Chapter 22: Answers only lead to more questions.

More months had passed him by. Three more champions had entered the League at this point.

The busty and domineering Zyra was somehow frightening to most humans, but her plant instincts in her human form made her slightly humorous. Often times she would stand in a pool of water and present her body to the Sun or Leona. The first time that had happened Leona had comically run off to her room and locked herself inside for several days.

The brutish Rengar was uneventful. Ever since his final hunt to remove the head of an alien creature, he had spent long hours learning to actually read so he may gain access to the library. The brute was even starting to make somewhat intellectual sentences and jabs instead of "I'M GOING TO CUT YOUR HEART OUT AND STICK IT ON MY WALL!" which he said to almost everyone who disappointed him. That also turned out to be everyone as well for that matter.

Then there was Diana. A slightly more agreeable conversation option than the last two. Originally a researcher, her interests into the Moon had slowly grown into fanaticism after being declared a heretic by the Solari. Being branded on her forehead in the sign of the heretic, she had set out alone to continue her research. When she had returned, she wore an ancient suit of armor and bore a crescent blade, both inscribed in the moon's blessing.

She then enacted revenge for all those years she had suffered under the Solari, cutting them down to their last with the power she had been granted.

The term 'lunatic' described her perfectly.

She still researched lunar patterns and its surface in the League Archives, which often meant that Xerath and her would occasionally cross paths.

As a heretic, she found solace in other heretics. As a researcher, she also found it better to converse with other intellectuals as well.

Whenever the EMIA group entered the dining hall for conversation in a lighter tone, Xerath would always find Diana's face beaming with excitement at the opportunity to join them. To Xerath, it was fine to let Diana in. He knew what it felt like to be outcast. Viktor and Heimer both agreed that it was fine as well.

"The more there are, the greater the chance of sporadic entertainment to occur." Heimerdinger had told him.

"So a couple get married," Diana started. "And have a child called Aluni. Why did they call her Aluni? BECAUSE HER MOTHER WAS A LOONY TO MARRY HIM! HAHAAHAHAHAHA!"

Intense rage filled Xerath. This woman was the epitome of bad jokes. The archangel of poor puns. The saint of sh*t humor.

But somehow Heimerdinger was laughing uncontrollably and Viktor was having trouble holding back his.

"MY SIDES HURT SO MUCH!" The yordle cried out.

So why haven't I laughed yet? I am not completely rid of human thought or emotion, yet these two are completely losing it. Perhaps I am not laughing just because I have heard Diana's jokes too many times. But she did always produce new ones somehow. How could she actually come up with these?

It just does not make sense!

"Xerath!" A familiar female and human voice cried out.

Xerath looked over to the Summoner.

"Ah, Izulo Jun. It has been a long time indeed."

Jun was a decent Summoner. Far from the best, but her emotional stability and rational nature had granted her numerous victories even from almost certain defeats.

But she was panting surprisingly. It was not that she wasn't fit, more that she never enjoyed running, instead focusing on going at her own pace.

That made her panting even more surprising.

"Xerath, I need your help in something. I mean," Jun paused as she always did when she was trying to get an important point across. "Your expertise would be incredibly useful in this time."

"Tell me then. I have time."

"Good," Jun said catching her breath. "There's been an incident with an Ionian facility which has just declared independence."

"Independence? Surely that would be something to be solved by Ionian forces?"

"They tried that first. The task force sent was obliterated by the inhabitant."

"Inhabitant? Why singular? Did one person obliterate an armed force by themselves?"

"Yes." Jun said plainly, too plainly in fact.

"So why did you rush to find me when others such as the Kinkou Ninja? Obviously there is more to this."

"I- J- Fuuuu- Just come with me, okay? All the information you could want is in the Situation Room. You should quickly see why I need your expertise."

The Dark Sovereign, the Ionians called her. Undeniably powerful as evident from the destruction of an entire Ionian company, but hardly 'Dark'. There was very little he could use to describe her as 'Dark', so why was she called it? Sovereign was less of the matter as it was describing her as being a potential ruler of a nation. What was Dark about this girl?

"Summoner Jun, why did you bring the Mage Xerath here? This is an Ionian affair and should be considered by Ionians." The Captain of the Ionian Guard, Irelia, inquired.

"I believe he has enough expertise in the arcane arts to speak on the matter. I know of his sheer power and understanding so much so that I would like his opinion on the potential 'threat' of Syndra." Jun defended.

A sympathizer to the Dark Sovereign?

Jun?

But there could be something more to Jun's actions.

Either way this should be interesting.

"You know what the Dark Sovereign line has done to the past, especially considering you are related to the current one!" Irelia cried.

Well then, that explains most of that.

Was she just trying to save a relative?

Using a being that brought about an apocalypse?

What is Jun thinking?

"She is a cousin of mine yes, but that does not mean that I object to controlling her. You people did so in a brutish and animalistic fashion, incarcerating and anaesthetizing her from her immense power without giving her even a chance of even swaying your minds." The conversation was growing more and more hostile.

"If I may interject, why is this Syndra such an important asset to Ionia?"

"She isn't," Irelia quickly snapped, "She is a monster that must be contained at all costs. Her bloodline has created enough destruction from their ravings about rebellion and ridding Ionia of its ruling classes."

Turning Ionia into a republic. Of course it had to come down to politics. Only politicians would be mad enough to blame a child for their ancestor's wrongdoings. But even then this is ridiculous.

There has to be something more.

"You have not said anything about her magical technique. Grant me those, and I will be able to work on finding out how to help her."

"She does not need help. She needs to be contained-"

"IRELIA! That is enough." A voice called out, carrying astounding gravity that no human voice could ever generate.

