You recover well, and you've learned not to leave yourself open, you've made good progress."
Shyvana charged forward, but immediately dropped sliding forward, catching Xin by surprise. Shyvana slammed one fist into the ground and slapped his spear aside, setting her stance as she lashed out with a vicious kick, catching Xin low along his ankles, he started to drop, Shyvana tucking her knees into her chest and digging her toes into the dirt and sending herself explosively forward. She barreled into Xin at an upwards angle, launching him into the air. Shyvana held onto him, grabbing him by the collar with one hand as they twisted through the air, up towards one of the barriers. Shyvana raised an arm back and nailed Xin with all of her might, sending him crashing down into the shield barriers.
Shyvana landed on the ground and immediately raised her guard. She watched, indulging herself with a quick smile as she watched Xin Zhao arc overhead, smoke trailing from his body as he collapsed onto the ground in a heap. Shyvana inched forward, watching his body for several moments. He had fallen still, though he still clutched his spear in one hand.
"It's a pity that Jarvan wasn't here to see me crush you." There was anger and resentment in Shyvana's voice as she turned, looking up at podium where the king stood, fitting him a defiant glare. This is your doing, isn't it? She stuck out her chin and gestured behind her as the king rose and stepped forward to look over her. "I win." Shyvana hissed coldly. "Now where is my prince? Where is Jarvan!?"
A slight frowned played over the king's face, a brief moment of confusion showing in his eyes. He slowly smiled as he returned to his seat, folding his hands in front of his face to hide his smile. "Your battle is not over yet." King Jarvan III announced. Three rapid steps could be heard, followed by the brief sound of tearing steel. Shyvana stumbled slightly forward as something warm began to spread over her right hip. She looked down, grabbing the tip of the spear that jutted from a gap in her armored plates. A single jagged piece of scale mail jutted from the wound.
"You look away for even a second…" Xin hissed from behind, his breath slow and controlled, though ragged. "You lose sight of your charge for even a moment and they can die. You can die. Remember that, girl." Xin jerked the spear free, backing away as blood dripped from the tip of his spear. "End your suffering now. You are still far from ready."
"No…" Shyvana hissed softly, stepping one before she dropped to her knees, her weapon bouncing away from her as she clutched a hand over the wound. "I'm not done… not yet…" She looked down at her hand and then back up to Xin, glowing orange pupils gleaming back at him. She hissed softly as fire began to well up around her hands.
"You forfeit if you use your flames, girl…" Xin said softly, watching her.
"These flames aren't for you." Shyvana looked down into the swirling mass of flame that shivered and sparked within her palm. She brought the flames down to her side, pressing the flames into the wound, the hissing sound of the quenched fire echoing through the silent arena. The sickly greasy smell of burnt meat hung in the air as Shyvana coalesced a second mote of flames, pushing it into the open wound on her back. She remained silent, though the anger and pain in her eyes and face caused even the hardened seneschal to wince.
"They say true warriors are born of the battlefield…" Xin whispered, as Shyvana exhaled slowly, steam jetting from her nostrils. "Where you were born of… I would not like to visit with the entirety of the Demacian at my back." She took several long breaths, the steam growing thinner with each breath. She blinked several times, magenta orbs glowing back at the seneschal.
"I am not finished yet." Her voice cracked, her tone strained and hoarse. She raised her gauntlets up in front of her face. "I will not be beaten so easily. I will not fail Jarvan."
A smirk played over Xin's lips. "To triumph!"
He launched forwards, beginning his attack anew.
Valentine burst through the door of the courtyard, panting as she looked about. The courtyard was filled with people, soldiers, civilians, servants and officers alike, cheering and clapping echoing off the walls of the courtyard as they watched Shyvana and Xin duke it out. "There she is..." Valentine murmured, shaking her head. She frowned, looking at the crowd. "I've got to let her know... Jarvan... Jarvan is..." Valentine shook her head again. I've got to hurry!
