Chapter 31: Thoughts.

Things were not looking good so far.

The wisp container had been smashed by the Forest Drake and he had not had time to check on them. Xerath could not determine whether Syndra had multiple disciplines until he acquired more.

Then there was Natalie's condition.

She was still recovering, and it was clear that she would make a complete one, but there were growing tensions between her and the other residents in the castle.

Ionians despised Zaunites, so having a Zaunic mercenary being hospitalized in the same residence was far from comfortable.

In fact, one of the guests had even come into Natalie's room last night and tried to decapitate her.

Note the word 'try'.

Xerath and Yamoto had both managed to suppress him in time for Ahri to unleash her charming spell.

Both Xerath and Yamoto had to then suppress him to stop Ahri from being pounced upon.

After that, Xerath and Yamoto had remained on guard duty to prevent any more disturbances from harming Natalie.

She was a key to this new puzzle.

And Xerath liked puzzles.

That aside, even Yamoto was on edge around Natalie.

Both his father and younger sister had been killed during the Invasion by the hands of Zaunic insurgents. He was doing well to suppress his disapproval of the situation, but he constantly questioned Xerath's decision to escort her back to this 'Viktor' person.

Viktor was known throughout Valoran as being this great scientist, but since most Zaunic scientists were perhaps the greatest villains a novelist could even think of, the stereotype of evil, mad scientist completely obstructed any other possible opinion of him as being a somewhat decent person.

Knowing him personally, he wasn't an evil mad scientist, in fact he was relatively sane compared with the more 'eccentric' ones such as the extreme madman Dr. Mundo. Although he was slightly mad in how he came up with some incredibly stupid ideas, such as his Hextech Toaster.

But Yamoto had only heard rumors of this 'Viktor', which was only made worse by the fact that he was barely even selected for Rift matches. Even less picked than Xerath!

Most of the time at least.

"Lord Xer-"

"Xerath."

"Xerath, why must we continue to watch over this 'Natalie'? Surely this 'Viktor' has other minions to do his bidding. Why keep her with us?"

"Because she's a good bargaining chip. I know Viktor well, and he tends to prioritize safety of his assets above all things. If he knows that Natalie has some information of his, he will want her back alive and without any of those secrets being spilled. If we do get her back to Viktor, then we can use her to get Viktor to explain himself. And I want him to explain why he went this far into Ionian territory without notifying anyone. He would not do this for any normal reason, so this Munitov girl has probably p*ssed him off significantly. I can't even think of a single thing that could make Viktor that p*ssed that he would send his personal army halfway across Runeterra to capture a single girl. There has to be more to this. And I want to find out what it is."

"Yes, Lord Xer-"

"Can't you get it right for once!" Xerath cried, trying to get this imbecile to stop such formalities.

Ahri poked her head in between the sliding door.

"So, how is Nat doing?"

"Two days and you've already made a pet name for her?"

"I've been thinking about calling Syndra 'Syndy' since I first heard her name." Ahri replied, a devious smile stretched wide on her face.

Xerath stared into her disapprovingly.

"She's doing fine. The nurses' say that she will be mobile by at least tomorrow. They really want her out as soon as possible."

"Not surprising. The war did take a considerable toll on everyone. Especially those tolls that Zaun took. I don't think there is any single person alive from that time who has not had a family member or friend killed by Zaun. Ionia hates Zaun, no doubt about that."

"What about you? I assume you are no exception."

"I… I used to despise them. They were this bizarre alien nation that could boil blood and liquefy bone with mere wafts of their poisons. As a fox, those sorts of things are really scary, and I mean really scary. We… beasts… don't really think about or understand what it is we are eating or what we are drinking. When you realize that you are suddenly growing weak when it seems like you have taken absolutely no damage, you have no idea what the hell happened. Your mind races to try to find an answer, yet you can't think of any reason why. You may taste bitterness in the air, but nothing else than that. You desperately try to find an answer why, but it never comes to you. Out of all of the ways I could think about dying, that is perhaps one of the worst I can think of. Not knowing what you did wrong."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Ahri's smile beamed out once more. "I was just thinking was all. But seriously, I dislike Zaun. I mean- I just don't know enough people from there to make a good observation. Janna is an exception, but… she… doesn't really like to talk about her past that much. Kind of a grey chapter in her books. Doesn't want anything to do with Zaun anymore since she came to the League. So, from what I can tell, Zaun as a country just isn't an amiable enough place for me to even consider liking the place. Not to mention how I got to know so many people over my travels who have lost someone during those times, and the vast majority were to Zaunic attack."

"So you see no reason to help them?" Xerath questioned, trying to get Ahri's opinion on the matter at hand. If he could get a definite answer about her opinion on Natalie, then that would be one less thing to worry about.

"No, no, no. It's just that, I don't really know where to start with them. They just seemed so… alien. But when I see Nat now, she's just so weak and helpless. I want to help her if anything."

Good. That is very good news indeed.

"Oh, by the way Xerath."

"Hmm?"

"I know about the whole wisps and stuff. I think I know where we can get more."

"Really? That would indeed prove to be convenient."

"May need a slight detour on our return journey, but it should be worth it. I'll talk with you in a bit about the place."

"Alright then. When the nurses come back, then I'll meet you outside and discuss this a bit more."

"Cool, thanks."

When has she ever responded like that?

Definitely never with me before.

Ahri had gone off now, and Yamoto had made his way off to the toilet, leaving Xerath alone with Natalie.

A brief squeak of contained fear rang out.

