Chapter 14 – Lux
August 16, 10 CLE
The first day of my assignment has been a significant success thus far. I have already managed to determine the location of the documents requested. I will continue to research the most appropriate way to retrieve them without raising suspicion.
Lux blew lightly on the ink to speed its drying on her journal's page. She wasn't quite sure why her superiors wanted daily reports, but she didn't bother questioning them this time. It was clear they didn't trust her because of her age, even though she could run circles around them in any intelligence-gathering mission. It had only been a year since she was forced to join, and she was already their top agent. Her affinity for light magic was likely the reason for it, though Lux had taken to learning other techniques for keeping herself concealed. Not for the military's sake, but her own; If she was going to be a part of their task force, she'd do it on her terms. And if she didn't want it, they'd have a hell of a time finding her.
The breath intended for the ink turned into a long sigh. It used to be fun, doing these sorts of missions. Figuring out how people thought, and how best to get the desired reactions and information from them. But now she had done it so much, everyone fit into a certain category with expected results. Men were the easiest. There was no challenge to it, and today's events only reinforced that sentiment. She had simply allowed a man to think he was seducing her while feigning a keen interest in the events in Ionia. Her first day in Noxus, and she could likely achieve her objective tomorrow.
With a frown, she placed her hand on the journal and muttered a spell as quietly as possible, in case someone was listening. The book vanished with a small 'whoosh' and replaced by an ordinary-looking black stone. She picked it up and idly twirled it through her fingers, suddenly feeling bored now that her tasks for the day were done. She glanced out the window by her desk to find the night was still young. A bit of extra reconnaissance wouldn't hurt, would it?
Lux stood and smoothed out her red uniform, checking herself in the mirror just in case she forgot a part of it. She touched her hair in discontent. She'd been ordered to dye it jet black for this mission, on of the things she hated about her assigned profession. She had resigned control of her body, especially since her superiors had no creativity when it came to disguises. A little bit of magic could have the same effect and more, but they were afraid of trying it 'in case something goes wrong.' Even when she proved she could do it, it was always "Just follow the orders, Ms. Crownguard," as if mentioning her family name might make her more obedient like her brother.
Garen... He was always sombre and stern, silent until it was necessary to speak. Polite and kind, but that didn't count for much if he could care less if the person existed. A simple lapdog with no personality. She hadn't spoken to him since he left all those years ago. He hadn't taken the time to contact his own family, and she had begun to resent him for it.
"I'll play along with the show, but don't expect me to enjoy it," She'd told him after he lectured her for skipping drills. It wasn't like she didn't know of her family's responsibilities. What she didn't understand was why every Crownguard needed to serve for life. Why didn't she have a choice? It wasn't fair.
She adjusted her expression to a more neutral, irritated look, which wasn't difficult in this train of thought. It was odd how little emotion Noxians displayed in public. The only smiles she had seen so far had been sneers and smirks of more devious and sinister intentions. Did no one enjoy themselves normally here?
With a quick breath, she resumed her character. Elmira Dackon, age 16, daughter of the deceased strategist Westfred Dackon from the town of Colex on the outskirts of Noxus, here to carry on her father's legacy. The details were half-true, and although the man hadn't had children according to official records, a bastard child was always a possibility. With both 'parents' dead, Lux was free to devise any cover story without refute.
The door hinges creaked loudly as she stepped out of her room and into the hallway of the dormitory. Glaring at the culprits of the unnerving sound, Lux took just one step outside before she heard a voice call out to her.
"Elmira, I thought you were turning in for the night."
Lux looked over, subduing the impulse to smile politely. Her new roommate, Clarisa, was standing only a few feet away, a bemused look on her face, as if seeing Lux up and about gave her some kind weakness she could exploit.
"I changed my mind," Lux stated in monotone, barely giving the other girl a glance. She didn't need to pretend to be disinterested in what her roommate had to say. The girl was strictly whipped and loyal, and quite dull in personality.
"Hmm? Where to, then?" Clarisa asked, surprising Lux.
"I hope you're not implying that you're coming with me," Lux replied with a hint of distaste.
"And what reason would you have to decline such a friendly offer?" Clarisa prodded toyingly.
Lux held her tongue, afraid to answer the question in the wrong way.
"Relax," Clarisa continued, "I only want to get to know you better. If I'm going to have to spend the next six years in the same room with you, I want to know what I'm in for."
'Well, you won't need to worry about that,' Lux thought, a small smile creeping onto her face.
"If you insist," She replied aloud, adjusting her plans, "Though I haven't decided where I'm going specifically."
Clarisa cocked her head and grinned, "I have a place in mind. You might like it."
Lux took another tentative step on the rafters of the training hall, following Clarisa in mild confusion. Where the heck was she taking her?
"Mind telling me what we're doing up here?" Lux asked in mock irritation.
