Tianna stared at him as though he had spoken a foreign language.
"You let them escape?" she demanded, disbelief ringing sharp in her voice. "We could have ended the rebellion right there, and you let them go?"
They were gathered in the antechamber adjoining the council hall, a quieter space meant for private deliberations rather than public decree. Tianna paced beside her chair, her steps sharp against the polished stone floor, agitation radiating from her with every turn.
Seated nearby were Jarvan and Shyvana, both still bearing the marks of the battle. Garen stood close at hand, arms crossed, his expression grim. Asta sat opposite Tianna at the long table, Mira nowhere in sight, his posture relaxed but attentive.
And of course, Tianna's ire was focused squarely on him.
To his credit, Asta did not argue back. He allowed himself to look faintly abashed beneath her glare, head tilting slightly as she spoke, offering her the courtesy of silence.
"Eldred is dead," Tianna continued, stopping short and pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "He nearly killed Garen. He nearly killed the prince." Her hand fell to the table with a soft but decisive thud. "Sylas is far too dangerous to be left to his own devices."
She leaned forward, meeting Asta's eyes directly. "You made the wrong choice," she said, the finality in her voice leaving little room for debate.
Asta leaned back in his chair, just slightly. Despite the casual motion, Tianna's imposing pauldrons somehow made her seem larger still, her presence filling the room. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, regretful, but steady.
"I said the same thing to Jarvan," Asta replied. "But I couldn't let all of them die. They're being misled. Their pain, their suffering, it's being used to push them forward." His gaze flicked briefly toward the others before returning to Tianna. "Pain caused by the MageSeekers."
Tianna exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing only a fraction. Jarvan scoffed under his breath, turning his head away.
"I understand you, Asta," Tianna said at last. "Truly, I do. But you can't just go out and make decisions like this on your own..."
"Why not?" Asta cut in.
The interruption made her pause mid-sentence. She looked at him, then sighed again, this time more wearily, rubbing her temples.
The truth sat uncomfortably between them.
There was very little she could actually do if Asta continued making choices like this. His strength, overwhelming and unquestionable, placed him beyond the reach of reprimand or command.
And not for the first time, that fact was beginning to irritate her.
Tianna straightened, lowering her hands slowly as she regarded him in silence. The room felt smaller all at once, the air weighed down by what remained unsaid.
Jarvan shifted in his seat, finally unable to remain quiet. "With respect, Lady Tianna," he said, his voice tight, "consequences are already here. My father is dead. Eldred is dead. Sylas is tearing through the kingdom, and every time he escapes, he becomes a symbol." His hand clenched into a fist. "A symbol we failed to stop."
Shyvana glanced at him, her expression conflicted, then looked back to Asta. "You saved lives today," she said slowly. "But you also spared someone who will take more. That truth cannot be ignored."
"I'm not ignoring it," Asta replied. "I'm refusing to pretend this ends with Sylas' head on a spike."
Garen's brow furrowed. "You think killing him would worsen things?"
"It would simplify them," Asta said. "And simple answers are usually wrong."
Tianna scoffed quietly. "That sounds like philosophy spoken by someone who doesn't have to live with the aftermath."
Asta met her gaze. "I do. I have. More than you'll ever know. Just not in the way you expect."
Silence settled again, heavier now.
Tianna turned away, walking back to her chair and resting a hand on its carved back. "You speak as though Demacia is the villain here."
Asta replied. "Demacia is sick. And the MageSeekers are the root cause."
Jarvan bristled. "They uphold our laws."
"They are topics of fear," Asta countered. "Have you ever been to the MageSeekers headquarters, prince Jarvan? I doubt your words would be the same if you did."
That struck closer to home than Jarvan cared to admit. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Tianna closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, resolve settling back into place. "Regardless of intentions, Sylas cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. If you won't stop him when the chance presents itself..."
"I will stop him," Asta interrupted, firm this time. "But he's not my primary focus."
Her gaze sharpened. "Then explain."
Asta rose from his seat, hands resting lightly on the table as he leaned forward. "I'll catch Sylas. Hell I'll end the whole rebellion in a single night. But only if I know that the mages of Demacia will be protected and treated fairly. I want to create a world where everyone can be happy. A world without discrimination, be it between the rich and the poor or in Demacia's case the mages of Demacia."
Garen frowned. "That sounds dangerously idealistic."
Asta shrugged lightly. "I'm allowed to be idealistic." He turned fully toward Tianna, meeting her gaze without flinching. "Look… I am sorry about your husband. Truly. Eldred's death wasn't something I wanted." His tone remained calm, but there was weight behind it. "I believe all life is sacred, and that it shouldn't be cast aside so easily. But I've also seen the things he allowed. The things he likely encouraged. Back where I come from, actions like that would have caught up to him long ago."
For the briefest of moments, Tianna faltered.
She hid it well, too well for most to notice, but her fingers tightened against the edge of the table, and her eyes flickered downward before she mastered herself again.
"There have been reports," she said instead, her voice smoothing as she deftly redirected the conversation, "of violent explosions within the forests near the capital. Witnesses further claim they saw you flying from the area shortly thereafter."
