Chapter 5: Confusion

By the time they made camp for what was supposed to be the last time before reaching Valein House, Sylus had spent most of the day considering the situation. It was clear silence was safer for travel after the unexpectedly awkward end of their previous conversation. While he should have been considering likely suspects or other possible avenues of attack by a malicious genius summoner, he couldn't pull his thoughts away from Shyvana herself.

The little moments during this week of madness, those reprieves where he could appreciate her beauty, her power, her nature, forced him to admit something to himself. It was obvious, he knew, but he'd never let himself really just admit it yet. He was infatuated with the dragoness. A deep attraction, only bolstered by his respect for her.

At the most basic level, she was everything he wasn't. Powerful, able, intelligent, adaptive… breathtakingly attractive. Even his baser instincts were drawn to her like a moth to flame, hoping some of those qualities might absorb like a sponge. Rationally, intellectually, she was so independent and quick-witted he couldn't really make assumptions. He understood aspects of her nature, but she continually surprised him and stimulated his analytical side. Puzzle and masterpiece in equal parts. His mind was always caught between wanting to figure her out and just linger in appreciation.

And the rest of his rational mind knew it was folly. The raw implications of a summoner and champion actually getting involved were mind-bogglingly dangerous. There was also the simple (if painful) fact that she was clearly uncomfortable in the moments when his fondness for her came out. She did not seem interested in attraction. He knew she appreciated his respect, and how he truly liked her dragon form (how could he not?), but that was basic, human desire. To desire respect and appreciation was universal, he believed.

This was all so stark for him so suddenly because of the conversation after the assassins. While she hadn't snapped at him or grown angry, he'd never seen her so… ill at ease. And her actually asking him to stop the conversation. Her tone when she asked had some edge of emotional pain in it he didn't want to contemplate for how much it empathetically hurt him. He'd crossed a line, but she hadn't turned on him. There was a… friendship there he had callously struck.

"That's not necessary tonight," Shyvana said, looking at him from across the little clearing they'd chosen.

Sylus was starting to summon wards again. "Of course it is. It's simply far easier for me to manage this when I'm still awake rather than after a partial sleep. I want you to get your share of rest, Shyvana."

Shyvana frowned, and looked off to the side. Her mind was restless. It had been all day. Something had changed, and she couldn't even really specify why. The battle with the assassins had been a flurry of instinct and battle-rage, almost comfortable for her in her life. Yet, his comments, his clear sincerity in how powerful the experience of being carried had been for him, how strongly he reacted to seeing her draconic form in person, it all swirled in her brain like a storm, drawing up all of her most awkward memories with it.

It was a storm triggered by these idiotic, childish emotions she was unused to. Prowess on the field, respect among warriors, those she understood, but what was this sickening ache that made her feel like such a fool?

No… "…I won't be able to sleep," she finally said aloud, her eyes fixed at the woods beyond their clearing.

Sylus paused, his eyes lifting out of his spell-focus. "…No?" He asked, turning awkwardly to her. Parts of his spells were still lingering in the air, but were shivering with hesitation.

"Not tonight," she admitted with a faint growl of her draconic voice, but her expression simply remained slack, her eyes closing.

Sylus let his spells disperse, and turned fully. "…It is because of what I said earlier, isn't it?"

This time anger etched through her face again, and she fixed him with a glare.

But no shout came from her voice. Sylus braced privately, but kept his expression strong, and his shoulders square.

"Isn't it?" he repeated, a bit of firmness in his tone.

Her face was starting to shiver. Not from any need to cry. Rage was quaking in her core, burning in her veins. Being called out by this pathetic worm of a summoner for her emotional chaos was flaring all of her frustration in his direction. Only a fraction of her rational mind was still alive, and it was clawing at herself to stop from lashing out at the man, who couldn't possibly realize the powers he was prodding.

"If I have offended you so, why did you tell me I had not?" Sylus persisted, his tone calm, but still firm.

Her control slipped. Shyvana shot forward with a growl. Sylus' pretense of strength evaporated as she seized his collar, and hefted him clean off the ground with no visible effort, her eyes burning with fire quite literally.

"Don't you dare accuse me of deception! I have shown you every tolerance! I have pushed my patience to the final limit, ignoring your weakness, your stupidity, your complete lack of self awareness! I have shown you nothing but trust! When I could have rightfully thrown you to their whims! My thoughts and my reasons are MINE, to give to whom I choose!"

