Author's note: So before we get started with this exciting chapter, I'd like to thank all my dedicated fans (there seems to be at least 1000 of you out there) for sticking with me and being patient while I write. I know it takes a long time. I'm sure I could go faster, but part of my writing style includes mulling over ideas for days at a time, which only leads to better-developed chapters. So if I'm taking especially long, such as for this one, you can hopefully expect better quality. ^.^

On an exciting side note, it's almost Guiding Light's first anniversary! I don't think I'll be able to finish the next chapter in time for it, but it might finally give you the things you've all been anticipating for so long. :3

An another side note, a couple people have asked if I'd forgotten about Lux. I'll answer that simply by saying you might enjoy this chapter a bit more...

And so, without further ado, enjoy! :D


Chapter 13 – Flicker, Part 3

Riven woke gasping for air and sat up immediately, searching for threats. Instead, she found herself alone in a small room, in bed and feeling altogether refreshed. The memories of last night were clear, but... distant, as though it had happened years ago. She shook her head in confusion. The last thing she remembered was Lee Sin telling her to sleep.

She looked around the room. The light streaming in through the window told her it was early morning, though she wasn't sure how many days had actually passed. Her sense of time was completely off. What exactly had happened? Why had the monk shown up in the first place, and how did he know Nigel?

He had saved her life, but what was his intention? Was he also responsible for the sudden weakness she had felt? She could have sworn she still had the strength to fight just a few moments before he arrived...

She released a long breath and decided not to question him. Regardless of what he wanted, he had probably saved her life. That man who had attacked her seemed unstoppable. Even a blow that would usually kill hadn't harmed him.

It was strange, though... All those years ago, she had felt fear when he was hunting for her in the woods of Ionia. She hadn't known the feeling back then, it was foreign to her. The tightening of her chest, the inability to think straight, it was mind-consuming. Last night, that had changed somehow, and she was able to fight again. The fear had felt so far away.

Riven wondered if Nigel had had something to do with it, or if having her sword back in its entirety subconsciously gave her the confidence. She tried to send a message to Nigel, but felt his mind was blocked off. Maybe he had been caught and punished for it after all. The thought of it made her feel incredibly guilty, and she hoped that perhaps he was just sleeping or studying.

She made to get up off the bed, but was distracted by a strange weight on her hand. Just as she glanced to see what it was, there was an odd distortion of light, casting the rays in random directions around the room. Riven watched it, open-mouthed in surprise, while it danced strange, beautiful, and captivating patterns across the walls and ceiling. When it passed, the figure of Lux shimmered into view beside her, sleeping soundly in the chair at the bedside. Her head was rested peacefully on the mattress, and her hand laid atop Riven's. She murmured something inaudible and stirred, but didn't wake.

Riven stared at the girl, feeling unnaturally calm. Her thoughts from the night before were still stirring in her mind.

'I still have to tell you...'

'... How I feel about you. In my own words, in my own way,' She finished with a sigh.

She closed her eyes, trying to figure out why she wasn't upset anymore. The whole ordeal felt so miniscule in comparison to everything else that had happened. Maybe she had been overreacting after all...

"She's been with you all night," The voice of Lee Sin came from the doorway. Riven didn't really react to it, her thoughts still focused on the Demacian beside her. Part of her already longed for the short solitude they'd had, though she knew it wouldn't have lasted long. It had only been one night after all. That meant there was plenty to do today, with the tournament still going on.

"Where am I?" She finally asked, looking to the blind monk. She made sure to speak quietly, lest she wake Lux and make things awkward.

"You are at the infirmary of the stadium. We decided it was the best place to take you." Lee Sin answered flatly, the odd slur in his speech ever-present.

"What happened?" Riven asked with a bit more force in her tone. She wanted that answered most.

Lee Sin took a deep breath and let the question hang for a short time, "You were attacked by Master Yi. Udyr and I came as-"

"Yi?" Riven interrupted him concernedly, "But..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say. That was Yi? The man she'd run into so long ago, the one who had taught her fear, was a well-known and renowned champion of the League?

"You've met him before, yes?" Lee Sin replied, "During the war?"

"How do you know that?"

Lee Sin remained silent at that question, not giving away any answers, but something in Riven's head clicked, and it made sense.

"You're a summoner," She stated, "That's how you know magic. That's how you knew where I was, and how you put me to sleep just by touching me. It also explains how you know Nigel."

Lee Sin attempted to smile, but the complicated expression that turned up was far from it. He drew another long breath before answering.

"I was. I am no more. What little I allow myself to do could not be considered summoning."

"...Why did you leave?"

Lee Sin frowned. He had probably hoped she wouldn't ask.

