Chapter Four

By nightfall, the whole of Targon knew of what had happened. Or rather, they knew what the surviving Elders wanted them to know.

The messengers had been particular when they told everyone else what had happened; How the Heretic Diana had revealed her allegiance to the Lunari, slaughtered over a dozen people, including three Elders, then kidnapped the righteous Leona while she fled. The fact that they were both Chosen wasn't even mentioned, and the exact reasons behind the massacre were also left out. Phenos wasn't even mentioned.

Ra-Horak were busy patrolling the mountain paths, hoping they would capture the Heretic before she could escape. Initiates and Acolytes were sent to their rooms with the sole promise that the Sun would protect them from their enemy.

But the Ra-Horak would never be able to find them. The Solari needn't have bothered with all of their pretty words to the most innocent students.

Leona's knowledge of her village was put to good use. The three had managed to skirt around the patrols upon leaving the Shrine. Once they managed to enter the village, Leona guided them through the streets, hiding in the various nooks and crannies. It was almost laughably easy.

Unfortunately, when they came within view of Leona's home, they saw a small detail of warriors milling around. Sighing, Leona urged Phenos and Diana back into the shadows. They would have to wait until nightfall before entering.

Luckily, nightfall came pretty quickly. Once the nadir arrived, the Ra-Horak started back to the Shrines. They left their hiding spot, jogging quickly to the back of the house, opening the back door, and slipping inside.

Diana took a look around, barely refraining from whistling. "Is this your room?" she asked quietly.

"No," Leona replied, looking around fondly. "This is the Sunforging Room. All this equipment has been in my family for nearly six hundred years, and it has created many treasures in that time. My parents were the ones who made the lanternglass that was used at… that Nightless Eve." Oh, her smile slipped a little at remembering that night. The night when they had taken their first step into a romantic relationship. How did everything change so much in the space of a few years?

Shaking off her slight depression, she gestured. "Well, let's see if we can raid the food stocks for supplies. Hopefully, we can do it without anyone noticing." With that, she quietly made her way to the door, opening it as quietly as she could.

Only to find herself looking down at the pointed end of a spear. A spear that was held by a very determined woman who was more than ready to kill the intruder.

Leona merely rolled her eyes. She didn't even know why she bothered trying to sneak around. "Hello, Mother," she deadpanned. "My apologies for not visiting. Also, I doubt I will grow a third eye if you poke me in the brow."

Melia pulled back, rolling her own eyes. "Then perhaps you should think twice before coming through the back door," she replied, giving her a glance over. "You appear to be in good health, especially for someone who a heretic has kidnaped."

Iasm appeared over her shoulder, looking behind his daughter to observe Diana critically. "Can I assume that this is your kidnapper?" he asked, a light smile appearing. "If that is the case, I think she needs a few lessons on how to do this correctly."

Diana relaxed a little at that. Leona's parents were exactly as she had described them. She could see where Leona got some of her humor from. "My name is Diana, Sir," she said in greeting. "I apologize for dragging your daughter and Elder Phenos into the middle of this."

"Phenos?" Iasm finally took notice of the man standing behind them, blinking. "Ah, so can I assume that what we were told about the massacre is not completely accurate," he noted.

Phenos sighed. "It depends on what you were told," he replied. "But I can tell you that the Elders were the ones who struck first, as Diana's forehead can attest."

"Yes, so we see." Melia sighed. "Well, come to the table, and you can explain what happened to the rest of us."

"The rest of us?" Leona frowned as they entered the dining area. "Are Kespina and Aidonal here? I would have assumed that they would have been on patrol."

"Your brother is on patrol," a new voice stated from the table. "As for your sister, she is most likely asleep."

Both Leona and Diana blinked in shock as they laid eyes on Elder Sek, who was sitting at the table, having a cup of tea while staring at them casually.

Sek grinned. "The two of you can close your mouths now," he said. "I won't do anything until I have all the information." He set his cup down as the two young women sat down. "Now, Phenketon and Thalaia tell me that you killed three Elders, Diana. That you allied yourself with a heretic, Leona, and proceeded to disable the Ra-Horak guard before making your escape. Now, seeing as how Phenos is here with you, I can assume their account is not complete."