Sylus was very much dangling from her hand, but he gripped her wrist to try to keep himself steady with his feet swaying. "I-I wouldn't deny your domain over your own thoughts, my lady. If I have hurt you, I want to make proper amends!"

"If it was your fault, I would have TOLD YOU!" she roared, some of her teeth growing, her skin hardening across her cheeks. "This has NOTHING to do…" Her roar died in her very throat, her voice falling away as her face went slack.

It did. It had everything to do with him. She wasn't offended, though. It wasn't some insult to her honor or person that was storming in her brain like madness. It was the opposite. And that fact was… terrifying. Especially to admit to his face. The humiliation… To be some idiotic human girl with fanciful thoughts of an admiring suitor. It was the most ridiculous foolishness she could imagine!

Sylus watched her, awkward as his position was, with growing empathy. He had never seen such a lost expression on her face, and he saw a ghost of… horror? behind her eyes.

Shyvana tried to firm her mask again, dropping him to his feet. She released his shirt, and turned, stepping away sharply.

Sylus didn't move forward, but reached out toward her. "Shyvana?"

"Leave me be!"

Her voice was cracked, strained.

Sylus' face was slack. He'd never heard her voice in that form. "…My lady…?" he breathed quietly.

She twisted, hunched over, but her face wasn't furious. Tears were falling from her eyes. "I said LEAVE ME BE!"

The streams of water washing down over her cheek startled her. She jerked back, looking down, pawing at her own face, and staring at the water on her fingers.

Now horror truly showed on her face. She twisted away, her hands smothering her face. "Just go to sleep! Leave me be! Stop trying to talk to me!" She was violently fighting the sobs, but he could see her shoulders twitching with her breath.

Sylus, his own eyes watering, eased away, and curled up against a tree on the far side of the clearing, turning his back to it as well. He curled up tightly, and squeezed his eyes shut, but he couldn't get rid of the memory of how her voice had sounded.

Shyvana slowly regained control, her eyes focusing through the remainder of her tears, her hands quickly scrubbing the trails away. She smoothed her breath, then rotated her neck, flexed her hands, settling her mind back into its proper faculties.

Even then, however, she felt drowned in guilt. The look on Sylus' face when she grabbed him, and when her own fury faltered. He wasn't scared for more than a moment, he was empathetic. He saw her pain, and wanted to help… even when she was all-but throttling him in the air.

Cowardice. Her eyes grew heavy as she finally admitted to herself why she was refusing to speak to him, refusing to answer his concerns. She didn't want to admit that she was… what? What was embarrassing her so much, what was she so afraid of?

Her head bowed. "…Sylus?" Her voice was hoarse, which annoyed her, as she thought she'd removed the evidence of her… weeping.

He faintly raised his head. "Yes, my lady?"

Shyvana took a deep breath, and turned, looking over at his diminished figure against the tree. "…You did not offend me. I am… I…" her eyes glanced away, and she cringed, but she would not cave to cowardice. "I am grateful for your regard. For how… well you see my form and manner. It is a …a powerful sensation, and I'm not used to it. I am… scared of it. I am humiliated and embarrassed, and I've been… hiding."

Sylus uncurled and rose up, facing her with an astonished look on his face. "…Embarrassed how, Shyvana?" was all he could think to ask in his confusion.

She rolled her eyes as tears returned to them. She growled at herself, her hands lifting up and falling down uselessly. "I am behaving like a stupid child. This… emotional nonsense is ridiculous to me!" Her arms swung at him for emphasis. "I appreciate your respect, and… and you are almost the only person I've met to truly appreciate my true form as well. I am… flattered, and I can't deny any longer that I am pleased when you say so, but I shouldn't be! This childish nonsense shouldn't affect me! Respect, esteem, prowess in battle, those I can relate to, but this… this… infantile chaos of emotion is driving me insane!"

Her natural temper had finally returned, her fists clenching as they and her eyes blazed. It was clearly not aimed at Sylus, but the situation as she'd described.

Sylus eased, almost relieved by her explanation, understanding washing over him, at least in part. "…Shyvana, even for a dragon, being seen as attractive or desirable is surely a pleasing event. That is only natural."

She gave him a surprisingly reproachful look. "Not for me," she growled through her teeth.

The summoner tilted his head down, giving her a gently incredulous stare. "Shyvana, is that not the very thing driving you mad? Your denial that you do, in fact, share that sensation?"

Her eyes glared down to the side as her face trembled with frustration.

