Almost at the northern most part of Noxus it's been a couple of hours and they haven't talked. "Energy saving mode huh?" She tried to open up a conversation.
Straight faced, He replied. "Oh you mean energy efficient" She stared at the rein of her horse "What I meant was , You were too quiet" She blushed as she said this words. What the hell is wrong with you Luxanna, Casual talking? He raised his eyebrows , examining her face "Well there isn't much to talk about." His answers were short. She thought that it's good this way as she doesn't want him to ask personal questions. Darius was quiet the whole travel outside of Noxus. What the hell is wrong with me. Why do I feel like I'm a teenager again. Darius was ashamed that he felt butterflies in his stomach. Well maybe I'm just physically attracted to her, besides she is beautiful. She thought the same Are you crazy Luxanna! He's a Noxian! Not just that, He is a Noxian General that caused Demacians to die! But I can't help noticing that he is handsome and buff. God. I hate it. You need to stop thinking about him, you can't be together. Omg. That's very wrong of me, why did I even think that we were a possibility. Darius cleared his throat. "We're almost at the foot of the mountain. Let's spend the night here." She simply nodded. She remembered that the Ironspike Mountains were known for bandits who fled from their countries. She reminded herself that she needed to be alert at all time. They started to collect wood to make their campfire. In no time they had the campfire, Xanna tied her horse on one of the nearest tree and fed it some apples. She stroked the horse and the horse seemed to like it. She fed Darius horse too. Xannah took out a crate out of her satchel. Darius' eyes grew big "That's interesting, you were able to fit a whole crate on your satchel" She felt proud. "Well , we need lots of things for this journey and I don't want you to be bothered by this petty things. I hope you don't mind that I asked one of your helpers to pack food for us." Darius didn't reply but by the looks of it you can say that she has his approval. She took out one of the cured meat on the crate and corn. She roasted both the meat and the corn. In a couple of minutes it was already cooked. Darius wanted to break the awkward silence. "Since I'll be with you for the next few days, Might as well talk to you. I think that you aren't that bad." Xanna doesn't know how to take it , was it a compliment or an insult? She closed her eyes and breathe calmly. "Sure, what do you want to talk about?" Darius was taken aback "Well, I don't know? I'm not used to this and I think you are better than me when doing this, It looks like Cassiopeia likes you. She doesn't talk to people that way." She was shocked that he didn't mind saying that she's better. She blushed "Why? I mean don't you do small talks?" He raised an eyebrow , it's like a signal. "Alright, I get it. You're a general and you aren't used to talking unless it's war and military talks. I think you should start to know your soldiers, you know they fight for you." Darius snapped. "They don't fight for me, they fight for their lives and Noxus. I don't talk that much cause nobody seems to want to talk to me. They always look away or starts to walk fast or sometimes they just do whatever I say without complain and to be honest, you're the only one aside from Draven who has guts to talk to me like this." She stopped for a second there and burst in laughter. "You see, They might be afraid that you might chop their heads off. I'm not sure , but I don't find you scary, in fact I find you handsome…' It slipped her mouth. "What?" This is the only thing that came out of Darius' mouth. "It's getting late, I think we need to sleep so we can be in Freljord by tomorrow night." Darius came closer to Xannah, So close that they're almost face to face, Darius lifted her chin gently, She felt nervous like her heart was pounding out of her ribcage she can't look him in the eye, she felt that his stare was melting her. "What did you just say?" She felt like all her body heat decided to go up her head , She was really blushing red. "I.. I said, It's getting late and we need to rest…" He didn't even blink , He pulled her closer to him. He whispered "There's a big creature there, Be ready." He lowered his head to hers. She felt really warm and safe she wished that his would last longer, in a couple of seconds they were attacked by the colossal bear. Xannah began to move, she run and was able to dodge the claws at her, Xanna retaliated by shooting binding lights she got it , she made it like a cage cause she doesn't want to hurt it. "Whew, that was close." she wiped the sweat on her forehead. Darius came running to Xanna, she was shocked as he hugged her and fell top of her. He was mauled deeply by the bear . "Damn, I forgot. I'm not wearing my armor, we're you hurt?" there were lots of blood gushing out his back. At Least the last thing I see is an angel. Darius dropped unconscious. Xanna moved Darius' body. She couldn't think straight as she knew the reason this happened. It's because she was too soft and let her guards down. She was so Furious that she made their cage smaller and in a snap she fired a giant laser it scorched everything to ashes. Darius' vision was hazy and all he saw was a blinding light, She killed the bear. She came in to her senses, she felt her world crash. What have I done. I killed it. I shouldn't have done that. What will I do, They're