"I lost sight of my goals, and burned myself in my ignorance."

Riven observed the man, who suddenly seemed quite upset, either with her or himself.

"Is that why..."

He turned away, "What better way to atone for my selfishness than to mirror my experience for the sake of others?"

Riven hesitated. His statement really hit home, and she felt a rush of regret.

"I wish it were that easy," She said wistfully.

Lee Sin remained silent for a long moment.

"There are some clothes on the side table. I will see you at the arena, Riven," He finally said, and began to walk away.

"Thank you," Riven called after him in a hushed, almost desperate tone. She hadn't meant to anger him, and was grateful for what he'd done. But if he heard her words, he didn't respond to them.

With another sigh, Riven slid off the bed, taking care to not wake Lux. She quickly made to put on the clothes left out for her, taking a few seconds to examine them. They were nothing especially fancy, simply a loose-fitting red-orange shirt and black pants. Not as appealing as her previous apparel, but she didn't have much choice. With the beating she'd taken yesterday, her clothes were probably trash.

'Speaking of which,' She remembered suddenly, looking for the wounds caused by Yi's blade. They had vanished. She felt the skin that had been broken and bleeding. Not even a scar. They must have healed it with magic.

Lux stirred, causing Riven to jump in surprise. A sudden rush of thoughts flashed through her head. Was she waking? Would would she say? What should she say?

With a quick breath, Riven dashed behind a curtain on the other side of the room, her face red in a mix of shame and embarrassment. She was still only half-dressed, and didn't want that to be the first thing Lux saw when she woke.

She peeked back to the bed, letting a relieved breath out to see Lux still fast asleep. Riven quickly put on the shirt, feeling the familiar tightness in her chest and flutter in the rest of her body returning. Stepping to the door, she turned to look back at the other girl.

"I'll see you later," She promised in a whisper.

Riven began to walk down the hallway, guessing that Lee Sin had walked in this direction to get out. She still felt bad about seeing him leave looking so depressed. She didn't know much about his past, and he obviously didn't want to talk about it. All she knew was that it was bad enough to give up on being a summoner and force him into a life of monk-hood. That... must have been pretty bad.

As she rounded a corner, she bumped into someone roughly.

"Ah, pardon-" She started, before realizing who it was she bumped into. "Tori."

The boy's surprised expression quickly changed to a grin, "Riven. I was just coming to see you."

"Me?" She asked in disbelief.

"And Lux," He added.

Riven frowned in response.

"Hey, you never actually agreed to my terms of the bet, so..."

Riven's frown deepened.

"Alright, alright, I get it," Tori chuckled, "But honestly, I was coming to see you. I heard you got into a fight. What the heck happened?"

Riven quietly studied the boy, unsure of how much she should tell him. She knew Yi was an influential figure in Ionia. "I... ran into an old enemy. He attacked me."

"You kicked his ass, right?" Tori asked eagerly, mimicking some combat moves.

Riven smiled faintly at his energy, "I'd rather not talk about it."

"What? No way! You lost? But yesterday you were, like, destroying me!"

Riven cast her gaze away. She wanted to explain to him that she was at a disadvantage the whole time, that it was far from a fair fight, but it didn't matter in the end. She had lost because she wasn't strong enough. It was yet another wake-up call that she had a long way to go.

"Oh, speaking of kicking ass, you should have seen Lux's fight yesterday!" Tori thankfully changed the subject, though Riven's attention was immediately grabbed again. She'd forgotten about Lux being in the tournament.

"Was she hurt?" She asked with some concern.

Tori let out one big "Ha!" and shook his head. "She didn't even get touched. As expected of a League Champion, I guess. Her style was actually similar to yours. Did she teach you?"

Riven's eyebrow twitched involuntarily, "What?"

"Did she teach you?" Tori repeated the question.

"...No..." Riven answered slowly, not really understanding the reversal of roles, "I taught her."

Tori regarded her in a strange way, "Huh. Well, anyway," He said with a shrug, "She's good. The other guy, Suta I think his name was, he didn't stand a chance."

He chuckled, then frowned, "Though she's supposed to face Udyr today. I'm not sure how well that will go for her. His first match lasted about ten seconds. Dunno why Amo didn't forfeit."

"Ten seconds?" Riven repeated quietly, not quite believing it. The image of the bear-man holding Yi was dim and fuzzy, but it was clear that he was powerful, and judging by what little she knew of his personality, he wasn't the type for mercy. Was Lux in some serious danger facing him?

Tori put a hand on her shoulder, startling her. "She'll be fine. You probably know her a bit better than I do, but I think she can handle herself. She's pretty strong-willed."

