The sun hung low over the Demacian countryside, casting long shadows across a quiet village nestled at the edge of a dense forest. The air smelled faintly of smoke from hearth fires, but there was an unnatural tension in the air, a sinister tension that Caelum could feel as he and his patrol approached.
At the head of the unit rode Ser Eldric, a seasoned Mageseeker known to those that have worked with him for his cold, calculating and ruthless demeanor. He was known for his roguish tactics however no one could ever speak up in defiance without something happening. Meaning the king never got to hear about it, and if he did, there was never any proof. His sharp silver eyes scanned the village as if searching for hidden threats. Behind him marched a small squad of Demacian soldiers, their armor gleaming under the fading light, their faces neutral, the march made up the hill was nothing to them.
"The villagers harbor a mage," Eldric declared, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the patrol. "We will root out this threat to Demacia and make sure it never rears its ugly head."
Caelum's jaw tightened as he scanned the village, a truly beautiful place, built with community and life. The villagers, mostly farmers and craftsmen, had gathered in the center of the settlement, weariness evident after a long day's work. Their faces were pale with fear, children clinging to their parents, elders clutching prayer beads. They were innocent, no signs of rebellion, no signs of magic, only looks of terror of what was to come.
"Ser Eldric," Caelum began cautiously, stepping forward his glaive resting in his hand. "Shouldn't we investigate further before taking action? These people don't appear to be hiding anything" Caelum hoped his words would take heed, however he knew what Eldric was like and his utter disdain for mages.
Eldric turned, his expression icy. "Magic always hides beneath the surface, soldier. We cannot risk leaving it unchecked." He motioned to his men. "Torch the village. Let the flames flush the mage out, he will be dealt with swiftly."
A ripple of unease spread through the soldiers, but they obeyed without question, moving toward the houses with torches in hand. Caelum's grip tightened around his glaive.
"Wait!" he barked, stepping between the soldiers and the villagers. "You can't do this, the king does not want his people slaughtered nor killed, he would not want this. These people are innocent. Burning their homes won't reveal the truth, it'll only destroy lives, you'll leave them with nothing!"
Eldric's eyes narrowed. "Stand down, Caelum, do not invoke the king's orders, for I am but a humble extension of his will. That's an order."
Caelum's heart pounded, but he refused to move a stubbornness forming in his heart. "Not without evidence! If there's a mage here Sir Eldric, we'll find them through investigation not unnecessary violence." The soldiers' faces changed with a worried look and unease plastered on their faces.
The standoff felt like it stretched for hours. Eldric glared at Caelum, his hand inching toward the hilt of his sword, but the murmurs of the soldiers made him pause. They were first and foremost Demacians, they were loyal to Demacia not Mageseekers, Caelum invoking the king sowed uncertainty in the men. Reluctantly Sir Eldric realised this and with a glare he gestured for the soldiers to stand down.
"This isn't over," Eldric hissed viciously, venom-like spit on his lips. "You'll answer for this insubordination Caelum just you wait" the threat hung in the air.
As the patrol withdrew, the villagers began to weep, their gratitude spilling forth in whispered thanks. Caelum said nothing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He had made his choice, and there was no turning back. With hesitancy he led his patrol back to the capital knowing full well of what awaited him, he knew he had to get to garen first to try and explain things.
An hour later at the training courtyard at the Citadel stood Garen and Caelum. The silence was heavy, broken only by the clinking of Garen's gauntlets as he adjusted them. Caelum could sense his friend's anger and could also tell he was upset with him.
"You disobeyed a direct order," Garen began, his voice sharp.
"I protected innocent lives," Caelum shot back. "Why do you follow blindly, Garen? Can't you see the cracks in what we stand for?"
"Because someone has to. Demacia cannot survive if every soldier questions their orders."
"Maybe survival isn't enough anymore."
Garen stepped forward, his towering presence casting a shadow over Caelum. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The Mageseekers won't forget this. You've undermined the unity that keeps Demacia together with Caelum. The people will talk, they'll talk about a rebellious noble not to mention the Mageseekers will have a target on your back."
"Unity?" Caelum's voice rose. "You call this unity? Burning villages, terrorizing our own people, how does that make us strong… united? Garen, surely you see this?"
Garen's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't understand what's at stake. Demacia was built on order, on loyalty. Without it, we journey into unknown territory that could threaten all."
"And what about justice?" Caelum countered. "What about protecting the people we swore to defend? Or does that only apply to those who fit the Mageseekers' definition of 'pure'?"