"Excuse me, miss, are you lost?" Valentine practically jumped out of her skin, losing her footing and sliding down the first few steps towards to center of the courtyard. "Miss, are you alright?" The voice was proud and firm, a massive hand descending down towards her as she groaned, trying to pick herself up. She looked up and then blushed.
"Captain Crownguard!" She squeaked. "Excuse me sir, I didn't see you there."
"It's fine." Garen said softly, offering her a hand up. She accepted, letting the massive knight help her up. "Why are you in such a hurry, you're never going to get through this crowd. It'd be best to go around."
"I can't!" Valentine snapped, the force of her own voice surprising even her. She blushed and shook her head. "I can't. I need to get to the center, right away, it's urgent..."
"There's a duel at the center of the crowd right now." Garen said, standing up straighter and simply peering out over the heads of many of the members of the crowd. "What's so..."
Valentine grabbed his blue scarf and pulled herself toward him. "You need to help me! Jarvan is in trouble!"
"What!?" Garen snarled. "How... what's going on?" His blue eyes turned fierce.
"He's under attack outside the city..." Valentine said, still panting, shaking her head. "I was told to get help... Jarvan was supposed to be back twenty minutes ago... the woman said something about Noxians..."
"Calm down," Garen said, trying to slow the woman down so he could make sense of what she was saying. "What's wrong? How is Jarvan in trouble? What woman..."
"You're slow... Val..." Delancey mumbled from the doorway. Blood dripped down her arm, the limb hanging at her side. It spattered across the floor as she hung her head, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Miss Delancey!" Valentine gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth. "You're still wounded! You need to stop!"
"Like hell..." Delancey muttered. "Jarvan, we went to investigate..." She slumped down against the door jamb, her face pale and drained, her breathing ragged.
"Medic! What in Runeterra is going on here..." Garen muttered, still staring down at the bleeding sergeant in disbelief. He turned to Valentine, his eyes wide. "What happened? Why is she injured?!"
"Jarvan... he..." Valentine stammered. "...said he'd be back soon..." Valentine shook her head and held out a small cloth wrapped item. "Delancey gave me this... I'm supposed to get Shyvana and show the king this..."
Garen pushed the swaddled cloth aside, and all the warmth in his body drained, ice coursing through his body. "This is... this is the prince's pendant... his birthright... if he gave it to you..." He looked down at the wounded sergeant. He touched the coin, the surface sticky with drying blood. "Whose blood is this?" He looked to the young woman who was collapsed in the doorway, guard standing around her, unsure of what to do. Their expression showed shock and fear. Garen reached down and grabbed her by the collar, hauling the sergeant up to his face. "Whose blood is this!?"
"No, please! Stop!" Valentine shook her head violently, tugging on his arm. "Please! She's injured!" Valentine begged. "You have to help me! Jarvan needs our help!" Garen released the sergeant, letting the young woman flow into Valentine arms.
"Damnit!" Garen snarled. "Lux!"
The young blonde woman had been watching the duel from the top of the steps, her legs crossed as she perched herself atop a winged lion statue. "Brother?" She looked down with a smile that instantly drained as she looked from Valentine to Delancey to Garen. "Vivian!"
"I need you to stop this damn fight and clear me a path to the center! Now!" Garen snarled, looking out over the sea of wild on lookers.
"What..." Lux said sprightly as she looked back at him with confusion, looking from the injured sergeant to the Demacian captain with fear for her friend in her face.
"Do it!" Garen snarled. "It's about Jarvan!" Lux blinked once and then nodded.
"One stopped fight, coming up!" She said as she picked herself up and stood atop the lion. She looked about and the set her jaw, raising her wand. "You might want to close your eyes and cover your ears!" She waved her wand about and then took a deep breath, her body beginning to shimmer with a brilliant incandescence. "This is going to be loud!" Lux let herself grin as a ball of light began to form in front of her, humming and pulsing energetically. She grinned as she rose up into the air, hovering above the statue she had been standing on. She raised her arms back and then brought them forward violently, a massive beam of light exploding through the air above her and the crowd. The sound rung like a thousand struck bells, the light as brilliant as the sun.
The smell of ozone hung in the air.