It was Karma, Ionia's foremost diplomat and the last of a pacifist monkhood struck down during the Noxian invasion several years ago.

"Forgive Irelia Xerath, she is rather patriotic."

"Slightly too much for my tastes to be honest."

Karma held back her giggle, most likely to appear hospitable and welcoming.

"Even patriotism has its merits, Xerath. But back to the matter at hand. Syndra's imprisonment was a result of old men who control the Ionian Council. I personally have tried a several times to remove the harsh restrictions placed on Syndra since I learned of her situation. I think of her as an innocent child. Her isolation has only reinforced her childish thoughts, making her blunt and readable. Might I ask what you would propose to do to make her considerate enough to not attempt a coup-d'état and remove the current Council?" Karma inquired.

Well thought question.

"I know full well what monstrosities raw power can conjure. I will not allow another to undergo the same torture I went through. I could care less about the Council's wellbeing, it should even be stricken down for a more considerate one should my say matter. However, I will teach Syndra how to control her powers. Whether they are used for good or evil, I will not know until her life ends, but the understanding of her powers inside and out is paramount to her success as such a mage. If she is granted knowledge to complex interactions, then she may just prove to be a good person. I will teach Syndra the arcane arts in the most uncensored way I can. If she were to ever become uncontrollable, I will end her myself. That is my vow that I declare to you right here and now."

"Well met. In five days, you and Ahri will set off to the Northern Port of Piltover, Glassgown. From there, you will be taking a ship to Yujong, Ionia, then proceed up through the Eastern mountains to Yamanoryu and set up a base of operations. After that, Syndra's palace is but a few days walk."

"Ahri? Why her?"

"She has some other business in Northern Ionia. We want to send her on a mission that will not end up with her drinking enough alcohol to make even Gragas tipsy. She does know about the mission as well and it suits her pretty nicely. She has no political ties that make her seem threatening to Syndra, so that is another good thing."

A mission with the fox.

This is going to be entertaining.

Xerath sat in the auditorium, contemplating what had just transpired.

Syndra.

An incredibly powerful mage no doubt, but could her magic help him with EMIA?

Reports of her magic showed compound arcane and physical elements to them, something he never thought was possible.

Dual integrated mediums were incredibly hard to control. This was due to dispersion forces between the two that rapidly degenerated into layers or bubbles of matter and magic, like oil mixed with water. It may be the case of partial integration of matter and magic, particles with arcanophilic and atomophilic properties to suspend the two in one mixture.

But that would be ridiculous. This girl had limited training, focusing on keeping balance and harmony, not advanced arcane mechanisms.

Ionia was a weird place indeed.

'Be at peace with yourself and things will come out better' was just the same as being positive and ignoring negative outcomes. It was just another outlook.

Maybe.

"Mage Xerath, I want to talk with you." A gruff voice called.

Xerath turned his head to see the man that had called him.

It was the man named Darius.

Darius was a monster of a man, standing over six foot tall and had muscles that rivaled even oxen. His signature axe and armor was not on his person, which left him in traditional Noxian military uniform. His 'casual clothes' he called them.

In the end, he was a simple brute, but a respectable one at that. He enjoyed the idea of facing off against a strong opponent, even if it left him at a disadvantage. He admired anyone with immense power, including Xerath.

"Ah Darius, what brings you here?"

"I want to speak with you about possible allegiances."

"Strange for Jericho to send someone like you to consort with a mage like me, let alone try to win one over."

"Swain is currently busy and there were few options that were level-headed enough to deal with allegiances." Darius looked across the auditorium where a large crystal screen showed his brother Draven laughing maniacally at the torment he had put Ashe in.

He was enjoying it like the true sadist he was.

"So please continue." Xerath replied.

"Well, you are an undoubtedly powerful magician so it is natural that Noxus has interest in you."

"Swain has interest in me." Xerath corrected him. "Noxians have a tendency to enjoy bloody melees more than tactical and strategic deletion from several kilometers away."

"I cannot say no to that." Darius chuckled for a second. "But I-"

"Swain."

"Alright fine. Swain wants to know where you stand on the Noxian-Demacian conflict."

Xerath paused. It was more that he had not thought much about the hostility between the two nations than actually having an opinion on the matter. But Demacians were generally more annoying that Noxians in his opinion bar a few exceptions. Darius and Swain were both fairly moderate, with most of the other Noxian champions rejoicing in the adrenaline-fueled slaughter of their enemies.

For Demacia, both Shyvana and Sona were respectable individuals, the former being brutish yet modest and strong-willed while the latter could calm even him with her blissful recitals. For the others, they were just plain and uninteresting people or were almost fanatical in their faith of the Will of Demacia.

"I have a slight likening of Noxus, only a slight amount though. Other than that, I have very little interest in the two nations. Be warned though, should your conflicts EVER disrupt the security of my assets, then I WILL stop both of you."

"You mean to take on both Demacia and Noxus at the same time? You are a funny man, Xerath." Darius joked.

"That was no joke Darius. I have methods to disrupt the march of entire armies, as evident by Uebel."

Darius grew a slight smile on his face, his eyes closed to suppress himself.

"Very well then. At least that wasn't as bad as I thought it could be."

"As bad?" Xerath inquired jokingly.

"You did not lecture me with ideas beyond this mind's capacity. I was built for the cacophony of battle, Xerath, not the clatter of chalk on a board."

"A brute to the end I see."

"Indeed so. If you will excuse me then, I have other plans to attend to."

With that, Darius sat up from his seat and walked out of the auditorium.

I will probably need better answers in the future.