Leona sighed. "No, Elder, their account isn't." She took a breath. "Acolyte Rhia entered Diana's quarters and discovered all of her research. She informed the Elders, then proceeded to destroy almost all of it."

"I was speaking with Elder Phenos in the library about my future," Diana added. "A guard came with a message from the Elders. Phenos and I arrived at the Main Council Chamber, where I was quickly restrained. Phenketon told me of my 'crimes,' without any fanfare." She gestured to her head. "I think you can guess what happened afterward."

"I showed up at that time, incapacitated the two guards, and stormed into the Chamber. We learned about Rhia's involvement. And…" Leona sighed, "we discovered that Diana's parents did not freeze to death. Phenketon killed them because he believed that they were Lunari." Her gaze grew harder. "We also revealed that we were the Sun and Moon's Chosen."

"You're the Sun and Moon's Chosen?!" a new voice suddenly piped up from the stairwell, startling them all. "That is so cool!"

Leona sighed. "Evening, Kes," she said as their parents turned around. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep? You're still in training."

Kespina, a young girl of ten years, grinned unapologetically. "Uh-huh." Her dark brown hair swished as she sat down next to Leona. "You can't use that on me, Sister. Mother told me about your adventures."

Leona looked at Melia. The woman shrugged her shoulders. "My mistake," she replied. "I should have kept my silence. Now she's hoping to surpass you."

"Of course she is." There was one thing the females of the family were known for. It was trying to one-up each other. Leona had done the same thing, after all.

Sek grinned. "Well, now that we are all here, perhaps you three could give us a full explanation as to why you are now fugitives."

Sighing, the two Chosen began their explanation, starting on the night they had climbed the Mountain. The others listened raptly, not interrupting once. The adult's expressions grew far darker when they finally got to the Council meeting, learning what they had done to Diana simply because of what she had discovered. Even Leona was learning about the extent of their hatred.

Kespina frowned once they finished. "There is nothing about our enemy to explain why they are our enemy, so you climbed up to the Summit to find that information. Then you," she pointed at her sister, "followed her up just because you wanted to protect her. And then you were both Chosen because of those reasons." She slumped, pouting. "I give you. I'm not going to top that."

Leona chuckled. "I wouldn't recommend it, anyway," she confessed. "It hurt… a lot. It wasn't even on my to-do list."

"But you did do it, and you did it because you weren't interested in becoming a Chosen." Iasm leaned forward. "The two of you were Chosen at the same time for a reason, and I suspect it is more than trying to unify the two faiths. Perhaps…"

His musings were interrupted when the door swung open, admitting a fifteen-year-old man, still clad in his Rakkor Armor. It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was.

Aidonal pulled his helmet off, revealing a mop of red hair slightly darker than Leona's. "It has been one heck of a day," he stated outright. "We ran into a group of those creatures, and I heard that a Heretic managed to escape the Shrine-" At this point, he had turned around and caught sight of the group around the kitchen table. His mouth clicked shut.

Diana waved. "Hi. I'm that Heretic you heard about," she said in greeting, smiling.

"And I'm her prisoner!" Leona added cheerfully.

"Uh-huh." He decided not to inquire further. His elder sister was always a strange one. She never stopped being so cheerful. She would probably find a way to make a stint in prison seem like a vacation.

Kespina grinned. "They're the Radiant Dawn and Scorn of the Moon, or whatever the nicer name for Moon Chosen is. Leo is no longer the dorkiest person in this family."

"Oh, she's still plenty dorky," Diana assured them.

"Says the nerd," Leona retorted, grinning.

Aidonal sighed. "Okay, so they're both okay. They both ascended, which the Ra-Horak neglected to mention. And we are essentially harboring three fugitives, all who should be facing the Sun's judgment… though I believe that it is the Elders who should have that particular pleasure. Am I missing anything?"

"No, you nailed it down perfectly," Diana stated.

"Excellent. I'm going to take a bath. Please don't bother me for half an hour." With that, he made his way upstairs.

Leona looked at her father. He shrugged. "He has a new 'friend,'" he explained, smiling as he empathized with 'friend.'

"Ah." That… explained absolutely nothing, but they did have other things to be concerned about. So she set that aside for the time being. "So, what are you going to do now?" she asked Sek.

