Author's Note: IMPORTANT IMPORATNT IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ! Hey guys, I know some of you have previously read my story, but please re-read chapter 2 again! I am changing the story's direction, one of which I think will be much more enjoyable to write and more fun for you, the readers, to read as well. Go about halfway in the story for the new content, and everything before the new content is tweaks to make the story flow thematically. Sorry for all the confusion, but I think the change in narrative was necessary, tell me what you all think!

The streets of Noxus had become masked within shadows, the sun's radiant rays being consumed by the onslaught of dark gray clouds which painted the sky. It did not take long before Talon could hear the thunder echoing in the distance. A loud boom like the banging of drums. Next came the cackling lightning, brightening up the otherwise bleak alleyways of the capitol and offering a momentary gesture of light to radiate his path.

Rain began to downpour, pounding ferociously on his small black umbrella. Despite his best attempts to stay dry, he couldn't help but find himself stepping in the large puddles that began to form along his path, drenching his black leather boots in the water.

A sane person would have kept to the safety of the indoors, taking refuge in their homes or quickly scurrying to a nearby tavern in hopes that the storm would quickly blow over by the time the bartender began to kick them out. A sane person wouldn't be caught outside, not in weather like this, which is why the streets were completely barren savor for him. He was the only fool who was out playing in the rain getting drenched from head to toe.

He didn't mind getting wet all too much, despite quickly growing uncomfortable in his soaked socks and shoes. For the most part, the rain felt soothing and offered a grimace of blissful solitude. Walking the streets of Noxus while it was empty was rather peaceful, much more so than the bustling rumble of the city district during sunny weather that is. It wasn't the weather's fault for his bitter attitude though, no it was the letter he had received this morning.

For ten years he lived in peace, away from the prying eyes of the kingdom. He lived freely without a care in the world. Yet after ten years they had finally called him, finally sought his return. He didn't want a single part of it, had no desire to return to his former life. If it wasn't due to the prestige of the bearer of this message he would have never showed up at all, so now he must dance in the rain to deliver his response.

Quickly the clouds grew heavier and heavier, grey turning to sheer obsidian. The small inkling of light was completely eradicated now, leaving the streets pitch black. He could no longer see his hands in front of his face, or anything for that matter. He was essentially a blind man wandering aimlessly as his eyes began to fail him, becoming futile in guiding him.

However, he had walked down this path for a long time now, for far too long. Every nook and cranny, how many steps and every corner, every turn, he had them all deeply ingrained from memory. Where his eyes proved blind, his other senses were wide awake. First would be to walk fifty steps in the direction he was going. Afterwards, he needed to take twenty steps to the left down into the alleyway, and from there, round the corner on the right and keep heading forward.

Using simply his memory, he traversed through the darkness, extending out his arms in front of him just in case of collision. For the most part, he was accurate on his measurements, making it safely for the most part, aside from tumbling from the trash cans in the alleyway. From where he stood now, he could visibly see his path. He needed inside the castle, which he could see lit up like a beacon. Bright white orbs of light lined every inch of the castle from the inside out, shining the entire parameter for all to see.

All he needed to do now was just walk aimlessly towards it and head inside. The messenger to his letter should be waiting inside for him there.

It had not taken him long before he was standing in front of an enormous metal gate which kept the common people from the royalty. Peaking between the large iron bars you could see a beautifully vibrant garden, flowers which seemingly sparkled thanks to the lights strung around the castle. Standing between him and the gate were two guards clad in dark grey and a sinister purple, standing at attention with spears pointed up to his sudden arrival.

"I request entrance inside," Talon said. Both guards had ignored him however, so he said it again, "I have business inside."

The guard to the left perked up, clearly annoyed by his arrival, "what business could you possibly have here?"

Talon reached inside his pocket and withdrew a small piece of parchment, a letter with the royal seal stamped on it. "I've come to seek audience with an acquaintance of mine."