"Shh," Clarisa put a finger to her mouth and pointed down past a wall that Lux couldn't see past yet. Taking a few more steps to catch up, Lux looked down to see what they were here for.
Below them, a large group of boys, all dressed in fighting gis, were standing around a small wooden platform, with two in the centre of it.
"That one's Ardus," Clarisa pointed to one of the two in the middle, but Lux couldn't really tell which one. "Word has it they're gonna make him the new poster child for the military, since the last one was killed."
Lux watched with curiosity as an older man, presumably the drill instructor, barked "Begin!"
The larger of the two boys leapt forward to strike the other, only to be dodged and punched in the kidney by the small one.
"Yes!" Claris whispered excitedly. Judging by her reaction, Lux guessed Ardus was the smaller one. It wasn't long before the big one was thrown to the ground and Ardus began walking away calmly.
"Not just strong, but good-looking too!" Clarisa turned back to Lux, her face giving away every detail of her thoughts. For the first time that day, Lux saw a genuine smile.
"I may have misjudged you, Clarisa," Lux replied in character with a smirk.
"Please," The Noxian rolled her eyes, "Don't you get sick of acting all prim and proper all the time? Sometimes you've just gotta relax and enjoy the uh... scenery." She grinned and nodded towards the boys below.
"You... may have a point," Lux answered, eyeing the group. This was getting interesting.
"Right?" Clarisa replied happily, "...See any you like?" She added playfully.
"Hmm," Lux muttered as she scanned the crowd. Her eyes caught on one, and she squinted as she studied him more carefully. "Who's the one with the white hair?" She asked, pointing at the boy in question. His dark skin only emphasized how different he seemed from the others. From the way he stood to the near-vacant expression on his face, he looked... mysterious, like a book tightly bound.
Clarisa peered at the white-haired boy. "I don't know that one's name, but I've seen him before. You've got good eyes. Look, watch him, he's got skills."
It was apparently his turn, and he stepped into the ring opposite a well-built boy with messy black hair. The instant the drill instructor gave the order, the white-haired one dashed forward at an absurdly fast speed and planted his fist straight into the other's neck. The one with black hair was on the ground gagging within seconds.
Lux stared, drop-jawed, as the white-haired boy turned silently and walked out of the ring. The drill instructor was laughing gruffly.
"Excellent work, Riven," He bellowed, "But don't be killing your squadmates in training, We need 'em."
Riven nodded back at him. "He won't die from that much," he said in a calm, monotonous voice.
The instructor laughed again, and kicked the boy on the ground. "Ya hear that, Emmanuel? You're not dead! So get up!"
With great difficulty, the black-haired boy rolled over and crawled out of the ring, earning himself another kick from the instructor as he passed by. He crumpled onto the floor again as soon as he was out of the way.
"Toughen up, Em," The man said without a hint of compassion, "Next!"
Lux's eyes were drawn back to the boy named Riven. Her interest was piqued. She wanted to research him a bit more, for a reason she couldn't quite figure out.
"You look smitten," Clarisa interrupted her trance.
Lux blushed and quickly shot her a disapproving look. "I am not. I'm simply interested." She frowned, transforming back into persona, "He looks like he could be a valuable asset."
"Uh huh," Clarisa said sarcastically, "Well, I won't tell anyone. Just don't get caught. Not like I'm one to talk, though..." She sighed, glancing down at Ardus, who also seemed to be looking at Riven.
Lux stared once more at the white-haired boy. He was definitely different from the rest, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Her curiosity was getting the better of her, and even though she knew it, she didn't try to suppress it.
At the end of the next match, Riven walked over to the instructor and spoke with him inaudibly. Quite suddenly, Lux became aware of a familiar feeling creeping up inside her.
'Now of all times...' She thought to herself in frustration. She glanced back down to see Riven heading away from the group and towards the exit. With quick thinking, Lux decided on a new plan.
"I'll meet you back at the room," Lux whispered to Clarisa.
"You're actually going to do it?" Her roommate asked, wide-eyed.
"I wasn't planning to, but an opportunity has just presented itself," Lux answered with a determined expression.
"You're nuts. If they catch you, you'll be expelled. Or worse."
"What do you care?" Lux answered irritatedly. She needed to lose Clarisa, and fast. With a quick glance around, she identified an exit to the rooftop on the other side of the rafters. She smiled to herself. Her ranking officers never understood her habit of practising acrobatics, yet here was a prime example of why she needed them.
A quick "See ya" later, and Lux was on her way across the room atop a support beam. She didn't look back; she was already running out of time. Without missing a single step, Lux made it to the roof access and burst through it. Closing it behind her, she huddled in a crouched position, finally letting the light's power wrap around her. She had made significant progress on controlling the effect, but still lacked the power to call on it at will, or stop it entirely when it decided to come through. At the very least, she had discovered a way to dampen the large glittering effect it brought with it.