"My lady, there is a great difference between being pleased when someone finds you magnificent, and being a foolish child. Admitting you have the sensation does not make you a slave to it, or put you under its sway. You are still yourself, Shyvana. Still the powerful warrior, magnificent dragoness, and quick-witted champion. It is alright to be startled by a new sensation. You will adapt, my lady."

"I don't feel powerful right now," she rumbled, but even she realized how childish it sounded.

"You are, though," he replied with a calm certainty in his voice, giving a little nod.

Shyvana swallowed, looking to her other side this time. "…It's… not just that."

Sylus blinked. "…It's not?"

Her eyes slowly rose up to meet his. "It's you."

The summoner's expression was meek and puzzled. "…Forgive me, I don't understand."

Shyvana sighed heavily, closing her eyes, and then began, "After the first explosion, Queen Ashe and I quickly realized you might have been caught up in the blast. A respected comrade being in danger could excuse my quick flight to check on you, but it was more than that. When I reached your cottage, I was… panicking. When it seemed you had actually been at the match, that you had most likely been killed, I… I felt lost. Part of me just… closed off. I've never felt that before. Anger, furious hunger for revenge, but not… not just a painful void where anger was supposed to be. …I am fond of you, Sylus." A blush was powerful on her cheeks, but her expression was too serious as her head bowed for her to really feel self-conscious of the blush itself.

Sylus' expression was slack. There had been a wave of elation at her confession, but it was quickly drowned in sympathetic pain. This astonishing dragon before him was exposing herself completely. Every most embarrassing sensation, everything that was unsettling her, had just been laid out bare for the most painful audience possible, and she had done so purely out of her own courage. Still, she seemed lost, like a tired warrior alone on a field after a battle. A lone survivor with nowhere to retreat to, and no goal to conquer.

To be honest himself, he first said in a gentle and soft voice, "I am fond of you, also, Shyvana." It was surprisingly easy to let those powerful words stream from his lips after her example.

Shyvana's head was still bowed, her eyebrows lifted subtly at his confirmation. In some ways it was a relief, in others it made the ache worse.

Then the summoner eased forward, and his hand rested on her shoulder. Their eyes met, hers heavy, his serious and gentle at once.

"It's a painful confusion, isn't it?" he asked.

Shyvana blinked. "…Y-yes," she agreed, some strength returning to her frame, her eyes. Confusion. She was so desperately confused around him. Impatient with his weakness, admiring of his kindness, fondness of his sincerity and respect, charmed by his clear appreciation for her valor. It was a war that was wearing her down so quickly.

Sylus started to smile gently. "My lady-dragon. You have taken the first step toward victory over this madness," he offered with a little bit of humor in his tone.

She became incredulous. "How?"

"Emotional confusion is amplified when it's hidden and constrained. It becomes far more powerful and painful trapped inside our own heads. You have broken that bottle, exposed the emotions for their natures. Now your rational mind can start to engage them, sort through them. The next step is still difficult. It is patience. Patience with yourself. It's not over, but it will become easier. Have patience with yourself," he affirmed with a soft nod and smile.

Shyvana glanced off, over his hand on her shoulder. She frowned, but was nodding softly. Just being past this hurdle, this admission, was a tremendous weight off her shoulders she'd not even realized was pressing upon her. And his reaction itself was a relief. He hadn't leapt at the opportunity, tried to push her into something because of her weakness for him. He'd just proved her trust wasn't misplaced. She looked back into his eyes. Allowed to admit it, she liked his eyes. There was a peaceful warmth in them she appreciated, despite herself.

An urge entered her thoughts, and she glanced further down, her hand lifting up, and hovering near his face. His eyebrows rose up, his head tilting, waiting to see what she was doing.

A faint cringe marked her expression. "I… feel like I should… touch you, somehow." A blush was still on her cheeks, but her confusion was serious and sincere. "I… nothing seems right, however." Her hand itself was moving with hesitant confusion, her fingers faintly twitching as the limb swayed subtly around the air in front of his face.

Sylus looked at her hand, smiled wanly, and then eased closer to the taller woman. He wrapped his arms around her, and rested his cheek on her shoulder.

It startled her, her blush intensifying over most of her face, but as soon as he settled around her in his gentle way, she realized it wasn't jarring with any of her instincts. It was the type of touch her emotions had been asking for. Just a recognition of value. No definition yet, but a validation of existence. She had these feelings. They were confusing, chaotic, but she had them.

Shyvana slowly eased her arms around the summoner, and her eyes drew shut as she rested her cheek on the top of his head.