Riven felt a smirk grow on her face, "Yeah, she definitely is."

"Now what about you?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think you can fight Lee Sin? He's on par with Udyr, if you ask me. He's the only one in Ionia that's managed to beat him in a straight fight."

Riven hesitated in her answer, "I'm not sure I want to."

"Because he's blind? Believe me, that hasn't slowed him down any."

Riven didn't correct him. It was a difficult thing to express, as she didn't want to face him for a multitude of reasons. The days when she'd jump at the chance to fight were long over. With Lee Sin, she couldn't help but feel something restraining her. It was similar to the way she treated Ardus, back in Fury Company. Something beyond respect, closer to appreciation.

She looked back to Tori, snapping back to reality abruptly. Struggling to find something to say after getting lost in her thoughts, she defaulted to an easy question.

"Will you be watching the match today?"

"Of course!" Tori replied energetically, "Soraka healed me up just fine, but they've been keeping me cooped up the whole time. I can't wait to get out of here."

Riven looked at him oddly, "Why are you being so friendly all of the sudden?"

Tori laughed, waving off the question, "We're not rivals anymore. You beat me fair and square, in several ways. And if we're not rivals, and not enemies, we must be friends."

Riven chuckled, "That doesn't make much sense."

Tori shrugged, "My mother says these kinds of things all the time. Must be rubbing off on me. Like... 'A friend of a friend is a friend.' I can use that one here too."

"I get it," Riven conceded, "...Thanks."

Tori extended a hand, "This is how you make a deal in Noxus, right?"

Riven smiled and shook his hand, "Just keep an eye on their other hand in the process."

"Right," He laughed.

Riven went on her way after a quick farewell. Somehow she'd acquired another ally here in Ionia. She was beginning to wonder what had prevented her from returning earlier. Even the attack the night before felt distant in her mind, and she suspected Lee Sin might have had a hand in that. With an abnormally positive outlook, Riven continued on to the lower levels of the stadium, hearing the crowd's noise grow louder and louder. She had a meeting with the mysterious monk.


"Welcome back!" Sayara's voice called across the open area, and the crowd applauded loudly in return. Riven stood at the edge of the arena, not more than a few feet away from Lee Sin, yet neither spoke. That was fine by her. She could feel the sudden tension between them, more from anticipation than anxiety. She had wanted to see how skilled Lee Sin was, and this was her opportunity.

'Also a rare chance to beat up a summoner,' She thought with a smirk. Riven glanced over at the man. He seemed to have cheered up somewhat, seeing as he was smiling calmly. He was likely looking forward to this as well, but she assumed he had his own motives for it. He must have had a reason to be so involved with her so far. She didn't care all that much, but if he wanted a sample of her strength, she would show it to him. She would show Ionia the power and conviction she would use to save Noxus. And whether they hated her or supported her, at the very least they would know change was coming, that the Ionian War wasn't entirely pointless. It had opened the the eyes of many to the problems of the two city states. Ionia, for secluding itself, for ignoring the rest of the world, and Noxus, for losing itself in its own ego.

The names were called out to the crowd. Lee Sin walked to the right, Riven to the left. She felt inspired, renewed, and most of all, optimistic. Looking back, she realized how depressing the past few years had been. She had become so used to it, it had felt normal. Now, it all seemed trivial. What was there to regret, when there was so much opportunity to repair? The past would become a template for a better future.

With a few more steps, she faced Lee Sin in the middle of the ring. He stood relaxed and at ease, his sightless gaze brushing over her. Riven smiled and shifted her footing.

"Thank you, Lee Sin," She said to his face this time, "You've helped me more than you know. Or," She continued with a smirk, "Perhaps that was your intention from the start."

Riven waited for a response, but only received a smile in its place. Riven sighed lightheartedly, "Regardless, I'm in your debt."

"I do not recall asking for compensation," He answered, "However, I would like to see if my hopes for you are not misplaced. Show me your conviction, Riven, the Exile."

With a nod, Riven began by slowly circling the monk, who stood still in the middle of the ring. His immobility was odd, but Riven quickly noticed the reason why. He had no 'blind spot' that other martial artists warned about. He did not need to face her. She knew that he knew exactly where she was simply by listening to her footsteps. It presented a strange challenge, and Riven wasn't quite sure how to take advantage of it.

She breathed deeply to help her focus. Lee Sin looked like he was full of openings, but she could tell he was simply waiting for her to make the first move. The only way she was going to get past his guard was with speed.

Deciding on a plan, she dashed forward in an instant burst, hoping to catch him before he could react.

Her arm wound back, ready to strike with as much force as she could muster, she closed in on him faster than most people could keep track of. She felt confident that she could get the first strike in this match, and it would be significant.