With a relieved sigh, she glanced around her to make sure she hadn't been seen. There was no one in sight, which meant she was free to do as she pleased. The light magic that seemed to reside inside of her now rendered her invisible to the naked eye, and with practice, Lux had trained herself how to move around silently. It was far too easy to get into those secret, forbidden areas with the ability to hide from both sight and hearing.
Below her, Lux heard the sound of a door opening, and peered down to see the white-haired boy exiting the building, headed towards the training grounds. Lux looked back towards the main headquarters in hesitation. She could probably use this chance to accomplish her mission and be on her way back home by morning. She could imagine the look of surprise on her superiors' faces when she showed up by nightfall. Certainly the most expedient espionage mission to Noxus they'd have seen.
Which also meant they likely wouldn't expect her to be back by then. She had time to pursue a side mission of her own, if she wished, and she was in no hurry to get back to those controlling idiots. Besides, the information wasn't even crucial to Demacia. The military just wanted a troop count on Noxus' army in Ionia. It was intel that wasn't important now, but might be useful in the future.
Her mind made up, Lux murmured a spell quietly, just as the small doorway of the roof access opened to reveal the concerned face of Clarisa.
"Elmira!" She whispered urgently.
Lux smiled and voiced an apology in her thoughts, before stepping off the roof.
The wind whipped around her petite figure in the brief fall, and she enjoyed the feeling of danger all the while. She stayed calmly upright as her sudden descent was slowed to a near-stop just before hitting the ground. With grace, she landed softly on the pavement and smiled to herself. That spell always made for some fun experiences.
Without wasting any time, Lux followed her objective, who wasn't too far ahead. It was easy to follow him, as there weren't many obstacles to avoid in the night. Accidentally bumping into someone was not something she'd need to worry about.
Up ahead, the boy turned a corner and disappeared momentarily. Lux crept up to the corner and peered around the building, only to duck back with a short, silent gasp. Her target was no more than three feet away, watching the corner intently.
Did he know she was there? Had she revealed herself somehow?
She looked around again, and to her relief, he had switched his attention to a large barrel nearby. He lifted a ratted cloth from the top of it and drew from within a broadsword, probably four feet long and six inches wide. He lifted it with one hand.
'Now what are you going to do with that?' Lux wondered, both surprised and impressed by his strength.
He walked further down the path, sword in hand, and Lux followed diligently, away from the lights that kept the roadways illuminated. Around a few more corners, and into the darkness of the night so that only the moonlight guided their path. Finally, upon reaching an open area behind the furthest building in the training grounds, the boy stopped, once again looking behind him, directly at the spot Lux occupied. Lux stood deathly still, even going so far as to hold her breath. His amber-red eyes seemed to pierce through her, staying terrifyingly steady. He knew she was there. He definitely did. Lux's mind was rushing with possible escape plans in case he got violent, her heartbeat deafening in her ears.
However, after what felt like several minutes of tension, the boy turned away. Lux released her held breath as quietly as possible, her lungs screaming for fresh air. Her eyes never left the boy in front of her, watching vigilantly for any signs of aggression. Either she had slipped up somehow or he just had incredibly sharp senses. Perhaps he expected to be followed in the first place? Whatever the case-
"How long are you going to stand there?" The boy asked suddenly, interrupting Lux's thoughts. She froze again, the hairs rising on the back of her neck.
"I take it you're not here to fight me," He continued, "Since you haven't attacked yet, and I don't care in the least how you've concealed yourself. If you have no business with me, then go away."
Lux couldn't help but smile rigidly. She had to admit defeat in this case, but she didn't want to give up quite yet. "...And if I do have business with you?" She replied aloud, tempting her fate.
The boy turned slowly to face her again, glaring unwaveringly, "The show yourself and state it."
"Hmm..." Lux replied, strolling over to some nearby boxes. She hopped up to seat herself upon a large one. "I'm afraid I can't show myself. But I can tell you why I'm here... Riven, is it?"
His annoyed expression didn't change, and Lux felt a strange sort of satisfaction from it. She tried not to take pleasure in bothering people, but she often found their reactions a little funny. It was something she couldn't hold back at times. In this case, Lux was more distracted by the fact that Riven's eyes had followed her without error as she moved. His senses were keen, and Lux was impressed only further.
"I'm a strategist, you see, and your skills have intrigued me," Lux said half-truthfully, "I wanted to see more without you knowing, but I apparently failed at that."
"From the moment you jumped off the roof," Riven replied flatly.
Lux recoiled in surprise. He'd known since then? Without another word, he turned and began swinging the sword in a rhythmic pattern. The silence dragged on long enough that it began to bother Lux.
"Well?" She asked.
