Chapter 3 - Glimmers and Shadows

Riven woke up late in the morning, still tired. She hadn't slept well at all in the night. Her mind was still busy thinking about had happened with Lux. She covered her face with her hands and groaned.

'I can't believe I made that mistake. Ugh, I'm the worst...'

Riven was glad she hadn't been able to say anything, since she probably would have only made the situation worse. She lay in bed a little longer, her mind busy with implications and what-ifs. As a woman, being with another woman wasn't exactly forbidden in Noxus. But it was looked down upon greatly. Women were, for the most part, housewives; a title that Riven had avoided by growing up in the military. She had heard some rumours about Katarina Du Couteau, but those were probably the mere effects of her perverse sadism.

Riven had never put much thought into relationships. She didn't really care for the idea. She had decided long ago to not bother with it. She knew that if there ever was a person who would fill the role of her… lover… she expected them to be a fellow Noxian elite, who would simply be looking for greater power.

Not a Demacian Crownguard.

'Arghh,' she thought, irritated, 'Enough of this. Nothing happened, nothing's going to happen.'

She got up quickly, looking for something to distract her. She walked to the kitchen to see what sorts of food she had, but when she opened the fridge, she found nothing. The same for the cupboards.

'I guess there's a limit to hospitality here as well,' She thought, reflecting back on her travels. She'd usually gotten by with the bare minimum. The people in Valoran villages weren't often the prospering type, so she'd try not to impose on them if she stayed there. She had probably lost a lot of weight on her travels because of it, and was afraid to check. Having been a proper, healthy soldier before, the only place to lose significant weight was in her muscles. Even with regular upkeep, without the proper nourishment to go with it, she was bound to lose some.

She looked around the room, which suddenly seemed empty. She wasn't interested in television. It was a privilege for the wealthy and the magically-inclined (for it was networked with magic in a very controlled manner and those with enough skill could link themselves in). She didn't have any books on the shelf, except for the guide to the League, which she'd hardly skimmed through.

The League. After sleeping on the idea, she wasn't sure if she wanted to leave in the end. Sure, she had been mistreated, and she didn't completely agree with everything, but this place was better than what she'd had out there. Not to mention what that creepy doctor had suggested, that she was meant to be here. That the League would need her. Riven, of all people.

And perhaps… perhaps, Lux might become a good friend that she could trust… Well, it had been too long since she'd felt that way about someone. She didn't want to just leave it at that.

She frowned. Just another conflict to stress about. She resolved to put it off for now, see how the next few days go, and make her final decision then. She wasn't exactly in a hurry.

She walked over to slip on her boots, feeling hungry. Another benefit, she thought. The food here was good, and more importantly, free. She looked in the mirror and pinned her hair up at the back, as usual. After a short self-inspection, she opened the door.

Only to find Lux, who had been ready to knock on it. They both looked at each other in surprise, before Lux quickly smiled.

"Good morning! I was worried you'd forgotten about our date." She greeted happily.

Riven was caught unprepared. "What?" She asked incredulously.

"You said you'd come shopping with me, silly." Lux giggled.

"I did?"

Lux frowned, "You really did forget, didn't you? I said 'Let's go shopping together tomorrow!' and you said 'Okay. I'll see you tomorrow.'" Lux badly imitated Riven's voice.

"I did not!" Riven exclaimed.

"Did too! Now come on! We're getting you dressed up!" Lux grabbed Riven's arm and dragged her out of her room. Riven didn't know how to react. She could easily say no, but...

'Screw it… I'll just humour her for now.' She thought, giving in.

"Hey! At least let me close my door!"

Lux insisted they leave the League without any other champions seeing, which made things much more tedious and difficult. But Riven could understand why she wanted to avoid them. A Demacian of her position would cause an uproar if she was seen consorting with Noxians. It explained her behaviour the day before as well, which Riven had forgotten to ask about, and didn't bother bringing up now.

They used the outer corridors to get to the Grand Hall, which would be the main obstacle. It was the only way in and out of the League, with the exception of the Reflection Chamber, which meant there was a lot of traffic.

They stopped right before the entrance. Riven leaned against the wall as Lux checked outside.

"No good," She said disappointedly, "There are too many people out there."

"You know, Lux, wouldn't it be just fine if we split up now and met up later?" Riven suggested.

Lux looked vacantly back at her, as if the idea hadn't occurred to her before. "Ah."

Riven smirked. Wasn't this girl supposed to be a strategist?

Lux smiled, embarrassed. "Sorry. I guess my mind was just preoccupied with other things."