What happened in the next instant, Riven couldn't grasp. Lee Sin put up a hand and stopped her fist, no, her entire body with almost no motion at all. It felt like all of the momentum she held simply ceased to exist.

Refusing to give up that easily, Riven tried to hook from a sharp angle, seeing that his free hand couldn't reach to block it. Surprisingly, he made no motion to avoid it, and took it straight to his gut. But without a flinch, he grabbed Riven's wrist and pulled her over an outstretched leg, sending her toppling to the ground in front of him.

Riven got up quickly and faced the monk, breathing heavily. This was going to be even harder than she imagined. Not only was he fast, but incredibly strong as well. Her wrist burned where he had grabbed it. It had felt like a wild animal's jaws.

Lee Sin finally moved to a fighting stance, his face neutral. Riven almost wished he was smiling, so she could have had a chance to take advantage of his lax nature. But here, he seemed completely serious, and dangerous.

'I should try to counter him instead,' She thought, hoping to capitalize on her Tilas' strong point.

Lee Sin made to move, and Riven readied herself.

'Here he comes.'

In a strange move, he threw a punch from where he was standing, even though he was far out of reach. Riven barely had time to try to understand what he had done before she was hit by the invisible force of the blow. She stumbled backwards, confused and unsettled. However, she didn't have time to think about it, as Lee Sin launched himself at her. She crossed her arms in front of her chest to block the jump kick, wishing she'd had the time to take advantage of it. A jump in martial arts could be a fatal mistake, but combined with Lee Sin's technique, he could actually pull it off without worry. It was both frightening and impressive.

The force of the kick sent her sliding back across the platform a few feet, but she managed to stay upright. Her arms had definitely taken the blow hard, and she shook them to loosen the muscles. Lee Sin stood confidently where he had landed. The aura he gave off was one of unwavering strength.

Two passes into the fight, and Riven had yet to scratch him, while he had nearly incapacitated her arms with a single move. This was looking more and more grim by the moment.

'Once more,' She pressed herself, 'There's still a chance.'

She dashed forwards again with renewed vigour. Sending a flurry of punches at him, looking for an opening, while Lee Sin blocked almost all of them, somehow knowing exactly where her hands would be to stop or deflect them with a single movement. The few hits that did connect seemed to not faze him at all. With a final frustrated kick sent his way, the monk jumped back and slammed an open palm to the ground. The shockwave that erupted from the manoeuvre only struck Riven lightly, and she pressed on, not even bothering to wonder what the purpose was. Lee Sin caught her fist and attacked in return a short and quick two-hit counter, connecting with Riven's shoulder blades.

Riven clenched her teeth and swept a leg under his, but her muscles seemed to strain at the movement, like her leg suddenly weighed several times more than usual.

'No way...!' She thought in protest. Her leg hit Lee Sin's with almost no force, leaving her completely open.

Block your head. His voice sounded in her thoughts.

She instinctively followed the direction, as odd as it was, with both arms as Lee Sin did a quick spin in place, raising his leg for a elegant roundhouse kick. The blow connected with Riven's arms more powerfully than his jump kick had, and she was sent flying sideways across the platform, landing heavily on her right shoulder.

She lay there for a long moment, regaining her senses. Her entire body hurt, but her arms were the worst of it. She wouldn't have been surprised if they were broken. Tentatively, she stretched them out to find their movement normal, and sighed in relief, rolling onto her back. She closed her eyes and tried to actively ignore the pain while she listened to Lee Sin's steps get closer.

When she opened her eyes again, he was standing above her at ease.

"Well?" He asked simply.

"... That's enough," She answered, exhausted.

Lee Sin offered her a hand up, which she gratefully accepted.

"So you do know when to quit after all," He jested.

"The next time we fight, we do so with blades," Riven countered with a depressed smirk.

Lee Sin laughed, "I do not know about that. But perhaps one day we can try a more proper battle with our specialties to ourselves."

The cheering from the crowd suddenly became apparent to Riven, and she looked around, then back to Lee Sin. "I guess I'm out. You seem to be the crowd favourite anyhow."

"They cheer for you too," He replied, putting a hand on her shoulder, "You fought well and honourably."

Riven smiled, "I didn't think a forfeit would be seen in a positive light here."

Lee Sin chuckled, "Well, you are a bit out of your league in this tournament," He chided with a grin, "Though I think you did well enough to get here."

"Thanks, I guess," Riven rolled her eyes.

They stepped off the platform side by side. Sayara stopped Lee Sin to congratulate him as she passed by. The young woman then stepped onto the platform to announce the next match.