The one on the right took a step forward, snatching the letter from his hand before sighing, "kid, no one here would waste their valuable time with a street rat like you. Stop wasting our time," the man said before shoving the letter in his face.

"I'm," Talon was quickly interrupted by the sudden jab to the side from the bottom of the spear, his umbrella being knocked to the ground as he was briefly staggered.

The guard eyed him in disgust as he flung three gold coins at him, "scram already."

Talon cursed beneath his breath. The downpour drenched him from head to toe, soaking him completely thanks to the guard knocking his umbrella away. A thousand ways to gut the man raced his mind, knowing full well he could take both in a matter of seconds, but he resisted the desire to. Just because the main entrance wouldn't work doesn't mean he couldn't take the numerous other passages he knew of to make it inside.

Instead of starting a fight, he simply picked up his umbrella, opening it back up as he walked away. He could hear the snickering, hear them say he forgot the money as he walked off, but their mockery did not bother him, no, if all goes well, he wouldn't be wandering the castle much longer to ever see them again anyways.

He took to the path to the right, letting his left hand trace the long, dark obsidian stoned walls that kept him out, taking in every curve and bump along the way. He made sure to count each and every step he took, stopping at a hundred and twenty-five. Here is where the wall had the most gaps he knew, places for him to grab onto to propel himself to the top.

The rain did not treat him kindly, pounding heavily against him while making the wall slick and slippery, giving him little room to really get a good grip on anything. He even had to toss away his good umbrella because it would've been a drag bringing it up with him. Yet despite the setbacks, he managed to make it to the peak, standing at the top of the twenty-five foot wall.

Talon paused for a moment, putting his hands in his pockets as he closed his eyes, staring up as he let the cool rain wash over his face, fully accepting it now. After a moment of standing still, he began to move, slowly and leisurely as he took in his surroundings, familiarizing himself of a kingdom he had not seen in a while.

There were three main sections of Noxus, the rising insurgent nation, with a wall separating each one. The outermost layer being where the poorest dread, made up of mostly the farmers and the homeless. The law held no influence there, leaving the poor to starve or murder for money and food. It was only the farmers they law focused on, not in protection, but because they could extort their hard work for ridiculously low compensation. Many often starved or were beaten by the guards as their crops were pillaged.

Among them were also the witches and chemist, those dabbling in the dark arts and dangerous alchemy. The law did not regulate such sinister magic, rather ignoring it altogether, allowing them to practice and cultivate their uncanny skills. Many of which were often recruited if the talent was present, being used or devious schemes for the military, making the soldiers a scary force to be reckon with.

The middle is where the merchants and artisans made a living. Here the law became much stricter, the marketplace being heavily guarded for this reason to protect the common people from theft and murder, thieves unable to thrive in such an environment here. Poverty did not exist here either, everyone living successful lives. Due to the abundance of wealth and prosperity of the middle class; theater, festivals, and events were all organized and held here, everyone always enjoying the festivities.

In the center of it all was the very place before Talon, the mighty kingdom which domineered over everyone. It was where the royal lived as well as the most honorable warriors the kingdom had. Here is where politics were everything, and more importantly; rank and social status. Everyone inside were always scheming and plotting, desperately fighting for the crown and to win its favor.

The castle was monolithic is size and statute, towering above all else. The exterior was made of obsidian marble which seemingly sparkled next to the artificially created orbs of blue and white lights which lined the castle's walls, simply floating and bouncing like bubbles. In the front section was a beautifully sculpted garden of flowers; roses, lilies, and orchids to name a few. A little pond had been sectioned off as well, lined with white orchids and a swinging chair to sit and relax in.

That was all he was able to see, the castle being too big to see up close unless he were to walk around the entirety of the wall he stood to see it all, opting to spare his legs instead. It was far too big to fully explore, more spacious than it really needed to be, but the royalty loved the room.