Sek sighed. "I'm not going to arrest you if that is what you're worried about. Now that I have all the information, I want to go back to the Shrine and throw them all into a cell. Unfortunately, I would initiate a battle I couldn't win." He leaned back. "Leaving Mount Targon is also going to be difficult. It's nothing but desert from here to the villages of Shurima, and that journey alone will take you months. It would be a certifiable death sentence."

Diana nodded. "So is staying here. We won't be able to hide forever from the Solari. And I won't sink to Phenketon's level."

Leona was about to add to that when she heard something odd coming from nearby. Getting up, she grabbed a broom and made for the window while studiously ignoring the confused looks from everyone else. She peered over the ledge a little.

And there it was, another rustling.

Quick as a flash, she poked her broom outside and brought the handle down, thwacking whatever it was over the head. A very high-pitched, very girly "Ouch!" was her reward. She immediately reached down and grabbed the person by the hand that instinctively came up to hold her head. With quite a bit of effort, she was able to pull them inside, fighting the whole way. "Mother, if you… would be so kind?!" she grunted, finally dropping the body onto the table.

The stalker, who turned out to be a girl around Aidonal's age, kept struggling against Leona's grip, only stopping when Melia's spear was directly in front of her.

Aidonal ran into the kitchen, sword in hand. He had managed to shuck the armor and had dressed in traditional Rakkor garb. "What in the Void is-?!" He stopped when he took in the scene, eyes widening.

Leona, by contrast, took one look at the girl, then at him, then at the girl again. "Can I assume this is the friend Father is talking about?" she asked sweetly, an amused glint in her eye.

"Uh… yes," he replied, his surprise slowly fading away. "Why is she on the kitchen table with Mother ready to create a new air opening in her skull?"

"That is an excellent question. Let's have an answer. Well?"

"I'm spying on you, obviously!" the girl immediately shot back sarcastically. "I was hoping to steal the secrets to your sunforging success, then use them to make the Mountain's biggest bell!"

Leona blinked, sharing a look with Melia. She looked at her brother, even while Kespina started laughing.

Aidonal shrugged. "Lyra gets sarcastic when she's annoyed," he replied.

Lyra… so that was her name. A good thing to remember when she teased him down the road. But it wasn't enough for the current situation. She needed to know why she was sneaking around in the dead of night while Rakkor soldiers were still patrolling the streets.

And then Diana, sweet Diana who could focus on anything no one else would even think about, leaned in. "Hold on… Leo, take a look at her tattoos and her garment colors. Don't they strike you as familiar?"

Leona took an actual look, her eyes widening. It wasn't possible, was it? "By the Void," she whispered. "You're… Lunari?" The girl's eyes widening at that cemented it.

An actual Lunari, a group that was supposed to be extinct, was currently in their house. To say everyone was surprised by this would have been a massive understatement. The only one who wasn't surprised by this revelation was Aidonal, who had merely closed his eyes in despair.

Iasm turned to look at him. "Aidonal…" he began warningly.

"Dad," Leona interrupted before he could get started, having recovered from her surprise. "I'm currently in a relationship with the Moon's Chosen. I don't care that she's Lunari, just surprised. I want to know why she's skulking around our house, not spying on the Elders."

Melia sighed, pulling her spear away. "Sometimes I wonder if you are truly my child, Leona," she noted, before gesturing to Lyra. "Get off our table. I'm not going to kill you today. But leave before I change my mind."

"Actually," Phenos suddenly spoke up, having been quiet the entire time this was going on, "I would like her to stay for a bit longer. I have reason to believe that my theory may apply to her people as much as ours."

The girl blinked. "Uh… theory?" she asked tentatively.

Diana smacked her forehead in realization. "Oh, that's right!" she exclaimed. "I completely forgot about that!"

"We did have more immediate concerns, Di," Leona reminded her, sitting back down beside her. "Adi, you and your girlfriend might as well get comfortable. That way, Elder Phenos will only need to explain it once."

LOL

Lyra, the shadestalker of the Lunari Tribe, could honestly say that this was not how she expected her night to turn out.