"Hold still for a moment," Lee Sin directed as they reached the field's exit. With a short incantation, he waved his arm between them. Riven felt her body relax as the muscles were eased out of pain. She stretched her arms and fingers fully, finding that they didn't hurt at all.

"You might want to stay," Lee Sin said before she could thank him.

Riven hesitated. She knew Lux was fighting next, and she wasn't sure she wanted to see it. From what she'd heard about Udyr, the girl didn't stand a chance.

Then again, from what Tori had said, maybe she did. Riven was curious of where the sudden amount of skill had come from.

The hardest part of it all, of course, would be facing her. Riven's emotions were still in an undecided state, and directly or indirectly, Lux was the cause of it. She'd never really had to worry about these kinds of things before, and it was stressful. There was still an opportunity to get out, along with an excuse.

...But the image of the girl sleeping at her bedside stirred her in a strange way. Here was a person who genuinely cared about her, enough to stay alongside her despite the problems she caused. There was no anger left in Riven, just like this morning. Only a small amount of caution. The one emotion she'd continued to ignore and avoid past her 'awakening' had fallen into her lap and absorbed her before she even had a chance to think about it.

Part of her wanted to run away, and she was unsure of whether it was a fear of attachment or the worry that somehow it would obstruct her plans for herself. But the part that wanted it, that inexplicably desired it, was overwhelming. She just couldn't imagine getting away this time.

"You know," Lee Sin interrupted her thoughts, "It is usually worth the trouble."

Riven blushed, "How did you... Did you use your-"

"No," He answered, smiling. "I first noticed it from her, if that comforts you. She cares for you a great deal. And you seem to be troubled by it."

"Not really," Riven said half-truthfully, "And if you're going to offer advice, I'd rather not hear it."

"Hm... In that case, I will take my leave. If I happen to ramble as I step down this hall, pay no mind." He nodded slightly and began to walk away. Riven watched him go with a confused look. However, she understood what he meant as he began speaking, apparently to no one, though she knew it was directed at her.

"There is a balance to everything. But one's own strength can alter the balance, so much so that he may carry the world in the palm of his hand. The heavier the load, the more strength that is required to do so, the stronger he will become to accomplish it."

His voice was farther away now, with a noticeable echo, and Riven listened intently to make out every word, in spite of her earlier sentiment. She felt her defenses fade away just as much as his voice had. What he was saying went against her entire upbringing, that burdens and loyalties might increase one's strength. If she'd heard such things all those years ago, she might have scoffed, but now... they actually made some sense.

"Love is such a burden," Lee Sin continued, out of sight, "It will inconvenience you in return for its benefits. It will prove to be a heavy load, especially for those not used to it. And should one choose to protect it, he will only gain from it. Love makes you stronger, Riven. Embrace it..."

His words faded with a final echo, and Riven sniffled. What he had just told her, it was were more comforting than anything she'd ever heard. It was everything she needed to hear to reassure her that it wouldn't be the completely wrong path to follow. She took a deep breath and straightened up, only then realizing she'd been bracing herself against the wall. She turned around to face the field, knowing what sight awaited her.

Lux stood proudly in the sunlight, its golden gleam catching her beauty perfectly, opposite the beast-man Udyr. He stood with his arms crossed, and a discontent look on his face. He seemed either unimpressed by Lux or simply bored with the formalities.

Lux glanced over to her, and their eyes met. The moment lasted only a second, but to Riven it could have been a lifetime. She could recall every detail of it. The slight breeze that misplaced some strands of hair across her face, the colour of her cheeks as she blushed so slightly, the sparkle in her eyes and small, mischievous grin that hinted she had a plan hatching in her mind.

'What will you do?' Riven thought, her chest tight with worry. There was another long moment of quiet between the two competitors, before finally Lux made to move.

She raised her arms up in the air, and placed one hand on her other elbow. There was an immediate response from the crowd, though it was difficult to tell what it meant by the tones of the voices. Riven looked between Lux and Udyr, confused.

"She forfeit," Riven heard Tori's voice about the noise and spun to face him. He was in the stands above her, leaning over the railing.

"But why?" She asked.

He shrugged, "I guess she doesn't think she can beat him. I don't blame her."

Riven sighed and looked back to the platform. Udyr was leaving stoically, while Lux remained, her arms now crossed in front of her. She looked like she was waiting for something.

Sayara stepped into view, walking past Lux to the centre of the stage. She made a few hand signals, and pointed to Lux. The crowd cheered in response, and Riven turned back to Tori seeking an explanation. His mouth was ajar as he stared at Lux.

"Tori," Riven called irritably.

His gaze didn't shift, but he spoke, "I don't think you're gonna like this."

"Celt!" Sayara called out.