"Crazy bi-..." Garen muttered before catching Lux's glare and not finishing his sentence. "Come on!" He took Valentine by the wrist and pulled her along, budging through the crowd and pushing towards the center. "Move, get out of the way!" He bellowed, pushing deeper through the crowd.
…
Shyvana snarled as the brilliant light cut through the sky, raising her gauntlet to cover her eyes. "What is that!?" She dropped down, still squinting as the light faded. "You would stoop so low as to try and blind me to win?"
"Stay you blade." Xin muttered, grimacing as he backed away, keeping the distance between them as great as he could. His spear was still held at the ready, raised between them. "It was not my doing."
"Then who..." The barriers collapsed and the king stepped forward, a cross expression on his face as he approached the edge of the ring.
"This was a fight between warriors, not mages, correct?" He growled, looking at both of them in turn. The seneschal had bowed his head, but Shyvana simply glared at the king with venom in her eyes. "Which of you-..."
"You highness!" A shout came from the crowd, the groans and surprise of the crowd giving way to shouted of disturbance and protests coming from the direction of the main entrance back into the castle. "King Jarvan!" Garen pushed his way through the crowd, emerging with the young woman in tow. The king turned his back on the arena, stepping away from the edge to see what the commotion was about. A worried looking Garen Crownguard shouldered his way through.
"What is the meaning of this, Captain Crownguard?" The king growled, his blue eyes narrowing. He looked down at the young woman, Valentine's uniform now splattered with Delancey's blood.
"Trouble, sir." Garen said, tugging the young woman who he had been pulling behind him forward. She looked bewildered and frightened, looking up at the king with shock in her red cheeks. Her hands were coated in blood as she supported Delancey, the sergeant's good arm draped over her shoulders. "The wounded one came with this, sire."
"Y-you're... you're the king..." Valentine stammered. She looked up at the king, her eyes wide. While not nearly as imposing as Garen or the Prince, Jarvan III was the king, the one man who wielded all the power behind Demacia. He eyes were cold and menacing, and his expression was cross as he glared at the two young women.
"Well, what is it that is so important you needed to interrupt this important duel?" The kind barked, still glaring at Valentine. She blinked a few times and then she squeaked, lowering Delancey to the ground. A medic shouldered his way past, dropping his bag on the ground next to the sergeant.
"It's the prince!" She shivered from head to toe, holding out her hands, producing the small cloth wrapped parcel for the king to see.
"What is this?" The king frowned as he accepted it, holding it in his hand and folding the cloth back. He opened his mouth to speak but the glimmer of gold froze his voice in his throat. He eyes turned dark. "Girl, who gave this to you?" Valentine was panting still, surprised and overwhelmed by the king's presence. "WHO GAVE THIS TO YOU!?" He bellowed in rage.
"She did!" Valentine cried out as tears streamed down her face. "Delancey came on horseback! She was injured and fell from her horse! She said the prince was being attacked!"
"Why do you have this then?" The king snarled, watching her crumble under his fury. "Speak!"
"I was waiting for the prince to return!" Valentine said from behind a veil of tears. "He was overdue and I was worried... so I was at the front gates waiting when..."
"Make sense, girl!" The king bellowed, starting towards her when the queen stepped forward and stopped him.
"Enough, Trey!" Lady Catherine snapped, dropping down towards the young woman. She gave the king a cold glare as she wrapped an arm around the young woman where she had dropped to the ground. "Please, you need to speak clearly young one, what happened?"
"I can explain..." Delancey said softly, speaking up, looking up at the king with faded eyes. "I need to see Shyvana though... Jarvan is in... trouble..." Her voice faded and her head slumped as she fell still.
"Delancey?" Valentine said softly, shaking the young woman. "Del! Vivian!"
"I need a doctor!" The medic snarled. "Her wounds are grievous: I can't stop the flow of blood right now! The wounds are unlike anything I've ever seen…"
The king turned to Valentine. "Where is my son? What has happened to him!?" He turned on Valentine, but the young woman's fear forced him to take a step back and look at her with a frown.