Asta raised an eyebrow, faintly amused, but he did not deny it. "Yeah. That sounds about right. A woman showed up and attacked me. Strong, too." He paused, expression turning more thoughtful. "Actually… she's the strongest person I've seen in this country so far."
Tianna's brow furrowed. "We had our suspicions," she replied carefully. "Yet I find it deeply troubling that an individual of such power walks within Demacian borders without our knowledge or consent."
Shyvana turned her head then, studying Asta with an unreadable expression. He caught the look and gave a small shrug.
"Don't look at me," he said plainly. "You lost to Sylas. That surprised me more than anything else today."
Jarvan stiffened at that, jaw tightening, while Shyvana's lips pressed into a thin line. Tianna released another slow sigh, one of many she had given this day, and lifted a hand to wave the remark aside.
"Be that as it may," she said, composure firmly restored, "can you provide us with a description of this woman you encountered?"
Asta nodded easily. "Sure. I don't see why not."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table as the room's attention settled fully upon him.
When the description was finished, a brief hush settled over the chamber.
Jarvan straightened in his seat, drawing the room's attention as he spoke. His voice was measured, but there was iron beneath it.
"Then pray tell," he said, fixing Asta with a steady gaze, "what course do you intend to take regarding this rebellion?" His fingers curled against the armrest. "How do you mean to bring my father's killer to justice?"
Jarvan's words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding.
All eyes turned back to Asta.
Asta straightened slightly, considering the question as though it were a practical problem rather than a political one. "First," he said calmly, "I'm not dragging Sylas back in chains for a public execution. That just turns him into a martyr, and Demacia doesn't need another one of those."
Jarvan's jaw tightened. "Then you intend to let him continue unchecked?"
"No," Asta replied. "I intend to remove the reason people follow him in the first place."
Garen shifted his weight. "You think this rebellion exists independent of its leader?"
"It does," Asta said simply. "Sylas didn't create the anger. As a matter of fact I doubt he's actually the leader of the rebellion. He escaped... like what? A few months ago? This movement doesn't look as rushed as it would be if that were the case. I've seen rebellions. They're usually led by smart people."
Tianna folded her arms. "And what would you propose instead, if not force?"
Asta glanced around the room, meeting each of their gazes in turn. "Transparency. Accountability. And actual reform. I know you're capable of this. You must have thought about this more than once. It's the right thing to do."
Jarvan scoffed. "You expect the people to lay down arms because the crown promises change?"
Tianna paced again, slower this time. "You still haven't answered the prince's question. What do you intend to do?"
Asta exhaled, then spoke plainly. "I'm going to dismantle the MageSeeker system. Not with blood, but by dragging everything they've buried into the light. Their prisons. Their experiments. Their abuses. Once the people see the truth, the rebellion loses its fuel."
Jarvan stood abruptly. "That is treason."
"Is it?" Asta retorted. "I asked you this before, but have you been to the MageSeekers headquarters before? Have you seen the horrors imprisoned in cages. Those are your people, prince."
Silence followed, tense and brittle.
Garen finally spoke. "And Sylas?"
Asta's gaze hardened just a little. "I'll deal with him personally. Not as an executioner. As someone who understands exactly why he's doing this."
Jarvan stared at him. "You think understanding him will bring my father back?"
"No," Asta said softly. "But he claims he didn't kill your father, and oddly enough, he wasn't lying about that. I'm inclined to believe him. Prince Jarvan, Sylas didn't kill your father."
That landed harder than anything else he'd said. Jarvan looked away, fists clenched at his sides.
Tianna stopped pacing. She studied Asta for a long moment, measuring him, weighing the danger he represented against the certainty of continued war.
"At every turn," she said slowly, "you ask us to trust you."
Asta nodded. "Yeah. I do."
"And if you fail?"
"Then you stop me," Asta replied without hesitation. "I won't fight you over that."
That surprised her. It surprised all of them.
Tianna drew a slow breath. "You place an extraordinary amount of faith in your own judgment."
Asta shrugged lightly. "I have no reason to doubt myself. The MageSeekers should have been disbanded a long time ago. It's obvious they've gone too far."
There was a brief pause before Shyvana spoke, her voice steady but carrying an edge of concern. "And what becomes of the mages once the rebellion is over?" she asked. "Not only Sylas' followers. Magic in Demacia as a whole. The laws."
"They'll be revoked," Asta replied without hesitation.
Jarvan was on his feet in an instant, his chair scraping loudly against the stone. "You have no right to make such a decision," he said sharply.
Asta nodded, unoffended. "Yeah. I know. You will." He glanced at Jarvan plainly. "You're royalty, aren't you?"
"Wha..?" Jarvan blinked, the anger on his face faltering. "Why would I…?" His words trailed off as his gaze drifted around the room. Garen avoided his eyes. Tianna remained silent. Finally, he looked to Shyvana.
She did not look angry.
She looked disappointed.
Jarvan's shoulders sank, and after a moment, he lowered himself back into his seat.