It was peaceful and quiet. It was alien, but welcome to her, part of what her aching mind had been begging for since she'd first met the summoner in person.

After a few moments, Sylus whispered, "I want to pay you a compliment, but I don't want to make you feel awkward like this."

Shyvana blinked, then smirked a bit, and eased back, releasing him. He let go as well, looking up at her. "Oh, and what compliment is that, summoner?" she challenged with weary, playful humor.

"I love the way you smell," he admitted with a faint chuckle, rubbing the back of his head.

She blinked, her blush remaining quite clear, and her head pulled back. "…My smell?"

He nodded. "Indeed. Like… clean ash and incense. It's quite pleasant."

His sincerity let her awkwardness ease, and she just gave a mild laugh to one side. "I suppose that's good then."

It did remind him, however. "And sometimes I noticed a strangely beautiful… well I don't what else to call it other than perfume. Faint, but very strong, and… it seemed to rejuvenate me as we traveled whenever I caught the scent," he admitted with a shrug.

Now she seemed puzzled. "Perfume?" she sincerely asked, an eyebrow up. Even her blush as fading.

Sylus shrugged again, starting to blush himself. "It is very difficult for me to describe. It was… perhaps something like mint and roses?"

Shyvana seemed to remain confused for a moment, and then her eyes widened, and all color drained from her face. Sylus saw the astonishing reaction, and realized something was wrong.

"…My apologies, Shyvana. Did I offend you?" he quickly checked, completely lost as to why she would have such a reaction.

She seemed ill suddenly, a hand coming up and holding her forehead, the other arm coiling around her front. "…N-no, Sylus. …However, I must… beg you not to tell anyone about that…"

Sylus grew more concerned. "C-certainly, my lady. I wouldn't dream of breaking your trust, but can I please understand what is so… problematic?"

Shyvana cringed, and let her arms down slowly. This time the blush was returning. Powerfully. "I… I didn't even realize that was happening. I… I am very glad of how this conversation has gone so far, and I don't want to lose that progress because of… an accident. If I explain, it could be… misinterpreted."

Sylus' shoulders slumped in his confusion. He didn't want her to feel hurt after such an important breakthrough. He was just still very lost. "…As you wish, my lady. I don't want to ruin the resolution either. I am simply confused. Please pardon my question."

She shook her head, a hand coming up to stay him. "N-no, no, Sylus… you… It's not your fault. I…" She exhaled. "You swear you will tell no one? I cannot stress how humiliating it would be if someone else found this out. I didn't intend for anyone to be aware of such a thing. I'd… practically forgotten it myself."

Sylus forced himself to be calm and serious. "Shyvana, if it is so serious for you, I can deal with my curiosity. I don't want you to worry. I wouldn't want to risk some kind of exposure for you if I were captured, for example."

Intense discomfort was obvious on her face as she looked off again. "N-no… an enemy likely wouldn't care…"

He blinked.

"Just swear it?" she asked, almost meek for once.

"I swear, my lady," he affirmed with a nod at last.

She exhaled, and managed, "…It's pheromones. Female dragons release them when we… we're… receptive to…" her frame was shrinking the more she tried to explain.

Sylus' own blush exploded, and he raised his hands. "I fully understand, my lady. You can stop. I sincerely apologize for brushing on such a sensitive topic so callously. I still meant what I said, but if I had realized, I wouldn't have said it so casually."

Her frame eased, and she nodded. "…My thanks. I… didn't even realize I was…" she shook her head.

Sylus smiled. "You have nothing to worry about, Shyvana. Now then… it has been a very trying night for you, my lady. May I please take first watch?"

Shyvana opened her mouth, then eased, and let it close. She nodded. "I could use the rest. Thank you, summoner."

He warmed his smile, nodded, and then started to cast his spells again.

Shyvana walked over, sinking down against a tree. She was astonishingly exhausted, she realized. Her mind was calmer, too. She closed her eyes, and was asleep almost immediately.

(Later…)

When Sylus woke her to take her watch, she felt a soft resurgence of anxiety. Would he expect something of her now that her emotions were exposed?

However, Sylus simply smiled gently as she stood up, gave her a nod of quiet thanks for doing so, and started to settle down on the ground for sleep himself.

Shyvana glanced at his back. She wanted to thank him, even for that simple moment of just behaving normally. She didn't want this chaos in her emotions to make things suddenly so different between them. It was a deep relief to have a completely normal interaction.