"Well what?" He responded without breaking routine. The sword made a loud whiffing sound with each swing, and Lux only then realized he was swinging it one arm. Just how ridiculously strong was he?
"How are you doing that? Isn't your arm tired?"
Riven didn't answer, and simply kept practising. He'd switched hands now, and seemed to have no trouble mirroring the motions.
Lux frowned, put off by the silent treatment. "You're just going to ignore me?"
"What do you expect?" He replied between swings, "You hide yourself and stalk me, then when you fail at that, you want me to cooperate?"
Lux sighed and leaned back against the building, "You're a very logical person, aren't you?"
No answer.
"You know, I kinda like that in a person," Lux continued softly.
Still nothing.
"You're quite handsome," Lux chimed.
Finally, she got a response. Riven stopped and looked over his shoulder. He said nothing, but his expression showed irritation.
"Ah," Lux said, beaming to herself, "So you're not immune to compliments."
Riven glared back at her, then shook his head and returned to practising.
"Humm..." Lux sighed, "You're not as much fun as I thought you'd be."
"Fun is unnecessary," He said in monotone. Lux giggled.
"What?" He stopped again and looked at her.
"Just the way you said that. You sound so bored."
"Bored?" He squinted at the word, a few strands of his white fair falling in front of his face.
"Do you really enjoy this so much? You're obviously better than the others. It seems to me that you're not happy." Lux teased, testing for a reaction.
He stared back at her for a long while. "When I win-"
"That's not the same," She interrupted, content with the response. "That's ego, pride, whatever, but not happiness,"
He was silent again for a short moment, before answering. "It's all I need."
Lux frowned, suddenly drained by the statement. "You're devoted entirely to Noxus, aren't you?" She breathed the words through a sigh.
He nodded slowly, as if the question was a trick.
"You would die for it?" She asked, feeling quite put off.
"Of course," He answered more confidently.
'Just like Garen,' Lux thought to herself. It frustrated her how people could give up their entirety for any one reason. It made no sense. They lost so much in the process...
If only there were a way to wake them up, show them there was more to life.
"What if I could convince you to fight for something else?" She said almost absent-mindedly.
"What are you saying?" He lowered his eyebrows and frowned.
"...No," Lux responded solemnly, "Never mind." She hopped off the box and stretched widely. "I think it's about time I left."
He stared at the place where she stood, and Lux smiled. If he had some sort of oracle's enchantment, he would see it, she thought. Part of her wanted him to see it.
Finally, he turned and continued practising, no longer interested in the talking ghost. His strokes were more defined and forceful than before.
Lux smirked, wanting to try one more time, "Aren't you at least going to ask my name?"
Again, he didn't answer.
Lux smiled sadly, and felt a tingling sensation within her. The light's illusion was nearing its end, which meant she needed to get back to her room without being seen, as curfew was likely long past and it wouldn't do to draw any unnecessary attention. With a final look towards the white-haired boy, she parted and sprinted back towards her dormitory.
Just a few minutes later, Lux snuck around the corner of her room's hallway. Her invisibility had worn off just before getting here, but the coast was clear. She silently dashed the rest of the way and slipped into her room, the only sound made being the creak of the door hinge.
With a relieved sigh, she leaned back against the door.
"Hey, where the hell did you go?" Clarisa's voice startled her, "Did you really talk to him?"
Lux smiled smugly, getting back into character, "I did."
"And?" Clarisa asked accentuatedly.
"And what?" Lux asked in mock irritation.
"Your face is red."
"Wh-what do you expect?" Lux stuttered unintentionally, "I ran all the way back."
"Hmmm...? And how was he?"
Lux glared at her to ensure she wasn't hinting at something obscene before answering. "He's strong, in body and spirit, and probably very reliable. Definitely a strong asset for whoever would command him. I just wish..." She trailed off, trying to describe how best to say it.
"...That he was interested in you?" Clarisa offered with a teasing grin.
Lux frowned and shook her head. There was a brief silence between them, before Clarisa spoke again.
"Well, I'm going to sleep. We're going to be busy tomorrow."
"Mm," Lux agreed, "I guess I should too."
The feeling she was trying to describe was still bothering her as she undressed and slipped into her bed. She lay awake for a long while, her mind too busy to unwind, as if blocking her relief until she figured out this problem. Over and over again, she analyzed the conversation she'd had with the boy named Riven. His tone, his personality, they all seemed 'off' somehow, subdued and unreactive.
How could she get him to open up? She'd never met anyone quite like him. It was different from Garen as well. It wasn't blind devotion... it seemed forced somehow.
She rolled onto her side and let out a long sigh. Her gut was tight from the stress, the same as when she was afraid or excited, yet different.
'You're not obsessed, are you?' Lux asked herself worriedly, and didn't receive a solid answer. Just a mishmash of conflicting opinions. She closed her eyes, trying to force everything from her mind. She concentrated on the nothingness and the darkness behind it all. It wasn't a comforting or warm place in her mind, but it was empty and simple. She was tired of thinking, and just wanted sleep.