She had heard that the Solari Elders had captured a Lunari, and had been prepared to execute her, only for things to go horribly awry. She had asked her Elders if there had been any missions concerning the Solari Temple, and when she received a negative, she had snuck into the Rakkor village and made a beeline for Aidonal's house. She had been hoping to talk to him privately after his family had gone to bed.

Instead, she was hit on the head, dragged inside, held at spearpoint, and identified almost immediately as a Lunari. She was so sure that she was going to die at that moment. But then, she found herself sitting next to her friend. His older sister, she now knew, was the Scorching Dawn(or whatever fancy term then Solari had for her.) Her sister's friend was the Moon Maiden, and they were in a relationship.

But all of that, as it turns out, was unimportant when compared to what the Solari Elder was telling them right now. And what he was telling them was decidedly chilling.

"After our conversation, I began digging through our archives, going through every last manuscript," Phenos began, taking a sip of juice. "What I discovered concerned me. As we all know, the Solari and Lunari battled about one thousand years ago. However, aside from rising tensions between the two faiths, those tensions were not enough for a full massacre. And the Sun and Moon Chosen would have helped alleviate that tension. Nothing was adding up, so I decided to look outside our history."

"And you found something," Leona stated.

"I found something. It was in an Ionian scroll that was quite interesting… and disturbing." He paused for a second. "Tell me, have any of you heard of the Ruination?"

Lyra's eyes widened in shock. "I have," she whispered. "Our Elders have made sure to teach us about it, as it was the reason behind the creation of the Harrowing."

Phenos nodded to her. "Then your Elders are far wiser than ours," he acknowledged. "It isn't taught at the Temple despite my efforts. But it is far more complex than that. According to the scroll and my own calculations, the Ruination occurred almost a week before the Lunari purge. It was believed that a mad king tried to destroy everything in a quest for eternal life." He shrugged. "Not exactly a perfect match for your visions."

"Eternal life…" Lyra could see her Chosen frown thoughtfully. "Then perhaps the body we saw was part of some unholy ritual."

Leona shook her head. "I didn't get that feeling," she replied. "I couldn't see his face, but his whole body was both of wild hope and supreme despair."

"Well, for whatever reason, once that reason happened, the area suddenly lit up, unleashing a path of destruction not seen before or since. In its wake came the creation of the Shadow Isles, and the arrival of the Black Mists."

Lyra felt Aidonal lean in slightly, one of his hands coming to grip hers tightly. She ignored the fluttering feeling in her gut that action caused as he asked, "What happened? How could an explosion cause that?"

Phenos took another sip. "The explosion was more than a physical one, young man," he replied. "It was also spiritual. The area the Shadow Isles occupies is one where the barriers between the two planes are fragile. The event destroyed those barriers, allowing them to intermingle in a way that caused both to twist and mutate. As a result, unless one has a sort of special protection, if one were to enter the Shadow Isles, there is a good possibility you would not leave." He sighed. "Not only that, the explosion was felt the world over. All of Runeterra was affected in some way because of it."

"But… Mount Targon is protected!" Iasm protested. "The great Runic Stones have always protected us from the Mists. The darkness cannot touch us."

Lyra closed her eyes as she connected everything. "But they weren't in operation at the time of the Ruination," she groaned. "Our ancestors would have been vulnerable. And so would the Chosen."

"And Mount Targon has the only viable connection to the Celestials," Leona finished, rubbing her brow fretfully. "It's the only place Aspects have an open-door to the mortal and spiritual realms."

Diana nodded. "The wave of darkness probably affected one of the Chosen, or both. They probably took full control of the bodies to kill them off before further contamination could occur. It would also explain why the Sun and the Moon have never had their Chosen at the same time for the next thousand years… until now, it seems."

"But it still doesn't explain why there isn't anything regarding our history before that event," Sek pointed out. "I remember seeing the missing pages in some of the books, the scrolls with the burn marks still on the edges. It is always that there is more shelf area than there is material. It never made sense."

Lyra huffed. "Oh, it makes perfect sense," she stated bitterly. "Your Elders probably tore through your records, destroying anything that might pertain to the Lunari and Solari coexisting peacefully. It went against everything they wanted to preach."

"And unfortunately, you are most likely correct," Phenos stated. "The best way to spread your message is to ensure that your message is the only one spread. Destroy any research into the Lunari, and execute anyone who doesn't quite fit in."