Talon stopped strolling, pulling out three golden coins from his pocket as he eyed them in his hands. He was exactly thirty feet away, and twenty-five feet above the guard. From this angle, the guard wouldn't be able to see him as he used the shadows as cover, the heavy rain and winds masking his presence. The guard wouldn't even know what had hit him, and if he was lucky enough the force of impact would feel like a rock was just hurled at his skull.

He threw the coins at the guard before turning around and walking back in the direction he had come from, only coming this way because he was extremely petty and still bitter. A loud 'thud' could be heard as he trailed off, leaving him to feel satisfied with himself, despite knowing how pointless his actions were, but he just had to have the last say in things.

Talon stopped by a long, tall oak tree which was roughly forty feet high, offering him a safe passage off the walls edge. He reached out to grab one of the branches, trying his best not to slide off as he pulled himself on top on the branch to walk across it. It was incredibly thick and sturdy, keeping him stabilized as he moved. He made it through the twigs and branches, jumping from the tree to the window sill, nearly slipping due to the slippery wet stone, but he retained his grip, quickly making his way inside of the stained-glass window.

Inside, he had found himself in a small, cathedral-like room, a place of worship. It was dark and ominous, savor the few candles which flickered and danced among the walls, dimming the room. Large stainless morals were towering the area, each depicting some sort of Noxian hero or king. The fierce rain could be heard ravaging the windows, splattering as it pounded away trying to tear down the walls. Lightning flashed every few minutes, briefly lighting the entire room before turning dim again, the roar of thunder following soon after.

He took out the red ribbon that kept his long brown hair together, letting his hair droop down to his shoulders as he tried ringing out the water. He tied the ribbon around his wrist, so he can properly fix his hair back later. His clothes clung tightly to his body, wet from his venture outside. If the guards did their jobs properly, he could have entered all dry and warm instead. Maybe he could seek refuge in the castle tonight, so his clothes could dry as the storm slowly passes over

After a desperate attempt in drying off, he began to make his way down the row of benches that lined the floor, every step resounding through the vast room as he made his way to the exit.

"Leaving so soon my dear?" a woman's voice echoed, nearly startling him. He had been too pre-occupied with drying himself off to even notice anyone's presence.

It took him a matter of seconds to survey the room, finding where the voice had come from. From the corner of the room, being barely visibly lit from the flickering candle's flame, was a small, young woman staring from the shadows with her large, haunting eyes. He could recognize who that woman was from anywhere.

"The guards found it perplexing that someone like you would call me here," Talon said, making his way over to her, "even threw me pocket change and told me to scram."

"You'll have to excuse my men. What they lack in brains they make up for in muscles," she responded, eyeing him up and down, "it's been a long time since anyone has last seen you. My have you grown since then."

"The letter you sent me," Talon said, skipping the formalities and getting straight to the point of things, "why did you call me."

LeBlanc got up from her seat, a mischevious grin spread wide across her face as she nonchalantly strolled through the long columns of benches, hips swaying back and forth as she walked. Each step echoed off the church's walls, each step casting a shadow which danced within the candle's flickering flames. It was only when she was inches away from his body did she stop. Visibly now did he see those vibrant golden eyes of her, eyes of which were brimming with lust. Not love for him, but love for the meticulous scheme which would unfold.

She brought the curved tip of her long, purple staff around his neck, hurdling him forward. Their lips were centimeters apart, her scent of lilies and orchards overwhelming his nose. Her lips curled in excitement, eyes widening as she began to speak, "the wedding my dear."

"I don't remember promising to marry you," Talon muttered beneath his breath.

"Playing the fool now are we?" she mused to herself, releasing her grip on him as she began to walk away, carrying the staff in both hands behind her back. Then she spun around, her long violet dress spinning with her as she went. Her smile had never vanished, finding amusement in the situation.

"It is rather peculiar isn't it," she said, "when two families have grown up in opposition of each other for years, and suddenly, they decide to propose a marriage among each other."