Asta continued, his tone unchanged. "You granted me freedom within Demacia, right?" he said. "Me, and the people with me. But it feels wrong that we get to walk these streets freely while other mages are hunted like animals."
He gestured vaguely, as if indicating the city beyond the chamber walls. "That kind of imbalance doesn't disappear. It festers. And if it hasn't already turned into hatred… it will."
He gestured toward Shyvana. "The same applies to her. Shyvana is a dragon, an extraordinary, magical being. And yet she stands at your side, honored and accepted, while others like her are hunted and condemned." His gaze returned to Jarvan. "If that isn't hypocrisy, I don't know what is."
Shyvana turned fully to face Jarvan. "Do you not want what is best for Demacia?" she asked quietly.
Jarvan lowered his eyes. "I do," he answered, his voice subdued.
"And you truly believe these laws," she pressed, "are what is best?"
Jarvan opened his mouth, then closed it again. No answer came.
For a moment, they simply stood there, facing one another. Tianna, Garen, and Asta exchanged brief looks, each aware of the tension now hanging between the prince and the half-dragon.
---
Several minutes later, the chamber had emptied. Jarvan, Garen, and Shyvana had departed, leaving only Asta and Tianna behind.
The silence was heavy, but calmer.
"I am sorry about your husband," Asta said at last, his tone sincere. "I should have ended my fight faster."
"Do not trouble yourself," Tianna replied immediately, her voice flat. "There was no love between us. Eldred was a fool, and he met the end he invited."
Asta regarded her for a moment, then smiled faintly. "All life is sacred," he said. "Though I suppose there are… occasional exceptions."
Tianna huffed, the sound almost a laugh, though no humor reached her eyes. She studied him for a long moment, her gaze sharp and searching, as though weighing something far heavier than the words she was about to speak.
Asta caught the shift in her expression. "Was there something else?" he asked.
"I have been considering a different solution," Tianna said slowly. "One that may serve Demacia better in the long run." She folded her hands before her. "I am thinking of granting you a region, one where the mages displaced by the rebellion could be settled under your governance."
Asta blinked at her, genuinely caught off guard. "…What?"
"You claim you can end the rebellion within a fortnight," Tianna continued, unperturbed by his reaction. "If you succeed, many mages will be left without protection, without homes. Reintegrating them into Demacia will not be simple, nor swift. Such a region could serve as a… transitional measure."
Asta leaned back slightly, disbelief clear on his face. "Hold on. That plan has way too many holes." He raised a hand, counting them off as he spoke. "First, you can't just make me governor of anything. I'm not even a citizen of Demacia. I have my own home, my own world. What happens when I have to leave?"
Tianna did not interrupt.
"Second," Asta continued, "do you even have the authority to make that kind of decision? That sounds like something Jarvan would have to approve. He's the next king."
"I have not yet spoken to Jarvan about this," Tianna admitted. "However, I believe he would come to accept it in time. Especially if the alternative is continued bloodshed."
Asta frowned. "Are you sure? He doesn't exactly like me." He paused, then added honestly, "And I don't think I want that responsibility either."
Tianna did not answer him immediately.
She rose from her chair and moved toward the narrow window overlooking the city, the distant rooftops bathed in the muted glow of late afternoon. For a long moment, she simply stood there, hands clasped behind her back, watching Demacia breathe.
"A place beyond the MageSeekers' reach. A place where mages may exist without fear while Demacia relearns how to live alongside them."
She turned back to him then, her expression sharp but weary. "And yes, you are correct. Jarvan would need to approve it. But by the end of this, he will have no choice but to."
Asta let out a slow breath. "Why do I have to deal with the consequences of your country's mistake?"
Tianna did not flinch. "Because it can get much worse."
Silence settled between them again, less tense than before, but heavier somehow.
Asta looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know I can't promise to stay forever. I still have my own world."
"And if I say no?" Asta asked.
Tianna met his eyes. "Then the rebellion drags on," She answered. "And more mages, soldiers, and civilians die before it ends."
That answer sat poorly with him, and she knew it.
Asta sighed. "You've gotten better at putting me in corners."
She allowed herself a thin, tired smile. "You walked into the room."
He laughed quietly despite himself, then sobered. "I'll think about it. That's the best I can give you right now."
Tianna inclined her head. "That is more than I expected."
Of course, things were never that simple. While Demacia's protectors worked tirelessly to secure the nation's safety and ensure its continued prosperity, a dark, creeping mist began to spread across the lands of Valoran.
It was no ordinary fog. Thick and unnatural, it twisted the sunlight into sickly shadows, curling through forests, fields, and cities alike. Wherever it touched, the air grew heavy, sour, and suffused with an oppressive sense of dread.
It appeared that all of Valoran, would face Ruination.
---
RANDOM FACTS ABOUT FLAW OF RUNETERRA ALTERNATE UNIVERSE
1. Shayna Vayne has attempted to kill Asta twice, disguising herself as one of the various assassins that were sent after his life.
Just like the assassins however, Asta knocked her unconscious both times.
2. There is currently a Darkin Weapon in Demacia.