"Jarvan went to check something just outside the city." Valentine said softly, her shoulders shuddering. "He said he wouldn't be long, he took some of his staff, the sergeant major and the sergeant with him. He should have been back by now, but Delancey came riding up on a horse alone, that didn't carry the prince's insignia. When the guards turned her away, directing her to the hospital, she turned to me and asked that I find Shyvana and show you and Shyvana that..." She pointed to the golden coin that the king held in his hand, wiping her eyes as she did. "Shyvana needs to see this!"
"What do I need to see?" Shyvana shouted from the arena, looking to where the king was. Her face drained of color when she saw Delancey.
"Del?" Shyvana said, moving slightly close. "Del! DEL!" Her eyes went wide in terror as she sprinted to the edge of the arena, mounting the wall and approaching the king. Guards stepped forward, blocking her way, but Shyvana snarled, roaring at them, the heat of her breath sending them shivering backwards. Shyvana dropped to her knees next to Delancey. She put a hand on the sergeant shoulder, but her head lolled and she remained silent, Shyvana's eyes went wide.
"If Del is..." Shyvana said softly, her pupils dilating and her arms falling the ground beside her as she kneeled. "That's means... that means... JARVAN!" Shyvana shrieked, the crowd falling silent instantly.
"Calm yourself!" The king barked, but Shyvana turned on him as well, the wild look in her eye as she glared up at him. She turned to Valentine, grabbing her by her collar and hauling her close, nearly nose to nose.
"Where is Jarvan now!?" Shyvana shouted, holding Valentine close. "You're Valentine, yes? You work for Jarvan!" Shyvana said urgently, desperately, her voice pained and strained. "Where is he!?"
"On the east road!" Valentine stammered. "It's at least a twenty minute ride at a full gallop... but..."
"I need no horse." Shyvana snarled, casting they young woman aside, glaring at the king. He frowned, looking at the coin and then Shyvana for a brief moment before he nodded once.
"Go."
Shyvana nodded, stepping back into the arena, dropping to the floor of the pit and starting towards the center of the arena, flames swirling around her. She stopped in the center of the arena and closed her eyes, arching her back and trying to concentrate her rage, trying to begin her transformation. She felt the kiss of steel upside her neck.
"You would turn your back on a fight?" Xin Zhao said, raising an eyebrow and watching her, the tip of his spear pressed to her neck. "A knight of Demacia would do no such thing. A Demacian does not retreat!"
"There is no fight left here for me." Shyvana said icily. "This fight has long been over."
"You're proud, arrogant even." Xin said, watching her with a frown. "Don't be brash though, if you run in ahead of us you'll only get yourself hurt. You can't even defeat me!"
"I was simply toying with you." Shyvana snarled, her ice cold voice slowly deepening, anger contorting her face as her eyes turned to fiery orange orbs that gleamed with danger. "I was hoping Jarvan would appear so he could see me crush you."
Xin shook his head in disbelief, taking a half step backwards. "I told you, blind confidence will-..."
"Keep your weapon raised!" Shyvana snarled. "If you do not trust my conviction and my skill then let us finish this duel and be over with it!"
"You intend to finish this in a single blow?" Xin said, frowning. "Don't be stupid, you'd never win a head on fight, I have reach and skill in my favor..." Xin took a step back, watching as horns burst from Shyvana's head and her skin began to take on a bluish hue. "What are you..."
"Prepare yourself!" Shyvana's hands exploded in massive pillars of flames, heat rolling off of them. Heat and flames billowed like a tornado was roaring around her, her hair, encased in heavy armor whipping about wildly. Her eyes glowed a brilliant orange, her skin a sleek blue as her armor rattled with impatience, as if Shyvana's very being was ready to explode forward.