LeBlanc had been referring to the marriage between Jarvan IV and Luxanna Crownguard, between the Lightshield and Crownguard family. It was all the media could talk about, unable to resist conspiring stories and crafting theories over the situation. In fact, everyone was talking about it, the curiosity and speculation overwhelming and too tempting to just ignore. Something like this was unheard of, an unlikely alliance forged for a reason no one had been able to understand properly themselves.

It started with the first rune wars, when the mighty empire of Demacia was but a mere shadow of what it is today. When the demons came, the great kingdoms of old banded together to keep the darkness at bay, but at a great cost. The world was torn to ruins, empires turned to ash and rubble. In a desperate attempt, the humans created a stronghold, capitalizing Demacia's geographic location to build it at.

The demons were pushed out, restoring the balance and officially ending the first rune wars, except for one demon which remained. The demon which lays dormant in every human heart; greed. The royal family has grown far to powerful, slowly turning the monarch into a full-fledged dictatorship. This led to a rebellion, started by two noble families, the Lightshield and the Crownguard.

When the monarch had fallen, a democracy was established. The two families held five seats each among the council of ten, members who would go on to vote on the kingdom's course of action. The throne, however, must never remain empty, the people always needing a ruler, a figurehead. The two families will propose a worthy heir for the crown, the council getting to elect the next successor. This was how Demacia had functioned after the civil war for centuries, all the way until now.

After months of constant conflict, the families had decided on a marriage between the two people they had previously deemed as worthy heirs, meaning that the successor to the throne will also have the unworthy to the throne. Not only this, but this is also the first time both families will share the throne with one another in some way, via the true successor or the one who is married to the successor. Naturally everyone had presumed they were scheming to something, one of which is in speculation as to the merits and catastrophes of such a wedding.

"Yet you neglect to inform me as to why their marriage has anything to do with why you called me today," Talon's voice was cold, growing impatient and irritated as he yearned for answers.

"There is the annual ball on the night of the harrowing," her voice had become suddenly serious, cold and empty, "the two families will be there."

"Get on with it," he said, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.

Their came a moment of pause, an eerie silence that loomed, and for a brief moment he thought he had seen her devious eyes sway, but only for a moment. She had begun to walk forward, eyes fixated on him and solely him. Every step her dark, purple leather strapped boots let out a soft tap on the obsidian marble floor, her short dress swaying back and forth as she went. Quickly, her soft, nimble hands pushed him down onto one of the benches behind them, holding him in place.

On top of him sat the woman, her thighs firmly around his legs, her black leather garter belts visibly showing running up and down her legs, pulling up her light black pantyhose. She made sure he could not move, staring him down. He did not try to fight back, merely sit in silence as he stared back towards her. Only the small candles lining the wall offered radiance in the darkness of the cathedral, but it was enough to softly light up the woman's face.

Her skin was a fair pale purple, a strange lightning shaped marking lining from the top and bottom of her right eye. Dark maroon hair draped to her shoulders, a few strands dangling in front of her eyes, eyes which were filled with urgency.

"The princess must be captured," she told him.

He blinked, staring blankly at her, "are you trying to wage a war with the entire bloody empire? Right when the families have come together, you think capturing the princess is going to just shake things up in our favor?"

"Talon," she said, placing a cold finger to his lips to hush him, "do you trust me?"

"Even if I trust you," he said, brushing her finger away, "does the council of Noxus approve of the idea?"

LeBlanc reached into her back pocket, withdrawing a small piece of parchment and handing it to him. It was a written documentation of the mission, signed with three signatures. The first was of LeBlanc herself, stamping it with the black rose seal of approval. The black rose was a vital asset for Noxus's prosperity, primarily focusing on stealth operations and gathering Intel. This information was what helped the small nation stand up to the mighty empire, and its figurehead who spearheaded the operation, the leader of the organization was none other than the woman in front of him.

The second one came from Swain, the high general of Noxus. Through his ruthless war tactics and running the kingdom, he has led the nation to prosperity over the years. His word is law, even among the most lawless of alleyways and his beliefs were highly regarded. The third signature was none other than Darius, the hand and second in power to the high general himself. He helped plan strategies and figure out Noxus's next course of action, the two together shaping the politics of this kingdom.