Speaking at that moment felt improper, though. She just nodded slightly, and looked out to the woods around them to do her share.

(Later…)

"Summoner."

Sylus stirred awake, and started to pick himself up. His body was getting a little better at rousing quickly, for which he was grateful. Staying in a long haze while trying to march along was awkward at best. "Thank you," he said simply, standing.

His eyes caught her face as she turned away, and he was struck by the soft smile that showed on her face. Especially knowing she was, indeed, fond of him, having it confirmed, made that smile so powerful to his own emotions… but that was precisely why she was so concerned over her feelings. She hadn't actually made a decision yet. He chastised himself mentally for starting to make such presumptions despite himself, and focused on pulling some food from his satchel for their breakfast.

When she came over to take her share of the food from him, she raised an eyebrow. "Are you well, Sylus?" Her voice was back to its usual, calm power.

He smiled pleasantly for her. "I am, my lady. Just still waking up."

"You're certain that's all?" she challenged, her voice a bit softer and firmer at the same time.

Sylus sighed a bit, looking at the satchel. "I have my own emotional chaos to manage, my lady. I didn't wish to compound your own. I am quite well, truly. I simply need to remaster my thoughts this morning."

Shyvana frowned faintly, blinked, and then offered, "Do you… want to speak about it?"

Sylus had to control a laugh at her painfully awkward manner. It was adorable. "I simply had some inappropriate thoughts this morning. They are distracting. I will have them properly managed soon, my lady."

"…About me?"

He twitched, blushing finally. Clearing his throat, he admitted, "Yes."

Shyvana looked off. "I appreciate you not hiding it. Let's eat, and continue."

Sylus didn't risk raising the topic again, but desperately hoped he'd not seriously hurt her with his moment of weakness. After her vital step the previous evening, any harm to her emotions would be truly devastating. She would recover, he had every confidence. She was too strong not to, but the pain it would cause her… Whether she forgave him or not, he wasn't sure he would ever forgive himself.

(Later…)

Shortly thereafter, they were traveling again. Silence had reigned for an hour when Shyvana broke it as she led along.

"Last night, you spoke with great wisdom," she started, "I wanted to ask how you learned such intricacies of emotions. It is a field on which… I am weak."

Sylus was astonished she would voluntarily bring up the issue. He forced his shock aside, and cleared his throat as he tried to formulate his response. "Truthfully, training, my lady. Mastery of one's own mind is necessary to truly master spell weaving of any variety, but especially vital to summoning. If an emotional outburst strikes at the wrong time during a match, it could be dangerous for many people involved, especially the champion linked to the summoner."

Shyvana glanced back at him, serious. "I've sensed your emotions run rather high during matches."

"Yes," he instantly agreed. "However, there's a difference between the momentary flare and the actual loss of control. I'd compare it to… a gust of wind hitting your wings abruptly as you fly. A practiced master, like yourself, barely shows a reaction, but the surge still hit you. An unpracticed flyer?"

She looked forward with a smirk, "Would be thrown to the ground."

"Just so."

"So you don't actually control them?" she continued.

"Emotions are heavily rooted in instinct rather than rational thought. Control is, at least in my view, definitionally rational. What you can control is your response. However, a response is hard to properly craft when you're unfamiliar with the urge or how it will react to your attempts. You must take the time to identify your own feelings, recognize them, so that they are not mysterious." He cleared his throat, "Obviously, I am no full master. I still have trouble and struggle every day. During matches I have enough respect for the duty and the champion that I can overpower more of myself if a truly powerful emotion hits me." He twitched faintly as he recalled summoning Ashe and discovering Shyvana was against them. "…Most of the time," he felt compelled to amend.

Shyvana was listening attentively. Her respect for him was growing in his role as a summoner once more. It also helped explain why so many summoners were so such aggravating interactions. If the slightest emotional response could disrupt the entire process, then every twitch and pulse of desire or other emotion would make them all the more chaotic. The metaphor of a hatchling dragon trying to master flight in a gusty storm gave a root to her own analysis she appreciated.

It was his quiet amendment that got her attention afresh. She glanced over her shoulder again. "I've not known you to falter in our matches."

He swallowed, cringing. "…Yes, I've managed to keep myself mostly focused when I work with you, my lady."

Shyvana raised an eyebrow, looking forward. "Can you explain then?"

He continued to wince at the danger of the topic. "…You recall the match that started this whole mess?"