Slowly, her body responded and began to calm down. The world faded, and she drifted away.
"So I guess... that was our first true meeting," Lux paused, giving Riven time to digest it. She glanced beside her self-consciously, knowing how the white-haired woman might respond. And there she was, covering her face with her hand. It gave Lux a familiar sense of reassurance that her expectations were right, though the situation was still embarrassing.
"You really thought I was a boy?" Riven asked in exasperation.
Lux smiled and looked away. It was a funny mistake when she thought back on it. "Well, you were wearing a gi, and I'm guessing you wrapped yourself then, just as you do now."
Riven sighed and shook her head, leaning back against the wall beside Lux. The two of them were side-by-side on the bed, and the intimacy was not lost on Lux's mind. She could see in Riven's eyes that she was forcing herself to stay calm and collected. Rather than take advantage of it this time, Lux kept silent.
"Is that why...?" Riven trailed off unsurely.
Lux smiled faintly, knowing what she was trying to ask. "I'm not sure why. What I want to say is that it was love at first sight, because I think that's rather romantic, but... it's not quite right. You captured my attention that time, enough for me to make some rash decisions, which is hard to do..."
Lux blushed, and felt her body grow warm. It was just as difficult to put into words as it was to understand. Something had grabbed her, and she'd never quite managed to figure out what. It was everything, and it was nothing. There were times when she thought she'd found the reason she'd fallen for that white-haired boy back then, but it would never feel right. In time, she stopped questioning it, stopped pondering all the "why's" and "how's", and instead decided to wonder "what's next".
"Hey," Riven suddenly said, "Did I hurt you? During the match?"
Lux blinked several times before Riven clarified further.
"I mean, Soraka was here..."
"Oh!" Lux's mind clicked back to the present, "No! Not at all! She was only here to say hi, really," She answered awkwardly, "We see each other at the League all the time, but don't get the chance to talk all that often..."
Riven looked visibly relieved, and looked away slightly, a new silence descending between the two of them. Lux smiled to herself, happy that Riven was worried about her, but didn't quite know how to respond to it. It was strange how she could plan any interaction up to this point, but suddenly became lost when it came to it.
"You know," She continued, trying to lighten the mood, "I wouldn't have minded if you did."
Riven glanced at her, raising an eyebrow with a frown.
Lux giggled as she pressed the joke, "Just as long as we don't end up like Ashe and Tryndamere."
Riven looked at her blankly for more than a few seconds before cluing in, much to Lux's delight. "Tryndamere beats his wife?"
Lux grinned, "Well, that's the current rumour, anyhow. Hard to say what's true and what's not with all the gossip in the League. I swear, that 'Journal of Justice' is half-tabloid the way it follows champions like celebrities! They even said I..." She paused, noticing she was getting too upset, and checked her tone, "They said I joined the military willingly, eager to follow in the footsteps of my brother. Didn't even ask for my version of the story."
She looked down solemnly, "Part of me was hoping they would, just to have the chance of revealing the truth, even if I didn't go through with it... Ah." She stopped and looked at Riven, before continuing quickly, "Don't get me wrong, I don't hate my home. It's the one thing that kept me going for a long time, and I love it for that, but... it's complicated..."
While Lux looked at Riven, Riven was busy staring at the wall, probably lost in her own contemplations. Lux felt a small amount of guilt for bringing up the topic. Her struggle was nowhere near a match for Riven's.
"Riven," She said softly, leaning closer, her heart beating heavily in her chest.
The Noxian turned her head slowly and looked her in the eyes, her expression open and curious, as if she had forgotten their situation momentarily. Lux saw her opportunity and took it, leaning further to place a kiss upon Riven's lips. The Noxian didn't resist, and even kissed her back after a second, sending shivers down Lux's spine. Without a thought, she closed her eyes and shuffled in, pressing the kiss more firmly. The extra pressure gave Lux a deeper sort of satisfaction and pleasure, as if it connected them that much more. Riven's lips moved in sync with her own, responding immediately and following obediently. Lux reached a hand over to Riven's side, placing it just above her waist, and slid it under her shirt, feeling the skin hidden underneath.
Riven froze at the touch, inhaling sharply, and broke off the kiss. Lux opened her eyes to find the red-eyed woman staring back with an uncomfortable expression.
"Lux, I..." Riven trailed off quietly.
Lux quickly withdrew her hand. "Sorry!" She apologized breathlessly, suddenly feeling shy. She hadn't meant to go that far; her body had mostly acted on its own.
She quickly forced herself back to her position beside Riven. The air between them felt cold in comparison to the warmth she'd felt just a moment ago.