"You wouldn't..." Xin scoffed, but Shyvana simply bellowed a vicious roar. He exploded forward, kicking off the ground so hard that the stone beneath her feet cracked and shattered. Shyvana burst into a dead run, barreling down on Xin. He snarled and swept his lance about, striking at Shyvana's center mass with a massive crescent shaped sweep. Shyvana raised her gauntlets and blocked much of the blow, but the sheer force of the blow sent her skidding backwards as Xin took advantage of the brief moment he had earned and charged forward. He led with his lance, exploding forward, preparing to strike at Shyvana's chest with a killing blow, but Shyvana snarled and sidestepped, dropping one of her gauntlets. Xin started, gritting his teeth as Shyvana dodged his advance with a burst of flames to propel her instantly out of the way. Shit...
Shyvana grabbed the lance with her free hand and pulled it onwards, raising her other hand and bringing it crashing down and through the lance and splintering the hard wood.
"WHAT!?" Xin Zhao snarled, looking for Shyvana and then gritting his teeth. Shyvana had stepped into the arc of his attack an arm outstretched and swinging, aiming for Xin's head. The world turned black as Shyvana landed a massive haymaker across his temple that snapped his head back so violently the seneschal did a flip midair before he crashed to the ground.
"Arrogance? Don't make me laugh." Shyvana snarled, glaring down at the man, his black hair splayed out around him. The courtyard was dead silent.
"My god..." The king breathed softly, watching as Shyvana looked from the seneschal to the king. "You really are a beast..."
"I may be, but I also won." Shyvana said firmly, her voice almost inhuman as flames continued to swirl around her. She stepped over Xin Zhao and approached the king, the cold fury in her eyes enough to cause the king to take a faltering step backwards as she stepped forward. She took the small coin, Jarvan's seal, from his hand, the king left speechless. "You should gather your men, your highness." Shyvana said tightly. "I may need help with my duty."
"But how are you going to get there..." Jarvan III said lamely, trying to shake off the shock of seeing the seneschal taken out so easily. "You can't get there any faster than we can..."
"You must have forgotten, since I am merely a beast..." Shyvana said coldly, glaring at the king as her eyes burned brighter. "But I need no horse."
Shyvana turned and flames exploded around her, consuming her in a whirling ball of fire. Men rushed forward to protect the king, but he waved them off, watching as Shyvana dropped down towards the ground. Her body shivered as she swept her arms forward and then out, the limbs turned a deep blue, the armor glowing brilliantly as it turned to liquid and slithered over her. Two great wings swept out and a massive tail struck the ground, shaking the dirt beneath the king's feet as Shyvana emerged, leathery blue skin and scales covering massive muscles as the dragon turned her head skyward and let out a great roar. The crowd started to disperse, scream and shout of fear as Shyvana started running towards the wall of the palace, leaping upwards and clawing at the stone work. Bystanders scattered as stone fell to the ground as Shyvana clambered upwards, leaping across the gap between two massive spires and striking another wall as she climbed upwards. She looked to the clouds, pausing atop the highest tower before she released her hold on the building, spread her massive wings and took to the sky.
"Oh... right..." The king said, watching as she disappeared behind the palace. "I suppose I should have expected that."
"Trey?" The queen looked stunned as the King picked himself up off the ground.
"I'm fine, Catherine." Jarvan III said softly. "She is doing her job." He shook his head at that and turned to where Garen stood staring off after where Shyvana had taken to the sky. "Captain!" Garen started but quickly snapped to attention.
"Sir!" He shouted back, standing rigidly.
"Prepare what me you can. We ride as once." The king said, checking his sword upon his belt. He turned to Delancey and Valentine, medics working over the wounded one and a nurse tending the other, her eyes wide as shock set in.
"Yes sir!" Garen saluted and turned and took off before the king could return the salute or even dismiss him.
I hope you know what you're doing, Shyvana. The king paused as he took a brief moment to look to the sky himself. My son's life may depends on it.
"He'll be fine." Catherine said aloud. The king turned and looked down at her with a worried frown. "Both of them." She smiled sweetly at him. "You look like a father for the first time since our son was born." She sighed softly, still holding Valentine in her arms.
"Catherine..." The king started to say, his throat growing thick.
The queen shook her head, offering him instead a knowing smile. "Go."
The king nodded his head and took off for the front gates. Please be safe, Jarvan.