"It's fine," Riven said, the smirk evolving into a full smile, "I'll go first. I'm not really sure where I'm going, so I'll have to wait for you anyway."

Riven could feel Lux's eyes on her back as she walked into the hall. Nobody else really paid attention to her. She climbed the large staircase towards the mouth of the League. The purple glow seemed much more potent here, as if creating a barrier to protect the inside. As she thought about it, she wouldn't doubt the idea if someone told her it was so. She passed a couple guards at the entrance, and wondered if they were adept in magic as well. It seemed like a small force to protect such a grand entryway. Maybe they just didn't expect to be attacked in the first place.

She continued on to the incredibly long staircase that led into the main city at the base of the mountain that contained the League. It was a relatively new, albeit already large town, as the League had only been formed recently. The entrepreneurs that had banded together to create it were already seeing success. The high volume of traffic and population in the League practically demanded a city to support it. Being a new city, an official name for it had yet to be decided upon. The residents, however, had seemed to dub it Toir.

The descent down the gigantic staircase was a long one. It was large enough that many people used it as a goal to gauge their fitness, or so she'd heard. This was nothing compared to typical Noxian military training. She had traversed it with ease on her way in.

Riven walked slowly, expecting Lux to be right behind her. But after some time, and many curious glances, Lux was still nowhere to be seen. Riven reached the bottom – the entrance to Toir. She hadn't spent much time here at all, and she wasn't exactly paying attention when she passed through before. But now that she stopped and looked, she was impressed. Not too long ago, this was a barren countryside. Now it had been transformed into a bustling, and still growing, city.

A nearby stall caught her attention. Riven glanced behind her. Still no sign of Lux. She frowned. It'd be alright to have a quick look around first, right? She'd come back in ten minutes to check.

She walked over to the stall. It had a bunch of trinkets and jewelry on display. The large, male shopkeeper eyed her warily, his forehead wrinkling underneath his thick eyebrows. Riven didn't pay it any mind. She was used to being judged by her appearance, and she knew she looked a little too shabby to be shopping for expensive wares. She looked over the items. A lot of her military company had made fun of her for being a tomboy, but that wasn't really the case. She was just practical, and didn't usually care about going beyond the norm. But every now and then she'd find something 'girly' that kept her attention.

She eyed some of the pieces that stood out to her. There was a necklace with a Noxian rune design. The symbol meant 'strength'. A little too tacky. Nearby was a green dragon pendant that looked pretty, but seemed a little too ordinary. And one bracelet with a charm shaped like a rainbow. The gem embedded in it glowed brightly in all colours. It had only caught her eye because it reminded her of the beams of light that Lux used as her weapon. She picked it up to take a closer look.

"Oi," the shopkeeper told her gruffly, "Eyes only."

"I'm just looking at it." Riven said, ignoring his order.

"If you're not gonna buy it, put it down," He said heatedly.

Riven glared at him, and was about to put it back, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"She'll take it," Lux said as she leaned past to drop a few coins on the counter.

"Ah. Y-Yes, Miss Lux." The shopkeeper stammered as he stood up quickly to bow to her.

"Hold on-" Riven tried to say, but Lux grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

"Come on, we're wasting time," She said happily.

"Wait!" Riven exclaimed, pulling her hand away. Lux stopped and turned around, putting on a confused look. Riven didn't really know what to say though. She averted her eyes.

"You didn't have to do that," She said, clutching the bracelet, "I didn't really want to buy it anyway."

"Oh?" Lux questioned, "Then why were you looking at it?"

"Because it reminded me… of…" Riven trailed off as she noticed Lux's smile growing larger and larger.

"Never mind," Riven finished as she continued past Lux.

"Come on!" Lux called after her, "Finish the sentence!"

Riven heard her giggle behind her and the footsteps on the cobblestone road as she ran to catch up.

"C'mon! It's this way!" She said as she latched onto Riven's arm. Riven gave up on the thought of resisting, and allowed herself to get dragged into the crowded market street.

As the two traveled along, Lux frequently got distracted and dashed over to the stalls. Instead of getting annoyed, Riven surprised herself by finding the process amusing. She would take her time catching up, and by the time she did, Lux would have found something to show off or try to force on her. Lux looked like she was having fun, and Riven felt glad for it.

Eventually they made it to the clothing store, as Lux had originally intended. Lux entered the shop with a cheery hello, followed by Riven, who silently looked around. A middle-aged woman came out from behind a rack of clothing with an excited smile on her face.

