Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait for the next chapter ;-;
I didn't have access to the computer during the past few days so I couldn't write :(
Here's the update :)
Lux and Ezreal slowly walked back to the picnic blanket, not as carefree and happy as they were before when they had arrived, knowing that there was danger outside of the League. They had been informed that if they died while inside the arena, they would regenerate, but nobody knew what would happen if they actually died… even if it was by another champion's hand… outside the arena. Would they die forever? Would they just regenerate? Or… something else?
Ezreal grabbed Lux by the waist and Arcane Shifted back to his apartment with the picnic basket. The two of them settled down on the couch, Lux leaning her head on Ezreal's right shoulder, as Ezreal wrapped his left arm around her arms. Lux was still partially shocked from her close shave with death, but Ezreal's presence helped her forget.
Lux snuggled closer to Ezreal; his warmth reminding her that she was, in fact, still alive. With her head on his chest, she could feel his heart beating, giving her a steady rhythm to keep her mind on. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. "Ezreal… thank you for saving me. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there or if you hadn't noticed that had happened. But is your gauntlet okay?" She glanced down at the gloved hand on top of her own, and using her right hand, ran her finger against the crack.
Ezreal grunted and glanced down at the gem as well. "I don't know… It's never cracked before. I might be able to fix it with some help though… But I don't know who or what could help."
Lux thought for a moment, and then jumped up. "I think I know who might be able to help! Your gauntlet… It's a gem, right?"
Ezreal's electric blue eyes lit up with a furor that matched Lux's. "Technically, yes! I think I know what you're thinking…"
A few hours later…
After dropping off Lux at the apartment she shared with Garen, her brother, Ezreal wandered over to what could be the solution to his… gem problem. Ezreal looked up at the crystallized front door of Taric, the Gem Knight. He had battled alongside the knight in shining (literally) armor bot lane, and knew that he had healing powers centered around gems and crystals. There was a chance that maybe… he could seal the gap with his gem magic.
*knock knock knock*
Ezreal lightly rapped the door knocker made out of what seemed like sapphire, and a couple moments later, Taric peeked through the eyehole.
"Ezreal! What a surprise! Come in, come in!" Taric exclaimed, opening the door with a grand flourish. "What brings you here?"
"Taric, you practice earth magic, right?" Ezreal asked. "That includes gems, if I remember correctly."
"Yes, that does include gems," Taric answered, peering down at Ezreal's gauntlet. "Does this have something to do… oh." Ezreal assumed that the "oh" was because Taric noticed the crack, and he extended his left hand towards him.
"There's so much I want to ask… I don't know if I'll be able to get it all out." Ezreal said. "If it hasn't ever been able to crack before, then how did it crack now? Will the crack affect the magic that I can tap from it? Is it possible for the crack to get wider? What if the crack does get larger? Is there any way I can fix it?"
Taric chuckled and gestured for Ezreal to follow him inside. They entered the living room, filled with little gem statues and crystals as Taric sat down on a couch in front of a coffee table made entirely of ruby. Ezreal slowly sat down next to him, staring in awe at all of the dazzling formations around him.
"Wait here and let me bring out the tea I just made. I was about to practice my healing ritual again, and tea usually helps me focus the earth magic. Would you like some as well?"
Ezreal nodded eager to try any new thing that he came upon. "I'd love to, thanks!"
Taric exited the room and returned a few seconds later carrying a tray with a teapot and two teacups on it. He carefully placed the tray on the table, filled the two cups with tea, and handed Ezreal one of them. They both sipped at the tea as Ezreal explained what had happened to his gauntlet and how it broke.
"Can you let me see your gem?" Taric asked, after a few seconds of consideration after hearing Ezreal's story. "I should be able to sense the energy within the gem, and why it broke as well."
Ezreal extended his left arm towards Taric in response, looking at him with worry.
Taric traced his fingers over the crack carefully, and then covered it with his palms. He then closed his eyes and hummed for a second, seemingly filling the room with a vibrating sound, and then opened his eyes again, removing his hands from Ezreal's gauntlet.
"The stone is in tune with your inner spiritual energy." Taric explained. "If you've been used to it being unbreakable, then that reflects upon your inner strength. But if it was able to crack… you must be feeling vulnerable and—excuse the pun—cracked open. I may be able to fix it, but there is only a slight chance of that happening. We would have to know what caused you to feel vulnerable, and if we can stop that, then we could possibly turn it all around. Your stone should recuperate on its own if we can successfully do that."
Ezreal took a deep breath and stood up. "Well, I'll try to figure out what it is that's bothering me. I'll have to leave now though, I have a match in a few minutes and I've got to get to the arena. Thanks for everything!"
Taric walked him to the door and watched as Ezreal ran off into the distance.
"I'm not sure we'll be able to figure out what is wrong before … it… comes out…" Taric muttered to himself. "I just hope he'll be alright."