"Umm... Perhaps I should finish the story?" Lux asked with a short look at the woman beside her. Riven's face was flushed deep red, and the only answer Lux received was a quiet "Mm."
Lux disguised a sigh as a long breath to calm herself down, wishing she hadn't been so hasty. She knew better than that. Resolving to keep herself under control next time, she continued describing their shared past.
August 17, 10 CLE
A complication has arisen, I am unable to progress with the plan until further notice. My next report may be delayed.
Lux leaned back in her wooden chair and stared at the entry. Was this really worth such a large lie? She was sure her senior officers would be worried about it. They wouldn't trust her judgement, and she wouldn't get the chance to show off and finish the mission early. They might even call it off entirely, and she'd have no reason to protest.
Then again, she'd kept the note vague enough in order to leave herself leeway if they asked for more details. She might be able to spin a story for them to give her more time...
She sighed, resting her chin in her hands. All this trouble for one person. Riven had been on her mind the entire day through their 'strategy training exercises', for a reason she couldn't explain. She wanted to see him again, talk to him again, and maybe... try her luck at convincing him to change his ways. Sure, she knew Noxians took a different approach to life, but they could still be reasoned with, couldn't they? It wasn't like Demacia, where you needed to act a certain way or be shunned. Here, your only obligations were to the ones officially recognized, and only when they felt like using their power. There were many levels of freedom that were afforded at other times. That was something she rarely saw back home; The freedom to be yourself.
And maybe that was something she saw in Riven. He was doing what he wanted to do, doing what he was good at, and he was free to do it. But the thing was, he was disregarding his freedom and only enslaving himself. What did he hope to accomplish by joining the military? He had subdued himself, walled away his emotions, in order to follow this silly, vague ideal.
She wanted to break through that wall and find the person behind it. Perhaps it was just curiosity, or some kind of strange obligation she felt from her own experiences. Whatever the case, she wanted more time to figure it out, and so she was in this odd situation.
She finally made up her mind. To hell with orders. She muttered the spell to switch the book, picked up the stone, and stood with haste, eager to be off to watch the boys practice, or at least one boy in particular.
She stopped suddenly, wide-eyed, to find Clarisa standing at the doorway with a large smile on her face.
"That's a nice rock," She said simply.
Lux clutched the stone tightly, "My father gave it to me."
"Did he also teach you magic?" Clarisa asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lux's gut wrenched. She'd been caught because she was distracted. "I learned that on my own. A privacy measure," Lux answered smoothly, ignoring the stress.
It seemed to catch Clarisa off guard. "Privacy?" She asked in confusion.
Lux rolled her eyes and brushed a strand of hair from her face, doing her best to act uninterested and annoyed. "Yes, privacy. Like knocking on a door before entering. My father kept a journal, and I decided I should too. And I'd rather not have people reading it." She emphasized her words strongly, then paused. "How did you get in without the door making a racket?"
Clarisa grinned, "Trade secret."
Lux felt some relief at the reaction. She'd fallen for the bait, and didn't seem interested in pressing the topic of magic. "Trade?" She asked, changing the subject.
Clarisa shrugged nonchalantly, "I grew up as a thief. Doors are easy when you're in the habit of carrying some oil," She showed off the vial in her hand, half-full of a thick yellowish liquid.
"Hmm? Uncommon for a thief to show up in the strategists' end of the military," Lux commented, making a mental note to watch her more carefully.
Clarisa shrugged again, and sauntered over to her bed, flopping down ungracefully. "I was the ringleader for a bunch of kids. I planned the heists, led the charge, and dealt with the ah... distribution of the goods. One day we got caught. The captain of guard thought I had 'potential', and here I am."
"How admirable," Lux rolled her eyes.
"And what did you do to get here, Miss Priss?" Clarisa countered with a sneer.
"I... inherited it," Lux said, less confidently than she wanted it to be. She felt the weight of the words in her true situation.
"Father 'indebted' to Noxus?"
"Mm, something like that," She admitted.
"I'm not surprised. Plenty of your lot around, now that they've sent the callout for the war. They must be getting desperate, huh?"
Lux gave her best unimpressed face, and used the comment as an excuse to leave. "Whatever. I've got business to attend to."
"Off to meet your boyfriend?"
Lux didn't answer, and didn't look back as she closed the door behind her. She was afraid of what she might say in return to the question.
Lux sat atop the roof of the same building she'd followed Riven to the night before. Once again, she'd found him training alone with the broadsword. This time, though, she didn't interfere, choosing to simply watch. She'd learned from her mistakes, and made sure she was far enough away that she wouldn't be detected, and so far it had seemed to have worked. The boy below hadn't made any motion to show he was aware of her presence.
And so she watched, for what could have been hours. Her attention was focused entirely on the Noxian below, her mind buzzing with what-ifs and implications, just as the Noxian himself was focused entirely on his training. He didn't pause, didn't take a break. He seemed determined to improve through sheer will alone.