"Lux! So good to see you again! How are you?" She asked with a loud voice.

"Excellent, as always," Lux replied, "And you, Marm?"

"Good, good," Marm answered, clasping her hands together, "How can I help you today?"

Lux stepped aside and presented Riven, whose shabby outfit looked even shabbier among these other clothes. Riven suddenly felt ashamed of them, which was a rare occurrence. Normally, she couldn't care less.

"I see," Said the shopkeeper in thought. "I see, I see," She continued as she inspected Riven more thoroughly. She circled closely like a vulture, eyeing her food. Riven was more than a little uncomfortable, and she blushed and frowned as she noticed Lux giggling. Marm finished her inspection and put her hands on Riven's shoulders.

"I have just the thing for a Noxian such as yourself."

"How did you…" Riven tilted her head.

"Your boots," The woman said matter-of-factly. "An easy giveaway. Those are standard-issue Noxian military boots. And by the look of it, repaired four times."

Riven was impressed. "Five, actually," She corrected with a smile.

The woman waved it off and smiled as well. "Wait right here," She said and disappeared into a closed-off section.

Lux skipped over. "She's good, huh?"

Riven nodded, and looked over. She hadn't paid attention before, but Lux's clothes suited her well. A light blue patterned one-piece dress, and ankle-high heeled boots. She was wearing hoop earrings, which glittered unnaturally beneath her golden hair. Altogether, it only emphasized Lux's natural glow, and made her look very cute in the process.

Lux grinned at Riven's prolonged look. "Quit checking me out, Riven." She said playfully.

Riven quickly looked away, hiding her blush. "Sorry."

Lux giggled. "Well, I'll forgive you this time, but don't make it a habit, okay?"

Riven didn't respond. She hadn't meant to stare. It was only supposed to be a quick glance. Since when did she start admiring people's looks? She sighed silently to clear her head.

'You're just getting worked up over yesterday,' She calmed herself, 'It'll pass.'

She looked through some of the clothing on the racks to keep her mind busy. But still, her eyes crept to see what Lux was doing. The girl was humming to herself and trying on some light scarves. It seemed that no matter which one she tried, it suited her.

"Hey Riven," Lux called, looking over. Riven made an attempt to pretend that she wasn't already looking at her.

"What do you think?" Lux asked, showing off a red scarf with pink details.

Riven shook her head, "The other one looked- looks better." She corrected herself, hoping Lux didn't notice the mistake. "The blue one there," She added nervously, pointing to the one she meant.

Lux looked at Riven strangely for a moment, and back at the scarf. She shrugged and put the red one back.

The shopkeeper returned just then, allowing Riven a sigh of relief. She was carrying a few different sets of clothes, and swiftly walked over.

"Come with me," She ordered, and Riven obediently followed. She was brought to a part of the shop that was separated by a dark curtain.

"Try these on. You can get changed in here." She explained, shoving the clothes into Riven's arms.

"Here?" Riven asked, surprised. She hadn't heard of actually trying on the clothes within the shop. She looked over to Lux, who was covering her mouth slightly, presumably containing more laughter.

"Yes, yes." Marm said, pushing Riven in with the clothes.

"And come out to show us when you're finished!" She called from the other side.

Riven was suddenly alone. She set the clothes down on a bench that was within the curtain. She could hear Lux and Marm chatting on the other side of the shop, but couldn't tell what they were saying. She picked up the first set of clothing and examined it. A small tank top with an uncomfortably small pair of shorts to go with it. She looked at the clothes, and then her own, and sighed. She started undressing, feeling like she didn't have a choice, but kept her chest wrapped. She didn't own any other underwear, and was too embarrassed to ask.

After Riven finished putting it on, she didn't feel comfortable at all. It was tight. Too tight. From a practical point of view, it would interfere with her flow of movement. And from a personal opinion, well… Riven decided it really wasn't her style. She'd been complimented in the past for her figure, but she wasn't the type to flaunt it. She was about to change out of it, when she heard Marm's voice calling her.

"Don't just try them on! Show us!" She ordered from another part of the store. Riven glanced around self-consciously. Was Marm secretly spying on her somehow? Riven apprehensively pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, her arms crossed over her chest.

After a quick examination, Lux whistled, and Riven blushed profusely. This was the most embarrassing thing she'd experienced since she got here, and she'd been through plenty of them recently.

"As expected," Marm touted, "You pull it off wonderfully."

Riven glared at her discontentedly.

"Alright, try on the next one then." Marm said half-heartedly.