Leona grinned. "Well, it's a good thing we both went up the mountain. We both had the same visions. We saw the two faiths living side by side. If Sun and Moon were to say the same thing, at least some people would believe us." Her grin faded. "That would lead to war, though. A war that I know everyone would lose."

"Unfortunately, this is all speculation," Diana added. "We need more substantial information."

"Would the Lunari Archives help?"

As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Lyra mentally slapped herself. What was she thinking?! Did she just offer to help these Solari enter the Enclave? Is she mad? Sure, Aidonal is her friend, but still. Her grandmother was going to tan her hide!

"Are you… offering to help?" Kespina asked. Everybody turned to her in surprise, making her almost shrink in her seat.

Lyra sighed. "Well… you didn't kill me," she explained hesitantly. "Adi is my friend. And… you brought forth an idea we never even thought to pursue, Phenos."

Melia looked at her. "Would your Elders even allow a member of a rival faith near your tomes?" she asked skeptically.

"I don't know. I can only ask and hope." The young shadestalker smiled. "However, I think having the Moon Chosen there might help your case."

Leona smiled once again. "Looks like we're going to meet the Lunari. I can't wait to see what their culture is like."

"Uh… the Moon Chosen is a must. I understand taking your Elder with me, as he seems to be a scholar. I don't see the benefit of taking you… Leona." She didn't want to call her Scorching Dawn. She liked living too much.

Diana's hand clasped Leona's tightly, sighing. "Leona won't let me go alone, Lyra," she explained. "The instant we were separated, the Elders tried to kill me. Today, in fact. Leona could barely make it before they could finish the job." Her free hand went up to rub the Lunari symbol on her forehead.

"So where she goes, I go," Leona finished.

Lyra's eyes widened as she took in the glowing symbol, which was glowing blue. She was the Heretic that had escaped? And it was only because of the Scorching Dawn? She looked at everyone else for clarification.

Melia shrugged. "Leona has always been like that with this one," she replied. "In fact, we received many letters over the years extolling Diana's virtues in rather impressive poetry."

"Really?" Diana looked over at Leona, who seemed to find a point on the wall very interesting. "Would you, by any chance, have those letters still?" she asked, smiling, while Kespina started giggling.

"Maybe we should head out before the Ra-Horak decide to do a surprise sweep," Leona stated hastily.

"She's right." Sek rose from his seat. "This means it's time for me to avoid suspicion. I can at least redirect some of the patrols away." He shook both of their hands. "Stay safe, all of you."

Diana nodded. "You as well, Elder Sek." She watched as he made his way out, before bowing to the others. "It was a pleasure to have finally met you. I just wish it had been under better circumstances."

Melia nodded. "As do we, Diana. As do we." She clasped Leona's hands. "Daughter, may the sun guide you, even in the darkest night."

"And may it shine its light upon those who will protect the innocent," Leona finished.

Lyra was surprised to hear that, though she kept her expression schooled. At the end of the day, they were still Solari. But for them to almost perfectly utilize the same formal farewell as her own people… how did they know it?

"We're coming as well!" Kespina suddenly piped up. "I mean, when will we ever get another chance to meet the Lunari Clan?"

"You will do no such thing, young lady!" Melia instantly snapped. "You are still in training! What do you think would happen if the Rakkor Regiment caught you both?!"

"The same thing that would happen if they knew we had harbored fugitives and a Lunari," Aidonal replied. "We would be killed."

Iasm sighed. "Sadly, he's right," he stated. "Sek will only be able to distract them for so long." He nodded. "All right, the two of you will also go with them. Stay out of trouble, and listen to Elder Phenos. That goes double for you, Aidonal."

"Of course, Father." Aidonal grinned. "I'll make sure Leona behaves herself."

"I am well behaved!" Leona protested.

Diana smiled. "She is," she assured the parents. "Except when she is helping me steal food to give to the poor and helpless."

"… … I'm mostly well-behaved."

Lyra looked to Phenos. "Are they always like this?" she asked.

Phenos smiled. "Better them teasing each other rather than killing each other," he replied.

She had to give him that. It was a very good point.

LOL