Suddenly, he stopped and looked behind him, giving Lux a jolt of fright, thinking she'd slipped up somehow. Fortunately, his gaze was directed towards the pathway below, where Lux could now see another boy approaching, his footsteps light and casual. His small size and stature were familiar, and his jet-black hair revealed him as the one Clarisa had been attracted to, Ardus.
"Figured I'd find you here," Ardus spoke as he continued forward.
Riven nodded towards him slowly, looking a little wary. "And?"
Ardus chuckled softly and awkwardly, "I know we're afforded more leniency now that we're in Fury Company, but you still need to sleep."
"I'll sleep when I'm finished," Riven replied dismissively.
Lux smirked to herself. 'Good answer,' She thought, silently laughing at Ardus' attempt to be friendly.
The dark-haired boy paused, and stood a few feet away, "And when will you be finished?"
Riven shrugged, staring him in the eye, "What do you care?"
"I'm just... concerned about the well-being of our prospective captain," Ardus answered.
Riven half-squinted, half-glared at him, "You're not aiming for it?"
"No. I'm even questioning this whole 'Poster Child' business. Seems to me you're the better candidate for both."
Lux frowned, processing the conversation. It was so quiet out here she could hear everything they said, and still couldn't figure out why Ardus was out here. He wasn't acting like a typical Noxian, one who'd jump at the chance for greater power and influence, regardless of who got injured in the process. Riven seemed to think so as well, judging by the suspicious look on his face.
"Why?" He asked Ardus.
"For reasons I'd rather keep to myself," The dark-haired boy replied.
"Because you think I need help?" Riven responded in irritation, "Because I'm a girl?"
Lux inhaled sharply, physically feeling her thoughts freeze in confusion. What was he saying? Was that some kind of Noxian joke? She knew how women were treated in Noxus, but...
"That's not it," Ardus argued back, "You're clearly capable, despite being a girl. But there are some who don't see past that."
Their words continued, but Lux could no longer interpret them. She had begun to analyze and see all the things she had missed before. The way Riven's gi would fold in for a moment to reveal the figure beneath, the higher pitch of voice, more apparent now in a heated argument, and the slight bulge in the chest area that Lux only saw now that she was looking for it. It was clear now how big of a mistake she'd made.
The moment suddenly felt surreal, and Lux slowly stood, feeling dazed. Her mind was unusually still, as if everything was irrelevant to her life. Her only thought was to leave, to give herself the time and space to comprehend the situation. Just as she turned to do so, the shingle beneath her foot came loose, and with a small yelp, she fell roughly on her side, knocking the wind out of her. Before she could cringe from the pain, warning signals were going off in her head, telling her she was still falling. Her world was spinning, or was she rolling? It only stopped when she felt nothing but air below her, and in a last attempt she lashed out to grasp the edge of the roof, only to have it slip from her fingertips.
She was falling. If she could have laughed, she might have. The mage prodigy, spy extraordinaire, and skillful acrobat, killed by a loose shingle. She closed her eyes as the fear hit then, filling her with doubts and regrets, and an overwhelming feeling of how unfair it all was. She didn't ask for any of this. She shouldn't even be here, and it was about to end her short, miserable life.
The next moment was soundless in her ears, the jolt of pain she felt from hitting the boxes below feeling far less intense than she expected. It took her mind a few seconds to realize that something was off, and that she was alive. The lack of pain, however, gave her the frightening idea that she'd broken her spine.
Tentatively, she opened her eyes, expecting to find herself so broken and battered that she couldn't comprehend the pain. Instead, she saw only deep red eyes staring back at her, along with a discontent frown, and a few strands of white hair that fell across the features. Lux stayed still, frozen for a moment in shock. Suddenly, the situation dawned on her, and she squirmed to move away, only to find she wasn't on the ground, but in Riven's arms. The thought of it made her cheeks burn, even though she now saw Riven for the young woman that she was. The feminine features were so clear from up close, and still she felt the same as before, when she looked at the Noxian.
"Umm..." Lux said timidly, her heart beating quickly under the unrelenting stare, "You can let me down now."
"So it is you," Riven replied quietly, dropping her without any warning.
Lux swiftly tucked in her legs and landed in a crouch. She stood and brushed herself off, pausing to rub her sore rib. It wasn't broken either, luckily.
"Someone you know?" Came Ardus' voice as he stepped beside Riven.
"No," Riven answered dismissively.
Lux glanced her way in surprise, feeling a little hurt, but remained silent.
"Really?" Ardus remarked, "I've never seen you move so fast." He crossed his arms and gave Lux a once-over, "So what's your story?"
"None of your business," Lux replied, quickly getting back into character. She glared back at him defiantly.
"Look-"
"Ardus," Riven interrupted him, still staring at Lux, "you can go. I'll return in five minute."
