The streets of Noxus were littered with people, some groaning and complaining about being up at the late hour, and others simply ecstatic to see the man who conquered Demacia. Word had travelled exceptionally quickly, and a crier could be heard running through the streets yelling about how Demacia had fallen. People came outside either to shout at the man or to see if there was truth to his word; the presence of General Swain spinning Jarvan III's crown around his finger like a trinket provided an answer for them.
Not too long into his march along the road, he was met by Evaine LeBlanc. Her presence was bit of confusion to him, seeing as she hardly ever discussed matters with him in public, but he approached her regardless. Looking down from his horse, he anticipated for her to begin some sort of discussion. She merely smiled at him, so he lowered a hand to hoist her up onto his mount. Together, they continued their parade as Evaine began to speak of what was on her mind.
"I take it that your plight went well?" she jested. Jericho simply nodded and kept the horse's reins firmly within his grasp. "What of the army? Where are they at?"
"Still holding the castle. I need Darius alive. The rest of them are pawns. The longer they can stall, the better Noxus looks."
"What makes you so certain that Darius can get out of the castle alive?" Jericho glared at Evaine for the comment as he sensed that she knew something he did not. She understood the gesture and continued. "Word has it that Demacia has sent for reinforcements. The League decided to assist in the only way they could without stepping in. They got Jarvan IV back to the castle.
"And? Why would this be a concern to me? We planned for him to return," Jericho spat, clearly growing continually displeases with his ally.
"Garen Crownguard was with him."
"Hmmm… Well, we cannot say that we did not see this as a plausible option. Are there more reinforcements en route? Has the League decided to send any other champions?"
"Yes, it would seem as if they are sending Luxanna Crownguard, Shauna Vayne, and Galio: that animated rock thing."
"Ah yes. Him. Well, with Shyvana, Jarvan, Garen, and Xin Zhao, they will be a formidable force. But we do not need the castle. Is it really worth the siege?"
"That is up to you Jericho. How valuable is Darius to you?" Evaine asked. Jericho thought for a moment before he settled upon his decision.
"I will rally troops here. We can win in numbers. So long as Talon does not show up out of nowhere, there is no threat to my life. I can still reign true over Noxus, regardless of the outcome." Jericho paused as he collected his thoughts and set them on a new course. "Before you implied that you have plans for Talon if he were to show up. Is this true?" Evaine laughed and gently rubbed his cheek.
"Plans are already in effect Jericho. You have nothing to worry about."
"Wait… has Talon been found?"
"Mmm, quite. But I set Malzy on him. He is now more than welcome to rot with Marcus." Jericho's brow rose at the comment, seemingly in disbelief of the statement.
"Well, then we certainly do not have to worry about him… I guess my only concern is the League's decision to interject. Can we potentially get some more allies? We need to get Darius out of Demacia alive."
"Yes. I have plans in motion. But for now, we have a country to rally," Evaine told him. He nodded and rode his horse towards the center of town.
He waited for thirty minutes or so while a crowd slowly grew around him. He simply scanned his audience and held his stony face as he viewed the citizens of Noxus; his citizens. Their beady eyes stared at him while his hawk-like gaze surveyed them in response.
"Noxus," he stated to the group. "The king of Demacia…" Swain paused to hold the King's crown at arm's length. He released his grip to allow the metallic ring to clang to the ground, before rolling off towards the people watching him. A few scampered to retrieve the object, but most stayed silent to hear what Jericho had to say.
"Is dead. The country lies in the ruins of its own scramble to replace the lost power, knowing that not a single one of them is strong enough to survive without a ruler." A sinister grin curled through his cheek as he bowed his head, preparing for what was to come.
"Their foolish sense of pride and justice has plagued these lands for so long that they think it is the dominant understanding, the rule that has taken roots in the land of Valoran, and that WE are the blight upon THEM. Come," Jericho held his hand to the sky and watched every member of the crowd shift their attention to the motion. He lowered it sharply and pointed towards Demacia, simply nodding in conclusion. A roar echoed through the crowd as people ran to gather whatever weapons and armor they could. Soldiers ran off to rally more troops, and Jericho swatted his horse, which picked up to a gallop, as he and Evaine rode out of Noxus. The woman turned her head and watched the flood of people pour out of the city, trickling in from every corner of Noxus. She smiled and turned to hold onto Jericho as they rode off towards Demacia. The train of people thirsty for blood continued to follow the pack, keeping a line steadily flowing out of Noxus' gates for over an hour, as they all marched onward. They eventually arrived at the edge of their rivaling country, slowly forming a larger and larger mass of individuals. Jericho continued his honed stare to the horizon, waiting for his opposing force to arrive.