It came was coming from her?

Why was it?

"What's wrong?" Xerath asked.

"Nothing, please. I do not need such concern."

"Then what was that squeak for?"

Silence.

In a quiet voice, she replied. "Why can't people leave me be? I have only been following orders and guilty of being a Zaunite."

That was in West Valoran.

She had just spoken in Wevalan!

"The inescapable binds of one's birthplace will always drag people back. You are being hospitalized in enemy territory by an outsider's order, I would expect to have such disdain from those who know of this. As for following orders, please do not say they mean nothing. I know of studies that have completely neutered that excuse."

Natalie was stunned. Never before had she been talked back to like this. She had never heard someone partially agree with her.

"It is an inevitability of the world to be drawn back by such small things. You just have to make do with what you are given."

"You're pretty smart, aren't you?"

"I am a champion of the League after all."

"I don't remember any crystal balls being in the League though."

That is just rubbing it in.

I know that I'm not played!

Why does everyone have to be beating this dead horse?

"My name is Xerath, and yes, I am a champion of the League. It's just that no one wields me often enough."

"So Xerath, what is the real reason why you want to help me? That stuff you talked about with that your little friend lap-dog isn't the real reason, is it?"

"What I said Yamoto was the truth, and he is not my lap-dog."

"You really expect me to take that as the truth? People can only speak in lies and half-truths. They deceive and manipulate others, that's all they can and will do."

"Then why are you working as a soldier? Because, from what I can understand, half of the time you fight in combat, do you not?"

"It's more complicated than those stupid games a Pilt kid plays. Zaunic combat is all about ambushes and deception."

"Then why were you caught off guard so easily when you first met Syndra?"

"I-"

"Because I call that being unprepared. And being unprepared means you have failed in your ambush and deception. So, I think you have failed standard Zaunic combat procedures and relegated yourself to simple games a 'Pilt' kid would play?"

Sunova!

"What I said was the truth. Viktor is a good friend of mine, and I will return one of his assets back to him."

"I'm not an asset to him. I don't deserve that right." Natalie said quietly.

"If you think like that, you don't. But it doesn't matter to me. I will return you to Viktor."

Both of them became silent as the very world became mute.

Until Yamoto came back.

Natalie was now in the care of Syndra's nurse company.

It was very clear to them that Natalie would be free to walk again by the evening, although it had been moved forward another eighteen hours since the previous estimate.

They really wanted Natalie out of Jonokyuden.

Xerath made his way to Ahri, as they had agreed several minutes ago.

In the morning dawn, he saw her in the garden that had been almost destroyed from the events two days ago.

There were still marks where Syndra had blasted the invaders apart with her truly immense power.

Ahri was currently walking through the less damaged region, her eyes set on the flowerbed at her feet.

"Ahri." He called out to her in his autonomous voice.

"Xerath! Is Nat doing well?"

"Yeah, she is. The nurses expect her to be ready within the next twelve hours. We should consider setting off back to Yamanoryu when Natalie is fine."

Xerath halted for a moment then continued.

"You said something about wisp supplies right?"

"Oh yeah. Yeah, I know a place where we can get some more." Ahri said, her face surprisingly somber.

"But- There's another reason why I want to go there."

Hmm?

What was it?

Please let it not be a place where two adults would go to 'adventure'.

"It's…"

"Say it."

"It's near the home of one of my friends from my travels before I came to the League."

"How is this relevant?"

"Well… I think she might be Syndra's mother."

That was surprising.

And potentially troubling.

If Syndra disliked her mother in any way, it could be incredibly risky to our mission.

But Ahri is more social than I am.

If her judgment is just, then I'm sure this plan will succeed.

"Do you believe that having Syndra meet with her mother to be a good idea?"

"I know her mother, Hahouya. She helped me out a lot when I was in a tight spot. She helped me so much that even know I have no way to repay her. She often talked about how she lost her ten year old daughter because of how her daughter was this incredibly powerful witch five years prior. That was seven years ago during the start of the Invasion. I think they said Syndra was around twenty-two years old right? So I think it stacks up."

"I doubt that this will work. What do you think Syndra will do should she find out that this 'Hahouya' is her mother?"

"I would say that it matches up."

That's Syndra, isn't it?

F*ck.

Xerath turned around and, exactly as predicted, found Syndra standing behind him.

Syndra's face was stern, but there was something to it.

Something that beamed with hope.

"Hahouya was indeed my mothers name. But what might you two be thinking by stopping off there?"

"Your mother gave me so much help in my time of need. There is no word for the amount of gratitude that I owe her. One of the reasons why I came back to Ionia was because I wanted to pay my respects to her. It has been years since I last saw her, and now that I have a bit of time to spare, I thought now would be the best time to visit her. I mean, after all-" Ahri's voice continued to accelerate in pace until it was broken by Syndra's words.

"My mother…"

Both Xerath and Ahri froze for a second, knowing that the next few moments could very well decide the success of their journey.

"What is she like?"

Yes!

This would work.

This would definitely work.

"She showed a half-human like me the compassion that I thought no one could ever grant me, and she has told me the ways of banter like none other. She is indeed a great woman, and you should be more than proud to be her daughter." Ahri said, her amber eyes softening at the very thought of Hahouya.

So this Hahouya was the one who taught Ahri the ways of bant?

By the fates!

She must truly be an incredible person!

"I… I guess I might want to see her again. It has been so long after all."

"I promise that you will not regret it." Ahri replied, that brilliant smile beaming on her face once again.