Riven's attention was called again to the stage in surprise, only to see both Lux and Sayara looking back expectantly, and she couldn't understand why. Hesitantly, she made her way up to the platform, just as Sayara stepped off. Riven looked back to Tori, who had his hands clasped in front of his face. Why was he worried?

Finally, she locked eyes with the Demacian in front of her. She smiled back.

"Lux, what's going on?" Riven asked.

"We're fighting for third place," Lux answered matter-of-factly.

"Third? Why? What's the point in that?"

Lux laughed softly, "There may only be one winner, but don't you think it makes sense to reward the ones who tried and didn't quite make it?"

Riven thought briefly back to Fury Company. They had all done their part... and their strength had been wasted. What reward had they received in return for their contribution?

"That's rather wishful thinking..." Riven replied, disheartened.

"You're right," Lux agreed, "But it's a nice idea, at least."

Riven looked Lux in the eye again. She didn't really want to fight her. In fact, it was one of the last things she wanted.

"Did you... forfeit just to face me? Riven asked, her mind registering the possibility.

"Yup," Lux answered cheerfully, stretching her arms.

"So there's no way I can convince you to back out of it?"

"Hmm..." Lux pondered, "I can think of a few ways, but you might not be comfortable with them in front of all these people."

Riven covered her face with a hand. She didn't want to know what Lux would suggest. "Alright, but I'm not going to take it easy on you," She said, shifting to a ready stance.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Lux replied, following suit.

Riven hesitated. She wasn't really expecting to have her bluff called so easily. Why was Lux even doing this?

"Fight me, Riven."

"I know you don't put value in words. I get that. So fight me."

Riven smirked to herself. This girl was a little crazy, but somehow Riven could get it. She was forcing herself out of her comfort zone, putting on a facade for the sake of others. She came off as naive and innocent, but really she was calculating and clever, frighteningly so. She finally understood why it had turned out this way. They were so similar, so disjointed from others, so focused on their objectives, that they couldn't fit into the norm. Lux was just as much an outcast as herself, but had adapted to fit in. Riven wondered if she might have been able to adapt as Lux did, had she been exposed to these feelings earlier.

"Lux," She said, clearing her throat, "Before we start, I just want to say... um... I understand."

Lux's smile faded, and her lips parted like she was about to say something. Her gaze drifted downward.

"You do?" Her voice sounded shaky.

"I'm sorry it took so long," Riven added apologetically.

Lux giggled, or tried to, but her breathing was ragged. She wiped her eyes with her shirt sleevs and looked back to Riven through watery eyes. "It's okay. It's more than okay," She said, smiling.

Riven smiled back, then took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment to allow her mind to refresh.

"Now, how about we give these people a show?" She said to Lux, opening her eyes again.

"Mm," Lux agreed with an eager nod.

The battle began with a quick rush from Lux, which Riven easily parried away, but the action felt so... distant. Her focus was gone, and she simply followed the smooth rhythm of the fight, both of them trading blows equally, their efforts halfway between trying to win and trying not to hurt the other. The words spoken before the match seemed to be forgotten, and the world around them faded to insignificance, leaving just the two of them to enjoy their time together. Riven found herself laughing and teasing Lux the same way the blonde would do to her. She was rewarded with an ever-present smile on Lux's face, her beauty fully shining through.

She was just as skilled as Tori said she was, which left Riven wondering if she had just been pretending to need training. Another part of her plan, no doubt. Riven brushed off the thought with a grin. It seemed a bit ridiculous now that she saw Lux for who she really was. Did she really think this was the only way to get through to her?

Riven knocked away a jab from the girl and tossed her over her shoulder, half-jokingly shouting "How about this!"

Lux casually twisted in midair and landed unnaturally softly a few feet away, smiling boldly.

"Cheater," Riven pouted.

"What?" Lux asked innocently.

"No magic in a martial arts tournament."

Lux smirked mockingly, "Oh, and did you read the rules?"

Riven frowned disapprovingly, "I didn't."

"Then in that case-"

"In that case," Riven interrupted her with a smirk of her own, "I'll have to show you how to take down a mage in close combat."

"Oo, we're getting serious now, huh?" Lux asked, a large amount of anticipation leaking into her voice.

Riven took a deep breath, studying the girl intensely. It was difficult to concentrate given the circumstances, though Lux didn't seem as affected. Her playful eyes darted back and forth, the attentive shine giving away the intelligence behind them. She looked ready for anything.

Riven had faced only one mage in this kind of situation before. It was hardly enough to call upon for experience. She'd have to rely on her training alone.

