"In carnage, I bloom, like a flower in the dawn."~ Jhin, The Virtuoso
And so we come to the final parts of the Arcane arc. Not as long as the Demacia arc but still sizable.
Drop comments fellas!
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"They are planning an attack." Sydell claimed as he rose from his chair, "Ambessa. They've already started moving. They will set up perimeter soon."
"Where?" Mel reacted instantly.
"Zaun. At the commune." Sydell answered as he began walking up the stairs, to call the rest, "They want Vander. It will escalate if we do not get there to warn those at the commune as soon as possible."
"You are going to stop them?" Mel asked.
Sydell stopped and looked over his shoulder, "Stop? No. I'm going to warn those at the commune. Sevika, Jinx and Isha deserve to know. They have helped us out and we will repay them."
"All of us are going. Together. Its safer." Briar said as she opened the door to her room and walked out.
Daisy rushed out, her hand firmly holding her sword, "Finally! Some action."
"Not action." Annie said as she followed her out, "We are not fighting."
Daisy glared at her sister.
Faye and Rell walked up from the basement.
Rell sighed, "Our father cannot know of this."
Daani shimmered into view near the door, "He will figure it out." The group turned to him, "What?" He shrugged, "I'm right." He opened the door, "Lets go."
"He can go invisible?" Mel asked.
Faye showed both hands, "Its not as good as you think it is. Only for short distances or when he stands perfectly still. If the surroundings change quickly, his magic has trouble reacting to it and just breaks."
"You all have your trinkets I hope?" Sydell asked.
Everyone nodded.
He shut his eyes again, "Our father is currently running through the tunnels, he might have found something."
"Then lets get this done quickly." Briar said as she began leading the group toward the commune.
As the group ran, they arrived at their location within a few hours. Though Mel lagged behind the group. Her fitness being a clear restriction.
Despite the eyes on the clearly frantic group, none of the Zaunites tried to stop them.
Running into the commune, Daisy ignoring the man trying to stop them from bringing a weapon inside, they sprinted right to the structure that Viktor resided in.
Spotting the sprinting group, Jinx rushed in joining them, "What's the problem?" She asked.
But no one replied.
"You have brought a weapon into the commune." Viktor said as he spotted the group.
Daisy shrugged at the man.
Stepping up, Sydell spoke, "Ambessa is bringing an army to attack you. She wants Vander. We are here to warn you of them."
"There was no need to bring in a weapon as a messenger." Viktor pointed out.
"For safety." Sydell answered.
"I wanted to fight." Daisy answered in the same beat.
Sydell sighed as he brought his palm to his face.
Viktor regarded the girl, "Your magic is.... fascinating..."
"Iceborn." Daisy answered.
Jinx stepped in looking at all of them, "Hello? How about we get to the main problem here. Ambessa wants Vander."
Mel stepped forward, "I will try to reason with my mother. I can convince her. There's been more than enough blood shed. All due to misunderstandings and hatred that could easily be avoided." She looked at Jinx and then at Vi who was making her way to them.
Jinx however was not paying attention. Her eyes were on Viktor, looking at his next actions. Because his next words would change her actions for the future.
If he was willing to give them up for the safety of the commune.... then she would have to move Vander out of here.
"What's going on?" Vi asked as she caught up to them.
Jinx looked at her, "Ambessa's bringing an army after Vander."
Alarmed, Vi turned around, "Lets get him out of here then. The earlier we leave the better."
"I will not be giving up someone who I have promised to help." Viktor spoke, he stepped forward, "We will not allow them to invade us." He turned to Jinx, "Do not worry. I can stop them."
Sydell looked at the three, "And even if you left with him. You wouldn't get too far. The man who did the experiments has a method to track him."
"How do you know this?" Vi asked.
Sydell smiled in reply, "I don't reveal secrets like these."
Vi frowned.
The group settled into silence as Viktor spoke to all those connected to him mentally.
-x-
"Give us the beast and you will be allowed to live." Ambessa said as she looked at Viktor who had walked to the entrance.
Viktor shook his head, "I am not going to be giving up anyone who has come to me for healing. The man has suffered and he needs help."
"IT is a weapon of great power." She corrected, "And it will be treated as such."
"He is my FATHER!" Vi walked up to Ambessa.
As Ambessa rounded on Vi, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a couple figures hide away in the shadows.
"Your father is dead child. What remains is a weapon. One meant to be controlled." Ambessa answered.
Viktor sighed, "If you are unwilling to change your opinions on the subject.... then I will be asking you to leave."
"Then you have made an enemy of us." Ambessa spoke.
Viktor shook his head, "It would not matter. Your presence in the commune will not be allowed." His eyes flashed an ethereal gray with magic.
Alongside his eyes, the entirety of the commune flashed with him.
Rictus gripped his glaive, the anti-magic runes reacting with a green glow of their own.
Ambessa spun around and began walking away, looking over her shoulder she announced, "You have until tomorrow to make your decision. If you do not hand it over. We will attack. And trust me. Magic is not something you can hide behind."
At that statement, Mel ran out from the shadows and to her mother. "Mother please."
"Mel?" Her eyes widened as she saw her daughter rush out toward her. "What are you doing here?"
Mel stopped in front of her mother, "Do not do this mother."
"I have to." Ambessa said, "Such power cannot be left unchecked. I will wield it for your sakes."
Mel shook her head, "No. He is a man. A man whose soul is suffering because of those..... sick experiments. Viktor can save him. And he will. Then you have no weapon to wage a war over."
Ambessa looked at Viktor, "You can save him?"
Viktor nodded.
"You have the man who did the experiments. You can have him make another. One out a vile criminal." She pointed to the commune, "The man inside there? He is innocent. He is a good man."
Ambessa weighed her options, turning to Corin she asked, "How long would it take for you to create another one of them?"
"From scratch?" He answered, "Ten years. But if I had the beast... then I could give you an army of them in two."
"An eight year difference." Ambessa announced, "An eight year difference and an army of weapons." Staring at Mel, she continued, "I cannot let the Trifarixgain more power. The moment they do, then Noxus will be allowed to rampage."
Mel glared at her mother, "You just want to cement yourself in Noxus. For your goals of becoming the fourth member."
"That.... is a side effect of doing all of this child." Ambessa answered, "Creating a power that keeps the rest in check is what Noxus needs. My desires are secondary." She turned to Viktor, "Tomorrow..... we will attack you. If you want to save the lives of those still here..... you know what to do." She walked away from the group.