Riven didn't waste any time, and quickly stepped back behind the curtain, eager to escape the clothes. She threw them on the floor and left them there.

She picked up the next set. It was a dark one-piece, similar to Lux's, but without the shoulders. She skipped it. The one after that was also very revealing. Riven was beginning to doubt Marm's sense of fashion, or at least her view of Noxus.

She was close to giving up, but an interesting colour of clothing caught her eye. She dug it out from underneath the others. It was a turquoise robe. Or half of one. It had the light fabric and hood of one, but it was only the top part, and one sleeve was cut shorter than the other. With another quick rummage, she found a matching pair of leggings, which were a mix of the same turquoise and beige. She tried it on. The size was perfect, and loose enough to move freely in. Best of all, it wasn't skimpy.

She stepped out of the curtain with a new boldness. First, she looked to Marm, who studied her for a moment before saying "Yes, that one does suit you after all."

Lux hadn't been paying attention, and the girls looked at each other at the same time. Lux smiled and nodded in approval. Riven smiled back.

"Well, that takes care of one set. Not let's get some more!" Marm said excitedly as she rushed into the back section again.

The process continued for a couple hours, with much more success. Lux even tried on a few pieces herself, just for fun. Riven had the fleeting thought that Lux could pull off the Noxian look if she tried.

Finally, Riven had gathered enough clothes to last her a week (or more, if she wore the same set multiple times, which she planned to do anyway). However, Riven had had worries about this whole experience from the start. That is, she had no money.

"Umm, Marm…" She began, looking at the clothes sadly.

"Yes, sweetie?" Marm asked happily.

"I can't take these after all."

Marm looked confused.

"I have no money." Riven explained.

"But aren't you a champion of the League?" Marm asked.

Now Riven was confused. What did that have to do with it? She heard Lux giggle behind her.

"Relax, Riven. As champions of the League, we're entitled to many benefits. We can write this up towards your allowance."

This was the first time Riven has heard of such a thing. Her attention was captured. "What other benefits do we get out of this?" She asked curiously.

"Let's talk about it over some lunch. Courtesy of the League." She winked, grinning.

Riven smirked. She was finding more and more upsides to this deal, and in her mind, the pros were already catching up to the cons.

With a grateful farewell to Marm, they left the store towards a nearby café. Marm had kept the clothing, promising to have it delivered to her residence. Riven had worn the half-robe straight out of the store. She liked it. She could put the hood up and keep to herself if needed.

As they continued on, Riven realized she still hadn't eaten today. She was glad to finally get the chance, and the way Lux raved about the food at this place, she could feel her appetite growing larger. She silently followed the Demacian girl, smiling, as she skipped around ahead, turning every now and then to point something out or ask simple questions. Riven would shake her head or nod, and this seemed to be enough for Lux. She looked like she was having a good time, and Riven had to admit it wasn't such a bad experience so far.

They reached the café and sat outside on the patio. They ordered their food, and Riven inquired again about the champion benefits.

"Well," Lux explained, "Let's see… We have a general monthly allowance that covers food, clothing, and similar necessities. We also have priority access to major Valoran cities and ports, though that doesn't always go as well as planned…"

Riven could understand that point. It was unlikely someone like Prince Jarvan IV could simply walk into Noxus without incident.

"We also get the royal treatment at the League itself, but you'll find many champions don't have the inclination to stay there very often. Many have other duties and responsibilities to attend to."

'Such as serving the Demacian royal family…' Riven thought to herself.

"Oh," Lux added, "You'll notice that many champions use their popularity to get into the media. I know that isn't really a direct benefit, but it is useful. And… I'm sure there's a few more, but those are the big ones."

Riven nodded slowly. She wasn't really paying attention near the end. She was thinking about the passport. Did this mean she could possibly return to Noxus?

"You still want to go back?" A voice said. It took Riven a moment to realize it was not hers, but Lux's. She was staring at Riven, clearly concerned by the idea.

"Why do you ask?" Riven inquired.

Lux blushed and averted her eyes. "I just… I don't think it would be a good idea for you." She said quietly.

Riven wasn't convinced. In fact, she was more suspicious of the girl. "Just how much do you know about me, Lux?"

Lux blushed a little more, but managed to put on a smile and look Riven in the eye. "I've done my research." She answered slyly.

This only made Riven more uneasy, but she tried to put the thought behind her as the food arrived. Lux received a typical salad in Demacian style. Riven had ordered a large meat sandwich with a couple side dishes of favourite foods she'd had the chance to discover on her travels.

"You even eat like a guy." Lux said, taken aback by the size of the meal.