More importantly, this had meant the entire Noxus council was on board with the madness of kidnapping the princess and disrupting the wedding. They would never act out in rashness, never one to let an opportunity slip their grasp either. However, the moment Luxanna disappears, there is no merit for them, not from what he saw. Either the princess disappears and the Lightshields reign in control, or they found out that Noxus is the culprit. The later would mean an annihilation, one they would not come through victorious.

"Why," he found himself asking, yearning for answers.

"Talon," her voice low as she leaned in, her breath warm on his ears as she whispered, "there are many things which must remain hidden in the dark, but what I can shine some light on is this. The Lightshields must rise in power. It is the only way for Noxus to rise."

"H-" she did not let him finish, hushing him with a solemn finger.

"The funny thing about humans," she whispered, "is that some are willing to sacrifice everything for a simple wish."

Talon looked through the documentation one more time, carefully examining the letter and the signatures, but sure enough they were real. The stamps were official as well, ones specially embed with a magic that could not be forged or replicated identically. This was the real thing, which only made the situation far more dangerous. Still, he looked at things calmly, taking things into perspective, wondering how this situation could prove advantageous.

"There are many who oppose this wedding," she said, sliding out of his lap and standing up, her back turned to him, "and such opposition is causing inner turmoil within the kingdom right under their noses."

"Which means we need a catalyst," Talon said, trying to figure out the pieces to the puzzle, "the disappearance of Luxanna, this is it."

"Bingo dearie, now you're figuring it out," she cocked her head to the side, giving him a little wink, "we must show them we are capable, and so we forge an alliance with those in opposition of the marriage."

"It was only a matter of who we appeal to then, the Lightshields or the Crownguards," he murmured.

LeBlanc slyly smiled, her face full of mischief and eyes wide with excitement. She leaned in close to him, inches apart as she smirked. The woman glanced to the scroll in his hands, and then back to him, never saying a word. There was a brief silence as she waited for a reply, anticipating, waiting. The royal decree of Noxus was given, and now it was all left to him to answer it's call.

There were still many things shrouded in mystery, many things that he did not quite understand, but despite knowing little of the full details, it was nonetheless a plan the three highest ranking members of the Noxian council had agreed to. They never acted out without reason, and to potentially wage a full-on assault with the empire was lunacy. That was, however, under normal circumstances. The wedding and the seemingly truce between the families changed the playing field entirely.

A part of him was still holding back, not wanting to return to this dangerous game of cat and mouse, the fly trapped in the spider's web. Politics was always the same, and the scheme of lies always entangled the unsuspecting, which he had managed to cut away long ago. He feared what would happened if he were to return, were to agree to the plan. Would he be consumed again; would he be unable to escape and taste the wells of freedom once more?

"Talon," her eyes narrowed, sensing his thoughts, "the empire has grown too strong, and if we allow it to grow any more then no one can stop it. This false pretense of justice and freedom are only given to those blindly in bondage to the empire. Noxus will soon be a target of their conquest if we do not act now."

She was right, he knew. Demacia had conquered lands to the east and South, looking towards other regions next. It was the claim of liberation, but their hands did not extend the keys to freedom, but the chains which kept them bound to the Demacian will. Noxus would fall, no doubt, and the result would be catastrophic. The homophobic empire would hunt the Noxian people out of fear, murdering them in their sleep. Something similar to a tragedy that happened years ago.

"Let's say I agree to this plan," he said, clutching the papers in his hand, "Do you think it will work?"

"Like a game of poker Noxius is gambling," she responded, pointing to the documents, "and this here we believe is the winning hand."

"I'll do it," Talon sighed, knowing there would come a day he may regret the decision, "Noxius will not fall, not to the empire."

Leblanc grinned, amused by the turn of events, "do not disappoint, otherwise, there will be none left alive to disappoint."