The tension between them crackled like a storm about to break. Garen clenched his fists, his face a mask of frustration. "You're reckless, Caelum. You think with your heart, not your head. That will get you and everyone around you killed. There is no room for impulsive choices!"
"And you think with blind loyalty" Caelum said, his voice quieter but no less firm. "Maybe that's what will destroy us, your loyalty is to an order not duty, not Demacia, you've blurred the line Garen!"
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Garen turned away, his shoulders rigid. "You've crossed the line, Caelum. I can't protect you from this my friend, you may have taken this too far."
As Garen walked away, Caelum felt the weight of his words' pain struck his heart as he watched his beloved friend go. They were still so young, both of them however he could see the divide forming, who was to say one was more right than the other. He had always respected Garen, even admired him, but now it felt as though they were standing on opposite sides of a chasm that neither could bridge.
As he left the arena a soldier came running up to him, "Caelum you've been summoned by the king!"
The throne room was cold and imposing, the weight of tradition pressing down from every corner, the walls seemed to tighten around Caelum, breathing hurt as a single bead of sweat sat on his forehead. Caelum knelt before Jarvan III, the room closed off the two figures the only ones present, his head bowed, but his resolve unshaken, however growing weaker by the minute.
The king's gaze was unreadable as he regarded Caelum. "You disobeyed an order, Caelum. You undermined the authority of a Mageseeker in the field and you drew your weapon against your own men. Do you deny this?"
"Not fully, your highness," Caelum replied. "I acted to protect innocent lives, lives that would have been destroyed over what ifs and buts! The truth has been skewered by that maniacal man. I would never level my blade at my men, my king."
Jarvan leaned forward, his voice measured. "You accuse the Mageseeker of spinning the truth? What of the mage? If there had been one among them, your actions might have allowed them to escape. Would you take responsibility for the lives they could destroy?"
Caelum met Jarvan's gaze. "I would, your highness. But I will not destroy lives on the basis of fear and suspicion alone.. Sir Eldric is a cold and deceitful man, he wanted to burn down the village just to get one mage that may or may not have been there. His actions haven't been brought to light because of his terror and threats. I will testify to show you my king he has vicious plans. Mages don't need to be feared, people only fear them now because of how prosecuted they have become. They know there might be a rising up, which wouldn't need to happen my king, if we mended relations"
For a long moment, the room was silent. Jarvan's expression looked at him, curiosity leaked through his gaze although it bore into him. "Your intentions may have been noble, but Demacia cannot afford dissent. I will investigate Sir Eldir further but leniency would set a dangerous precedent for either side. However I can see where you're coming from Caelum, people do need to be protected, that village may not have been harboring a mage and we cannot destroy innocent lives over it."
Caelum's heart beat hard against his chest, but he refused to look away. "I can see how you think, how you understand where I'm coming from my king. I know you know what is truly the right path, the Mageseekers aren't it."
Jarvan's eyes tore into Caelum's own and then he dismissed him with a wave of his hand, but as Caelum left, he could feel the king's eyes lingering on him, heavy with unspoken conflict.
That night, Caelum found himself in the gardens of the Crownguard estate, like usual staring at the regal beauty of the place. The moon hung high above, its light filtering through the trees, the stars seemingly comforting him, feeding him hope where he had none.
"Caelum," a soft voice called.
He turned to see Lux, her face pale and drawn. She hurried to his side, her hands trembling. "I heard about what happened. The Mageseekers they're furious. You need to lay low, at least for now, you've made a powerful enemy"
Caelum shook his head. "I can't, Lux. I can't stand by while they destroy everything I believe in, they need to see the errors of their way. Why should we destroy something because we fear it, the good it could bring would be undeniable."
Tears glimmered in her eyes. "You don't understand how dangerous they are. They'll come after you. They'll—" She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "They'll come after me."
Her words hit him like a blow. "Lux…" his throat closed up, unable to speak.
She opened her hand, revealing a faint, shimmering light. "I've been hiding this for so long, Caelum. If they find out, I don't know what they'll do. But if you keep fighting them, they'll get suspicious and start to look closer, and…"
Her voice broke, and she looked away. Caelum gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise Lux."
"But what about you?" she whispered.
He smiled faintly, though there was no joy in it. "Demacia needs to change, Lux. And if I have to stand alone to make that happen, so be it, I'll make them see the errors in their ways. I know the king fights an internal battle."
She stepped closer, her eyes searching his. "You won't be alone," she said softly. "Not as long as I'm here."
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. "Just… be careful, Caelum. Please."
As she disappeared into the shadows, Caelum stood in the garden, his resolve hardening like tempered steel. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the time for silence was over and make noise, he would.