Riven glared at her, and Lux jumped a little. "Ah, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that," She quickly responded.

Something in Riven wanted to ask her how she did mean it, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know. She decided to let it go, as this was the first time Lux had actually apologized for one of her frank remarks. Her food, however, seemed a little less appetizing somehow, and she picked at it solemnly.

Lux noticed the tension, and struggled to find a way to break the silence.

"You know… I really was worried about you after the match." She brought up hopefully. "I wanted to visit, but…"

Riven felt her gut flutter a bit in happiness, but didn't show it.

"If you'd like to talk about it, I'd be willing to listen."

Riven looked up at her. She wanted to talk. She really did. But either her pride or her mood wouldn't allow it. And the odd feeling from before had returned. Just what was Lux after? Why was she doing all this?

Lux looked away, thinking her offer had been rejected. "Sorry. I guess I'm being a bit too forward. I just think… you're interesting…"

There it was. That word again. Suddenly it all clicked together. Riven didn't bother listening to the rest of Lux's sentence.

"You're trying to recruit me." Riven said aloud with a sigh.

Lux looked back, visibly shocked. "What? Riven, no!" She said quickly, but it was still too late. Riven was already walking away.

Riven returned back up the stairs to the League slowly, thinking – or not thinking. She didn't know which it was. Her mind was everywhere at once. She had determined she wasn't really angry at Lux. She was just upset with this turn of events. Once again, her hopes were dashed.

She reached the entrance to the Grand Hall. She looked to her left, where the doorway to the Reflection Chamber stood. She had walked through those doors two days ago, looking for answers. Now, she walked through the others, with at least one.

She was meant to be alone.

No sooner had she entered the League than she heard her name called.

"Riven, welcome back." An old summoner said as he walked over. Riven looked at him warily. What did they want now?

"Please," The summoner smiled, "Don't glare at me so. My name is Delfeer, and I bring good news. Come with me." He beckoned down the staircase. Down in the middle of the Grand hall stood a line of other summoners wearing light blue robes.

Delfeer turned and walked down the stairs, not even bothering to make sure Riven was following him, but she did, silently.

"Now, we've decided that an apology is not quite enough for our mistakes." The man explained, "And so, considering your preferences, we've come to the agreement to allow you your choice of a summoner companion. A partner, if you will." He finished as they reached the line.

Riven was concerned. "I was under the impression it didn't work that way," She remarked.

"It doesn't, usually," The old summoner said, pointing back at Riven, "We're making an exception for you, to not only atone for our errors, but to give you an opportunity to see the positive side of the League of Legends."

Riven looked over the line of summoners in front of her. They were young. Possibly new recruits. She noticed several females in the group, which she was quietly grateful for. She'd only been accosted by the male ones so far. Every one of them looked intelligent and sharp as they stood at attention. But that wasn't what Riven was looking for. She had decided upon trusting her own strength only, and these people in front of her looked fairly uncompromising.

She turned back to the old summoner. "Are there any others?" She asked hopefully.

Delfeer looked over them and scratched his head, "Well, yes, but it appears he's late. Again." He said with a sigh. Riven could tell he was troubled that she did not pick from the ones before her.

She could hear footsteps approaching quickly from the staircase at the far end of the hall. She waited patiently as the final summoner ran across the floor and took his place at the end of the line without a word. It was a boy in his late teens. He stood at the same height as Riven. She walked over and looked over him once. He wore glasses, and had curly red hair. He looked bright, maybe a little lacking in confidence, and most importantly, moldable.

"I'll take him," Riven said to the old summoner.

He eyed her curiously. "Are you quite sure?"

Riven nodded.

"Very well," He nodded as well and cleared his throat. "You are dismissed." He announced to the group. They dispersed immediately. The chosen summoner began to leave too.

"Not you, Nigel," The man sighed again. The boy, Nigel, stood back at attention.

"Do you understand your position, Nigel?" The old man questioned him.

"Yes, sir," Nigel responded soundly.

The man paced over to face him directly, "Riven has chosen you to be her partner in this institute. You will be our direct representative to this esteemed champion. Do not disappoint us, or her."

Nigel nodded shakily. Riven saw he was under a lot of stress, and felt a little bad forcing this onto such a young boy, but it was the only way she was going to get what she wanted. She'd be the one in charge. There would be no more struggles for control. No interference. She wondered if the summoners knew her intentions. If they did, they made no attempt to confront her.

"Now," The summoner said with a gleam in his eye, "How about we get you two acquainted."