all dead. Darius is dead. She came closer to Darius and hugged him. She cried really hard, her tears were falling down Darius's face. She wiped it and when she kissed his lips when she felt that he was still breathing. She shot another light orb but this time this became a barrier. O crap, Yeah I died. Draven will die too soon. I wish to see Quill and Draven if there's an after life. What's this it feels warm. Is this heaven? He tried to open his eyes. The sky was still dark but it was very bright and warm his head was on her lap, she was hugging her and they were covered with a blanket. The first thing that he saw was her face she looked just like the first time he saw her sleeping, she looked melancholic , she looked just like she cried herself to sleep. He looked around and saw that everything was burned. She woke up when she felt him moved. She gave him a weak smile. "I'm sorry as I am too soft. Are you feeling better now?" He remembered. Oh yeah, I was mauled. Ah, ye, she's a mage prolly she saved me. Honestly speaking he felt too tired and he felt everything ached. He just gave a nod. "I'm sorry, let me speed up your recuperation. I kinda overdid myself so I'm on self efficient mode and I'm sorry one of the horses happened to be collateral damage" She sobbed. "No, It's okay, let it be. We need to hurry up and get those berries. Let's go when the sun rises. Are you sure , you're okay with me on your lap? I'm heavy" She didn't say anything , she just shook her head as if she's saying that its okay she really felt guilty that this happened to him. Wow. She really outdid herself. "Don't worry, I have a barrier right now and I have your crate in my satchel. By the way it's an invisibility barrier from Piltover" He closed his eyes. "You have lots of trinkets from Piltover, You're dangerous." In a sense they were able to rest for a couple of hours. Darius was able to sleep comfortably. This is one in a million opportunity. True to his word Darius was ready when the sun shone on their faces. They travelled in silence as Xanna was really guilty on what happened while Darius was embarrassed at what happened. They just stopped for a quick lunch at breaks. It's getting colder, this prompted them that they're in the middle of the Ironspike mountains, there was a river near by she told Darius that she wanted to wash herself. "If you will do that I should be there" Oh my, that sounded really awkward. He blushed. Xanna blushed "You pervert!" and she stormed to the nearby river. Tsk, Spoiled brat. She really needs to learn to follow orders. She removed her clothes, Only her underwear was left of her. She dipped herself in the river What's wrong with me! I should act normal but after I came to clost to him, kissed him, I feel like I... I. like him. She touched her lips , imagining her stolen kiss. "Imagining your first kiss?" by reflex she threw a binding light. "Isn't it enough that I was shot for you now you're binding me?" She covered her breast. "You pervert! What's wrong with you!" Darius closed his eyes immediately, "I didn't see anything, Is it me whose perverted or you the one who's naked here in the open river." She wiped her body and changed to something thicker. "I think you're already fully healed , I challenge you for a spar." He laughed. "Are you sure missy? I think you haven't lifted a finger since you were younger?" She taunted, "Are you afraid to lose to a missy?" This made their conversation bit tense. "Are you sure? I'll give you a handicap. I will not use my right hands." She smirked. "You'll regret that." They sparred Xanna was more on the offense, since she was smaller she was agile. She tried to hit Darius on all his open spots. She moved too quick that she tried to be on his blind side. "I know what you're doing missy, you're going for my blind sids, that cheapshot wouldn't work. But I have to give it to you, you're good" Xanna faked a hit and Darius immediately dodged. Alas a perfect open she was almost to hit it when he grabbed her with his right arm "No fair! You cheating perv!" He laughed. "Sorry, Reflexes." She didn't accept his excuse, she walked away and she ignored him. He knew that what he done was a cheap shot. He teased her by hitting her softly with a cloth, It annoyed the hell out of Xanna so she fought back she tried to get the cloth out of his hands. For the first time he was having fun, you can say that he was out of his usual , strict , brooding and serious self. He teased her more as he knew that he was taller so he just held his hands high and she was trying to get it. She was persistent and they lost balance, they fell on the sea of grass, this time Xanna was on top of her. They laughed hard. "So you're more perverted! Look who's top of me now." There was an awkward silence. She quickly moved away and fixed herself. "Let's go. I think It's best that we be at Freljord before night fall." He's still lying on the grass , it looks like he doesn't want to stand up yet. He was like reaching for the sky. "Hey, are you alright?" She was worried. "Yes, I was just thinking of something." He was thinking of when was the last time that he laughed and teased someone like that. It's been decades since it last happened. To be honest , he wasn't even a teen when it last happened. It was really fun. "Uhm, Darius.. I'm sorry" Xanna was sobbing. He looked at her and she was captivated by what it seemed like a Freljord soldier. They were a lot. Darius didn't fight as he knew that they were outnumbered.