Her eyes focused forward. Ashe's comments to her after the match… Shyvana stopped, and turned, facing him. Sylus halted, and she recognized the tense fear in his eyes. He was sincerely afraid of her response.

"…You couldn't face me," she said without emotion at first. Her eyes then tightened. "You let Ashe guide the battle."

Another swallow, and he gave a faint nod.

Part of her was angry with him. For not respecting the battle enough to give it his all, regardless of who he faced. Another part of her, however, knew him. She was starting to understand the forces driving him, what could affect him. "…You did warn her, I assume?"

He nodded again, unable to speak, closing his eyes.

"Did it occur to you I would want you to give it your best focus? Especially on the field?"

"Yes," he forced out, eyes aiming down, but open.

"And still you couldn't?"

"Correct." His voice was harder with guilt.

"So not even I can overpower your regard for me? Not even for my own sake?"

Her eyes subtly widened at his reaction. His body seemed to deflate, his eyes starting to shake toward the ground, and a strange, quiet sound clenched in his throat.

That was the emotion that had disrupted his match. That was how powerful it was. Just as she had felt compelled to drag him on this idiotic journey, wanted him in her sight, and couldn't trust others to guard him.

"…It must be a very powerful regard to overpower your respect for the games," she chose to whisper.

His squeezed his eye shut, but nodded subtly.

Shyvana remained grave. She knew, now, that she had just hurt him. It was an open wound, and she had stabbed a claw straight into it. It was her way, they both knew that, but now she realized it was… not how she would prefer to handle this matter.

"Sylus?"

He slowly looked up into her eyes.

"Forgive my callousness," she began, her voice serious and sincere at once. "I wanted to make sure I understood. I know how much you respect the League and its purpose. It is part of what I appreciate about your manner, especially during our matches. I understand how… powerful something would have to be to disrupt that for you. I know you would show Ashe and Riven the same respect in the field as you show me. I imagine Ashe was impressed with you, regardless of this falter?"

He started to blush, looking aside uncomfortably. "She… seemed to appreciate the respect I showed her, yes."

Shyvana exhaled a bit, and then reached up, actually gripping his chin and turning his face toward hers. He gasped softly, his eyes flaring at the contact, his blush intensifying.

"Then you didn't fail. Your champion understood, and was able to act properly. …You corrected your flight, young dragon," she offered with raised eyebrows, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

His expression softened, his eyebrows rising. He started to smile a bit, and the power of his appreciation for her words started to make water build in his eyes.

Shyvana's expression softened in response. A simple reminder of how his manner was quite refreshing to a champion, and he was all but weeping in gratitude? …How much had her previous words hurt him? It was a painful realization for her. This was a battlefield on which she was a foolish recruit, stumbling about with her weapon swinging wildly at friend and foe alike.

Her hand shifted from his chin, to his shoulder, and she tipped her head, offering a slightly more obvious smile. "Be at peace, summoner. …Do you feel up for continuing?"

He nodded, smiling, and tried to wipe his eyes as subtly as he could (failing the subtlety completely).

Shyvana flashed another smile, and then turned, leading on. A troubling thought entered her mind, however. How would she react to facing him on the field? Just a momentary vision of her full, dragon form rushing upon him… she could see how his face would contort with fear and he would try to scramble away. Even if just a match… she didn't want to do that to him.

Facing down Ashe or Riven, for her, was a matter of professional courtesy. They each expected a fight to the death on the field. The games reduced it to the most extreme form of training. A mistake was death, success was killing. But that wasn't what a summoner's purpose was. For a summoner, all of them were allies, yet at other times enemies. Shyvana herself preferred to chase down and tear about some idiot like Trundle rather than Ashe, just because the troll was a caustic, vitriol-spewing animal.

Further, she knew Sylus only ever summoned herself or Riven of his own choosing. Even working with Ashe had been an exception because of the madness of the trapped match. How often had he really had to face down herself or Riven while summoning the other?

"Sylus?" she asked abruptly, her tone serious.

"My lady?" he responded, blinking.

"Just to say it directly, I would want you to give it your full focus. I would never be insulted by you assisting your champion to defeat me. Remember that. It may help you regain your balance."

He seemed stunned for a moment, looking at her back, but finally, he replied, "I… I will remember that, my lady. Thank you for saying it so clearly."

She just nodded without looking back.

(Author's Note)

Hey all! Thanks for the reviews and for reading! I really appreciate the feedback and interest! This chapter is a precious one, but I think I'll just leave it here to speak for itself. I hope you enjoyed!