She lunged forward, following the 'First Directive of Fighting Mages': Don't give them time to cast any spells. She threw a punch, but something felt off about it, like it was fighting against a strong wind.

'A barrier?'

Lux grinned as she deflected the blow and returned one of her own to Riven's shoulder.

'I taught her that move,' Riven realized, conflicted with whether to be impressed at her adaptation, or wary of how she had progressed so easily.

Lux stepped forward and swept her leg behind Riven's.

'Oh no you don't,' Riven thought, seeing a chance to turn it against her. She planted herself firmly and lifted the lighter girl straight off her feet. Lux gave a surprised "Eep!" as Riven picked her up and forced her firmly onto the ground.

Lux coughed lightly and giggled, "Alright, I didn't expect that one."

"And this is where I knock you out," Riven chided with a mock motion of her arm.

"Ah yes," Lux smiled, "The Second Directive: Aim for the head."

Riven squinted curiously, "You know them?"

Lux nodded slightly, "And the Fourth?"

"Show no mercy, regardless of fealty..." Riven trailed off, feeling Lux's intense stare. "I'm not going to hit you, Lux."

"Do I not deserve at least one?" She replied calmly.

Riven smirked, "What is with you? You want me to hurt you? You wanted to fight me before, too."

"You like fighting," Lux responded immediately, "You always have. It's engrained in you. But you're different from the others. You want to fight for something with meaning, not just for the sake of fighting. And that's why I think of you as a knight, rather than just a soldier."

Lux propped herself up to lean in closer, "And I'd like it... I'd really like it if you were my knight."

Riven held her gaze, reflecting on Lux's words, looking deeper into the meaning of it. In her heart, she couldn't refuse; she'd already been roped in for what felt like ages. She just needed her mind to accept the idea that in the long run, it wouldn't get in the way, that it would be worth the hassle, and most of all...

"Can I trust you?" Her mouth voiced the thought before she even finished thinking it.

Lux opened her mouth to reply, but stopped herself, a saddened expression growing on her face. She looked away uncomfortably.

"I've... spent so long trying to make people trust me and believe me, when they really shouldn't, that... I don't know how to answer you."

Riven smiled softly, "You can start with the truth."

Lux looked up and smiled sheepishly, "Ah... I guess, then... I might need to talk to you a lot longer, and in more... privacy."

Riven's eyes widened as she remembered where they were. She looked around quickly at the almost-silent crowd. No doubt they were confused at the sudden pause. Riven sighed and offered Lux a hand. She took it and bounced to her feet, immediately signalling her forfeit to the crowd.

A polite applause rung through the stadium, which only made Riven feel embarrassed. It was probably a disappointing end to the third-place match.

"I'll meet you back in the infirmary," Lux said with a wink and hopped off the platform towards the exit. Riven stepped forward to follow, but noticed Sayara approaching her from the side, which explained Lux's hasty departure.

"Congratulations," Sayara said, placing a hand on Riven's shoulder, "That was an... interesting match. It seemed like you two weren't really trying though."

Riven averted her eyes, "I guess we weren't. It's only third place anyway."

Sayara looked at her silently before replying, "Third place simply means there are only two better than you, and that is close enough in many cases."

Riven considered the words, but wasn't quite convinced. 'When it matters, though, it makes all the difference in the world,' She thought.

"Well," Sayara changed the subject, "I guess it worked as a pleasant break from the serious matches, so I won't complain. Do you have any words for the audience?"

"Words...? Like a speech?"

Sayara nodded.

"I... didn't really plan anything ahead," Riven explained worriedly.

Sayara nodded again, and made to continue on with her announcements, before Riven stopped her.

"Wait," she said, taking another deep breath. She couldn't leave without saying anything, after the resolve she'd felt earlier. Ionia needed to hear her, or at least... she needed Ionia to hear her.

Sayara handed Riven a small brooch that she hadn't even noticed before.

"Speak into it," Sayara gave the directions.

Riven looked at it and nodded.

"Hello," Her voice boomed across the stadium, startling herself. The item must have been enhanced with magic to amplify sounds.

"Umm... Thank you," Riven started nervously. The crowd was dead silent, and she felt all eyes on her. This was more nerve-wracking than trying to face Lux.

'Focus,' She prodded herself.

"I think I should begin by saying my name is not Celt. My name is Riven, and I was an officer in the Noxian invasion that plagued your land."

There was a small murmur in the crowd. Riven had expected yelling and booing, but they seemed to be waiting to hear what else she had to say. She sighed a quick breath of relief and continued, feeling a little more confident.

"Over the last few days, I have seen more of your culture than I ever would have if the war hadn't ended the way it did. I'm glad it ended like this. It has given both our city-states the chance to review our places in the world. It humbled us both, to an extent.