The young man looked at her, and Lux could envision his thought process through his dejected expression. It made her feel somewhat victorious. Reluctantly, he stepped away without a word and disappeared down the pathway.
Lux waited several moment after his footsteps faded before speaking. "Thank you," She said quietly to Riven.
"Why are you here?" Was the blunt reply.
Because I'm interested in you. Because I'm infatuated. Because I...
"I don't know."
"Are you stupid?"
Maybe.
"Of course not!"
There was a brief silence, and Lux felt the stare on her more heavily than ever. She was afraid to look back in return, intimidated by her own emotions. Wasn't there anything she could say or do to turn this around?
"You should leave."
The words hit Lux like a brick. Riven was right. She could plea, she could beg, she could confess her feelings on the spot, but nothing could possibly help.
"...Alright," She answered finally, solemnly. She took a few steps away, just as the feeling in her gut began turning into something else entirely.
'I suppose this is as good a time as any,' She thought, wanting to disappear anyhow. But with the growing intensity came the words she was looking for the night before. She closed her eyes to think on it, then turned on her heel to face Riven once more.
"How do you save someone from himself?" She asked in a serious tone. She watched silently as Riven spent a surprising amount of time considering the question.
"I suppose... control him?"
Lux smiled, content with "Close. You're not far off from what I was thinking. But what if you had only one moment to do it?"
"Then..." Riven paused again, "Give them an order, a direction, and hope they don't fuck it up."
The smile on Lux's face broadened. "That's not exactly how I'd put it," She replied with a small laugh, "But it's close enough."
She stepped closer to Riven, and grabbed her free hand. The touch made her skin tingle, but she did her best to ignore it and keep a calm smile on her face. "Follow the light", She said firmly.
With that, Lux turned and sprinted away, letting the latent magic consume her image. She wiped away the developing moisture from her eyes while she ran through the night. She had done all she could do, given the circumstances, and there was no point in staying further. She had her own mission to accomplish, just like Riven. She could only hope that her advice would bring them together again one day.
"Do you remember?"
Riven shook her head slowly, "I don't remember much of those days. I was so focused on everything at once back then, I couldn't really keep anything in mind. My memory is full of holes, and the ones I do have are fuzzy. I just... wasn't all that concerned with it before." She looked up apologetically, "I'm sorry."
Lux smiled and looked away, "It's okay. I think I understand what you mean...
"After Noxus, I returned to Demacia. I had one of my colleagues keep me updated on the progress of Fury Company. As strange as it sounds, it made me happy to hear that you, a Noxian, were alive and well, despite being part of such a terrible war. It gave me hope that you'd make it out, and maybe... I'd get another shot at giving you the life you deserve. But then..."
Lux paused, recalling the memories begrudgingly, "Then I heard the news... that Fury Company had been wiped out. By their own allies, even. I... I didn't really believe it at first. It sounded ridiculous. After the shock passed, I kind of lost it a little. Shut myself away, never told anyone why. I suddenly lost all motivation to do anything. I had no one to turn to for help, no one to confide in, and so I ended up distracting myself through the military. I gave up on spying, I wanted to avoid any reminders of my time in Noxus.
"After a few years, I guess it kind of grew on me. I learned some things to like about it, and convinced myself it was right for me. And finally, I wound up at the League of Legends. But instead of being some kind of accomplishment, it only served to remind me of what little I had, and how much I had lost. And stupidly, I refused to see it, I ignored it, and once again I convinced myself I was just fine with it.
"And then," She finally looked Riven in the eyes, though it was becoming blurry from the tears welling up, "Then you came back. Can you imagine that? Here I was, in a state of depression and denial for so long, so miserable I relied on every distraction just to keep going. And suddenly, the cause of that misery vanishes in a single moment. It was both amazing and terrifying. I didn't know what to do. All I could think was 'I can't let you disappear again.'"
Riven's eyes never left hers, and a tear finally escaped and rolled down Lux's cheek. She quickly wiped it away, but was suddenly encompassed by Riven's body in a tight embrace. Lux wrapped her arms around the other woman, letting the tears flow silently.
"I will," Riven whispered in her ear.
"You will what?" Lux croaked, her voice sounding pathetic in her own ears.
Riven loosened her grip and shifted back so that their eyes met once more, "I will be your knight, on one condition. I need to finish my quest first."
Lux smiled sadly. She hadn't really expected an answer, but if there was one, that would be it. "I can't stop you, can I?"
Riven smirked and shook her head.
Lux sighed, "Then it will be so. I shall wait for you to return to me," She said in as elegant a voice as she could muster. "But first..." She moved forward and placed a short kiss on Riven's lips. Drawing back, she studied Riven's expression, curious, willing. It was exactly what Lux was hoping for.
"Does that door over there lock, Riven?"
