Pale moonlight had dimly illuminated the grounds surrounding the Institute, and there rose an occasional chirping of crickets amidst the gently sighing night's wind. As clouds slowly scudded across the dark sky, only a single open window along the Institute's west wing served as a portal to the ambiance of a calm summer's night.

Xin sighed wistfully as he lay curled up under the crimson covers of his bed. His head rested lightly against Jarvan's chest, slowly rising and falling as he slept. Insomnia had never been a problem for Xin, but lately he found that falling asleep had become increasingly problematic. His mind would wander, succumbing to bouts of anxiety and doubt in the late hours of the night. It wasn't rational, Xin thought, to undermine a relatively good life with incessant provocations of things that might not even happen. And yet, despite whatever affirmations he might make, there would simply be a recurring shadow of doubt hanging over his mind.

With some degree of difficulty, he eventually managed to free his thoughts from such things, and nearly attained the subconscious respite he needed. However, Xin was harshly snapped back to reality by a sudden crash from across the room. Abruptly rolling over, he found the window open and what remained of a vase scattered on the floor. Perched on the windowsill, a malignant, imposing raven stood silhouetted against the moonlit night. It glanced at Xin and Jarvan with red, calculating eyes before cawing once and flying out into the night.

After a brief moment in confusion, Xin slowly got out of bed and closed the window, drawing the curtains and re-checking the lock on the window. As he swept up the broken vase, Xin couldn't help but develop suspicions about the raven in the window. However, mental exhaustion began to overtake him, and he resolved to postpone any investigation until the morning. Shuffling back to bed, Xin deadpanned when he realized that Jarvan had soundly slept through the entire event.

'Lucky bastard...' Xin thought as he curled up alongside Jarvan and finally drifted off to sleep.

As usual, Xin's morning began in a groggy, sleepy haze. Light had begun to filter through the curtains, leaving the room in a dim twilight. As he slowly regained his senses, Xin realized that Jarvan was strangely absent from his bed. Xin wasn't exactly a light sleeper, but he was fairly certain that he would have noticed Jarvan getting up and going somewhere. Slowly rising out of bed, Xin remembered the raven that perched itself in his window during the night. If it wasn't a dream, he reasoned, the raven most likely had a purpose.

Suddenly, the door swung open, shattering Xin's concentration. Jarvan stepped in quickly, holding a curiously large envelope. Locking, unlocking, and relocking the door, he glanced furtively around the room before turning toward Xin.

"Sorry. Did I wake you up?"

"Already awake. What's with the mail?"

"It's…a letter from my father." Jarvan replied hesitantly as he sat down next to Xin.

Xin rolled his eyes in response. "The King of Demacia actually writes his son. I'm shocked."

Jarvan wasn't amused. "It's addressed to both of us."

Xin raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Jarvan opened the envelope, and began to read aloud from the parchment.

Xin and Jarvan,

I have recently received Intelligence reports of the gravest nature. To ensure the continued safety and prosperity of the city-state, you must both temporarily leave the Institute and return to Demacia. I have already sent transport ahead of this letter, and an armed escort will see you safely to the castle and back. Be ready to leave in an hour's time, and I shall await your safe return.

As always,

King Jarvan Lightshield, the Third.

P.S: This letter will explode in five seconds. Kthxbai!

Upon finishing the letter, Jarvan immediately threw the parchment across the room, where it gave a tiny enchanted cry of DEMACIA before bursting into a million flaming pieces.

Xin wasn't amused. "Really, Jarvan? They had to have the letter explode?"

Jarvan blinked. "It's standard Demacian protocol. You know, before someone came up with a way to enchant them, you had to yell DEMACIA and eat the damn letter."

"That's just…awful. Do you think all of this could have something to do with Noxus? Things have been too quiet lately."

"I wouldn't put it past them, Xin. But I'm not sure. Whatever happens, I'm always going to be with you. I promise."

Xin slowly wrapped his arms around Jarvan, looking up into his eyes. "I know."

As promised, an elegantly armored carriage pulled up to the Institute an hour later, flanked by several horsemen with impressive weaponry. Xin and Jarvan exited the Institute from an inconspicuous side exit, greeted the driver, and boarded the carriage.

As the vast expanses of countryside rolled by, Xin told Jarvan about the raven in the window. Jarvan wasn't paranoid by any means, but Xin's description of last night's events cast an almost tangible shadow of doubt over his mind. As he sat pensively gazing into the late afternoon sky, Jarvan knew that if his fears were correct, he would have to face Jericho Swain again.