"However, Noxus does not realize all of her mistakes. The powers in charge of her are ignorant to their own hypocrisy, and blind to the suffering their corrupt ideals cause. It is my goal to open the eyes of the Noxian people, to tell them their true ideal lies not with victory, but strength itself. Honour is something Ionia has shown me, and I will share it with my people.

"Whether you support me or not, or if you even care what happens to your former enemy, please know this: Ionia will not be threatened again. I will see to it personally."

As soon as the last echo of her speech sounded through the stadium, the crowd erupted into a deafening cheer. Riven looked around in near-shock at the response, while shivers ran down her spine. Did they like it that much? And was it really something worth cheering for?

She hurriedly handed the brooch to Sayara, who smiled back at her, and hopped off the stage towards the exit. She saw Tori above it, and he motioned a thumbs-up with a supportive grin. Riven kept her head down and continued into the dark hallway, only stopping when she was out of sight.

Her heart was beating faster than a war drum, and she could tell her face was flushed by the heat coming off of it. That was overwhelming in several ways. How did others manage to speak so easily in front of audiences? With one more look back, she listened again to the cheering, which was just now beginning to die down, even though she had left.

Riven retreated further into the stadium, eager to not only escape the crowd's attention, but also to find the girl who kept her heart beating this fast. She had a lot of explaining to do.

Lux sat on the same bed Riven had occupied the night before, with another person kneeling in front of her. Riven stood in the doorway, recognizing the other woman as Soraka, the Starchild. The ethereal-looking figure stood upon Riven's appearance, glancing over in surprise. She turned back to Lux and nodded to her, before making her way past Riven, smiling gently without saying a word.

Riven watched the horned woman leave, before her attention turned back to Lux, who beamed brightly. "I heard your speech," She said, "It was perfect."

Riven smiled faintly, still affected by the adrenaline rush of it. She couldn't relax.

"Come here," Lux patted the bed beside her. Riven stared at the open space reluctantly, prompting a reassuring look from Lux. Riven sighed and gave in, walking across the room slowly. She sat gently and silently beside the blonde, avoiding eye contact. This situation suddenly seemed far too intimate.

Lux leaned back against the wall, thankfully giving Riven her space, before breaking the silence.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

Riven considered the question thoroughly. 'Everything' seemed like too vague an answer, and so she settled on something a bit more specific.

"How much of it was a lie?"

She looked Lux in the eye, expecting her to avoid the question somehow, but noticed the neutral expression that had replaced her regular smile.

"Would you prefer the long version or the short version?" She asked plainly, though her eyes still sparkled with a hint of deeper thought.

"Somewhere in between?"

"That... I can do. Let's see... Well, the short answer would be 'not much', and to be more specific... That night I called you to meet me, after your first match, I did want to see you. I was worried about you. The things I said about not getting used to it all were true, though I might have fibbed a bit when you asked me why I was talking to you... And what happened after, I might have gotten carried away with teasing you."

'I should have figured,' Riven thought to herself.

"We should do something about these clothes."

Riven sighed at her reaction back then. So naive...

"And then," Lux continued, "For our shopping trip, well... I guess I should admit it was part of the plan simply to get you out there with me, but-" She emphasized as Riven gave her a sour look, "I figured it was my only chance to get you to notice me for real. Afterwards... I was upset when you left, thinking I was trying to convert you. It was all for my own... needs..." she trailed off, obviously not content with the way it sounded. A few seconds later, she smiled lightly, "I think I can summarize the rest of it with this. Remember when I mentioned I had no ulterior motives?"

"I'd just like to be your friend." Riven finished the sentence in her head. She nodded.

"That was the biggest lie I've ever told you. I've had an ulterior motive ever since we first met. And that is that..." She paused for a moment in hesitation, "I love you."

Riven blushed heavily at the words and averted her eyes. They had an absurdly large effect on her mind, and she felt a warm tingle pass through her entire body.

"So..." Riven managed to say despite her mind being rather muddled, "What you're saying is, you fell in... love with me when we first talked? That time in the mess hall?"

That was one thing that seemed odd to her. How could someone develop these feelings so easily, especially in this situation?

"Ah..." Lux responded, wide-eyed, "I guess... This talk might take a bit longer than I'd hoped."

Riven eyed her suspiciously, feeling left out of the loop again.

"Umm..." Lux started again, suddenly sounding less sure of herself, "Do you also remember when I said I fell in love with a Noxian once?"

Riven began to nod, but stopped halfway. "You don't mean...?"

"This isn't actually... the first time we've met," Lux smiled, almost apologetically, "Uh... You might want to get more comfortable. This will be a long story."